Sweets of Advent

Advent has been settling in like a new cat in the house. We are getting comfortable with each other. There is a wreath now, and, as of yesterday, a tree. The cards are going out tomorrow. Christmas preparations are starting to seem manageable. And there is a gentle glow around everything just now, dark as it is outside, which is very soothing.

This morning, we got to crunch our way through a brisk, lovely frost! Which almost kept me from being bothered by having to clear off the car. Almost. 

Last week we got a babysitter and went to a Real Adult Party! Hosted by one of my local twitter friends. We had a great time playing cards, drinking wine, and just letting our hair down a bit. Thank you, Kim!

Saturday brought us another opportunity to spy on the kids in dance class (parent weekend).

They dance with props. Oddly, this is the one Miles was least distracted by. 

She was just worn out from breaking in the new babysitter the night before.

Some dance videos: :-)

I love Advent hymns. I used to resent that, going to a liturgical church, I didn't get to sing Christmas carols in church until Christmas eve. But you know, I'm coming to deeply appreciate this restraint. To spend an entire month in feasting and give Advent short shrift, to me, is to fail to acknowledge the painful aching waiting that all of creation is doing, for justice, for hope, for freedom and wholeness. It is a good discipline to wait in hope with creation.

FINALLY we have the tree up. I forget how cheerful a sight a lit tree really is. It's a prophetic sign. Soon.

P.S. If we hit you up for a donation for this kindergartner's Walk-a-Thon on Halloween, Thank You! Because he tied another child for largest donations from that event! Proceeds went to the PTO, the Interfaith Food Pantry & the Blacksburg Children's Museum.

Because he was a winner, he got to invite one guest to sit with him on the stage for lunch today. 

Reader... he chose ME!

I am honored to be this child's celebrity guest.