Elena at My Domestic Church talks about Saving Advent. I swear she wrote this just for me. I started my Advent out with the best of intentions, with our wreath, I put together daily Bible readings and pictures to put on the Jesse Tree every night with the kids, I had planned to faithfully start O Antiphons on 12/17. But somehow I got mired down in being pregnant and exhausted, and in complete panic that again, due to either pregnancy or a new baby, I just wasn't prepared enough for Christmas, or too tired to put all my little Jesse Tree drawings up. So I thank Elena for this practical advice because I am feeling quite like the Grinch who stole Advent lately. And that's not the Mom I wanted to be.
1. Go to daily mass. Maybe not daily, but even if you get one extra mass in a week it will make you feel like you have taken a step in the right direction!2. Get to confession. Nothing says "clean slate" better than... well a clean slate! So get to confession and make a fresh start from there!
3. Pick an online Advent Calendar, breeze through the days you missed and start off with renewed commitment tomorrow! Here's a nice one to follow.
4. Analyze your Christmas preparations. Maybe you've done enough already. Remember the first Christmas was in a barren, cold cave. Maybe you have enough decorations, maybe you've bought enough gifts. Remember, the gifts that matter the most are ones that come from the heart, not the pocketbook!
