well hello!

I was doing so well writing and then I left y'all high and dry for almost a month. However, in exchange for a piece of plastic silverware (seriously...it looks like silver but is plastic...genius!) at a dinner this week (so that I could eat dessert since I'd thrown mine out with the dinner plate), I did promise to update the blog. So here I am. I figure I'll get a little bit of writing done here before I get serious about my Christmas letter next week because that will bring with it a whole new brand of writer's block!

Halfway through this week my heart sank when I realized Advent is nearly over. We're a day away from Gaudete Sunday, it is time to light the pink candle on the wreath and all the priests are busting out the pink...sorry, rose vestments. Of course, this is a joyful celebration. I just can't believe Advent is flying by so quickly and I feel so ill-prepared. I have so much to do to prepare my heart. Thankfully, there is time to do that. I've still got about 80 hours to "use or lose" before the new year begins, so starting Tuesday afternoon, I'm off the clock. I've got some plans for that time that include great stuff like house hunting, visiting with friends, and making cookies with the nieces and nephews. Oh, and of course, those Christmas cards! But more importantly I really plan to use some of that time in prayer, in reflection. In case you weren't a blog reader last Advent, I want to share with you a post from last year that includes some of my favorite songs for reflection: Prepare the Way.

I attended another conference last weekend, this one was in Cleveland. It is always interesting to see other youth ministers from around the country. It reminds me how ridiculously blessed we are with the support and resources we have in our diocese when I talk to folks from other areas about their experience. There were some really wonderful moments in the conference, great pieces of insight and inspiration to bring back to the ministry at my parish. There were also wonderful moments of shared joy and laughter with great friends that I will certainly cherish. God spoke to me quietly amidst the busy atmosphere of the exhibit hall, and loudly as I walked along the empty snowy street on my way to meet people for dinner the last night. I feel like I have spent much of the past month at conferences, in training, listening to speakers...I really look forward to sitting down with my notes and processing it all and then applying it within the ministry.

There's so much more to write about but tomorrow is a full day and one I'd like to be decently rested for. I'll be back soon to write, and not just to repay a plastic-silverware loan.