Showtime! The Elves and the Shoemaker

 We thoroughly enjoyed an excellent performance of the Elves and the Shoemaker!

  In this fanciful & charming re-framing of the traditional story of the shoemaking elves, the central characer is Gunther, an old shoemaker.

War rages across Europe &, somewhere in the midst of that conflict, Gunther has lost his only son. Gunther has also lost his will to work & instead waits for the daily casualty lists, sharing with his friend, the tailor, a growing dread.

 The same war claims the mother of a precocious boy named Peter. Elves grant the wish of the dying mother that Peter will live & be protected & cared for.

 A soldier brings Peter to Gunther, who reluctantly takes him as an apprentice.

 The elves watch over Peter & magically make shoes to the delight of the boy & consternation of Gunther.

 The magical events turn the entire town topsy-turvy & gradually soften the heart of Gunther, who
finds in the boy the son he lost.

 BRAVO!

Afterwards the cast celebrated at Culver's by rearranging the entire dining room.

Happy Birthday Frodo

 Happy 15th birthday, Frodo!  

 Later that week we celebrated Aragorn's mom's birthday with the entire family at Pizza Ranch

 Pippin had dutifully set down his ice cream and ran to get a drink. This was precisely the moment in which Kili saw his chance....

 I guess Pippin noticed! :D

Our GF (gluten free) and FG (full of gluten) cakes to satisfy all family members :D
Happy Birthday Grandma!

Many Thanks to Generous Neighbors

As anyone who has frequented our blog for a while knows, our 6 pigs were murdered (no joke) this fall.  Anyone who has frequented our blog also knows about our wonderful next-door neighbors.  Now, our 1/2-way-round-the-country-block neighbors have ever so generously blessed us with a PIG-in-4-huge-boxes.  The day they came to our door to tell us that the family had decided they wanted to give us a pig was a very touching day. We picked up our meat from a local butcher recently and have had some delicious pork chops, stir fry and as I type a ham is roasting in the oven. It is beautiful be surrounded by such generosity and true loving charity.

January Journeyings

 A Perpetual Adoration chapel has opened about 15 miles from home!  Deo Gratias! If you are local, I highly encourage you to take an hour!  Or share an hour with a friend and alternate.  You won't regret it!

Solemn High Mass for Epiphany

 The Ladies of Divine Mercy (sister group of the Knights of Divine Mercy) has begun. It was a most beautiful evening. Adoration, Confession, Talk, Tea 'n Treats.  It was a most wonderful evening.

 I can assure you I have never seen such exquisite chocolates as these that a friend shared.  The ingredients were absolutely comical but I have since lost the sheet *snap*. One contained pepper and had one of my children hopping out of the room. Sad, that is the extent of my memory without the cheat sheet list.

 Story Time

 Last EEG (God Willing).  Eleanor has been "freed" from any more visits with the seizure doctors YAY!

 1-1/2 year old science experiment.  Your guess is as good as mine but I believe this is wet napkins in a jar.  The theory is (I believe) that this will make a mess.  It worked! It did make a mess.

 Some of the children went on a ski trip and this is the only picture I have since I didn't go.

 He's not heavy, he's my brother.

 She's not heavy, she's lighter than my brother.

 Chunky Monkey

 Frodo with the puppy and a couple fat cats.

 At the Mixing Bowl Bakery, a very talented member of our choir carved an eagle out of a 40 pound block of cheese.

 Eleanor belt testing.

 Great job!  Purple Belt!  She can now officially wear a black uniform.... with a purple belt.

 She's not heavy, she's my sister... and I'm stout.

 My favorite Bakery bakers, out for a little cooling off while making snow angels.

 I'm ready to go outside, I did it all by myself.

 Oooooooooooooh... a fox!

 hauling bales before the snow

 In loving memory of my math "problem" :D

Math was always my *thing* so how could I have 2 who don't have Math as their *thing*?!

 The littles helping to haul wood.

Don't we all wish we were 1 and could enjoy all the simple pleasures of life, like climbing inside barrels and boxes.

URGENT PRAYERS

Urgent prayers for large family in Pennsylvania (from MODG list):
My heart is so heavy.  I just got horrific news that the Kurtz family (family that runs St. Philomena's Academy in Coatesville) was travelling home today, caravaning in two vans, and were hit head on by a car that swerved into their lane. Jaws of life was on the scene and five helocopters.  Initial reports are that at least four children were air-lifted to multiple hospitals and at least two have serious head and back trauma.  A nun visiting the Kurtz family from Mexico also suffered a head injury and is unconcious.  The Kurtz's have been through so much these past few months.  Donna's brother nearly died from kidney failure and their oldest daughter, Nina, is just recovering from surgery where she donated her kidney to her uncle.  I know she suffered a broken back and other injuries.  Please pray for them all, especially Donna, who I believe is uninjured and is trying to get to everyone at different locations.  Lord, give them courage and healing.  Thanks everyone for storming heaven for this amazing family. 

News link HERE.