Holiday Preparations

We decorated the church yesterday, and in keeping with it still being Advent, the Baby Jesus is not in the manger. He will be added on Christmas Eve at the Children's Mass.

In the meantime, preparations for our Christmas Pageant the same evening are underway. We got a late start because of other things going on, and I had to take over. We only have one king. I hope to remedy that situation at the next practice. This picture is from last year.

And as usual, the Advent Wreath is a beautiful reminder of that hope in our hearts because Christ came, and comes to us each day, and will come in the end.

 It is our Header challenge theme for this week. Check those listed in my sidebar for their interpretations of the them of Holiday Preparations.

Thank you

Thank you Lord for a husband still willing for an occasional adventure.

For wonders vast.

And simple pleasures.

And thank you for my managing to force the jammed bit of the camera so I could get the memory card out as the cable connection does not work with this little laptop. Without it I would not have been able to play.

I gave out the theme of Thank You for this week's Header challenge. We are Thanksgiving-ing in Arizona with family once again. It is a tradition of at least ten or so years. The other challengees can be found linked in my sidebar, and they are always up to the challenge.

It's ALMOST Christmas

The idea of the theme came to me because it IS almost Christmas. I thought I would find something else that was "almost"--almost tall enough, almost finished, almost anything but Christmas. But the best shot I could come up with was Christmas--Almost Christmas.

In case you didn't figure out how it shows almost Christmas, look again carefully. The creche before the altar at the church is up and ready for Christmas. And since it is almost Christmas instead of already Christmas, the baby Jesus is not present. The figure will be added at the Children's Mass on Christmas Eve.
 



I wonder if the other headbangers will find some other "Almost" or will also find that it is Almost Christmas. You can check from the links in my sidebar any time in the afternoon on Wednesday.

Here are some more shots I almost got:

Headbangers are looking for Holiday Images in the Square

Lew gave us this theme as his first turn at choosing. I really like this theme, but I gave it a bit of a twist. If Lew was thinking of squares like Times Square or Trafalgar Square, I went back to my brief tenure as a math major and thought of the shape. I like my headers to be fitted to a long rectangle, though, so I added one single letter to the theme. Holiday Images in the Squares.

Oh, the rulebreaker in me has escaped.
 

 

My turn to choose next week. What shall we do?

 

BTW, check the other headbangers out on Wednesday afternoon and see how they have interpreted the Holiday Images in the Square.



Thank You

Memorial Day 2012

Today is World Penguin Day

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Here is a penguin from our visit to the San Francisco Zoo a couple of years ago. And here is Benjie not quite succeeding in being a penguin that day.

Penguin Facts

Sunday's Psalm--the Resurrection of the Lord

Is it okay to say "Lent" and "treat" in the same sentence?

Homemade pretzels are fresh out of the oven.

The recipe I used is here, and though it calls for beer, I used water and they are fine.

Why pretzels for Lent? This article describes the tradition and its possible origins.

A Christmas Oddshot

A Christmas dichotomy

We discern that there were three kings because the Gospel of Matthew mentions three gifts.


But what if there were more.....?


Gold, frankincense, myrrh and....? 


Gaspar, Melchior, Balthasar and......."Tweety"? 

A Psalm for Christmas

Today is born our Savior, 

Christ the Lord.

Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;

let the sea and what fills it resound;

let the plains be joyful and all that is in them!

Then shall all the trees of the forest exult.

Today is born our Savior, 

Christ the Lord.

from Psalm 96

Don't forget to visit those participating in the Robert's Psalm Challenge. You can find them at Daily Athens. 

A Headbanger's Christmas

Of course the theme this week is Christmas--theme announced by Headbanger Dave. I've just been around to see and there is a lovely collection of Christmas to be viewed among the headbangers. Visit them from the links in my sidebar.


Here in my header is a scene from this afternoon's Christmas Pageant rehearsal when all are gathered. Joseph looks a little bored, but once he and Mary get to the front of the church, there is not much for him to do.

I'm a bit late as I was out with my friend Christmas shopping and returned home in time for rehearsal. I have finished the little lamb capes and the little lambs made their masks during rehearsal time tonight. I must make one more star robe before the last dress rehearsal Friday and pick up a nice gold cord for Angel Gabriel's belt.

Odd Shot Christmas

I managed to gather a number of odd shots on our recent trip to the Southwest, and I don't know which is the oddest. I'll be all set for several odd weeks to come. We'll start with Santa.

This fake Santa is set up in a giant fake snowglobe at a mall in Arizona (hence the cactus and wagon wheel.) He is decidedly odd. But the odd part is that at some point, one is expected to pay $22 to crawl into the giant fake snowglobe and get one's picture taken with fake Santa. I don't know if the environmentally sound compact fluorescent lamp  bulbs hanging by loose cords on fake Santa's chair are part of the deal either.

Earlier in the week before we were there our two daughters had met for lunch at the mall and younger daughter climbed behind the fence around the giant fake snowglobe so older daughter could take her picture with her phone. A little girl came up and remonstrated with them, "I think you are supposed to pay!!!" Well, little girl, "Why aren't you in school in the middle of the day?"

Duh!

Maybe for $22 you get fake snow.

Share your Odd Shot with us by linking below. Visit other Odd Shotters and be sure to leave comments. We all love to hear what you think.

Hello December!

Simple theme this week for the Headbangers---Hello December!

Simple, well, maybe, maybe not. My header image is a luminaria, used in some areas to light  a path during December's holiday celebrations. Originally from the Southwest, I think. And we just came from there, traveling this morning through snowy Meachem Pass in Eastern Oregon.

This luminaria was one of only a few which stayed lit the evening a couple of Decembers ago when we visited the Yakima Arboretum during their luminaria events. Maybe that is why these lights welcome December in the Southwest and not so much in our snowy Northwest.

Welcome, December!

Visit other Headbangers to see how they are welcoming December. You will find their links in my sidebar.

What if Mary didn't show up?

Mary didn't show up for practice. The children proceeded without her. The stars and angels knew where they were supposed to stand. The shepherds (one of them was missing, too.) got their entrance right on. Joseph held the baby. Someone was assigned to call Mary and tell her when shee needed to be there to dress for the final presentation.

Children's Christmas pageants -- what a delight!.

Mary was in place next to Joseph this evening--right where whe belonged.

But Christmas pageants bring up questions.

What if Mary didn't show up--you know--back there when the angel interrupted her day with his announcement --what if, when the angel said "Do not be afraid..." well, you know what always happens when an angel says that don't you? It's never anything easy. What if she gave the those days equivalent of "You gotta be kidding!"

Other Christmas pageant questions:

What is a shepherd? Is it a disciple?

Hmm, that's a good one to ponder, too.

Maybe the shepherds were the first disciples. They were the first to hear the news.

Others less pondersome--

Where's my halo?

Where do I sit?

When do we come back?






And the king who kept picking up his gift when they "went home by another way".



But still, think about it--what if Mary didn't show up? Are you showing up?

Best Costume--It's Geometry!

My Lego mad grandchildren would have loved this one.

It's Monday Geometry on the day after Halloween.

A Study in Red and White Parallel Lines

...or the flag on a breezy Fourth.

It's Geometry Monday!

In My World Today it's Groundhog Day

Today is Groundhog Day, and I hear that Punxatawney Phil has seen his shadow back there in Pennsylvania, and thus predicted that we will have six more weeks of winter.

Our local groundhog, Hanford Hank, has not seen his shadow today, and so I believe that, here in the Pacific Northwest at least, spring will indeed arrive in six weeks as it should.

Our closest encounters with groundhogs are their cousins the hoary marmots in the meadows of Mt. Rainier.

These guys will not even poke their heads above ground until late April at the earliest. At that time they are skinny little dudes, having hibernated since the previous September. They set out to eat their way through the spring and summer meadows, dining on grasses and wildflowers, lichens and mosses until they have doubled and more their girth, ready with a lovely layer of fat to carry them through another winter of sleep.

We met this marmot in July last year.

My World Tuesday brings out the best of bloggers from around the world. You will find their offerings here.

Merry Christmas!

The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;

upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom
a light has shone.


 
  

For a child is born unto us, a son is given us;

upon his shoulder dominion rests

They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero,

Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.

from Isaiah 6

My World Tuesday--Las Posadas

In My World today it was the time of Las Posadas, the novena (nine days prayer) which reenacts the journey of Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem.

In the traditional posadas, there is a procession of pilgrims from house to house, seeking shelter. At the first two houses the pilgrims are turn away.

In the name of heaven
I beg you for lodging,
for she cannot walk
my beloved wife.

This is not an inn
so keep going.
I cannot open
you may be a rogue.

The women gathered outside the doors of the body of the church in the vestibule. Well, at least most of them did. It was too crowded there, so some of us were just inside. We sang the verses requesting shelter.

Don't be inhuman;
Have mercy on us.
The God of the heavens
will reward you for it.
                                                                                

The men, led by Fr. Jaime                                  You can go on now

and Isaac, sang the responses                             and don't bother us,

of the people inside the houses.                          because if I become annoyed

                                                                            I'll give you a thrashing.

                     We are worn out

                     coming from Nazareth.

                     I am a carpenter,

                     Joseph by name.                      I don't care about your name;

                                                            Let me sleep,

                                                            because I already told you

                                                            we shall not open up.

                   I 'm asking you for lodging

                     dear man of the house

                     Just for one night

                     for the Queen of Heaven.      Well, if it's a queen 

                                                            who solicits it,

                                                            why is it at night

                                                            that she travels so alone?

The "householders" finally relent and let the pilgrims enter. They are led by a guitar and a lady playing bells.

My wife is Mary
She's the Queen of Heaven
and she's going to be the mother
of the Divine Word.

     Are you Joseph?
     Your wife is Mary?
     Enter, pilgrims;
     I did not recognize you.

         May God repay, gentle folks,                  

         your charity,

         and thus heaven heap                           Enter, holy pilgrims,

         happiness upon you.                             received this corner,

                                                             for though this dwelling is poor,

                                                             I offer it with all my heart.

My friend Lupe's nonagenarian dad stands for the blessing of all the fathers, and the children answer questions and sing songs to the Baby Jesus.    

Blessed is the house

that shelters this day

the pure Virgin,

the beautiful Mary.                          Oh, graced pilgrim,

                                                  oh, most beautiful Mary.

                                                  I offer you my soul

                                                  so you may have lodging.

Father Jaime and some of the children kneel before the altar to lead the final prayers of the evening.

                                                  

And that's my world today, Tuesday. What's happening elsewhere in the world? Find out here.

                                          

Thanksgiving Turkey Trot

The faster participants in the two mile fun run (walk) were already on the return link as we were still headed outbound toward the turnaround point. We were pushing Kate in the stroller so that mom and dad could do the 10K. This is, I think, the eighth Mesa AZ Turkey Trot event we have participated in. We generally walk the two mile.

Winners in various age levels in the 10K win a turkey. They'll have to save them for Christmas dinner as they are frozen now. We got a turkey one year for most family members participating.

These runners in the 10K were just passing the starting line when the first of the finishers were coming in. There were a lot of runners this year!











The first across the finish line was one of nine wheelchair athletes. They had a slightly earlier starting time than the runners. The first runner was not far behind him. There were still alot of runners coming in when we left the park to come home and put the turkey in the oven.

Whether one mile, two miles or 10K--run, wheel, or walk--it helps make up for the extra calories feasting later in the day.