Second Sunday of Advent

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Bittersweet (and others): Don't be surprised you didn't know Advent wasn't about preparing for Christmas. I didn't know until a four years ago. I understood it was about preparing for Jesus coming, but I was stuck in the mind-set of 'baby Jesus' and therefore was thinking about Christmas. I bet at least 2/3 of our congregation think that even today. Therefore, I'd say the ministers aren't doing a good job, or are giving up being out of synch with the secular Christmas that is winning the war for our attention.

Once I learned what it was about, knowing we couldn't do without the Advent wreath and candles, I wrote some candle lighting liturgies that reflected on us, rather than the baby, for the interim minister (it was my defense of the advent wreath, otherwise he would have ditched that too if he thought I'd let him push our worship that far.) He loved them and wanted me to write the third (these are based on the lectionary which has 3 years) but left before that third year and my heart wasn't in it to write it alone (he edited my work.)

Last year, the first of two was used in both my church and his new church but in both cases the musical component was ditched for what I call "HopePeaceJoyLove" music (those are the names of the candles in traditional liturgies.) This year my minister asked to use the second one but I wouldn't budge on substituting other music and the worship committee wanted HPJL theme, not the difficult theme that the season calls for. So they went with something 'traditional.' It focuses on the baby Jesus. Sigh...

</rant>

Not much got done here today. I just paid the bills and finished updating the address book to include new addresses we received last Christmas. I watched Soul Surfer (and enjoyed it but cried.) Dh and ds watched the X-men movie. We had pizza. Dh put out the garbage and recycle while I tidied up the kitchen. I watched Amazing Race.

I'm off to bed now because tomorrow I have to leave here at 8:20.

[Lilac]

Yesterday it was windy, cold and snowy. I did cleaning at the new house. Dh started painting the ceilings in the kitchen, dining room, living room and hallway and finished today. He plans to paint the master bedroom ceiling next week end plus paint the living room, dining room and hallway. There is no stopping point, so will just do it all. Dd2 just painted it July 2010 but dh wants to improve on it. I am hoping that he can do it without her finding out. Otherwise she will have her nose out of joint, as the saying goes. I last seen her Friday and everything seemed fine. I didn't talk to her yesterday, so called today. She was very cool. I have no idea what her issue is.

I moved 4 carloads today. After I had loaded the 3rd load, the car wouldn't start. I was using our 20 year old faithful car, that I drive when the weather is bad. I called dh and he came home. He put the battery charger on it and it finally started. I drove it to the new house and it is now in the garage hooked up to the charger for a 12 hour triple charge. It just doesn't get driven enough because the battery isn't that old. Dh used to threaten to get rid of it but he has quit bringing it up. He drives it to work when we are having high winds.

I put away each load as I brought it in. Mainly I was moving Christmas decorations and stuff from the storage area. My knees are killing me.

I have a dr. appt in the am. I will do bloodwork at 8 am and the appt is at 10:30. The results should be back by then. I am anxious to see what my A1C is.

Better drag myself to bed. After we came home I did laundry and ironed 18 shirts of dhs. I know better than to let them pile up but did it anyway.

[lucylee]

Oh, Lilac (((Hugs))) How well I have BTDT. DH's 23 year old truck broke down on him Friday night while I was shopping! If he had not managed to get it home, he would have been walking a couple of miles. Somehow he managed to drive it, but he said the power steering was completely gone, he could smell something burning, and it had made a loud banging sound that sounded like the motor had just fallen out! Well... Saturday morning, he had a friend who is a mechanic come look at it while we went to the funeral. Friend was able to replace two pulley-type parts, and the belt that had broken, and apparently everything is fine now. I guess we'll see tomorrow, when he tries to drive it to town. Today, he has only driven it up and down the driveway, to carry the garbage to the road.

AND... I know all about letting the ironing pile up. * sheesh * That's another bad thing about retiring. I'll feel like I have to do dh's ironing for him again, if I'm not working at payroll anymore.
I know I know I know... dh has two good arms; he could iron too... not going to happen. I choose my battles.

Hope Harmony is in bed by now, b/c it must be approaching midnight...

Harriet, tomorrow night is our freezer night. We feel very virtuous b/c we eat at the table. DH will have Lean Cuisine or some such; I will have either soup, chilli, or frozen pizza.
IKWYM about children not understanding some of the things we say. Sometimes I'm amazed at the questions my students ask. With all the technology and everything they are exposed to on tv, etc. today, there are still so many things, that an adult takes for granted, that a 15-year-old is totally unaware of.

Re: Harmony's comments about no one to share decorations with. That is a downside of the fact that dh & I are so anti-social. But it would not seem like Christmas to me w/out the tree... so we shall have one... just don't know WHEN.
* sigh * I do love to sit in the dark and look at the lights, and of course ds & ddil will be in and out... and I'll take the traditional picture of the two of them in front of the tree before we open presents.
Ooohhh... and NEXT YEAR... we'll have a THIRD PERSON to get in that picture.

Stuff I did:
[x] type some school stuff
* whew! Glad that's done!
[x] do laundry
* second load in washer right now, need to hang to dry * dh aggravated b/c I washed khakis he intended to wear to doctor Tuesday. (He had only had them on for Sunday morning church, but I didn't know & didn't ask. I usually do ask before I wash anything of his... but tonight I didn't.)
[x] call dmom
* ddad said leave their oranges & grapefruit in the carpot. It is only going to get into the 50 degree-range tonight & tomorrow night. He said fruit will be fine till I see them Tuesday.
Stuff I needed to do but time has run out, unless I want to stay up all night.
[ ] put stamps on Christmas cards
[ ] grade some papers
[ ] put lesson plans on school website
[ ] exercise

I've enjoyed reading everyone's stories of Christmas, too. Good night to everyone!
Tomorrow we will all continue to create some magic for ourselves and our families.