Watch me on QVC tomorrow between 9-11 am Eastern Time

And whisper a prayer for me I will need it!

I am most excited for her eyes when she sees what I am going to give her tomorrow.

She who can't imagine what has happened for her and her family...just a simple plea went out and it came back in generous donations.

Tomorrow, I will be able to give her almost $1,000 thanks to all the generous family and friends I have. You all know who you are and I love love love you. I am so excited to see her tomorrow!!

Its not too late..if you want to still donate head over to paypal and register if you are not a member it is very easy..then send your gift to my email address sochasideline@gmail.com

I will make sure it makes it in. Promise!




Last Thursday night, I was sitting in Cade's Choral concert, and it was the first time I had sat down..really just sat down all day, you know what I mean? Well the music and singing was so beautiful and so moving (yes I cried) that I just felt this peace wash over me. Peace you know when everything is as it should be. Peace the calm, the serene, the still, the open hearted peace. I felt renewed by it. Yes it was the music, it was the praying, the quiet all around. It was exactly what I needed.

After I felt that, I knew exactly what I needed to find that peace every day during advent. For me it means sitting down, lighting a candle putting on some quiet music, praying or just being still connecting with the Spirit of God wherever I may find myself. It is absolutly necessary.



So this second week of Advent I am all about Peace. Finding it everyday and letting it wash over our lives, over our mess, over our plans, over our desires, over our fears, over our duties.

Last but not least....I can't forget Ann's Gratitude Monday..

house guests that feel like family

found items

Going where Spirit leads me

reconcilations

facing my own calvary's

stringing and restringing lights on tree and laughing about it

how it all somehow comes together

music

watching his eyes searching for me in an audience

chilly mornings

singing

being asked to pray

being so loved

demands for my full attention

being the only one who understands Momo's language

ornaments that remind me of what we used to be

tense football moments

hearing him say... "someday"

quiet strength

(73-92)




I'm on my journey to 1,000 gifts thanks for coming along ....

So I went to bed last night after writing my last post and prayed for all the people who I know are suffering this season.

Then this morning I spoke with a friend Lisa, she always reminds me of how the Holy Spirit works. She was telling me how they "discovered" three years of points from a credit card that they redeemed for Target cards and have been able to purchase much needed items for their household as they anticipate bringing Daniel home from China. A boy that will have surgery on his heart as soon as he is here. The whole process is expensive but when you talk to Lisa all she will mention is how priceless it will be to give Madi a brother and add to their family.
And so the Lord takes care of her and her family. He provides and unexpected help shows up for them.

And I believe that I am being led by the Holy Spirit to help someone.
My friend Virginia, the hardest working woman I know is experiencing extreme financial difficulty. For the past three months as she comes into my home she is always so upbeat, hopeful and today when I saw her, with her rosary wrapped around her wrist like a life preserver, I noticed her light is dimming. She is worn down by the stress. What more can she do? Both her and her husband work so hard and yet it is not enough. They have lost their car. They are about to lose their home. She has no cable, Internet, phone or TV because when it went digital her set became obsolete. She works for everything. Her son is a soccer player here on partial scholarship so she works in hours to pay the rest of his tuition. Not only that but her mother is gravely ill in Brazil and she can't travel to see her. Can you imagine?
She cleans, irons, does anything she can to earn extra money for her family. And yet she is tireless to hug my children or sings songs with them. I have never witnessed such dignity and grace from a person with so many problems.
I feel her pain when she tells me about her husband and kids and their birthdays that go by with so little. And her 25th wedding anniversary that had to be celebrated like any other day.
These moments that are the reason we live and work for are being robbed from this family.

And now its Christmas.

So. I set up an account for her on PayPal. I am going to ask everyone I know to donate something..no matter how small for this family. So that they can experience a little joy, a little relief, a little hope on Christmas.

If you have been looking for someone or some family to help out this season please donate something. Or link this to an email or put on your blog.

I want to surprise her next week when she comes so she has time to shop for her kids. If you feel the gentlest pull by the Spirit moving you... please donate.

The paypal account I set up is under my sochasideline@gmail.com address.

my humblest gratitude for your generosity...

Carrie

I've been in a kind of funk lately when I think of Christmas.
Not that I am a bah hum bug, truth is I love Christmas.
But there is a hard ugly part of Christmas and that is what I have going on in my mind.
Perhaps because I've heard a dozen sad stories of human suffering that is in such contrast to what is happening all around me with these wonderful carols being sung and images of the baby Jesus.

But my feeling is honest anyway if nothing else.

The manger does lead to the cross.

That baby born who is our Savior was born for the cross.
It is awful to think about ..trust me...

But I am constantly reminding myself..

believe, desire, trust...



these, the most important aspects to my faith.

Do you know what believe, desire and trust are the very definition of?

Hope.



Hope is to believe, desire and trust.

Hope sustains. It patiently waits. It blindly trusts.

I am trying to renew hope this advent isn't that what advent is all about in the first place?


Be strong and take heart, all you who Hope in the Lord. Psalm 31: 23-34

Ann is not at hosting gratitude due to an accident but I have to continue counting. You see,

Something is happening to me I am "seeing" so much I have to give thanks for. It's constant now my perception has shifted to all that I have been given. I can barely keep up. So many good gifts.

And since we are in the first week of Advent a little inspiration too...

Peace beyond all understanding

sisters holding hands

football in fall temperatures

victory smiles from coach

realizing I am seeing moments with gratitude

homily's that make my eyes wet with tears, inspire and fill me with joy

Singing O Come O Come Emmanuel

A much needed door

the first advent candle lit for Sunday dinner

Saturday night football games with all of us squeezed together on the couch

crossing off to-do list items

sisters and the way we love and support like no one can

finding a pair of dress shoes both big sister and I can agree on

sweeping away dust

bargains

kindness in random places

prayers whispered by four year old

toddler success at Mass

a silly singing husband

(#54-73)

What better time to start counting your gifts than now Advent? Join me on my journey to 1,000....send me your link if you do spread the joy!!!

A quick and easy snack ....

Thanksgiving Harvest Mix

Each ingredient in this snack symbolizes something associated with Thanksgiving.
· Bugles- represents a cornucopia, or horn of plenty
· Pretzels- represents arms folded in thanks and prayer
· Candy Corn- during the first winter, the pilgrims were each allotted only five kernels of corn per day because food was so scarce.
· Dried Cranberries- historians believe that cranberries were served at the first Thanksgiving in 1621.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving. We are so thankful for our family and friends. God Bless all of you and your families!!!

This Monday opens the week where most are (hopefully) more aware of their gifts and openly give thanks for them.

*

watching toddler run...love the way the whole body is necessary

playing at playgrounds my help not needed as much

taking Ana shopping for new clothes and her wide eyed excitement

large sonic cherry limeades half price

football playoff victory

kids making it to 10 pm so I can watch the end of game

the Christian radio station that inspires me to worship every time I get in the car

the baby at Mass that held my gaze forever as if he was telling me a deep truth with his eyes

invite for Thanksgiving dinner in anothers home

no lines at the post office, drycleaner, bank

kids asking "is there anything I can help you with mom"

finding humor in crazy moments

soccer in November

to do lists

*

(41-54)

I continue my journey to 1000, but why don't you start? And if you do please send me a link and share your joy with us.