Friday Five: Rejoice!

Mother Laura, of Junia's Daughter fame, offers us an opportunity to consider Joy or Gaudete Sunday for this week's Friday Five.

"Can you believe that in two days we'll be halfway through Advent? Gaudete Sunday: pink candle on the advent wreath, rose vestments for those who have them, concerts and pageants in many congregations. Time to rejoice!
"Rejoice in the nearness of Christ's coming, yes, but also in the many gifts of the pregnant waiting time when the world (in the northern hemisphere, at least) spins ever deeper into sweet, fertile darkness."
What makes you rejoice about:
1. Waiting?
The opportunity to do other things while waiting that I might not normally do otherwise --like read murder mysteries during the "hurry up and wait" of airline travel.
2. Darkness?
The opportunity to slow down and rest more, although I do struggle with SAD this time of year. I sleep longer generally.
3. Winter?
Seeing my silly dog do the "happy dog back scratch dance" in the snow and ice like she did this morning ...
Evergreens lightly frosted with a dusting of snow ...
Real snow days, the kind where almost everyone stays home and feels justified in doing so.
The brilliance of sunlight reflected off the pure white of freshly fallen snow.
4. Advent?
At least as far as the ecclesiastical calendar is concerned --Happy New Year! We're finally out of cycle X [of which I had grown tired] and we're in cycle Y. We're finally out of ordinary time --the season that never ends-- and into the juicy stuff of Advent-Christmas-Epiphany. Church geeks, unite!!!!
5. Jesus' coming?
Mystery: the totality of divinity merges into the totality of humanity and the renewal of all creation begins. Incarnation, theologically speaking, is far more of a big deal for me than crucifixion and resurrection ...