Peace. Yes.

The second Sunday in Advent is Peace. And let me just say, "AMEN!"

Y'all? This week.

Whew!

On Monday, I launched my fourth and final TMI Mom book, Girlfriend Rules. (Don't worry--it's not my final book; just the final in that series.) The online party was a blast! (Did you miss it? So sorry.)

The rest of the week was a blur. Seriously. We had basketball practices, meetings, parties. A blur.

Then we hit the weekend.

Friday, I took dinner to a dear friend who had just had a baby, Hadley had a party at our house with a bunch of super sweet but super loud teens, and Briley had a hitting clinic in Tulsa after her club Christmas party.

Saturday, we woke up at 4:45 to drive four hours to a birthday party for the  sweetest three-year-old*, ate lunch with family, drove four hours back to Briley's first basketball game (she won), cleaned the bathroom after a massive, major messy mishap, listened to the Oklahoma Bedlam game (the Pokes won! WOO!), took Briley to a birthday party, fried chicken (twice--I can never get that done enough) then collapsed into bed about eleven or so.

This morning, we woke up about seven to get Briley ready for her three-show spot as Elizabeth, the cousin of Mary and mother of John the Baptist, made breakfast biscuits for Sunday School, started three worship services (finished one), argued with one kid about where we'd eat lunch, argued with another about who she could invite to said lunch, went grocery shopping at Hellmart, put away about a gazillion pounds of groceries, started beef stew in the crockpot, wrote three articles, completed four loads of laundry, fed two dogs, fed two cats, ran the dishwasher three times, and am finally sitting down at 9:21.

Mercy, y'all.
This Sunday in Advent is Peace. 

Ironic? Nope. 
Is God trying to tell me something? Always.
What can I do about it? I'm not sure.

But this week, I'm going to be more cognizant about finding small moments in which I can be still.

My friend who had the baby is slightly older than I am. I've thought to myself that I'm so incredibly happy for her and her family, but if I were in her spot, I'd freak.

When Briley realized that Mary was only slightly older than she is right now and expecting a baby, she freaked.

Last night about midnight with the weight of the week and the coming day, I almost freaked. In fact, I wanted to freak--I didn't. Instead, I ate a Reese's Peanut Butter Christmas Tree.

Big sigh.

This week: Peace.

I think I like Advent best

Today begins Advent. This is the time (four weeks) that we prepare for Christmas, which I always thought was my favorite. But really? I think that Advent is my favorite.

When I was a kid, we made an advent wreath at church. We had the four purple and one pink candles around the edges. We'd light one each week in church and at home. When I was a kid, those four weeks lasted about a year. Now, they fly by.

Why? Because life is busy.

Life is just busy. There's no other way to say that.

We have work and home and meetings and contacts and sports and parties and activities and Facebook to help us keep up with everyone in the whole wide world and Pinterest to make us look good while keeping up (or make us feel inferior about our crafty skills--whatever).

As an adult, Advent is my reminder to s l o w  d o w n.

The thing is this: Christmas--the birth of Christ--did not happen in just one night. The Jewish people had been waiting for a very long time for a savior. Mary and Joseph had to make a very long trek to get to Bethlehem. The shepherds weren't just hanging beside the manger that night.

Christmas is about slowing down, waiting, taking our time.

Advent reminds me of this.

We have two advent wreaths in our home. The first is from my childhood. I found it when we were cleaning out my mom's garage. I grabbed it and screamed, "Mine," before my sister even know what I was hiding behind my back. (Not really, but kinda.)

The second is one that I had put together/made. The jars are a Pinterest success.

So, what is my hope this Advent season?

To slow down. 
To prepare.
To anticipate.
To accept.
To pass along.

 What do you hope for this season?