A Pause in Advent

Oops-this was written up on Saturday during the snow storm, but i guess i pressed the wrong button and it wasn't posted!
Another week closer to Christmas and some more traditions being fulfilled.  This week we put up the Christmas tree, and all of the other decoration that go with it.  The wreaths, the garlands, the Christmas candles, the lights, baubles, bells and oodles of other things i know I'm forgetting.
The outside of the house has been decked out for the festivities since the snow came about quite late this year, but some things remain the same.  The Christmas Cd's come out, we invariably tuck into the tins of roses early and stuff the freezer as if we're going to have to begin bartering for bare necessities over Christmas and Hogmany.  I'm late again with sending off cards, but quite happy with the progress on the long journey into the Christmas Holidays, which can be as calm and peaceful or bewitchingly busy as you wish to make it.  I'm bewitched with the busy and so i may begrudge rest, calm and easy, i enjoy it all the same.

A Pause in Advent

I remember doing A Pause in Advent this time last year, and here we are again.  Thank you very much Floss for getting us all thinking about it again.  Its so crazy to think that it was twelve short months ago when we last did this!

Last year I stuck with tradition and spoke about whatever would be spoken about in Church at the lighting of the candles.  You can read about it here if you would like to.  This year I'm going to talk about tradition and what we're up to in our small corner of the world in the lead up to Christmas.  

So far we've not been particularly Christmassy-neither of us are big fans of Christmas cake, and so i make a Madeira closer to the time and decorate that, therefore that's not a job i need to think of just yet!  The things-commercial as they are-that have signalled to us its Christmas time are things like adverts (Cola, Irn Bru and John Lewis), the smokey smell in the air, and the lovely Yankee Candles I'm finally allowed to fill the house with!  The traditions that we will be following this week will be the putting up of the decorations-something we do on the first of December.  We pull out our many decorations and our own advent calender and start making the house glittery, bright, more welcoming than normal and altogether like a scene in a Christmas movie!

A Pause in Advent-Joy

So here we are, less than one week until Christmas Day and this week’s advent candle and post is Joy. Joy of light in the darkness, the joy of what we’re making, the memories and the realisation of dreams, joy comes in a whole host of varieties. Joy of helping others, joy of a quiet moment in a busy week, the thing is we need to grab all the joy we can. It’s the last week until Christmas and I am revelling in every second and moment of the joy this knowledge gives me. I am beyond excitement, I am truly happy staring at glistening lights and glittery ribbons.

I am normally happiest pottering around, but I am finding joy in all manner of things that I am all too aware cause panic to many. This is (and I'm saying this in a sing song voice now) the most wonderful time of the year.

I haven’t been to every carol concert or even a Christmas party. I didn’t want to and so I didn’t. I didn’t give cards to every single person i've ever known, I didn’t want to, and I'm sure people don’t want to bother writing out a card to me if they only met me for a little while in June. This isn’t about getting a whole bunch of cards or presents, this isn’t about having the most dust free home and perfectly hanging garland in the village, its about what brings joy to me and my family. It’s about how I want to spend my time and money. Right now I honestly can’t give my time to everything I should, but to deserving matters I can give money, to some others I can do other things which help. I've been preparing for Christmas since last Christmas, and I still haven’t ticked every box. But I am happy, I'm giving myself over to the things I want to and I am truly finding joy in this!
Have a great week
x

A Pause in Advent-Love

Hi there all!! I've been a bit AWOL and i would love to say that its because I've been darning cookies and baking socks or whatever it is people do at this time of year but alas, i have been doing neither!

Although i love this time of year i don't know where the time has went.  Ive not been working and therefore earning loads, I've not fallen into some amazing job or anything, i haven't even got on top of all the cleaning...I've just been AWOL.

Ive quite liked my time doing nothing (and everything) but here i am, back again and wanting to share my third Pause in Advent with you.

Ive been looking forward a lot, I've been thinking about what will come and burning up with excitement.  Christmas movies have been watched, and although still snowed under with all sorts of projects (and actual snow from being snowed in), I've really been up to nothing, but doing nothing i don't love.  The Husband and I have been watching TV, reading, taking trips into town for high tea, talking, and wrapping up presents.  We've had a marvelous time, but nothing i can really put my finger on.  

I hope you are all filled with the most amazing feelings, caught up in doing great things which make you happy and taking time for yourself.  To feel the feeling you need to, but always, always coming back for and full of love.

A Pause in Advent, Peace

Last week for the first Pause in Advent I wrote about Hope. That post was a very backward looking post. I was thinking a lot about what had been in the past year. The transition from November to December didn’t really make a difference in our home. I think that’s why I was very reflective!

The decorations went up on the first of December, really because I couldn’t contain the itch for tinsel and baubles anymore. The explosion manifested itself in a whole manner of handmade things, ribbons, the big tree going up and four wreaths! It put me and The Husband in a completely different mood!

The second candle of advent is Peace. I know that it means a whole great deal in Church and in the wider world, but to me, this week has been about finding peace with what has been. Its also made the think a great deal about last week, and the hope that this coming year brings a great deal of peace in myself so that I can bring it into my home.

I want next year to be bursting with peace; I want to ooze peace and be positive, I want to actually have a go at life instead of waiting for something to happen.

This week I’ve been stringing up some handmade decorations, I am immensely proud of these despite being very aware of what they look like. They are my first makes, and although I don’t want to show them off properly here, I do want to share the satisfaction (and peace) I found in making these.

Peace can come from a whole host of areas; many things can give us peace. I hope that in the coming weeks I find peace where I can and in general try not to stress myself out! (Which is incredibly easy to do at this time of year)  I hope you are all enjoying the season, forgetting the things and people that hurt us, and finding peace in what makes you happy.
x

A Pause in Advent, Hope

Ive decided to follow floss from Troc, Broc and Recup and take part in the 'A Pause in Advent' series.

Floss's post spoke about traditions, and i think i should keep this post in line with tradition and make it about Hope, a topic traditionally spoken about in church at the lighting of the first candle.  There is - traditionally - the hope we hold in Christ, or indeed Christmas, the hope that it will be light and joy in the dark winter months, the hope that Christmas itself will be better, and call an end to the year, which we in turn hope will be better than last. 

We hope that we can be better, better people, neighbours, daughters, and the hope that our families will grow safely and my personal hope is that i can be a Mother.

Hope is what binds each and every one of us together, we have the same hopes, and i believe that each of the candles, hypothetical or other, are common themes to mankind in general.  Even if you aren't writing a post about A Pause in Advent I hope you are able to save some time for yourself this season to think of the four candles, Hope, Peace, Love and Joy, and possibly even share these thoughts with me.