Advent Week 2

Week 2 Advent

We had built in suffering this week as we buried our bishop....

 Sunday we took the business partner from Italy to the Capitol for the Christmas presentation. It was the 95th year of this beautiful Nativity Pageant at the Capitol!

 Then we took him to Cabella's which is always fun to go to with all the taxidermied (I don't think that is a word) animals.

 After dinner on our way home we got on the wrong side of a car accident and had to wait quite a long while. Fun.

 Monday, December 3 we went to the Visitation for Bishop Morlino at the Bishop O'Connor Center (now Holy Name Heights)

 On Tuesday, December 4 I had 4 seats at Bishop Morlino's Funeral Mass. I took 3 of the boys who had served his Pontifical High Masses, Frodo had to work, and Samwise was in the Knights of Columbus Regalia.

 We took the shuttle bus from the hotel where the reception afterwards was going to be

 Full-fledged satellite for viewing of Bishop Morlino's funeral all over the world.  Who would have known he would have had so many people mourning. But alas, he was a great loss to the whole Church. 

 We went up a second time to the visitation. There was no line to speak of and I really wanted a better photo and to touch my Rosary to his hand...

 Samwise in his regalia, way to make a mother proud. Thanks to our wonderful neighbor, he received his regalia as a gift. What a gift!

 I was located in the overflow area but really it gives a very good view of all that was going on as the cameras were up very close

 I loved the artwork on the cover of the Mass booklet and not it did not say "Celebration of Life" or "Mass of Resurrection" Funeral Mass. That works. On my funeral booklet, please be sure it says "Requiem Mass" and the priest(s) are dressed in Black.

 Samwise took his turn guarding the casket (he is on the right side.

 Afterwards we went to a hotel where we were dined a beautiful lunch.  I mean an amazing one. You would think that the Bishop was involved in presenting this meal. He liked to cook.

 It was an absolutely delicious meal.

The vision will not disappoint.

Wednesday I hit a confounded deer. ARGH!

Deceber 6th is the Feast of St. Nicholas. We don't *do* Santa Clause but we do celebrate the Feast of St. Nicholas. We hang our greenery and stockings on December 5th.

 It's our tradition to receive new scapulars, new tooth brushes, chocolate gold coins, and if you are wondering why we have no furniture, our couches were to arrive on this day.

 Later that afternoon, a bunch of us went to a mom and pop pottery shop for a pottery class. It was so much fun!

 This 1-1/2 pound of clay would turn into a bowl.

This 2 pound lump would turn into a mug. The man who taught the class (and owns the shop) was going to heat it to 2000 degrees and then glaze it, that we can pick up on December 17th. Yay!

 On the evening of December 6th we had a Requiem Mass for Bishop Morlino.

 Friday we went to our neighbor's Christmas Party at Play N. There is an Insanity Clause there and for funsies the littles had their photos taken

Here are the professional copies that they gave us.  And no, we still do not do Santa and my children still make out like bandits. Definitely not deprived.

 Playing at PlayN. We always have a nice time.

 Note to self: don't take portrait photos on a cell phone, they make a body look very odd.

The last day of the week will be in a separate email as it was a very special day...