Celebrating The Season

Yesterday I finally got around to making the Advent wreath for the Christmas holidays. I'm a few days late I know but better late than never.  I knew I had the candles around and I have evergreen growing in my herb garden under the guise of my rosemary bush.  I just had to go find my candle holders and wire.  Ta-Da!
Simple but it does the job.

When I was growing up Roman Catholic we had our wreath that we made in CCD classes but my father didn't like lit candles in the house.  So we never lit the wreath.  Little did I know that it is to be lit every night with a prayer led by the man of the house before dinner is eaten and the candles extinguished after the evening meal is finished.  Every night the same prayer for one week and the same candle.  Eventually all four candles will get lit for the four weeks and four different prayers will be recited.  The white pillar candle is to be lit on Christmas Day. 

I think I'm going to like a sit down meal every night with my soldier.  Do I really expect to get it?  Nope.  Today he is headed out to Portland, OR for a class.  I'm thinking that he most likely won't be home in time for dinner.  Good thing he packed a lunch bag.  Yes, that is J lighting the first candle of the season.

Last night I made chicken a l' orange with baked russet potatoes and green bean almondine.  Tonight I'm thinking a slow cooker meal might be the best idea since I've no clue when he'll be pulling into the garage.

I like the idea of this little ritual.  It some how brings us closer as a family.  It gives us that bonding time to have an actual sit down meal and makes him want to be there on time more often too.

Religion 101

As the Christian holidays in December draw ever near I find that I want to learn more about the world religions.  I'm not a thrill seeking individual that wants to form her own cult and have followers brain washed.  Just making that clear.

I do want to learn.  I'm curious.  I want to know what makes any one person gravitate towards a particular religion and what they get from it personally.

Last night J and I talked about theology.  He supports my decision to learn  more about the Mormon religions of LDS and the Mormon Fundamentalism.  From what I know about the Mormon religion it started in NY state, a state I grew up in and basically that's all I know about it.  We also chatted about my wanting to learn about the Jewish religion and their Torah.  I'd also like to read the Quran as well as any other religious books we can find and learn about their traditions.

I want to know the why's.  I want to just know.  If we all came from one religion, according to what I was taught in CCD classes, then why did so many other religions shoot out from it.  (I was brought up Roman Catholic.)  Have I been lied to?  I mean really now the Native Americans weren't near the cradle of life where I was taught that the true religion began from but yet their creation beliefs aren't all that far from what I was taught either.  Can you see the confusion?

I want to learn about the genealogy of religion and how and when each branch formed with its various sprouts from there.

So if anyone has any good sources for religion leave them below in the comments section.  Links, sources to free reading materials are always welcome.  If you know me well enough to have my address feel free to send me what you have in books or leaflets.

Knowledge is out there, it should always remain free for those willing to learn.  I want to learn.