I defy anyone to listen to Michael W. Smith’s “Angels We Have Heard on High” and not have their spirits lifted.
Category: Advent
Gaudete
So far, it’s been a disappointing day. The high point was singing at Mass with the folk group; my schedule hasn’t permitted that during the first 2 weeks of Advent and won’t next weekend either. I’d much rather play than sit in a pew. (So would Big Brother, who is volunteering to attend Mass twice on Christmas Day–once because the 9 AM Mass is for his grandfather, so we’re all going to that one, and then back for the 11 to play with the folk group.)
Otherwise, my mood is matching the rainy, cold, crummy weather.
I’d rather be watching Middle Sister’s basketball game. But I am supposed to be stringing lights on the Christmas tree so that later we can decorate.
I’m not in a stringing-lights kind of mood. Not even with the Michael W. Smith “Christmas” album to motivate me.
I need to find a way to rejoice today, despite a rather difficult houseguest situation that is going to resolve itself in a “not a happy ending” kind of way very soon; despite the weather; despite all of it.
I can’t let the Devil get the better of my Gaudete Sunday.
A stroke of genius
If I do say so myself.
I hated not to make the Advent paper chain this year, but I was really behind on brainstorming a special thing per day.
And I was dreading the whole “who gets custody of the Advent wreath” argument that we have EVERY SINGLE DAY for the entire season (in my book, that’s part of the reason for the penitential purple).
So…I made the chain. But instead of writing in an activity for the day, I wrote in ONE name of a family member. That person gets to light the Advent candle before we say grace at dinner. That person also gets to blow the candle out. If that person is not home for dinner that night, Mom and Dad get candle duty. There will be no do-overs, trades or other alterations to the schedule. (The Great Oz has spoken. That would be me.)
I can’t believe it took me this long to figure out an easy way to end all those candle arguments.
I don’t want to fail Advent this year
There’s been a lot of other stuff going on. I’m getting over the pre-Black-Friday craziness that goes along with my writing job, and I’m hoping that things stay calm as Christmas approaches. (OK, I can hope!)
We’ve got another year of “every piece of music until the Communion Song is new or almost-new” (things that were new last year in Advent count as almost-new, as singing them for only 4 weeks and then not all the rest of the year does not get you familiar with a song). That’s frustrating and discouraging. And people can’t sing along.
I’ve had some health concerns, which will be resolved soon. Gotta get through Christmas first, though. Nothing to get too worried about, unless you’re me, because I’m a professional worrier.
So I did dig through the Christmas Closet in the basement. I have a weird closet in there. It’s about 3 feet wide and 18 inches deep. I keep all the Rubbermaid tubs full of Christmas decorations in there, as well as Christmas wrapping paper. Nothing else would fit in there anyway, and this works well for me. Anyway, I found the Advent wreath, candles, and Nativity. That’s all I need for tomorrow.
But usually I overachieve a little more during Advent. Usually I make the Advent paper chain, although looking back at last year, I didn’t get that done then either. I think the kids missed it. I don’t know if I have any purple paper. If not, maybe I’ll just have to write with pink and purple marker on white paper and call it a day.
It’s going to be a weird Advent. I’ll only be singing one Sunday out of 4; this week we are “off” due to other folk-group members’ vacation and work schedules. Next week is Big Brother’s Eagle Scout ceremony, and I won’t be able to sing at noon Mass and prepare for a 2:00 ceremony. So early Mass it is next week. Same for the last Sunday of Advent, which is our Greccio celebration with the Secular Franciscans. I’m going to need to be there earlier than a noon Mass would let me get there.
Now if only my kids would behave themselves around the candles, it’ll be all good. I’m not betting on that, though. And I’m not looking forward to the fights over who gets to light (and blow out) the candles. Maybe I’ll let the kids have a week at a time.
More Reasons
…why this may be the last year I put Real Candles in the Advent Wreath:
Match placement by Middle Sister.
Fire by Big Brother.
Heart attack by SFO Mom.
Advent: Where Table Manners and Fire Collide
As usual, my kids are finding ways to sink to a new low around the Advent wreath.
I’m spending a lot of time employing the Mom Glare in the vain hope that it will discourage the Big Kids from putting out the candle with a wet finger–mostly because I don’t want Little Brother trying this.
And then, overheard tonight: “I like to put the candle out with my spit.”
This is where we parents say the kinds of things we never thought we’d need to say: “No spitting on the Advent Wreath!”
Next year, I’m thinking we’ll switch to battery-operated candles. They’re not only safer, they’re more hygienic.
We Never Get the Advent We’re Hoping For
I’ve been noticing a theme among many of the moms whose blog I visit: this is not the Advent we had planned. For some of us, it’s due to sick children; for others, there are other circumstances that have made this Advent not go as planned. (And we’re only 4 days in!)
Jane observed,
I’m finding myself getting–not necessarily the Advent I hoped for–but in some ways, the Advent of quiet solitude and prayerful reflection perhaps I need.
I never thought I’d quote the Rolling Stones in a post about Advent–but Jane’s thoughts sound suspiciously like
You can’t always get what you want
You can’t always get what you want
You can’t always get what you want
But if you try sometimes you might find
You get what you need.
Fr. Tommy Lane, a faculty member at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, observes,
“Sometimes we pray for what we want and instead God gives us what we need. What we need is not always what we want but God in his provident mercy gives us what we need.”
So, I didn’t get the Advent Chain done this year. I was late getting the stable and the wreath set up. And in many ways, I feel like I’m a few steps behind, and getting “behinder” at every turn.
It’s Advent. Will we ever be truly ready? Probably not. Jesus came to a world that was certainly not ready for Him. There wasn’t even any room in the inn in Bethlehem, and surely Mary wasn’t too thrilled about making a census-related journey late in her pregnancy. Christmas will come whether or not we have found the perfect candles for our wreath or the perfect gift for our kids’ teachers. We know this, because the first Christmas came in a less-than-perfect manner. Even the Grinch learned this lesson:
“‘It came without ribbons! It came without tags! It came without packages, boxes or bags!…Maybe Christmas,’ he thought, ‘doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more!'”
I think Advent is less about preparation and more about trust. “Preparation” implies that we are concentrating on the worldly, the material. “Trust” demands that we concentrate on our souls, let go of our need to have everything perfect, and reflect upon the beautiful gift of the first Christmas.
SFO Mom Fails Advent
As Big Brother would say, I failed.
We had company today and it was a very nice time. But I was busy focusing on getting dinner served…and not on getting that Advent wreath onto the table with candles ready to light. I also didn’t get that empty manger onto the living room shelf.
I’ve got plenty to do tomorrow, including making up for what I did not get done today.
I guess birthday candles for one of our young visitors don’t count toward Advent, do they?
Blessings of Advent
I dug through the Christmas closet and found the Advent wreath and the Nativity scene. Both will be placed in their usual spots tomorrow.
If you want to decorate your BLOG for Advent, just visit The Curt Jester and pick up his Advent wreath and Christmas counter! Just another free-of-charge service from one Catholic blogger to the rest of us. Thanks, Jeff!
Wishing you and yours a very blessed season.
It’s Pink Candle Sunday!
Time to decorate the tree. But first I have to do the “check every bulb” thing and replace the ones that don’t work, and in some cases unwind the entire string from the branches where we left it last year, and redo that section. If TheDad doesn’t think the tree looks “X-rayed” when the lights are on, then I have not accomplished my mission. I think there are a dozen strings of lights on the tree.
Little Brother is driving us crazy wanting to unwrap the ornaments now. Middle Sister is going to the movies with a friend, and is a little put out that we said she had to be home by 7:30 so we can do the ornaments. Big Brother is ignoring all the proceedings, having fulfilled his first role of “Beast of Burden” carrying the tree inside. He’ll get into it later when it’s time to hang things on the highest branches.
I think it’s time to put on some Christmas music. Maybe Mannheim Steamroller; maybe Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Something to string lights by.
Gaudete!