wait

The anticipation is killing my husband. He said the little sign on our mantle is his hope and motivation. Why is it so hard to wait?

The pressure to decorate and celebrate pushes harder each year...as evidenced to me by Black Friday intruding on Thanksgiving.

It is so counter cultural to wait. It is like my own rebellious little fast.

Thus far we have a rosemary Jessie tree, a few lights on the mantle and two purple signs to remind us to hold off.

Happy Advent!

St Andrew Christmas Novena

This morning at prayer group one of the older women told me about the most beautiful prayer.  As she recited the words she teared up.  She told me of many miracles she has witnessed in her life from this novena.

When I came home I looked it up and discovered it is associated with St Andrew.  The Saint Andrew prayer starts on his feast day, November 30th and is recited 15 times a day until Christmas.

What a beautiful and perfect way for our family to enter in to the season of Advent!

A few years ago I was inspired to celebrate Advent and withhold Christmas celebrations for closer to the liturgical season.  It is so tough!  Especially now as Rosie asks me daily to get our tree, hang up a wreath, hang lights, etc.  My husband is surrounded by Christmas music at work and has to "turn that off" when he comes home.  I found this cute picture on Facebook:

I need to find ways to help our family CELEBRATE Advent.  So, we will start with the novena.  Hopefully add some family prayer time to our evenings and carve out a little more time for family fun. 

(JBTC, I just read your blog with info on the devotion!)

  

what we've been up to (in pictures)

In the last 3 1/2 weeks we have:

Driven to Chicago and Back (round trip 26 hours) to visit our 93 year old pra-Busia (great grandmother)

Celebrating Thanksgiving Mass in the Nursing Home with my Brother in Law as celebrant

Stopped at the Flight 93 Memorial on the way home

Boulder Marks Impact Site

Marble Wall marks the Flight Path

and unborn child

I hosted and was the MC at our Advent by Candlelight for ~175 women

Then we hugged Catie and Papa goodbye, drove to Maryland and flew home to Florida for a long weekend


Celebrated Augie's 2nd Birthday in FL with grandparents, aunt, uncle and cousin (and papa via skype)



Threw a baby shower for my sister in law, I made these for my Niece, idea from That's My Letter

Met up with a friend from Alabama

(pic to follow)

Flew Home

Decorated for Christmas, Cleaned House and Celebrated Catie's First Birthday with a Polish Feast (thanks to my husband, our caterer) 

Happy Birthday Catie girl!

And now...we are putting our feet up a bit and preparing for a quiet Christmas. 

Happy 4th week of Advent!