I love Christmas, I really do. Despite my growing frustrations with the winter months, Christmas continues to be my favorite holiday. Whether because of my temperament or past events, though, Christmas tends to have a lonely feeling for me. Particularly during college when I was working over the holidays and had to be away from family and friends, Christmas became an event of saying goodbye rather than being able to be with the people that I loved.
Today I felt that same type of sadness. We left GP to come back to KC. I have realized over the past few years that both my mom and I have very tender hearts when it comes to having to say goodbye. And over the course of the day I found out about the passings of some individuals who have been battling health issues over the Christmas holidays. We can usually expect to hear about engagements over the holidays, and look forward to "Christmas babies," but hearing about people passing away over what is supposed to be a warm, comfy holiday makes my heart ache so much for their family and friends.
In the movie The Passion of the Christ, there is a scene which is an oasis in the midst of the abuses heaped on Jesus, in which He is able to connect with His Mother, and He tells her, "See, I make all things new." And how Mary trusted in her Son to make good on His promise!
We have been blessed with mystics who have given accounts of visions of Mary's life, even after her Son's passing and rising. She ministered to those around her, and was even able to encounter Him again in the intimacy of the Holy Eucharist. Can you imagine, based on the faith of Mary, how overwhelmingly comforted she must have been to be so united with him again, as she was when she carried Him in her womb?
As I was reflecting on the sadness which touches the Christmas holiday for me this evening, I was suddenly comforted by the personal encounter I was able to cherish with my husband. Sitting in Denny's staring across at him over a table of warm food and hot chocolate, I knew that there was no need to dwell in it alone. And so Mary teaches us that our encounters with sadness are never absolute, for her Son has defeated death by his own and breaks into our presence in the gentlest of appearances, under the forms of bread and wine. Let us run, like Mary, to our Eucharistic Lord and adore Him who has blessed us with His ever-present love.
Mary, Tabernacle of the Lord, pray for us!
Saturday, December 26, 2015
Friday, December 18, 2015
Looking forward
Out my window: Dark and cooling down from the unseasonably warm weather last weekend
Clothing myself in: khakis and a pink sweater
Around the apartment: I'm grateful that, even in this apartment, I'm able to find spots to decorate for Advent/Christmas. I'm sorting out our families' gifts by our tree right now.
The hubby: and I went to the midnight premier of Star Wars last night. I worked, went Christmas shopping, and took a nap yesterday, and had our preschool's Christmas program last night. I didn't nap between the program and the movie, which was probably a poor choice because I was sleep-deprived-angry while waiting in the lobby to get into the movie. People talk about being "hangry" when they haven't had food and it starts to affect their mood...I experienced the same thing on the tired side of things and I feel sorry for my husband. Anywho, went to bed about 3:15am and got back up at 6:00am for work. After work I remembered I had a Christmas staff party at the parish I am going to begin working at in January, and felt I should really go to meet more people, so I did not lay down today until 2:30pm. Oooftah.
In the kitchen: with so much traveling and random life events, nice suppers have been sporadic. Tomorrow I will be making some chicken enchiladas.
Crafting: I totally count the presents I am putting together for family members. I'm at a stage with my present project where I am not sure whether it's really cool or kinda lame, so I will wait to share and pass judgment till after Christmas on this blog (and, of course, because of the family that will read this post :-) ).
Learning: I walked briefly through the Nelson Atkins yesterday while running errands. I always am taken back by how stunning the place is, despite going at least once a year while in college. I really want to go on a completely free day by myself and go at my own pace through the museum. I've usually gone with others, but I think it would be fun to just slowly take it all in.
Reading: Fulton J. Sheen, Mary's Song, I hope to finally start Sonnets from the Portugese after I wrap up Sheen within the next couple of days.
Watching: I've been trying to watch some movies that have been hanging out in my Netflix playlist for a while. Marie's Story was absolutely beautiful. If you have access to Netflix I highly recommend it. I've been trying to watch some classic moves also, especially Frank Sinatra/Bing Crosby/Cary Grant movies. There's something about some of the older movies that I just don't "get" though, and that's the random musical numbers that have NOTHING to do with the main plot, absolutely disconnected. As if they needed a time filler to get the movie to go as long as they wanted it to go. Most of the time the random numbers just aren't enjoyable or, in my opinion, even well done. It's strange. Daddy Long Legs had a couple numbers in it that were just bizarre. Matt and I have gotten through the first couple of episodes of Downton Season 5. Ack, Lady Mary kills me. I miss Lady Sybil. And I want everybody to accept Tom for who he is. That is all. The actress who portrays Lady Mary, Michelle Dockery, just lost her fiance, so keep her in prayer.
Bringing me joy: Recently somebody was visiting my preschool room and one of my littles got nervous at the new presence and came to me and held onto my leg...somedays I feel like it's all I can do to get them to listen and not lose my patience, so to see that they still trust me and understand that I'm on their side was heartwarming. They really are dear, and I will miss them when I start my new position. A dear friend had her wedding last weekend, and it was beautiful to see her enter the sacrament and to be with a couple of lovely college friends, one of whom opened up her and her parents' house for us to stay at over the weekend. St. Louis always has a special place in my heart.
Thinking about: New job about to begin! I'm excited by the new opportunity, but also scared that I will let people down and/or stretch myself too thin. A lot of the next couple months will be just observing how things are going and getting to know the parish and relationships. That's one thing I'm learning as I am entering into these positions: understanding existing dynamics and politics is crucial.
Pictures to share:
Clothing myself in: khakis and a pink sweater
Around the apartment: I'm grateful that, even in this apartment, I'm able to find spots to decorate for Advent/Christmas. I'm sorting out our families' gifts by our tree right now.
The hubby: and I went to the midnight premier of Star Wars last night. I worked, went Christmas shopping, and took a nap yesterday, and had our preschool's Christmas program last night. I didn't nap between the program and the movie, which was probably a poor choice because I was sleep-deprived-angry while waiting in the lobby to get into the movie. People talk about being "hangry" when they haven't had food and it starts to affect their mood...I experienced the same thing on the tired side of things and I feel sorry for my husband. Anywho, went to bed about 3:15am and got back up at 6:00am for work. After work I remembered I had a Christmas staff party at the parish I am going to begin working at in January, and felt I should really go to meet more people, so I did not lay down today until 2:30pm. Oooftah.
In the kitchen: with so much traveling and random life events, nice suppers have been sporadic. Tomorrow I will be making some chicken enchiladas.
Crafting: I totally count the presents I am putting together for family members. I'm at a stage with my present project where I am not sure whether it's really cool or kinda lame, so I will wait to share and pass judgment till after Christmas on this blog (and, of course, because of the family that will read this post :-) ).
Learning: I walked briefly through the Nelson Atkins yesterday while running errands. I always am taken back by how stunning the place is, despite going at least once a year while in college. I really want to go on a completely free day by myself and go at my own pace through the museum. I've usually gone with others, but I think it would be fun to just slowly take it all in.
Reading: Fulton J. Sheen, Mary's Song, I hope to finally start Sonnets from the Portugese after I wrap up Sheen within the next couple of days.
Watching: I've been trying to watch some movies that have been hanging out in my Netflix playlist for a while. Marie's Story was absolutely beautiful. If you have access to Netflix I highly recommend it. I've been trying to watch some classic moves also, especially Frank Sinatra/Bing Crosby/Cary Grant movies. There's something about some of the older movies that I just don't "get" though, and that's the random musical numbers that have NOTHING to do with the main plot, absolutely disconnected. As if they needed a time filler to get the movie to go as long as they wanted it to go. Most of the time the random numbers just aren't enjoyable or, in my opinion, even well done. It's strange. Daddy Long Legs had a couple numbers in it that were just bizarre. Matt and I have gotten through the first couple of episodes of Downton Season 5. Ack, Lady Mary kills me. I miss Lady Sybil. And I want everybody to accept Tom for who he is. That is all. The actress who portrays Lady Mary, Michelle Dockery, just lost her fiance, so keep her in prayer.
Bringing me joy: Recently somebody was visiting my preschool room and one of my littles got nervous at the new presence and came to me and held onto my leg...somedays I feel like it's all I can do to get them to listen and not lose my patience, so to see that they still trust me and understand that I'm on their side was heartwarming. They really are dear, and I will miss them when I start my new position. A dear friend had her wedding last weekend, and it was beautiful to see her enter the sacrament and to be with a couple of lovely college friends, one of whom opened up her and her parents' house for us to stay at over the weekend. St. Louis always has a special place in my heart.
Thinking about: New job about to begin! I'm excited by the new opportunity, but also scared that I will let people down and/or stretch myself too thin. A lot of the next couple months will be just observing how things are going and getting to know the parish and relationships. That's one thing I'm learning as I am entering into these positions: understanding existing dynamics and politics is crucial.
Pictures to share:
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| Wedding flowers! |
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| The beautiful bride and me |
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| Having fun at the reception |
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Blessed Adolph Kolping
I was not familiar in the least with this saint, and found his story to be so cool! Here's the top 3 things I learned, according to American Catholic:
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| https://theblackcordelias.wordpress.com/2009/12/04/blessed-adolph-kolping-december-4/ |
1. Adolph served young working men in the Industrial Age who were moving to the cities and in danger of losing their faith.
2. This society that formed from these men, now called the Kolping society, now includes 450,000 in 54 countries!
3. Kolping was beatified in 1991, the 100th anniversary of the encyclical Rerum Novarum.
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