It’s that time of the year again. It’s…November.
November is here and with it, that two-month period known as “crunch time”. There are only three weeks to go until Thanksgiving— my family doesn’t even know where we’re going yet—and then immediately we launch into that bittersweet season full of both reverent beauty and lunatic shopping known to most of us as Advent.
And then 1-2-3 and quick-as-a-wink it’s Christmas.
Can it be that time of year already?
Excuse me while I go shut myself in the laundry room and scream.
Forgive me. It’s just that the past three days have been BUSY. Yes, I meant to capitalize that. Yes, I’m on my third cup of coffee (of the night). Yes, I’m hoping I have your sympathy.
Do I?
I call it a mini-Triduum—that super fun and super active triple-header known as All-Hallows’-Eve-All-Saints’-All-Souls’. Wow. What a great time to be a Catholic! I love these feast days.
We got very little “school” done for all the Masses and partying and cemetery visiting and whatnot, but I’m sure you will agree that this was a more than healthy trade, especially when there are conversations like the following:
Felicity: Mom, when Jem told me that ghosts were real, I fweaked out.
My reply: Ghosts are real—we call them the Poor Souls in Purgatory.
Felicity: Oh.
I’m sure this explanation comforted her.
There were also a couple of moments when Mom just had to—well, lock herself in the laundry room and scream.
Or cry.
Or rifle through the kids’ Halloween candy that was placed in there for “safe” keeping.
I don’t know why I let myself feel bogged down by all the pressure of, say, having to be at Mass across town on time with five children all in costume…but I did feel bogged down and there you have it. (We were twenty minutes late, by the way, and were the only ones in costume. Why did I not get the memo?)
Indeed, the past three days have been so busy that they have put me on guard against being overwhelmed by all the busyness to come. Already I’m feeling a lot of pressure to do everything perfectly in preparation for…for…for what?
For everything, that’s what! For Thanksgiving…for Advent…for Christmas…and…for heaven’s sake, that’s just not possible!
I am telling you all this so that you help keep me in check. I do not want to freak out over my to-do list! In order to avoid this scary fate, I have pulled a favorite little tome off the shelf: The Amazing Secret of the Souls in Purgatory by Sister Emmanuel of Medjugorje.
For one thing, I can always use the assistance of those in-the-know souls that make up the Church Suffering, and secondly, I can certainly stand to read passages like the following:
We must do a great deal for the souls in Purgatory, for they help us in their turn. We must have much humility; this is the greatest weapon against evil. Humility drives evil away.
Who are those who have the greatest chance of going straight to heaven? Those who have a good heart towards everyone. Love covers a multitude of sins.
Sufferings are the greatest proof of the love of God, and if we offer them well they can win many souls.
Well, the list goes on but that’s all for now. The caffeine in my system is long gone and I have got to go to bed.
Have a great weekend, everyone; have a beautiful month of November; and don’t freak out over your to-do list! Sufficient this day is the caramel apple eating thereof.
Ed. note: To stretch the apple analogy even further, I maintain that the apple of one’s eye should not be edible. (Unless, of course, it is as incredibly good as the apple pictured above.) This delicious dessert was a “Did you miss me?” gift from my husband, who’d been out of town on business for several days. (My answer was,
“Yes, I did.”)
Oh, and if you want to know how else I cope when my head is spinning, click on the photo to enlarge it. See how that thumbnail is nibbled to the quick? That’s
how I do it!
Ad Jesum per Mariam,
relax! i have the ambitious plan of getting all my gifts purchased, wrapped and stacked in the closet by the Feast of Christ the King. (That is one of MY favorite celebrations. It just SOUNDS powerful.) I want to advent to be just advent. Of course, if my plan fails, I still have December!
I recently discovered your blog from the Danielle Bean site. I am relatively new to blogging (but have always been a writer) and I’ve learned so much about my faith from Catholic Moms across America. Thanks, and God bless!
Oh, and what you wrote about rifling through the kids’ candy that has been put away for “safe-keeping” . . . yikes! that was me yesterday!
Oh Margaret … I feel that stress too. Take plenty of deep breaths and pray – sounds better than biting the nails.
Our candy is in the laundry room, but then it was discovered and now it is in the garage. Next stop is my husband’s office. I can only take so much candy in my children’s system 😉
*How sweet of your husband to bring you back something SWEET!
Yes, now is the time when a mom could REALLY panic. I’m trying hard not to, as well. I’ll try to be like Scarlet and not think about it now. I’ll think about that tomorrow.
Dear Margaret, I truly wish you peace. Take it easy – All will work out according to Divine Providence anyway, so there’s really no need to get stressed. (Easy for me to say though, as it’s not something I struggle with – I relax too much! I need your advice in so many other areas!)
Oh, Margaret! Take one holiday at a time, enjoy these next 3 weeks to bake and then handle Thanksgiving! You can do it!
I have a great book called Get Us Out of Here! It is a book about the poor souls? I will look for one for you, if you have not read it! (my present copy is borrowed out) It is a GREAT book.
Our new home is right next to a graveyard and there are many OLD graves, as old as 1875!! The kids love it!
Ow, that nail makes me wince!
I’m not even to panic mode yet. I’m just kind of in denial I think. I can’t even really get it in my brain that Christmas is that soon…it seems unreal.
Let’s all twy to keep each other in check so we don’t all fweak out. Deal? (And hug those little sweeties for me!)
Yes, calmness and peace…this post has my adrenaline flowing…because of a recent post of yours I subscribed to Magnificat (plus I loved the Lenten issue that was free for the taking from church in the spring.) I received my first two issues today – Advent and Christmas. All I want to do is sit and read and attend more daily masses…does my family really need me trekking thru the mall for them…heck, I don’t even know what to buy these people that already have everything! This Christmas will focus more on Him and less on the mall. Thankfully, our Halloween candy is almost gone – PMS and Halloween together are BADDDDDDDDD! 🙂
Thank you for sharing. I can’t tell you how nice it is to know that other moms have so much going on too. Blessings and peace to you!
Throw in selling a house and moving to another country…
Yep, I’m in the laundry room screaming with you. 😉
Let’s enjoy some of that candy while we’re in there.
Oh, my, I could’ve written this post except not quite so well. I know what you mean and know what you’re feeling. I’ve been trying to keep from being overwhelmed. Will pray for you!! God bless!