Blessed Advent

Today marks the very middle of Eastern Orthodox Advent. Our journey to meet Jesus as the Christ Child.

I can’t believe we are only 20 days from Christmas!

And even more, I cannot believe we are nearing the end of 2021! What a year it has been!

The last 3 months have been crazy, hectic, beautiful, and full of surprises!

First and foremost I want to be thankful that God has brought me through these months with His mercy and strength. Nothing has been terrible. Nothing too overwhelming. Just enough. Enough to seek His plan to guide me through my place in the world.

One thing I know I need…to once again work hard at becoming a kindler of joy. I lost my way and I have discovered how much I have missed this very purposeful journey to seeking beauty and joy and becoming a Kindler of Joy!!

The last few months have been incredibly busy, first with starting my new Postpartum Doula business (while still working my “day job”) and working with my first client! And then working my “day job” full-time for a while (putting my doula work on hold). I am so incredibly grateful though, that God has seen me through the challenging time and in just 2 1/2 short weeks I will get to set out once again, on my Postpartum Doula journey. My day job will be over and I will be on my new journey. But I am determined, more than ever, that on this new path, it must truly be combined with the endless endeavor of seeking beauty and joy, to become a Kindler of Joy!

Beauty and Joy from the last couple of months…

OH! What Joy!!!

Creation and babies! You can’t get any better than this!

Another thing I’ve been really missing is creating. I hope to really get back into spending time creating cards with all the beauty I will work to open my eyes to each and every day.

My first project is Christmas cards for this year. These new cards are being printed and they’ll be ready for me to use! (I might actually have some for sale on Etsy too!)

This year’s theme for Christmas cards was Litya Hymns from the Matins service on Christmas Eve.

And finally…even though, we are half-way through Advent, last night during vespers I was reminded of another thing I had put on the back burner.

Our weekly reminders! Christ is risen!

Have a very blessed Sunday, my friends!

I hope to see you more often!