Merry Christmas 2022
Merry Christmas Everyone!
Jesus Christ is born!
We launched this website almost exactly a year ago and it has been a blessed journey so far. Through this website we have connected with multiple young people who now live onsite at Our Lady’s Ranch studying A Way of Life with my dad and learning the value of hard work with Family Friendly Farms, all the while growing spiritually and physically in “A Way of Salvation.”
“Little children, I desire that through your lives you are witnesses, that you are my extended hands, my instruments. Get as many hearts as you can close to my heart and lead them to God, to A Way of Salvation.” (May 31, 1995 – emphasis added)
Thank you for your prayers and thank you for your enthusiasm for a homesteading way of life! The pioneers of our modern age are those who have rejected the individualism and amoral track of society by raising their kids in a new way (but really it’s the old way) as the hope of the future. As many of you are now aware, this way of life is not easy and takes great fortitude along with God’s grace to keep going — but there is no doubt that it is rewarding.
A homesteading way of life aligned with the teachings of the Church is how we are living a taste of Heaven on earth, just as Jesus encouraged us to do in The Lord’s Prayer. Everyday is a day for joy and gratitude, especially on this Holy Christmas Day!
Our family has grown by leaps and bounds over the past two years… Joseph, Cecilia holding Thalia, Zach, Christia, Phil, Ty holding Alicia, Charles, Nina, Michael, Ali, and Andrew.
Over the years we have formed a Christmas Eve tradition that remains near and dear to our hearts: the children’s Mass at our home parish, followed by Chinese food and then a gift from the Baby Jesus while Kenny G “Holiday Miracles” plays in the background. Throughout the massive changes that have taken place within our family over the last few years, it is traditions like these that help us stay glued together with and unshakable sense of belonging.
I really love using quotes to make a solid point in my writing and wanted to include one here about tradition. So, like any normal young adult in 2022, I headed to Google to find a good one… You know what I found? Nothing. Every “quote” on tradition that is readily available online is condemning it: “We need to make way for progress!; Tradition means decay!” Reading these, all I could feel was sadness at the state of our “progressive” society. It misses on so many beautiful and valuable things, including traditions (whether they be religious, cultural, or familial).
But I did finally find a quote — from the Bible, of course! Modern-man may condemn tradition, but God is clear in promoting it:
So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter.
2 Thessalonians 2:15, RSV
The Catholic Church is ripe with amazing traditions, so please continue to pass them on? Even if they are as simple as Chinese food and Kenny G on Christmas Eve :)
⭐️ Christ is born.
🙌 God is good.
💛 Life is beautiful.
Merry Christmas!
Tyler Straight
And the community of OLR
