~ Twelve Days of Christmas 2013: Gingerbread Cookies ~

The only thing better than gingerbread cookies, are nativity gingerbread cookies.  Or certain gingerbread girl cookies.

Butterfly and Little Lamb have really been baking up a variety of wonderful cookies this Christmas season.  I'm just the clean up crew...and the taste tester.  And that is just fine by me.

Years ago we made a Gingerbread Nativity & Manger and we placed these gingerbread cookies along side.  Wilton sold a Nativity kit...sadly, they no longer sell the kit.

Here are some wonderful ideas for DIY Gingerbread Nativity Scenes:


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This one is over the top:



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Remember, you can keep it simple and sweet.  We did.  :o)

~ Twelve Days of Christmas: Days I, II & III ~

 
On the first day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
A Partridge in a Pear Tree

 

"My true love" refers to God

 

I mentioned in this post, last year, how we celebrate the Twelve Days of Christmas with gifts (in addition to special activities).   One gift for each day. 

New ornament for the Christmas tree

We began by opening our stockings on Christmas Eve, after the Vigil Mass and before Midnight Mass.  It was a Mass Marathon.  :o)
Actually, I missed both my girls singing in the choir at the Vigil Mass...Little Lamb was running a fever.  So I attended the Midnight Mass with my son (he wanted to serve both).

Then on Sunday morning, before the later Mass, we sat around and opened the first set of gifts while enjoying some homemade baked goods.

We started out with a 'community' gift, rather than individual gifts. 
I had wrapped several gifts that the family could enjoy over the Christmas Holydays. 

The Civil War 1000 piece puzzle, and the Ronald Reagan CD & DVD I had purchased during our summer family vacation.  The variety of books were purchased from our local Catholic store to add to our (leisure reading) library. 
We had the traditional gingerbread house to work on during the Christmas holydays.

Past Christmas gift

I was the happy recipient of beautiful Twelve Days of Christmas ornaments.  I thought I would re-purpose our Advent Jesse Tree (thankfully I haven't had time to store it back in the garage...way up top). 

We are enjoying listening to Christmas music, feasting, sitting around a lit Christmas tree.  :o)

Taking walks, sipping hot chocolate, watching movies, reading, and working on this...

And this...

Christmas 2013

The “three French hens” represent the Three Persons in God.

~ + ~
The “two turtle doves” represent the two natures in Jesus: human and divine; also, the two Testaments, Old and New.

~ + ~
The “partridge” is Jesus himself, and the “pear tree” is the Cross.
 

~ Merry Christmas 2013 ~

 

Just after Midnight Mass...

 

CHRIST IS BORN!

 

 

GLORIFY HIM!!!

 

 

 

A Blessed Christmastide

 

filled with His Joy

 

His Peace

 

His Love

 

To ALL

~ Bearing Gifts ~

Keeping it simple, however, things get hairy at times.

Recognizing baby Jesus as the Messiah, the Three Kings traveled thousands of miles to worship Him.

They were persistent.  Following a star that would lead them to the Holy Babe.

Guided by a wondrous star, the magi doggedly sought the Light.

Carrying their gifts of great symbolism, they doggedly pushed forward.

Gold for a king.

 

Incense for a priest.

 

Myrrh, used to anoint the dead. 

Drom relies on straw (in more ways than one) to give him strength and stamina

Quite the expedition.

The star is leading them to Bethlehem.  In Hebrew, Bethlehem means House of Bread.  Hmmm.

They were from the East. 

They were, the Magi.

Stopping a bit from the treacherous journey,
they leave an impression in some places.

 

When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.

O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect Light.

View previous travel days here and here

Joining Catholic Inspired
Wise Men ADVENTURE Link-Up

Advent Activities: {p,h,f,r,} Style

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

Every Thursday at Like Mother, Like Daughter

 

{pretty}

Cookie Exchange and Rosary Night...

 

{happy}

Youth Group Retreat...

 

 

{funny}

Wise Men ADVENTures...continue...

 

 

{real}

Parish Retreat for our CCD Program

 

 

 

We are finding much happiness in our Advent preparation.

 

Go to Like Mother, Like Daughter to find more contentment...

 

 

 

 

~ Our Lady of Guadalupe ~

 

A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet,

and on her head a crown of twelve stars”

~ Revelation 12:1 

 

Isn't she lovely?

 

I just love her.  The Patroness of the Americas.  This is the only apparition where Our Lady left an actual picture of herself! 

On December 12, 1531, her image was imprinted on the tilma (or cloak) of St. Juan Diego.  Now, nearly 500 years later, it is still perfectly preserved!

A miracle?

And so many interesting scientific discoveries surrounding this image...

Go ahead, search it.

 

 

Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us!

 

“Listen and let it penetrate your heart…do not be troubled or weighed down with grief. Do not fear any illness or vexation, anxiety or pain. Am I not here who am your Mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am I not your fountain of life? Are you not in the folds of my mantle? In the crossing of my arms? Is there anything else you need?”

~* ~ Our Lady’s words to her servant Juan Diego ~*~

~ Westward leading, still proceeding ~

And so, the ADVENTures of the Wise Men continue...

 

Conferring with the kings & queens of different lands...

While the kings & queens exchange pleasantries,
the camel is weary and confides in the horse

 

We are looking for thy perfect Light...have you seen Him?

 

Day Four is spent on higher ground, making it easier to survey the land and seas...

 

Onward they travel...
Little do they know the potential danger of where they now stand.  Thankfully they are on their way before the "towers" catch fire!

The camelus dromedaries is found eating holly...they are famished.  Drom, as the camel is now called, is having a rough go...but he valiantly pushed forward.  As do the three wise men.


Wonder!  Is this the Mediterranean Sea?  Or the Sea of Galilee?  Or could it be...the Dead Sea?  Dun-dun-Duuuun!!!!

Stay tuned for more ADVENTures as the Wise Men search for the Truth...



Joining Jennifer over at Catholic Inspired for the FUN AND FABULOUS