Category: Family

marriage and children

Favorite: Something wonderful is about to happen

I don’t remember participating much in that Mass because I spent that hour absorbed in the Nativity scene. I considered the Wise Kings, who answered God’s call and opened their hearts to his will. The kings traveled far and waited long, in faith, to discover their Savior. How expectant they were! God got their attention with the star, and they knew something wonderful was about to happen.

Favorite: Christmas in Germany, 1944

There at dawn all the shelling ceased for the first time since coming here, and an amazing, peaceful, stillness came and lasted for several minutes, with the twitter of a bird in the distance the only living sound.

Later, at sunrise, the same thing happened and lasted for almost an hour and the morning has been comparatively quiet.

Thanksgiving Table (Photo by Richard C MIller - Getty)

Thanksgiving Blessings: Edelweiss and the Doxology

Our family tradition for Thanksgiving grace is sung to the tune of  “Edelweiss” from the Sound of Music. The Von Trapp family at the festival performed the forbidden national anthem as they prepared to escape the country. Bless our friends, Bless our food, Come, O Lord, and sit with us. Make our talk glow with...

Testimony: Learning to Love the Cross

When I look back to see how the Lord has been working all my life to draw me closer to Himself, I am reminded of a scene in The Silver Chair, one of C. S. Lewis’s Narnia Chronicles: two children have been sent by Aslan (the Christ figure of Narnia) on a perilous quest to rescue the lost prince of Narnia. Aslan gives them instructions on how to complete their quest but, in the hardship of their journey, they get so tied up in their own discomfort that they forget to look for the signs he has told them to watch for. Only after much struggle and danger do they happen to look back over the way they have come; now they can see clearly that a series of troublesome trenches through which they have struggled are actually a message carved in the earth, spelling out one of Aslan’s instructions for anyone to see who cares to look. What the children in the story couldn’t see at the time is plain in hindsight—but they have left it almost until too late before they look back.

The Our Father and 7 Last Words of Jesus, 3rd Word

God the Father entered into covenants with Adam, Abraham, Noah, Moses and David. Each time he did so mankind sinned, and broke the covenant. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross is the final and eternal covenant.  Covenants create new family relationships. John is adopted into Jesus’ family. So are we!

Featured Favorite: Christmas 1944 Letter from Germany

Merry Christmas Darling!

And to all my three daughters a happy one. I thought of all of you through the long Xmas eve night and just had to dig out this scrap of paper and say it to you even though it will be late getting there.

I’m sitting in the uncovered part of my hole and the sun is shining on the snow. “White Christmas” is a nice song but not for outdoor living.

We argued yesterday about whether it was Christmas Eve or not and finally found out that it was. One person has said, “Merry Christmas” to me so far and I guess that’s all I’ll hear of it, but plenty goes on in my mind and I know that you will understand my longing to be with you at this time.

Thanksgiving Table (Photo by Richard C MIller - Getty)

Thanksgiving Blessings: Edelweiss and the Doxology

Our family tradition for Thanksgiving grace is sung to the tune of  “Edelweiss” from The Sound of Music. At the festival, the Von Trapp family performed the forbidden national anthem as they prepared to escape the country.
When we celebrate with the family of one of our married children, they sing the doxology, a familiar hymn to both Protestants and Catholics.
Wherever we are, after dinner we take turns around the table expressing one or two things we are thankful for. This starts out being sentimental and ends up being hilarious. We leave the table laughing.
What are you most thankful for this Thanksgiving?

Clones by Mariyas (Wikimedia commons)

Classic Favorite: God doesn’t create clones

I grew up in the shadow of my sister who was 18 months older than me. I followed her around, copying her every preference and obeying her every request. She convinced me that her likes and dislikes, friends and fashions were the best and only choices possible for me.  When she was 16, she got...