Advent is here. Christmas is coming! (martha)

Advent is the start of the Christian liturgical year. Each Sunday before Christmas, one candle is lit until all four are burning.  On Christmas Day, the white candle in the center is lit to celebrate the birth of Jesus:

Candle 1. Hope (purple)
Candle 2. Peace (purple)
Candle 3. Joy (rose)
Candle 4. Love (purple)
Candle 5. Christ (white) is lit on Christmas Day celebrating the birth of Jesus.

We are poised on the edge of 2012, a New Year. We arrived (here) in September 2009.  These are my conclusions as I reviewed our time since then.

• We feel settled.  The end of house renovations helped accomplish that!
• Jeff worked part-time at a golf course (for 18 mos.) 2 days/week until Nov..
• We keep busy (how did we ever have time to work?) The days pass quickly.
• In fact. Jeff got out golfing more often when living in Minnesota and Virginia!
• Our "jobs" (as volunteers) give us joy.
• Jeff took this wise advice, 'When you volunteer, choose something that is transformational and improves someone's life.' He experiences that most often by tutoring adult classes in speaking English through the Literacy Volunteers of Tucson.
• We LOVE the pace of life...much slower, calmer and less frantic!
• Less traffic.  Only one Interstate skirts the western edge of the city, we travel on city streets.  It may take us longer to go ten miles, but we aren't in a hurry to reach out destination.
• We savor the journey.
• We enjoy involvements in our wider community (e.g. jointly serving meals to seniors each week,) church and our neighborhood.
• I attend Pilates classes three days/week.  First time, I've had time for that.
• We host visitors.  In January - April 2012, we have five sets of confirmed visitors. Three more visits are pending during that time frame.
• Please call ahead to reserve time at the Kraus Bed & Breakfast.
  We might be full!
• Christmas will be spent in Minnesota (an annual trip).
• New Year's will be spent in California (first time) attending the Rose Parade.
• We miss friends, family, and amenities from other places we have lived.
• That said, this is our home. We are content.