Happy Birthday, Daniel!

Yesterday was Daniel's 28th birthday. Since I had just set up the Jesse Tree for Advent, Juan Pablo and I made it into a "Daniel Tree" for the few days still preceding Advent. We took photos, holy cards, cotton balls, yarn, and other fun things to make decorations for the tree. We were very secretive and did it while Daniel was at work on Wednesday. Then while he was at Mass on Thursday morning, we decorated the tree and made beignets (New Orleans donut-like things - pronounced ben-yays - I learned how to make them since we have a few Louisianans around here). Some of the friars and Missioners came over to celebrate and help us eat.

Last night we went to the neighbors' house with the Missioners. The Missioners made dinner to bring over there to celebrate two of the children's birthday. Three out of the 5 children including the birthday twins have a crippling disease. The Friars and the Missioners have really helped the family out. They are a joyful family despite all they have gone through and do go through daily.

Daniel also shares his birthday with Fr. John Anthony. We had a Texan birthday dinner for them on Saturday night since the Friars (all but two) left on Sunday morning for a retreat. I pulled out the Texan table cloths I made out of bandanas and mini Texas flags for another Texas party earlier in the year. Fr. John Anthony made real chili (no beans or tomatoes in this stuff, just meat, chili powder and cumin). He said it just may have been the best batch he's ever made. I made chicken tortilla soup for the non-red meat eaters.

Now I need to go make some ornaments for the Jesse Tree since Advent starts on Sunday.