Winter Clematis

On December 7, this pretty flower bloomed on our clematis vine.  Even with temperatures in the 20's, the bloom lasted for several days.  Tough little flower.  Thank you, Jesus, for the touch of spring in the dead of winter.

Sunday Within The Octave Of The Nativity Of Our Lord

While all things were in quiet silence and the night was in the midst of her course, Thine almighty Word, O Lord, leaped down from heaven from Thy royal throne.  The Lord hath reigned, He is clothed with beauty: the Lord is clothed with strength, and hath girded Himself.  Glory be to the Father.

The Nativity Of Our Lord

"God is charity:  He has loved us with an everlasting love!  'I think God must have said to Himself:  Man does not love Me because he does not see Me; I will show Myself to him and thus make him love Me.  God's love for man was very great, and had been great from all eternity, but this love had not yet become visible . . . Then, it really appeared; the Son of God let Himself be seen as a tiny Babe in a stable, lying on a little straw' (St. Alphonsus).  This is the mystery of the Nativity; this is St. Paul's exultant cry: 'The grace of God our Savior hath appeared to all men . . . The goodness and kindness of God our Savior appeared.'  These are the blessed tidings "of great joy" brought by the Angel to the shepherds; "This day is born to you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord!""

From Divine Intimacy, by Father Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, O.C.D.

Merry Christmas to all our family and friends.

Jim, Brycie, Hutson, Clare, and Immaculée

This is a beautiful stained glass window at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, Quincy, Illinois

The Great Mystery Is Accomplished

"Of all the works done by God in time and outside of Himself, the redemptive Incarnation of the Word is the greatest.  It is the greatest because it has for end not a mere creature, however sublime, but God Himself, the eternal Word who, in time, assumed a human nature.  It is the greatest because it is the supreme manifestation of the merciful love of God, and the work which above all others glorifies Him; and it glorifies Him precisely in reference to charity which is His very essence.  It is also the greatest of His works because of the immense good it brings to mankind.  The salvation, sanctification, and eternal happiness of the whole human race depend wholly upon the Incarnation of the Word, upon Jesus, the Incarnate Word.  God the Father 'chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and unspotted . . . Who hath predestined us unto the adoption of children through Jesus Christ unto Himself . . . In whom we have redemption . . . the remission of sins according to the riches of His grace . . . God hath quickened us together in Christ . . . and hath raised us up together, and hath made us sit together in the heavenly places, through Christ Jesus' (Eph 1, 4.5.7 - 2,5.6).  Jesus, the Incarnate Word, is the one source of our salvation and our sanctification.  Without Him, man would not be able to call God by the sweet name of Father; he could not love Him as a son loves his father, nor could he hope to be admitted to His intimacy; there would be no grace, no Beatific Vision.  Without Jesus, man would be imprisioned within the limits of a purely human life, deprived of every supernatural horizon, in time and in eternity."

From Divine Intimacy, Father Gabriel of Saint Mary Magdalen, O.C.D.

Too Pretty Not To Post

We tinkered with this picture from our photo shoot just to try a new look.  Well, we liked it and here it is.  Isn't she just beautiful?

December Photo Shoot

We love our photo shoot opportunities, even when it's cold.  Actually, we love them more when it's warm, but we needed to get some shots of our kiddos.  Here are a few of our favorites.

Hutson, Immaculée, and Clare at Will Rogers Park.

Hutson is certainly a handsome young man.

Miss Clare in her new skirt that Aunt Jan made for her.  Doesn't she look cute?

 Immaculée just being cute.  She is so much fun.

Happy sisters.

The kids are still trying to smile, but it's cold outside.

These two girls love life.

Just look at those eyes.

Thanksgiving 2010

We made the trek to the Oklahoma Panhandle to spend Thanksgiving with Brycie's dad and step-mom.  Brycie's cousins and uncle cooked a wonderful turkey dinner.  Enjoy the pictures!

Marina, Drake, Drew, Immaculée, Clare & Hutson

She so cool!!



Drake, Hutson & Drew

Jim and Grandterrie

Sweet Immaculée

Immaculée and Papa



 Brycie and Marina - where'd my little girl go?

 Immaculée loves Marina!

Come on, Drew, wake up!!



Hutson with Papa's extra long Santa hat.  He calls Santa "Christmas Grandpa."

Grandterrie & Uncle Gene

Cousins - Myla & Brycie

Cousin Valerie & Grandterrie

Cousin Megan & Immaculée


"The girls"

"The boys"

 

Hutson, you've got some growing to do!



Marina and her "little" brother!