7 Quick Takes instead of housework

Because really, who wants to do housework? Not me!

1.  Working in a parish this time of year is nutty.  We have all these events for Advent and Christmas and in the meantime, the mail is full of materials for Lent and Easter.

2.  A song by Casting Crowns, reminding us of our need for salvation.  

3.  If you are looking for a devotional based on the daily Gospel, look no further than this:  

Available for your Kindle from Amazon now!  

(full disclosure, my reflections are in there)

4.  I don't plan on putting up a Christmas tree this year. If someone puts it up, it'll be a small one for the table, but my plan is my nativities all around, some poinsettias and that's it.  I feel confident we will recall the Incarnation without a tree.

5.  Very little shopping going on either. Yes, there will be presents, just not tons and no stockings. I'm just into into stuff this year.

6.  I'm not Scrooge or the Grinch; I'm just tired of all the commercialism and need to do stuff.  I want to be - with my family, my friends, the Holy Family.   I want to celebrate Jesus.

7.  I'm going to go sit by my Advent wreath.


More Quick Takes over at This Ain't the Lyceum.

Christmas Adam, What's it all about?

What's Christmas Adam?  Well, it's the day before Christmas Eve of course.  Why, well, because Adam came before Eve and when you are a little kid you want as many celebrations in your life as possible.  It happened long ago on a probably warm winter evening as we sat under the ceiling fan discussing plans for Christmas and Christmas Eve.  One of our children, truly I have no recollection of who said it, asked what the day before Christmas Eve was called and the other replied, Christmas Adam!  And so it is, at least at our house.
Our family dream is for this idea of celebrating on this day spread throughout the land.  Joyous celebrations for embracing fun and all that is good about this season.
Try it.  Use it as a day to get together with people you love but may not spend Christmas with because they go to mom's house. Make it the wrapping day so on Christmas Eve you relax and welcome Jesus with peace and calm instead of wrapping paper and tape. Call people you haven't spoken to in a while.
Do something fun; anticipate the birth; be present to those you love.

And make our little family dream come true.