Saturday, November 29, 2008

What I'm thinking...

It's a most unusual afternoon here at my house. My wonderful , devoted, long-suffering husband has taken all the children ~ nine of our own, and four borrowed ~ to a football game. After the game, they'll go over to a family gathering, so it'll be a long afternoon outing for the whole gang. And here I am, alone, in the quiet of our home.

Ah, blessed peace.

Of course, the house is a mess. No, I mean a MESS. My plea to my husband was that I really would like the time to clean up the disarray and catch up on the mountain of laundry before Sunday's rest. But, I have to admit, having the house to myself to leisurely clean and cook and change over laundry is the dearest rest I could possibly ask for.
===sigh===

The blessed quiet...

Except for I do have Enya's newest cd playing. It's called And Winter Came and it is absolutely beautiful. What we've come to expect from Enya, but better, because this one is a Christmas album! She has recorded a hauntingly beautiful version of O Come O Come Emmanuel in Latin, for instance, that is our new standard for Advent. And among other new music, she sings a song called Journey of the Angels. The words go like this:

Somewhere in a winter night
the angels begin their flight
dark skies with miles to go
no footsteps to be lost in snow.

They fly to You
Oh, new-born King,
They fly to You
Oh angels sing.
One is sorrow,
One is peace,
One will come
To give You sleep.
One is comfort,
One is grief,
One will take
The tears You weep.

New star
In a midnight sky,
In heaven all the angels fly.
Soft wings so true
And all things they will give to You.

Somewhere in a winter night
The angels begin their flight
Tonight all sing.
Oh angels,
A new-born King.
Tonight all sing,
Oh, angels,
A new-born King.

Aren't the words lovely? We highly recommend this album. If you're an Enya fan, especially, it's a must-have!

So, anyway, here I am. Beautiful music playing, the snow falling outside. I've got a fire in the woodstove and turkey soup starting on the stove. I'm getting set to go down-cellar and look for our Advent wreath. By the time the children come home, I'd like to have the Autumn decorations down and the Advent Wreath up and ready for tomorrow.

Tomorrow!

Tomorrow is the first day of the new Church year! How are you preparing?
Besides getting our Advent Wreath started, we like to start the new Liturgical Year by making resolutions, much like most people do on January 1st. Unlike our New Years' promises, which tend to be of a saecular nature, like resolving to lose weight or keep the cellar clean, our Liturgical Year promises are of a purely spiritual nature. We've already decided on a family resolution, regarding the number of rosaries we plan to say in the year, and how we're going to record our intentions from the rosaries for spiritual bouquets. But, each of us makes individual resolutions, too.
I've been thinking I'd like to take the year to concentrate on one of the three Divine Virtues. I'd like to investigate all the avenues leading to and from either Faith, Hope, or Charity, and by learning, find how best to grow in this virtue. I haven't been able to decide which one I want to do yet, though I've pretty much eliminated Hope for the time being. Being generally sanguine in nature, I haven't had a whole lot of problem with the virtue of Hope, though I know that I probably underestimate its implications in the other virtues.

I expect that I can benefit greatly from a study on Charity, as that's traditionally one most of us (women, especially) struggle with. And of the virtues, St. Paul tells us "...the greatest of these is charity..." Concentrating on Charity would also work beautifully with Advent preparations. But, then, I can't help but think that Faith is the foundation of all the virtues, and would be wonderful to meditate on....

Decisions, decisions. And I've only got a few hours to come up with something!

And a million things yet to do...

So, I'm off
to make an Advent Wreath,
and cut some onions for my turkey soup
and change over a load of laundry
while I think about it some more...
I hope everyone is having a blessed and peaceful day!
Post Script: Hurray for the Olathe Pirates, the home town team of our dear friends at St. Joseph's parish! I just got a text from my husband, from the stands ~ amid a cheering crowd, to be sure. The Pirates just won the AA Football State Championship, 22-21! Wahoo! What a game that must have been! I know I'll be hearing about it from all sides as soon as the troops return this afternoon. &:o) I can't wait to hear how dear, tiny Olathe, Colorado will be celebrating this week!

9 comments:

Soutenus said...

Blessings this Advent! I am so looking forward to learning and sharing (again) this season with my Catholic blogging friends. My guys are getting the Advent wreath together as I just had surgery and am on bedrest for a few more days. I am FINE -- but please do keep my oldest daughter in your prayers. She has a biopsy scheduled for Monday.
In Christ,
Peggy
(aka Soutenus)

Jenny said...

You have one of my favorite pictures posted, The Song of the Angels. I love it because the baby Jesus is a chubs in the picture. All of my babies have been chubby babies!

Laura said...

I just finished Maya Angelou's book that she wrote for her daughter. She has a short chapter about charity and I like the simple statement she makes...
In so many words she said that her desire is not to be a philanthropist because she associates that term with corporations who are detached from the giving.
She said charity is face to face.
You have something someone else needs and you share.
Isn't always money...
It's time.
It's a smile.
It's forgiveness.


Good stuff.

Anonymous said...

I'm so glad you like the CD of Enya's. I absolutely love it! It would be a wonderful thing if we could adopt the Angels Journey as a new traditional Christmas hymn, wouldnt' it? Her CD has become my favorite Christmas music to listen to now. I managed to remember Jon's CD he kept leaving at our house. Now he can listen to it while he is away!
Love Ya!!!

Therese said...

Enya is one of my favourite singers so that cd sounds great.

I like your idea about spiritual resolutions. I will have to suggest that to my husband.

I also have tagged you for a meme. See my blog for details.

Therese

EC Gefroh said...

Lisa, Happy New Liturgical Year! What a wonderful Advent post!! You have inspired me to do even more this Advent season as a way to grow spiritually. Mahalo!!

Marie said...

I love Enya..Have you heard her sing Silent Night in gaelic? It's beautiful...:)

Blessings and JOY to you this Advent Lisa and as for the houswork..wear shades;) you dont see the mess so much and your kids will think you're cool;) LOL!

Peace and love to you:)

Marie xooxoxoxo

Aubrey said...

Ooh, thanks for the Enya tip! I switched iTunes to the store right away and am sampling/listening to it. I'm always a sucker for Enya! :)

Maria (also Bia) said...

We do spiritual resolutions, too, in honor of the new Liturgical Year.

Thanks for the Enya tip.

Sounds like you had a lovely afternoon...