The Hope of Advent

Santa and two reindeer at church

Happy Advent!  Many candles of hope and anticipation were lit on Sunday.  While there may be many things to grieve during this Covid-season, there are also many things for which to be thankful.  

Sunny November day

This month started with our church's AGM in which Graham was voted on for another three-year term as a board member.  Actually, our condo AGM was also this month and Graham is once again the president.  I'm thankful for my hard-working husband who serves faithfully.  He cleaned out our garage so we can park our van out of the snow, he raked up many many bags of leaves and he shovelled lots of snow after our first major snowfall.  Our next snowstorm is expected over the next couple of days.  It's coming down now.  

Snowy November day

This month has ended with Lily-Anna turning four-and-a-half-years-old!   My baby is growing up fast and she's a sweetheart.  I heard her say the other morning, "Isaac, how do you spell 'Dear God'?"  Later she told Graham and me that she made "cards for the Lord."  She is excited to celebrate Jesus' birthday.  

Our fridge saga continues.  I can't remember if I wrote about this before.  Our fridge died in September.  Given that it is 16 years old, we decided that we would buy another one as we were able to borrow a couple of bar fridges.  We bought one and were told to call in six weeks if we hadn't heard from the store.  I emailed and didn't hear back and then I called and emailed again a week later.  The salesperson called and told me that we wouldn't get the fridge until July due to the particular brand we chose.  So, tomorrow, our appliance repair man will come and we will find out if our old fridge can be fixed for a reasonable amount of money.  Then we can give back the mini fridges and we still plan to buy that fridge or a different fridge as the backlog probably isn't going anywhere quickly.  

Popping Popcorn

A friend gave me an Advent kit for kids a few years ago and we try to use it each year.  I hide an envelope each morning for the kids to find.  It contains a card with a message such as, "Make popcorn and watch a Christmas movie." "Go for a drive and look at Christmas lights."  Make a Christmas card for someone special." Etc.  I need to go through the cards and order them in a way that fits our schedule.  We also have a spiral wooden candle holder with 24 holes so we'll move and light the candle each evening along with 'Mary on the donkey'.  We also have a beautiful Christmas book with daily readings.  So, lots to choose from.  There's lots of grace if we can't make it all happen some days but the kids enjoy most of it.  

Tea party with brownies

We put our tree up this weekend.  Tomorrow night we will go to The Coping Centre for their annual Christmas Memorial, though it will look quite different this year.  Hopefully we'll be able to get a picture of us by the tree where we hang an ornament bearing Josiah's name.  

This will be the first year that Isaac won't have a birthday party with friends.  I'm sure we'll still manage to have fun.  

I'm excited to sit on our couch and enjoy the Jolly Irish Christmas concert put on by Rend Collective this coming Saturday.   

"Dressed as a teacher." (wearing a face mask)

One night I was putting Kohen to bed and he told me that we should give to the food bank.  I reminded him that we had just given to them.  He told me that he would put the food bank near the poor people so that they don't have to walk a long way.  [I also explained that people living anywhere can need to use a food bank but I appreciated his point.]  He then asked me if people have to pay for the food and I told him they didn't.  He told me there should be a money bank for people to get money.  There should be a candy bank and a clothes bank for fancy clothes.  Kohen has a very caring heart.  

Happy 60th anniversary to our church, Waterloo Pentecostal Assembly!  

Thank you WPA for this 60th treat!  Delicious!

December is quickly approaching so I will say goodnight!  May you and yours have a wonderful Advent and Christmas season!  May "every heart prepare Him room!"

Blessings,

Elizabeth

Isaiah 9:6

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.