Giveaway!
Please sign up for the Giveaway by commenting on this post. A cheery hello or whatever will get your name in the hat! I am late getting this out before Christmas but better late than never! The winner will receive this authentic Spanish Mantilla…beautiful red for the winter months! Also, this lovely ladder one decade rosary….handy and useful!
The drawing will be announced on Friday morning!
Smidgens!
St. Nicholas Day was special as always. Here is Mike and Jeanette’s little family enjoying their goodies from St. Nicholas!
Our stockings were ready!
Hannah peeking at her goodies that will keep her happy all day long! We get our treats from the Health Store…costs more but we keep it simple and the after-effects are less damaging. 🙂
We had our own family St. Nicholas Party this year. As you can see, it is still a big shindig. Here all the little people (grandchildren) are lined up to receive their treats….provided they were good this year, of course! A dinner and games will follow!
On the couch, to receive the kiddos are three….no, not Aunties….but Santies! Santy Gemma, Santy Rosie, Santy Hannah!
Each child is asked if they have been good. Santies raise their eyebrows in doubt at some of them but they are given goodies all the same. (Aunties just know too much, that’s all!) 😀
Juliette’s enjoying her goodies!
Yesterday seemed to be Christmas Baking Day, coincidentally, for many of us. Here, Theresa’s little family take part in the festivities. Plates of goodies will be given to those who enjoy them this season!
Our baking day!
Gin’s little people are doing play dough!
Johnny is all dressed up for the Air Soft War that took place this last Sunday.
It seems they all had a blast….literally. Here is Hannah, who was right in there with the rest of them! I don’t understand the thrill of it all….but I don’t ask questions….well, at least not too many. 🙂
Gabe and Ernie
We had a stunningly beautiful Advent Rorate Candlelight High Mass at 6am Saturday morning. It was beautiful and the first one for us.
Here is a bit of history:
The Rorate Caeli Mass is a traditional Advent devotion wherein the Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary for Advent is offered just before dawn. In many instances families and individuals travel an hour or more, rising and arriving very early for this stunningly beautiful Mass. The interplay of light and darkness speak to the meaning of Advent and the coming of the Light of the world.
The Rorate Mass is lit only by candlelight. Because it is a votive Mass in Mary’s honor, white vestments are worn instead of Advent violet. In the dimly lit setting, priests and faithful prepare to honor the Light of the world, Who is soon to be born, and offer praise to God for the gift of Our Lady. As the Mass proceeds and sunrise approaches, the church becomes progressively brighter, illumined by the sun as our Faith is illumined by Christ. (Thank you, Isabel Bogowith, for the photos!)
Our Advent Tree
Our Advent Wreath…
A beautiful and unexpected package came to the door from a dear friend through this site. I have never met her and I was taken aback by her kindness!
The lovely goodies!
I’m not sure what Devin and the kids are making but it looks very interesting! And one thing I am sure they are making….memories…family memories…the best kind of gift! <3
We all gathered for little Ethan Paul’s Baptism. I think number 25 grandchild…but I have lost count.
A new little saint!
Colin and Z’s fifth child!
Father Flood and Ethan Paul.
Hannah and Ethan snuggling…
Gin”s Spiritual Christmas Cribs in progress…
Our lighting is not the greatest at night in the room we have our Spiritual Christmas Crib so here is Margy’s solution.
Rosie and Margy wanted to do a special photo shoot so they had a friend, Joe James, who is very good at photography (as you can see) so some photos for them….
Angelo figures it’s pretty rough growing up with a bunch of sisters! 😀
Talk about multi-tasking!
Father Flood gets his first blessing from Father Charles Ike.
Thank you for your lovely blog. May God bless you for your great work. Have a blessed Christmas.
Thank you for all your hard work bringing beauty and joy to others, Mrs. Vanderputten!
I really enjoy your sight because it reminds so much of what it was like when I grew up in house full of people. You are very talented family; enjoy seeing all of what you and your family makes.
Thank you for sharing the pictures! I hope to have beautiful Christmas seasons like this in the future…lots to learn still!
Lovely pictures! Looks like everyone enjoyed St. Nicholas Day!
Such a lovely family! And what wonderful Advent traditions you have!
Thank you for being so kind to all and always being so selfless 💖 we are blessed to have such a great example in our lives ! May the Christ child shower you with an abundance of blessings and graces through this beautiful season and through the new year ! Merry Christmas 🎄
It looks like you have wonderful Advent traditions. I’m definitely taking note for whenever God blesses me with my own family. Thank you for sharing the pictures!
Leane, I always enjoy your family photos. You look absolutely lovely grey! I am trying to decide when to let my grey show. A blessed Advent to you!
Thank you for your blog, and the giveaway’s are beautiful.
Sweet pictures! Everyone looks lovely and happy!!
Beautiful mantilla and rosary! I really enjoy seeing family photos 🙂
Your articles are such a big blessing! You are the only blog which I follow every day and I am looking forward to it and it makes me a better person! God bless you!!!!!
Wishing you and your family a wonderful Christmas season.
I really hope I could win this beautiful things especially the rosary for my daugther I gave her one for her birthday two years ago and now it’s broken now every time we pray she uses mine or her fingers 😊This would be a great chritsmas gift for her,thanks for the opportunity.
Merry Christmas!!!
It is nice to see Father Charles Ike’s photo.
He was seated at my table for an ordination
Reception.
The mantilla is lovely!
God bless your beautiful family this Christmas…always so inspiring to see photos of your family life 💕
Looks like you are enjoying a very blessed Advent! Yhsnk you for sharing the pictures of your beautiful family.
God bless you and your family! Congratulations on another beautiful grandchild 🙂 Your family traditions help inspire our own.
Congrats on the new grandson! So many fun photos of you all, as usual. Wishing the whole clan a blessed and merry Christmas!
Saying a cheery “Hello” to enter the giveaway. 😀
I love seeing the photos of your family. It is inspiring to see everyone dressed so nicely- modest and dignified. I’m getting some good ideas for outfits- to ensure they are modest.
Blessed Advent! And Merry Christmas!
Clara
PS I like your hair grey. You look very nice.
Always inspiring
Thank you for sharing your beautiful family with us! 💖
I thoroughly enjoy looking at your pictures! God Bless, and Merry Christmas!
I love to see pictures of everyone there, although I have to look very carefully at your younger girls to recognize who is who. They’ve grown up so much since when I was there. Tell Father Flood hello for me.
Mrs Vanderputten, tell me, what recipe does your family use for your Christmas cookies? They look good!
PS. Love that mantilla!
This is such a beautiful site for sights of our Faith and families!
Thank you so much for all your inspiring posts about our faith! It sure brightens the day and sets the heart and soul on the right path! God bless you and yours! A blessed and merry Christmas to you all!
Thank you all for your very kind and encouraging words! It means a lot to know this site is valuable to you. May you all have a wonderful Christmas! <3