As I sit here at the reception desk, toward the end of my shift, I have a lot on my mind. 
 
Poinsettias from the local garden center arrived about 45 minutes ago.  I’ll need to get them watered and, tomorrow, arrange them in chapel around the stable in front of the altar.  (I won’t go into complications that just got resolved involving our order’s delivery.)
 
Meanwhile, our nice new full length altar cloth hangs over the table and chairs in “the little dining room” near the end of the hallway, hopefully becoming a bit less wrinkled as it waits to be ironed later this evening. 
 
I’m grateful that one of our apartment residents has offered to help hold it (and ‘feed it to me’) as I iron.  With its large size, I find it to be quite a daunting task. 
 
Ironing boards were not shaped for pressing large pieces of fabric, though they do work well for the collars of dress shirts and blouses.
 
But, there’s more…
 
Earlier this morning, I got a couple of calls, to the effect that we would be short an evening aide (in addition to other current staffing constraints).  The ironing expedition, therefore, will take place after I get done recruiting residents for the nurse, distributing bedtime snacks, taking out trash, and doing other light duties up on the men’s and women’s floors.
 
This year, with these and other happenings, I’ve found myself feeling a little bit overwhelmed.  Before we can sing “Silent night…all is calm” tomorrow night, I have quite a ways to go. 
 
(I still want to make festive dessert cups for supper, using no-bake cheese cake, colored with red food coloring, graham cracker crumbles, and a layer of pistachio pudding.)
 
As I recognize that I am now in the “storm before the calm,” I am reminded of the gospel accounts of the calming of the storm at sea, and of on Whom I need to keep my focus. 
 
It’s a good thing we have a time of Exposition and adoration this afternoon!

I went to bed pretty late (for me) last night – it was going on eleven, but I was filled with gratitude.  In keeping with this weekend’s theme of Gaudete, rejoicing, my heart was lifted. 
 
I had just returned from an evening out, having been invited for supper and a pinochle game at the home of a lady from our women’s group and her husband. 
 
They had taught me three-handed pinochle (I was only familiar with four-handed), and I even got to play with their two dogs!  I did have to borrow their lint brush before leaving, as evidence of this had been left behind on the bottom of my jumper!
 
It was such a refreshing break from the humdrumness of these cold, short December days.  I felt truly blessed! 
 
To top it all off, I actually won the pinochle game, with some coaching from my hosts, of course! 
~~~~~~~~~
It seems that this theme of rejoicing is bound to continue in the coming days. 
 
Liturgically, there are a number of special commemorations, my favorite of which is tomorrow, as we honor Our Lady of Guadalupe. 
 
Tuesday, we’ll celebrate St. Lucy, who is so loved and honored in the Scandinavian homelands of many of our ancestors.  She’s also the patron saint of people with vision problems, which is of significance to me. 
 
I have some work to do before her feast day, though, since I’m to make a festive taco dip for our annual staff in-service and potluck Tuesday afternoon.  I have cheese to grate, tomatoes to dice, and olives to slice for this tasty dish.  We already have the scoop tortilla chips to have with it. 
 
On Wednesday, which I’ll always remember as my dad’s birthday, the Church honors St. John of the Cross. 
 
Then, on Saturday, we start the O Antiphons, which are such a special part of these late Advent days.  I’m excited to get up the stand from the basement to display Sr. Elaine’s beautifully calligraphed verses. 
 
During the tough times of life, of which we all certainly have our share, it’s important to keep in mind words from today’s Mass:“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Indeed, the Lord is near.”  (Entrance Antiphon, Third Sunday of Advent)

A few weeks ago, I got a hair-brained idea:  Wouldn’t it be neat to celebrate St. Nicholas by having our residents put out their shoes the night before his feast? 
 
We always did that as kids, and I brought the idea to our convent.  We’ve been doing it over there for several years now. 
 
We’ve never done it with our residents, though.  Can you imagine preparing fifty goodie bags to put in shoes left outside the doors of their rooms/apartments? 
 
Well, that’s just what I spent the past two hours doing here at the front desk! 
 
I had put the word out about this idea, and said that we’d appreciate donations of little treats for our residents.  The response was heartwarming. 
 
Someone from a nearby food bank brought over excess candy, and a friend of ours brought granola bars.  A family member of a resident brought little gift wrapped items, so I can only guess what these are!  Sr. Elaine even picked up small bags of assorted popcorns when she was in Fargo last week.
 
It’s really neat. 
 
Earlier today, I reminded Sr. Elaine that I need to borrow her Santa hat since I want to wear it tomorrow night when distributing the little goodie bags. 
 
It will be fun! 
 
I hope our residents enjoy the goodies!
 
PS: If you know anyone here at St. Anne’s, please don’t tell them what they’ll be getting from our friend, St. Nick.  He wants his helper to keep it as a surprise!