2nd Week of Advent

2nd Week of Advent - Peace

How hard is it to find Peace in this busy Advent Season?

Over the weekend, I went out to brave the cold, the snow and yes, the other busy holiday shoppers. See we have two birthdays in December, St. Nick's as well as Christmas. It's a busy month, and an expensive one. For the most part, store clerks were happy and helpful, the customers were polite and easy going. And I know why. It's only Dec 6th.

As Christmas gets closer, I know things will change. They always do. I'd like to hope that there won't be angry shoppers, impatient drivers, or cranky sales people, but I am usually a Christmas Procrastinator. I leave things to the end, and cram it all in the week before. And that's exactly when I have seen all the Christmas crankiness. There's pressure, I get it, for everyone to get a million things done, parties attended, presents wrapped and so on.

For me, this year, I said 'good-bye' to that exact pressure. Determined to keep a bit of inner peace, I organized a bit better this year. Made out my lists, picked up my items, and I really only have two people left, who are very difficult to figure out.

I've kept my Peace. So far, anyway. But let's go a bit further....how does Christ's coming help keep that precious, fragile peace within?

I personally have a way to let His peace find me, especially in difficult moments. Over the weekend, I was in a parking lot traffic jam. Five lanes of cars were trying to merge into one lane to then exit the parking lot. Cars coming into the lot were stuck since no one in any of these five lanes were giving in, or at least they couldn't as they each had four or five cars behind them.

Then I looked directly into a tall SUV coming my way hoping to cut in front and enter the lot. I met eye to eye with a middle aged woman, dark hair with a bright scarf. I motioned with my arms, to get a reaction of which way she wanted to go. She then motioned that she wanted to cut across me. I looked behind me, there was no one. No cars had made a lane behind me, and so I did what I could to ease the flow of traffic. I put the stick into reverse, and moved. That's it. No magic here, just moved back about three feet. And she was able to cut over, and her wave of thanks made the effort worth it.

I waved back, moved forward those three feet, and quickly was out of the parking lot and on my way.

It's moments like this that give me peace. No matter what all those other cars were feeling: aggrevated with the feeling of being trapped, I was able to do something about it. I looked behind me, I had a solution, and I did something with it. It wasn't much, but it got one lady in a super tall SUV to where she wanted to go. I helped one person. That's all, sometimes, we need to do. Just start with one.

You'll be amazed at the sense of peace and fullment you'll feel and find there....and that's His peace, that's Christ's peace: one who graciously moves aside to help one other person is in His peace, there's a calm there, a trusting, a willingness to suffer for a stranger.

Let us, in this Advent week dedicated to Peace, be that Peace for others. Let us bring His calm, His grace, His understanding and compassion. Let us set ourselves aside, and simply do something small. Even three feet small will do the trick. I promise you.

Domo Arigato Gozaimasu Nihon - Thank You Japan

First, I apologize. It's almost been a week since my last post, and life certainly has a way to take me over. Arigato Gozaimasu - Thank You We have many commitments, many places where we have promised our time and energy, and when sickness sets in for me or anyone in our home, life pretty much stops....for little while anyway. Thankfully, the illnesses are down to minor colds, and as of yesterday, I am off the meds to treat a sinus infection. But that's not all. It's re-enrollment time at school, and every March we face the same uncertain future in debate...Can we swing yet another year's worth of financial commitment to our Catholic school, for four children. It's a stressful time, it's uncertain, and I have to say, that security is something I thrive on. Any insecurity, and I tell you, life just isn't right. With the children unaware of our finessing the budget, we work to keep that calm and peace that assures the children all will be well.

Words Can Hurt

When we first started having children, like most people, we realized quickly how they often work as a mirror to our own actions. Letting a swear word slip here or there was not uncommon in our home, yet, when our first child was about 18 months or so, and hearing my swear word echo in the house for several days from her little lips, well, it was enough to curb my speech, dramatically. And now, swear words are never spoken in front of the children, and we have adopted a few more words that are unacceptable in the house, even though common place in the world. Just another example at how, as parents, we truly are the domestic church. The world may be on the path of negativity, but the home is where we make the difference. My four year old the other day, said, "I hate tomatoes!" Not the worst thing to hear from her mouth, granted, however, the word 'hate' bothers me a lot. 'Hate' is a very strong word, opposite of 'Love'. Think of how strong that word,

Little Guys and Big Things

Sometimes, Veggie Tales stick with you. Even when an 8 year old seems too old for Veggie Tale stories, and reluctantly watches a few, the messages do stick. Over the weekend, my Knight was to serve Mass. For the past few Sundays he has been serving, and we keep reminding him of the various ways to show reverence while doing his duties.....a bow to the tabernacle, folding of the hands and so forth. Sunday, I happened to be watching Knight lather his gel in his hair to ready for Mass, and I once again, reminded him to keep his reverent ways about him while serving. He made a distinct face at me, and said, "Ugh, Mom, those other server boys are bigger than me. I don't want to do something they aren't doing." "I understand, but you could set the example, because you know, what you are doing is the right thing." He shook his head, looked at himself in the mirror, and seeing his own image reflected, said again, "I'm the youngest one there, Mom

S.tay A.t H.ome M.om at Work

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