Advent kind of Monday... St Nicholas, Isaiah, and The Paralytic- "Kindness and truth shall meet; justice and peace shall kiss"

Spent some time this cold Monday with John's two little ones.   Mom had made some special new ornaments from popsicle sticks and and buttons - a truck and a Christmas tree!

The kids have their own nativity that they can play with... they are so smart and speak so well.  "Momma Mary."  Jude said very clearly along with "Baby Jesus" and "Angel."  Their little voices speaking melts my heart.

Birdie's turn.  They seem to be getting better at playing - maybe not together, but allowing the other one a turn.

The Christmas tree is very interesting for them.

Jude especially was intrigued by the new truck that his mom made with popsicle sticks and decoration.  It kept driving off the tree as he made the motor sound with his mouth. Boys love trucks!

Driving off the tree and up the tree so that he could look and not break it.

Side by side - Jude would allow Birdie to have some dice to play with an only take an occasional one away from her.  It used to be that he would take all from her quite quickly and she would just accept it.  Not really playing together, but side by side more.

Just 13 months apart - they are close and watch each other a lot.  

They know Jesus, Mary and Baby Jesus...

2nd Monday of Advent today is filled with some of the wonderful things we expect like St Nicholas today and a glorious reading from Isaiah for the first reading in mass.  Then there was the sweet surprise of the Gospel being from Luke 5 of the Paralytic lowered in front of Jesus by his friends.   A surprise, yet so appropriate for Advent as we see how we are called to await and celebration of God made man at the birth of Jesus into the world!

The blanket girl - Birdie Barbara walks around with 3 soft blankets and time to time begs to sit on grandma's lap and suck her thumb.

She cuddles on my lap and sucks her thumb - both Jude and Birdie are thumb suckers just as all 4 of my girls did before them.

Admiring the Christmas tree ornament with buttons for ornaments had to be put up out of reach before the buttons were removed.  

Isaiah 35 today is a vision of heaven

Streams will burst forth in the desert,
        and rivers in the steppe.
    The burning sands will become pools,
        and the thirsty ground, springs of water;
    The abode where jackals lurk
        will be a marsh for the reed and papyrus.
    A highway will be there,
        called the holy way...

It is for those with a journey to make,
        and on it the redeemed will walk.
    Those whom the LORD has ransomed will return
        and enter Zion singing,
        crowned with everlasting joy;
    They will meet with joy and gladness,
        sorrow and mourning will flee.  Isaiah 35

I love the narrow path described here as paved for us by the Love of Jesus!  

I went to dad's well used Bible to see how we marked up this verse... he did not disappoint.

At Mother Teresa today and yesterday... love the 3 powers we use for saying the rosary!

My mother and her man, Pope Benedict XVI today!  She marked this as a favorite sharing and it is very powerful and good.  I can see her here as she wrote long and hard about Genesis

CatholicDiagramTeacher.com - A user friendly site for Truth Seekers -

The Psalm today speaks of the peace that the 2nd week of Advent calls for us to embrace!  

Kindness and truth shall meet;
    justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
    and justice shall look down from heaven.
R.    Our God will come to save us!  Psalm 85

Praying for peace to dwell in our hearts as we face that all that comes in this day.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Bless-bless, Barbara