7 Quick Takes

---1---

This week has been a roller coaster ride, emotionally speaking.  I was ready to quick blogging for Advent, if not for ever.  I don't know what my problem is, though I have a few guesses: Stress.  Hormonal changes due to age.  The holiday stress.  Temperamental puppy.  Hum drum prayer life. All of the above.  What's your guess?

---2---

I've called the expert dog trainers recommended by the vet.  Still waiting for a callback, there.  They just called and agreed that we need help.  I hope he can work a Dog Whisperer miracle in an hour!  

I'm also going to get him fixed ASAP to help curb his unruly nature.

---3---

I didn't win the beautiful St. Andrew chaplet over at Praying for Grace, but, silly me---I forgot that I know how to make rosaries---I made my own knotted twine version of it, and the kids and I have started praying it for our various intentions:  a good dog, an XBOX 360, the healing of my brother's tumor, our parish/pastor.  I'll leave to you guess whose intentions are whose.  And those are just the intentions I'm aware of!

---4---

In addition to the St. Andrew Christmas Novena, we're reading Advent and Christmas Wisdom from Padre Pio.  It's so much richer than the modern advent booklet the pastor asked us take home (and made us promise not to throw it away).
 

---5---

This year we've decided to simplify decorating a bit, because of the dog, and we're using our regular Christmas tree as the Jesse tree, so we'll only have one big tree up.  It's in the living room, bare, except for lights which I put on last night.  We still have to put the Jesse tree ornaments on for the past week.  I'm so happy we have a long Advent this year in which to enjoy the season, and I'm determined to finish any and all decorating this weekend so the boxes can be put away and I can actually enjoy it.

---6---

We went to the office Christmas party last night where the food was fantastic.  We relaxed and had a good time in spite of the inconvenience of having to drive extra long distances on a weeknight.  We were determined to enjoy ourselves, and we did.

---7---

We went to see The Muppets over Thanksgiving with the cousins.  It was such a good movie!  We laughed.  I cried.  I've always loved the muppets, so much that I had The Muppet Movie soundtrack in my very small record collection.  It brought back so many good memories.  Anyway, while you're waiting for the opportunity to see it yourself (hint, hint) enjoy this happy song, which I'm happy to have stuck in my head these days when I'm in a funk:

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