I hope you are all doing well and navigating, as well as keeping your chin up and your eyes on Our Lord, through these interesting times.
Hubby and I both had Covid. It wasn’t the worst flu we’ve had…mine was more long-lasting than Vincent’s. I was out of commission for two weeks and then took another week to get back to normal. I still don’t have much taste or smell but I feel very well. We’ve done our research and did lots of natural things for it. Like any bad flu, we are grateful to have it behind us…
Saturday, the Feast of St. Nicholas, we will have a lovely event for the grandchildren. Angelo will head it up again. I will share pictures afterwards. Here’s a post on the St. Nicholas Day Puppet Show.
Advent has arrived and we took time to get our stable up on Saturday…so we were actually on time for the First Sunday of Advent! That’s what happens when you have older kids! 🙂 It was a grand time and I thought I would share with you the pictures, along with some other fun photos!
Here is a link for the wonderful Advent custom of the Spiritual Christmas Crib, in case you haven’t seen it or forgot about it!
And while you are at it you may want to look back at this post by Paula Rutherford and take a walk with her through Advent to Christmas!
Also, sign up for the Giveaway on this post.
Click on the first picture to see the gallery:
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- Theresa’s family getting ready for the Pumpkin Carving Contest at the All Saints’ Day Party!
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- Brendan likes to hunt!
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- Cute owl by Sienna.
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- Little Avila has a nice entry for the contest! 🙂
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- And Adrian is ready with his!
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- Moving to Jeanette’s family… Here is Magdalene with her little pumpkin.
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- And Agnes’ pumpkin was scarred but she still used her artistic talent on it!
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- Gin’s Family…Juliette decided to do something different.
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- And here is Benjamin’s pumpkin.
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- We at home… Rosie is working on hers
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- Along with Angelo.
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- Getting close to done.
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- Here is Angelo’s..
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- And here is Rosie’s
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- Lovely! It says…”Stand for the flag, Kneel for the cross.”
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- Before the party, Theresa’s kids spend some time at the Graveyard with Grandma.
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- And Jeanette’s little family spent some time at the graveyard in the evening.
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- My sister had some special arrangements she wanted “planted” at her grave. Angelo did the work.
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- Hannah and Ely.
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- Haha…Theresa’s litte Adam is a jovial fellow. He is walking very well and he is only 8 1/2 months old!
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- Hannah made this neat hat for a Christmas gift.
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- It’s a hat AND a scarf combined!
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- Here’s another work of art she crocheted. Gemma is modeling.
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- Margy models it.
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- Margy (our newlywed) signs the cerificate of Enthronement of the Sacred Heart for their home.
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- David signs next.
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- Fr. Flood and Dave pose.
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- We had some help from good friends!
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- Hannah and Jeanette
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- Rosie and I went to the convent in Gower, MO for 3 Days of Recollection.
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- The priest is originally from our parish and is a monk at Clear Creek Monastery. He may have been filling in or on a retreat himself.
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- Beautiful statue of St. Scholastica at the convent chapel.
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- The grounds had many trails to walk on and we picked a weekend that turned out lovely. Needless to say, Rosie walked my legs off!
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- The grave of Sr. Wilhelmina…a truly inspiring nun!
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- Little soldier Toby….Jeanette’s little person.
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- Gemma is a political activist…haha. Her letter to our President….
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- We have 5 of our last children that have birthdays in Nov. within 5 days of each other.
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- This year they just wanted a ride in an airplane.
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- A kind “neighbor” granted their wish.
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- Rosie
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- Up in the air.
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- Magdalene got the first egg from the chickens!
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- Little Anne is as bright as a button.
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- Angelo’s gift from several of his siblings.
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- He was tickled.
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- We are very dry over here and one day the wind kicked up to 50 mph. A fire was accidentally started southwest of us.
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- We were warned that it was quickly coming our way and we had to evacuate.
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- I was still sick but we headed off in our vehicle to stay with my daughter. Hubby stayed behind.
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- If Vincent had not stayed home, we would have lost our home and our shop.
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- He was not feeling well, but kept putting out the fires that jumped the road and threatened to take our home and much more acreage.
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- These aerial pictures are from the Delia Fire District #5. The fire burned 3,000 acres!
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- Some of the family at our favorite Thrift Store/Coffee Shop.
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- Sienna’s birthday and she wanted a cheesecake for it.
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- Rosalie, Sienna and Theresa.
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- Brendan went searching in their big barn and look at what he found!
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- Oh yes….Thanksgiving turkey!
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- A lovely Thanksgiving Day!
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- David and Margy…baby due in April.
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- Jeanette and Elias (with his turkey hat on)
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- Gemma went out and picked the “weeds” to don the table.
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- Good times….good friends.
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- Sisters….
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- Wrestling.
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- Jeanette, Hannah, Margy
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- Mike with the turkey hat…
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- Sisters Rosalie and Becky (Rosalie is two of our sons-in-laws’ mother)
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- Colin, Z and Charlotte
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- Angelo loves to blacksmith. He made this knife, the handle and the leather sheath.
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- Some of his other creations.
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- Ready to take down the fall decorations and put up the stable.
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- A big job. The beginning…
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- Lots of BIG scenery props…
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- Bark off the trees
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- Oh yes…and the lovely green moss.
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- We have to spray this throughout the season to keep it green and fresh.
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- Lots of different finds out in nature.
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- While the kids were putting the scene together, I ran to our little town and met Devin and Theresa, Margy and David.
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- We chatted around the fire at the friendly Christmas Tree Farm. Then I bought a tree and brought it home.
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- Devin and Theresa at the Tree Farm.
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- MIke and Nettie got their huge 10 ft. tree there, too.
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- David and Margy.
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- Lots of pretty berries to add to the stable scene.
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- Rosie is putting up the lights.
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- Hannah is being weird.
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- Now Gemma is being dramatic.
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- Hannah
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- Gemma is weird, too. Must get it from their Dad. 🙂
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- Lots of mess.
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- Ummm…seriously, Angelo? Chainsaw in the house???
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- Cleaning up.
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- Lots of little nooks and crannies.
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- Done!
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- The scene is lit up!
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- Our Advent Tree
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- St. Nicholas is perched on the tree once again.
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- Devin and Theresa’s family doing their Stable Scene.
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- Adam is helping….
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- Lots of little elves.
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- Lovely! The scene will await the Baby Jesus.
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- Vin & Gin
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- Making popcorn bags for the grandchildren.
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- Made with good ingredients…they will taste delicious!
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- Sucanat and 100% maple syrup.
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- Grandsons…
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- Music….
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- Adam and David
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- Margy’s cute Advent “wreath”
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- Good idea if you like to keep the flames contained.
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- Gin’s Advent wreath
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- The start of Gin’s stable
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- Colin and Z’s lovely Stable Scene
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- Colin and Z’s Huck is very tired…
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- So are Hannah and Ely.
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- Mike and Jeanette’s very large tree!
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- Advent wreath and stable
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- Each new baby in Dev & Theresa’s family gets a hand-knitted stocking with their name on it….from Grandma Byrne.
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- Haha…Adam’s new stocking!
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- They are getting ready for St. Nicholas Day.
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- Theresa and kiddos and smiles!
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- Father Flood and the kids helped to finish Margy’s puzzle.
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- Couldn’t resist….
Dear Leane-
I sure hope you feel better soon and get your smell and taste back before Christmas!! What a trial, multiple trials it sounds like. You sound strong and positive but I’m sure it was scary. How blessed to have so much family about you! May you continue to recover well and quickly!
Xx
Glad you are all well! A co worked of my husband from Australia, said if you leave your house during a fire, you loose it; everyone stays to protect their property. Not like we do it over here. Happy al is safe!
Neat pumpkins, and scenes!
Have a blest day!
Oh, so glad you are feeling better, Leane! Could you share some of the natural things you did to help you? I always look forward to seeing pictures of your stable going up. So inspiring. Thank God your house was saved and Vincent was able persevere!
I am sorry to hear that you and your husband were ill with this nasty virus! Are your children and grandchildren well?
Does Paula Rutherford still have a blog as I couldn’t find one?
Blessings to you and your family!
Hope yall get to feeling better fast.. also hope and pray y’all have a Blessed Advent
I forgot to mention how much I enjoyed all the family photos! Does Brendan get to keep the kitten – inside?
Wonderful pictures, as always! So much amazing creativity!
Terrifying about the fire! God and His Angels and Saints certainly protected your husband and home!!!!!
And congrats to David and Margy!
How funny to have such a cluster of November birthdays! And I thought 3 in one week of March was a lot! 🤣
God bless you all!!!!
What a full life! Roses and thorns galore. Congrats on the new grandchild! Beautiful everything! I had to laugh at your mascot, but you really should put that cat back in the bag. Heaven is going to be good! Courage sister. If God is with us, who can be against us?
So sorry to hear that you have both been ill, and hope you recover fully quickly.
I know you put a lot of effort into your Galleries and want you to know what an inspiration and encouragement they are to many of us. Even older ladies like myself, whose family is grown, love seeing the pictures of your children living a happy and devoted Catholic life.
Wishing you a blessed Advent and Happy Christmas.
Can you share what you did naturally when you were sick. I do natural remedies too, just curious to compare, maybe get some new information. Thanks!