joy of nine9

# 1.

Advent is a special time for pregnant women; two of my pregnancies were during Advent. One baby was born on Christmas Eve and my youngest on Jan. 7, still in the Christmas season. We had just moved to our farm 19 years ago and the children attended a small Catholic school with 10 grades from junior kindergarten to grade 8. The  priest asked the children,

“Who is waiting for a birth in their family?”

Five hands went up.

“Oh my isn’t this wonderful”, the priest exclaimed, “So many of you are joining in with Mary, waiting for the birth of a baby!”

Then a voice yelled out, “No Father, those are all Juneaus with their hands raised!”

#2.

My first article on Catholic Lane went live today. The new editor of  Learn and Live the Faith section, Kevin M. Tierney wrote on facebook, “Solid debut on Catholic Lane by Melanie Juneau. She talks how she went from never holding a baby to mother of 9.

This is My Calling, This is My Vocation

I am a conundrum: a rather outmoded sort of woman, ridiculed by modern career women, vilified by the earth’s prophets of doom and sanctified by the religious right.

Our Advent Wreath this year is a not actually a wreath at all but  simply a pile of  cedar branches, encircling  four Advent candles with a simple carving of Mary praying, carved by a dear friend. A bit unusual but fitting because Advent is a time of waiting in the dark and in silence and in simplicity for the coming of Christ, the Light of the World.

#4

A blogging friend unearthed a variety of Advent prayers. this one resonates within me, voicing my longing and hunger for more of Christ’s Presence, for an actual rebirth in my heart on Christmas morning.

ADVENT PRAYER 

Father in heaven, our hearts desire the warmth of your love and our minds are searching for the light of your Word. Increase our longing for Christ our Savior and give us the strength to grow in love, that the dawn of his coming may find us rejoicing in his presence and welcoming the light of his truth. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen.

#5

I am two days early but there are so many fascinating images of Mary for the feast Immacualte Conception, that I will have to start posting now and for the next couple of days.

#6

It is interesting which stories the secular world will like. On ReadWave a story of the culture shock on becoming a mother was chosen for the Editor’s choice page on Monday.