“Visiting Family and Friends on CHRISTMAS!”

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The picture of the “GRANDMA”  in this picture  – is how I see myself!

A picture is worth a ‘thousand words’   and this  picture sure reminds me of the ways  –  – visiting was  done back in the day when  – –  – we seem to have more time for  “FAMILY and FRIENDS” to just pop in and visit  – – – with no big hurry to be somewhere else.

When we were little  – my brothers and myself – – –  – my DAD  would drive all of us to Columbus and   to  Circleville,  OHIO – – every Spring and Fall  – – and we would stay maybe a month for a visit with all of his  –  DAD’s FAMILY.  I remember in  “GRANDMA’s house,  there was a big “HOME  STYLE  ORGAN” – this was the kind of organ that in order to play it  – – you would have to have  – – someone on the side pumping the bellows to  pump plenty of air to the insides  – so that the Organist could make some sweet music. Now that I think about it – wonder what ever happened to it – and who in the family was the Organist???

Some of the silly stuff that you think of – when you start to think about  FAMILY –  – – I still have  a “PIE PLATE” – must be at least a hundred years old – as GRANDMA gave to us – filled with a pie – as they all like to eat and to eat they all did very well – – but this was on the occasion of our heading back to Saint Louis – – – after one of our trips!   This is the same “PIE PLATE” that my DAD and MOM would always bake a “PUMPKIN PIE” in – – – and that is exactly what I do today!   There is something about baking a “PUMPKIN PIE” in that “PIE PLATE”  – that makes that the best tasting pie ever!   – – – “Just must be some magic in that “PIE PLATE!”

Isn’t it wonderful – that “SOMEONE”  remembers the good old days  —  the real good times  —   and lots of old FRIENDS and FAMILY!!!   “MERRY  CHRISTMAS   —   to  ALL!!!”


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“The Greatest Gift of All!”

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“Our greatest gift is JESUS!”

 

Yes Christmas does mean SO much more than all those gifts under the tree, and our sweet family traditions.

It is about a dear baby born in  humble, destitute surroundings that came to change the world.

Lyrics from O’ Holy Night
Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!

 

D.V.


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“Happy Birthday – Dearest Baby Jesus!”

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The  “GERMAN ST. VINCENT ORPHAN HOME”  has a Mass today and every year for all the Alumnae and their Family and  all Friends of  the HOME  – who would like to let the world know that “CHRISTMAS” is first and foremost about “JESUS”  as you can see in this procession of the children living in the HOME  – – – – partaking as Angels and the Alter boys –  – and all of the children knew all the songs that were sung and as you can see this was a very serious and devout devotion – in honor of the Infant Jesus being placed in the Crib Scene – which is partly seen in the top left of this photo.

Today:   at the HOME they still have a Mass for all visitors and friends to partake in  – – and after the Church Service – – all visitors  and friends gather in the downstairs Auditorium  –  – – to renew old friendships  of those that will show up and they can remember some of the stories and activities that they all took part in when living at the HOME  – – and maybe you are just a friend of the HOME and would like to get involved with some of the activities that are scheduled for the children who are now   living in the HOME??? While you are gathered  together downstairs –  you are invited to partake in some very fine refreshments  –   where else can you go  and receive  “royal” treatment???

If you were at  the  HOME – when this picture was taken  – (1940s – ???)- –  maybe you can find yourself  – looks like Jim Wright –  Pat Brady  – Ron Porter – – Ron Fuhler – –   maybe you can see better than me – – if that is the case  – let me know  the  names   and or corrections to make??

This is only a reminder to all – that I wish all the special blessings that our Almighty will send to those  –  that can remember that today we celebrate HIS – SON’s BIRTHDAY – “JESUS” –  – – and I know that we do not really have a correct “BIRTH-DATE” for JESUS”  – as in all the writings  – we were to obey the  Commandments   – one of those  – tells us not to have any IDOLS   – and some of us get carried away on the wrong road??


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“Getting ready to portray – “JOSEPH!”

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In the above picture – you can see all the parents and “GRAND-PARENTS” – that is me with my Grand-son, Alan – and we are getting ready to see the  most important people – our children  preparing to do the part  – the part  in the  re-enactment of the “Nativity Scene”   something that they were called on to do – from the beginning of all time!

This is a learning experience  – an honor to portray a person from the “BIBLE”  – to give Honor  to the strong beliefs –  we hold most dear to all of our hearts  – – as we know that the coming  to this sinful world –  – – Almighty God  wanted all of us to be saved – –  so HE sent His only begotten –  SON – as the Baby Jesus – so that the –  SON  would give HIS LIFE  – – through the terrible   death that was fore-ordained for HIM  – -in the future –   to be our Salvation!

In our “WORLD” – today  – – – it is amazing that so many people have an objection to what some  other people do – in the the good belief – that what they are doing is good and correct according to their environment   and life-style –  and the “OBJECTOR”  is allowed to condemn  and has the media and government backing them in the shutting  down of  the something “GOOD and DECENT!”

My question is – “Why can we not  – learn to live and let live – – –  since we are all created by the same  “Creator”  – – –  and we were all given – – – free wills –  – – so why not allow our “Creator”   do the judging  of    HIS  CREATIONS – – – –  according to  HIS  JUSTICE!??”  Also –  this is the “SEASON” to be charitable and kind to all mankind –  – so let’s put the “shoe on the other foot”  – – kindness  out-weighs  – selfishness  – any time of the day!

“May the Almighty – give to  all of us –  – –  HIS – very special blessings at this time of the year – which –  we  are – – all in need  of – – –  –   so very – much understanding  – – – just to live with our neighbor – as ourselves?!?”


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“The Scene is set!”

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This is one of the first years of our living in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. You know  – how I can tell???  Because – when we first celebrated Christmas in Florida  – it was hot weather and never any snow  – in fact the house did not even have a furnace!  – – We just had a different feeling about getting ready for Christmas.  Even though the stores had  – Christmas music – trees all decorated  – lots of toys for children – and all kinds of “STUFF”  to sell – – “STUFF” that when you received it – it really was not anything that you truly wanted  and nothing you could say that you really needed???

We did have the  “MOVING COMPANY”  – pack and move  lots of our furniture and belongings from Saint Louis – which included some of our Christmas decorations – and those that we brought – really did not seem to be what we wanted to use in Florida.  Looking   at the decorated Christmas tree – looks to be  on the sparse  side  – on the above  picture  – we really were not sure about what we wanted??? Some neighbors said to get an artificial tree   –   that you can reuse  –  year after year – they were using an all  white  tree and or some  had  a silver type tree.  This year – we went with A BIG NATURAL LIVING GREEN TREE  – and if I remember correctly  – the back side of the tree which no one sees too well  —  has very little decoration – since who can see back there???

That recliner that you can see on the back and right side of the picture – was just delivered  – as the one my husband had in Saint Louis – was really on the worn out side – – too many things fell down and where they go – no one knows – but they do damage the mechanism    inside  – so I just felt he needed a new recliner!  There is something wrapped for everyone – I know  –  as I love to wrap gifts – and I was up  – for hours doing the wrapping!

If it is possible – this is what I have found to be very helpful – have a room that can be closed and locked – so you can wrap – when you have the time and not have to do it all at the last minute. The children at a certain   point in growing up – learn the game called  –  “HUNT  –  SEEK  –  and FIND!”  – –  “Wishing you and all those you “LOVE” a very Blessed and Merry Christmas!”


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“Merry Christmas and Welcome!”

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” A very Merry Christmas to all who enter in to work!”

This is back in the mid 1950’s when I first started to work for  “Southwestern Bell Telephone  Company” – and I was working on the night shift. At this time I was also going to “Harris Teacher’s College” during the day – in fact at one time my first class at school was “GYM” – and after working all night  – there were days when I was  not really in the mood – but when you are young and your body will do whatever you tell it to do    —  you just follow orders and “DO IT!”

It wasn’t until I was going to College – that I  received the proper instructions on   – “HOW TO STAND ON YOUR HEAD” –  – you can bet that was something most important to learn – just in case you want to know – –  just let me know and I can give the correct way to stand on your head!  –  This would be good for  those that are into “YOGA!”

The LADY  – that is posing at the door for me – is a very  good friend and co-worker “BETTY MURPHY” – she had worked on the night shift for years.  There were maybe less than ten (10)  of us working on the seventh floor night shift –  ans they were all the best of gals to work with –  –    we all enjoyed working together  – and most importantly   – – we had “FUN” doing so.  You know  what they say,  – “If you do not enjoy doing your job  – – quit and  find something  –  that you really  enjoy- – –   because the “BODY” can not stand to continually work  –  where it is too much like  “WORK”  – with no enjoyment – as “DEATH”  –  kills one who has no “FUN!”

The “Telephone Company” had an incentive that work wonders with most of the “TELEPHONE  OPERATORS”   –  and that was called the  – “differential pay”  – received for working late hours – night hours – two and or three Sundays in a row –  working “HOLIDAYS” and  then combined with working  a previous Sunday.  “IF you like receiving extra “PAY” for some hours that some people had terrific plans – that they just had to do – — and if you would trade your hours with theirs – you could make some extra “Jingle Jangle” for the HOLIDAYS!”

Seems to me – that in today’s market – we all spend too much – before Christmas – and really have to Pay for it  – later!??? – Do you see any “FUN” in that ???


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