Mama-luia

Here we are in the Octave of Christmas, otherwise known as "I have more free time on my hands with Patrick off work this week AND not using the computer and thus I blog." It's an annual tradition. Advent has come and gone, and Christmas is here to stay for a goodly long time (if you count it until Candlemas, we have Christmas straight until 12 days before Ash Wednesday this year). I'm currently wearing my most festive apron over my boring mom uniform of leggings + tunic top, after having just made shortbreads for the clan for an afternoon snack. Amazon boxes and duct tape to create... something. There is a pleasant holiday feeling in the air, and it is oh-so-welcome. But let's recap the Advent-y-ness first and foremost before getting to Christmas. *** The feast of Martinmas involved our traditional lantern walk. We modpodged some Mason jars the day before and walked around the wooded area by our church singing. It was very touching because one of my ch...

Merry Christmas! Another beautiful Christmas season is upon us, after the longest possible Advent. We are having a happy, cozy time of all 12 days of Christmas. It's my fave. Five days before Christmas, the boys' school had their annual Christmas concert. Isaiah's class sang "The Friendly Beasts" and he did it so beautifully -- solemn but happy and proud and excited, with the quintessential scan of the audience for a familiar face and then an excited wave when he saw me and Elijah. I won't lie; I cried during his performance. I was so proud of him. He has come so far at school already. Noah played St. Joseph in the Nativity play for the Grades 1s and 2s. I was equally proud of him (but I refrained from crying). When it came time for Noah's play, Isaiah came and sat with me and Elijah, and he was pleased to tell me all the kids' names. As soon as the Christmas concert was finished, the excitement in our house became palpable. ...

Earlier this week, I was trying to take a photo of our Advent wreath set-up.  (Also, yes, I know, my photography skills always leave something to be desired.) Then I looked down and saw this precious sight: Elijah, balanced on my hip, was watching me the whole time. This picture says so much about he is:  quietly and sweetly observing his world, but always close by to me.  His life is very much influenced, perhaps dictated, by the schedules of his older siblings, and he handles it beautifully, provided he can remain close to me. Now as I look at this picture, I take a deep breath of gratitude and amazement. This beautiful little person is with us this Christmas. As I contrast this to last year, I can't help but feel so humbled. ***** I was pregnant with Elijah, only 16 weeks along. In the days right before Christmas, life was going on normally -- the kids and I were baking and decorating and getting very excited. I noticed I was getti...

My grandmother was a wonderful woman. She loved to watch the X-Files and NHL hockey, especially when the Habs were playing, she eagerly discussed topics like current events in the world and the Church and would play Bob Dylan's "Desire" as musical comfort food. She often paraphrased St. Augustine towards her smoking habit -- which she finally kicked at her cardiologist's insistence -- "Lord, make me quit smoking, but not yet." She devoutly wore her Scapular and made the best pancakes I've ever had. She was also one of the most generous women I know. Her home was always a hub for her children and grandchildren, and their friends and significant others. If a racoon stumbled onto her porch, in her house in the city, she insisted on feeding it, instead of shooing it away. And that's just what I experienced first-hand. The stories my aunts and uncles and mom have shared with me about their mom from when they were growing up are awe-inspiring. S...

I know, I know, how pathetic to post about Advent and Christmas in Lent! But I forgot I had this post in queue and I couldn't let our Christmas go unnoticed. I check my blog every year just to see what (the heck) we did last Christmas! So, go read something Lent-y if that's your thing. I am posting this firstly for my own enjoyment. :) The beautiful season of waiting. Without the loudness of the malls, or the busy-ness of readying for cookie swaps and kids' Christmas concerts, our Christmas prep is decidedly quiet in comparison to so many families. A few nights scrolling Amazon to order a few carefully chosen toys for our children, and everything else picked up at the Madonna House gift shop. (A wonderful place to shop during Advent. It's so quiet, reverent and simple. I selfishly want to shop there because it's like a little pilgrimage to Bethelehem every time we go.) So we make our Advent traditions.  Now we are in a wonderful stage where the ...