For thanksgiving my hubby...

ask me to go to South Bend, Indiana because he has always wanted to see the University of Notre Dame. Hmmmm, I could not figure out why! I thought what the heck, I think Shipshewana is on the way or the way back! So we headed out on Wednesday afternoon, it was only a two hour or so drive! Did a little shopping on the way! Thanksgiving we ate our thanksgiving meal at an awesome restrurant in Elkart, Indiana and do you think I could remember the name of it?!?!? After the meal we drove to Notre Dame and after visiting the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, wow what a beautiful, breathtaking church, I now realized why hubby wanted to go! Sacred Heart Church's earliest history dates to the last quarter of the 17th century when the French were attempting to establish both a colonial and a Catholic presence in the St. Joseph River Valley in northern Indiana.

Explaination of each photo!
top left = The doors to the Basilica
top right = a close up of one of the chairs, the wood cravings in this place is amazing
2nd row left = some additional seating
2nd row right = a close up of one of the many stain glass windows
3rd row left = this is one of three alters, this one is the original and is only used for very special masses, as in masses during finals week for the students
3rd row right = this was on top of the second alter and was breathtaking, it had statues of the 12 tribes from the bible
4th row left = The "Grotto", which is (Italian grotta) is any type of natural or artificial cave that is associated with modern, historic or prehistoric use by humans. Here is a photo I found on the internet of one in Germany

They told us that the one in my collage during finals week that there are candles sitting every where! We lit 3 candles in memory of my Father-in-law, My Mom and Dad, and our niece. When we walked down the stairs and turned the corner and saw this, I just gasp! I had not seen anything like this before!
4th row right = another photo of the grotto, people had left notes to love ones that had passed on
5th row left = Amish country! I had taken a photo of how they decorated for Fall and definitely wanted to see how they decorated for Christmas. It is a very small town that has lots of really neat craft, handmade furniture, holiday decorations, restraurants, one lonely scrapbbooking store, and many other speciality items stores. One of my favorite places to visit and it is approximately 1 1/2 hours from home.
5th right = Amish country! They give rides in Amish Buggies pulled by a horse to the public for only $7.00. They take you a ride around the town!!!