S Prazdnikom! and a blessed 2010 to you all!

A joyous feast of the Circumcision of the Lord to you all!  

We had a lovely quiet time at home last night.  We were suppose to have an open house for our parish, but my little Zoe is sick.  

Fr. fixed us a yummy dinner of scrambled eggs, bacon and toast.  After that I surprised the girls with a new movie, "Up", and Fr. made us popcorn.  

We were all snoring peacefully before midnight.  I missed having everyone over last night, but it was also nice to have a fun night with the girls.  

A blessed 2010 to you all!  Many years to all the Basils!

The ladies after five

We went to a Christmas party last night.  When I told them we had a party at six, they immediately took the opportunity to put a little extra flair.  

I love how Katherine's scarf is tucked in to a ribbon on her belt.  Thea's scarf flowed down her back, coupled with a diamond number around her neck that my mom got her for Christmas.  

Zoe took the practical route and just put a church head scarf on.

You know it's time for Christmas detox when:

You ask your three year old what we should have for lunch and she says:  "How bout goldfish and pretzels!"

"You put steamed vegetables on the table and your children say:  "But it's Christmas!"

Your children wake up and assume that it's OK to have cookies for breakfast.

Hope your having a glorious feast of the birth of our Saviour!  Clearly my children are.

Signing off for now!

I won't have time to blog between now and Nativity, so I'll wish you and your family a blessed and joyous feast of the Nativity of our Lord!

All of creation rejoiceth in thee, O Full of Grace, the assembly of angels and the race of men.  O Sanctified Temple and spiritual Paradise, the glory of virgins, of whom God was incarnate and became a child-our God before the ages.  He made thy body into a throne, and thy womb He made more spacious than the heavens.  All of creation rejoiceth in Thee, O Full of Grace.  Glory to thee!  ~ Hymn to the Theotokos

Three doctors, three opinions

So, a certain three year old doctor told me tonight, as I was playing a heated game of Rat-a-tat-cat, that I didn't look so good and that she thought a check up was in order.  Before I knew it, I was laying on the couch with a seven yr. old, a five yr. old and a three yr. old all giving three different opinions about what should be done.

Zoe:  "I fink she's sick."

Katherine:  "We need to cut her open."

Thea:  "We just need to kiss her and she will wake up."

Zoe:  "Let's take her temperature."

Katherine:  "Let's cut her open."

Thea:  "Let's kiss her."

Zoe:  "Hold still mommy and I'll listen to your heart."

Katherine:  "I'm telling you she needs to be cut open."

Thea:  "She just needs to be loved."

The moral of the story is to always get a second opinion and maybe even a third.

Anatole?

Is that you?  

The feast draws nigh!

A few more days and we will be celebrating the feast of Nativity!  

I am ready.  The groceries are bought, the cards and gifts are wrapped and mailed.  

We decorated the tree on Sunday evening.  The girls are beside themselves with joy.  

Tomorrow we'll decorate the church and our home.  We will start baking sweets after we decorate the church.  Thursday we'll have several services and end the day with Holy Supper with our parishioners.  Friday morning we'll wake up, have liturgy and go to my mom and dad's for the day with my brothers and their families.  This is a precious time.  

I thank God for all that He has given to our family.  Living at the rectory, we see a steady stream of people who are hungry, sick, alone, confused, strung out, sad, the list goes on and on.  I feel so blessed to be able to put food on our table three times a day.  I feel blessed to have clean clothes and a washer an dryer in my home.  I feel blessed to have a warm home and a bed, a hot shower, our health, two cars!  I pray I never forget to give thanks for all that God has given to us.  I pray I never forget to ask forgiveness for forgetting to give thanks!

May you all have a glorious week leading up to the feast of the Nativity of our Lord.  May we all remember to give thanks for the great goodness and wealth God has given us.