The Journey to Bethlehem

Light Two Advent Candles

Lesson: Today we light two purple candles. This second candle is the Bethlehem candle. It points to the wondrous mystery of the incarnation; that is, of Christ clothing himself with humanity in Bethlehem.

Scripture: Micah 5:2

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah,out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel,whose origins are from of old, from ancient times

Prayer: Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.    

Song: O Little Town of Bethlehem

O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight

So Close and Yet So Far

Olivia had a school assignment this week to visit an art museum so we headed out to La Casa Azul (The Blue House) of Frida Kahlo. Frida was a famous Mexican artist whose home (that she shared with her equally famous husband Diego Rivera) is now a museum.

This is not the museum. This is some church we passed when we got lost on the way to the museum. I still have no idea where we were but aside from getting almost towed away when we stopped to look at the map, it was an interesting city.

The center of the unknown city.

On our way again.

Still lost but enjoying the sites.

Viva Mexico.

A piece of interesting art, but not what we were looking for.

Por fin, we made it.

La Casa Azul.

We could not take pictures inside the museum but this pyramid placed in  the surrounding gardens of the house was a great place for Diego to display his favorite pieces.

Varied pieces of artwork are on display inside La Casa Azul including earrings that Picasso gave Frida, portraits of each artist, and many pieces of folk art that they both enjoyed.

Olivia enjoyed her day, if not the road trip to La Casa Azul.

Stuart and I briefly stop for a moment of prayer so that we can  make it home in less than half the time than it took to get here.

For more information visit the museum's website: http://www.museofridakahlo.org.mx/EluniversointimoINGLES.html.

And in case you were wondering, we made it home in less than 30 minutes (it took almost 2 hours to get there). We were so close and yet so far!

Mary Visits Elizabeth

The Twelve Days of Christmas