Advent is quickly approaching. It’s a time of preparation, of waiting, of anticipation. It’s as if we spend the month holding our breaths — waiting for the sweetest exhalation in seeing our Savior born humbly into the arms of our Blessed Mother and inhaling the deepest joy in His coming into the world.
But ordinary time — that’s my sweet spot. It’s the everyday sweet of simply being. It’s not my time of deep introspection and examination or reevaluation and coming into something new. It’s my time to just be with the Lord as He walks with me through this life. It is the daily grind and the fought bed times and the piles of laundry and the unanswered emails and the grocery shopping and the appointments.
Read MoreHear ye, hear ye, it’s another installment of some of the awkward and awesome things going on around these parts. Why do I suddenly sound like a town caller? EXTRA EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT IT.
Awkward
- Sleep deprivation. It is real and deep and my brain hurts.
- People who don’t hold doors open for other people. I don’t mean that “men should hold it open for women” blah blah, but people should hold open doors for other people. How many times must I struggle through a door with a double stroller while corralling another kid?
- Mom shaming on social media. Really folks, just stop it.
- Being used as a human tissue. This cold and flu season not only brings on runny noses for our children, but apparently my shoulder and my thigh look great for nose-wiping.
- The current texture of my hair. It’s long and unmanageable. I don’t know what to do with it right now.
Awesome
- Advent starts this Sunday and I have not been more excited for an Advent season in forever. I have my Blessed Is She Advent journal ready to go and I am looking forward to this season of preparation.
- Guys, BABY SMILES. Theo has started smiling more regularly and it seriously makes the world go ‘round. Also, baby chub. BABY CHUB.
- Emma has been utterly hilarious lately. For example, the other day Paul smashed a mosquito that had made it into the house and she gasps, YOU KILLED NATURE. I’ll be doing another Emma says post soon.
- The beauty of technology. I’ve been able to video chat with my friends a couple times a month while we talk about our live and do some scripture studies together. We live all over the country and yet still get to connect with each other.
- Holiday coffee creamer. Keep it coming.
Read MoreI am over at Blessed Is She today with a devotion for today’s readings. Go check it out here.
Read MoreI’m not going to lie, this was one of the best Thanksgiving weekends ever. Our little five-some spent the four-day weekend in town and it was so special to cook a meal and share this holiday quietly in our own little home. I had a little anxiety throughout the weekend, but it was definitely manageable considering the immense joy of being surrounded by my family.
Paul had work off Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday! We got to have a leisurely lunch on Wednesday just the two of us (well, and our third wheel Theo). On Thursday, Paul let me sleep in (!!!) and then I cooked a Thanksgiving lunch for us. We shared sparkly beverages and Emma decided she loves cranberry sauce. Normally, I am not much of a leftovers person, but I ate the Thanksgiving food all weekend.
I gave Henry his first hair cut after nap on Thanksgiving and I cried a whoooole lot. But he’s so delectably cute so I’m okay now, I promise. On Friday, we cranked up the Christmas music jams and started decorating. Emma and Henry absolutely loved decorating our tree. They each were so meticulous about ornament placement. I did not put any of the breakable ornaments out this year because Henry tornado lives up to the name. Somehow we still managed to break some… oy vey.
Read MoreAnd week 48/52!
I get super excited when a new month is upon us because monthly spreads are my fav. I love looking ahead to the new month because I feel we get a fresh start, a mini-New Year so to speak. December is one of the best months of the year. Period. One, there is Christmas so that’s an obvious reason but it is also the start of the new year in the liturgical calendar.
I have so many happy memories of Advent growing up. The season of preparation is an important one in the church year — to prepare our hearts and home for the coming of our Lord. YAY! This year, I will be going through the Blessed Is She Advent Devotional called Bearing Light, written by my friend Shannon. The Blessed Is She journals are always transformative for me. I hope you’ve picked yours up!
Here is my December monthly spread and week 48’s spread in my Blessed Is She mini planner. Show me your planner too!
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