I hope you all had a blessed first Sunday of Advent! Our day was beautiful and peaceful, despite the excessively rainy weather, flood warnings, and Captain coming down with an awful stomach virus... We made the best of it and (thankfully) by the end of the day...
Advent begins tomorrow! I just pulled out our Advent Wreath, Advent Calendars, and hung up our Jesse Tree. This year's Advent & Christmas Books (I'm working on a post with this year's list) are wrapped and ready to start reading, our new Advent CD...
Last year beginning on November 30th, the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle, I prayed the St. Andrew Christmas Novena. If this novena was a traditional nine-day novena, it would end on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8th. However, this...
Ever since our oldest children were very little, we have been implementing an old monastic custom in our home of providing special treats, representing each of the "O Antiphons," on the days leading up to Christmas. Each night, after our family rosary, we pray...
Each Advent, as we prepare for Christmas, our children love creating a soft place for the Infant Jesus to arrive on Christmas morning by placing a piece of straw (or raffia) in the manger for each of their extra prayers, good works, and sacrifices. This year, as some...
As you might have noticed, I've been spending some time preparing for Advent! Each year my goal has been to be ready before the baby arrives by the first Sunday of Advent, having all my shopping completed, but that doesn't always happen. I can't believe...
*It looks like it was 2004! We had so much fun looking through old photos trying to figure it out.
"There shall come forth a shoot form the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of...
Every year on December 6th, the feast of St. Nicholas, our children wake up to find new slippers (when needed) filled with treats and chocolate gold coins, along with a new Christmas Picture Book to add to our every growing collection. With the feast of St....
I just love Christmas morning, even more now than I did as a child. Seeing our children's joy and excitement as they opened each gift, or watched their siblings open theirs, was so much fun! Every year, Hubby and I choose three gifts for each of our...
Father in heaven, grant me the grace to appreciate the dignity which you have conferred on me. Let me realize that not even the Angels have been blessed with such a privilege—to share in your creative miracle and bring new Saints to heaven. Make me a good mother to all my children after the example of Mary, the Mother of your Son. Through the intercession of Jesus and Mary I ask your continued blessings on my family. Let us all be dedicated to your service on earth and attain the eternal happiness of your kingdom in heaven. Amen.
