Today is Winter Solstice marks the beginning of winter. It is the shortest day that celebrates light triumphing over darkness, and as the day ends, we prepare for a new year.
In 2018, we welcomed the winter solstice at Stonehenge, UK. We said goodbye to long days of darkness and rejoice in the coming of Christmas.
Let there be Light of Hope is the message of St. Paul’s Hospital Church. It’s the time of year that we remind the Star of Bethlehem shone brightly to light up the path for the three wise men. This year, the Star of Bethlehem will be visible on the horizon. Jupiter and Saturn will align in the night sky on Dec. 21, also referred to as the “Christmas Star” — marking the planets’ closest encounter in nearly 400 years. The two planets may appear as a bright light point that will be easily visible in the night sky.
Every year, my sister sets up Christmas decorations for the children equipped with Santa’s workshop, electric train, angels, snow, christmas carols. Here’s little Jimmie is so proud to show off his twinkle toes.
To see a baby snuggly ensconced with a knitted baby blanket smiling in his sleep is the centerpiece that makes the Christmas atmosphere peaceful. But in reality, we were all gogo-gaga around Henrik, making noises to wake him so that we can all take turns to carry and play with him.
Family: A crazy bunch of people who deeply care for each other, who live, laugh, forgive, dance and love together.
I think this is the last Christmas photo of my mother. Christmas for us is all about celebrating the birth of Infant Jesus.
My sister is a Jesus freak in a good way. Here she is at the Church of Nativity carrying Infant Jesus. She managed to have her photo taken before the guardian of the church said to the crowd that the statue is off-limits to visitors. Too funny, that she was the only one who got away with holding the infant. When it comes to telling me the story, it’s really difficult for her to share stories of miracles about her experiences as a servant of Infant Jesus.
The center of the holiday season in my family is Christ-mas. It’s all about the birth of Jesus whether we lose faith, we always return to Him.
On Christmas, we gather around telling tales, jokes, memories, eating, drinking, singing. There is one great story of my sister Susan on lost and found.
One thing that I find miraculous is when I lost my mini statue in Mexico in 1997. While in Mexico, I went to church daily and prayed to Our Lady of Guadalupe that I want my Baby Jesus back. I was so heartbroken leaving Mexico without him. Many years passed, in 1999, my friend contacted me if I am interested in receiving bales of clothing coming from Montreal for free. My first thought was it would be great to sell them for fundraising to pay for Novena booklets’ production. So I accepted 19 bales of clothing. I discovered when I opened the bales, they were second-hand clothing and not brand new. I was disappointed, left the clothes for three months, and did not do anything about them. My daughter and her friends opened two bales just for fun to check them out. My daughter found some clothing for her and left it on the kitchen table. I moved the clothes to another area of the house, and something fell off. It was a mini statue of the Infant, and I just put it with the rest of my alter. This happened on Holy Thursday. On Easter Sunday morning, I was praying the rosary. When I reached the 4th mystery, The Presentation of Child Jesus at the Temple, I heard a voice: “I came back to you.” I ignored it and returned to my prayers. As I recited the 5th Joyful Mystery, “Finding Jesus in the Temple,” I heard the voice again: “I came back to you. Remember, you’ve lost me?” When I listened to this, I remembered the statue that fell off from the clothing, and I quickly went down to look at it. When I honestly look at the figure, my Baby Jesus I lost in Puerta Vallarta, Mexico, three years ago. I checked all the clothing tags to appease me, and it said: “Made in Mexico.” With the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Baby Jesus came back to me.
Amen, and what a LOVELY family (and post)! A blessed Christmas to you all as well
Thank you. Blessings to you and yours this Christmas and a Happy New Year.
TY! All good things to you now & in this coming year.
Merry Christmas!! Lovely story.
Joy to the world! Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Oh what a great post and the baby in the crocheted blanket makes me want to wake him and hold him too
I like that family pillow and you know – we need more folks who are “Jesus freak ina good way” because too many are mean spirited and don’t have a good way with their faith
Anyhow – beautiful post!!
Oh the baby, you have to line up to hold Henrik. I knitted the blanket! As for my family, I’m the black sheep. They pray for me all the time. Thank you and Merry Christmas.
😊💕🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄
Have a wonderful Christmas, Perpetua. Believe; always believe.
Believe, all the time, Lois. Merry Christmas to you and your family, kitties included.
Such a lovely post! Thank you for sharing it. Have a wonderful holiday!
Thank you. Just heard the story yesterday and quickly did the post. Happy Holidays.
What a lovely, heart-warming post for the season. Family is so important and that is such a happy shot at the end from a year ago. Hopefully this year you get to celebrate Christmas of some sorts even with what is going on in the world. What a lovely view of Stonehenge a few years ago. It must have been a memorable trip. Here in Australia it was summer solstice and it was raining, so no sign of Jupiter and Saturn in the sky. Here’s to a good end of the year and take care 🙂
So many memories. Also, the last picture is the last Christmas of us with Jim .
Different Christmas this year due to no Jim plus covid restrictions, can’t have the family over. Christmas is a celebration of birthday of Baby Jesus , and the joy He brings to us- I will be joyful. Christmas is not canceled.
Merry Christmas- Poteet
Well Perpetua, if YOU are the black sheep it must be some marvelous family!! Enjoyed the stories and could you see you smiling during the telling! Christmas may be all about Christ for your family but it is also about family and yours is lovely! Happy holidays to you and to them!