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.

Bold step in Belgium: laywoman to be named in Mass canon at Masses in the capital city

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.

-8°F ESE4mph SR0734 SS1628

Morning Offering given

Memory Verse Philippians 4:4

Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice!

Village is silent

Coffee is good.

The Saturday before Christmas, how did it get here so fast? I suspect it is because we were so wrapped up in the secular world that Christmas is all about buying and receiving presents and attending parties that we neglected to keep our eyes on Jesus.

Today, we are reading Luke chapter 21. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/21

Take a moment to start your day with Jesus.
Day 6 of Bacci’s Christmas Novena “The Silence of the Divine Infant” page 510 of his book. The Infant we adore in the stable at Bethlehem is mute and silent. This silence is chosen to teach us humility & self-denial, to recollect ourselves in the presence of God, the silence of prayer which brings forth divine consolations and inspirations to holiness. It is essential to place ourselves quietly in the presence of God from time to time. He does not make himself heard through the noise and confusion of the world. He speaks clearly to the soul.

Know that you are prayed for.

21°F Snowing SE14mph SR0733 SS1627

Morning Offering given… prayers for Rachel M who passed yesterday may she RIP

Memory Verse Psalm 84:12

For a sun and shield is the LORD God,
bestowing all grace and glory.
The LORD withholds no good thing
from those who walk without reproach.

Village waking

Book suggestion, “Sister, Soldier, Surgeon,” by Dr. Leisa Marie Carzon, discusses the life and work of staunch pro-life advocate Sister Deirdre Byrne.

Coffee good

Bat has left the house escorted by the man, hoping it will not return. Bookshelf brackets found and purchased; to be picked up today. 2 copy jobs completed; delivery this morning. The area rug is in need of cleaning… must be accomplished today. Dr. appt at 1 in La Crosse.

Today:
-St Andrew’s Christmas novena, 300 prayers uttered in anticipation of the Christ.
-Luke Chapter 19,
-Day 4 of a Christmas Novena (Bacci pg 508)-“The Cradle of the Infant Jesus”… enter once more into the stable of Bethlehem, Mary delivers her son without damage to her virginity. Joseph kneels, kissing the forehead of Jesus; they have nothing else to give the Christ child but their love and devotion. Remember the man who looks only for worldly success cannot find Heaven. He will wind up bitter and disillusioned.
-Prepare for confession

Know you are prayed for.