Tuesday, December 31, 2013

A Prayer for the New Year

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

—St. Francis of Assisi

Life according to Calvin

 

Any day you can look at from Calvin's point of view, it is a funnier and better day.

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Visit from Bica

Had a lovely visit with Bogdan's mother this week and here are some pictures from the trip they took to the Smokey Mountains.




Friday, December 27, 2013

Christmas in review

Midnight Mass, beautiful music, a little bit of sleep, opening presents, eating breakfast, movies, movies, movies, a "drunken pot roast" (Mrs. Becker's recipe--yummy), movies, movies, movies, talking with family, doing the dishes, eating more sweets, doing laundry, doing more dishes, making a "lovely, light, luscious, delectable cake", getting ready for a party (tonight), buying more wine and sweets, taking a nap, reading a good book, celebrating Jesus' birth.

Tuesday, December 24, 2013


Christmas Eve at Church
The entire liturgy of Christmas Eve is consecrated to the anticipation of the certain and sure arrival of the Savior: "Today you shall know that the Lord shall come and tomorrow you shall see His glory" (Invitatory of Matins for the Vigil of the Nativity). Throughout Advent we have seen how the preparation for Jesus' coming became more and more precise. Isaiah, John the Baptist and the Virgin Mother appeared throughout the season announcing and foretelling the coming of the King. We learn today that Christ according to His human nature is born at Bethlehem of the House of David of the Virgin Mary, and that according to His divine nature He is conceived of the Spirit of holiness, the Son of God and the Second Person of the Trinity.
The certitude of His coming is made clear in two images. The first is that of the closed gate of paradise. Since our first parents were cast forth from the earthly paradise the gate has been closed and a cherubim stands guard with flaming sword. The Redeemer alone is able to open this door and enter in. On Christmas Eve we stand before the gate of paradise, and it is for this reason that Psalm 23 is the theme of the vigil:
Lift up your gates, O princes,
Open wide, eternal gates,
That the King of Glory may enter in. . . .

Christmas Eve Plans

Bogdan's mother has arrived and we had a nice dinner and then played games last night. 

Today, we will show her some of Oak Ridge and then we are all attending Midnight Mass tonight at church.  The girls and I will be in the choir and the rest will join us in the congregation. 

We will make our traditional Drunken Pot Roast for dinner tomorrow, with Anna's favorite (mashed potatoes). 


Saturday, December 21, 2013

Friday, December 20, 2013

Upcoming events

Piano recitals, choir practice, cookie making, wrapping presents, more presents to buy, food shopping, hoping for snow, cleaning the house, eggnog drinking, maybe some sleep?

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

What's up?

"Guys and Dolls" rehearsals have begun and the kids are excited.  Anna is part of the ensemble and loving being in another production.  Costumes will start being sewn in the next 2 weeks. 

The kids have just a few more days of school before Christmas vacation starts.  They are all getting tired and ready for a break, and much needed sleep. 


Sunday, December 15, 2013

International Day

Yesterday, the boys went to an International Potluck, followed by watching a production of "The Nutcracker".  Gabriel made Mucenici, a Romanian cinnamon/walnut cold soup (not too popular) and Max made Baumkuchen, a German layered cake with chocolate icing (more popular).  Here is the labor-intensive process of making the Baumkuchen.


 



Pink Candle Sunday


Thursday, December 12, 2013


Virgin of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Unborn, grant us the grace to love and respect Life in its beginnings, with the same love with which you conceived in your womb the life of the Son of God.