Tell what you see and hear/Patience/Gaudete Sunday/Rejoice!!!

My parents together by the splashy Christmas tree in the entry way of their assisted living after we shared a pancake breakfast.  Their cute smiles are the result of them almost falling over together... each holding to each other and their canes.

Sharing at breakfast dad became the pastor that he truly is when he shared with us some jewels about how we should be praying and not only that but the words to use...
May the face of Jesus shine on me
With his glory all around
May I never look down my nose at others
May I share the good news all around.. something like that anyways!

Awaiting the Sacrament of Reconciliation with the late afternoon sun promising that we would have the LIGHT of Christ flood our souls and nothing can be hidden from Him, who knows all our sins!  

 We arrived early to have the delightful JOY of listening to Vespers shared back and forth in Latin!  The pink Gaudete/Rejoice candle lit for the eve of the 3rd Sunday of Advent!

My deacon father joined me for Confession and mom stayed at home as the cold weather was more than she could face.  It was a most special holy time that we were allowed to witness and share in before Father Brian met us in the confessional!

 After breakfast and before mass... mom wasn't up to going with.

 Ginger bread houses in Washington

 Getting ready to make Belgian cookies - ball making is the first step then get out the Luken iron!

My mother in law was made hundreds every year so thin that you could see light through them!  I was thinking of her fondly today with the second reading from James 5, and added to this that she died on Gaudete Sunday 3 years ago.

She was famous at saying the Flemish word for "patience" to us, especially those last 2 years on hospice.  She needed constant around the clock help and it was very humbling and hard for her, so she would say to us "pesacha" or something to that effect which meant "patience"

It is all so wonderful and even it has the farmers in there, which she was her entire 97 years!
Be patient, brothers and sisters,
until the coming of the Lord.
See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth,
being patient with it
until it receives the early and the late rains.
You too must be patient.
Make your hearts firm,
because the coming of the Lord is at hand.
Do not complain, brothers and sisters, about one another,
that you may not be judged.
Behold, the Judge is standing before the gates.
Take as an example of hardship and patience, brothers and sisters,
the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord."
James 5

 Their gingerbread and their tiny tree - Charlie Brown Christmas trees are loved in our homes!

My parents lounge with the fire place and the snow outside make for a cozy place to gather to watch good old movies on the big screen!  It was Fiddler on the Roof a few weeks ago... the Best!

George joins in the bubble sink crowd!