John wasn't home very long, and he had to bring his special therapy dog, Lilly, in for a snuggle in front of the woodstove... She recovered from a near death brush with a "mysterious farm dog disease" at the same time John was fighting brain cancer! As a matter of fact, John was the one that took her to the vet and fed her her many pills morning and night in a chunk of velveeta! She is his symbol of healing and LIFE! Plus John has always loved her a lot!
We watched the slow progress of Ruth, with her two kids, slowly and carefully drive up the driveway... as Pat plowed out a path for her through the surprisingly deep snow! 
Ruth arrives with the fun of the day!
A two hour late start and dad's car not starting got the three of them in the car in jammies and then they thought about coming the extra 3 miles to see grandparents and John! They got here for our late breakfast and morning prayers shared around the table!
Davey found his precious kitties... the first time we picked them up... we headed to Pennsyvania for some days, so they kept them at their house! Little Davey fell in love with them and is so glad to see them again when he comes for a visit! Immediate snuggle time, and Alice seems to be happy to see him too!
So soft and purry... and so sweet..we all think that Davey is going to be such a loving man! Here is the cutest story from Christmas camp... Little Davey openned a little baby doll purple pony... he immediately started to hold it and rock it and kiss it... His daddy made faces at the scene... A bit later it was discovered that the gifts had gotten mixed up and that he had openned one for a little girl cousin... Ruth told me that she was worried that he wouldn't want to exchange them as he was snuggling and loving this baby pony- purple... They distracted him by having him open this large package and inside was a put together track with a bridge for cars to run around... well, the strategy worked and he loved that too, but it was so sweet the way that he immediatly accepted and loved a toy that was considered for a girl... his new toy became an immediate hit with the boys around his age and older and younger and Davey sweetly shared too! 
Grandpa loves his little Davey, and promises to come in and take him out to blow snow in the red tractor after he gets the cows and calves fed! Davey is so excited - how they love each other! Davey is so thrilled that he has a "gampa- farmer!" We decide to make cookies with all the butter and cream cheese that I happen to have on hand... there is a limit, but a few hours later... both Ruth and I have lots of cookies to show for our work... today we made Spritz!
Davey continues to love and snuggle... too cute! There is so much as Christmas is just three days from now! WE will have a house full or maybe two houses full as Ruth might have Nancy and Bill stay there and we will have Maria, Joe and there two kids plus John! We are rejoicing at the thought! Today the words of Mary spoken to Elizabeth known as the Magnificat are the Gospel! WE share these words daily in evening prayer, and so much of what she expresses deals with how we are called to humility! Little Davey holding and rocking that little pony with no complaint - so spoke to me of humble loving acceptance of whatever we are gifted with in this life good or bad...
Ruth - mom - works on Mary's hair while we share morning prayers... The discipline style of our daughter, Maria, who is now living with us is very different for us... she is not easy on her children and feels that they need to be taught to respect and mind their parents... there is time in the corner and there are times that Therese does not get to have or do things as she has misbehaved... Ruth made a comment that really struck me as kind of the way that I see Therese... not to say that this more strict attitude has not made her a most wonderful child and one certainly that is familiar with not getting all that she wants!
Ruth said; "All the kids in her kindergarten class will be having cupcakes and Therese will say, 'I am fine with my crust of bread.'" It is so true so often to see that she has been certainly not overindulged but has a very humble approach to things in life at her young age of 2 1/2years old! It can be very hard for a grandma and a grandpa, whose inclination is to spoil their grandkids! Yet, we see how sweet and wonderful she is as a result of truly being raised with much the same spirit as ST Therese her namesake was... sacrificing in life leads us to sainthood...
French braiding Mary's hair much like I would go down the line and do with my 4 girls some mornings! The prayers that we shared were so powerful this day... I think we all were touched by the words of rejoicing as the closenesss of the coming of our Lord in the form of a humble child is so close now! 
Softening sticks of butter for our cookies is too fun to stack as building blocks for Davey...from the butter on his face - tasty too! He did wash his hands first! In the first reading the story of Hannah and bringing the son she had prayed for and been gifted with - Samuel - to present him to God and actually to leave him there at the temple to live - "dedicated to the Lord for as long as he lives." Samuel 1: 24-28 This is what we are all called to as parents at Baptism - to raise our kids to know and love God and to share our faith and our amazing wonderful Church - the Body of Christ with them! 
Today in my wonderful day by day with Pope Benedict XVI - a gift from our Godson over the weekend and put out by Magnificat... see http://www.magnificat.com/ Benedict speaks about how "The incarnation of the Word means that God does not merely want to come to the spirit of man through the Spirit... God wants to come to men through men.... God's incarnation brings into being the "People of God," and this becomes the "Body of Christ" on the basis of Christ...The ultimate goal for us all is that of becoming happy. Yet happiness exists only in the company with each other, and we keep company only in the infinity of love." 
We need to look to the God that came into the world and became man to show us how to live a good and happy and humble life! He certainly did not come here in glory and pomp and circumstance as God certainly was expected to by many that were looking for the messiah at that time! 
Such a lesson to us on what truly matters in this lifetime and this world of ours! I was blown away by reading Thomas Merton - New Seeds of Contemplation - last night before bed...He is writing about the huge part of our Catholic faith called Tradition! "The living tradition of the Catholicism is like the breath of the physical body. It renews life by repelling stagnation. It is a constant, quiet, peaceful revolution against death." Wow!
"And yet this tradition must always be a revolution because by its very nature it denies the values and standards to which human passion is so powerfully attached. To those who love money and pleasure and reputation and power this tradition says: 'Be poor, go down into the far end of society, take the last place among men, live with those who are despised, love other men and serve them instead of making them serve you. Do not fight them when they push you around, but pray for those who hurt you. Do not look for pleasure,but turn away from things that satisfy your senses and your mind and look for God in hunger and thirst and darkness, through deserts of the spirit in which it seems to be madness to travel. Take upon yourself the burden of Christ's Cross, that is, Christ's humility and poverty and obedience and rennunciation, and you will find peace for your souls." 
Little Davey carries some of our fresh made cookies over to the door for Grandpa to have when he comes to get him to ride in the tractor and blow snow... we can see him putting the loader and the feeder wagon away in the shed..."Soon he will be coming for you, Davey!"
Davey watches out the window with excitement for grandpa to come and get him... he is wearing an old snowsuit that John thinks he and his sisters wore before him... Such a delightful thought to one and all! 
Grandpa is here! Davey heads out while grandpa eats his yummy cookies... nothing beats the holidays for family and food and fun and faith and farm! This time of year it becomes the 5 "Fs"!
Davey and grandpa off for an adventure... actually Davey fell asleep out there and grandpa called the house to let us know...
Mary and I head out after lunch to find her Snowball... see the preceeding entry for more on that adventure... The heiffers have warm breath "vapor" as they breath in the cold wind! They are all warm in their winter coats! Well, I have digressed... It was such a great and busy day with the family and the activity and that will pick up as more and more arrive... I feel unprepared this year and that I will be depending on the young and vibrant to take over with the bigger meals and the gatherings! I am just going to love the time with family and the joy of having health!
Mary not only found Snowball out there... she had Banana come up to her and stand there like she was saying "hi" to her friend from this summer- Mary! Mary named her Banana after John had suggested that she name her a name that started with "B" like her mother, Bertha! It was funny and it stuck! Jesus, we love you so much - the joy is starting to rise within us as we look for your coming in a humble and quiet form of an innocent child! So much today we are reminded of the humility we are called to, and we know that it is hard and contrary to what we are wanting for ourselves in this world! Show us how to be like you! Show us how to put all others and their wishes in our families and that we work with ahead of ourselves. That we may serve joyfully and without thought of self! Our world would certainly be a much happier place for all if we could learn to be like you showed us in your coming to earth and living among us! Jesus, we trust in you! Amen and Halleluia! 
Bless-bless, Barb"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior, for he has looked upon his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed; the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, and has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly..." Luke 1: 46-56
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