“A new baby is like the beginning of all things: wonder, hope, a dream of possibilities.”
~Eda J. LeShan
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This morning was VERY cold outside. Instead of walking to church, my son decided we could drive. St. Norbert’s is a very lovely church, with simple lines and quaint touches.
Today’s Gospel was the story of the Visitation and the long journey that Mary takes to visit her cousin Elizabeth, both with child…
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 1,39-45. Mary set out in those days and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”
My take on it…motherhood is such a blessing, to be shared, honored, and rejoiced in, just as Mary and Elizabeth celebrated together.
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Another reason I loved this Gospel and homily today was because “The Visitation“ is one of the Sanctuary Sketches that I did earlier this year at my church, St. Gabriel the Archangel. This is one of my favorites because of the elated smiles of the cousins rejoicing in each others babies in their wombs.
(Pencil sketch) So joyful. Some of my Artisto renderings.
“For what is the gift of the poet and the artist except to see the sights which others cannot see and hear the sounds that others cannot hear.”
~Quida
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It’s always fun to to see new sights and hear new sounds in new places. This is my first Christmas visiting the family in their new house, I didn’t make it last year because of the crazy Covid curse.
An evening walk strolling past the Northbrook City Hall.You can almost hear the cannon fire. We were playing guess the picture. This is the picture of Grandma’s brain. The girls decorating cookies. My evening sunset, walking with the dog.
“I want my children to have all the things I couldn’t afford. Then I want to move in with them.” —Phyllis Diller
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It was a fine Friday here with the family. I did a few things around the house in the morning, a few phone calls, walked the dog and later we went to the store to pick up a couple of things for Nana’s birthday. The other grandma had a birthday today.
I get these jokes from funnyeditor.com every day. I have to admit that some are kind of cute and some are downright corny. But, I guess that’s what jokes are all about. Sharing a few to brighten your day or to make you roll your 👀 eyes…
Ok, you must admit, this one is cute.Corny!For the English majors and school teachers.
“It’s funny what happens when you become a grandparent. You start to act all goofy and do things you never thought you’d do. It’s terrific.”
– Mike Krzyzewski
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After dinner, the girls and I were working on some reindeer crafts. You know, the kind where you punch out the antlers, and the sticky backed hat and nose, and googley eyes.
Well, it’s all is fun and games until “Grandma gets run over by a reindeer.”
Cute, right?There were some left over stickers, so Grandma got stickers placed all over her. Guess what, they weren’t that pleasant to peel off. Yikes!
“When you get together with old friends that you haven’t seen in a long time, it’s like it was only yesterday.”
~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis
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We had our almost annual Christmas dinner and gift exchange tonight. The only thing missing was our dear friend Lin. Last year was a Covid kinda Christmas, and I wasn’t in Chicago, so we didn’t meet. But, most of the earlier years after I moved to Texas in ‘04, I would visit at Christmas and the old gang would get together. We used to bowl together when the kids were little, and we’ve been friends for over 30 years.
Vicky and I have a tradition. I visit her earlier in our get together day, and she makes me some of her famous baklava. We have tea and I Stuff my face with delicious fresh out of the oven baklava.
When it comes out of the oven, I always say, “Well, here’s mine. Didn’t you make any for yourself?” She sends me home with most of the remaining pan. I leave her a few pieces for her sweet husband, Nabeel.Vicky has a vast collection of hand-painted Toni ornaments from over the years. She hung up this year’s right away. (She almost couldn’t find an open spot. Quite a collection from over 20 years of painting ornaments,)Me, Dian, Vicky and Vivian. (Just missing our Lin, who was with family, but she was with us in spirit. Hopefully next Christmas we will be all together again.)
Vicky offered to host our dinner at her house because of my Covid concerns. We usually meet at a nice restaurant. That was very sweet. and they let me pick dinner options. Lou Malnati’s Pizza!!!! Score!
Lots of good food, conversation, and great gifts.It was a fine fun day with great old friends.Vicky sent me home with all the leftover vegetarian deep dish pizza and my baklava. I wrapped up the pizza, and snuck just one more wedge of baklava, calculating how many days this feast would last me. Maybe two?
“Birthdays are like the candles on a cake. Just when you thought you blew them all out, another one pops up.”
~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis
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Well, another birthday celebration today,
This little princess is “this many.” (3)The granddaughters get to pick what they want to have for dinner for their birthday. Sushi? This three year old loves sushi. Then time for presents and birthday cake.Another beautiful birthday for another beautiful granddaughter.
“Those who are happiest are those who do the most for others.” ― Booker T. Washington
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A beautiful sunny not too chilly but windy day here in the northern Chicago suburbs. I walked to 9:30 Mass at St. Norbert this morning. Here’s the miracle. I actually remembered my way without my GPS. Yay.
It was a little chilly, but I had my ND hat on and hood up, and the sun was shining. You can’t ask for much more.
Today’s Gospel was the story of John the Baptist telling the crowds wanting to be baptized how they should live their lives.
The crowds asked John the Baptist, “What should we do?” He said to them in reply, “Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He answered them, “Stop collecting more than what is prescribed.” Soldiers also asked him, “And what is it that we should do?” He told them, “Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages.”Now the people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ. John answered them all, saying, “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” Exhorting them in many other ways, he preached good news to the people.
My take on it… so many of us have been extremely blessed and have more than we could possibly use, so it is our obligation to share with those who are not as fortunate. Makes sense! You’d appreciate it if the shoe was on the other foot. (Or the sandal, or the CHANCLA.)
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On my walk home, there was a long freight train crossing where I needed to walk. Oh no! Then, at one point, the train just stopped all together on the tracks. So, I walked around the quiet downtown area until I found a little coffee shop that was open to warm up and get a hot chocolate, and to wait for the darn train to get moving. It was only about 15- 20 minutes or so. A nice way to start the morning.
I’ll admit, I did have to turn my GPS on my phone on for a few minutes until I found my way back to a familiar street, as I had wandered around the town and was a little turned around, Thank God for phones with GPS. See… another thing to be thankful for.
The rest of the day was spent enjoying family time and playing with the grandkids. I am blessed.
“How many times can you celebrate a birthday? As many times as you like,”
~Me
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We already celebrated a birthday last week, today was the joint birthday party for both girls. Then, another birthday in a few days. Yikes, so many birthdays, so little time.
A long fun day.
You know how we sing Happy Birthday, and at the end say…”And many more?” I don’t think they meant all in the same week. 🤦♀️
Toni Andrukaitis 