St. Andrew Christmas Novena

My life is sometimes chaotic.  I have 3 kids...18, 14 & 13.  Teenagers.  Enough said. 

Sometimes I feel like a maid, a cook, a taxi driver, a teacher, a doctor/nurse, therapist, disciplinarian, a judge and yes....sometimes I even feel like a parole officer!  In the end, it's all good.  I'm tired, and gray haired but there isn't anything special about that.  Aren't we all tired?  And if we live long enough, we'll all be gray. 

I try to do all sorts of things leading up to Advent.  Then, during Advent, I try to do many more things.  Let's face it, it's a busy time of year.  Some years I'm more successful at pulling these "things" off.  More times than not, I suck.  I'm a colossal procrastinator and I rarely finish anything I start.  You have no idea how many journals and planners I've begun on January 1st....and lost interest on the 3rd.  Too many to count.

This is going to be one of those "leaner" years.  I'm simply out of steam.  Thankfully, my kids are older and require a lot less fuss.  Still, Advent has always been and always will be, a spiritual thing.  Contemplating the time in history when the Son of God was born, in the flesh, is significant and this fact tends to get "overlooked" by most. 

Sometimes, I just sit and stare at the manger scene.  It fascinates me.  I try to imagine being there...what it might have been like.  For me, as a Catholic, what happened on Christmas and what happened on Easter, is everything.

So, in light of all of that, I want to share with you today a simple way of preparing for Christmas.  I say simple, because it is and it's all that I'm going to do this year.  Really.  Of course we have traditions that we will always do (St. Nicholas Day, Advent Wreath, decorations, baking etc), but this will be the ONE THING that I will do for myself.  Give yourself the favor of praying a Christmas Novena.

Being Thankful

Today is the Monday after Thanksgiving 2018.  Truthfully, it was pretty much the same as many of the Thanksgivings I've celebrated.  You know the drill....turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, green beans...and the list goes on.  My sister-in-law hosted...again.  Her house is large and we had over 20 people there!  My small house couldn't handle it. 

This year was special though, as we also celebrated my father-in-law's 90th birthday!  It was a wonderful day and he is an incredible man.  After we had eaten, and after he had opened all of his presents, he made a little speech.  He said that after 90 years, he knew he did something right when he looks around and sees his family.  4 children, 14 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild.  He talked about how when he was younger, he would look in the mirror every morning and say to himself "Do your very best today".  And then, at the end of the day, he would return to the mirror after contemplating his day and say, "you DID do your very best today".  The thing about this little speech was....no one was listening.  After he had opened the last present, everyone returned to their conversations.  Some returned to the football game on T.V.  But I was listening.  He made me tear up.  What a special man.  My husband and his siblings have no idea how incredibly blessed they are to still have BOTH of their parents.  They just celebrated 65 years of marriage.  They are both 90 years old and going strong...albeit slightly slower. 

My father died when I was 17.  I miss him just as much today as I did 36 years ago.  My mom died in 2006, I was 41. I'm 53 now....parentless.  My only sibling, my sister, died in 2015.  I feel like I'm orphaned.  Yes, I have a loving husband and 3 children who I adore.  I have extended family and many friends who I love as if they were family.  But, there is something missing in my life.

As I contemplate the things I'm thankful for in this holiday season, I don't want to lose sight of my many blessings.  Today, I am most thankful for this family that I married into....specifically my husband's parents.  I have no idea how much longer I'll have with them, but I will enjoy each and every moment.  Life circumstances took my parents way too young, but God has allowed me two beautiful people to step into their shoes for the last 21 years of my life.  I couldn't be more grateful.

Just Wondering

I'm seriously contemplating returning to this space.  I feel like writing was therapeutic for me.  I didn't always use the right words or construct the best sentences, but I was speaking from the heart.  I always felt as if a weight had been lifted after posting.  Perhaps it's time to begin the journey...again.

I'm not so sure that people even read blogs anymore.  When I started my blog, 10 or so years ago, Facebook was just beginning.  Since then, social media has boomed and communicating is much easier, albeit less personal.

I guess it isn't important if anyone reads my words.  But, it will be important for me to write them. So, on this day before Thanksgiving 2018, I will continue my search for the Joy in the Journey.