Holy Mary, Mother of God

Sea Breeze It is Christmas Eve. It should be called "What I Want For Christmas Eve." The above group is all I want for Christmas. They are my precious family, and I love each one dearly. I spent 21 years just being me. I was in love with a special guy, for four of those years, but for the most part, I existed for my own pleasure. I also was growing in God's grace, but maybe I was too young to understand that. We got married and I became one person with another person, so I wasn't just me anymore, I was two people mixed as one That is what started the above pictures. Two years later we were blessed with our first born, a son, and the rest is history in the pictures above. They are all busy with their own lives and their own ages. Some are adults, some are raising children, one has a girlfriend, some are growing children. They probably don't spend their days thinking about MeMe and Pops each moment of each day. I'll let you in on a little secret-MeMe and Pops think about each one of them each day, many times. We love them all,all of their talents, good looks and just love them because they are ours.

So you may ask, what has this all got to do with Christmas Eve? Well, as a mother, I identify this evening with the Holy Mother, the Mother of Our Lord. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Jesus, the baby, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords will be born again this night. His virgin Mother will know the pain of birth and look into the eyes of her first born and her Lord. I can only partly understand. Her son will grow and will hold her in his arms as He goes to the cross to die for the sins of the world. So, sweet Mary, thank you for saying yes to the angel who brought you such unbelievable news that you were favored to be the mother of Jesus. Your son is the Prince of Peace.

Tonight, we will hear the ancient story once again while the candles flicker in the stain of the glass windows and I will see Your face reflected in the ruby red wine as we share the common cup. I will feel your holy flesh as I take the wafer of unleavened bread and I will once again celebrate your birth. I will sing "Joy to the world, the Lord has come." Thank you for my early Christmas gifts of my lovely family. Thank you most of all for the Holy Mother's love for You and Your love for me, a lowly woman who deserves not the love of a King. Merry Christmas. Tonight, as we celebrate The Nativity of Our Lord, I will remember a young woman who gave birth to The Light of the World.

Christmas and Love

Sea BreezesHere we are, close to Christmas, and I was thinking about what will take place in our family on Christmas day. We will go to the midnight mass, The Nativity of Our Lord and then later on in the day, Holly and Patrick will come over and we will share presents and a meal. Oh, I forgot something. When the sun rises, I will be at the farm feeding two horses, one donkey, two cats and one dog breakfast. Our friends, the farmers, will be out of town for a few days, and I love to take care of the animals for them.

Christmas evening will find me back at the farm feeding everyone their dinner. I promised the next door neighbors that I would close their chicken coop up. Now, not in my life have I ever closed up chickens in a coop, but Cheryl assures me, the chickens will walk right in at dusk for safety.

Christmas for me this year will also be about loving my two English Cocker Spaniels.
You may ask, where is loving her family? I will also love my family, but adding some family to help me with the animal feeding will make it even more special. Katie and gang will come the day after Christmas. I will press them into animal feeding service.I am reminded of the song, "All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small, all things wise and wonderful, the Lord God made them all.

This Christmas we wait for the miracle of our Savior's birth. We also wait for a miracle to end my hubbie's unemployment which happened a week ago. I am so glad I have Christ who has taught me to love His creatures, my family and the circumstances I am in. St. Paul said "to be thankful in all things." Our Lord also instructed us to "fear not, I am with you."

I look forward to this Christmas, sending cards, and love, I miss hearing from family members, but love thinking about  how much I love and miss then. I love getting cards and seeing how children and grandchildren have grown. You see, Christmas is about love, and "love casts out all fear." May your Christmas be filled with the love of Christ.

PS I will document the animal feeding with pictures.