The 3rd week of Advent... we are half way through this wonderful season in The Church!

A half hour trip from my parents to Nancy's home in Delano... my mission to snap their family picture for Christmas Cards.  I was gifted with some of the kids keeping neat and waiting for grandma, but have to wait for their family picture...

 The movie is riveting... some Berna dimples!

 Gus drummer boy socks!

Casting Crowns - Angels we have heard on high
Listening to Christian Christmas music on my travels!

 10 month old George is having his first Christmas and has Santa socks to sport!

 George in front of the Christmas tree... all is new and lovely for him with all the wonderful firsts!

Now 9 month and a week old Hector encountering his first Christmas tree, too!  He was not overly impressed, I guess, and the ornaments appear on Christmas Eve in their house.  The tree is lit on the Feast of St Lucy a few days back.

Bernadette did a wonderful poster for St Lucy, too!  Love how our family is united in the wonder and awe of our amazing Church!  Sharing mass - united in the Eucharist, the saints which grace each day of our journeys, Our Mother, Mary Queen of heaven and earth, her rosary prayer, and the Readings/Jesus in The Word each day united as it is read throughout the world in The Church!  So much flowing all around and through our domestic Church/family!

 The wonder of a child at Christmas is felt by all of us.. from 94 to 8 months.  Christmas brings out the child in all of us!

 George gave grandma a gift under the tree!  A wonderful precious smile...

Another sweet look and smile - I love you grandma!

So overjoyed to see Maria had updated her family blog!  Love this of 3 year old Evangeline feeding her 9 month old baby brother his food!  Maria has kids that are great helpers!

All 3 boys are so healthy and happy in their homes and families!

It was a week of first bubble sinks for the 3 boys!  Evie is almost ready to join him, but is helping him get washed.  It seems like just yesterday that Evie was the baby in the sink.

The Psalm for today is asking the Lord to guide us down the narrow path...
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
he teaches the humble his way.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.

How does Jesus do this for us daily?  By giving us himself in The Word, Body and Blood, in the example of The Saints as they intercede for us, giving us His Mother to bring into our homes at the foot of the Cross, which we are asked to take up that Most Cherished Cross and drag it down that narrow path to LIFE eternal!  So much we are given with each new day!  We can face all those distractions and frustrations and find Peace!

 A treasure from my weekend with my parents together in their new home!

 I am so happy with the ability to have some great times with my parents yet.  I am allowed to share meals, Dr Pol with no commercials, spend overnights, visit to my hearts' content, go to mass and reconciliation with them, and know that when I leave them they are in good hands. Best of all... praying with them and sitting at the feet of my parents as they share their wisdom with me!  Nothing more wonderful!

 My dad reading the Gospel from Gaudete Sunday/Rejoice Sunday to mom as she was not able to go to mass with us.  Father spoke about how the way to deal with being down and out is to go out and serve others and give of ourselves without counting the cost!

 Jesus in the pix around his neck that he brought home to share Jesus with mom.

 "The Body of Christ" shared with mom!

 "Lord, I am not worthy for you to enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed."

 Such a powerful reminder from St Mother Teresa of how we can truly die to self and put others before ourselves!

 Yes, that is dust in the air after the demolition of our 2nd floor in the farmhouse that Ruth and the other 4 grew up in.  Ruth and Paul are making it their own now … down to the studs to begin the remodel today!

 Out of their rooms and sleeping in the basement until the work is done.  They certainly do not mind the craziness of change, and have so many ideas and are willing to do the hard work to make it happen.

The Bandzuch bunch after mass on Gaudete Sunday!  Worshiping in our amazing beautiful churches is truly a gift of JOY to us!

The 's picking out a tree...

A beloved little tree with lights until Christmas eve when the ornaments will appear... with gingerbread/graham cracker houses loaded with cereal.

 Grandma happy time of putting the 3 boys in their bubble sinks... Jude is first and he is 8 1/2 months and loving it!

 George in Delano was just 10 months and loves that spatula to splash with!

The 3 year old sisters are busy in the water, too!

9 month old Hector has the most bubbles and had to give them a taste!

It looks like big sister, Evie, helped him wash his hair, too!

Lord, Advent is such a beautiful time of The Church, where we await your coming... you came, you are here with us on this journey, and you will come again!  We are surrounded by your LOVE, Truth and are given so much with each new day as we long to follow you down the narrow path to find LIFE everlasting with you, your Mother, the angels and the Saints!  May we die to self and give without counting the cost.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Hallelujah

More beds in the basement … They are truly making this their home on the farm!

Mary hard at work in what was her room, and at some point it was her mother's room before her.  100+ year old farmhouse getting demolished before it will be made new.  A mountain of rubble at this point... it can only get better from here!  Bless-bless, Barb

A mountain of Belgian cookies in Washington are much more beautiful to behold!  They look thin like great grandma Anne's!

A powerful song I heard on my travels
Christmas makes me cry



Nancy's beautiful picture and sharing today on Small things with love
Talk about Crying at Christmas for many of us that have suffered losses!
He’s 10 months already, but he’s still the best little present under our tree this year. George Blaise is our miracle baby, and I’ve promised myself not to forget that.

The years of pregnancy and babies are full of so much, and nearly all of it is completely out of our control. Surprise pregnancies when you were hoping for a bit more space, little lives that slip through your fingers with miscarriage, precious little ones that are born still. We’ve done it all, and each story change us. They left a wound, but also allowed us to glimpse the awesomeness of God just a bit more clearly.

We have 3 saints waiting for us in heaven. We saw Peter’s strong little heart beating away before God called him home at 8 weeks. Max moved and kicked inside of me for 20 weeks before we was born to heaven. Our prefect little boy that we held and buried two years ago now. And we found out about little Catherine hours before our pilgrimage to Fatima. She visited all the places with us in that trip, and flew to heaven a week after we got home.

After those losses a big part of me wanted to just be done. No more pregnancies=no more losses. The fear of more pain was so real.

But God had a better plan, and praise be to Him, we have this little wonderful boy this Christmas. He’s a terrible sleeper and has been sick all week with a nasty cold, but he is the best best best gift.

Prayers for you, my dear friends, if this season is a season of loss. I have been there, and will likely be there again.

You are in my heart this Christmas.
https://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/my-most-cherished-cross-patrick-gerard.html

I always cry at Christmas