Nonnie's Observations

"I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year." ~Charles Dickens~ linking to   Quotography

 more Christmas decorations at middle son and his wife's home All the nutcrackers belonged to my cousin's late husband. Sadly my cousin died this year;  her children  sold their dad's nutcrackers to my son Derek. The stunning ornament wreath was made by Margaret Ann's sister. The ceramic tree was made by me some 30 years ago. The stained glass nativity scene on the window and the ceramic Santa head  were made by Derek.  The Santas on the floor were a joint-project of Derek and Margaret Ann.  He made the Santa bodies  and she sewed their clothing. Indeed they are very talented!

To pay tribute to those little angels  who were victims  of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting on December 14, 2012,    please read the article in the December 2013 issue of Magnificat. The article can be read on Skyview, which is found here . It touched my heart and brought me to tears. And please say a prayer for the students' families.

Bright red and silver colors, gaily decorated tree, whispers yester-year. note: This is one of more than  a dozen photos  I snapped today at  middle son and his wife's home. There would have been more, but ..."batteries were exhausted!" linking to James' fascinating Weekend Reflections

God of power and mercy, you blessed the Americas at Tepeyac with the presence of the Virgin  Mary  of Guadalupe. May her  prayers  help all men and women to accept each other as brothers and sisters.  Through your  justice  present in our hearts  may Your peace reign in the world. We ask this through our  Lord   Jesus  Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God,  for ever and ever. The image of Mary presented here shows a close resemblance to Our Lady of Guadalupe. I thought that this image came from here ,  but when I returned to the site, I was unable to find it. If any of you are familiar with this icon, please enlighten me. Thank you. our last day of A Virgin A Day hosted by the inimitable Rebecca thank you, dear Rebecca! Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe

When I heard the postman knock at my door, I thought my Carson's order had arrived. But, no, it was surprise box from  my cousin Cheryl and her husband Jerry! Getting the scissors, I scored the box lid with them and quickly opened the box, then took my gifts from  the shiny, gorgeous gold bag. Ta da, my gifts are... "Dandy" the bear, as in Yankee Doodle Dandy, I opine, and a rocking horse! Now, this song by George M. Cohan  is marching around  in my head! I’m a Yankee Doodle Dandy, A Yankee Doodle, do or die. A real live nephew of my Uncle Sam, Born on the fourth of July. I’ve got a Yankee Doodle sweetheart, She’s my Yankee Doodle joy. Yankee Doodle came to London Just to ride the ponies. I am the Yankee Doodle Boy. When I saw Dandy up close, with his long arms and the Mohair material of which he's made, the similarities to Steiff bears came to my mind. The history of Steiff bears can be viewed  here . ...

image found here Trying to modify my attitude while changing the date once again for the Christmas gathering of my family. Thoughts of “Why am I always the one  who needs to accommodate others’ plans?  Why can’t we have a tradition set in stone  so I don’t go through this each year?” Frustration layers upon resentment  till I just want to go to bed  and stay there till the onset of the new year. Then I gaze upon your face, sweet Mother,  and I ponder your long journey to Bethlehem while being heavily laden with your divine Babe. Your Immaculate Heart overcame any questions concerning the reason for this journey of 80 miles, just to be counted for the greedy King  and his tax-filled purse. I ask your intercession now,  Holy Mother,  to help me remember that there are 12 days of Christmas, not just the eve of Christmas and your birthday on the 25th,  and to ask your Son to send me the grace in order that our family’s Christmas get-together...

Information about where  the Black Madonna is traveling can be found here . The reason for this traveling is in support of life and family under the support of Our Lady of Czestochowa. Details can be found here . Prayer for Life ~Blessed Pope John Paul II~ Evangelium Vitae (105) O Mary, bright dawn of the new world,  Mother of the living,  to you do we entrust the vast numbers of babies  not allowed to be born,  of the poor whose lives are made difficult,  of men and women who are victims of brutal violence,  of the elderly and the sick  killed by indifference or out of misguided mercy. Grant that all who believe in your Son  may proclaim the Gosper of life  with honesty and love to the people of our time.   Obtain for them the grace  to accept that Gospel as a gift ever new,  the joy of celebrating it with gratitude  throughout their lives,  and the courage to bear witness to it resolutely,  in order to bui...

image from here Prayer to St. Anne Good St. Anne, you were especially favored by God  to be the mother of the most holy Virgin Mary,  the Mother of our  Savior.   By your power with your most pure daughter  and with her divine Son,  kindly obtain for us the grace and the favor we  now seek.   Please secure for us also forgiveness of our past sins,  the strength to perform faithfully our daily duties  and the help we need to persevere  in the love of Jesus and Mary. Amen. an aside note: My journey continues with learning more about my faith and our Blessed Mother.   Of course, I knew that St. Anne was the mother of Mary, but I had not encountered prayers to her. continuing devotion  to the Blessed Virgin at Rebecca's A Virgin A Day

  image found  here SUB TUUM PRAESIDIUM WE FLY TO THY PROTECTION We fly to thy protection, O holy Mother of God; despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen You are all beautiful Mary, and there is not stain or original sin. linking to Rebecca's A Virgin A Day with other devotees of Mary

in the picture here, taken presumably in 1954 , our cousin Cheryl, younger brother Charlie and myself linking with much pleasure to Jane's Vintage Weekly