Outside my window …
… we are experiencing a Polar Vortex. The children were supposed to return to school today after a two-week-long Christmas vacation, but the governor canceled school across the entire state of Minnesota because of the extreme cold temperatures. Now, I just found out our Christmas vacation has been extended yet again tomorrow! On the one hand, it’s fun for the kids, but on the other hand, it’s about time we get back to normal.

In my thoughts …
… are plans for taking down our Christmas tree, manger and other decorations. This always makes me kind of sad, because the house always seems so empty. But this year I will think differently about it, thanks to this lovely prayer I found at Catholic Vote:

“Lord Jesus, today we will put all of our Christmas decorations away. Soon, we will enter into Ordinary Time.


Our house will look ordinary again, but Lord, you know and we know that our house has a secret. Deep inside it, all of our Christmas decorations are still here. The blessing of Christmas is always with us, kept in the deep, quiet places of the house.


And Lord, our lives will become ordinary again, but you know that each of us has the grace of baptism. The grace you gave us is always with us, in the deep, quiet places of our soul.


Help our house be a house with Christmas at its core, and help our souls be a place where Jesus always dwells. Help us live the grace of Christmas every day, only without all the trappings. Amen.”

On the table …
… Ginger-Orange Pork with veggies. I have been having a hard time with meal planning lately, so on Cyber Monday, I got a subscription to eMeals. So far, I really like it! You can choose your menu (i.e., low fat, low carb, gluten free, paleo, etc.), and then each week, a menu and shopping list is emailed to you. This has been really helpful for someone (like me) who was in a meal-planning rut!

I am wearing …
… a warm sweater, long-sleeved shirt, jeans, socks and slippers!

I am reading …

“Pope Awesome and Other Stories is an honest, funny, beautiful book. As a mother of six, I definitely could related to the author. From her nervousness about having more than two children to the rude comments (Are these all yours?) at the grocery store, I felt in good company with Mrs. Donaldson. I laughed out loud at her wonderful sense of humor and the little anecdotes that made up this book. I also was in awe of the author’s quest for God and her openness to the fullness of truth. Her conversion was inspiring, causing the reader to ponder, “How can I go deeper in my own faith life?” All-in-all this was a very well-written book, thoroughly enjoyable and very heart warming.”

A few of my favorite things …
… my new iPhone that I got for Christmas; the Michael Bublé Christmas CD that I finally got for Christmas; the scarf that I’m still knitting for my husband; warm coffee on a cold morning; my new Sacred Intercession Prayer Journal

I am thankful for …

I am praying for …

A photo to share …

Our Christmas tree on Christmas morning. One last gaze until it comes down this week … But Christmas dwells year-round at the core of this house, and Christ dwells in our hearts always!