Getting Ready....

Yesterday was a very, very bad day for me.. it was the sixth anniversary of my friend Stephanie's death.  Stephanie, who've I've blogged about before, was only 36 years old when she died.  I miss her so much.  After lots of weeping and anguish and fervent prayer, and a really good nights' sleep, I am in a much better frame of mind today.


So it's November.  All Saints Day has passed.  The season of Advent and of course St Nicholas Day are well on their way.  I can't wait!!  Advent is such a beautiful season. :)  I openly admit I've already started listening to Christmas music.  Now, mind you I don't like how retail has made such a Holy day something that's 'fake' and 'plastic' and the world seems bent on excess and greed and want... putting up Christmas stuff the day after Halloween.. I detest that.  For me, though, Christmas music is so joyous.. such a comfort.  "Oh Holy Night, the stars are shining brightly."  So beautiful  So holy.  And exactly where I want my heart and thoughts to be.  Focused on God.  Focused on my loved ones.  My family.  My children.


So to get myself more psyched and ready for the SEASON to begin.. (yes I am literally counting off!!) EIGHT DAYS Til Advent begins!!  So, to put myself in the spirit of things homey and lovely and old-fashioned and fun... today I am trying my hand at making home-made apple butter, starting it off by making home-made applesauce.  I got the recipes here:  http://www.pickyourown.org/applebutter.htm   I am going to add the Red Hot Candies, as suggested in one of the comments at the bottom of the page.  So exciting!  I have cinnamon raisin bread AND cinnamon raisin bagels in the freezer.  Plus I am pretty good at making homemade bread.  This stuff will NOT go to waste. :)  


I have an Advent "House" that I bought on clearance several years ago.  I went to this site for the printable advent chain: http://catholicmom.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/2010_advent_chain.pdf 
Inside our Advent house, there is a big wheel that we manually rotate around to the next day... and after doing that days activity or reading, you open the door and get out the candies.  Since I have two children, I find that Andes Mints are perfect.  We like both the mint and the cherry. :)  I will be getting other good stuff off of that site.  It's CatholicMom.com.  Seriously, go check it out. :)   Cool site!!


My friend Nancy (who, please allow me to link her here:  http://www.benotafraidnancy.blogspot.com)  has been talking about doing a Jesse Tree.  Since I'm a Convert, I've never done anything like that before, and have never done it with my kids.  So I am considering giving it a try this year.  This is the link I found for it.  http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/activities/view.cfm?id=545 


I realize I am a day late and a dollar short with this next link, but I wanted to post it before I forget to.  Did you know that Thanksgiving was Catholic?  Neither did I!  This was shared also by my dear friend Nancy, and so I am excited to share with all of you.  Personally, I am going to be printing it out!!  http://www.traditioninaction.org/History/B_005_Onate_Thanksgiving.html


Lastly, may I recommend checking this out.  Another blog I do recommend.  It's how to (possibly) get a holy card from the pope. :)  How cool is that?!!?  Even if you don't get anything back, how lovely to be able to send His Holiness a Christmas greeting!! :)  http://romans8v29.blogspot.com/2008/11/how-to-get-holy-card-from-pope.html   And yes, we are totally doing this. :)