Mom's New Life

Guest post written by my buddy Aldo Mays

My mother recently sold our childhood home and I’m not sure how I feel about it. I mean, I know since dad died she’s felt like it was too big to manage all on her own but at the same time she’s lived there for over 40 years and I know she’s going to be really sad to let it go. On that same note, my brothers and I are also going to be really, really sad to let it go! I just wish there was more for me to do to change her mind but I know it will be nice for her in the new condo. I should say condos, because she’s using the money from the house sale to buy two top-floor condos in a hotel downtown and she’s going to tear down the wall between and just turn them into one huge place. I can’t believe it’s even possible or that she’d want to live somewhere so urban but I told her I was going to help any way I could. So far I’ve called the movers to set up an appointment and I also went to electriccompaniesindallas.com/ to get her new electricity all hooked up so when she moved in she’ll have power. She’s still debating on whether or not she wants cable but at the end of the day I know it’s going to be nice for her not to have to do yardwork or worry every time the pond floods. She loves living in Dallas and we both love having her close since my brother and I have kids of our own. I guess this is better than the alternative which was that she move in with my aunt down in Florida. I’d be so sad if my mom were that far away and I wouldn’t want to visit as often because we’d have to fly. I love her and I need her more than I let on, that much I know is true.

Advent Meditation Can Be Done Through Prayers

Today's time is very much different from before. Many years ago, a lot of people were quite religious. Although there are still very religious persons nowadays, the number have greatly decreased. Even advent seems to have a different meaning now and most individuals are looking forward to it because they just want to have a vacation.

When does advent begin? If you have no idea whatsoever, advent starts four weeks prior to Christmas. This is also known as the season or time of preparation for the birth of the lord Jesus Christ.

Personal agendas and family schedules are filled with programs, meetings, annual obligations, and parties. What they often forget is the time of advent. This is the best time to meditate as a family so that their bond will become stronger.

This is definitely the time to be close to one another, especially as a family. Most of all, every individual must have time for God. How can individuals achieve real peace and quiet in God's presence when all they think about are car-pooling or manic shopping, instead of contemplation and meditation?

You should lower your sight to time spent on lengthy litanies or readings and around the hearths. Between parking lots crash and traffic jams, and decking your halls and scribbling notes. There may be enough time, perhaps five to ten minutes, when your family can sit around the advent wreath quietly. You can do this once every day or once a week; or if you're really that busy, you can do this at least once during the time of preparation.

The family can prepare a simple yet special recipe for them to eat together as they light their advent candles. You can meditate or pray briefly and afterwards, enjoy your feast. This activity can bring the family closer together, and much closer to mysteries people celebrate and contemplate in Advent. Advent is not about vacation and parties; it's about being closer to God and your family.

On the first advent week, chapter 13 verses 33 of Mark is the gospel. Jesus told his disciples to watch constantly and stay awake because no one knows when He is coming. Usually the prayers or advent meditations for this week has something to do with the gospel, and this is the same with the second, third, and fourth week of the advent. The second week's gospel is about John the Baptist when he first appeared and preached in Judea. The third week is about Jesus and John's disciples, and the fourth is about Mary and angel Gabriel.

It's not hard to find copies of prayers used during advent. You can see religious aythorities and request copies of it, or you can also obtain a copy online. With a little research, you can get a copy of a simple yet meaningful prayer that your family can utter when you're meditating.

Meditation is not all about proper posture and positions used when a person meditates, a simple prayer is already considered a meditation if you've focused your mind to it as well as your heart. Don’t forget to meditate this advent season.

Teaching the Kids

This guest post from Doris Dillon

I’m trying to impress upon my kids how important it is that we give back to the environment. Their generation, unfortunately, doesn’t place a lot of value on making sure they’re taking care of the planet and since I’m from the hippy era, I do! I want them to know that once they buy their own homes they need to recycle and conserve water and try not to waste energy. I’ve been sitting with my older daughter showing her the ropes on www.ElectricCompaniesTexas.net because there’s a lot of information out there about different energy providers’ stances on solar energy. My thought is, if you can make some of your own energy with solar panels, why not? It’s nice for me to feel like I’m giving them something by teaching them these life lessons they need to know. I can’t believe they’re both almost old enough to move out on their own but I want them to be responsible citizens of the earth and I want them to know that they have a responsibility to give back! The last thing I want them to become is gas guzzling, consumer-driven people. I think there are already far too many of those in this world and that the rest of us have to pick up their slack. The earth is a fragile thing and I strongly believe we have a responsibility to take care of it while we’re here. What if we didn’t…isn’t that like stealing from our descendants? My kids have great heads on their shoulders and I know they’ll always do the right thing. I just want to make sure I’m equipping them with the lessons they need to hear to figure out which decisions to make when they’re adults. When they’re paying their own electric bills and buying their own gas they may have different feelings about using so much electricity, I tell you what! Right now they’re kids, though, and these are life lessons.