Confession: my kids are not typically little angels at Mass. ‘Typical” Mass behavior being our 3-year-old banging the kneeler open and closed and then dropping it on his own foot. Commence siren-like wailing. Or the kids tussling over who gets to hold the Baby Jesus finger puppet. And, to no one’s surprise, the preschooler throwing the St. Joseph finger puppet at his baby sister’s head doesn’t … [Read more...]
Holy Time: The Joy of the Incarnation and the Pietà
The Incarnation of Christ, celebrated in the liturgical season of Christmastide, takes on a richer significance for me with each passing year. The story of the Nativity is fuller, but undeniably more strange. It loses the saccharine quality of greeting cards and becomes complicated. Christmas becomes more intricately connected to Holy Week and I’m reminded that the miracle of the Incarnation … [Read more...]
Merry Christmas from Carrots!
Wishing all of you a wonderful Christmas! We're been having a wonderful day with family (and a special movie date to see Les Mis while sweet grandparents watched the kiddos!). So grateful for each and every one of my faithful readers who make it such a joy to blog in this space! Christus Natus Est! … [Read more...]
Our 12 Days of Christmas!
Contrary to what retailers might have you believe, the 12 Days of Christmas are not the 12 days that precede Christmas. They actually begin on Christmas Day, lasting until the Feast of Epiphany on January 6th. This season, also known as Christmastide, is traditionally when the holiday celebrating starts, but you'd never know it from all the Christmas trees already stripped bare and left by the … [Read more...]
Little HolyDays: Christmas Eve Edition!
The waiting is almost over! Our Lord is almost here! It has been such a joy to observe Advent along with so many of you that participated in this link up. Today I get to "curate" the posts from last week and share my very favorites with you. But I'll be honest, I had a hard time narrowing it down. There were so many beautiful posts. I was inspired by the reflections on Advent and waiting in … [Read more...]
Christmas Tree Joy: A Photo Post
It's been quiet at Carrots this week, friends. I got hit by another bout of serious morning sickness and have been out of commission for a couple of days. Thank heavens for my mom and my in-laws who took care of the kids almost all day yesterday so that I could rest and recover from some fun pregnancy vomiting. I spent the whole day in bed with ginger ale and Harry Potter audiobooks. Anyhow, … [Read more...]
Little Holydays: Third Week of Advent
Yesterday was Gaudete Sunday when we are reminded to wait with joy for the coming of Our Lord. In light of the tragic events at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Friday, it was difficult to do anything but grieve this weekend. I did find joy in the presence of my sweet family and savored each moment with them with a grateful heart. On Saturday I posted this reflection on the darkness of Advent and … [Read more...]
First Advent
Something from the archives today. I wrote this little reflection soon after Benjamin was born. I was huge. Not just big—gigantic. Even before I entered my third trimester, well-intentioned old ladies would pat my shoulder and say, “Any day now!” encouragingly as I waddled my way through the grocery store. Considering the raging pregnancy hormones running through my system, I’m impressed that … [Read more...]
Sleepers, Wake! An Advent Music Guide and Playlist
After explaining how we fast from Christmas music during Advent (and then turn up the jams during the Twelve Days of Christmas until Epiphany!), I get a variety of reactions including “Are you insane?” Well, probably. And “so, what DO you listen to during Advent?” To be honest I am just now discovering “Advent music” instead of just abstaining from Christmas music and I have completely fallen in … [Read more...]
Little HolyDays: The Feast of St. Nicholas
Welcome to our first Little HolyDays link up and Happy New Year! No, I haven’t gotten the months confused, it’s the beginning of a new liturgical year. Yesterday was the first Sunday of Advent. Let’s hope you were more organized than I and didn’t spend part of your Sunday scrambling around looking for your Advent wreath (don’t worry! I found it!). Anyhow, for our very first Little HolyDays … [Read more...]
