Advent Activities

In keeping with the idea of being an innkeeper, we opened our home many times this Advent to host families and activities that reminded us of the birth of Jesus.  One thing we've been wanting to own for several years now is a firepit, and all of these planned festive activities seemed like a great reason to go buy one!  

We had Caeli's godparents and our dear friends over for minestrone one night that wasn't too cold.  It was the first time we used the firepit and a fun night of friends and s'mores!

The following week we had other dear friends over along with our new priest and his family.  This was a bit of a bigger gathering, with 12 children overall, and unfortunately the wet ground and the drizzling weather kept us all inside!  Once the drizzle slowed down, we ran outside for more s'mores!

That same weekend, my brother, his girlfriend, and my sister came to town as a quick stop before their big drive to North Carolina.  We exchanged gifts with them before they left!

They left early on a Sunday morning, and after mass that afternoon we welcomed in Ryan's brother, sister-in-law, and their two sweet, sweet boys!  Cousins we reunited after nearly 6 months!

Caeli warmed up to Uncle Josh within a few days!

Poor Finley had to spend a lot of time outside or in his crate when we had so many people over!

One morning the three older boys were particularly quiet, then they came downstairs to annouce they were ready for us to come upstairs.  They had seats ready for us, told us where to sit, and started a rock concert!  They built guitars out of trio blocks, jumped up and down and lip-synched, and had a Matt Maher CD blasting as loud as it could go as their "music."  It was so cute- and they did it all on their own! And Ryan joined in on the electric keyboard at the end!

I will save Christmas pictures for another post. :-)

St. Nicholas Day

St. Nicholas showed up this year with his usual treats of slippers, chocolate coins, and saint books.  He also brought initial ornaments for the kids and nutcracker toys for Beth, Luke, and Jack.  Poor Caeli didn't get any slippers- guess St. Nick couldn't find any for a baby!

St. Cuthbert.  Oh yes I did.

 

 

It was one of those perfect lazy mornings where everyone was sort of in their own world, doing their own thing for awhile after receiving their gifts.  I made cinnamon rolls and Beth made eggs, the boys played with their nutcrackers, and Ryan and Caeli played in the front room.  We enjoyed a feast in honor of St. Nicholas before we left to go pick our our Christmas tree!

 
We have a tradition of cutting down our own tree, but this year I convinced Ryan to purchase a pre-cut Frasier Fir.  We agree it's the most beautiful Christmas tree we've had, but for old time's sake  he wanted a picture of them pretending to cut down our chosen tree. ;-)

 

We dropped our tree off at home, ate a quick lunch, then drove in the opposite direction to meet St. Nick.  

We walked around the little shops for a bit, I picked up a Christmas present for Ryan (a coffee mug with a picture of a Boxer on it) and we went home to decorate the tree with lights.  I love the idea of not adding the lights until the feast of St. Lucia but... I just can't wait that long!  We added the ornaments on Gaudete Sunday!

I am an innkeeper

I'm done Christmas gift shopping, and some are even wrapped and safely hidden from peeking eyes.  My mind has turned from find "the perfect gift" for everyone to other items on my to-do list!  It's a great relief to be done early- I hope to do this every year!

I know the relief is probably temporary, because soon it will be about the food, cleaning, and rushing to-and-fro.  God has called me to be a responsible steward of my time, and so I plan.  I make my lists of groceries and rooms to clean and books to read, but I know to leave room for God's plans.  My heart is full of joy, anticipating the upcoming events and celebrations of hosting friends and family and having a bustling, full house.

"Christmas is a time to be Christ to one another. It is permission in a largely secular society to witness to the wonders of the Lord. In reality, the only thing perfect about Christmas is the Christ Child who longs to find shelter in our hearts.

I am not Martha Stewart. I am an innkeeper. I am preparing a place in my home and in my soul for the Savior of the World. I need to be so grounded in prayer that Christ’s peace overflows from me to those in my home. Let the visitors come. Let them come whenever they want and stay as long as they want. I will make the house warm and the food filling, but above all, I will make certain that the Holy Infant is here. He will be the reason for our celebration."  -Elizabeth Foss (please, go read her entire blog.  All of it.)

I am an innkeeper.  Since I read this phrase over a week ago, I can't get it out of my mind.  I relate so because we always host family members here during this time of year, and I spend so much time preparing for them.  I welcome everyone with open arms and hopefully a smile on my face.  But as diligently as I prepare my home, have I prepared my heart for the birth of Christ?

We give gifts and host celebrations and prepare our homes not only because we love our family and friends, but because we love God.   I hope that in our lovingly-prepared home, home-cooked meals, delicately-wrapped gifts, and even in the unavoidable chaos of excited children, others can see that we seek only to magnify His holy name!  For it is in Him, and only in Him that I find my peace- not in being "done" with gifts a little earlier this year.

I hope that everyone who enters our home this Advent and Christmas season is able to see Him here!