Waiting for His Coming... "Come to me!" Jesus to us with his nailscarred hands open wide

Grandpa feeding a hungry little guy, Jude, last night by the Advent wreath.  Unexpected family meal with the new farmer husband now at a bit slower pace with winter here.

Today he has plans to make a pen in the shop for our 4 laying hens... he feels bad for them huddled in the cold and their eggs are frozen before we can get to them, too.

 Jude loves his food, and grandpa was impressed by his love of eating table food!  Such a sweet good boy he is!

I am off shortly so I am doing a quick sharing here before I head out.  The Gospel today was the BEST!  And what struck me about it in the midst of this Advent time in The Church is how we are called to be waiting for "His coming" then, now and at the end of time... but his first words to us..."Come to me!"

Jesus said to the crowds:
"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."
Matthew 11
This changes everything... we are not in a stationary position waiting for him.  No, we need to go to Him in prayer, in service, in work, in play, in ups and downs, in worries and anxieties, in times of elation and deflation, in all of our lives... Jesus is there and He longs for us to "come" to Him!  He will turn all our hardships into The Cross in our lives that we are asked to take up and follow after Him and that Cross turns into The Tree of LIFE for us.  It bears amazing fruit of LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT and our yoke/cross becomes easy and light.

 Feeding himself his first ever cheesy bread...

Learn to be meek and humble is his recipe for finding that relief from our burdens!  Yes, we need to get our pride out of the way so that we can die to self and allow Jesus/the Holy Spirit to guide and direct our lives - so that we may be better hands and feet of Jesus and serve him in all those around us.

 Make shift high chair far enough away so that he can't grab the advent wreath... he is at the grab nabber stage.

So even though Advent is about coming of Our Lord - the real message and important part of our prayer and worship is our coming to Him!  How I pray that this day can be filled with a closer walk with You, my Lord!

Jesus, my chapel on wheels going down the cold highway today will be filled with the prayer of your Mother, Mary the Mother of God - the rosary beads are such a gift as your Mother brings my needs to you!  How I long to come to you and lay my burdens there.  Make a way for my parents and I to get in the Sacrament of Reconciliation in while I spend a few days with them.  What JOY to truly know your unconditional LOVE and forgiveness!  May we in turn return that to all those around us - most especially our Most Cherished Cross and those in our domestic Church/family!  Jesus and Mary, we love you, save souls.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Hallelujah

 Attempts at some holiday pictures of 7 1/2 month old Jude on grandma's bed.  LOVE!

Mom still wants a garland on her tree and it looks like more lights are needed, too.  A work in progress, but my mom looks pleased.  She didn't want a little tree on a table, and she knows what she wants, and always has!  I love how my parents listened to the Holy Spirit and swam against the tide into The Church 48 years ago - all 13 of us had our first Communion at Christmas Midnight mass at The Cenacle convent!  Every day since has been more and more coming to my Lord, Mary and The Church with overflowing help each day - Jesus in Word, Body and Blood, The Sacraments, the Saints, Mary with me in constant prayer beads - her rosary!  Bless-bless, Barb
https://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/the-amazing-story-of-13-becoming.html
The chapel at the Cenacle Convent where we all came into The Church... all 13!

Christmas card that year!  Yes, I am the oldest of the 11!  We now number close to 140, and will be gathering in a little over a week for our Christmas - Cross Christmas Camp!

My dad went from a Protestant minister to a Permanent Deacon in The Catholic Church!  LOVE!  Come to Jesus for sure, and come to The Holy Spirit at work in our family!

Danielle Rose - Nothing compares to you

Danielle Rose - wonderfully made - Psalm 139
Lord, protect all LIFE!

Casting Crowns - East to the west