I have a dilemma this Christmas Eve. I will be playing my flute at the Children’s mass with Izzy and Noah at 4:00. Then I will be playing with Sam and Gabe and the Parish Choir at midnight (and this year, it really is midnight!). And then again tomorrow at 11:00 with Mr. Pete and the Praise and Worship Ensemble. I am lovin it and dreading it at the same time! My biggest problem will be staying awake and not making any stupid mistakes at midnight mass!!
I did have a relatively stress free advent. We didn’t have any money – we didn’t do any shopping! That was simple! Mr. Pete finally got paid for some of the projects he has been working on, so we hit the stores last night and it was relatively easy. When the money ran out, we were done! But we have been blessed with some pretty amazing children. They asked for some pretty modest and I would say practical stuff. The most expensive gift we bought was a video game the boys wanted, so they will share that and have a good time altogether! I did have to charge a few things this Christmas, but I don’t think it was much more than a hundred dollars and since I took that extra job, I figure I can pay it back quickly.
The kids and I did make it to the last minute confessions offered at church yesterday. We were not alone. I had to stand in line for about half an hour, which isn’t too bad, except that Rosie was with us. The Blessed Sacrament was also exposed on the altar. Now, for Rosie to stand still for 30 minutes would have been torture!! I didn’t even try to attempt that. I told her that she had to be quiet, and that she couldn’t run, and that she should try not to bother anyone. For the most part she did all of those things, roaming the church as we waited in line. One of the funniest things she did was start at the back of the church and scooch forward on her knees bit by bit. Sam and Gabe were mortified, but she was quiet and she was happy, which was my main goal. I told them that people go to the Holy Lands and walk the entire Way of the Cross on their knees! so maybe their little sister was just extra devout at a young age? They, of course, didn’t buy it, but the lady next to me giggled. I just figured if Jesus had been present in his earthly form on the altar he would have smiled at Rosie. I think he enjoys children playing nicely in his presence. And so she did.
This morning I got up and addressed all of my Christmas cards. Christmas is a season. Tomorrow is the first day of that season. Thus, my cards are timely and not early!! They’ll get mailed on Friday.
There are a few strange things for us this Christmas. My sister is newly divorced and that brings a new dynamic to our extended family festivities. My mother is having more and more bad days than good ones. She just never feels “good.” I wish she could, but she just doesn’t. I wish the girls could go to her home and bake cookies and watch t.v. and do stuff with her, but she’s just not up to it. She will be 81 on February so I guess I will just have to savor the time we have and try to have the kids build memories on that.
Hopefully, I will be able to get out to the cemetery today to put lights on Raphael’s grave. Since 2002 that has been our tradition. The first year it was heartbreaking. I put glitter on his grave and we sang Silent Night and I think I choked back sobs through most of it. But year after year it has gotten easier and now I even enjoy it. The cemetery, especially babyland, is decorated so nicely reminding me that all of that love doesn’t end just because of death. You can still feel the love out there, and particularly at Christmas time! So we have to do that today.
Calvin ( who PASSED HIS EMT-BASIC EXAM AND IS NOW A REAL EMT!!!)will be bringing his girlfriend over tonight at 6:00 for presents. I had a few pictures made for her and I am giving her one of Calvins’ first communion pictures in a frame. (My late mother-in-law gave me a picture of Mr. Pete when he was a boy and I loved it! So hopefully Sarah will love this picture of Calvin a well.) Anyway, since NO ONE IN MY FAMILY reads my blog, I feel safe in saying she’s getting a gorgeous promise ring for Christmas. She will be very pleased. They have been dating for two years. They are both 19. She doesn’t take crap from Calvin and he treats her very well. If it were 150 years ago they’d be married already. So I think a promise ring is a good symbol of their relationship right now. In a few years hopefully he can replace it with an engagement ring.
So now I better get going on my cleaning up my kitchen and getting ready for tonight. Izzy, Noah and Rosie still believe in Santa and Mr. Pete does a great job of keeping that going.
May all of you have a Blessed and Holy Christmas Eve and Christmas Day!
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