Thinking About Advent

Katie told me this morning that there are 60 days until Christmas. I haven't stopped to verify that (and it's taken me days to write this), but I'm going to go with it. I'm really, really excited about Advent this year. Kristin has been here this week and we're updating the Comfort and Joy  Advent bundle from last year. All the dates reflect this year, of course, and she's made some new printables and screensavers, including a daily sheet to keep your thoughts and plans in place.

For this year's purchasers, in addition to the Comfort & Joy Facebook group, we plan to check in with you live once a week on Facebook, via video. Yes! Facebook Live every  week to chat with one another and support and share--sounds fun, right? 

There are two distinct Advent products this year and I want to be sure that you understand what each one is. Today, we're focusing on Comfort and Joy . But, just to briefly answer questions about the Blessed is She Advent journal, here's a quick delineation.

In the Morning by the Manger is very different, but complimentary to Comfort and Joy .  I wrote the Blessed is She Advent journal, so those are my words, too. As it goes, this isn't really a case of either/or, but of "both." The Blessed is She journal is a Bible study. There is an abundance of scripture, an essay every day related to the scripture for you to think about, a prayer, and a journaling prompt. It's designed for your morning quiet time or a small group Bible study. I'm so happy with it and I loved writing it. It's all-new writing, written entirely last summer. I'm so excited about this new book, I made a video for you.

But back to the Advent bundle of ideas and encouragement:

" Comfort and Joy is a book of family celebrations of the liturgical year. It's about the active part of living this season in the community of a family. It's definitely geared towards mothers (though some single women have enjoyed it). And it's a compilation of essays and memories written over the last thirty years. The devotional part of it is a very short quote and prayer and an action item. " Comfort and Joy offers traditions and recipes and many, many "been there, done that" essays of encouragement. It also features a podcast, a Facebook group, a planning journal to print, and Facebook Live meetings. It's a bargain (only $11 again this year) because it's all digital.

The Blessed is She journal is art. It's printed and gorgeous. Really, click and see how gorgeous it is. Or watch the video. It's a quiet, personal gift to yourself. It's the contemplative moments of Advent that fuel the rest. It's a lay flat book that you hold in your hand and interact with in quiet moments every day. We're working on a trailer for that one to show you more. I'm going to do everything I can in the next few weeks to make sure people understand the differences. Next week, we're all about the Blessed is She journal and showing you how amazing it is. 

This week, it's " Comfort and Joy:

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I've gathered all my Advent memories, detailed the unfolding of three decades of traditions, organized the gift lists, curated the recipes. I've passed the best of the best of my family's Advent and Christmas into the gifted hands of my first son's wife.

She made them into a beautiful book.

I hope you'll take it into your home, highlight it, cook with it, and let it bless you. Inside, you will find a short morning devotion for every day from Thanksgiving to New Year's Eve--just a quick one page Think-Pray-Act. Then, there is an essay for further pondering, something I hope will inspire you. Sometimes, you'll find something to do with your hands or cook in your kitchen. Sometimes, I remind you to slow down and snuggle a small person. There's encouragement here, and acknowledgement that this season isn't all bon-bons and twinkle lights.

I even made a 45 minute podcast, so I can offer some tips on pouring grace for yourself. You can listen while you scrub bathrooms or bake cookies or drive to rehearsal. 

There is tangible support.

Please invite us into your celebration.

And all of it, the bundle--Ebook, printable Joy Journal, and podcast--is available to you for only $11. With your purchase, you can elect to be added to a closed Facebook group for further community as you prepare this season. It's for sale here.

I hope you'll walk with us to Christmas!

Here's what some people are saying about the book:

"So. I've been reading the daily advent quotes, prayers and reflections in the Ebook bundle that [Elizabeth] and [Kristin] put together this year and I've felt such a sense of calm and peace over the last few days. Nothing has changed except my attitude and perspective, but isn't that usually the most important stuff to change? That strangest part is that each day I've done one small thing to prepare for His coming rather than try to "GET IT ALL DONE RIGHT NOW" the way my results-oriented self usually wants to do it. Yesterday, we baked salt dough ornaments and I brought up our main nativity. Today, I got some extra greenery while we were out and beautified the mantel (I am love with how it looks! Simple but elegant.) The kids painted their ornaments. I'm moving from one required  task to the next, but trying to leave room in my mind and heart to say "yes" to the little extras that I normally think I don't have the time or energy to do. "Lord, give me the grace to be the mom and wife I can't be on my own." Anyway! This is too long! You can get the Ebook yourself...I do recommend it. "

--Dwija, House Unseen

Elizabeth Foss is a good friend of mine and has mentored me over the years in mothering and intentional traditions. As a mama of nine, she has much wisdom, experience, humility and perspective to share. She has put together a beautiful Advent ebook this year that I spent hours last night reading and pondering. Written from a Catholic perspective, her gentle voice will reorient your heart towards the Infant Jesus through teaching you to pray, to trust, to wait and also very practical suggestions for celebrations, feast days, recipes and crafts. I have read and looked at many Advent resources over the years, and this is the first one that really seems to understand the strain that mothers are under during this season and encourages and guides and gives lots and lots of grace. It's on sale for ...the price of fast food combo meal these days. This will be slow food for your soul. Well worth it. --Aimee Kollmansberger

My friend Elizabeth has written an e-book - mom to mom- just in time for Advent! I hope you will check it out😊. In this book, aptly named " Comfort and Joy", she shares the best of the best of her family's pre- Christmas traditions, spanning nearly 30 years. This amazing mother of nine, now a loving mother-in-law and grandma, offers gift lists, recipes, her thoughts and prayers. Elizabeth has a gift of inspiring other moms. If you're looking for something special for a fellow mother, this might be it. --Theresa Thomas

 I started reading this early because I couldn't wait until tonight. I just want to say, thank you Elizabeth and to your family for creating such a beautiful book! I'm in awe! It's more than I expected and I'm ever so grateful that you have shared your heart and soul in the pages. God bless you! -- Cheryl Kirkpatrick

Just purchased and took my first look at the Advent journal. It looks beautiful! I was starting to work on my own calendar so this saves me some time. Thank you for this labor of love! --Shauna Occhipinti

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE BUNDLE.

 

Seven Quick Takes

I think this might be my very first "Seven Quick Takes" post. Since I usually put all my random thoughts in Daybook posts, I've never gotten into the habit of a Friday collection of my mental post-it notes. But I have time today and tomorrow is Friday, Seven Quick Takes it is. Thanks to Kelly for hosting. Warning, this one is likely to be heavy on "book notes." It's been awhile since I've blogged and there is a backlog of books in my brain.

I posted an Instagram picture this morning of Sarah joining me during my morning quiet time. This new habit was entirely driven by her. After years of sitting on my lap or scooting in next to me and signaling to me that my treasured quiet was drawing to a close and it was time to get on with the day, she asked me a few weeks ago if she could start journaling in a Bible, too. I'm discovering that one of the very lovely things about know for sure that you're homeschooling your last child is that she can write in the books. Where previously, I was all about preserving resources for the next child, Sarah is devouring resources. Our children's Bibles are no exception. She has our family copy of The Big Book of Catholic Bible Stories and she's eagerly underlining our Lord's spoken words in red. Then, she's making notes in the margins if she likes and, finally, she's narrating the story on a separate sheet of paper. When she reads, she insists that I follow along in my Bible and that I write in my margins, too. Karoline is using the DK Illustrated Family Bible for her reading and then she's coloring the margins and underling in an Inspire Journaling Bible. We have a plethora of Old Testament Picture books, so when the story calls for it, I break out one of these for further reading. It's all very relaxed and very, very sweet. I love that I've pulled them into my most treasured moments of the day

 

I miss summer. Mostly, I miss the time to take really long walks and soak up lots of Vitamin D. School schedules and a car accident definitely rocked me out my rhythm. I have resolved to somehow find my long walks again. The new dance school is really close to one of my favorite walking routes. I went yesterday and fell headlong into Beth Moore's first foray into fiction on audio.  I know that before too long it will be too dark to walk there after I drop the girls off, but for now, I'm going to soak up some pretty fabulous sunsets.

The days have been long this week. Mike has been in and out of town and when he's in town, it's brief and in the middle of the night or before dawn. Yawn. I don't do well with sleep deprivation. That's when I'm most likely to get impatient and the voice I'm trying to squelch starts screaming inside my head. So, let me tell you how nice it is to have that friend who can receive this text and bring me back from the brink of crazy. Half an hour with Nicole, a cup of peppermint tea, a solution to the contacts-versus-glasses problem, and then a bonus sunset on the way home and I'm a good mom again. I don't have a tribe of girlfriends and lots of girls' nights out and book clubs and mom dates (my lifestyle kind of makes all those things impossible), but God has blessed with me with a friend at a time in all the right places. 

 

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Mary Beth is taking a break from school, starting next week. She began college classes her last semester of high school and she hasn't taken more than two weeks off since then. She was on track to graduate super early. This little pause, from now until the end of the year, will mean that she'll just graduate early instead of super early;-). I told her today that I'm so excited for her to be able to read for pleasure at last. She has a stack of books I've been recommending her way. I gave her all my favorite Marisa de los Santos books when her foot was in a cast two summers ago. School reading crowded out summer reading so she didn't get to them. And I want her to read Reclaiming Conversation because I think it's pertinent and fascinating, but I think it's too academic for a school break. And I really, really want her to read The Sea of Tranquility... so many books, so little time.

 

I read this article in the New York Times last week. It has stuck with me in so many ways. Often, I worry that we don't do enough to minister to the poor or the lonely, especially where children are concerned. For as long as we've had a house, though, we've had a revolving door of extra people at our dinner table, particularly teenagers who find themselves hungry or without someone at home. Honestly, you'd be surprised how many kids are without a dinner table, even in a town that knows no poverty. And every one of my four older children has been known to bring home people who need a bed for a night or two or three or a year. I'm so grateful for those people who make our table richer just by being there. I'm grateful for the ones who have embedded themselves in our family. But gosh, I hope and wish and wonder if maybe someday, we could have something that looks like what Kathy and David do. Hospitality is a ministry. I'll keep opening the door and stirring the soup and changing the sheets and telling God I'm good with however He wants it to grow.

Michael and Kristin and their girls are coming for a long visit. We got a quick day and night last week before Kristin headed south to her folks' house. They'll arrive here again this weekend to stay awhile. After our somewhat disastrous maiden voyage, we have very low expectations for this go 'round. Really, truly, we are just fervently praying everyone stays healthy. Kristin has already declared that all she wants to do is hang out and talk and sew. Have I ever mentioned how much I love this girl? I think back just five years to all the worries I had about the two of them and I feel rather ridiculous. One thing they've taught me is to trust my kids with decisions of the heart. Even in the last year, I've really adapted the way I "interact" with all their relationships. I listen and I express observations, but I don't carry the same worry I used to carry. They'll learn a lot--we all do-- and they'll make mistakes--we all do--but I trust them and I look forward to welcoming the young people they invite to join our family.

Election 2016: Do Not Despair

It is late afternoon during the week after the second debate and I sit with my eldest daughter watching her niece and her little sister play with dolls we’ve accumulated over the last 20 years. She is mournful.

“It’s my first presidential election and there is no one on the ballot who even comes close to representing the things I hold important. My first election and, no matter who wins, I will feel like I’ve lost,” she says.

I nod. We briefly entertain the thought of a valiant third party candidate on a white horse riding in on an extraordinary circumstance that allows his election, but then I acknowledge that this election feels especially crushing for political idealists.

“Yes,” she says, “and the Christians. This election disenfranchises the genuine Christians.”

I think about that for few minutes, watching two little girls play a timeless game of make-believe. And then I offer the suggestion that maybe it’s the Christians who move past these turbulent election year struggles with the most hope and confidence. If we never put our faith in men, then men can’t steal our joy.

The first thing to do today, I suggest, is to step away from the noise of the news. Step completely away. Our comfort is in the Lord and we cannot hear Him for the clamor of the media that is ever present in our hands. Don’t click there. Just for today, silence the noise.

Now, consider your life. Consider that practices and policies may be put in place following this election that will make living your faith more difficult. Consider that the leader of your country may be someone who does not share your moral vision. That very well may be the burden you bear. What does that look like and how does it shape your calling in the world?

You are a citizen of this country and you hold that citizenship dearly. But you are a citizen of the Kingdom of God first. Regardless of who is elected this year or any year, you will walk in faith. Nov. 9 will be no different from Nov. 8 in the true kingdom. How do you move forward as a young person who feels her voice has been silenced by a culture that is increasingly hostile to dearly held Catholic truth? How do you walk in a world where political leaders explicitly mock your faith? How do you hold your head high and speak values such as the sanctity of life and the care of the poor after an election that has marginalized the weakest and the neediest, and struck at the heart of dignity? How can you keep from feeling hopeless as a brand new voting adult when it seems like the shining city on the hill is tarnished and broken beyond redemption?

You walk in faith and not in fear. God is with you. Man does not redeem; God does. He goes before you. Your enemy is not of any political party here on earth. Your enemy is the evil spirit who prowls about the world seeking the ruin of your soul. Remember that and love your neighbor, no matter your political differences.

Don’t despair, dear girl, and don’t be afraid. God knew that His beloved children would have frequent occasions to be tempted to be afraid. I empathize. It all seems scary right now, but God tells us again and again not to fear. Are we on the brink of an age where Christianity is incompatible with the laws of our country? Perhaps. Is that a frightening scenario to imagine? Maybe. Or maybe it’s a spiritual blessing, the fulfillment of prophecy. To be a Christian is to invite persecution. We’ve lived fairly comfortably until now; there is the real possibility that your generation will learn what it is to truly suffer for faith. What does that mean for the young Christian voting for the first time?

It means you have to be much more aware of your home in the kingdom than I was at your age. You need to know your soul lives in the city of God. The days of complacency are gone. There is the very real possibility that our future holds more persecution than Christians have ever known in this country. But we are not to despair and we will not crumble in fear. Our hope has never been in the men and women we elect. Our hope is in the Savior who chose us.

So we get up again in the morning and we live as citizens of the kingdom of God, with all the rights and responsibilities of that citizenry. We continue to live the gospel of life. As the storm rages around us on a national and global level, we raise children in faith, we reach out to neighbors in need, we comfort the suffering. We persevere in living as we have lived, knowing that no matter who holds the elected offices, God wields the true power. We live in service to an almighty King. Just like we did before Election 2016.

As the days before the election move at a quickening (and sickening pace), remember that all is not lost. It cannot be lost.

God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but handed Him over for us all, how will He not also give us everything else along with Him? Who will bring a charge against God’s chosen ones? It is God who acquits us. Who will condemn? It is Christ (Jesus) who died, rather, was raised, who also is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? ... I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 8:31-39)

Our treasure is stored in heaven. No one can rob us of that as the polls close. The battle has already been won. God is for us. Our place in the kingdom is secure.

 

Silencing the Voice of Perfectionism

I forced myself not to move anything before snapping this shot this morning. I'm good with that:-)

I forced myself not to move anything before snapping this shot this morning. I'm good with that:-)

It happened for the first time almost exactly to the minute, 28 years from the moment my first baby was born. That morning, I didn’t have to silence the voice. For the entire span of a childhood and then some, the voice has been telling me the same lie over and over again. But the morning of my eldest boy’s birthday, I couldn’t hear the voice. I didn’t have to argue with it.

Like nearly every day, I was the first person in the kitchen that morning. I flipped on the lights at 6 a.m. and noted the piles — mountains of assorted books, art projects, dance forms, folded laundry, posters from last weekend’s soccer game and clean plates stacked by the sink.

 

“Dang,” I thought to myself. “We sure are getting a lot done around here these days.”

And then I made myself a cup of coffee without feeling even so much as a hint of adrenaline prompting me to hurry and clean up all the piles.

It wasn’t until I was deep into the morning’s Bible study that it dawned on me that I hadn’t heard the voice. No one had admonished me for the mess. No one had told me the neighbors would raise their eyebrows at my less than model home. No one had called me a failure for not maintaining a household of nine with perfect order. No one had compared me unfavorably to every other woman who seemingly could do it all and more.

The voice was gone.

In its place was the voice of encouragement. I had just told myself something affirmative and positive from the outset, despite the obvious imperfections of my environment. All grace. So much grace.

This journey to silence the voice has been an arduous uphill climb. Through the perfect storm of nature and nurture, perfectionism and self-recrimination are hardwired into my psyche. I’ve been one to try too hard, move too fast, produce too much and reach too high for as long as I can remember. All my life, I have lived with the exhaustion and utter despair of never measuring up to my own perfectionistic standards. The first response in my brain, until that morning, was always the critical one.

The voice was back around lunchtime, as I hustled to get everyone out of the house in time to celebrate the neighborhood opening of Chick-fil-A. We had to move quickly and efficiently, because I knew the lines would be long and we barely had time for lunch before I’d have to hurry a child to a physical therapy appointment. Someone couldn’t find her shoes.

“Why is it I’m so incompetent that we can’t even do something fun because we can never find what we need when we need it?” I stormed aloud to no one in particular.

“I’m sorry, Mommy,” came a small voice. “I was so tired when I got home yesterday that I forget where I left my shoes. “

Now I remembered. She really, really was that tired. She’d had an allergic reaction and been fully dosed on an antihistamine. She’d tumbled into bed a weepy, wilted mess. Frankly, I couldn’t remember where we’d taken off her shoes, either.

This lost shoe thing wasn’t inefficiency. It was the honest result of choosing to meet the moment with compassion and letting something slide in the process.

I apologized to myself — and my kids — for the ugly chastisement, blowing away the voice of shame with a breath of honest grace for all of us.

Begin again, I told myself. Invite again the peace of the morning, the knowing deep down that I was not created to prove myself the latest model of perfection. I was created to rest in the knowledge that we’re doing the best we can and keeping step with our Savior. His voice is the only one that matters.

 

Come Join Us, Words From Mary Lenaburg

As many of you know, Elizabeth has recently been rear-ended, resulting in a car accident. Although we are very grateful that she was alone in the car and walked away from it, she has been diagnosed with a concussion and has been ordered with no screen time, no reading, and plenty of mental rest and sleep. 

You can imagine how well that’s going ;-)

So, we're going to try to fill the space here until she's well enough for screen time. The Liturgical Calendar beats on, this week Blessed Is She has opened up pre-order sales for the Blessed is She Advent Journal, By The Manger in the Morning, written by Elizabeth. There are two purchase options for the book, one is solely the journal and one is bundled with print artwork and jesse tree artwork, all designed by my dear friend Erica Tighe

Today, Mary Lenaburg is here to chat a bit about the book. I, personally, met Mary for the first time when her special needs daughter, Courtney, was fighting for her last few months on earth. I had a big pile of fabric that I intended to stitch up for other people and she was on my mind, so a stitched together an apron for Mary. While I was dropping it off quietly, she opened the door wide and welcomed me in. Mary was part of the homeschooling group that my husband, Michael, grew up in so I could have talked to her for hours, listening to stories and hearing Mary's Holy story. 

Mary, and her loving husband, Jerry. 

Mary, and her loving husband, Jerry. 

We are all grateful for you, Mary

Good Day, Dear Friends. Elizabeth has graciously asked me to stop in and say hello in this beautiful space of hers, so I can tell you all about an engaging Advent devotional coming your way from Blessed is She written by…you guessed it…Miss Elizabeth herself. 

Elizabeth has always had a knack for reaching our hearts when writing about her life, her joys, and her struggles. I’ve always respected her honesty and openness. And now she’s brought that raw gift to this new piece of work, “By the Manger in the Morning”. When I say new I mean it. This is a completely new original work different from her Restore Workshop or her previous Advent ebook. After spending the last two days reading it, I believe it’s her best written work ever. 

Using the daily prompts of “head, hands, and heart” she walks the reader through preparing their minds, hearts, and homes for the coming birth of Our Savior Jesus Christ. Her words guide the reader to look at all aspects of their life. By digging a little deeper each day, pulling out the dead and withered pieces and replacing them with new life, God’s inspiring words are revealed in the scriptures. 

This devotion is unlike any I’ve read, and I’ve read many a scripture study in my years of building a relationship with my Lord. Not only do Elizabeth’s words create a heart space that’s open to listening to what God wishes each reader to “hear’, she challenges and stretches us to step outside of our comfort zone. To see what else might be out there for us to learn. To fill our vessels, often so dry from pouring ourselves out for others. It brings the reader into the cave, to sit by the manger, allowing the words of love to seep into their heart preparing each one to experience Advent differently than ever before. 

Baby Jesus was born to change the status quo. Which means that no one gets out of Advent the same they started. Elizabeth’s Devotional starts us on the path and offers guideposts along the way.

Beginning with journaling the words of God, Elizabeth takes us through the season of waiting and preparing with grace and humility. Day by day, the scriptures guide, teach, and challenge everything we once thought about the season of Advent and Christmas. Then, on Christmas morning, we’re asked to bring the O’Antiphons to life through pictures and personal art. We’re asked to use the gifts we have to honor and praise the coming of His Son to save us all. It’s like a burst of love straight from Our Creator.

This devotional is available to purchase from Blessed is She. The Blessed is She ministry is for ALL ages of women in ALL seasons of life. Whether you’re single, married, have children or do not, the daily devotionals (@Blessed is She) offer grace and peace in our imperfect world. Elizabeth and I are honored to be a part of this dynamic ministry geared to reaching “women in the pew” who seek a deeper relationship with our Lord by deepening their understanding of church teaching. 

Come join us, won’t you?