The Last-Week-of-Advent Version
Lots of snow and quite cold—go figure.
My front yard is pockmarked with assorted snow forts. The streets are lined on both sides with snow banks—some of them as tall as a man. (Though I have measured neither that man nor the snow banks.)
We will have a white Christmas, barring some aberrant freak of Al Gore nature.
…way too many things this morning.
You can relate, I know.
Lesson plans? Seriously?
We are living the liturgical year this week, assuming I can quiet the riotous din long enough to read the “O” antiphon. Our hearts are never in the exact same place this last week before Christmas. Good thing Our Lord knows that.
Cookies, allegedly, and in the fridge is the makings of our Christmas Eve dinner. This is the first year ever I have sprung for prime rib; please do not tell my husband how much it cost.
…a black skirt and a purple sweater. I can conquer the world if I’m dressed “to the shoes!” (Not really, but that’s what I keep telling myself.)
…a hand-painted (literally) present for Grandma and ornaments for the godparents.
This book. It’s not exactly Christmas fare but when your number comes up in the library queue—I was 163rd in line, I think—and you are given two weeks, not three, to get ‘er read…
You read.
…to get everything done. These 4th-Week-of-Advent feelings are very familiar by now—familiar enough to know that, in the end, it will be okay. The most important things will get done, and—best of all!—He will be born on Christmas.
…a little girl asking to put Baby Jesus in the manger, just to see how it looks.
And I am hearing, “Please? Please? Please?” in response to my refusal.
…a ton of stuff that Mommy needs to make sense of.
…to Mass at 9:00! Just Cate & me, since my 8th grader is home to watch everyone else.
…McDonald’s drive-through.
Go ahead. Judge me.
…the grace to feel different on Christmas Eve. The tears streamed down my face during morning prayer today; spiritually I feel as if I am just going through the motions.
I know He knows the desires of my heart. I know that He needs me to bash on regardless.
…baking, wrapping, packing, shipping;
…putting the final touches on our Christmas newsletter, which is always an Epiphany Edition by the time we get it mailed;
…praying the “O” antiphons;
…and keeping my 18-month-old at bay. If there’s a present, he will unwrap it; if there’s a table, he will scale it; and if there’s a computer keyboard, he will bang it. Have you gotten any strange emails from me this week? If so, that is why.
Stop back later, please, as I don’t have time to post it right now. It’s 8:36 and I need to get my black-skirted bottom out the door!
Updated (after Mass) to Add:
Forgive the fact that this photo’s blurry; my camera’s auto-focus is being weird.
I like this picture for a couple of reasons: one, my baby’s sitting in my lap (as opposed to say, tearing apart a library book—which, I might add, he did do later), and two, my baby’s sitting in my lap.
(as opposed to, say, texting me from his first college class)
(please note that he’s already practicing)
A blessed last week of Advent to you and yours,
I love McDonalds too. I won't judge you.
😛
Enjoy your snow! My kids are jealous!
🙂
Caramel frappe. I'm just saying.
Your 18 month old and mine would get along great. She's trying to mash the keyboard as I type this 🙂 I've also thought of George, and you, and the permanent markers many times this week, as I tried to joyously clean up the (fortunately not permanent) marker marks all over the house 🙂
But they are just so sweet at this age, too – I caved and have let her carry around our tiny baby Jesus, and the way in which she "mothers" him – rocking, swaying, cooing at him, asking me to nurse him, putting him on a diaper to be changed – it doesn't get much sweeter than that. Strangely, her "mothering" Jesus has helped me to get focused, here at the end of Advent.
Sounds wonderful, love the snowman ornament idea. I wish I made more of the opportunities to get to Mass during the week this Advent. Half of my family is battling bad chest colds that were head colds last week. I'm almost thankful that I have to stop and focus on caring for them and whatever last minute stuff that hasn't gotten done – oh well. I just wish my kids weren't suffering!! Finally getting a little bit of snow here today which is making everyone happier if not feeling better yet. Off to make some chicken soup. Have a great day!
We always send out our "Christmas" letter during the Christmas season…send it out before Christmas and it is an Advent letter! See, one can justify procrastination in a number of ways…
God bless you during this final week of preparations!
Love your daybook. WTG on the first one! I'm thinking Epiphany Christmas letter, too. DH hates them, but I hate sending empty cards.
Oh how I relate to some of this.
We don't have snow but, rain for Christmas. That's about as exciting California weather gets…LOL.
Have a blessed week 🙂
Isn't it crazy how the littlest ones pick up on all our gadgets and are able to figure them out so quick! In our house, a hand to the ear doesn't mean an earache, it means 'I'm talking on a cell phone'…
As for judging, well, we don't live near a drive through anything. So, I'll buy the Tazo Chai at the grocery (in big city) to make a treat for myself that tastes like what I could buy at a drive-through. I'm jealous. Yes, I am.
Happy last week of advent! Enjoy the snow and don't spend too much time in lines while you are out and about.
I read that book and loved it. I couldn't put it down. But then, my babies are all grown up and what I wouldn't give to have one of them small enough to sit on my lap again! I know you cherish this time with them. Have a very blessed Christmas:)
A comment, I think my very first one. 🙂
Thanks for sharing your snow! We are technically in WI, but so close to MN we can get there in a few minutes. We have been missed by every, single snowstorm so far this year. Finally this morning we have 1/2 a foot. Yay!
When I've had mid-February babies I've just done a combo Christmas/baby announcement. What's a couple of months?