HOPE

First day of Advent 2017. Hope. 

Went to church this morning. Shawn stayed home to work on his final for his first semester of Chaplain residency. took the kids with me. Norah was excited to see Santa - who was greeting us at door #5. once i dropped the kids off, i got a cup of coffee. then went into the sanctuary. i sat by myself at first, but then decided to move over and sit by Linda. she gave me a big hug and it was just what i needed. music was great. the one that stood out was the mix up of 'Good Good Father with O Come Let Us Adore Him.'

The sermon was about Mary and how we need to really take in the whole of the Christmas story and not skip over the details. Like how scandalous the virgin birth was. The big so what was when you don't understand what God's doing, hold on to what he's saying. It was quite what I needed to hear. 

Luke 1:38 

38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” 

We came home and I gave the kids some cookies because why not? 

Then I got some energy to get some things done. I'd made a to-do list during the sermon. I actually got all but two done! 

I did 6 loads of laundry. We're all on round two of bad colds so I did all the bedding and then I lysol-ed every doorknob and lightswitch. Ugh. I'm so ready to be done with this. 

I watered the plants. I played basketball with the kids. I played chutes and ladders with Norah. 

Shawn worked on his final, then went to his accountability group then back to his final. 

We ate leftover soup then did an Advent reading. We lit the candle, then I played 'I have this Hope' by 10th avenue north. Jack and Norah danced to it. 

I'm in a better place today than yesterday. Having grace with myself and doing the next right thing. Tomorrow...will drink plenty of water and do 30 min of some sort of exercise.