Second Day of Advent

Advent readings from the Common Book of Prayer:
Psalm 7, Psalm 11, 12, Isaiah 1:21-2:5, Mark 1:14-28, Revelation 4

I have many impressions from today, the second day of Advent. I experienced honesty and reconciliation. It was a anxious event but blessed. It made me think of God's desire to heal the world. When we allow ourselves to forgive and be forgiven we can catch a glimpse of God's longing and hope for His creation.

I want to share part of a passage from Psalm 4 that particularly spoke to me.
"Many are asking, "Who can show us any good?"
Let the light of your face shine upon us, O Lord.
You have filled my heart with greater joy
then when their grain and new wine abound.
I will lie down and sleep in peace,
for you alone, O Lord,
make me dwell in safety."
Psalm 4: 6-8

I think that many are asking, "Who can show us any good?" this Christmas season.
The light of God's face is His glory. When Moses asked to see it he glowed for the rest of his life. He was premanently changed. The light of God's face is something we can't grasp. But we know what the light from the face of love can do. The Psalmist doesn't ask God to look down upon us and see us and change us or change the pain. He only asks God that the light of His face shine upon us. It is a great hope and mercy.

First Day of Advent

Readings from the Common Book of Prayer: Psalm 1,3,4,8, Isaiah 1:1-20,
Mark 1:1-13


Day of Visitation,
Greetings,
Knock upon the door,
"So happy to see you."
Listening,
Knowing nods,
Beautiful chaos,
Breaking bread,
The unexpected,
should never be unexpected.
No meeting is by chance.

"As we move into Advent we are called to listen, something we seldom take time to do in this frenetic world of over-activity. But waiting for birth, waiting for death----these are listening times, when the normal distractions of life have lost their power to take us away from God's call to center in Christ.

During Advent we are traditionally called to contemplate death, judgment, hell and heaven. To give birth to a baby is also a kind of death----death to the incredible intimacy of carrying a child, death to old ways of life and birth into new-----and it is as strange for parents as for the baby. Judgment: John of the Cross says that in the evening of life we shall be judged on love; not on our accomplishments, not on our successes and failures in the worldly sense; but solely on love.
Once again, as happened during the past nearly two thousand years, predictions are being made of the time of this Second Coming, which, Jesus emphasized. "even the angels in heaven do not know." But we human creatures, who are "a little lower than the angels," too frequently try to set ourselves above them with our predictions and our arrogant assumption of knowledge which God hid even from the angels. Advent is not a time to declare, but to listen, to listen to whatever God may want to tell us through the singing of the stars, the quickening of a baby, the gallantry of a dying man.
Listen. Quietly. Humbly. Without arrogance."

Madeline L'Engle

Winter Happenings

This was taken before our 80's party. James is supposed to be Brian Setzer from the Stray Cats and Lucy is Belinda.
I love this picture of Lucy reading to her bath time baby.
James is modelin a hat for me for my Etsy site.

The Blackest Black

I have never been out on black Friday to get a "door buster". I decided to go out this year to get James a Leapster 2. Walmart had them for $25.00. I was already up baking cookies so I figured I might as well. From what I understood from the flyer, the sale started at 12:01. I left at 11:30 just in case there was a line. Justin laughed at me. "There is not going to be a line at midnight Mary. Those sales go on all day tomorrow," he said. Oh how wrong he was.

I drove out of the garage wondering how many people would be there. I thought there seemed to be a lot of cars on the road at 11:30 P.M. I was sure it was just people going home after Thanksgiving. But then I got to the traffic light in front of Walmart. I think only a poem can do justice to the horror of my experience.


first frost Thanksgiving
my ears ringing
nostrils flared
beauty and quiet before me
little rabbit darting home to the warmth of family

twisting and turning
the road before me
lights blurring my vision
what lies ahead?

why are there so many policemen on the road tonight?
What's that up yonder around the curve in the road?

procession of metal and rubber
being called to the freak show
that can't stop or slow down
they follow the yearning wild invitation

i too join in the trance
walking, running to the sliding doors
door buster drugs promising to soothe me
mark downs, prices slashed

Why are there so many people wearing sweat pants and cowboy boots?
Why am I the only one with a coat?
Why is someone attempting to operate a wheel chair?

pushing, shoving walking crowds

Oh, here are the Leap Pads. Why are they in the middle of the aisle with plastic wrap all around them?

Angry faces,
growling, nashing teeth,
mothers like orcs waiting for man flesh,
slapping hands,
cuffing hands,
charging bulls
12:01

like a wild stallion I break from the trance
I accomplish my purpose
I run free and happy
I buy reduced sugar frosted flakes,
I never look back.

Good bye Walmart
I will shower now and hope to remember always my glimpse in to the dark side.

The Best Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! Here is a picture of my family with our inflatable turkey. We love it. You should definitely buy one asap. Check out my other fun Thanksgiving finds.................
This is the really only necessary Thanksgiving decoration. I bought one on a recent shopping trip in Washington, IL. It is so amazing and every family should have one.
My kids love these little sticker books. You can order them on Amazon.com but I buy them at Cracker Barrel.

No more wrong turkey dangling ear rings. This is the only necessary accessory. www.treasuredcharms.etsy.com

I have to find time to make these. How awesome are they?

Thanks again Gooseberry patch ladies. Once again, not really my style at all but their recipes are the bomb and they have some great ideas. This little book is a great hostess gift. I bought one for Ms. Paula and Ms. Candace.

This is an awesome idea. I found this on etsy. Here is the link: www.treandyprints.etsy.com

Things that are CHANGING my life.....................

I bought Norwex's bath scrubber for 22 bones. I was sure I was getting ripped off. It is the best thing ever. I will never have to buy bathroom cleaner again. Please get one. It's like a really durable magic erasure.
This is my new face wash. 80% Olive Oil and 20% Castor Oil. Massage in to face and then steam with a scalding hot wash cloth several times. Then remove with the washcloth and warm water. It is the best thing ever. Almost all my blackheads were gone the first time. The second time I got a few zits but that is normal when your skin is being purified. I look awesome!

This may make most of you shudder. Oh well. I have forcing celery into James' mouth every time he whines. It is the best solution I have ever found. And who cares if he never likes it?

Halloween Fun

Snuggie Wizard casting a spell
The whole LeRoy crew: James Anakin Skywalker, Avery Tiger, Serena Chicken, Lucy Ghostie, Kenley Peacock
Anakin Skywalker and Kenley Peacock
Little Ghostie!