How to Have an Excellent Advent: Seven Suggestions

What's the purpose of Advent? Click on the video below to check out Busted Halo's 2 minute take on this season of preparation for Christmas: 

Each of the suggestions below is a link to a blog post on the topic:

    1. Stay Awake 

2. Seek Him Who Seeks You 

3. Hold on to Hope

4. Celebrate the Season 

5. Rejoice and Be Glad 

6. Give the Gift of Quality Time 

7. Wait Patiently   

What is God calling you to this Advent that will bring you closer to Him? 

Thanksgiving Weekend 2014

Kevin has recently gotten a full-time job after being out of work for over a year, so we are both thankful and relieved about that blessing.  Since he’s back in retail, he was working on Thanksgiving Day as well as at the crack of dawn for Black Friday.  He’s got a cold, so he chose to stay home and rest up until the time he had to go into work on Thanksgiving. 

     
I told him before I left for Mass Thursday morning that people would ask where he was, possibly before greeting me.  I can understand that.  Kevin’s very friendly and can be lots of fun to chat with.  

     
I sat with some of my Christ Renews His Parish sisters and the patriarch of our adopted family at Mass.  I went over to our adopted family/close friends’ house for the holiday feast solo.  

     
I was warmly welcomed and treated as family.  I spent some time with some of my favorite people, including the three silly sisters and their two cute cousins.  I have missed seeing the girls, but I’ve had to sub whenever I can at school so we can make ends meet while Kevin gets into a groove at work, so I haven't had much energy left to visit after hours.  I finally made it over there last Friday to hang with the girls, and I got a chance to catch up with their parents as well, which was wonderful!       We had some interesting faith-based conversations about saints, particularly married women who were also mothers while we ate at the dinner table in the kitchen amidst little ones who occasionally burst in running and screaming around us.  Eventually, the twins crawled up on their mom and started grabbing food from her plate.  No surprise there.  The three silly sisters and their two cute cousins were served first, but the girls weren't nearly as enthralled by the food on their own plates.  There's something about mom sitting down to eat that tends to turn up the appetites of the little ones.  

     
I forgot to bring my camera, so I don’t have a single picture of this Thanksgiving.  Other people took a few, though, I might be able to rustle one up eventually. 

     
I really missed having Kevin there a lot!  It's been over a decade since we weren't together for all of Thanksgiving.  I’ve had him at my side for so many holidays over the years both when we were dating as well as since we’ve been married that I sometimes forget how out of place I tend to feel when he’s not there.  I did bring him some turkey, a plate of sides, and a slice of chocolate pie which he thoroughly enjoyed later on.

I didn’t see any of my biological family at all on Thanksgiving which made me feel kind of sad, but hopefully I’ll be able to get together with them on Sunday.  I have been away from Kevin and my family on Thanksgiving, but it was over ten years ago when I was studying abroad in Paris.  All of us in the study abroad program went out to dinner together.  It was fun, but I really missed my family and our normal fare.        

I had lots of memories come back of Thanksgivings over the years.  I thought back to some of the ones when we were little and we’d go to Uncle Rich and Aunt Linda’s house in Houston.  There were a couple years when my aunt and four cousins came to spend the holiday with us.  Our visits usually consisted of lots of yummy food and various card games we had all learned from Grandma.  One year was particularly memorable, because we all were having so much fun wearing the slippers Grandma had knitted us and sliding on the hardwood floors in our house in Barrington.  Click here to read about some of our other Thanksgiving festivities across the years.

True Halloween Spirit

The Sweetest Treat: A Boo Baby       

Most of the time we went to houses in our neighborhood, but one especially memorable evening that forever changed our family was unusual in more ways than one.  My grandma was in town, and arrangements were made for us to go trick-or-treating with one of our neighborhood friends and her brother.  Their dad drove us all to an apartment complex where we could get more candy and cover more ground than would be possible on the relatively small cul-de-sac we lived on off of River Road back then.  My sister and I were smitten with the prospect of collecting so much candy.  Our sort of make-shift, last minute costumes didn’t bother us much. 

     
We were used to having our parents walk with us to each house, but our friend’s brother was a little older, so his dad just drove around following us from one section of apartments to another.  He had “Monster Mash” blasting out of the car speakers.  The windows were down and the sunroof was open. 

     
Back before cellphones were mainstream, and when car phones were still exceptionally rare, we received an extra special message.  Suddenly, “The Monster Mash” stopped playing and we heard the life-changing words: “You have a new baby sister!”  Our lives were never the same.    

The Costume Kid Turned Dancing Diva

The year she turned one, my youngest sister had a really cute cow costume.  Friends of ours owned a donut shop, and my mom took a picture of her and wrote a sign by it “Got milk?” which they had up at Daylight Donuts for quite some time in the 90s.    

     
As a little girl, she loved Disney, dress-up clothes and had an unbelievably wide selection of pretty costumes to choose from since a close family friend would get discount costumes from Wolff Fording to use for the annual Musical Revue she put together at St. Mary’s School.  My sister owned a ton of princess costumes which she insisted on wearing everywhere during that particular period in her life.  Some people thought it was really cute and endearing, but as a teenager, I was mortified to have to go around with my youngest sibling dressed in some get-up.     

     
I grew up taking dance, mostly ballet, tap, and jazz, so I had a number of costumes for recitals that doubled as ones for Halloween.  I’ve even worn a couple of costumes "Miss Reesa Lynn" wore in her later dance recitals to parties. 

     
I had perhaps a little too much fun one year decorating for my sister’s Halloween/birthday sleepover party.  She had a large Lamb Chop's play along stuffed animal which I dressed in a black graduation gown and hung.  I also stuffed a pair of striped stockings with stuff to make it look like a witch had crash landed into the shower in the basement.

     
When in high school, the dancing diva told us she wanted all of us to dress up as Disney characters.  Our middle sister asked if she was kidding.  Obviously not, since she’d gotten a Tinkerbell costume to wear that year.  During the day, Kevin had a costume contest at Circuit City.  We dressed up as Men in Black, both in blacks suits, white collared shirts, black ties, and sunglasses.  Kevin went so far as to paint a water gun we had to make it look a bit more like the weapons they use in the movie.  Then that evening, I turned into Mulan for my sister’s Disney themed birthday party. 

  

This is our absolute favorite Halloween bit from Seinfeld’s “I’m Telling You for the Last Time:” Jerry Seinfeld on Halloween (Stand-up in New York).

"Trick or Trunk?!"    

I’ve heard of the popular custom of having kids don their costumes to go to a church parking lot and “trick-or-treat” from one car trunk to the next, but I am a bit concerned by the sign outside of one church that I saw advertising a Halloween “Trick or Trunk.”  I’m not sure quite what this entails, but I had visions of extreme trick-or-treating scenarios and possible outcomes.  It sounds like something that a gang might come up with—either that or a group of parents of wayward adolescents that have had enough and are ready to take drastic measures.  Of course, this suggestion also seems very much like one father of three silly sisters would come up with as an advisable alternative to dressing up your kids in costumes and walking them around the neighborhood ringing doorbells and demanding candy from strangers.    

Back in the Day

For a while, because my birthday is near Halloween, we’d have costume parades or parties for my celebration.  There are pictures of a morning costume parade in our neighborhood and donuts that marked one of my under five birthday celebrations. When we were growing up, we didn’t use those little plastic pumpkin buckets for our candy.  We got pretty hardcore after a while and used pillowcases, since those were easy to carry, and you can fit a whole lot of candy in them.  We’d walk as far as we could talk our parents into going. 

     
Our ritual at home was the same every year.  We’d sit down on the living room floor and dump all of our candy out in a pile, so our parents could check it for anything suspicious (or particularly delicious).  Our main concern was counting how many pieces we had, in hopes that we’d somehow gotten more loot than the other person.  Then it was time to trade for the candy we liked most with the yucky stuff that we’d resort to only once we’d eaten all of the name brand candy.

Wild Thing, You Make My Heart Sing

One of “my two little guys” who is now in his double digits is going to Disney World with his family for Halloween.  That has got to be such a cool place to be when half the people in there are already in costumes.  I’m looking forward to seeing the photos. 

     
I couldn’t resist dressing one of the boys up in the shark costume he had for Halloween and taking him to visit Kevin at West Marine, the retail store where he was working at the time.  I brought goldfish crackers for the boys to eat, and let them play around the dinghies and small personal watercraft on display in front of the store to get some really cute photos. 

A Celebration's In Order

Today we’re looking forward to celebrating Theresa’s birthday as well as our brother-in-law Jordan’s as a family.  I can't imagine what this life or our family would be like without my youngest sister Theresa in it. She has brought so much joy, smiles, laughter, love, and hope into our family. May the Lord continue to bless you, love you, and keep you ever close to Him as you use the many gifts He's given you to inspire others. We love you dearly! Looking forward to celebrating this evening.

    
My mom’s famous homemade chicken fingers, mashed potatoes, and apple pie are going to be involved.  We’re also hoping to see the cutest mailman on the planet.  Our nephew’s dream is coming true: he gets to be a mailman for the day.

    
Happy Halloween!  Lord of all souls, Father of all creation, thank You for the gift of loved ones, for the joy of new life, and the hope of eternal life You have given us.  All you holy men and women, pray for us!

7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 134) The Gift of Your Presence

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Grace is…getting to attend Mass and sit with some of your favorite people, praying the Rosary as a family, celebrating the presence of love and new life, the little old lady in her 90s who is almost blind praying in the pew ahead of you, catching up with dear friends who are more like siblings, seeing more ways in which the Lord has worked in your life and the lives of loved ones to draw you ever closer to Him…  

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Best Christmas Gifts by Far Our family's favorite Christmas gifts were: 1.) the surprise that my youngest sister got a flight home from Zambia and South Africa a week early for the holidays and 2.) getting to spend the day with our nine month old nephew who is super-cute and often jolly!

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A Day in the Life of a Carmelite Postulant I'm still working on retyping a hilarious original play written by my dear sister in Christ Michele Morris. She wrote this play as the update for family and friends on her life since entering a cloistered monastery, Carmelite Sisters by the Sea, August 6, 2013. Anyone who knows her (and even those who don’t) will be thoroughly amused by her creative and true-to-form theatrical piece.
         Check back later this weekend! Michele typed everything on a typewriter and sent me one copy, so I'm retyping it to share with everyone as she gave me her written permission to do so on my blog and the request to do so via e-mail to a select group of friends and family.

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This photo was taken in Dec. 2009 when we
were still meeting weekly.

Cursillo Cluck Hens Rejoice! The upper room spiritual divas got together Saturday morning for the first time in I'm not sure how long.  (Actually, three of us went to one Panera and two went to another, but eventually all six of us made it to the same Panera.) WOW! I forgot how inspired and encouraged I am just being around these amazing women. I'm so excited that there's talk of getting the band back together at least once a month. I love you ladies and am so glad we all eventually got our prayer group reunited!! 
  

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Formation for Women’s Weekend Kevin and I have been faced with a number of big discernment issues over the past several months.  With some of them we have not yet reached a conclusion or solution.  Others we have gotten clearer answers about what God is calling us to now.  One of the major commitments we have determined the Lord would like of me at this time is to say yes to serving on the next Cursillo Women’s Weekend April 24-27, 2014.  Please pray for our team as we begin formation January 5 and for the participants who will come forward for this “short course in Christianity” this April.  De Colores!   

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Marshneil & I at a costume party in 2009.

Staying in Touch It is so wonderful to get the chance to sit down and really catch up with a friend who you don’t get to see regularly, who understands enough of your background and family, what you’re passionate about in life, what your greatest struggles are in terms of faith, etc.  I felt very blessed again today that I could sit down with a dear friend who I met through a retreat that’s meant to strengthen relationships within a parish called Christ Renews His Parish.  My faith is renewed just hearing about how God has been working in her life in truly amazing and miraculous ways.  Lord, thank You for friends who know us well, love us dearly, and pray for us always.   

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Merry Christmas to All! Kevin and I had a very blessed Christmas this year, and it had everything to do with who was around the tree rather than what was under it.  We enjoyed Mass on Christmas day, then we had a delicious meal at my sister and brother-in-law's house.  The best surprise was that Theresa got a flight home early.  We were all bummed she wouldn't be here for the holidays, but I didn't realize quite how much we missed her presence until I saw her beautiful smiling face in person.
     Another wonderful gift was spending the evening with another family
who has kind of adopted us.  We had some interesting discussion on faith, current events, Kevin was asked to be Matt's Confirmation sponsor, and we all prayed the Rosary.  

             
Check out Jen Fulwiler’s tradition of 7 Quick Takes Friday at her tremendously popular blog Conversion Diary.  

Triage for Christmas Correspondence

In 2011, I came up with the following solution to our holiday bulk mailing predicament: triage for our Christmas Card List In the event that you didn’t receive a Christmas card from Kevin and me this year, rejoice and be glad!  

No, really.  I’ve decided this year to concentrate my card writing/mailing efforts first and foremost on family and friends of ours who 1.) are currently in the hospital 2.) were just released from the hospital after major surgery 3.) are serving in the US military overseas, and/or 4.) have lost a loved one in the past six months. 

     
One reason for this was that I wrote a personal note on each card I sent, so it took much longer than the sign and stamp kind.  Since we had a number of loved ones who fit into one of the above categories, I concentrated my energy on prayers, phone calls, and notes of encouragement for them.  

   

Please don’t be offended.  I assure you we’re keeping all of our family, friends, and loved ones far and near in prayer.  Thanks to all of you who have filled our mailbox with love, adorable photos, and kind cards!      This year, we will still be praying for all of the friends and family who are currently in the hospital, are serving in the US military overseas, and/or have lost a loved one in the past six months, but due to a variety of circumstances we have had to do triage for our entire Christmas Correspondence this year so most of you won't be receiving snail mail letting you know in writing of our prayers and thoughts for you. 

If you’ve sent us a card wishing us a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, thanks, you rock!

If you haven’t, we totally and completely understand!

If you’re waiting for a card from us, please see the below qualifications for this year’s version of Triage for Christmas Correspondence.

7 Qualifications for Receiving Christmas Correspondence via Snail Mail in 2013 from the Potters’ (Let’s be realistic now: this means a card or letter from Trisha that Kevin has heard or read and signs, too)

If there was a period of thirty days or more over the past calendar year during which:

      1.      You and I talked to and/or texted each other daily.
2.      We hung out a few times a week.
3.      Regularly sat together at Mass together and other church-related activities.
4.      You have eaten several meals at our place.
5.      You have at any time received an actual text message from my husband.
6.      You have been in a cloistered convent.
7.      You are only allowed to receive mail at Christmas and Easter due to being a postulant in a cloistered convent.    

Christmas Merry-Making Mishaps Series Entry #1 Caroling

Here We Come A’Caroling

A neighborhood friend and I decided one year when we were around 11 years old, that we were going to practice singing some Christmas carols, then take our show on the road, or more realistically around our cul-de-sac off of River Road in Richmond.  Our confidence and jubilation wavered considerably when the first woman whose doorbell we rang heard us start singing.  She gave us a very strange look and tried to close the door before we were through one verse of our well-rehearsed repertoire of songs. 

    
It wasn’t until later that my friend and I found out that the neighbor is Jewish, and therefore not as likely to enjoy our impromptu Christmas caroling performance on her steps.  For all she knew, someone had put us up to it, knowing she was Jewish.  I doubt it occurred to her that we were just unlucky enough that we would pick her house to start with.  But the truth is, we were that unfortunate.

Silver Bells

When I was in fourth grade at St. Basil’s School in Kimberton, Pennsylvania, I was selected to hold one of the traffic light props that we used for our Christmas Show when we sang “Silver Bells.”  Everything went fine while we sang the song on stage.  I had fun singing with my classmates, knew all of the words to the song, and got into it. 

The trouble came at the end of the number when everyone took a bow.  At the time, it didn’t occur to me that I shouldn’t bow when I was holding a tall pretend traffic light.  I came to my senses about the same time when the poor kid in front of me got a good bop on the head.  It was totally an accident.  Call it a classic case of crowd-pleasing nerves.  If I’d meant to do it, the kid would have responded accordingly to being clobbered instead of turning around and giving me a troubled look.  We were both sufficiently surprised I didn’t get any demerits.   

     Here's a very cool video of "Little Drummer Boy" I would love to hear live:

A Note about my Christmas Merrymaking Mishaps Series I’m not sure about you, but my family and friends have had some rather amusing and entertaining incidents that have occurred when engaging in some very popular holiday traditions such as: Christmas Caroling, Cookie Decorating, Christmas Tree selection, and Nativity set-up.

7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 130) Storytelling, Silly Songs, & the Cookie Caper Question

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Grace is…a delicious Thanksgiving feast shared with family, having my youngest sister home even for a brief visit, Mom’s homemade apple pie, wanting to be a better servant of the Lord, working at being more Christ-like by doing small things with great love, genuine encouragement and inspiration from those who love you, the sense to stay in on Black Friday, playing with your youngest nephew, the vulnerability it takes to be honest in kind and gentle ways…

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Thanksgiving Across the Years This Thanksgiving was a really nice one for Kevin and me.  We began the day by going to Mass to celebrate the ultimate feast, the Eucharist (the word literally means “thanksgiving”).  Later we headed over to my sister and brother-in-law’s house for the family meal and visiting.  The food was delicious and the quality time together very enjoyable!  To read about some of our past Thanksgiving adventures, mishaps, and traditions, click here.     

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It’s Your Fault! Yesterday, my sister and I broke into a song about rubber duckies that my mom used to sing to us when we were little.  My other sister and my mom looked at each other and made faces at us.  I elbowed my mom, and informed her: “It’s your fault!”  And really it is.  She’s the one who stayed home with us when we were little and sang to us, danced with us, read to us, played with us, and inspired a love for little people that she passed on to each one of us.  

     The song my sister and I were singing is from Sesame Street.  You might recognize it.

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10 Facts about Advent I happened upon this article the other day, and it’s a great starting point for remembering what Advent is about.  Here’s a hint: it has nothing at all to do with the craziness of Black Friday, but is an important precursor to Christmas and the prelude to Good Friday.  The actual Advent wreath that Kevin and I have and will be putting out this weekend is a very special one that was made by a friend of ours who is hardcore about spreading hope.   

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Run that by me again! Sunshine has a very active imagination.  Sometimes, I’m not sure right away if she’s telling me about something that has actually happened or if it’s another one of her pretend stories.  Either way, I try to listen closely and follow along.  Not too long ago, she told me that her grandma and grandpa don’t like rabbits, so she doesn’t either.  I had no way of verifying that, but since her grandparents do have a farm, I deduced it was at least possible.  This week, she was a good two minutes into her story before I figured out that we were in a real world with real people fairy tale.  What tipped me off?  Suddenly she was the one driving mommy and daddy’s van to go find her mom, who had left her at school while she went to Walmart.    

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Last Night Kids concept of time is amusing.  Lately, Sunshine typically begins and/or ends each of her stories with “last night.”  This has occasionally helped me in the department of distinguishing fact from fiction, though, with her it can be a very convincing mix of the two.  Knowing that her parents had trouble with the minivan’s alarm going off by itself, I was incredibly impressed when in subsequent weeks, she spun a very animated, action-packed, high adrenalin story about a school bus needing to be fixed and babies crying because of a loud alarm that went off when a battery died.  Kevin was visiting us at the time and got to witness this based on a real life event story, and we were both amused and awed.  Just remember, your children are always recording audio and video whether you want them to or not.

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The Cookie Caper Question I have a tendency to take things personally and assume that people think the worst of me.  Here’s a hypothetical situation that closely resembles my line of thinking: If Kevin were to ask me why cookies were being stolen from the cookie jar in a household of three or more individuals all capable of reaching the container, I would typically assume that he was informing me of a problem while at the same time accusing me of stealing the cookies and/or blaming me for not having a better system for keeping track of the baked goods in question even if this wasn’t at all his intent or line of thinking.  (Truth be told, I do find it very difficult to resist the urge to consume baked goodies when they are left out or easily accessible.) 

     Like most people, I prefer to be informed of a problem and asked questions rather than immediately accused of being the culprit when I’m just as likely a suspect as the next person.  If the cookies have some type of chocolate in them, it might be most efficient and also highly likely to assume that I have been one of the people responsible for the disappearance and consumption of some of the cookies.  Though it would be unfair and presumptuous to believe that I am the only guilty party involved in the case of the missing cookies, it isn’t unjust, given my appreciation for goodies, to think that I’m among the likely suspects…

     I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that you are willing to share your holiday baked goods with whoever comes to call this Advent and Christmas.                  

Check out Jen Fulwiler’s tradition of 7 Quick Takes Friday at her tremendously popular blog Conversion Diary. 

Thanksgiving Across the Years

As Thanksgiving’s drawn closer and arrived, I’ve been bracing myself for this year’s festivities and thinking of celebrations in years past.

Southern Hospitality

When my sister Mary and I were little, our family would drive from Rowlett, Texas to Houston to have a feast with my dad’s brother Rich, our aunt Linda, and our cousins. The house was full of people and food, talking, playing, and laughing.  These are the earliest memories I have of huge family gatherings at holiday time.

Travel Troubles: Black Ice & A Potty Chair

I can remember one year when we drove up to Vestal, New York to spend Thanksgiving with my dad’s brother Dave, Aunt Florence, and our cousins: Eric and Annelisa. We were stuck on the highway for hours when a tractor-trailer jack-knifed when it hit black ice. It was literally a parking lot. People turned their cars off and got out. Those in RVs started offering people coffee and things. After a while, several people could be seen walking up to the woods to go to the bathroom. I really had to go, but I wasn’t about to walk up the snowy hill and pop a squat in some random woods. As luck would have it, we drove two cars up, and since Theresa was just a toddler and in the process of potty training, we had her little potty chair.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. I made everyone else get in one car while my mom helped me put up clothes and things, so no one could see in the windows. Everyone thought it was hilarious that I used Theresa’s little potty chair. It’s a good thing I went when I did, because when we got to the next rest stop the lines at every bathroom, especially the ladies’ rooms, were out the door, down the hall, and around the outside of the building. The traffic was so bad, we ended up having to turn around and spend the night at a hotel in Pennsylvania, then make the rest of the trip in the morning. We enjoyed our time with family and the food was delicious once we finally got to their house.

Evidence of Grandma's Love

A couple years we had my aunt Carol and cousins come to our house for Thanksgiving. We kept up the family tradition of playing lots of card games, many of which our grandmother taught us. One year in particular, we had a great time sliding across the kitchen and dining room into walls, furniture, and each other wearing the pairs of slippers Grandma had knit each of us.  (I once attempted to knit a pair of slippers under my grandmother's tutelage.  One came out fine, and the other looked more pointy, like an elf shoe.)  I know one of my sisters still has a pair of slippers my grandma knit her.  I also have a pair left of the ones she made with a blend of her favorite colors in one yarn: turquoise, orange, and brown.

Americans in Paris

The farthest I’ve ever been away from home at Thanksgiving was my junior year of college when I was studying abroad in Paris. It felt so strange to be in a city that knew nothing of the fanfare and food we have here. We Americans in Paris celebrated the holiday together at a restaurant. The director of the Hollins Abroad Program in Paris and one of our professors joined us at a very large table for a big meal that somewhat resembled traditional Thanksgiving fare. Celebrating an American holiday in a big group at a French restaurant felt a bit surreal, but it was fun.

Just Add Another Table

Starting when I was in high school, my mom’s best friend Renee and her family invited us over for their Thanksgiving feasts for several years in a row. We loved being included in their large gathering of family, friends, food, and football. We enjoyed lots of laughter and a variety of dishes ranging from the traditional to the more experimental, though yummy nonetheless. One year, my sister Mary and now brother-in-law Jordan announced their engagement at the much-loved Thanksgiving feast.
  
More recently, my mom’s brother Rob, our aunt, and our cousins have come to my mom’s house for Thanksgiving. In addition to tons of food, we honored our family roots and played lots of card games: Spoons (which got rather intense and even somewhat physical at times), Quibbler, Apples to Apples, etc.

Who Isn't Here This Year?

In 2009, we had our Thanksgiving feast at my mom’s house. I’d been bracing myself for the event, not just because of our occasional holiday mishaps, but because that would be our first major holiday since my dad passed. I know he was there with us. I know we all were missing him. At least that year, he no longer had to worry about how long his oxygen tank would last, if his back will hold up, and/or if he’d feel well enough to join us.

Friends Early Thanksgiving Feast 

A couple Kevin and I are friends with began a tradition a while back of having a couple family members and a number of friends, who have become a second family, over for a full-scale Thanksgiving feast at their place.  Kevin and I enjoyed this fabulous tradition again this year.  We knew we would since it's always been a blast in years’ past.  Good food, good friends, great memories, abundant blessings: who could ask for anything more?  Of course last Saturday afternoon, I forgot to bring the only thing that could possibly have added to the amazing spread and beautiful decorating-my camera to capture it all digitally.  Ah well, we got a couple shots with a 5-megapixel camera.

Here and Now

This will be our first Thanksgiving since my maternal grandmother passed away.  A number of our family and friends have also lost loved ones this past year, and will, no doubt, be thinking of who was there last year who is only there in spirit this November.

Last year we gathered at my sister and brother-in-law's home for Thanksgiving.  The plans are the same for this year, especially since their son is very active, mobile, and very intelligent (curious & into everything)!  My mom's in charge of the turkey and her delectable homemade apple pie this year.  Kevin and I are bringing the green bean casserole and the crescent rolls.

I'm looking forward to seeing my youngest sister who is home for a very short time before heading to Zambia and Zimbabwe for the month of December.  For the first time in the history of our family, we are going to be decorating the family Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving.    

Normally, I would be opposed to decorating the Christmas tree so early, even before the first Sunday of Advent, but I'm willing to bend our hard-won traditions so that all of us are present for the trimming of the tree, though only a few of us ever seem to put the decorations on it.  (It's an artificial tree, and here's why it's got to be.)

Blessings

I wish you and your loved ones a very Happy Thanksgiving! Please say an extra prayer for those who are suffering in mind, body, and/or spirit this holiday season and for the many people who are missing someone dear to them.

Lord, thank You for the abundant blessings You give each of us. Thank you for the gifts of faith, family, friends, food, love, laughter, peace, and joy! Amen.

"You have a new baby sister!"

     Those were the most joyful, awe-inspiring words I've heard on Halloween.  Our Family's Happiest Halloween Ever was when my youngest sister was born while my other sister and I were out trick-or-treating with friends of ours.  (My parents left for the hospital as we were getting ready, and my grandma was at our house in anticipation.)
     I think it's pretty funny that this was the song that was blaring from my friends' father's car stereo when he got the call on his car phone.  He turned it down long enough to tell us the joyful news: "You have a new baby sister!"  We were very excited.
     It is still hard for me to believe that the little girl I've loved and watched grow into a beautiful woman is in her Senior year of college now.  I can't say it seems like only yesterday that I was giving her rides places when she was in high school, but I do have some fond memories of Driving Miss Daisy.
     Along with the story about Theresa's birthday, there's a picture of us on Halloween when she was still in high school and had requested that we dress up as Disney characters for her birthday.  I dressed as Mulan and she's Tinkerbell.
     Theresa, I hope you have a wonderful birthday and that this next year of your life is filled to overflowing with joy, blessings, and amazing memories too numerous to count. You are dearly loved!

7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 109)

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My Very First Time Kevin and I celebrated Independence Day by going to Mass in thanksgiving and prayer for our religious liberty, eating hot dogs for lunch, then we practiced riding around the church parking lot in preparation for my very first time out on Kevin's motorcycle (or any other motorcycle, for that matter).  We were quite patriotic in our red, white, and blue.  We swung by friends of ours who took a couple pics of us on the bike, but we haven’t gotten those from them, yet.  I’ll post them when I receive them.  Lord, thank You for the true freedom that comes from following Christ. Amen.

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Favorite 4^th of July My favorite Independence Day I spent with Kevin and his family in Rochester, NY on Lake Ontario. I was used to having a cook-out with my parents and sisters and usually going somewhere to see a legal fireworks display, but the Fourth of July at the cottage with Kevin’s family was something entirely different…Read more. 

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Up on the Altar Kevin and I photographed Claire & Augusto's wedding and reception last Saturday afternoon/evening. We're praying for them and all couples the Lord has united through the Sacrament of Marriage, that all may be strengthened by faith, lifted up in love, grounded in prayer, and filled with joy. Amen!

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Let’s Make It Musical I cracked up when Claire and her twin sister linked arms and started singing one of the Broadway show tunes Vivi has learned from yours truly.  In case you were wondering, “Sisters, Sisters” from White Christmas takes on another level of special when done by a woman wearing a wedding gown and her twin sister who’s a bridesmaid who burst into song in the banquet hall in the downstairs of the church.  I already knew it was going to be a fun afternoon/evening, but when two of her bridesmaids started doing a clapping game, none other than a full-out “Miss Mary Mack/All dressed in black,” it was clinched that this pre-wedding show was just a preview for what would be a rocking reception. 

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Cheese Whiz or Not A dear friend of mine and I were having a late lunch after our successful shopping spree, and I was treated to another hilarious story.  This one was about how the cheese pump at the fast food place where she worked for a brief stint while in college was her demise.  She was working with one manager who just didn’t like her, personalities clashed.  Of course, this person was working the shift my friend is having a night where she couldn’t seem to get any order right. 
     Finally, the manager tells her to just go in the back and clean the cheese pump.  She went back to the apparatus she had trouble even getting to work and stared at it.  She didn’t know how to clean it.  She returned to the manager, who told her to just take the thing apart and clean it.  Next thing she knows, my friend staring at a very clean and completely dissembled cheese pump.  Yes, it was a genuine case of Amelia Bedelia works fast food. 

Head manager the next day: “So what happened last night?”

“I took apart the cheese pump,” she answered.

“That you did,” he said.

“And I couldn’t put it back together again,”

“No one could put it together again.  Not even me.  I had to order a new one,” he said before they mutually agreed food service isn’t her thing.

-6-

Priceless I can be serious and very intense when I’m set on doing a good job, so I was concentrated and “on-the-job” getting hundreds of photos at the wedding rehearsal, Brazilian barbecue, wedding, and reception.  A few hours into the reception, the bride told me not to worry about taking anymore pictures.  I couldn’t resist, so I took a bunch more then gave Kevin my camera so I could get my groove on.  It was quite amusing to see the looks on people’s faces when I joined the party on the dance floor for a song.  I love to dance, and I’ve been told: “for a white girl you got rhythm.” 

    

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Caregivers Unite There have been a number of times in my life when I’ve played the role of caregiver which makes me that much more compassionate and empathetic when friends and family become wary under the weight of such responsibility.  A reminder that I’ve had to relearn a million times: if you don’t take care of yourself, it will affect your ability to take good care of others, especially on a long-term basis day and night with no substantial breaks in sight.  I pray that all who are caring for others who are sick in mind, body, and/or spirit will be encouraged by the Lord, who is Wonderful Counselor, Perfect Physician, and Holy Comforter. 

                  

Check out Jen Fulwiler’s tradition of 7 Quick Takes Friday at her tremendously popular blog Conversion Diary.

A Mary Christmas

I read A Mary Christmas during this past Advent season as part of preparing my heart for Christmas.  I can’t think of a better person than Christ’s own mother to have as a guide during the Christmas season and beyond.  It helps me to be reminded that much of what happened was completely unexpected, unexplained, and certainly unplanned by Mary and her betrothed, Joseph, though both trusted the Lord and did as He told them.

    
I know how much of a struggle it can be to listen for and say yes to the Lord, especially when you don’t know what that consent will entail (and oftentimes even when you do know, in part what it will require of you).  I’ve also witnessed the blessings and joy that have gone far beyond anything I could have ever thought of or even considered to pray for on my own. 

    
In this short, poignant book, Kathleen M. Carroll focuses on “the Seven Joys of Mary:  the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Nativity of Our Lord, the Adoration of the Magi, the Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple, the Appearance of the Risen Christ to His Mother, and the Assumption and Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven. “

    
Sometimes it’s easier for me to imagine the depths of Mary’s sorrow than it is to grasp the fullness of the joy she experienced in her life by letting God work freely in and through her in mind, body, and spirit.  We miss out on the powerful blessings and ultimate triumphs if we contemplate Mary only when her heart was “pierced seven times” without spending time also meditating on the unfathomable joy that was infused into her life in time and eternity.

    
Mary, Queen of Heaven, Mother of God, teach us your joy.  Amen.

    
This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on A Mary Christmas. The Catholic Company has great gift ideas for all seasons of the liturgical year.

7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 77)

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My Nanny Diary Here I am with three of the best reasons on the planet to be a nanny.  

My mom came over at lunchtime, and though I’d missed her text and therefore didn’t know she was coming, as soon as she knocked on the door, Vivi said, “It’s Miss Ann!”  She was right.  My mom enjoys being the “grandnanny” of such adorable children.  Who wouldn't?!    

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Singing at Church On Sundays, Kevin and I usually get to Mass a little early and save a whole row so we have enough room for Carl, Jess, Vivi, Livia, and Sophia (and their gear).  Vivi usually ends up wanting me to hold her at some point, and she’ll snuggle up in my arms.  As if that weren’t enough to make my heart melt, I hear her singing some of the words to the hymns with us, particularly the ones we sing at each Mass.  Kevin’s been telling me all week that I need to tell John, Vivi's Godfather, about this.  We shared the update with him yesterday in person.      

                    

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Smells like…One day this week Vivi brought me a group of dead leaves still on the stems and said they were flowers and to smell them, so I did. They smelled like love and the joy of a child.

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What if Aristotle’s kid had an iPod?  Chances are his father would have severely limited him using it and any similar electronic devises in favor of fostering human interaction, real life experiences, and face-to-face conversations. What Conor Gallagher in his modern-day application of Aristotle’s concepts claims (in a nutshell) is that parents and children need to spend more time together unplugged.  I wholeheartedly agree for a myriad of reasons… 

To read a full review of If Aristotle’s Kid Had an iPod: Ancient Wisdom for Modern, click here.

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Going to the outback! My mom's very excited about her trip to Australia.  Please pray that she has a safe, peaceful, blessed vacation.  We'd also appreciate prayers that my grandmother won't worry too much when my mom's gone.  Her memory's just about shot and she's sometimes feared she'd never see my mom again when she's gone on a trip because she's so used to having her visit every day.  Gram's happy to see me, but she always asks where Mom is and when she'll be back.   

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Books to Devour Monday I went to the library after work to pick up the last two books of The Hunger Games trilogy (which I finished reading on Thanksgiving, irony intended). I came home to two new books delivered to my door (which I didn't have to pay for because I'm reviewing them). Then two other free books for me to review arrived a day later.  It's a good week to be a voracious reader like me!

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Thanksgiving We had a very blessed Thanksgiving! Thursday morning we went to Mass to celebrate the heavenly feast of the Eucharist. In the afternoon, we joined the Baab clan for their family meal. Yesterday  evening we went over to Mary and Jordan's for our second turkey dinner with all of our traditional family faves (and some new ones), then we got to sit out by their fire pit and visit for a while. Lord, thank You for the many blessings You have given to Kevin and me, especially for Your Son and our many loved ones!    

Head over to Conversion Diary, to read Jen Fulwiler's wonderful tradition of 7 Quick Takes Friday.