A Little Catch Up

So... I'm a little behind in updating.  Let's see. We had Advent.  Then Christmas.  Then a flu bug and a cold that knocked us down for two weeks.  Epiphany came, and now we're halfway through January.  And most of that was a blur. Wow.

We're in the process of getting back on track, school wise.  We had our first solid week of lessons last week (after holidays and illness.)  Sunday night I hurt my back and that set us back a day, but I seem to be recovering quickly.  Now that life is returning to normal I'm hoping to stay more current with posting things like:

As we begin our evening prayers every night we take a moment to go around the room and say something we're thankful for.
Mommy: "I'm thankful for clean water to drink."
Daddy: "I'm thankful for medicine to help us get better."
Addison: "I'm thankful for clothes so we have modesty."
Gabriel: I'm thankful to be happy and I participate at Mass."
Juliana: "I'm thankful for a boom box."

Advent in 2 Minutes

Advent begins this Sunday!  Time to start getting things ready.

Hallelujah

I had heard Rufus Wainwright's song by this title and was immediatley struck by the beauty of the music. I struggle with the lyrics though. Some of the verses seem to be speaking about the struggles of living a Christian life, but others are a bit confusing, and as a result I always feel conflicted when I listen to it.  So I was very happy when I found this version, written to reflect the Passion and Resurrection of Christ.

If you would rather skip the intro, the song begins at 1:36.  Lyrics below the video.



A crown of thorns placed on his head

He knew that he would soon be dead

He said, did you forget me, Father, did you?

They nailed him to a wooden cross

Soon all the world would feel the loss

Of Christ the King before us, Hallelujah.

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah.

He hung his head and prepared to die

Then lifted his face up to the sky

Said, I am coming home now, Father, to you.

A reed which held his final sip

Was gently lifted to his lips

He drank his last and gave His soul to glory

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah.

The soldier who had used his sword

To pierce the body of our Lord

Said, truly this was Jesus Christ our savior.

He looked with fear upon his sword

Then turned to face his Christ, the Lord,

Fell to his knees crying, Hallelujah.

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah.

Took from His head the thorny crown

And wrapped Him in a linen gown

And laid Him down to rest inside the tomb.

The holes in His hands, His feet, His side

Now in our hearts we know He died

To save us from ourselves, Oh, Hallelujah.

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah.

Three days went by, again they came

To move the stone, to bless the slain

With oil and spice anointing, Hallelujah.

But as they went to move the stone

They saw that they were not alone

The Jesus Christ is risen, Hallelujah!

Oh, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Halleluah!

Ana Tells a Story

During lunch today we went around the table, taking turns making up stories to share.  Gabe's stories mostly involved robots, and Deceptacons crushing them.  Addie talked about princess and towers, and Juliana stuck with her favorite character, Dora. 

 (Translation provided below the video.)

"And she was * unintelligible* like Boots. And she was all alone with Boots.  And she was all alone!  And she was not... and she was alone with ponies.  And with rainbow on the sky, and it was sunny day, and she... and she waked up in the morning.  In she's house.  And she was not dead forever!  And... and Boots, he was not, too!   And, and, and she, and he was not, and they were sleeping.  And Ana, and Daddy, and Mommy, and Gabriel, and Addie, was was was sawed a bad witch.  And she was bad. And she was all alone. And she was... Mommy was dead forever!  And she was go in the TV with Dora and Boots.  And she was, she likes Dora.  And, and Ana, too.  And she likes Dora.  And she has the sparkles with a cake on it like me. I was doing it by myself when I woke up, for I make the castle made of, uh uh, of a cake.  With Nutella.  It was a new one with a tent.  The End!"