I was reminded this morning how blessed I am in not having to travel on dangerous, wintry roads, since I live so close by (just across the yard, in fact.)

Although this proximity does have its benefits, it also brings with it some less-than-ideal circumstances as well.

When you live close, and coworkers are snowbound at home, you can end up working your regular shift/department, plus theirs!

Therefore, today, I am the morning receptionist.  This afternoon and evening, I will also be the p.m. receptionist as well as the care aide. 

Thankfully, those who are able to make it in do cooperate and work together nicely.  For example, Sr. Elaine will be helping me out for a couple of hours at the front desk so I can tend to the needs of our residents elsewhere in the building. 

The picture above is taken from our atrium, which my dad used to say would be "the perfect place to watch a snowstorm."  In reality, however, during snowstorms, we are sometimes completely occupied with other matters and don't have much extra time just to sit and enjoy this wonder of nature. :)

I must confess, though, that until I saw the effects of a terrible, driving wind out the window, I was tempted to go out and play in the snow later this afternoon.  This was before our other receptionist called in, though.)

Wishing everyone a very blessed Christmas season.  It goes through January 12th, so we have plenty more days to extend this greeting to one another :) .

I know that, officially, it's called Gaudete Sunday, but since my childhood (before I knew the Latin term), I've called it "Pink Candle Sunday."  I so enjoy the rich liturgical traditions of our faith!  We get to rejoice in the midst of our Advent waiting.

Although it was extra work on an already busy day yesterday, I wanted to make the most of things for the morrow's celebration...I ironed rose colored paneling to accent the front of the altar (this proved to be more complicate than I'd anticipated.), and found a rose colored chasuble for Monsignor to wear.  Although, the color is referred to as "rose," it always looked pink to me.  I remember a priest back home stressing the fact that it is not pink but rose. 

In this, I can't help but recall my dad's (whose birthday we remembered yesterday) facetious remark that "real men can wear pink."  (He had a pink shirt, himself.)

This morning,  I dug in the sacristy drawer and found a rose colored chalice veil as well.  I was happy!  (I'd thought we had one, but couldn't remember for sure.)

I hope you, too, rejoice, at this beautiful time of year as we sing, "Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!"

This past Friday, I was invited to go sledding at Lincoln Park with some students from the Newman Center.  I hadn't been sledding in a long, long time, though I grew up less than two blocks away from the best sledding hills in town!

We didn't get started until around eleven at night, and it was 1:30 a.m. before my head finally hit the pillow.  This was after a full day, coordinating an evening discussion group with our residents, and attending festivities at the Center.  

I had so much fun, though it took me a few moments of watching others go down the hill to get up the nerve to try!  We used a variety of "sleds," from big pieces of cardboard to metal (trash can?) lids to actual plastic sleds and saucers.

Although it was far from hot outside, I kept quite warm climbing back up the hill after each delightful passage down.  It brought back memories!

The only drawback from the night (besides some sleep deprivation), was hitting a rough spot on one of my downward voyages.  Almost three days later, I still have a 'pain in the seat' when I walk or move the wrong way. 

I don't regret the outing, however; it was well worth it!!