Advent???

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I'm still learning what Advent is all about even though we began making it a part of our Christmas celebration about 10 years ago.

At church there was a wreath with five candles. Each week a family was chosen to light the candle and read scripture. That was my introduction to Advent. We had been attending this church for about 10 years and that was a first. What is Advent??? My husband and I decided that we should make more of our Christmas experience by adding a time of Advent. Our children were all grown at that time but we knew that food would bring them together....so the next year when our church brought out the Advent wreath and lit the candles - we followed it with dinner together at my house and we lit our first Advent wreath.





The tradition has continued now, I think, for 10 years. (My blogger, organized daughter told me to document the years as they went by....I didn't, so I'm not sure how many it has been.) Yesterday, we celebrated with 13 of us in attendance. The highchair has been a part of our dinners now for the last 6 years as we add God's little blessings to our family. I'm tired when the night is over, but being together - eating, laughing, and most of all focusing on the events surrounding Christ's birth has added a deeper Christmas experience for me personally and I pray for my family also.



This year I am taking it a step further for myself. I am doing personal time each day. Today was the first. I really had to force myself not to think about the things I needed and wanted to do. I sat down, forgot time...

First Advent Dinner/2007

My family just left. We had a great time together. D.Sr. and I have been preparing for this day all week. We want the little ones (7,5,4,3,10 mo.) to start being a part of our day.

Today, the focus was on Hope. We started with coloring the word HOPE on paper, then we cut it out and hung the letters on the wall. D.Sr did a great job talking to the kids about things they hoped for, then read Isaiah 9:2,6, "The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them...For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace."

The grandkids decorated my Christmas tree. I have so many ornaments; many of which were made by their parents. They hung them on the tree and often I was able to share who made the ornament and how old they were when they made it. When they finished, C. got paper and markers and made two ornaments - signed his name and wrote his age or grade on the back just like I had done to his Daddy's ornaments so many years ago. We tied ribbon through a hole and he hung them on the tree with the ornaments his Dad had made when he was 7. Needless to say my tree is very bottom heavy.

C. also asked if he could put the train set together. He and his Dad did that for me, while the girls watched. It amused D.(10 mos.) for the rest of the night, a side benefit we had not thought about. K., V. and I sang "Little Red Caboose....behind the train, smokestack on his back, coming down the track, Little Red Caboose behind the train." at least 5 times.

I read Christmas books. Reading is one of my favorite things to do with the grandchildren. The girls enjoyed sitting with me while I read. While reading, we visited the manger. We visited the manger in rhyme; we visited the manger focusing on the colors of Christmas; we visited the manger from the eyes of the animals that were in the stable preparing for the special visitors that were coming.... I love to read to children.

Games - my family loves games. They played Liars Dice together. (I was reading to the girls) C. is getting old enough that he enjoys the games too. D. was still watching the train.....

Gema washed the dishes. Thank you Gema... you always help me with that.

The day went great. I was tired when everyone left. I was snappy with my daughter as she and her family were walking out the door. We had a great day - and one unkind remark can change how the day felt. My heart is heavy about that. We'll talk tomorrow, I owe her an apology.

Next week....another Advent dinner together.

Little Goodbyes from V.

V. just visited for a few days; first time alone to my memory.

Got up this AM and walked to the bathroom. Lying on my dresser was the pair of shoes that V. had worn for the last two days. Her daddy had forgotten to pack her PJ’s so I had to find her something to sleep in…during the search I found a bag of shoes that I had bought (on sale) for the granddaughters to grow into next year. She wanted to try a pair on, and she wore them for two days. 

Ok…time for coffee. Yesterday V. spooned the coffee beans into my grinder for me, and then we watched the coffee drip into the pot. Sometimes the best things we do are the “Mr. Rogers” kind of things. Her daddy loved to watch Mr. Rogers. I couldn’t….watching fish tanks fill while you have laundry, dishes and vacuuming to do was more than I could handle in my 20’s. But not now…I watched the coffee drip with V. 

Coffee in hand…walking back upstairs…I pass the bedroom she slept in….bed is made now ….but there’s a little basket of dogs that she gathered and put in the corner of the bedroom. She didn’t want the dogs in the bed with her but she wanted them in the bedroom. We found a basket and there they are….OH… with the “blanket” they needed to sleep (a hand towel from the nearby hall closet). Books are on the floor…eight of them, four per night. I gathered them up and put them away.

 Have to get ready for work…walking out the door….hose in my way, because yesterday V. watered my flowers. 

There are signs of her visit everywhere and she didn’t forget to take anything home.

Disney Trip 2007

It’s not what is used to be. Dana assured me of that. I didn’t think I could stand a week - in lines….heat….to go on a “ride” . I’m not the ride kind of person. But, being the accommodating kind of person that I am, I planned this trip with my hubby. First thing – NOVEMBER, no heat, less lines…(would still have to contend with the ride thing) So as I set about writing down the available weeks and checking with airlines…hotels…I found a week and started the process. I got on-line to Small World Vacations.com (that my son told me was the best…and he would know, he is not only the ride kind of person, but he is the Disney kind of person)….entered all my info. Same day got a price, talked to my hubby….we are almost there…few more details and it is a done deal. Thought strikes me…my daughter and her family will be in Florida during the third week of September and will go to the Magic Kingdom one day. Hmmm…Magic Kingdom with my grandkids…that I can handle. I ask Dana if he would mind changing to that week in September if it was available at the hotel we wanted; it was only three weeks off so there was a possibility that it would not happen. I made the calls...hotel available…flights available…YIPPEE, now it sounds fun. I closed the deal.

Our week in Disney World was very nice. We spent the mornings running around to all the different parks, late afternoons in the Lazy River pool at our hotel (because it was SO HOT – September is not November), and evenings out to “wine and dine”. BUT even in the extreme September heat, Magic Kingdom was more magical because we had two precious girls with us that were in a child’s dream world. We had breakfast with Pooh and gang. T. smiled that scrunched up face smile, K. had her nervous smile…while Pooh, Piglet, Eyeore and Tigger paraded by our breakfast table. We had a story read to us by Belle. Yes, Belle from Beauty and the Beast. We rode the carousel with Mary Poppins. For real…we were waving to Mommy who was taking the pictures while we were are all going round and round….ride is over… we are getting off when a very proper lady - complete with white dress, umbrella and hat sits down on a horse. We turn the kids around and put them back on the horse’s right to each side of her. Where else can this happen? Our day ended complete with Disney fireworks…watching from the middle of Main Street…with the fireworks right over the castle. Yes, Cinderella’s Castle. This place is the Magic Kingdom

Hmmm….am I forgetting the heat….