Anticipation

Christmas is getting closer, I can feel it in the air. The wieghted anticipation of the Christmas season, but as soon as it comes, it goes again.
This year, the people in my house are a little overly anxious about presents...the house I was in last year, didnt believe in presents, so we each got one (and of course whatever our families sent), but it seemed kind of pointless to me. I mean yeah you get these presents..and unless they are clothes, you hardly use them!

But, whatever. I am by no means a "scrooge" but sometimes the gifts just dont make any sense to me.

This year, I have initated a little giving movement in my house. I have asked that each person pick at least 2 articles of clothing to give away. This way they have the feeling of doing something good AND they have extra room in their closets.
Some of the rooms here are so cluttered with things, and i know i shouldnt talk because i am such a pack rat, but that is going to change in february, I will go home and go through all of my stuffed animals. I have so many and most are in storage containers...I am sure there are other little kids who will love them just as much as I did!!!

This coming sunday is traditionally the lighting of the pink candle. Here in camphill, we don't have a different colored candle, so it doesnt signify anything except that another week has past, and its almost christmas. This bothers me as well. When I was a child I would get so excited and anxious and say "I can't wait til christmas," much like people here, But then my aunt would light the pink candle and do an advent meditation, explaining that this candle is to repesent patience...we have to be patient when it comes to the lord. He hasn't been born yet, and he may be the savior but his feelings are still there, we dont want to scare baby Jesus!
As I grew older that stuck with me and I would still get anxious around christmas and then the pink candle was lit...and i would somehow calm down. I miss the pink candle!!!

This weeks daily bible reading is the first part of the visitation (the 4th Joyful Mystery!), and I love this reading because it leads up to "the Magnificat," I CANT WAIT TO READ IT!!
Isn't it interesting how that particular reading is the same sunday as the pink candle?

Amazing...