The Waiting

I am in a place of waiting on several things lately. I did my graduate school applications and I am waiting for my former professors to send their letters and the schools to decide if they want me. I am waiting for Christmas, I know what one of my presents is already, and I am really excited about getting it. I am waiting for people to buy my scarves on Etsy, and I am waiting to figure out what's next.

Seeing as it's Advent, it is an appropriate time of year to be waiting, but that doesn't make it any easier. Prior to last Sunday, in the middle of the Lord's Prayer at Mass, the priest would say, "protect us from all anxiety as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ." Now it's something about awaiting the blessed hope, I could look it up, but I am not going to. That quote is what Advent is all about, waiting for Jesus's promised return. I like Advent, but it is hard to get into the spirit of Advent, waiting for the Lord to come, when you have been practicing Christmas music since August. 

But all these things I am waiting on propel me into the Advent spirit.  So I am trying not to be anxious, which is hard for me, and be joyful as I wait to hear what is happening with grad school.

In other news, I have lost 16 pounds in the 2 months I have been on my diet. :)  And that includes pigging out on Pull-a-part on Thanksgiving, 2 desserts and 3 beers on Friday, and totally eating everything in sight last night.  Go me! 

And now for your listening pleasure, "The Waiting" by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers because really, "the waiting is the hardest part."