Just Writing

 Dearest Reader,

I don't have anything profound to say.  I am just writing to me as a kindness to my mental health.  I am a little frustrated with myself lately.  I have just gained so much weight and I look so old and sad.  I am actually really glad about wearing masks even though they are now technically optional especially if you have been vaccinated.  The mask hides my horrible blotchy skin and some sadness.  My house is literally so disgusting to me that I have been making plans in my head on how to stay away and outside as much as possible.  It is time to start up the garden and I just want a big dump truck to take my garage away or, I don't know, someone burn it down?  Ugh...I am hoping things turn around for me, mentally and emotionally, because this sucks.  

Words of hope for myself during this time:

"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen"  Ephesians 3:20-21

Love yourself,

Larissa

Advent at Home

 "Its the beautiful task of Advent to awaken in all of us memories of goodness and thus to open the doors of hope." -Pope Benedict XVI

 

We are smack dab in the middle of Advent.  I am challenging myself to think back on the "memories of goodness" and make a commitment to this season to be more hopeful, reflective, and patient.  I know it is late.  I really wish my life was more put together, but here we are.  I am going to take it as it is.

  

 "Just take everything exactly as it is, put it in God's hands, and leave it with Him." -St. Edith Stein

 

It is so very hard to let go of even the tiniest sliver of control sometimes.  Sometimes I just want people to leave so I can clean the house and then I have to take a deep breathe and love them any way.  One of the biggest things I'd like to put in to God's hands this Advent season is the MESS.  I am so bored and tired of cleaning up after everyone.  He can have this.  I don't care what anyone else thinks.  I say that a lot in my head, but then I end up staying up till 1 or 2 am "making things perfect".  Not this year. 

 

   

"When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed." -Maya Angelou

I had to give my emotions and frustrations to God when my husband thought he had Covid so we didn't see family or actually celebrate Thanksgiving because I had 2 days notice.  I was in so much shock I couldn't wrap my mind around what I was suppose to do and how I was suppose to express all the disappointment.  So my #Giving Tuesday ended up being our Thanksgiving.  In a way I was donating to myself and allowing myself to be thankful for a healthy body (my husband's test came back negative) and a way to heal my emotions and heal my expectations. 

 

 

 "The celebration of Advent is possibly only to those who are troubled in soul, who know themselves to be poor and imperfect, and who look forward to something greater to come." -Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Pastor and Theologian

 

I need to note three areas in my life in need of renewal.  I pray for strength and guidance to make a positive change this Advent even with it being half over.  There is still time for renewal.  I am constantly having to let go of my expectations so number one, I would like to renew my expectations  Number two, I need to renew my prayer life in general.  Number three, I want a renewed sense of peace when it comes to trusting my husband's decisions and trusting my children with their education.   

 

 This year I am using the devotional called Repeat the Sounding Joy by Christopher Ash.  It has been really calming when I can get around to it.  I would like to do it next year with my church <---note to self. 

 

The Lentiest Lent that I ever did Lent

I don't know who originally came up with this but I know I thought it many many times during this journey.  We are already on the second Sunday of Easter but I couldn't help but reflect on what will go down in history as one of the most memorable Lents that ever Lented. 

No sooner had I decided that this Lent I will get out more and volunteer and give up my alone time as a sacrifice to God then God says, "Yeah, but no.  I have a different plan.  I want you to stay home with your family." "Um...okay? Thanks?"

At first I have to admit I was optimistic (this will only last a couple weeks, right?) and hopeful but that quickly turned to frustration and anger (school and church are canceled for the entire month of April and now we might not even go back to school till fall?!?)  But surprisingly it has never once turned to fear.  I am not a super faith giant or anything but fear doesn't envelop me.  Sure, I get a little anxious but mostly because of my own fault not because of the actions of others.  I have complete faith that God will give me what I need ever day- not more, not less.  Covid-19/Cornavirus? Yes, any one in my family could technically get it.  Just because I have faith doesn't mean I or someone in my family couldn't get sick.  I am not naive.  But I trust in the promises of my Savior- He will take care of me HOWEVER that looks.  Also I don't watch or read the news much- I know just enough to be informed- any more and I think I enter into a world where I can not tell truth from fiction any more.  I cease to feel objective so God gives me just the knowledge I need. 

I was frustrated and angry, though,- a handful of time....not gonna lie.  I was partially frustrated about school for my girls.  Especially because we had some choir performances and a couple field trips and because I have learned to love the school environment and getting to volunteer.  Anger has set in because now I feel the burden of scheduling my brood of....to put it nicely....energy challenged, lethargic and languorous children...to form some semblance of productivity.  Not to mention how do we do church at home?  This last one ended up being a lot harder than I thought. 

In this post I will attempt to spill out my feelings and process what happened to Lent 2020 because like Ross from Friends said in "The One with All the Resolutions"...."This year was suppose to be great!"

When last I blogged I quoted Simone Biles "Stay healthy...." and may the peace of the Lord be with you.  This was nearly too prophetic as now all I see are people in masks (trying to stay healthy and keep others healthy) and trying to find a way to be at peace during this order to Stay At Home as far as it is possible.  I had ended on such a positive outlook and little did I know what would happen in the next month. 

Before everything was cancelled I had gotten into a good rhythm of praying and journaling during lunch.  I had an amazing note that was sent to me from my Secret Sister as well which turned out to be the best #Handwritten picture I could hope for.

"I use to equate my personal worthiness with employment, and it took me feeling empty, over and over again, to understand that's not where the real work lies." -Constance Wu, Actress

I was also getting much better and keeping productive and using my time wisely- or so I thought.  I was volunteering at the school every Tuesday and Thursday.  Hermione had a band concert which we happily and joyfully supported, not knowing that this would be the last school event for the school year.

"No act of virtue can be great if it is not followed by advantage for others.  So, no matter how much time you spend fasting, no matter how much you sleep on a hard floor and eat ashes and sigh continually, if you do no good to others, you do nothing great."  -St. John of Chrysostom

We were all living in this blissful world where we were getting ready to go to Seaside for the annual enrichment conference.  It is a vacation for the whole family.  It would also end up being the last time we would be able to be in a large group/gathering (as of April 18th we still have not had a church service which would be over a month ago now).  

On Friday, I got some fish sticks and more beans and rice.  I even grabbed toilet paper- but not in a hoarding way just a regular large pack of toilet paper because we needed toilet paper- simple as that.  As soon as we head home, I thank God that I bought this as I find out people be cray-cray about getting toilet paper.  It never would have occurred to me that THAT would be the thing to have during a pandemic.  

"Good food is very often, even most often, simple food." -Anthony Bourdain

On Saturday, March 7, I am pretty sure I spent the day doing laundry as most weekends before a trip I tend to do.  I didn't take a #Familytime picture because staying home and doing laundry is a boring way to spend the weekend.  I wanted to save that for our trip.

"One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world." -Malala Yousafzai

We get to Seaside on Sunday afternoon and it was beautiful weather.  I took a couple pictures of the family in the car and a couple days later when we got to go get treats and ice cream.

This was one of the best sessions ever. 

Advent 2020

 Dear Reader, 

I am so tired.  I am literally hiding from my family.  2020 is draining me of so much energy and emotions.  The last time I wrote to you things were "normal".  We didn't have to wear masks.  We could go out to eat.  There were no tape lines on the floor to remind you not to stand too close to someone else.  Kids went to school.  We went to church- good times.  Good times that I guess we took for granted.  Now things are different.  Now things are more frustrating and sad and down right confusing.  I am not making light of the situation just stating the facts and my own feelings.  I am trying to process how Covid-19 has challenged and changed me.  I have learned that I am not even half as flexible as I thought I was in my time and where I focus my energy.  Nearly every morning I have woken up and wandered around the house- aimless, goalless, and sullen.  How do I be?  What do I even do?  What is important any more?  Am I just too dramatic?  I don't know the answers.  I just keep going some how.  

So I come to you tired, maybe dramatic, sad, frustrated, angry, worried, annoyed, and the only reason I believe I am here- hopeful, even if it is tiny and often feels like it is fleeting.  Right before Advent this year I was finishing up a devotional and it quoted this “Man can live about forty days without food, about three days without water, about eight minutes without air...but only for one second without hope.”  I am starting to believe this.  I feel like it is the only reason I keep going.  But hope in what, you ask?  Well if you know me, you know.  Jesus.  

Appropriately the first candle of Advent is Hope.  I honestly don't when I will get to literally light it. Our home life right now is more than a little chaotic hence the hiding, but I have to hope in ultimate gift of Christmas.  God is lighting the hope in my heart just a tiny ember at a time.  

I didn't really know how to come back and start writing.  I don't know who reads this.  I write to my past and future self- mostly.  But this is a good a time as any.  

Two days before Thanksgiving my husband thought he had Covid.  He said he couldn't taste or smell things properly.  He went to get tested but now we are self quarantining just in case.  So that means no Thanksgiving dinner with the extended family.  I probably didn't respond very well.  I was in shock.  

 Fast forward to now- we have  negative Covid-19 results and what feels like a million boxes delivered from Amazon and 6 days into Advent with no candle lighting with the family.  I feel alone, but I feel like that a lot so that is nothing new.  It just sometimes hits and hurts harder around the holidays.  I love my family, but I can't make them care about the things I care about.  

Usually I have a reading prepared or attempted, but with everything going on I couldn't summon the energy to make it happen.  It felt disingenuous .  My heart wasn't in it.  

And with that I will leave this cliff hanger....I can't hide any more.  I hope you are having a better time with your family than I am.

Yours truly,

Larissa

Lent from Ashes to Praying with Jane to Recipes

What a beautiful time to be alive!  Maybe this is a strange thing to say while the Corona virus is nonstop news and Lent is often a time to reflect on our mortality- memento mori, anyone? But right now for me at this exact moment I am feeling beautiful, content, warm, and filled. 

The season of Lent is an extremely special time for me.  I try my very best to set aside distractions- limit mindless TV watching and Internet scrolling.  I make simple meals consisting mostly of rice and beans.  I participate in a photo challenge that connects me with my brothers and sisters around the world.  I keep my heart and mind focused on serving God.  Should I be living like this every day?  Maybe- but I know I will slip up.  Lent lets me start over in a way the New Year never can.  I find Jesus and his examples fresh and new.  Last year, Lent didn't really happen even when I needed it so desperately- sure, I went to Ash Wednesday service and took a picture or two but mostly I was depressed and navigating the world of Type 1 Diabetes with Lucy.  I gave myself grace and I am hoping that God did too. 

But this year is so completely different and my spirit feels refreshed.  I was especially inspired by two articles HERE and HERE.  In the past I have been a lot more cautious about sharing my Lenten experiences with my fellow Baptists.  Baptists are not known for being particularly kind or sensitive to anything Catholic.  I, myself, had some terrible misconceptions and judgements about Catholicism.  But this year, I feel like shouting it from the rooftops.  I don't know how you can appreciate Easter without Lent.  I think Henry Nouwen said it best, "How often have I lived through these weeks without paying much attention to penance, fasting, and prayer? How often have I missed the spiritual fruits of the season without even being aware of it? But how can I ever really celebrate Easter without observing Lent?"  It changes me.  It is like medicine for my weary soul.

And with that I would like to share some of that journey with you right now.

  
On the first day of Lent I prepared my heart and mind to receive the Ashes.  I fasted and read my Bible and prayed.  I have gone to Immaculate Conception some years, but the past two I have been going to Saint Boniface.  I take Lucy because it is our tradition.  The first time I went to receive the ashes with my then 3 year old I researched like crazy because I didn't know the responses and when to kneel and when to stand.  I didn't even know if non-Catholics were allowed to receive ashes.  I have learned SO much since that time.  It doesn't even feel awkward any more.

"Through fasting and praying, we allow him to come and satisfy the deepest hunger that we can experience in the depths of our being: The hunger and thirst for God."

-Pope Benedict XVI

This year I have chosen to give up sleeping in.  I will wake up at least an hour before the sunrise every day dressed and with my Bible in my lap to the best of my ability.  This will be tested especially on the weekend and when we go to Seaside next week.  But thanks to my alarm on my cellphone it should be attainable.  

On the second day of Lent I volunteered in my daughter's 5th grade classroom for most of the day, but I am looking forward to attending mass on Friday.  I have been attending mass on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays when my husband doesn't need the car.  

I am using Professor Grant Horner's Bible Reading System.  I don't always get all 10 chapters read but at least this time I have a check list so I know where I am.  This is my favorite system to read the Bible because you get all the different types of literature.  It has great variety and I enjoy the challenge.  

"Prayer is not asking for what you think you want, but asking to be changed in ways you can't even imagine." 

-Kathleen Norris, Author

I finding this quote to be particularly true as I have been learning to pray the Rosary which I have been praying on my own and after mass with a group of strangers with whom I am blessed to participate in these mysteries.  

On the the third day of Lent I am focused on getting my CRS Ricebowl for 2020.  I didn't get one last year and I love reading the stories and mini devotionals and cooking the meals that connect me to my global family.  Since it is Friday that means FISH!  

I usually make fish sticks every Friday along with a recipe from CRS.  CRS stands for Catholic Relief Services and it is a tool to help recognize the world and how we can help with donations.  It is just a little cardboard box and you put money it during Lent.  They also provide a little calendar with prompts and devotionals and recipes and the website also shows stories about people whose lives are being changed as they gain access to education, food, clean water, and sometimes training.  I love this tool.  It is so tangible.  My husband found a different version (I guess you could call it a Protestant version) similar to this called Eat Rice and Beans.  I might order the book and see if I should change things up.  But for now I will still with CRS Rice Bowl.  

"When you give, give generously and not with a stingy heart; for that, the Lord, you God will bless you in all your works and undertakings."

-Deuteronomy 15:10

I am planning on giving to our church, to CRS Rice Bowl, and to one other undecided charity as of yet.  I am leaning towards a charity that makes clean water more accessible. 

On the fourth day of Lent I am so worn out from waking up so early and volunteering 2 days a week at the elementary school that I praise God that I started taking a couple of my Lent pictures early this year.  It hailed like crazy and I spent most of the day prepping for my Sunday school class.

"Lent is a time of going very deeply into ourselves...What is it that stands between us and God?  Between us and our brothers and sisters?  Between us and life, the life of the Spirit?"

-Catherine Doherty, Catholic Social Worker

I tried to get a family conversation going about supporting each other in our Lenten goals but honestly it didn't go much of any where, but I am okay with that.  

On the first Sunday of Lent, I am up and ready to teach.  I leave a gift for my Secret Sister and I took pictures of a few pictures of my Parish and a picture of part of the bulletin board I am working on.

"What is a friend? It is a single soul dwelling in two bodies."

-Aristotle

Unfortunately I did not get to pray with a friend.  I didn't even go to service because I was so focused on finishing our bulletin board which we didn't even get all done, but I am really proud of what we did get done.  

On the fifth day of Lent, I had not slept particularly well but still made it to mass and did some grocery shopping.  

"The bread which you hold back belongs to the hungry, the coat which you guard in your closet belongs to the naked."

-St. Basil the Great

I was so incredibly tired that I collapsed into bed before 10 and was very cranky.  I need to remember to donate some clothes to a donation center some time during Lent.

On the sixth day of Lent, I woke up very refreshed.  I volunteered in the 2nd grade class room.  I got home at noon to do my prayers and devotions.  Since this is the year of Jane Austen reading I was very excited to do this devotional during Lent.  

"Stay healthy, have fun with it, and embrace all the moments.  Because anything can happen."

-Simone Biles, Gymnast

The challenge today was to get in 10,000 steps.  I doubt I got very close, but did make many trips to the copy room- much more walking then I would do on any normal day!  

I have so much more of this Lenten journey to go.  I am more in love with my Jesus and my faith every single day!   "What a priveldge to carry everything to God in prayer."  Amen and may the peace of the Lord be with you. 

Advent Day 22 Hope

 "Christmas is a season for kindling the fire for hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart." -Washington Irving

Hospitality is something I sorely need to work on and the holidays remind me of that failing, but I do love a challenge.  I think I will stick with inviting my kids' friends because I still have to work on making my own friends and being comfortable with what God has given me.  It is a constant battle.  Is the house clean? Do I have decent furniture? Am I saying stupid things?  Did I not offer something for them to drink? Am I boring you with my constant chattering?  Any way, I will accept the grace of God especially with how close we already are to Christmas!!! Squee!!!!

Today I taught Sunday school.  The emphasis was on Jesus Christ being eternal.  I kept the lesson short so the kids could have time to play and snack on Christmas treats from the snack table.  We had a beautiful church service and special music.  Since today's prompt was hope I already knew what I was going to take a picture of.  In fact I basically already took a picture of it.  But I took a better one.  Way back at the beginning of this Advent season our Sunday school class made ornaments that said "Jesus is our Hope"  I have loved looking at them every since and the reminder of it is absolutely 100 percent relevant- ALWAYS.  Our Hope is Jesus- not this world, not the government, not our family, not even our church.  JESUS- he is our love, our light, our reason.  Sometimes it just seems so simple, but I think it needs to be repeated.  

I spent almost all day working on the recap post of week 3 of Advent and making lunch and dinner and researching Hanukah.  As if I didn't have more to do!!!  It certainly isn't something I HAVE to do.  I enjoy different traditions and rituals so much that I can't seem to help myself!  Below is a longish video but I loved that it was a Christian perspective and every year I want to try to add a little bit more. 

First Night of Hanukah 

   

We did buy our first menorah.  We have actually had Hanukah candles waiting to be lit for I want to say about 3-4 years.  We were always just a little low on funds or time, but I planned much better this year.  So at least I get to light the candles and say the blessings even if no one else in my family will.  

At the very least I will try to read a Hanukah related book every night during the week- well I might have to double or triple up since the 8 crazy nights run into Christmas.  I would really like some dreidels, gelt, latkes, matzo ball soup, sufganiyot, challah etc.. but you can't have everything and I certainly have already exceeded my food budget.  

My girls and I did read some Little House in the Big Woods and lest you think our family is calm and we regularly get a long and this all runs smoothly....well, no, this time is not serine at all.  Someone is always getting angry, picking a fight, arguing over the cellphone, and general unrest no matter how much I try to keep their hands busy during read aloud.  In fact, one kid regularly just up and leaves much of the time.  I am determined to do it no matter what.  

Lastly, we watched Klaus on Netflix and it was super, amazing and adorable!!  I laughed so much and even cried some.  I highly recommend it.  We had hot chocolate and just a little more arguing but I even with all the squabbles I wouldn't trade my family for the world.  

I hope you are having a loving and maybe a less chaotic and a more harmonious Advent than I am having, but with much cuddling, hot chocolate, and plenty of lighted candles.  

 Love, 

Larissa Langsather

 

Advent Week 3

Dearest Reader,

Joy- this week's Advent theme and it also is usually my birthday, anniversary, and last week of school till winter break all rolled in there for good measure (also Jane Austen's birthday but that is just an aside that I love plugging in).  This week was unpredictable but good.

Day 15
Sunday, December 15, 2019 aka Guadete Sunday

"Cling to joy, audacious joy, that looks for light in everything, even your waiting." -Morgan Harper Nicholas, artist and singer

Today I teach my Sunday school class on the joy of Christmas with searching for candy canes and decorating our class tree and making more ornaments.  Unfortunately most of my class was absent or sick and it was just my kids in class.  Still, joy remains.  We prayed for those who were sick and I hope my girls learned that joy is not the same as happiness.  The photo prompt for the day was rejoice and we rejoiced in putting up the tree and decorating it.

   

This was a good day to relax and write while the Youth Group had a Christmas party.

Day 16
Monday, December 16, 2019- my 37th birthday and 13th wedding anniversary!

"There's room for everyone on the Nice List!" -Buddy the Elf

Not gonna lie- I didn't really get to do anything I wanted to do.  I didn't even really rest and it was my birthday!  But I have learned to be okay with that- finally.  Normally I would probably get a little more whiny about it.  I spent more time on the phone than I wanted to and I had to hang out at the pharmacy AND I had to grocery shop.  PLUS two of my kids said they were "sick".  I put sick in quotation marks because it was just mild sore throats, runny nose, and very mild coughs.  They were running around the house and fighting- they were not REALLY sick.  They might have been extra tired though and I was not in a mood to fight with them so I let them stay home.  Also I felt a little nervous that it COULD turn into something worse.  FYI- it didn't!  But I talked them into letting me watch Little House "A Christmas They Never Forgot" so that was nice.  I did get some sweet presents and bought myself doughnuts to share.  I got Harry Potter socks from a friend, a fluffy blanket from my husband and kids, a book (Northanger Abbey) from a friend, and bunch of leggings also from my husband.  I also got a pizza because after all this time pizza is still my favorite dinner.  My husband and I got to go out in late November so it is all good.  Tired, but good.

The picture prompt for the day was Advent art and Lucy painted this beautiful picture.

Day 17

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

"It is now, at Advent, that I am given the chance to suspend all expectation...and instead to reveal in the mystery." -Jerusalem Jackson Greer, author and blogger

I am pretty sure this was the day I took a very long nap after dropping the girls off at school.  I do remember watching all three movies from A Christmas Prince back to back!

It helped that the cousins came over to play.  I got a lot of dishes done!  We lit the 3rd candle which is pink in case you were wondering. 

The photo prompt for the day was angel.  I took a picture of some of our seasonal reads that have angels in them B is for Bethlehem, Country Angel Christmas, and December.  

Day 18

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

"Patience can't be acquired overnight.  It is just like building up a muscle.  Every day you need to work on it." -Eknath Easwaran, Spiritual teacher and author

I think I spent a lot of time reading and listening to the O Antiphons which I will just link my actual Catholic friend to explain it.  I actually grew up with her in real life in a homeschool group in Hawaii and she has taught me so much about the Catholic faith!  Her blog is called Barefoot Abbey and here she is explaining The Christmas Novena

I found some great Youtube video playlists as well.  

I would probably take the time to link them properly and in order but I just wanted to give you a taste and I want to remember them for next Advent.

Christmas cookies was the picture prompt of the day and while I thought about making some I wasn't in the mood to mess up and clean up the kitchen plus little did I know that Lucy was on a mission to find matching pajamas for everyone.  It was a little too late for that as most of the pajamas were sold out and if I knew this was such a big deal I would have done it much earlier.  Instead she decided to get some Christmas presents for her teachers.  We picked up some cookie kits for later next week too.

Day 19
Thursday, December 19, 2019- Opening of Star Wars The Rise of Skywalker

"Christmas is a baby shower that went overboard." -Andy Borowitz, TV Writer

Laundry was backed up so bad that I spent all day folding and rotating the clothes from the washer to the dryer. I know I should do a better job at this, but oh well.  It was nice to have a lot of extra leggings now, though.  We were going to the movies!

The picture of the day was warmth and I thought about trying to tie it in to Star Wars but I ultimately didn't.  I didn't want to be distracted trying to think about that while watching the movie.  I really enjoyed it!  There was only one really weird thing, but there were so many great things that I think it out weighs the one odd thing.  See? I am not spoiling it.  I ended up taking a picture of Hermione making a last minute present for some one at school.  It was one of those sweater cookies and she looked so warm in her sweats. 

Day 20
Friday, December 20, 2019

 "Just remember, the true spirit of Christmas lies in your heart." -The Polar Express

This is the day I took the mission to find matching pajamas seriously.  I went to both the Targets in my area (and might I add the traffic was crazy especially because the shopping area just opened an In-N-Out Burger place) and ended up pretty much achieving the goal.  But next time if this is a thing it definitely needs to be done first.  I wished I had had time to go to the Dollar Tree or grocery shopping because I still should round out the stockings but I am mostly done.  One of the big reasons I was wanting to complete this goal was the picture of the day was Christmas jammies and I knew exactly what I wanted the photo to look like.  Goal achieved!

I spent the evening with a friend so that one my daughters could have someone to play with.  We played Hallmark Bingo with Christmas At Grand Valley.  We never made a Bingo but I got VERY close.  It was a fun night!

Day 21- First Day of Winter
Saturday, December 21, 2019

"Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul--and sings the tunes without the words--and never stops at all." -Emily Dickinson

We usually spend the weekend cleaning up so this wasn't really an exception.  My husband's twin sister and her husband and my mother-in-law stopped by for a quick visit before our official Christmas get together.  I wasn't really sure what to do about the prompt community as I REALLY didn't want to go out and I was having trouble coming up with an idea.  The family watched Olaf's Frozen Adventure and Noelle on Disney+ last night. 

I still hadn't come up with an idea for the picture of the day until I remembered that I had been at our church's clothing closet to see if there were any Christmas sweaters.  I found a great one that seemed great for my middle child- Ariana.  She loved it!  I thought as long as I take a picture of her in the sweater and mark it as using a community service clothing closet that would be perfect! 

Ended the day prepping for my Sunday school lesson.  What a joyful week even without a cake!

Joy to you,

Larissa Langsather

PS I can't remember if I have talked about our Harry Potter Lego Advent!  We have been having fun as you can see!