A gift from God

My son Ian is a Gift from God... Ian literally means "gift from God" in Hebrew.

When Ian was three years old, his preschool class made pictures of the winter holiday they celebrated at home. My son painted a beautiful picture of a Menorah. He told his two teachers and fourteen classmates that he was Jewish. (My son was baptized in the Methodist Church.)

Ian is 6 now and after this Thanksgiving, on our way back to Georgia from my parents house, Ian asked if he was Jewish. I asked him, "Would you like to become Jewish?" He answered, "Yes I would." My husband, then simply said " Tell me why?" Ian
replied, " Because Jesus was Jewish, so I think I should be Jewish."

On Friday last week, Ian asked for a Menorah for Christmas.

This week, let's remember God's Chosen People and the miracle of the sacred oil that kept the lights going for 8 wondrous nights.

And yes, I think we will be getting Ian a Menorah for Christmas.

-- Erin Garrett


And a little child shall lead us. (This child, in particular, is a brilliant choice indeed. Ian, you old soul, I swear you've lived several lives on this Earth already. How can you know so much at such a tender young age???)

A wish, a gem

Electrifying awareness. God’s presence. Each moment.
-- Jamie Miles

Jamie told me she liked the idea of being challenged to sum such an important message up in just six words. Then again, she just really likes writing challenges in general.

Check out her blog, South Main Muse.
The six-word memoir site is also worth a look. Very real (but, be warned, not always upbeat).

Blessings like stars (too many to count)

Advent is the perfect time to count your blessings. I feel like mine are way too many to count, but a few that stand out this year are:

 That the Lord has blessed my family with health for yet another year.
 That my husband can still make me laugh simply by making fart noises.
 That my 4-year old son still can’t say his "r’s."
 That my 7-year old daughter still thinks her Dad is taller than a telephone pole.
 That I am still so close with my parents that they can read my thoughts.
 That I have friends who really know me, and stick around anyway.

I hope your blessings are too many to count this Advent season as well!
-- Jenny Arthur

As you shop this season

It wasn't that long ago... my oldest celebrated his first birthday and thanks to the grandparents, it was like a celeb-r-a-baby bash, balloons and gifts galore, electronica, all the latest in lights and sounds and everything the most educated and well-off kiddo could ever want. At the end of the day, with his gifts surrounding him, I shot an entire roll of photos (remember film?) of him playing. But not with his new toys. And not with his old toys for that matter. No, he was inside one of the boxes that one of the new toys came in. He was singing some silly song, off tune, turning in circles and rolling about, laughing like the box was his new best friend. Cardboard. The gift of choice for the in-the-know toddler.

I should have remembered this. I should have reminded the grandparents. I should tattoo this on my arm. Flash forward just nine years and rewind the tape to watch a similar scene last Christmas.

Just four days after Christmas and we're packing for a trip to my sister's --four days spent fighting over and (with very little effort) breaking most of the new toys into the cheap plastic pieces they were. I told the boys to go grab whatever they couldn't live without and anything they wanted to show their cousins from their Christmas stash. They were back in moments, each of them with a few books and their favorite stuffed animals in tow.

"This is it?" I asked. "Nothing else?" They all confirmed their nopes and ran off to play.

Not one of their new items.

It got me thinking. And wondering if all the bickering and crankiness of the past few days wasn't related to consumption disease. We build up Christmas for over a month. We bribe them to be good. Advertisers make sure they're hyped for the biggest and best of everything under the sun. And then, the day finally comes and bam! It's gone. No matter what's under the tree, the thrill is gone in no time.

A wheel off the remote control SUV, an airplane with a now broken propellor 30-feet up a tree, a piece broken on the new game (and several more rolled out of sight), three plastic light sabers causing bruises and major malcontent.

If our house burned down... if we left for a year... if we met someone who had nothing... what one thing would my kids keep?

Sounds a little like an advent conspiracy for kids.

-- Meg Ferrante

It'll take you higher and lower than you'd ever know you can go.

Life can be a long road with many detours and speed bumps.
But be happy to be on the journey and just try to enjoy the ride!
~ Ashley Lyn Moon
~ Mom E of 3 ~

Ask yourself...

... who are you willing to disappoint this Christmas in order to have a peaceful advent?
-- Michelle Kinnison

I love this. Might sound a tad harsh at first, but as Michelle explains, people are easily disappointed anyhow. And yet forget quickly. On the other hand, YOU remember the stress. And sadly, Christmastime grows into an unpleasantry. Now how unfair is THAT?

So ask yourself... do I deserve better? Does God?

Let it shine

God is the glimmer of light in life's everyday fog.
-- Michele Hoopengardner

Thought after the storms last night, and the sunshine today, Michele's words were a brilliant choice.

She told me that ten words or less was really hard for her. She also said the blog really does put a bright spot in her every day during the holiday season and gets her back on track of the TRUE meaning of the season. I'm grateful for her enthusiasm and for everyone's support. But please know the pleasure and benefit are mine as well!

A massage therapist's wish to the world

Acceptance, resourcefulness, take happiness with you wherever you go, stretch...
-- Wendy Barth

I really like the multiple meanings of the word "stretch." Stretch your body, stretch your mind, stretch your comfort zone, reach for the stars. As Wendy told me, "the issues are in the tissues" and she recommends yoga each morning, but she also advocates going beyond what you think you can do. And that includes in your faith.

If only a few moments a day...

I wish upon all the gift of sacred silence.
-- Fr. Tim Gallagher, St. Pius X Church, Conyers, Ga.

I felt strongly that this one-size-fits-all wish should be the first gift of advent to share. It is always an undertaking to find focus this time of year, but ALWAYS worth it....

Let us therefore lurch forward into advent

After four days with my parents, my siblings and their families, I found myself dashing out the door this morning to zoom home for all the laundry, homework help and piles awaiting me there.

Giving kisses and lame excuses--including the need to get the blog rolling--my wise, nearly-adult niece wanted to know... "What's the hurry? Why do you need to start the blog today? Why not stay awhile longer? Isn't it just advent in the ordinary?"

Stopping three times to let Jeremy void the contents of his stomach into a Walmart bag, I could only laugh out loud. He already had a fever and croup, wow. Home now with Lucca also ill (big thanks to hubby on the extended clean-up, oh my) it is beginning to look like an annual tradition, this violent entry into the season. You know the whole thing about making God laugh every time you plan....

To honor that and in honor of my poor sick children... to remember where we are and where we want to be... to remember, most of all, to always laugh, even if you feel like crying... please read on to the next post, compliments of my dear friend Anne Mistretta. Now let's all roll up our sleeves and get down to business, shall we? Big blessings on the days ahead!