Advent Tidings

The first Sunday in Advent has passed, the calendar has been turned to December, we've had our first snowfall - is it that time of year already?! 

Our choir debuted with "Prepare the Royal Highway" and we continue to practice more songs.  Choir practice starts at 6:30pm and goes to at least 7:30pm but has been going later due to the amount of music we're trying to learn for Advent by Candlelight on top of everything else. The problem for me is this - my uselessness after 8pm but sometimes a little before. I'm not a night person. I'm not a morning person. I regret to discover of myself I'm about a 10am - 1pm kinda gal. Not ideal. Anything asked of me outside these peak hours is really a crap shoot. Crap. 

We thoroughly enjoyed (I was enraptured) with our visit to the theatre to see Pride and Prejudice. We had FRONT ROW SEATS! Zanna was swooning by the time Elizabeth and Darcy declared their love for each other, Will was hiding behind his turned up collar so as not to witness this embarrassing scene of affection and I was willing to go on the road and be the cast's groupie. 

Also included in the same busy week was a field trip to the Aviation Museum for workshops on "air". Zanna and I also attended a local ballet schools version of the Nutcracker.

Last year, we didn't put up our tree due to our England trip. I admit to missing the ornaments and the memories we recall of obtaining many of them. I also admit my delight in not having to take down the tree and wrap up each individual ornament after returning from our trip! So I was excited to get all 200 ornaments (or so) out this year. Most of them are mine from childhood, having collected them since birth. I entered my marriage 14 years ago with enough ornaments to fill up a tree by myself. My husband brought nothing - except his witty personality and you can't exactly decorate a tree with that now can you? So many of them say Rachel 1988 or Rachel 1981 or Rachel 1979 .... you get the point. So fast forward 14 years and in an effort to tip the ornament owner scales, everyone in the family has gotten at least one new one every year. 

New additions include Big Ben in memory of our England trip.

From our trip to Quebec City last fall

An oldie from our honeymoon

Earlier this week, my friend Ruth and I made a run for the border and shopped our brains out for a day. It was totally worth it for several reasons. 

1. We got lots of Christmas shopping done - much cheaper. 
2. We got carded at Olive Garden for the complimentary sip of wine they offered.
3. We ate lunch at Panera. Sigh. 
4. We wandered up and down the aisles of Target. She freaked out in the candy aisle and I lost it when I found the perfect tablecloth for $14. 
5. I mailed my US addressed Christmas cards and packages from the US Post Office there. I saved a ton of money on this and I've already heard word that the package made it in 2 days. Score.
6. I may have screamed in the grocery store as I read the signage for the price of turkey per pound at $.49. I don't really remember, I think I blacked out for a moment. Ruth tells me I screamed. 

Tomorrow I will be declaring a day off of school and naming it a PB day - parent baking. Tis the season for church bake sales and I'm on coffee hour. If you need me tomorrow you can find me in my kitchen with my William Sonoma red apron on and covered in flour. 

This year for Advent our family is using the book "Celebrate Jesus at Christmas" along with our advent wreath in the evening. Also rereading "Martin Luther's Christmas Book" which I find profound yet again! A free resource offered online and written by my Mom is called "Advent Ponderings". A free audio book from christian audio is "God is in the Manger" by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. In a season often rushed and stressful, it's important to take time daily and contemplate the Saviour that is to come!