Today is the first Sunday in Advent. No grand plans here alas. Just baby prep – preparing for the flesh and blood baby due in 2 wks and the Holy Babe due right after.  I confess to being a slacker otherwise. We set up the tree, actually a couple trees, yesterday. Allen hung lights outside. Appropriately enough the star lights. This week we hope to make some St Nick icons and some easy candy to share with friends. We will read some books. We will light the candles tonight. It is all I havein me so, like the Widow’s Mite, I have to believe it is enough. This is not to say all my dear friends who are graced with more energy this particular advent are misguided. There is a season to everything and this just happens to be a quiet one at the ranch due to circumstances.

If it is a quiet season at your house as well you might want to visit Elizabeth’s blog today and remember some special women who will not be celebrating in big or small ways with their families this Christmas. Or visit Fuller Farms and lift up a prayer for a special family who are grateful to have each other this year as they move through cancer treatment. You might decide that it is perfectly alright to kick back, heat the cocoa, and just BE this year.

While we may not have hit all the wonderful crafts this time around, we will be doing this one thing – the Christkindl tradition. We will draw names tonight to learn who it is that will be in our special care this advent season and then will spend the next few weeks thinking of ways to bless them.