Happy New (liturgical) Year!!

Having enjoyed a lovely Thanksgiving with delicious food enjoyed with family as warm, happy memories are shared and new memories are made. I now turn my attention to Advent and preparing my home and myself for Christmas.

Advent begins today and as I was setting up our Advent wreath and thinking about the other preparations I would make this week both inwardly and outwardly I could not help to wonder about the preparations Mary and Joseph must have made for their journey.

Outwardly they would need transportation and provisions for the journey, probably offerings for the census officials and rabbis. But what about inwardly, did Mary anticipate that she would deliver while away? Did they sense that they were leaving their home for many years? What prayers did they offer?

Happy Advent! Let us journey together to Bethlehem!

In Gratitude and Thanksgiving!

Giving thanks for:

a warm happy home

to gather together and eat

delicious food prepared by my hard-working,

cooking loving husband.

To be shared with family and friends

including a happy, cuddily toddler

as we give thanks for many wondrous gifts of God

the greatest of which is his love.

Happy Thanksgiving to You and Yours!!

Ten on Tuesday: November 24th

1. When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A nurse, and olympic gymnast. Well one out of two is not bad.

2. Name 3 of your irrational fears.

Very afraid of being burned, getting yelled at, and rodents.

3. If you had a $200 gift card to any store, what would you want it to be? (Nothing responsible allowed. Can’t be used for groceries or anything)

Borders for books for me, or Gymboree for clothes for E.

4. What is your most (blog-friendly) embarrassing moment?

While sitting on an old bench I leaned over to kiss my boyfriend, the bench snapped and collapsed down breaking a bone in his foot.

5. If you were only allowed to eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would you choose?

Hot: French Fries

Cold: Fruit (berries)

6. What was your favorite toy growing up?

A couple dolls

7. Do you have a “go to” outfit? What is it?

For everyday: Jeans and a black top

For dressier: Khaki skirt and sweater top.

8. Who was the best teacher you ever had?

Dr. Hatch: Biology, though I also adored my kindergarden teacher Mrs. Barnes

9. If you could buy any car right now (something at least SORT OF within the realm of reality…so, you know, a Rolls Royce may not qualify), what would it be?

A current Subaru Forester, I like the car & company: Ours is 9 years old.

10. How do you reckon that Chelsea comes up with 10 of these questions every week? It was hard! What’s your theory on how she’s so creative? Are you going to help her?

Yes I think she is very creative and ingenius. However I am happy to help and offer question ideas

Thank you to Chelsea for hosting this funny and creative round-up.

Quick Takes vol #38:Thanksgiving Rant!

1. Someone recently asked me how ready for Christmas I was, and I strongly had to resist the urge to complain that I wasn't even ready for Advent yet. While I greatly appreciate the concept that beginning your shopping and planning early allows you to enjoy the season more; but have we as a culture decided that it is okay to asked the week before Thanksgiving how ready for Christmas someone is? I vote No!
2. I would also like to stand in defense of Thanksgiving which is a lovely holiday celebrating a lovely idea of giving thanks for the bounty of blessings which surround us. I LOVE THANKSGIVING! I love the food, remembering to give thanks, little kids dressed as pilgrims and indians!
3. Thanksgiving is coming, the pumpkins getting ripe, please put in a can in the local can drive!!
4. E. continues to call me Daddy (for about a month now) but shouts it with such glee I decided to see the humor and not worry about semantics.
5. Okay back to my rant over skipping Thanksgiving: What is with Grey's Anatomy and ABC broadcasting their Christmas/New Year's episode in November?!?
6. My C's mom (who I love but who totally intimidates me in the kitchen is coming) is coming and I going to try two new recipes. Aren't I brave!?!
7. Plans for the weekend, time with family and getting ready for THANKSGIVING!

Please visit Conversion Diary and enjoy the rest of the round-up.

Thank you Jen!!

Small Successes:Nov. 19

1. Have earned all the grocery points needed for a free turkey ( and largely stocked us up with good stuff as oppose to buying junk)!
2. Prioritized enjoying the good weather this week and enjoyed a couple great walks with my favorite toddler.
3. Caught up on the laundry and managed to put most of it away

Today I'm giving thanks for:

Walks in the sunshine

Hard-working husband

My daughter

Friends & Companions on the Journey

Ten on Tuesday: November 17th

1. What are some of your family traditions?

From my family of origin: Putting out our shoes for St. Nicholas, King's' cake on the Epiphany

From my husband's Family: Sharing the oplatki wafer on Christmas Eve, Offering Easter guests a platter of food including egg, sausage, candy, bread, butter, salt, etc

2. Do you know how to change a flat tire?

Yes!

3. Do you subscribe to any magazines? What are your favorites?

Newsweek, America, Cooking Light, Money, & Oprah

4. What are your top three favorite office supply items? (If you don’t share the love of office supplies with me or if you are male, you may skip this question.)

Post-its, colored file folders, colored pens

5. Are you a good public speaker?

Terrified to start, But tend to do well once I'm actually speaking

6. How do you feel about acronyms?

Can be fun, can become annoying as people create a whole new language

7. What’s the most creative things you’ve ever done? (Bloggers, feel free to include pictures!)

With my husband's (and God's) help I made a person:

8. I’d rather jam a pen in my eye than…

Sing in public

9. What company has the best advertising?

Northern Mutual, McDonalds

10. When is your birthday?

Middle of May

Thanks again to Chelsea of Roots and Rings for hosting

Quick Takes vol #37

1. New trick for dealing with my increasingly picky eater; load up her high-chair tray, give her a sp-ork and walk away (aka do something else in the kitchen). Apparently when no-one is prompting her to eat and she is allowed feed herself as messily as she would like she is hungry.
2. Yummy beef stew for dinner last night; definitely stew & soup season!
3. Want it to stop raining
4. Fun with pronouns: After being chased a few times during which someone probably said something to the effect of "Gonna get you", Elisabeth now shouts while running "Gonna get me"
5. Now that she has a growing understanding of the concept HOT, have been offering sips of my drinks; so far warm apple cider and chai. She seemed to enjoy both and I bet she might enjoy hot chocolate with plenty of whipped cream of course.
6. Have ordered and received photo cards- now the dilemma: Christmas Letter or no?? Opinions welcomed!
7. Plans for the weekend: Yard-work (if the rain ever stops) and grading

Please visit Conversion Diary to enjoy other Quick Takes hosted by the wonderful Jen