a new year

A new year brings with it all sorts of resolutions, and in that I am no different from anyone else.  But this year I have one very important resolution--the one I want to accomplish even if I fail at all the others--I want to learn to pray the Liturgy of the Hours, and make it a part of my daily life.

Kindness Elf

After reading this wonderful post over at The Imagination Tree I decided that I'm going to incorporate some of the ideas in my classroom this week!  I've got my elf all ready--he's an old ornament from my childhood tucked into a vase of holly.  Isn't he cute?

If all goes according to plan, he'll be in the classroom when we return from Mass on Thursday, complete with a letter to the children about acts of kindness and a plate of homemade cookies!  Once I compose the letter I'll post it here for you to see.  (DH will be the actual scribe--a left-handed male handwriting will look sufficiently different from mine and from our classroom teacher to hopefully keep the children guessing!)

And later today DH will be putting up the 2nd Advent candle in the yard...photo tomorrow!

Frugal Advent Wreath

I just finished making my Advent wreath!  And other than the purchase of new candles, it's a freebie!  My budget is so tight this year that there just isn't money to spend on anything that isn't really a necessity.  But I'm thrilled with what I was able to put together from items I already have in the house, with the exception of the candles (which I need every year).   I'm really happy with the way it turned out.

I'll be deconstructing it in a few minutes so that I can take the candles with me to Mass this morning to have them blessed, but when I get home I'll put it right back together again AND I'll change out the table runner to an Advent-appropriate one.  Step-by-step photos of the wreath-making process later today!

Novena to the Immaculate Conception

Today may be Black Friday for some (oh, how I dreaded this day when I worked in retail!) but for me, it's the first day of the Novena to the Immaculate Conception.

Need the prayers?  Hop over to PRAY MORE NOVENAS and you'll find everything you need, including a convenient sign-up so that you can have the prayers emailed to you each day.  And no worry, they won't start spamming you if you sign up!

Day 28

I'm thankful for so much--but honestly, right now I'm thankful that I didn't overeat today!

Day 27

Today I'm thankful for "Friendsgiving".  Spent the day with my DH, and my dear friends Liz, Mike, and Connie.  We had a great lunch, and a great time visiting with each other.  It's such a treat to have some extra time to spend with them.

Day 26

Today I'm grateful that I could find this adjustable roasting rack!  It's almost exactly like the one my mother had (hers wasn't non-stick, of course) and it's just the thing I'll need when I try to make the bacon-wrapped turkey breast later this week!