-6°F WNW8mph SR0728 SS1625 “parka day”

Morning Offering given–Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
https://www.usccb.org/news/2024/our-lady-guadalupe-powerful-reminder-we-are-all-called-be-one-christ-jesus

Memory Verse Matthew 1:21

“She will bear a son
and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins.”

Village cold and dark

Coffee hot and black

New baby on the ridge “Samuel” joins 2 brothers & 2 sisters. Mom & baby doing well.

Lots of things to think about today… Left Bundle Branch Blockage, Afib, and various other things. Time to make a 3 ring. Next appt on 19th.

Know you are prayed for

20°F WNW18mph SR0727 SS1625

Morning Offering given

Memory Verse Isaiah 41:10

Do not fear: I am with you;
do not be anxious: I am your God.
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.

Village chilly and silent

Coffee good

Today St Andrew’s Christmas Novena Day 12, Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary, Day 11 of Advent (USCCB Daily Readings), Chapter 11 of Luke

Looking towards another easy day. 2 copy jobs, the workshop girls, and a newspaper to pick up at the printer.

How’s your Advent going? I’ve been noticing how busy people are while they shop. Being in such a frenzy cannot be much fun. Years ago we gave up the frenzy and now our list is limited to: something to read, something to wear, and something wanted (within reason). St Nicholas does not leave presents under the tree, here he puts them in your stocking.

I try to give my special needs workshop girls a little something at Christmas. This year at the resale store I found sand dollars and at another store poinsettias handkerchiefs. Then went online, for the sand dollar poem. https://www.courageouschristianfather.com/the-legend-of-the-sand-dollar/#google_vignette the poinsettia story, and the candy cane story https://www.creativebiblestudy.com/legend-of-the-poinsettia.html#google_vignette https://www.candyhistory.net/candy-origin/candy-cane-history/#google_vignette
A small token and perhaps information they would not have otherwise known at very little expense but with much thought in selection. That is really what it is all about. Letting someone know you are thinking of them.

Life is good

Know you are prayed for

25°F WNW10mph SR0726 SS1624

Morning Offering given

Memory Verse 2 Corinthians 5:17

So whoever is in Christ is a new creation:
the old things have passed away;
behold, new things have come.

Village silent

Coffee dripping

Morning! Easy day ahead, for which I am thankful. A couple copy jobs to finish and deliver, Dr. appointment and some books that need dropping off. The foot needs a rest. Swollen, red, painful. Not sure what is on the man’s agenda.

Today Bacci speaks to “Peace of the Soul” page 496. He says “Peace of soul is more to be desired than anything else in this world“. He goes on to say that wealth, honours, and pleasures are valueless as long as we are discontented and disturbed at heart. He said happiness is essentially internal, not external. Anyone looking for it outside of themselves cannot find it simply because it does not exist there. He advised interior peace is capable of bring us whatever happiness can be obtained in this world. Isa 48:22 tells us “there is no peace to the wicked” Mat 11:28-29 tells us that Jesus invites us to “Come to me, all you who labour and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart and you will find rest for your souls.” True peace consists in doing the will of God constantly and with love. Job 1:21 “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord!” This may all seem too difficult but only in this way can we obtain interior peace. The Imitation of Christ speaks to this should you desire to read more about it.

Know you are prayed for.

37°F W12mph SR0725 SS1625

Morning Offering given

Memory Verse Hebrews 13:4

Let marriage be honored among all
and the marriage bed be kept undefiled,
for God will judge the immoral and adulterers.

Village quiet

Coffee strong

My friend FS pointed me to the “My Catholic Life” app. I am enjoying it. Many thanks to her for letting me know.

Wonderful time had at St John Summit Ridge’s Christmas Potluck. The PCCW always does a very nice job of feeding everyone, Santa comes to check on the children and how they are doing this year. Photos can be seen at stjohnthebaptistsummitridgewi.wordpress.com

This week in Advent “The Bethlehem Candle”/Peace. Today is Day #9 of the Advent Season. Day #10 of St Andrew’s Christmas Novena and Day#6 of Cardinal Burke’s Novena to Our Lady for her intercession. Just as she did at the Battle of Lepanto. Our Advent Bible Readings this week -Chapters 8-14 in the Book of Luke, one chapter per day.

If you have an interest in Our Lady’s victory, books regarding this have been written: Lepanto 1571…The Madonna’s Victory by Nic Fields, The Battle of Lepanto 1571 by Robert F Marx, Crescent and Cross by Hugh Bicheno, Lepanto 1571-1871 by Giuseppe Giuriato, Play the Naval Battle of Lepanto 1571 by Luca Stefano Cristini

Christmas cards have begun to arrive. I should be working on mine but am not. My goal for 2025 is to write more physical letters so I thought I would begin that with a “New Year” letter instead of a Christmas card. After all, the Christmas season doesn’t end at Christmas.

Know you are prayed for.

29°F SSE9mph SR0724 SS1625

Morning Offering given

Memory Verse 2 Corinthians 9:7

Each must do as already determined,
without sadness or compulsion,
for God loves a cheerful giver.

Village sleeps

Coffee none

Happy Birthday Hudson!

Short night miscarriage, hemorrhage, car fire… may God have mercy on them all.

Christmas Pot Luck… St John Summit Ridge… Mass 10AM with potluck to follow.

If this is what retirement is like I need to get a job. Left foot giving me fits. Feels like it is being stabbed with a needle. I have been to the Dr more since retirement than I have been in my entire life. Just ridiculous.

Today Syria fell, and Assad (the president) has fled the country after advising everyone to be peaceful during the takeover. Locals cheered as they gathered in the streets of Jarmana, a Damascus suburb. Damascus is where: Abraham rescued Lot- Gen 14:14-15, King David successfully subdued the enemies of Israel- 2 Samuel 8:5-6, & St Paul had his conversion- Acts 9. It was an important cultural/commercial center due to its geographical position at the crossroads of the Orient and the Occident, (between Africa and Asia). It was the capital of the Muslim world from 661 to 750. Ruled by the Turks from 1500 to early 1900. Our Lady of Victory Oct 7, the anniversary of the decisive victory of the combined fleet of the Holy League of 1571 over the Ottoman navy at the Battle of Lepanto. In 1918 a combined Arab and Australian force arrived in Damascus to spearhead its liberation from the Turks during WWI.

Know your history… understand your present…prepare for your future.

Know you are prayed for.

28°F SW15mph SR0724 SS1625

Morning Offering given

Memory Verse James 1:2-3

Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials,

for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

Village sleeping in

Coffee good

Great day yesterday in La Crosse. Some great finds picked up for Christmas. I need to get Christmas decorating boxes out of the garage attic and onto the porch. Garage stored items need to be placed into the attic so that we can set up the garage next week.

Two copy jobs, email print & delivery and a shopping run to do today. Then home to get things done.

Today run through your memory verses, update your confession list, and critique your spiritual week. Are you comfortable with how it is going? Tweak it if need be.

Book suggestion: The Dutch House by Ann Patchett the audio performed by Tom Hanks.

Did I tell you I have purchased a home planner? I’ve spent the last few weeks looking at it, make decisions on it and will implement it Jan 1st. I’ve always had trouble “running” a house. I am confident this tool will help me do that so things don’t get overlooked. https://passionatepennypincher.com/home-planner/ I’ve been told it is on sale on amazon.

Know you are prayed for.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Salvation_Army#:~:text=We%20believe%20that%20the%20Lord,Spirit%20are%20necessary%20to%20salvation.

8°F SW10mph SR0723 SS1625

Morning Offering given

Memory Verse Romans 14:17

For the kingdom of God
Is not a matter of food and drink,
but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit;

Village peaceful

Coffee hot and strong

Day #7 for St Andrew’s Christmas Novena, Immaculate Conception Novena, Day #3 for Cardinal Burke’s Novena, and last but not least Happy St Nicholas Day.

Happy Birthday to PS… have a wonderful day.

Spell check is apparently off-line today so bear with me. Signal, is also giving me issues.

It looks like I’ll be in La Crosse today. Hopefully, it will not take all day. Copy jobs completed and delivered.

Today Bacci speaks on “Knowledge & Learning,” pg 490 of Meditations for Each Day. St. Paul says, “Let no one rate himself more than he ought” (Romans 12:3) and in 1Corinthians 8:1-2 he warns us that “knowledge puffs up, but charity edifies”. Similar warnings can be found in The Imitation of Christ “What doth it profit thee to dispute deeply about the Trinity, if thou be wanting in humility, and so be displeasing to the Trinity?” Please note it is not knowledge itself that is condemned but the abuse of knowledge. God has given each of us an intellect so that we may know the truth and investigate the mysteries of nature. This search for truth should bring us nearer to God. those we study for learning sake are simply curious. those who study to be better know are vain. Those who acquire knowledge to sell , to make money, or to gain honours are merchants of science and culture. There are others who cultivate science as an instrument in the service of their neighbour, these are motivated by charity. There are those who study in order to sanctify themselves, this is true wisdom. The thirst for knowledge should spring from an ardent desire to know God better in the beauty of his creation and the multiplicity of laws which govern. In knowing him better should bring deeper love of him. What is your motivation for knowledge?

Know you are prayed for.

7°F NW14mph SR0722 SS1625

Morning Offering given

Memory Verse Jeremiah 29:11

For I know well the plans I have in mind for you—oracle of the LORD—
plans for your welfare and not for woe,
so as to give you a future of hope.

Village peaceful

Coffee good

Dr. visit was productive but inconclusive. Blood draw completed. New appointment set for next week in La Crosse. I really do want to get this taken care of and solutions found. Meanwhile, life continues.

The man’s vehicle is in the shop, brakes went out. Always something isn’t it.

Quite the weather last evening… almost whiteout conditions in several areas here on the ridge. Not lots of snow, just powerful winds blowing the powdered stuff around.

Day 6 of St Andrew Christmas Novena & the Immaculate Conception Novena. Day 3 for Cardinal Burke’s novena for America.

Today Bacci speaks to “The Contemplative and the Active Life” pg 489. Bacci advises that the contemplative life is not restricted to monks and nuns that it belongs to all of us. That it can be a privilege to be this way on one’s way to and from work/school/shopping where one can stop in and see Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. He goes on to say avoiding contemplation is dangerous to the soul.

Book “Educated” by Tara Westover- spellbinding memoir. Even more so in Audio.

Relatively easy day today. Will be nice to have time at home. There is certainly enough to keep me busy.

Know you are prayed for.

23°F WNW26mph SR0721 SS1625

Morning Offering given

Memory Verse Hebrews 6:19

This we have
as an anchor of the soul,
sure and firm,
which reaches into the interior behind the veil,

Village waking

Coffee good

St Andrews Christmas Novena (Day#5), Immaculate Conception Novena (Day#4), Luke Chapter 4, Cardinal Burke’s Rosary Novena (Day#2) are all good ways to being the day.

Bingo last night was great fun! Didn’t win a thing but had fun with M&V, S, B, & M. The plan is to go again on the 17th.

Dr appt this morning to address symptoms that keep popping up but always test out within normal range.

This morning Bacci speaks to True Love of Self. this can be found on pg 487 of his daily meditations. John 12:24-25 “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat;r but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life.” leads us to believe that we are forbidden to love ourselves. But in what sense does Christ mean this? He is asking us to mortify our lower inclinations, deny our selfish ambitions, die to the world and prepare to lose life itself rather than offend God in any way. He is asking us to hate any perversion of our nature or our faculties. He is asking us to do His will rather than our own. He is asking us to Love God above anything else and to subjugate our thoughts, desires and affections to Him. He is asking us to get over ourselves for His sake and even sacrifice life for His honor and glory. He is telling us that anything that does not lead to Him is vain and useless. If we love God we can achieve our own perfect happiness. Our lives are not cluttered with obstacles that prevent us from walking in union with Christ.

Know you are prayed for.