Dear Diary,
Another slick road this morning, and Mass was canceled again. It felt awful to miss the Fourth Sunday of Advent. Sister Mary Claire said we must trust that God understands, but my heart ached not being able to light the final candle on the Advent wreath at church. We’re all hoping for better weather this week—Christmas is so close, and I pray we’ll be able to celebrate together in the warmth of St. Mary’s.
Sister Mary Claire tried to lift my spirits with a lesson from today’s meditation. She reminded me how Bethlehem, though small and insignificant, was chosen for the greatest miracle of all. She said this teaches us that God often works through the little and humble, not the grand and impressive. It made me think—maybe missing Mass today is one of those moments where we have to trust that God is still working, even in the disappointment.
To keep busy, we baked cut-out cookies with the Nativity-shaped cutters Sister found at the thrift store. The dough rolled out perfectly, and the kitchen smelled like sugar and Christmas. Mini kept close by, hoping for crumbs, and I had so much fun decorating the cookies. We frosted Mary in blue, Joseph in brown, and Baby Jesus in soft yellow. It felt like we were crafting a little edible Nativity.
As the day quieted, we gathered by the fire for evening prayers. Sister Mary Claire led us in a longer prayer tonight, and I found it so comforting. We prayed:
“O Lord, thank You for the gift of Advent, even on days when we cannot gather in Your house. Prepare our hearts for the coming of Your Son, and help us trust You in all things, both big and small. Teach us to see Your hand in the humble moments of our lives, and give us patience as we await Your blessings. O Mary of Grace, guide us to be faithful and to trust in God’s love, even when the way is unclear. Amen.”
The warmth of the fire and Mini curled up by my feet made everything feel peaceful again. I’m hoping the roads will clear soon, but for now, I’ll hold on to the hope and light of this season.
Love,
Kathy
Sister Mary Claire’s favorite Cut-Out Cookies
• 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1. In a bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, and salt.
2. In another bowl, beat the butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla, mixing well.
3. Gradually add the dry ingredients until combined. Chill the dough for 1 hour.
4. Roll out the dough on a floured surface, cut into shapes, and bake at 375°F for 8–10 minutes.
5. Decorate as you like once cooled!
Love again,
Kathy
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