Amy Welborn asks what’s going on at home for Advent.
It is interesting to hear what is going on for others. Especially now that I do not hold myself and family stringently in contrast against the practices of others.

In a spontaneous ‘chapter of Advent faults,’ one of our older daughters confessed that her secret to pillaging the chocolate Advent calendars (especially those belonging to siblings) was to start surreptitious removal beginning with #24 and working backwards.

The good news in our Advent preparations is that we may have a few extra bucks to throw at the Christmas tree, dinner, charity, etc. The bad news is that the money is coming from junking the van. At almost twenty years old - and with a variety of problems - the overheating engine and steam cloud on our way home from church last night was our sign that the end has come. (As if the trail of brown goo across the still somewhat snowy parking lot upon our arrival wasn’t enough.) There is a point at which you have to stop putting money into a vehicle. Too bad it wasn’t 6 months ago when we spent $400 on tires. Oh, well. So after the first of ‘07, we’ll begin in earnest to find a new van. (The clown car would suffice for us, even though Chuck barely fits in the back seat, but the St. Isidore Computer Foundation needs a way to move those components around.)

We’ll see how it goes. If the Pick-n-Pull people don’t want it, it is still good for $40 from Victory Auto Wreckers.