Border Collie Brilliance...

A beautiful Act~
I just wish they would show the dog the whole time.
Love those Border Collies.

Wisdom from Winston...

For a nation to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle. - Sir Winston Churchill

The Feast of The Immaculate Conception

THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION:
GOD'S GLORIOUS WORK

AT length, on the distant horizon, rises, with a soft and radiant light, the aurora of the Sun which has been so long desired. The happy Mother of the Messias was to be born before the Messias Himself; and this is the day of the Conception of Mary. The earth already possesses a first pledge of the Divine mercy; the Son of Man is near at hand. Two true Israelites, Joachim and Anne, noble branches of the family of David, find their union, after a long barrenness, made fruitful by the Divine omnipotence. Glory be to God, Who has been mindful of His promises, and Who deigns to announce, from the high heavens, the end of the deluge of iniquity, by sending upon the earth the sweet white dove that bears the tidings of peace!

The feast of the Blessed Virgin's Immaculate Conception is the most solemn of all those which the Church celebrates during the holy time of Advent; and if the first part of the cycle had to offer us the commemoration of some one of the mysteries of Mary, there was none whose object could better harmonize with the spirit of the Church in this mystic season of expectation. Let us, then, celebrate this solemnity with joy; for the Conception of Mary tells us that the Birth of Jesus is not far oft.

The intention of the Church, in this feast, is not only to celebrate the anniversary of the happy moment in which began, in the womb of the pious Anne, the life of the ever-glorious Virgin Mary; but also to honor the sublime privilege, by which Mary was preserved from the original stain, which, by a sovereign and universal decree, is contracted by all the children of Adam the very moment they are conceived in their mother's womb.

Read more here...

St Nicholas Feast Party

This post is a bit belated due to a computer glitch.
Friday, the 5th, was a really nice day.
Since the next day was St Nicholas feast day, and it was First Friday, some of the moms in our TORCH group decided to put on a St Nicholas Feast Day party.
It came off really well.

There was so much wonderful food! The older kids had a great time playing outside, and the younger ones played games, like a coin toss into the Chimney, and identifying their shoes, while blindfolded, to receive chocolate coins from St Nicholas.They also did crafts indoors. It was a really chilly day!
There was also a special story time with Mrs Bowers.
We were very Blest to have the use of the hall at St Agnes.
It was a special time of fellowship and sharing the Blessings of our Faith.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel...

Here are a few pictures of our Advent traditions.
We have been doing most of these things since the boys were very young. It is so neat to watch them become more and more aware of the beauty of Advent as they grow up.
We always start slow with the decorating. Of course on the First Sunday of Advent we set up the Advent wreath for the table. I have started using scented Pillar Candles, because we can use them every night at dinner, and after Christmas there are still a couple left and I put them around the house as a reminder that the gentle joy of Advent is now the glorious joy of Christmas.

We get out our Jesse Tree. This isn't the traditional version. I made a felt evergreen tree when the boys were little and we made felt symbols for each of the days. I got a guide online and it has an image and a few verses from the Bible that lead us through Salvation History. It is so neat to see them getting more and more out of the whole story.
Each morning they take turns putting up the images and I read the passage from the bible. By the end of the season we have the whole story on the tree.

We also have this Advent calendar. We got it from John's Godmother years ago and it is a favorite. The numbered doors have little compartments behind them and inside are wooden pieces with magnets attached. The picture is on a metal background and they can fill in the Nativity scene over the season.

This year we have a new addition. I originally got it for the little girls, but John put it together for me (hence the camel drinking from the Gold Goblet) and Paul has been having a great time moving the figures all over. He thinks as he plays though, and he has been coming to me for two days with interesting thoughts about what it must have been like in that barn.

I will be pulling out a few more things each week.

Advent is supposed to be a quiet, reflective time. We are preparing, not celebrating yet. We spend time thinking and praying about ways that we can show our love and gratitude to God for His incredible gift to us at Christmas.

The King is coming....
Prepare ye the way.

A Very Cool Idea!

Wish I played something this well, but I am definitely going to attend the performance. Can't wait to see how it all comes together.

Welcome Jesus with Me!