Opened, cleared, and ready to begin. The old wall and plaster board still need to be hauled out. Hoping a few nephews take pity on us. It would be a 10 minute job for them.
Small bedroom painted photo coming soon once it is in order to use.
I’m amazed at how things look after everything is removed. The floors are going to be a major issue. I question if it is worth the effort.
38°F N5mph SR0737 SS1634
Morning Offering given
Village continues to be shrouded in fog
Coffee good
Very foggy coming home early morning from IA. Will be walking across the street for Mass this morning. No sense driving in this mess. The house is back in order after the holiday. Christmas letter is written, now to address envelopes and get them into the mail.
Memory Verse– Psalm 25:4-5a
Make known to me your ways, LORD;
teach me your paths.
5Guide me by your fidelity and teach me,
for you are God my savior,
The Kings continue their journey to the Christ child. Are you continuing yours? The way can be treacherous if one doesn’t walk carefully on the path.
Know you are prayed for.
36°F WSW11mph SR0736 SS1633
Morning Offering given
Village soaked…rain rain go away
Coffee strong
4th Day of Christmas
-4 Calling Birds…Matthew-Mark-Luke-John…the gospels we stand upon
-3 French Hens…Faith, Hope, Love
-2 Turtle Doves… Old & New Testaments
-1 Partridge in a Pear Tree…Christ on the Cross
Whether or not the songwriter had meaning for the song and this was the meaning, Christmas is a beginning, a new beginning. We know Christ died for us, the Old & New Testaments were inspired by God, we are to practice the virtues of faith, hope, and charity, and we have the Gospels to give us inspiration and boundaries to achieve our relationship with Christ. the repetition of the song reminds us that each day we are given those things and more to keep us going. It tells us that Christ is with us, there to help us on our journey, is so invested in us that he gives us help as we need it.
Know you are prayed for.
36°F ESE8mph SR0736 SS1632
Morning Offering given
Village shrouded in fog, rainy
Memory Verse – Numbers 6:24-26
The LORD bless you and keep you!
The LORD let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you!
The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace!
Today is the 3rd Day of Christmas
-Feast Day of St John the Evangelist, brother of St James the Greater, both nicknamed “Sons of Thunder” by Christ.
There was a car/buggy accident on Hwy 33 no one injured. In another car/buggy accident on Hwy 82 one died, 3 transported to LaCrosse Hosp. A death last evening on County D, he was found in the barn. Our Amish community has had a rough Christmas. Please pray for the souls of the deceased, healing for the injured, and well-being for the community itself.
Our day today will be a normal one for us. With the rain and warmer temps we’re experiencing water in the garage. Items have already been put up out there. We’ve known for a time now that we need to do something about the water seeping in perhaps this year’s project should include that. We shall see.
I must work on my Christmas/New Year letter today!
Know you are prayed for
25°F Fog SE6mph SR0736 SS1631
Morning Offering given
Village sleeps
Coffee good
Memory Verse – practice the ones you already know
Good Morning!
I’m up a bit early this morning, probably due to going to bed early last evening.
We had a delightful day with our children, their families, neighbors, good food, fun games, and lots of conversation. I’m on day 4 of the monitor, so far nothing of importance has happened. Typical for me, this is my 3rd time doing this and there has never been an incident. Which is great, except when they are trying to find something and it is so intermittent and fleeting (which is good) they are unsuccessful.
Recipe for Disaster Cookies (Chocolate Chip)…
my friend’s daughter makes these. It is a large batch recipe (think 3-gallon pail size) It seems each time she gets a batch made something happens-fire-death-hospital- and the cookies go somewhere other than their house.
8 eggs beaten
1 1/3 C evaporated cane juice sugar
5 C brown sugar
2 C vegetable oil
4 tsp vanilla
4 tsp salt
4 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 C instant vanilla pudding
3 C chocolate chips
9 C spelt flour
Using a bowl, beat eggs, add sugar, oil, and vanilla, stir well.
Add dry ingredients, plus chocolate chips, mix well
Bake at 350° for 15 mins NO LONGER If cookies seem too hard lower heat, if too soft increase heat a degree or two. Her uncle called these cookies MUSTE as in Must Eat more than one.
Today is the 2nd Day of Christmas… the Wise Men continue their travel, following the Bethlehem Star. These learned men, spent years following this star, wondering about it. On their journey, they met many people, speeking to them about the babe that this star should lead them to. In those days the Israelites knew the Messiah was coming, it had been prophesied for generations. They actively looked for him. Ending up not seeing him when he did come because they were expecting something else. How often I have done that. Missing the boat because it wasn’t what I was expecting it to be. Marriage is like that too. We marry because we have “fallen in love” been perhaps “sexually awakened” or have “a movie view of love”. Then reality hits and we realize how hard it is having to work at a relationship, how difficult it is to not get our own way, or the situation isn’t seen through our eyes. Marriage makes us look at ourselves and our flaws and how those affect the person we are in love with or how that person’s flaws are seen where they were not previously. The Magi had years to prepare to see the Christ Child, to ready themselves for the great moment of love. It is time for us to take a long invasive look at ourselves. To ferret out those defects in our character, make them right, and ready ourselves for the love of our life. Whether that love comes in marriage form, religious vocation form, single adulthood, etc. We pray…
Jesus take me as I am
Summon out what I should be
Set your seal upon my heart
Send the Holy Ghost to me
Know you are prayed for.
21°F SE5mph SR0735 SS1631
Morning Offering given
Village peaceful
Coffee good
Memory Verse– Matthew 1:23
“Behold,
the virgin shall be with child
and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,”
Merry Christmas, dear friends
today we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, Son of God, Son of Man, Savior of the World!
The secular world will have you believe you are celebrating yourself. It will try its hardest to get you angry, upset, dissatisfied, disgruntled, unhappy, unloved, unimportant, well you get the picture. It will make you think everything revolves around getting exactly what you want, when you want it, from whom you’ve deemed the one to give it. The secular world is WRONG. Special food, gifts, fun & games, perfect job, perfect friends DO NOT count for happiness. Let us look to Job and learn from him. There are 42 Chapters in the Book of Job. Consider reading them one day at a time. If you began tomorrow you would be finished by Feb. 6th.
Know you are prayed for
30°F SE3mph SR0735 SS1630
Morning Offering given
Village sleeps
Coffee strong
Memory Poem by Gerard Manly Hopkins, SJ
Moonless darkness stands between.
Past, the Past no more be seen!
But the Bethlehem-star may lead me
To the sight of Him who freed me
From the self that I have been.
Make me pure, Lord: Thou art holy;
Make me meek, Lord: Thou wert lowly;
Now beginning, and alway:
Now begin, on Christmas day
Christmas Eve, today we:
-complete the book of Luke by reading chapter 24
-complete St Andrew’s Christmas Novena… Making a note of the blessings
-complete Bacci’s day 9 of a Christmas Novena “The Holy Family” Jesus-Mary-Joseph (JMJ)
Jesus did not dazzle the world from the very beginning. He advanced in wisdom, age, and
grace. He offers us example. Mary’s sanctity was completely internal, she walked the ordinary
way of perfection, therefore she is most easily imitated by us. Joseph was the most just of men,
faithful to his vocation, chaste spouse, giving example of purity, dedication, and love.
-complete our preparations for the celebration of the birth of Christ the King
As we hurry through this day trying to make ready for tomorrow’s new beginning may we remember to move slowly and enjoy the preparation.
Know you are prayed for.
32°F W6mph SR0735 SS1629
Morning Offering given
Village quiet
Coffee good
Memory Verse–Psalm 25:4-5
Make known to me your ways, LORD;
teach me your paths.
Guide me by your fidelity and teach me,
for you are God my savior,
for you I wait all the day long.
The Monday before Christmas, we are
-reading Luke chapter 23
-Bacci’s Christmas Novena day 8 “What Jesus Wants From Us” He wants us to weep for our sins, promise to never fall again, stay in His grace, give Him our heart, be humble, simple and innocent. Plus one more thing YOU know in your heart. Something you have never properly fulfilled because it cost you too much.
-St Andrew’s Christmas Novena 360 times
Take a few moments today, focus on your heart. Where is it? What’s in it? Is it well, hurt, or broken? What was your part in it all? What choices did you, are you going to make that will determine its condition? Are you thinking only of yourself? Is the plan around what you want, how you feel, or what’s in it for you. Have you made promises that you are not going to keep? Be honest with yourself.
Know you are prayed for.
16°F SSE13mph SR0734 SS1629
Morning Offering given
Village peaceful
Coffee good–made it myself
Memory Verse – Hebrews 10:12
But this one
offered one sacrifice for sins,
and took his seat forever
at the right hand of God;
Today the 4th candle of the Advent Wreath is lit–Angel Candle representing love. Reading Luke chapter 22. Bacci’s Christmas Novena Day 7-Prayer & Dedication- lesson in humility, prayer, and total dedication to God.
Yesterday the grandchildren decorated the Christmas tree, played board games, and ate. It was a wonderful day for me to see them doing that. I am grateful for each of my grandchildren. May God bless them in their lives and keep them close. Was great to see extended family as well. We are so wrapped up in our busy lives most days we don’t make time to just sit and visit. I am so guilty of this. I also have a Christmas issue which has been an issue for as long as I can remember. I am not good with gift giving and receiving. Actually, I don’t receive well period. Perhaps that is something to put on the “figure it out” list I’ve begun for the new year.
Know you are prayed for.
In the "Wilds of Wisconsin & Cornfields of Iowa" 