The Lamb OT and then Jesus!/Luken iron on the road to Nancy's for Belgian cookie making with the 6 grandkids

Sweet adorable Birdie Barbara 2 years ago at about 6 months!  Christmas dress and baby Jesus being adored as a 6 month old would with her mouth.  I am soon to be on the road to visit Nancy's family in Delano for the day, and our Luken/Belgian cookie iron will go along with us.

More Birdie sweetness - my namesake is such a gift! 

We are taking our van up for Nancy's family to use while their own vehicle is getting repaired after a rear ender accident.  Welcome to winter in Minnesota and driving in the Cities, too.  I even had to admit that driving back to town to the Y after dropping Pat home after mass and praying for Fr Denny with 7 Sisters was just not worth it on the snow packed roads.  "At Least I got the important things done." 

Yes, grandma had Birdie all to myself for some time, and did the dress up and the Christmas photo shoot!  LOVE!

She was a smiley and happy subject and now the special memories!  Soon she will be a big sister - just a month away now!  So excited!!!

Such a beautiful sight to see the few inches of white over every thing - branch and the pine trees were especially beautiful yesterday too... until the wind blows them clean again.

I am in a quandary - I am hoping for snow to have a family sledding day the week after Christmas, yet I am so wanting the roads to be wonderful for Maria driving here with her 7 next week!  There are a few inches predicted every day almost all week and the weekend looks like it will be over for driving to CCC!  Lord, please go before Maria for those 2 days on the road and make them clear and smooth and safe!  

A peaceful view with the cows on the hill.  There is always more work on the farm with the snow, too.  Cleaning out bunks, and yards along with the manure that builds up.  

Hubby running the Luken iron as he has done for our 44 years of marriage.  He is the 100% Belgian and I am the mutt.  He used to sit at the stove with the iron on a burner, and make one at a time.  For probably the last 20+ years we have had this well used electric iron and he makes now 4 at a time.  Ruth and Nancy both borrow our iron, so it sees many cookies go through it.  

Nancy is making her dough this morning and when we arrive the kids will make the balls and grandpa will make them some cookies, too!  Pictures?  Yes!

We like ours thin and on the dark side...

A Belgian and his heritage and traditions on the farm in Marshall, MN!  St JPII looking over his shoulder would approve.  What is a Polish cookie for Christmas?

The Lamb/Jesus in the cupola at Lumen Christi/Light of Christ Monastery of The Community of the Lamb in KCK.  With a picture of Hallel's Godmother, my sister Mary, who died of Lymphoma in 1986.

Today in the Gospel Jesus points out to us St John the Baptist.  

He said in reply, “Elijah will indeed come and restore all things;
but I tell you that Elijah has already come,
and they did not recognize him but did to him whatever they pleased. 
So also will the Son of Man suffer at their hands.”
Then the disciples understood
that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.  Matthew 11'

John points us to the Lamb as Pope Benedict shows us so powerfully today in his meditation.

I love how he takes us to ponder the lambs used in the OT with Isaac and Abraham and then sacrificed to remove sins for the Israelites until Christ came - the Paschal Lamb!  

Hallel at her home visit in May holding her Tom-Tom.  She wears a lamb around her neck to show that she has taken her final vows with The Community of the Lamb - "I promise unto death."  That is one heck of a final vow!  We all should adopt that in our marriage commitment! 

Open to LIFE and raising LIGHTS!  Each with their current baby.  We are now expecting out 23rd grandchild in January!  

LOVE!

St Mother Teresa today!

Dad's Brother Victor - we are now heading out so Bless-bless, Barbara