28°F S3mph SR0737 SS1640

Morning Offering given

Village sleeps

Tea good

St John Neumann brought, through words and actions, Jesus’ message to everyone, especially immigrants, strangers, and the poor. Lord, teach me to be a true evangelist, bringing your words and works not just to those I know well, but to everyone you put in my life.

From the Margins: Home is where your mind goes when the night is black, and your heart is hurting.

January Bible Readings:
•4th Philippians 4:5-7… Your kindness^* should be known to all. The Lord is near.^d 6 Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. 7 Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.^f
•5th Proverbs 17:2727… Those who spare their words are truly knowledgeable, and those who are discreet are intelligent.^j

Word of the Day
Chary ( chair–ee)

Good Morning!
Temps are warming up this morning. Had a bit of rain, it looks, overnight as there’s ice on the vehicles. The office was nice and warm this morning at 5. One copy job completed. It’s looking like an easy morning… I’m liking that. How was your weekend? I’m hoping all was enjoyable for you.

Today remember to pray the souls in purgatory and for the Holy Spirit.

Dear Lord, we humbly come before You this morning,
for the guidance and comfort of the Holy Spirit.
Illuminate our hearts, inspire our thoughts, and direct our paths today.
May Your presence fill us with peace and wisdom,
enabling us to reflect Your love in all we do.
By Your power, we are born,
Your perpetual guidance directs our lives,
and by Your word we die.
Lord, though the departed souls are no longer with us in flesh,
We believe that their lives do not end.
We pray on behalf of the souls of our beloved departed
and for the dead, only known to You.
May the departed souls enjoy the company of Christ,
who died and rose again.
May they rejoice in Your Kingdom,
where their tears are wiped away.
Unite us in Heaven one day to sing Your glory forever.
Amen.

Know you are prayed for.

14⁰ SSE13mph SR0737 SS1639

Morning Offering given

Adoration at 5

Coffee KwikTrip

More later

14°F WNW5mph SR0737 SS1638

Morning Offering given. Jesus, let me live for you. Jesus, let me die for you. Jesus, I am thine in life and in death.

Village sleeps

Coffee ok

Today, remember Pearl Weston Slater Williams. My grandmother on my biological father’s side. May she rest in peace

THE MOST HOLY NAME OF JESUS
1st Saturday Devotion
Jan 3rd Scripture Reading… Psalm 37:11 But the poor will inherit the earth, ^h
will delight in great prosperity.

Good Morning!
Early morning baby run
3 copy jobs
2 emails
office clean up
laundry 3 loads
Mass 8PM St John’s
These are the to-dos for today.

I found and ordered this print to be used this year to honor the Holy Family.

How bout you?
Anything special planned for the year?

Know you are prayed for.

8°F NW6mph SR0737 SS1637

Morning Offering… Jesus, take me as I am, summon out what I should be, set your seal upon my heart, Holy Spirit, dwell in me.

Village waking, covered in about 3″ of beautiful fluffy white snow

Coffee, strong

New Bible Reading/Journaling Plan… “Cultivating a Quiet Heart” (be sure to read the footnotes so that you get the context correct; they are in bold). Feel free to keep a journal to record your thoughts and feelings about the readings. This Bible version is the NABRE and can be found here, including all footnotes and bible information.
•January 1: 1Peter 3:3-4 Your adornment should not be an external one: braiding the hair, wearing gold jewelry, or dressing in fine clothes,_b 4 but rather the hidden character of the heart, expressed in the imperishable beauty of a gentle and calm disposition, which is precious in the sight of God.
•January 2: Galatians 5:25-26 Now those who belong to Christ [Jesus] have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires._s 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit._t 26 Let us not be conceited, provoking one another, envious of one another._u

Today is 1st Friday

St Adalhard showed us we should spend more energy on our spiritual treasures than our material treasures. Beloved Jesus, You warned against trying to serve God and money; give me the strength to serve God and do Your work on earth.

From the margins:
“All of us fight battles; some are given uniforms to do so.”

Have an awesome 2026… perhaps even bringing the Holy Family into your home as a model of home life.

Know you are prayed for.

4°F W4mph SR0737 SS1636

Morning Offering… Jesus, take me as I am, summon out what I should be, set your seal upon my heart, Holy Spirit, dwell in me.

Village sleeps

Heavenly Father,
As the old year closes and a new one begins,
I pause to thank You for every blessing,
every lesson, and every moment of grace You’ve given me.
Fill my heart with peace for what is past,
courage for what is ahead, and joy for the present moment.
Guide my steps so they follow Your path,
let my words and actions bring light to others.
Bless my family, friends, and all those I meet this year
with health, love, and purpose.
May this year be a season of growth, kindness, and deeper faith.
Amen.

Birthday greetings to Juana R. May your day be awesome and your new year hopeful.

Down Memory Lane… this day, 1994… Dubuque Co., IA Sheriff’s Office parking lot. I was unloading my equipment from the squad. As I put down the trunk lid, my foot hit a “very small” patch of ice. My arms flew into the air with the right one coming down on top of the trunk. I got up with an absolutely limp arm. Gathered what I could and went to the door. I could not lift my arm to press the buzzer. Roto cuff injury…surgery on the calendar. Today, the arm is functioning well. Although I’m told a reverse shoulder replacement surgery should be performed. I opt out of that. I have very little pain, and it functions normally.

Holy Day of Obligation… Mary, the Mother of God… Mass 10 AM Sacred Heart, 8:15 AM St Patrick’s Sparta

Good Morning!

Enjoy the day

Know you are prayed for.

27°F NW14mph SR0737 SS1635

Morning Offering given

Village sleeps

No coffee

Today, we remember R&KD and R&BO on their anniversaries; may they rest in peace.

New Year’s Eve, the 7th Day of Christmas
Magi Novena Day 4
RIAY Day 365: The Glorious Mysteries
Meditations for Each Day Page 523: The Last Day of the Year… Virtue cannot co-exist with spiritual tepidity, which leads inevitably towards sin.
Bible verse for today James 5:16: “Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous person is powerful and effective.”

Know you are prayed for.

4°F WSW8mph SR0737 SS1634

Morning Offering

Village sleeps

No coffee, giving it up

Today we remember Larry L, born in 1952, died in 2024. May he rest in peace.

St Anysius reminds us to encourage our clergy and to lead others by our own example. Father, help me to be a good Christian mentor to those who turn to me for guidance.
Christmas Magi Novena Day 3
RIAY Day 364: The Sorrowful Mysteries

Good Morning!
Perhaps with the New Year just hours away, it is time to take inventory of last year. Flip back in your journal if you kept one, and peruse the changes you had decided to make. How’d it go? Did you make progress? Did you realize that wasn’t really what you wanted? Did you complete your goal? Or did it fall by the wayside with you forgetting you had even told yourself it needed to be done? We humans, are very fickle people. Most days, we think it is all about us. Unfortunately, many of us never come to the understanding that it is NOT about us. Perhaps instead of making our own list, we let Jesus make one for us. The only stipulation for the year is to pray the surrender novena every single morning before you start the day. Put it on your phone or have the site email you a link each day. Better yet, get a copy, carry it with you. Let Jesus figure it out while you surrender and lean on him.

Know you are prayed for.

15°F NW22mph SR0736 SS1634

Morning Offering given

Village sleeps

Coffee okay

Today is my pray day for CmomC. If you have any special requests, let me know.

St Thomas Becket, patron of the clergy, teaches us about the struggle for church, independent of government.
St David, King & prophet, chosen and forgiven by God despite sinning, teaches that we must repent deeply when we wrong God and others

The 5th Day of Christmas… 5 golden rings (Pentateuch… first 5 books of the Bible)
Many have said the song titled “The 12 Days of Christmas” has hidden meaning. I have not found this to be confirmed on any level, and in fact, I have heard it said that this is not true. However, as I examine the meanings attributed to them, I personally find them inspiring.
Partridge in a Pear tree… Jesus Christ
Two Turtle Doves… Old & New Testament
Three French Hens… faith, hope, love
Four Calling Birds… Matthew, Mark, Luke, John (the gospels)
Five Golden Rings… Pentateuch
Six Geese-a-Laying… six days of creation before the seventh day of rest
Seven Swans-a-Swimming… seven gifts of the Holy Spirit
Eight Maids-a-Milking… the Beatitudes
Nine Ladies Dancing…the Fruit of the Spirit
Ten Lords-a-Leaping… the Ten Commandments
Eleven Pipers Piping… the eleven faithful disciples
12 Drummers Drumming… the twelve points of belief in the Apostles’ Creed

RIAY Day 363: The Joyful Mysteries
Magi Novena Day 3

Reminding you that Christmas is NOT over.

Know you are prayed for.

34⁰F foggy

adoration 5-7

Mass 10 St Peter’s

Family Christmas gathering

1328- 31⁰, rain/snow mix

1434- 32⁰, 2″ new snow on the ground

know you are prayed for

33°F SSE12mph SR0736 SS1632

Morning Offering given

Village sleeps

Coffee good

St John, the apostle whom Jesus loved, inspires us to imitate him in extolling and praising Jesus to everyone. Jesus, give me the grace, courage, and evangelizing power of John, despite my unworthiness.

CHRISTMAS Day 3… Feast of St. John
RIAY Day 361: The Joyful Mysteries

Know you are prayed for