Aglow in the lights/"You mean Mary, Joseph and Jesus are here?" Family-the Domestic Church is where the saints learn faith

I haven't seen Tom in almost 2 weeks, so when I stepped into the house just about supper time last night -he came crawling up to me squealing with delight and soon I had scooped him up and brought him over to the Christmas tree lights.  Yes, all the ornaments off the bottom of the tree are gone, but it was still special to capture his sweet cute  wonder in the lights!  

He would turn his head and smile and just as quickly look away, so... 

Big sister, Rose Again, giving him snacks that were soon all over the floor, and his hand on the amazing Christmas stocking that his mom is making for her 1 year old son.

Such a beautiful stocking will probably be done for you this Christmas to join the others - Tom is #7 child for Ruth and Paul.

So much fun to capture the little ones in the lights!  

5 year old Joy next to come by the tree.

There is a huge smile for grandma from Tom.  We got to know each other very well while they were working on the Parsonage for those 2 months.  Soon they will be starting on a much bigger project next store on a big brick apartment building.  Tom and grandma will once again be close and constant companions during the day.  He is such a good boy!  

He let go of the couch and was standing alone - soon walking and then running everywhere!  

He is such a sweet gift to us on the farm and sign of New LIFE for his farm family.  Our love grows more with each new LIFE!  

It was exciting after our time away including the First Sunday of Advent spent in Virginia, to put together our Advent wreath and light the first candle!  An Angel from Pat's mother's collection seemed to be special to honor the Holy Family!  

Fall on your Knees!  A special placemat made at CCC some years back is the centerpiece of my Advent wreath along with a special Mary with baby Jesus statue.

The Advent wreath at sunset.

Pat was so excited to share with me something that happened at a basketball game where the Royal family was there watching.  Someone asked the coach how he felt about having the Royal Family there.  "You mean Mary, Joseph and Jesus are here?  That is the only Royal family that I know of."  Pat thought that was a spectacular answer and so it is!  

Mom and dad and Our Lady of Perpetual Help looking on at sunset.

Our yard with Mary the Mother of God looking on in the snow at sunset last night.  This month in the Magnificat there will be stories of Saints and how their family life shaped them in many ways.  It was explained here on the first of the month. 

I love this, and it was very special to have my husband read it out loud last evening as we prayed together by the Advent wreath.  Our Domestic Church/family truly was where we passed on our Faith as we had set out to raise many LIGHTS for the world!  We only have 5 here and 7 in heaven - we must need many prayers!

Family Soul Story - Choose Life!: Our marriage stories - "The world needs LIGHTS!" 

Joy in the lights posing for grandma.

Thanks, Joy!

My dad's Bible as we gather for prayer by the Advent wreath. Pat decided we would read the words in the Bible about Jesus' coming to dwell among us - God made man.  We started with Matthew last night.  Luke has the lions share of the story.

Reading, praying some of the rosary and doing evening prayer together.  It has been for our family a special time during Advent and Lent when we would gather before bedtime with the kids and share Bible, Saint stories, and sing old camp songs that I learned in my Protestant years.  

Pat leading the rosary with his fingers for healing and forgiveness for many in our lives and families.  He has been leading it more lately - like on the road while I was driving and so I did the final part of the Hail Mary - "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death."  Suddenly the words really soaked into my heart - She truly is The Mother of God!!!!  Plus she is my most loving and close Mother to me on this journey!  I am needing to go and pray for Fr Denny with 7 Sisters in front of the tabernacle, so I need to be off to pray!  

My hubby is now a goat farmer!  We had to go out and look at the goats while I was over there.  

Pat and Paul took over Mary's goats as she is so busy and college is looming on the horizon.  I still smile to think that my beef farmer husband is a goat farmer.

Snug in the shed for the winter surrounded by bales of hay and tractors.  No wind can reach them back in the corner of the shed.

One of my favorite from behind pictures of farmer Pat going back to his beloved heated shop after visiting his goats.  "They are fat!"  

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, make our families be like unto yours.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Bless-bless, Barbara and the 34

All which I took from thee I did but take,

Not for thy harms,

But just that thou might'st seek it in My arms.

All which thy child's mistake

Fancies as lost, I have stored for thee at home:

 'Rise, clasp My hand, and come!'

 

- Excerpt from The Hound of Heaven, Francis Thompson

 

"As we are searching for God, the good news is that God is searching for us.  Better yet, He has found us.  The great question is not whether we have found God but whether we have found ourselves being found by God.  God is not lost.  We were, or, as the case may be, we are. ...

Here is what St. Paul says: “It is full time now for you to wake from sleep.”  He is telling us to wake up the gift already given.  This season of the Church’s calendar is called Advent, which means “coming”.  Christ came, Christ comes, Christ will come again.  There is no time–past, present, or future–in which Jesus the Christ is not God with us.  He was with you yesterday, is with you today, and will be with you tomorrow. 
So we are invited to give up our searching and let ourselves be found by the One who wants to be with us, and to have us with Him, forever." - Fr. Richard John Neuhaus, God With Us

 

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Gregorian chant - First week of Advent 

Danielle Rose - the saint that is just me

Peter Mayer - Holy now