I only just finished the post Advent Week 1 and in only 2 DAYS week 2 will be over so I thought if it took me that long to write and post the last one I might as well get started now. This one won't be officially posted till late Saturday night or Sunday morning. But like I said with my slowness I am getting started now.
Advent Week 2
Day 8
Sunday, December 8, 2019
"If you ever feel distressed during your day, call upon Our Lady. Just say this simple prayer: 'Mary, Mother of Jesus, please be a mother to me now.' I must admit, this prayer has never failed me." -Saint Teresa of Calcutta
I have started many days this week with the Our Father followed by a Hail, Mary. It focuses me. It is truly a blessing to know we have both a Mother and Father with us always even when our earthly parents are far away.
This day was a busy one! I taught my Sunday school class about the peace and preparation of Christmas. We made ornaments. My class prepared to sing Christmas songs in church. They did so well!
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| The Children's Nutcracker at the Elisnore Theater |
The picture of the day was a giving tree. I have never had the privilege to participate in my church's Angel Tree, mostly because all the families are picked before I even have a chance, but I love that someone takes the time to do this every year and that there are many generous people in our church.
Our family just keeps the good times rolling. We went to Pietro's to meet with Grandma Cheri for a mini birthday celebration for Lucy because she loves mini-golf. Then we went to the Children's Nutcracker with a few cousins. And the exciting life of a Type 1 Diabetic around the holidays took an especially annoying turn when during the performance Lucy said her blood sugar was low. Of course this is the time I have nothing in my purse so I quickly buy her a Snicker's bar from the concession stand. Crisis averted, but I scold myself- you should always have a snack in your purse.
This is also one of those weeks where we can not forget that Lucy has T1D but more about that later in this post.
The day ends with me taking a nap and Ariana opening the Harry Potter Lego Advent calendar. We didn't even light the second candle. Oh well! Mother Mary, pray for us!
Day 9
Monday, December 9, 2019
"Advent is the time of promise; it is not yet the time of fulfillment. We are still in the midst of everything...It is still far off still, and only just announced and foretold. But it is happening, today." -Alfred Delp, Jesuit Priest
Today is Lucy's 3 month regular visit to her endocrinologist in Portland. This is a mostly an all day type thing. It takes about 1 hour and 15-20 minutes, depending on traffic, to drive there, but the appointment is usually short. Lucy's meter has been needing a battery change and no matter how hard I tried I could not change it so thankful for the nurses there. It is times like this when Advent feels like it is put on the back burner, but it is also times like this when we need to be reminded that this is all temporary and Jesus is coming one way or another.
This night we were so blessed in a different and unique way. The picture of the day was festive tunes which perfectly fits because we got to listen to the Uhuru Youth Choir. They did not sing "Christmas songs" per se but any song that praises God is basically a Christmas song so that makes them festive tunes. It was amazing to hear the songs and see the energy and be inspired by their stories of survival in refugee camps in Africa (mostly Tanzania, if I remember correctly). I loved it, but we still never got to light the second candle!
Day 10
Tuesday, December 10, 2019
"People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone." -Audrey Hepburn
Today is the day, I think, we can slow down just enough to light the second candle. But there are so many chores to do and grocery shopping takes forever. It is also the weekly play date for Ariana and Ruby which is ultimately helpful because it gives me time to shop but I still take way too long and dinner is super late.
The picture of the day is My Spiritual Hero which is a bit of a struggle for me, but I land on the Catholic moms who blog about the liturgical year and make available the beautiful printables especially St. Andrew's Christmas Novena which I have been trying to pray as often as possible (traditionally it is prayed 15x a day from November 30th to December 24th). A much longer day than I anticipated- still no second candle light.
Day 11
Wednesday, December 11, 2019
"Food is our common ground--a universal experience." -James Beard
A very true quote indeed. I was determined to get things on track. I cleaned up the kitchen and rewarded myself with peppermint scones and peppermint tea because the picture of the day was peppermint something. But some joy was stolen when I had to call in a prescription for Lucy which would not be available till the next day after 2pm- yikes for a Type 1 Diabetic! I had waited to call this one in because I didn't want to get chewed out again for calling in a prescription too early. This whole balancing act is getting very stressful but I deal with it. Make a few phone calls and find out a pharmacy does have her insulin and the doctor will approve it for this emergency situation. So I think it will all work out when I pick it up after school. Little do I know that it is going to take approximately 5 more phone calls and repeating her birthday for what feels like 20,000 times to get her medicine. I didn't get home till 5pm and quickly gave up on dinner by picking up some fried chicken. Again, the second candle does not get lit- keeping it real, folks!
Day 12
Thursday, December 12, 2019
I wait on the Lord, my soul does wait, and in his word I hope. -Psalm 130:5
Today is the day! I will not have to go out in the evening! We will light the second candle! This time it does happen. I am determined to be restful and contemplative. I write out the Advent Week 1 post and listen to the song of Our Lady of Guadalupe. I reconnect with my girls after school and we get a few chores done. Praise God! The verse of the day is perfect. I waited with hope for this time and it has happened. After dinner the older girls take their showers and Lucy and I cuddle up with a few picture books.
After everyone is in bed I almost forget about the picture of the day- TBT (Throwback Thursday) Memorable Gift. I take a picture of our washing machine because 2 years ago we were gifted it after ours started smelling like burning rubber. Plus I had to add an extra picture to brag about my awesome gift from my friend from church. It was a good, much less stressful, day!
Day 13
Friday, December 13, 2019
"Remember, George. No man is a failure who has friends." -Clarence, "It's a Wonderful Life"
I did spend most of all day writing, reflecting and occasionally cooking/eating. I didn't even take the picture for the day even though I knew what I wanted to take a picture of. The picture of the day was generosity and when I look at our nativity set I think of a couple who were extremely generous to us when we couldn't really afford anything for Christmas. They gave us a cute little tree and a nativity set. It really brightened up our life and I remember it every year.
Day 14
Saturday, December 14, 2019
"The worst gift is a fruitcake. There is only one fruitcake in the entire world and people keep sending it to each other." -Johnny Carson
What a week! Santa came in the fire truck handing out peanuts and oranges and chocolates. We topped it off with our town's Christmas tree lighting and I even sang carols on stage with a few people from our church! I loved the bon fire and the soup. It was a very fun night but I think I am still recovering from it.
Since the picture of the day is hustle and bustle I just have to choose one of the many pictures I took of us out and about!
I didn't really intend for things to look and get so busy. But I am thankful for God giving me the ability to be fully present while not having to think about the stress of buying presents because we got that done early. I can enjoy the singing. I can take a break if I need to because the nagging feelings of doing enough and being enough are gone- at least for this season!
I hope you are having a blessed Advent and take time to pray and sing and be!
Continue waiting in hope from,
Larissa Langsather
