"the lofty city... trampled under the footsteps of the poor"/"Our American Mission" The Lambs

Grandma got a few hours with Jude, and he delighted and lighted up our time!  Such an adorable and sweet good boy he is!

Grandma takes great happiness in recalling that there are 3 new boys in our domestic Church/family experiencing their first family Advent and Christmas in a few short weeks!  Not to mention that 2 of the 3 will be together with my huge extended family at CCC- Cross Christmas Camp in Amery, Wisconsin in just 2 short weeks!

 Little Brother Francis Xavior sharing the special turkey prepared for the gathering of The Poor in their new monastery, Light of Mary the Mother of God!

Yes, the neighborhood they live in is in the midst of the poor, but they also are the poor.  Living their vow of poverty,  they are led by the Holy Spirit to beg for their food from the poor!!!

This is the 5th Thanksgiving of this French little Brother, but many were experiencing their first of second, and were very impressed with the Gratitude and Thanksgiving that we experience in America on this day of coming together as families.

 Thanksgiving also celebrates the humble roots and poor roots of our country... the Pilgrims and the Indians.  In most ways the natives/American Indians continue to live in poverty, with some help from gambling casinos, but such a sad thing that is to say.

Isaiah is so huge for me!  His book is responsible for bringing our family of 13 into The Church in 1971!  He and St Ignatius, I should say, as my dad was reading Isaiah 55: 1-2 in the silent guided Ignatiun Retreat at the Cenacle Convent and the Holy Spirit told him to come into The Catholic Church... he was a Protestant minister!
https://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/the-amazing-story-of-13-becoming.html

Today Isaiah filled me with Truth as I read and reread it with my husband in prayer last night and this morning by the Advent wreath!
Trust in the LORD forever!
For the LORD is an eternal Rock.
He humbles those in high places,
and the lofty city he brings down;
He tumbles it to the ground,
levels it with the dust.
It is trampled underfoot by the needy,
by the footsteps of the poor.
Isaiah 26

The Pilgrims were a religious and upright people, who looked to the Lord!  How did our country now look down on those with Faith and morals and embrace the culture of death and degradation?

America has truly become a "lofty city" which has listened to Satan and all his lies about LIFE, Family, Marriage, Faith, and that there is Evil alive and well in this world!  I witness this Community of the Poor - the Community of the Lambs/The Lambs as they call themselves... they are indeed the footsteps of the poor that in small humble ways trample the lies and evil underfoot!

Pauline and the turkey!

 Joy is found in Jesus in His Word and Sacrament for the Lambs!  They touch many lives and bring the LIGHT of Christ to all they come in contact with!

Susan from Brazil ready to carve the turkey for the feast shared!

Each day they receive Jesus in His Word, Body and Blood!  Each day they have a Holy Hour of Adoration with Morning prayer and Evening Prayer!  So powerful to give their feet the strength to trample the "lofty city"/culture of Death under their footsteps!

A card we received from them a month ago...

We are indeed their American Mission!  So often I have thanked to Lord for Archbishop Naumann, who invited The Community to come into the heart of our wounded and sick country... and now both the Little Sisters/Lumen Christi/LIGHT of Christ, and the Little Brothers/Light of Mary the Mother of God have put down roots and are making a difference with the dawning of each new day!  

I am overjoyed to have our daughter, the first American little Sister, now here in the U.S. after about 9 years living in various missions in Europe!  To allow us to have her more in our lives has been a most precious gift that we do not take lightly!

Jude and his elephant love to jump and make grandma smile!

Jude is so lucky to have The Community in this life!  He has been there to meet his Aunt Hallel and all those there in KC at the time!  How we love to have him know her and his life will be richer and more wonderful to have The Lambs in our country!

 Mini photo shoot for this happy boy, who is having his first wonderful Advent, where we await the Lord coming as he did in the past and is now with each and every new day!

 Love this little sweet guy so much!

 Can't get enough!

The Gospel today is amazing and builds upon the phrase from Isaiah that "the Lord is the eternal Rock."  We are reminded to build our domestic Church/family/household upon Rock!
"Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them
will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. ..
Matthew 7

 My greatest JOY is that we share our Faith as a domestic Church/family!  Nothing can compare to the great gift this is for us!

 Jude agrees! As his other grandmother said of him; "I think Jude loves everything - especially if its new."  All things are new and wonderful right Jude?

 My new favorite spot for capturing the times of day... shortly before sunset last evening through my wreath on the door.

 Sunrise this morning after Pat and I prayed morning prayer and did the readings by the Advent wreath... a most wonderful way to start the day!

When we read Isaiah, I said that the "footsteps of the poor" were for me Hallel and her Family of the Lamb!  May they touch many this day and may the LIGHT of Christ and Mary reveal the Truth to those misled by the lies of darkness!  Bring into the LIGHT the sins hidden by darkness, O Lord!

 The sunrise a bit later was even more spectacular!

 So special from John and Bobbi this morning! The wonders of Jude's first Advent and coming Christmas!  Life is a gift!  Jesus may we find LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT as we follow after you carrying/dragging our Most Cherished Cross down the narrow path.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Bless-bless, Barb

So excited to just discover that Maria has added to her blog!!!

Hector on the move and also having his first ever Advent, Maria's favorite time of the year in The Church, or one of them anyways... Hector is also having his first Christmas in a few weeks and then grandpa and I want to visit soon after!

Lots of Nativity sets for one and all!!!

Maria's Advent wreath...with I am sure the family rosary said each day by it!

Books placed in stands around the house gets the kids involved in reading times... homeschooled and limited screens adds to this healthy activity!

This story gives me a new prayer for those I pray to come to Jesus.. "Mary, I love you, and lead them to your Son!"

John's story of finding Faith through brain cancer also included prayers from The Lambs!

He nailed the Truth!

MT 7:21, 24-27

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,'
will enter the Kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.

"Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.
And everyone who listens to these words of mine
but does not act on them
will be like a fool who built his house on sand.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
And it collapsed and was completely ruined."

Lord, protect the Family - I pray the 3rd joyful, the birth of Christ and the Holy Family, for all troubled families.

Danielle Rose - True LOVE/The Cross

Danielle Rose - the Star of Bethlehem - her 3rd decade of the joyful mysteries

Danielle Rose - Nothing compares to you

King and country - O come, O come Emmanuel