Tom and Ruth show the basement apartments/Advent is here! The cow and the bear shall be neighbors... childlike peace and calm - +JMJ+

Joy and Tom over on Sunday as we lit the first candle for the First Sunday of Advent.  My Christmas cactus has been outside all summer and came in and decided to bloom for the first time just in time for Christmas!  

We sang "O Come O Come Emmanuel."  

The placemat is one that we made at CCC some years back - FALL on your KNEES!  

Such a special time of year - this winter is a brown winter with no snow so far and warm weather coming this week.

Yesterday was my Feast Day - St Barbara, who was put in a tower by her father and eventually was martyred for her love of Jesus.

Rose and David serving at mass on the First Sunday of Advent

Blessing and lighting the first of the 4 candles for the 4 Sundays of Advent

Rose recessing out after mass. 

Rose with Lucy and Jude at the Camp Foley breakfast - Rose will be going this year as she is in 6th grade.

Lucy loves her daddy so much.  He is her caregiver while mom works.

John and little Lucy, who will be 11 months next week.

Lucy starting to stand and play the piano.

Joy got out the tea set and we had to have a tea party with grandpa by the Advent wreath.  Tom had 4 cups of tea with milk and sugar.

Tea party in December needs to be by the beautiful Advent wreath!

Big smiling grandpa with his tiny pink tea cup... precious and sweet for 6 year old Joy and 2 year old Tommy.

Special times - I recall in our playhouse when I was a kid - my mom would make us "play coffee."  Wonderful memories with mostly my sisters, now Joy with her baby brother!  

Dominic gifted grandma this special popsicle stick monstrance with Jesus.  Thank you, Domo, I love it!  

Red haired Joy in the sun with the beauty of Advent 2023.

Awaiting the coming of our Lord... may we be ready for His coming for we know not when.

A family funeral at a country church by Belview yesterday.

My brother Jim's Father in law passed away.  This was the same church where Jim and Elaine were married over 20 years ago!  

My Godson, Danny, playing the piano for The Old Rugged Cross sung by the grandchildren.

3 of Jim's daughters, Bethany, Lilly and Sarah singing The Old Rugged Cross.  That is my maiden name and so they are all Cross Girls.  My dad had the nickname - the Old Rugged Cross when he was in the army in WW2!  

My brother, Jim with Elane. She shared that her dad was on hospice for the last week of his life, and found it very helpful to keep him peaceful and comfortable.  

Pat with 3 of the 5 children that Jim and Elaine have - Danny was on his way to fly to Michigan where he is in college.  

Last night after mass - light up the Church!  

PRAYERS for safety on the road - Grandson, David, is now behind the wheel after getting his permit.  The family tradition is driving dad to Dairy Queen in Granite Falls - half an hour away.  

My new rosary from my mom has to join the Advent wonder and awe!

Today in the first reading from Isaiah - he speaks about how we are called to be childlike and the HOPE for a wonderful peaceful world where we all live peacefully side by side.  After going through some family issues this morning - it is a prayer and HOPE of mine!  

Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the kid;
The calf and the young lion shall browse together,
with a little child to guide them.
The cow and the bear shall be neighbors,
together their young shall rest;
the lion shall eat hay like the ox.
The baby shall play by the cobra's den,
and the child lay his hand on the adder's lair.
There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain;
for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the LORD,
as water covers the sea.  Isaiah 11

Being that we have hundreds of cows, calves and bulls - I focused on the Cow and the bear - "together the young shall rest,"  That would be a true sight to behold.  It brings to mind a children's book with all of these parings...

From Luke 10 the Gospel today - Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said,
"I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to the childlike..."  Luke 10   

Fr Denny this morning with the advent Candle for this first week aglow and holding up for us Jesus' Body and Blood.  Talk about PEACE and JOY and LOVE!  

The wreath on the Parsonage door is pretty on the blue door.

I stopped in to pick up Tom and am always impressed with the sweet decor.

Tom and the gnome 

No snow to dash through this year, and the farmers are happy.

"I have a box of Christmas stuff that I get out now, and put the fall things away in their box."  

Tom and Ruth taking me to see the 2 basement apartments.

You enter through the back door.

"This way grandma."  Tom has been here many times with mom and dad.

Counter tops and appliances today and hopefully this weekend they can be moved into.

The bathrooms are nice and new.

A shelf above the stove vent.

There is our view of The Church even from the basement!  

The back splash...

What a view from the egress windows!  

Across the hall is the other same one bedroom apartment.

Time to go to grandma's - bye bye mommy.  Such familiar territory!  We come here every Sunday and now are responsible for making the street more beautiful across the street from our beloved Holy Redeemer Catholic Church!  

May our Advent be filled with Peace, Joy and love and healing of many wounds.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Bless-bless, Barbara and the 33 plus many Little Brothers and Little Sisters.  

David, grandpa and Bullseye 11 years ago... David wanted to bring him home to his house, and now he lives on the farm where they all live!  

Too cute!  

Dad's man Brother Victor writing some sweet words about Advent - "peace and calm within"  

Pope Benedict today - waiting full of hope!  

Paul and Rose in the sun 10 years ago - there was snow!  

Danielle Rose 

Zach Williams