Tuesday, Week 1 of Advent

Tuesday, Week 1
Reading: Genesis 2:4 – 3:24
Symbol: Tree with fruit or an apple

I remember now...last year an entire box of ornaments found it's way into the trash and among them were several apple ornaments. My efforts to de-clutter usually bites me back. This forced a creative effort on my part, which turned out fun. We used one of the glass bulbs from Hobby Lobby, a sponge applicator, tissue paper and a bit of Mod Podge.

The reading for this lead to a great conversation with my daughters; how they lamented the fact that Adam and Eve sinned, taking away their opportunity to walk through the Garden of Eden with God.

I found this really interesting. If Adam and Eve had never sinned, the world would be so different, we could only guess at the possibilities (and we came up with some whopper ideas!) I reminded them that God knew that Adam and Eve would sin - it doesn't say that in the Bible, but I believe with a little common sense, everyone will agree that because God is all-knowing He therefore knew what the future held for His two human creations. God wants us to love Him, not be forced to love him, because the forcing of love isn't love at all. That's slavery.

Once again, my children with their amazing line of questions, took this reading to an entirely different level than I expected. I thought we would talk about sin, but we ended up confirming that God loves us so much He gives us the opportunity to not love Him. That's true love, unconditional love and only God has it.

Monday, Week 1 of Advent

Monday, Week 1
Reading: Genesis 1:1-2:3
Symbol: Dove

We happened to have a white bird ornament - I'm not sure if it's a dove or not, but if we say it's a dove, it will be a dove. Right? :)

For tomorrow, the symbol an apple or a fruit tree. Can you guess what the readings might be?

Reading for today:

2The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.
3Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.
4God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.
5God called the light day, and the darkness He called night And there was evening and there was morning, one day.
6Then God said, "Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters."
7God made the expanse, and separated the waters which were below the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse; and it was so.
8God called the expanse heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, a second day.
9Then God said, "Let the waters below the heavens be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear"; and it was so.
10God called the dry land earth, and the gathering of the waters He called seas; and God saw that it was good.
11Then God said, "Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit after their kind with seed in them"; and it was so.
12The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit with seed in them, after their kind; and God saw that it was good.
13There was evening and there was morning, a third day.
14Then God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years;
15and let them be for lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth"; and it was so.
16God made the two great lights, the greater light to govern the day, and the lesser light to govern the night; He made the stars also.
17God placed them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth,
18and to govern the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness; and God saw that it was good.
19There was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.
20Then God said, "Let the waters teem with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the heavens."
21God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind; and God saw that it was good.
22God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth."
23There was evening and there was morning, a fifth day.
24Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures after their kind: cattle and creeping things and beasts of the earth after their kind"; and it was so.
25God made the beasts of the earth after their kind, and the cattle after their kind, and everything that creeps on the ground after its kind; and God saw that it was good.
26Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."
27God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
28God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth."
29Then God said, "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you;
30and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to every thing that moves on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food"; and it was so.
31God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
Genesis 2
The Creation of Man and Woman
1Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts.
2By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.
3Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.

The Jesse Tree

Every year I try to make the Season of Christmas more about Christ. With our society steeped in the secular symbolism of the Season of Giving, it’s much like wading through mud to find the celebration of Jesus’ coming as an infant. I could say, All I want for Christmas is my baby Jesus.

So this year, our family is doing a Jesse Tree. The purpose of a Jesse Tree is to tell the story of God in the Old Testament and His covenant with his people to send the Savior. It’s also a great way to review the stories of mankind’s greatest failures and how our God’s love, patience and grace has always saved us.

Using a small table-top Christmas Tree, bare branches planted in a pot, or even a space on the wall to tape the ornaments, a Jesse Tree can become part of the daily routine this Advent.

As I studied different blogs and websites that explained the Jesse Tree, I saw that many of the symbols needed for the tree was already had in our abundant collection of Christmas Ornaments: star, white dove, apple, lamb, trumpets, etc. I set those aside for the Jesse Tree. On top of building the Jesse Tree and collecting or making ornaments, my other goal is to do this without spending extra money. I need to be careful with my budget, so there will be no extra fluff for us – unless it can be found in the basement or among the kids toys. For the symbols we don’t already have, I am going to get a little creative . Last year at Hobby Lobby, I purchased a box of 12 clear, glass ornaments for us to decorate. Using those and several white, glass ornaments, we are going to paint the symbols onto the glass. Other ornaments will be made from last year’s Christmas cards we received – many of them have Christian paintings of the Nativity, the wise men or the Star of Bethlehem. A little snip here, a hole punch there, a ribbon to top it off and ta-da! An ornament is made!

We will also be bending the guidelines a little. There are many ornaments that we already have that I think will fit just fine as symbols to go along with the scripture readings. For example, an ornament of the world seems an appropriate ornament for the Creation reading. Or a photograph of one of the children’s baptism would be a very appropriate ornament for the reading about John the Baptist.

Day 1:
Sunday, First Day of Advent
Reading: 1 Samuel 16:1-13; Isaiah 11:1-10
Symbol – The Tree

Together, figure out what your tree will be. Will it be a small Christmas tree? A pot of branches? Will you spray paint the branches silver to make them extra pretty? Will it be a construction paper tree tapped to your dining room wall? What about using the dining room chandelier? Prepare your tree and let me know what you did.

Renewing the Budget – ways to keep the spending under control and fun

Part of living according to God’s Word, is using what He gives us wisely.

My husband started his own business a few years ago when our children were just toddlers. It was a very scary move for us – he is a Personal Trainer, a very good one! I knew that if the people came to him, we would have a comfortable life. It’s that whole, ‘If you build it, they will come’ idea. Luckily, I’m not the only person who knows my husband’s strengths as a Personal Trainer. He’s much more than that to people – a mentor, spiritual counselor, a reliable source of good information. As such, his business is doing well despite the economy. We are often asked how we manage to survive off the income of a Personal Trainer who also owns his business. Here it is!

We have redefined several areas in our life to fit with our income. The guidelines for those changes have come from Scripture, from Catholic-Christian principles, and from good ‘ol common sense. In doing so, we have paid off all debt, with the exception of the mortgage, and are working on building up a suitable savings account that will carry us should something happen in the future.

1. Trim the fluff.
Our first task was to look around the house and decide what was really necessary and what was fluff.
Necessary:
Phones – there is a measure of safety in being able to call for help. We dropped the land line and have two cell phones. Our service does not include texting (fluff).

Food – While food is necessary, we follow a strict plan. Most weeks I plan out a meal plan and stick to it. Other weeks, when the duties of being a mom deny me time to plan the menu, I refer to a list of meals I created and just pull ideas from there. I clip coupons. I shop sales. If it’s not on sale, I don’t buy it.

Fluff:
Cable TV
Land Line Phone
New clothes
Newer Cars
Extended Vacations

2. Treasure Hunting.
This is my favorite part about our budget plan. It’s fun, the kids love it, and it keeps me motivated. Each week, I scan the grocery ads for foods that are on sale and plan the week’s meals according to that. I also watch for items that I know we use often and stock up.

Not only for food, but clothing and household items are also Treasure Hunting booty. A few months ago, my hand-held mixer stopped mixing. To buy a new one was right around $20. I found a classic Betty Crocker mixer at Goodwill for $3.00. It’s works beautifully. Amount saved: at least $17.00

We do the same for clothes, checking Goodwill, Salvation Army and consignment shops first. This year I found two beautiful winter coats for just under $7.00 each. Amount saved: over $100. I found new dress shoes for my daughter for $3.00. Saved: $10.00. Jeans at resale stores are as little as $4.99. Amount saved: between $30 - $120.

I have also traded clothing with my sister and girlfriends. If we are close to the same size, we each bring a few items that are still in good shape, but we are tired of. For each thing we bring, we can take home something that someone else brings. It freshens up my wardrobe and doesn't cost me a thing.

3. List Shopping
This tip is what requires the most self-control for me. Self-control is a gift of the Holy Spirit and must be called upon prior to walking into any store. Keep a shopping list on the refrigerator. This is not a new concept, I’m sure, but write things on the list as you run out or are close to running out. When the grocery ads are delivered to your door (or when you buy the Sunday paper) add to the list things that are on sale that you know you will use. When you go to the store, take the list and buy only what is written down.

Keep a second list on the refrigerator for clothing, appliances, and gifts that you need. As you shop, look for these items on sale. Check garage sales, second hand stores, Craigslist – other places than stores that sell them at full price.

4. Bulk
For items we use often, we buy them in bulk at club stores like Sam’s Club or Cost co. The savings adds up over time. Things like diapers, oatmeal, fruit, printer paper, ink, prescriptions, tires for the cars, photo printing, cleaning supplies – all these can be purchased in large quantities because I know we will eventually use it all up. This works for us because we have a place to store the bulk items. If space is an issue, reconsider this option. But if you have a large pantry, a basement or a closet that you can use to hold the excess – do it. Despite the cost of the membership for club stores, the savings will really add up.

A warning: Club Stores have very fun things – flat screen TV’s, computers, movies, books, chocolate… Say a prayer for strength to only buy what is on your list. Say a prayer to the Holy Spirit for that gift of Self-Control and stick to it. And remember, no one ever perished from not having the latest and greatest.

5. Cash Cache
The Cash Cache has been my greatest success in the battle of the budget. Years ago, I purchased a nice canvas sided coupon file – a size in which dollar bills fit without having to fold them. I labeled each file as such:
Grocery $
Clothing $
Gift $
Receipts
Coupons
Lists

When we shop, we take that file and use cash. Only Cash. The debit card and the credit card do not join us at the store. If we don’t have enough money for something, we don’t buy it.

When we started the Cash Cache, we didn’t have enough to put money in each section. It took almost three months before the clothing section had enough to buy anything substantial, but we somehow managed. 

6. One bill at a time
In the kitchen I keep a can for loose change. After each shopping trip, any $1.00 bills go into the can. This is our savings plan – our retirement account. I average $4 - $9.00 each trip into the can each shopping trip. Over the course of a year, we can save several hundred dollars. It’s a little thing to do, but it is really the only way we can save any money – living as tight as we do on this budget. It’s important to put money away for that imminent rainy day; even if it is, literally, one dollar at a time.

Twice a year, I take that can to the bank and deposit half of it into our retirement account and the other half into the girls’ college savings.

Other little things we do:
• Turn down the heat and wear a sweaters and wool socks during the winter.
• Weather-seal the doors and windows.
• Take short vacations near home, for example, going camping or looking for hotel specials.
• Use the library for books, movies and music rental instead of Video Rental stores. Most often it’s free or only $1.00 for a movie rental.
• Just Say ‘No’ is more than just to avoid drugs. Say ‘No’ to frivolous purchases, pushy sales-people, and friends who have quarterly home-based shopping parties.
• Keep is Simple. Christmas and Birthdays are dangerous times for going overboard on gifts and parties. By simplifying and focusing on the true meaning of these special days, the cost can be managed very well. Instead of many gifts at Christmas, play many games, watch many movies, read many stories – do it all together as a family. On birthday’s, have the birthday child choose what will be for dinner and make it together. Gifts that are activities done together make greater memories than any wii game (or whatever kids like now).

The View from the Cry Room

At our church, the cry room is in the back. Because the baby makes noise and is so darn cute , we stay in the cry room during mass so we don’t interrupt the prayerful intent of others.

This is what I have seen from my window view of the cry room:

1. Beautiful faces. The faces of the children that come into the cry room are precious. And then they are put down to play. How will they learn to be still if they are never required to? Is this difficult for parents? Absolutely. But unruly older children are worse.

2. People leaving mass after Communion. Come on! Mass isn’t over until the Choir sings the last song. God didn’t call it quits on the fifth day, he pushed through one more day and then rested. Would these same people leave a movie theater five minutes before the end? Would they like it if the server at a restaurant removed their plate before they had take the last five bites? There is a sense of purpose in hearing the last prayer of Mass; the “go forth and do God’s will” assignment we receive.

3. Toddlers who rule the world. Parents, repeat after me. “NO.” It’s that simple.

4. Baggies of Food for school-age children. Yikes! The Catholic Church is the only church that recognizes the true food of the Eucharist and requests that out of honor for Jesus, who gave us his body and blood as true food and true drink, we not eat or drink for at least an hour before Mass. It used to be a fast from the previous day was required – we have it so easy now! And parents are bringing Cheerios and raisins to church to satisfy their children. Well, the crunching, the spills, and that pee smell that Cheerios have is not helping me focus on Jesus’ gifts. It’s an hour. Leave the food at home and start from the beginning to teach your children the sanctity and beauty of the Mass. I guarantee you will learn more too.

5. Kleenex. I’ll keep this simple. If you need a Kleenex, go get a Kleenex. ‘Nuf said.

6. Talkers. People in the back of the church whisper to each other all during Mass. Focus! Jesus in watching. Do we need a “Please, No Talking” video before each Mass like they do at a movie theater? How sad is it that people are more respectful at a theater than in Church?

Well, I have been a little negative in this post, but honestly. We can do better than this!