Advent at home

Black Friday shopping…

I understand the point of knocking it all out early, but taking away family time for those who work in retail… especially with the sales starting at midnight, even 10:00 on Thanksgiving day. 

I heard Christmas music playing already in many places, before Thanksgiving.

And now we have Small Business Saturday. 

Cyber Monday.

Constants.  Telling us to buy buy buy more. Why?

I just… want to get back to a sense that Christmas is about the Christ Child.  Advent- that month of getting ready that comes before Christmas, is supposed to be about preparation.  In our hearts, in our homes.  Not about gifts… especially not about stressing out over finding the time and money to buy all kinds of gifts and go into debt… So to remember that, Christmas in my home, the very first one of my own, is home-made this year. 

I’m not buying many things.  And when I buy things, you can be sure they will not be given alone, and very rarely be new.  Somehow, it just makes more sense to me to give from the heart- and for me, that’s with my hands.

Why so sane?

It's funny how when you take a step back and evaluate, you really will learn things.  

I re-ordered some priorities bigtime and I took a minute to check in with where I am and I made some changes so that I'd be okay with that place.

I left my church job.

I think it was time... school and family are supposed to come before work, and that wasn't the case consistently, so I left work that I brought home with me and that pushed against what I’m learning about priorities in favor of work that'll stay at work.  

You see, I start sitting for a little one once a week next Friday... her parents think she's too cool for her to be work that comes home with me.  They'll keep her.

And I’m being selfish.  I’m taking care of me because right now is the time for me to make those habits a part of me... If I can’t do it now, when I am learning and growing in my ministry and in who I am, when will I take the time to?

I'm eating good food.

I'm running, spinning, riding bikes, and will be throwing weights in the mix too.

Sleeping more, and more deeply.  

This is a time when I'll try to be intentional about taking care of me- and remembering I am a child of God and worthy of care...  I am so thankful for the ability to be surrounded by a community that keeps me honest on this stuff.  It's so good to learn and grow here.  So.  Good.  

Sanity

Sanity is taking a step back. 
It’s taking a walk and watching the leaves change. 
It’s riding a bike.  A few times. 
It’s dancing.  
It’s singing.  
It’s re-evaluating and making changes in life for YOU.  
It’s drinking coffee and taking a minute to talk.  
It’s Sabbath.  Honest-to-goodness, no work, all renewing, Sabbath. 
 It’s feeding the soul and thanking God every second for it. 


And it feels great.