Saint Nicholas Day

St. Nicholas day is this Saturday, December 6th. 

This is a special feast day for many families. 

I like that it helps us to focus away from the shopping mall incarnation of Santa and instead focus on the beauty of our faith.

A new year is almost upon us.  Advent is the beginning of the Catholic liturgical year.  It starts, in the most natural of ways as anticipation.  The beginning of all life, the expectation of a birth  – the birth of our Lord and Savior,  Jesus.  We have special songs, colors, traditions, food.  All these things leading us gently an surely to Christmas.   Advent is very special and beautiful.

It is also somewhat of a challenge.  There is such an emphasis in our culture on the material aspects of Christmas.  The gifts, the malls, the stuff overwhelm the manger and the star and the little baby long ago who brought so much to us all.  The birth that brought us everything is smothered in the everything we buy.  Advent is a bit of liturgical magic that shifts us out of a life of stuff and into the life of the church.  It is joy, peace, hope and love.  It is a time for preparation, faith building, memory making, family, songs, lights, and understanding.   So, not to belabor a good point here are the basics.

The Dates For 2008 

Advent begins Sunday, November 30

Feasts: 

Saint Nicholas: December 6

Immaculate Conception: December 8 – HDO

Our Lady of Guadalupe: December 12

Saint Lucy: December 13

Kyle is off on business again and so I am predictably sitting around not motivated to do anything feeling rather sorry for myself and too tired to think straight and to at odds and ends with myself to go to bed.

Reflections on the Day for November 5, 2008.
Rather cold and wet today.

Plans for today – We are going over to my parent’s house today.  WoW dropped a patch yesterday and dad is having issues with his addons.

I am wearing – My brown pants and a cream turtleneck.

I am feeling – My cough seems a little worse this morning, maybe it is the wether.

I am hearing –  The children being loud.

I am thankful for – That I live in a democracy even if I don’t always like the end results.

In prayer – Our nation, that Kyle travels safely, my grandmother.

The Children:

Ashley – Is a good kid.  She makes it out to school even when I over sleep.
Rachel – Conferences are coming up soon and I will finally meet her teacher.  She turns 15 this weekend.
Christopher – He actually managed to get his work done yesterday.
Hannah – Asks evert morning if today is Little Flowers.  She doesn’t want to miss it.
Joshua –  Totally destroyed a roll of double sided tape for the windows.
Sarah – Was shocked that her Halloween basket was empty this morning.  I fear she thinks we are going to my parents’ to refill it.

The Homefires:

Kitchen – I forgot the sour dough… doh.
Craft-room – There is a bit of sewing I am getting to and I need to take my machine in for its tune-up.
Music – I heard a lovely version of the Ave Maria by Cuccini yesterday. I will atempt to share it later today
Lucky Room of the Day –  The office.

My pleasant thought for the Day – From Happy Catholic:

 I am a Christian, and indeed a Roman Catholic, so that I do not expect “history” to be anything but a long defeat — though it contains (and in a legend may contain more clearly and movingly) some samples or glimpses of final victory.

J.R.R. Tolkien

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you – 

I listened to the VP debate tonight on CSPAN.  My favorite moment?  After the debate while, the mics were still hot Palin is leaving the stage,  Todd is coming up to greet her,  “Hey, hon!”, she says. ” Where are the kids?”  Could I identify with this woman more??  No, not really.

It was great.  In all the hand wringing I have heard over Palin one of silliest is “what about her kids?”  ok….

The response is of course that no man would  be asked that because obviously his wife would be taking care of the kids.  Todd Palin has shown himself capable of dealing with the home fires just fine while his wife goes big game hunting.  To think other wise is sexist at best and totally dismissive of Mr Palin.  I thought Sarah rocked tonight.   I still am thinking McCain-Palin will lose, but Gov Palin rocked.

I can’t sleep.  Kyle is gone again for work and I am sitting here staring at the computer as my eyes glaze over.

Today was strange.  We had a nice morning at my dad’s and then came home and Christopher spent the next 9 hours working on his math and vocabulary with about 30 minutes off to eat and do his chores. 

Once he was done he and I spent a little time talking about how he needs to work somewhat faster.  We figured he spend over 20 minutes on each vocabulary word.  Each one!  all he has to do is look the word up and copy the definition into the computer.  We practiced looking a couple words up and he found them in less than a minute.  He agreed that he was being very naughty and that it cost him all his free time.  I remember a couple nights with Ashley doing homework like this so I think it is one of those lessons that once learned stick with you.  Hopefully he will apply himself better tomorrow.

We had a really great trip. 

Sarah Palin rocks.

Today we are starting “back to school(ing)”. 

Later today I will put up this week’s “grand plan”.

It is really good to be home.

he Simple Woman’s Daybook
is hosted by Peggy at the Simple Woman.
Thank you Peggy.

FOR TODAY : August 18, 2008
Thunder and lightening and a whole bunch of running around today.  

Outside My Window… A light shower, thunder and lightening.  A wonderful break from the oppressive heat we have been experiencing.
I am thinking…  Today I am starting the Holiday Grand Plan, tweaked for those of us who do Advent.  I will be posting on this later today.
I am thankful for…  My 16 year old who has been a really big help this summer.
From the kitchen… I have my coffee this morning.  If the weather stays cooler I will bake some break this afternoon. 
I am wearing… My PJs.  
I am creating…  A new website.
I am going…  To take my mother to have cataract surgery this morning.
I am reading…  A Mother’s Rule of Life. 
I am hoping…  That everything goes well with mom, that the weather stays cool and that the next few days go quickly.
I am hearing… Not the stupid crow.  It must not like thunder.   
Around the house…  I planted two new hanging baskets this weekend.  I am working on the front porch this week.  I miss my husband, he is traveling on business. 
One of my favorite things…  The smell of rain on hot dry ground.
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Lots of cleaning and planting and getting ready for the end of summer.

Here is picture thought I am sharing…

he Simple Woman’s Daybook
is hosted by Peggy at the Simple Woman.
Thank you Peggy.

FOR TODAY : August 11, 2008
More swimming lesson, registering for nearly everything, summer’s nearly over.  

Outside My Window… A good  morning, almost cool and moist.
I am thinking…  That I need to get back into shape.  I serriously need some exercise.
I am thankful for…  .
From the kitchen… I need to make some bannana bread. 
I am wearing… brown capris and my favorite white blouse.  
I am creating…  A new website.
I am going…  To the pool.
I am reading…  Laundry, and A Mother’s Rule of Life. 
I am hoping…  That I can be productive this morning.
I am hearing… The crow.  Again, still, I don’t know he has been here all summer it seems.   
Around the house… We have some new flowers to go in and I am planting some herb seeds for the winter window box garden. 
One of my favorite things…  Apples
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: This is destined to be a busy week. Swimming, work, lots of stuff to do and plan for the kids for the fall.

Here is picture thought I am sharing…

my grandmother and mom at the cabin

 

Hannah is seven years old today!