Feast of St. Lucia Daybook

Outside My Window
It is cold, windy, sunny and snowing a bit.

I am Listening
to the wind blowing.

I am so Grateful for
*the smell of fresh cut Christmas trees.
*the taste of Hershey's homemade hot cocoa.
*the sight of joyful faces when I ask at the last minute, "You girls up for getting a Christmas tree now?"
*the sound of Harry Connick Jr. Vince Guaraldi, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby and Nat King Cole. Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without their voices.
*the ability to walk and lift things.
*time spent with my family.

I'm Reflecting on
"Wisdom enters through love, silence, and mortification. It is great wisdom to know how to be silent and to look at neither the remarks, nor the deeds, nor the lives of others." -St. John of the Cross I've read this before but the quote has returned to me.

I am Reading
A Darcy Christmas. Ok, so it's a little sappy but honestly, I needed something fun and light-hearted after reading The Lost Art of Reading by David Ulin. That book was more like a political book. It was nothing like I expected.

My Advent Reading
is Advent and Christmas Wisdom from G.K. Chesterton.

I am Thinking
that it really is true that the time with your children goes by so quickly. Advent is just so different for me this year. The girls have been busy with practice for the Christmas play for the last three weeks. Add in basketball and the parade preparations and it seems like we're hardly home as a family this year. I'm going to hang on every last minute I can with Clare.

I am Creating
a wrapping center. The girls and I will be wrapping gifts soon. I have the wrapping paper, tape, bows, ribbons and scissors together. I'm hoping this makes things go quicker for us.

Education
This week and next week we'll focus on the sights, sounds and smells of Christmas. Of course, we'll add in some taste testing.

Rhythm and Beauty
It's funny how Advent looked like it was going to be calm. This is one of the busiest Advents yet. When the girls got speaking parts in the Christmas play, that meant play practice three times a week. It's been hectic balancing school with play practice and other activities. This is the last week of play practice. I'm looking forward to a slower pace.

I am Wearing
navy yoga pants with a grey oversized QVC sweatshirt.

To Live the Liturgy
Today is the feast of St. Lucy. My girls enjoy reading Kirsten's Surprise.

I'm Thinking
how nice it was to sit back and watch the girls decorate the tree with their ornaments we gave them each Christmas. It was neat to see their expressions and hear their stories about the ornaments or Christmases past.

I am Inspired
to keep on striving for simplicity. I tend to make more work for myself. I'm seeing the fruits of keeping things simple.


I am Hoping and Praying
for continued good health.
those who are facing lay offs.
those who miss loved ones.

In the Garden
I am tempted to plant a holly tree. I wonder if there is a miniature species available. Growing up, we had one in our front yard. It was nice at Christmas but a pain, literally, when I had to cut the grass around it.

Around the House
I really want to make a plan to sort through the things that have been accumulating in our basement. Our shelves are in need of organizing as well. I see a shopping trip to Target with lots of Rubbermaid totes in my future.


From the Kitchen
11 days are left until Christmas Eve. I need to finalize the menu for the party and make a shopping list. I think we'll also bake some cookies and perhaps make a batch or two of cookie dough.

One of My Favorite Things
Seeing the smiles on my girls when they unexpectedly ran into friends at the parade on Saturday. It was like seeing long lost friends.

A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week
Baking, planning, shopping and the Christmas play are all in the planner.