Mary's Words

  I felt a sense of relief when I turned the calendar to December.  My dad was in the hospital for the last few days of November because he caught the flu at his birthday party.  He's 84.  He's thirty years older than me.  He's safe at home with my mom now.  My sister is there and my brothers live in town, so we have calm and "every day ordinary" back and I like that.  

Most of the time I am fairly laid back.  At least I think I am.  I do have bouts of rattled nerves when my family has health issues or if I feel like I can't quite do everything I think I should do. 
There is a little girl at school whose mother has cancer.  Her parents are also divorced.  She chews her fingernails, wears her hair in a ponytail, comes back to my desk during reading time and asks for something (a pencil, a pass to the drinking fountain, a band aid) and she DOES NOT HURRY.  The other day she was arranging the textbook rack, making sure all the books faced the same way and I realized that she is very content to go at her own pace. When she tells me things, she always talks slow. I've never quite been capable of pulling that off.  I feel hurried most of the time.  
I would like to calm down and take things slower, but of course I want to do this all at once.  Sigh.  

 Even though it is too early to buy a green garland, I did.  It will dry too fast and become a fire hazard, but it's so beautiful and it smells like the forest.  The forest smells like calm.

 Bill and I had wiener winks for supper.  Isn't that a funny thing to call pigs in a blanket?  Well, that's funny, too! We also dined on cream of tomato soup.  Quietly.

 Today I did a little shopping.  I needed some jeans and a light sweater or two.  I wanted to visit a big crafty store and I had to buy the complicated wiener wink ingredients (kidding).  I won't have time to shop for days and days because it is a busy school and after-school week.  The weekend brings a trip and we'll get back just in time to get ready for school for the next week.  I'm sure you've heard it said that Jesus was always moving and never rushed.  I know He doesn't like to see us spending this holy time buzzing around in a frenzied hurry.

 So, I'd like to take my time and knit without deadlines (I'm a slow knitter) and make a little bunting for the Christmas tree.

 I'd like to send off a few Christmas cards (do you see cute CB's school picture? LOVE!)

 Trimming the tree may not happen for a while.  We'll just go with the lights.  I like the fuzzy light. I was fiddling with knobs and dials on my camera.

For this Pause in Advent I leave you with the Magnificat:

And Mary said:
"My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me-
holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever,
even as he said to our fathers."
Luke 1:46-55


Bill has a bad cold, so he's upstairs snoring.  I'm going to drink a mug of hot chocolate and give myself permission to move slowly.  I might leaf through a Christmas book or two, light a few candles, and rest.
Thank you very much for visiting me. 

Please visit the other participants over at Floss's blog.  You'll like all the interesting perspectives.  Take a listen to our sweet granddaughter CB singing in church today.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=A7ZKEcg9bN8