Advent Quick Takes

Here is a 7 Quick Takes from the World o'Craine. Unfortunately this will be photo-free because Patrick has the GOOD laptop writing a massive term paper, the one where our photos are stored. I'm stuck on the one that Isaiah discovered... and promptly removed 5 keys. Including the Enter key.

But my lack of blogging is disappointing me. NOT because I think I owe my readers posts, but because I like keeping these wee records of our life. I would prefer to write something eloquent, or have super jaw-dropping photos of my beautiful kids, but neither is going to happen tonight. 

Given that "a thing worth doing is a thing worth doing badly", here goes:

1. I finished my Christmas shopping! BEFORE ADVENT BEGAN! This is an unheard of accomplishment in my life, even pre-motherhood. But I am so relieved. It's worth explaining that I primarily bought everything online, made spreadsheets that checked off people as I bought for them, and pared down who I shop for. I really think its best to buy local and handmade, but, well...

2. This Advent is all about self-preservation. You see, I have Seasonal Affected Disorder, and have found myself absolutely miserable in the prep time for the happiest, holiest, FUN-FUN-FUNNIEST time of the year every year. This year, I just wasn't up to crying over all the sweet wooden gifts from funky natural mama stores that we couldn't afford, or the adorable crafty cute things I couldn't replicate. I asked myself, Is it better to set the bar so unreachably high and then be devastated at my poor execution? Or cut myself some slack and be more peaceful at Christmas time? 

Straw man? Yes. 

Clearly, the latter was the better choice.

3. Are you thinking you'd like to make life easier for YOURSELF? Why not buy your gifts from Amazon and still get them sent to you in ample time? Avoid the malls, people!

Here's a groovy incentive: You buy via Lifesite's affiliate link and Amazon gives money back to this worthy apostolate! It's the same prices, free shipping and big selection that makes us all love Amazon, but with the perk of supporting this awesome pro-life work.

4. Yes, I'm biased, because my husband works for them, but seriously, what they do is brave, necessary, and life-saving. Watch this:

And please support the Christmas fundraiser.

5. Tomorrow is my mom's 60th birthday! I am so excited! We're having a surprise party (shhh! And no, she won't see this; she is not especially internet-savvy and doesn't even know how to access my blog). I'm making a pinata, something she said about a year ago that she wanted for her 60th. I hope and pray that when I am a grandmother, I am that fun and light-hearted!

6. St. Nicholas Day was a blast this year. Noah was really excited by the whole shoe business, and Isaiah, well, he loves chocolate and Goldfish crackers, so he was tickled, too. I remembered, though, that last year there was a sense of letdown as soon as Noah got his surprises out of his shoes, like, "The rest of St. Nicholas Day we'll just spend watching you do laundry and cook as usual?" so I was inspired before they got up to take them to Mass to celebrate the feast day. I wanted them to know it was extra-special. And you know what? Even though I went by myself, it was one of the best Masses they've both had in months.They were shockingly well-behaved, and without threats/bribes on my part.

And sweet little Isaiah? Declaring "Hallelujah"? What a delight.

We even popped into a little secondhand bookstore after Mass and I used up my birthday gift certificate. Richard Scarry, A.A. Milne, C.S. Lewis for Patrick and a little P.G. Wodhouse pour moi. They loved looking around and I had one of those "I just love being a mom" -kinda days. 

Mind you prepping supper that night might not have been my sunshiniest mom-moments. The boys were both clingy at me and getting mad at each other for everything. And so we had baked chicken and coleslaw and that was IT because I was refereeing the craziness all around. I called it my "Britney Spears dinner." But heavens, we had only spent most of the afternoon making Mitre-shaped gingerbreads! I can't spend alllll day in the kitchen!

7. Last but not least, it's been an ongoing joke with my sister and some of my friends that "I HATE ALL THE CRAFTS!" I have tried in vain to do oh-so-many crafty things and it gets me so frustrated and occasionally a little insecure when I fail miserably at them. But I have a number of friends who do various crafts, and all of them explain it as a means to keep their own identity in tact, to enjoy the satisfaction of producing something, to make something beautiful just for beauty's sake. One friend said, "I just can't spend all day cleaning up messes I didn't make."

I actually took this to prayer, and a funny little situation showed up that called on me to make something. Our previous Jesse tree ornaments were getting mangled, being only construction paper, and Patrick asked me if I wanted to make new ones. I thought, well there's my craft I'm supposed to do! I came up with a more durable medium to make them with -- wood, with acrylic paint -- and my-oh-my!, the process of painting one or two an evening has been so satisfying. While they aren't stunning, I was so delighted that She Who Has No Artsy Bone in Her Body was actually making something.

You can find a picture here.

Happy weekend, everyone!