Our first family Christmas card was sent with a 13¢ stamp back in 1977. Sonja was shy of two years and Mikos was four. I remember that we drove to Fashion Island and asked a stranger to take our picture with a actual camera. The person took two pictures and we had to take the roll of film to get it developed; there was no instant gratification, so however the picture turned out, that was the one we would use.

The Christmas card tradition continues and since our families have grown, it has become more complicated. Not everyone is excited for the annual group picture, and most of the time someone is in a bad mood, but it’s never me.

When our grandkids were younger it took a great deal of patience for me not to lose it and start screaming, but if it were not through the grace of God I managed to hold my tongue for the sake of the infamous Christmas card picture.  One year Will refused to open his eyes. In every picture he intentionally closed his eyes. Even with a stern warning Will did not budge. It took a ridiculous bribe to make Will finally open his eyes.

Our daughter Sonja insists on dressing her boys like twins, but they are not, and poor Russ, if Sonja can find a big enough shirt then the family becomes triplets. Not too many Christmases ago Sonja had the boys dressed in these really cute monster shirts. I could not take my eyes off the adorable non- threatening faces of the monsters and thought that everyone that received my Christmas greeting that year would refer to it as the monster shirt card. The same year Maddie used this as a personal modeling photo shoot, having posed for very many pictures while her brother photo-bombed her frame. Our neighbor Marisa was the photographer  and she played into Maddie’s many poses.

The Christmas card picture that is chosen every year is always the one that I look the best in; all women do the same.

Once the pictures are complete comes the mailing. You would think that after so many years I could get the addresses together but something always goes wrong. I am at the mercy of Sonja to get my labels together, as the I more attempt, the bigger the mess.  I am not really sure what happened this year, but some of you will receive cards with only first names, so I convey my sincere apologies.

We are in the third week of Advent. As Catholics we start the liturgical new year with Christmas, not in January. The word Advent is derived from the Latin word Adventus, which means coming. There are four candles on the Advent wreath, and this week the pink candle is lit, representing joy, and the happiness we will experience with the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The four Sundays of Advent represent the 4,000 years of Israel’s Biblical history prior to the coming of Christ. Advent is a season of preparation, by fasting and praying for purification, so the priests wear purple for royalty and penance. Oh Come Oh Come Immanuel!

Sunday’s Advent reading is, “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth and thick darkness the people; but the Lord will arise upon you and his glory will be see upon you. And all nations shall come to your light, and kings of the brightness of your rising.” Isaiah 60:1-3

Helen, Marianela, Sarah, and I have been part of the same Bible study club for over 15 years. We had other members like Leslie but due to busy schedules, and new babies, we are now four. We are E.P.H.O.D. an acronym, for Eucharist Prayers of Holiness, Obedience and Divinity. Ephod was the holy breastplate that Aaron, the High Priest, wore when he went into the Holy of Holies (Exodus 28:6-14).

I am the teacher but each of us has an equally important role in our group. Helen is the reader because she is the best lector in the group, and her Catholic primary education really shines. Helen is also the matriarch of the group and a great example of being a gracious wife. I have learned many life learning lessons from my best friend Helen. Marianela, the rock of the group, is the quiet, private warrior for God, you can rest assured if you have asked her for prayer, she will pray until the Lord releases her from doing so. Sarah is the youngest of the group and is on fire for the Lord. She has a special gift of compassion and she and her husband Jason are always the couple that people look to for direction and prayer.

St. Norbert Church’s program for Adopt a Family for Christmas is always a venture that our Bible study group participates in. I had already selected a family of six for us to share. The following Sunday an announcement was made that there were still 42 families that needed sponsors. While Mike waited for me in the car,  I got in line to adopt another family. I almost got out of line twice because I did not want to add to our already busy schedule. Our Bible study meets on Wednesday and all the gifts were due to be turned in on Saturday of the same week. This was the same week of the homeless ministry too, I felt apprehensive as I presented the idea to the ladies. Marianela must have seen the distress in my eyes, because without giving it a second thought she said, “I’ll take the family of six.” Not only did she purchase gifts but gifts cards as well; benevolence like this comes from the heart. Helen, Sarah, and I were responsible for the second family. It was pure joy to take my grandchildren to pick out  gifts for a five-year-old girl named Janelly. The boys helped pick out two games and Maddie picked out an outfit. Helen went all out for the eight-year-old boy, purchasing two outfits and toys. Sarah has a teenager in her family, so she is familiar with what a sixteen-year-old needs, and she donated a generous amount of make-up plus clothing. We all pitched in for a gift card for groceries as well.

The Tamale Party was a great success, with Helen taking the well deserved title of  “Best Tamales in the World.” Hands down, she makes the best, and as much as we try, she always comes clean to claim her title. I picked several new judges this time around, but the best tamale still won. Father Bruce, from our parish, was the guest judge, and he sees me at daily Mass but I guess that doesn’t count because he didn’t pick my tamales.

Congratulations to Helen! You are a winner in many other areas of your life and much to my chagrin a better tamale maker!

How do people end up on Skid Row? For years I have asked many of the occupants this question. Studies validate the fact that a large portion of population of the homeless are mentally inept to function in a normal environment. Drugs are the coping antidote, and we all know that it leads to addiction. The Devil is rampant on Skid Row, people not starving for food, but for a purpose of finding who they are. Sadly, when you end up here, you believe that this is your lot in life. There are plenty of programs that offer help, but when you fall deep into the abyss of helplessness, you believe the lie. When we pray for the people on Skid Row it is always to remind them that even in the most desperate of situations, God is in there, in the midst of them.

This week we were welcomed with great affirmation, with many of the homeless wanting prayer. Through the deplorable conditions, the rubble of trash, rises a small ray of hope. If we just reach one hurting soul, to pull him or her out of his or her desperation, it is well worth the effort, because as St. Teresa of Calcutta said, “if there is breath, there is life.”

God always protects us and uses us as his instruments of love. If your senses can get through all the jungle of smells, flies and unfathomable conditions, then you will make a difference in others people’s lives on Skid Row.

The streets that we normally walk were completely impassable due to tents and other debris, so we changed our route and headed west toward San Julian Park. As we walked down Wall Street we discovered an amazing sight. Hollywood Mobile Grooming set up several vehicles offering free dog grooming services  for the homeless people’s pets. In the past years there has been a great increase in population of dogs as companions for the homeless. The pet owners  formed a line with their anxious Heinz 57 variety, of either Chihuahua mix or pit bull mix, with the dogs having a spa day. A dog changes the heart of a homeless person by offering unconditional love, and adds a sense of responsibility. Great is your reward Hollywood Mobile Grooming, thank you for providing wonderful services.

This was a busy week. I had two of grandkids staying with us since Thursday, which means cooking, packing lunches, and driving kids to and from school. At first Mike (husband) said he was going to help, but early on in the week he was invited to a business golf tournament in Phoenix, and that was the end of that. I was a one woman show, but with the grace of God all went well. Maddie and Will and their friends even helped with making the sandwiches.

I am part of a team of dedicated servants of Christ. Jane, Robert, John and Gary we are regulars with this ministry, and together we share the love of Christ to those who want to hear, and to those that do not, a silent prayer is said on their behalf.

This is the first week of Advent, so we are to reflect deeply inward in our spirit and ask God to guide us into this holy season of Christmas. Please join us in taking a few minutes of your day to pray for Karen, who is suffering from advanced lupus; and for Derrick, Derrick, and Raymond. They too are seeking God.