How are You Trying to Build-Up Your Home?

"A wise woman builds her home, but the foolish one tears it down with her own hands."
Proverbs 14:1

Do you think this proverb is actually talking about a woman going outside and actually ripping every shingle off of her home then in fact destroying it? No, we have a metaphor here in woman who is not on purpose with her vocation as a wife and mother in effect tears down instead of building up her family and what is important to them.

What is one way you can "build a your Home"? Be conscious about what you want your house to define as well as the atmosphere that you create in it. What do you want you home to say about yourself and your family As a mom, you are the heart of your home, and as the prover 14:1 tells, us we are wise to be deliberate in how we do some. No matter how lovely our home life maybe, with some thought we can always make it better. There is a saying "Homes are built with bricks and beams but homes are built love and dreams". I have been thinking a lot of what I want for my family as I try to create a certain atmosphere in my home.

First of all, I want my home to be a place of rest for all who enter. I am trying to create a peaceful place of rest for my family. Sometimes that is hard to do in keeping the outside word at bay and from intruding into my family's home. Between all of the new technology, busy schedules, and the like, I am trying to be more deliberate in what is allowed into our home. Just because it is out there, it does not mean we have to have it , and if we choose to own it, it does not have to be accessible to all 24/7. We do have a Wii, but the kids can only play it on the weekend, and even then there are limits.

In making a place of rest, I am finding out the less clutter the better. The more stuff you have, the more it owns you. In pondering ways to have more joy in our home, I have realized that big influence in the mood of our home is the mood my husband is in when he comes home from a hard days work. Now, I have come to realize, that when comes home to a clean and orderly house, it really lifts his spirits. But on the other hand, when the house has piles of paper, books and toys thrown around, he it puts him in a bad mood - to say least! Organization is not one of my strong points, and if I put forward the effort to have everything in its place when he comes through the door, he really knows I did it for him. I think that is a spirit of service we should be aiming for.

In making our home a place of rest for my family, I also try and monitor (sometimes this is so hard to do!) what they are watching and listening to. I want our home to be a holy shelter that will protect them from the sometimes very harsh (I guess that's putting it mildly!)outside world.

If a woman does not take her duties at home seriously, her family and home will amount to much(Proverbs 11:29); but if she applies herself wisely and with great purpose, she will be a great influence many generations to come(Proverbs 24:3-4; Ruth 4:11-12).

How can you find a wise woman in today's culture? Her. Her children will reflect what there mother has taught them. Proverbs say that a neglected child will shame his mother (29:15). If everything our children should know about values and character we need to teach them. We need to teach them how to treat others, how to be neat and organized, gracious, virtuous, modesty, and service to others. The wise woman in the proverb knows that it is just as important for a mother to show in example that she gives herself in how to live a good life honoring God. Here is a link I found on the Duggars website that is contains a wonderful graph on virtues to instill in our children,as well as bible references.


A wise woman prays with and for her children. She tenderly tells them that she loves them. Shes tries to spend some special time with each of them, sharing special moments that will be etched in their memory.

The wise woman in today's culture also can be spotted when we look at her home. It clean, organized, orderly,and welcoming. The house reflects the care that is given to it(24:3-4,30-34; 31:13-27; Eccl 10:18). It would never appear that is was neglected. The atmosphere is warm, comfortable and it abounds in generosity and hospitality.


The wise woman is hardworking. She is a manager of her household, trying to bring in money into it if possible by a home business, and is wise with her money. Maybe she is a coupon clipper, carefully planning her shopping trip to make her family's money stretch to the furthers degree. She also is a very diligent lady! She rises early in the morning and stays up late. (Proverbs 31.) She is not meddling in every ones business, but is a keeper at home, (Ti 2:5, I Tim 5:13-14) She cares about her appearance, and about others.

OK, we have seen what a wise woman looks like in today's world. But what about the foolish woman? She most likely is unfocused and has no true priorities in her home. She is distracted by outside influences. She care is more proactive in finding out the current gossip then in what is going on in the hearts of her children. She may be consumed by today's entertainment orientated society, too much facebook, twitter or tv watching. She relies totally on the school system for all the her children are to know in life. She may waste time and money, and has no discipline. Instead of building her children & husband up, she tears their spirits down with her negative and sharp words.

Let us all come up with an idea and a plan for our home, let us be purposeful in the way that it is run. Time is moving swiftly, and there is a sense of urgency that we begin today in making our homes a wonderful place for our husbands to come home to, as well as a wonderful place for our children to be raised in!

The Significance of Motherhood

"Doing up cut fingers, kissing hurt places, and singing bedtime songs are small things by themselves; but they will inculcate a love for home and family that will last through life and help to keep America a land of homes.

Putting up the school lunch for the children or cooking a good meal for the family may seem very insignificant tasks as compared with giving a lecture, writing a book, or doing other things that have a larger audience; but I doubt very much if, in the ultimate reckoning they will count for as much...It belittles us to think of our daily tasks as small things, and if we continue to do so, it will in time make us small. It will narrow our horizon and make of our work just drudgery.

There are so many little things that are really very great, and when we learn to look beyond the insignificant-appearing acts themselves to their far-reaching consequences, we will 'despise not the day of small things.' We will feel an added dignity and poise from the fact that our everyday round of duties is as important as any other part of the work of the world.

And just as a little thread of gold, running through a fabric, brightens the whole garment, so women's work at home, while only the doing of little things, is like the golden gleam of sunlight that runs through and brightens all the fabric of civilization."

-Laura Ingalls Wilder, Little House in the Ozarks May, 1923

Hospitality from the Heart

How do you define hospitality? Do you have to throw a grand dinner party in order to show hospitality? Although throwing a grand party may show others hospitality, it is not particularly what the bible is instructing us to do when it tells to "practice hospitality". (Romans 12:13) I have read that entertaining brings the attention and honor to yourself, where as practicing hospitality points the glory and honor to God.

Entertaining can quickly turn into a very prideful occasion to say the least. We easily be discouraged as it quickly becomes a burden. I must say, I have been guilty of this, and not only does it take some of my fun away, but it changes the whole experience of my guest. Showing hospitality in the biblical sense does not entail cooking competitively to out-do yourself or someone else. Also, hospitality extends itself outside our closed circle of friends. As we read in the bible, we want to be kind to others that perhaps we know can not repay us for our efforts in return. We are told in Luke 14:12-15, "When you give a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or relations or rich neighbors, in case they invite you back and so repay you. No; when you have a party, invite the poor, the crippled , the lame, the blind, then you will be blessed, for they have no means to repay you so you will be repaid when the upright rise again." In Matthew 25:40, Jesus tells us when we give someone something to eat or drink, "I tell you indeed, whenever you did this for one of those poorest brothers of mine, you did it for me!"In Hebrews 13:2, we read, "Remember to welcome strangers in your homes. There were some who did it, and welcomed angels without knowing it." It certainly seems like extending ourselves in hospitality is something we need to be doing!

When the bible tells us show hospitality, it is actually is communicating to us to that we need to have the heart of a servant. When we set our sites on welcoming someone into our home, we should not have our hearts on impressing them, but spending time and talking with them. We are in a way ministering and demonstrating to them the Love of God. Our focus of our hearts should actually be on them. Perhaps we will be the only example of Christian hospitality that our friends may witness. My mom always was prepared for a spur-of-the moment guest. She always kept some homemade "goodies" in the freezer that she could quickly unthaw to serve a last-minute guest with some coffee or tea. Her guests were always delighted with her homemade pineapple squares or nut roll .

Now as the weather is getting warmer, I love to have people over for an impromptu fire complete with homemade smores and a few games of corn hole. Yes, its humble entertaining, but everyone from mom & dad down to the youngest child has a good time!

I would love to hear from some of you and what some good-old-fashioned hospitality is experienced in your home!

Are you Taking Advantage of Catholic Radio?

I want to tell you about something that has been such a tremendous blessing to us!! We now having Catholic Radio in our area. But, I did not realize I could have been listening to it all along on the Internet. Just go to LivingBreadRadio.com and click on the right hand corner to listen to the live radio programming. The line-up is terrific, Fr. Corapi, Johnette Benkovic, & Dr. Ray just to name a few. If you are not already listening to Catholic Radio, why not give it try today!!

St. Joseph Novena - Day One - Monday

I am going to begin a Novena to St. Joseph for a special intention. I am hoping that if I am accountable to this blog and come back every day, I will finish. I am great at starting, but not as as much at finishing.

To anyone who might not know, A novena is a 9 day prayer for a special occasion or intention. Why 9 days? The significance of 9 days is that when The Blessed Virgin Mary and the Disciples spent nine days in the Upper Room prayer beginning with the Ascension. One the ninth day, they were rewarded with the Pentecost.

St. Joseph the Worker's Feast Day is May 1st. He is the patron Saint of the home, family, and a happy death. If you would like to know more about the life of St. Joseph, below I have linked to a video of St. Joseph's life that I think you will enjoy:

Who Did You Have Breakfast With This Morning?

In John 21:12, After the Resurrection, Jesus said to his disciples, "Come, have breakfast". How blessed the disciples were to be able to have breakfast with Jesus, The Bread of Life. Believe it or not, we are able to do the same , by beginning the day reading the Scriptures. In the Byzantine Catholic Tradition, Cannon 27 says that we should read the Holy Scriptures at home at dawn. I am trying to make my this a resolution of mine, to begin the day with at least reading the Gospels for the Day, and the corresponding Psalm & Proverbs (today is the 22nd, so today I would read Proverb 22). It is so easy to get sidetracked and not start the day by doing this, but the fruit of this practice would benefit us throughout our day. There was a Saint of the Church who wrote, "Those who have been walking in a beautiful garden do not leave it willingly without taking away with them four or five flowers, in order to inhale their perfume and carry them about during the day."

The Custom Quill Mother's Day Giveaway!

Ladies, don't forget to enter The Custom Quill giveaway as noted below. The gift is a lovely matted perosonalized verse for mom,grandma, or a special Aunt for Mother's Day. The gift measures 8 x 10, there are two openings, one with the verse and one for any 3 1/2 x 5 inch picture of your choice. How to enter? Just become a fan on The Custom Quill on Facebook, but hurry up, contest ends at 6 p.m. on Friday, to be sure this gets to the lucky winner for Mother's Day. Also, there will Father's Day, Grandparent's Day, and Christmas Giveaways as well, this one entry will cover you for all!

Diane vs. the Deer

Today over breakfast, my dear (no pun intended) husband was reading the newspaper out loud, "Wow, look at this picture of this guys tulips, he has over 3,000 in bloom right now!" I stopped him right in tracks, "Please do not go on, I don't want to hear anymore about this guys beautiful tulips!".
This is very sore subject for me you see, all of the tulips that I have planted in front of our house were already reduced to little stubs, nibbled to death by visiting dear. It get's worse. . .

I love to garden and grow my own vegetables. For the past 20 years, I have had a garden, and have been to put up our home grown prouce to use in the winter. Expect for last year. . .


I was standing at the sink, cleaning up after breakfast and gazed out the window and my lovely garden, except I didn't see it. Wow, I thought, I never dreamed turning 40 would such a significant change in the way I would feel, but my eyes are already starting to go. I really did think it was time to schedule an eye appointment, I kid you not. Later that morning I went outside to tend to my garden as the kids were playing outside to find out, indeed, I could not see my garden because my garden was gone, nibbled to death by the pesty deer. Thats what I get I thought, it was just the past week I was all smug, that I had a fenced yard, and my neighbors did not. I was safe from the deer that was attacking their gardens. It served my right for my lack of humility, my garden was done and over for the rest of the year. I vowed then, in 2010 it would be different, it would be me against the deer, and this time I would win!


Tomorrow morning my youngest son and I are going to have a field trip to the local hardware store and see what kind of Fort Knox contraption I can invent to keep the deer out. I guees all was not totally a loss last year, I was a able to purchase produce from Ohio farmers at a local flea market and put them up for the winter. But it was not the same, not nearly as fullfilling as going to the back 40 and picking my own. I had high hopes of growing my own rasberries and blueberries as well. We have been paying to pick at local farms, but even that is quite expensive. I am putting that dream aside until I get my current problem figured out.


Do any of you ladies have any suggestions in keeping the deer away? I welcome any and all suggestions, for I am a desparate woman!! In any event, this saga will continue. . . .

Below is a favorite You Tube video of mine, it is on the of growing all of your food withing 100 feet from your door. I have not been able to do that, but do think it is a neat idea!

Sunday of The Myrrh-Bearing Women

In the Byzantine Church, this past Sunday, the second Sunday after Easter, is the Sunday of the Myrrh Bearing Women. The Myrrh-bearing women served our Lord and his disiciples as they preached. These women helped with sick, the suffering, as well as the poor. As Christ suffered on the Cross, although the apostles scattered away in fear, the Myrrh-bearers stay with him along side the Blessed Virgin Mary. These women were the first to go to go to our Lord's tomb, to anoint him with myrrh. Their devotion was rewarded greatly, as they were the very first witnesses of the Resurrection when they found an empty tomb and the glorious news from the Angel.

Who were these myrrh-bearing woman? There were seven in all, the most famous woman we know today is Mary Magdalene. She was the woman our Lord cured from being "possessed by seven demons." The second myrrh-bearing woman Salome, who was the Mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee. Holy tradition tells us that she enjoyed a wonderful relationship with the family of Our Lady. The third woman is Mary, the Mother of James and Joses, the wife of Cleophas. Although she devoted many years in service to Christ, little is recorded about her. The fourth myrrh-bearing woman is Joanna, was the wife Chuza, Herod Antipas' steward. She greatly assisted the Apostle's during their first years of ministry. She was known to be a woman of courage. Our fifth lady was Susanna, a close friend of Mary Magdalene. She aided in the spreading the message of Salvation, as well as aiding in the serving of the "Communion Suppers", and ministering to the aged and the sick. Numbers 6 & 7, are the sisters of Lazarus, Mary & Martha. They dedicated their lives to spreading the new Faith.


Let us try to imitate the Holy Myrrh-bearers even today, with faithful and true love for our Lord, selfless service to Him, our families, and to the poor and suffering. So in the end, we to can be rewarded with the ultimate joy of the Resurrection!

Miracle of the Sun - Actual Footage from 1917

The Miracle of the Sun is a miraculous event that was witnessed by 30,000 to 100,000 people on October 13, 1917 in fields in Fatima, Portugal. The people had assembled in the fields to witness a miracle that the Portuguese secular newspapers had been making fun of for months. The claim of three shepherd children was that a miracle was going to occur at high-noon at that specific time at date, which was told to them by apparations of Our Lady.

Eye-witness statements said that heaavy rain poured then dark clouds broke and the sun appeared as spinning disc in the sky. It was said to be significantly less bright than normal, and it cast multicolored lights across the area. The sun was then reported to plunge towards the earth in a zigzag pattern, frightening those present who thought it surely meant the end of the world was before them. Some of those present stated that their cloths that were drenched from the rain became suddenly and completely dry. Reports stated that the event lasted about 10 minutes. The three children reported seeing visions of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Jesus and St. Joseph blessing the people.

This event is known to all now as the Miracle of the Sun. Our Lady of Fatima, an apparition of our Blessed Virgin Mary to three young shepherd children in. The children reported that the Lady had promised them that on October 13th she would reveal her identity to them and provide a miracle to all would believe.

The above You Tube presentation is actual footage from this Miraculous event that we are blessed to have!!

Mother's Day Giveaway!!

Mother's Day Giveaway!!
Want a chance to win the most perfect gift for that special Grandma, Godmother, Aunt or Mother for Mother's Day? TheCustomQuill.com is giving a away one personalized gift of your choice to FREE. How do you enter for your chance to win? Just become a fan on Facebook, you can find the page by simply going to The Custom Quill and becoming a fan. These are terrifice gifts, they are personalized with the child's (or children's)name(s), and there is a spot for you to put in a 3 1/2 x 5" picture of your choice. When you are on the fan page on facebook, click on the Mother's Day pictures to look at the verses available. The lucky winner will be posted on the The Custom Quill's fan page a week before Mother's Day, Good Luck!


THE WINNER WAS POSTED ON THE CUSTOM QUILLS FACEBOOK PAGE, CONGRATUATIONS!!

The Challenges of Modesty When Shopping With A Teen

I went shopping with my soon to be 13 year old daughter for a dress that would be suitable for a Father-Daughter dance, as well as a few other upcoming occasions. I have to say, I would much rather go to the dentist. Has anyone seen sorts of "party dresses" that they have out nowadays? And of course "everyone is wearing them" is what I heard from my beloved daughter. "If I have to wear a little girl dress like I did last year, I will wear pants!" were the threats that came out of her mouth. As I stood there with the other moms and daughters came in and out of the dressing rooms twirling and showing off their favorites, none of the other moms were dismayed as I was that there was more skin than fabric showing, and why would be bare shoulders be the fashion statement one would want to make in the middle of winter. Am I really the only one that feels this way?

There is a line of children's clothing called Ooh! La La Couture that is being promoted by a young Disney star. This line has been likened to adult lingerie by some critics. The Emily Grace Collection is named after 8-year-old "Hannah Montana" star Emily Grace Reaves, who helps design the line. This is not what a mom want's to see!

Moms, we need to be strong in our stand that will be many times be counter-cultural. We need to protect our girls, we don't need our 12 years olds looking like they are 21. We should be ourselves role models for others in how to dress. It is so important that we be the change that we wish to see in the world! Here are some quotes from Scripture that point to the importance of modesty:

"In like manner women also in decent appare; adornig themselves with modesty and sobriety, not with plaited hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly attire, but as it becometh women profession godliness, with good works."
~Timothy 2"9-10

"But the fruit of the Spirit is, charity, joy, peace, patiences, begnignity, goodness, lonanimity, mildness, faith, modest, contincey, and chastity."
~Galatians 5:22-23

"You have heard tht it was said to the ancients, 'Thou shall not commit adultry.' But I say to you that anyone who so much looks with lust at a woman has alrady committed adultery with her in h is heart. "
~Matthew5:27-29

"Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame." (Revelation 16:15).



Bl. Jacinta Marto (1908-1919) was one of the three childrent at Fatima, Portugal in 1917. She said,"Certain fashins will be introduced which will offent Our Lord very much. Persons who serve God must not follow the fashions. The Church does not have fasions; Our Lord is always the same. The sins of the world are very great."


Here are some websites that contain modest fashions, if anyone has any other favorites, please add them to the comments!

www.landsend.com
www.appleseeds.com
www.hannahlise.com
www.funkyfrum.com
www.tabeez.com

Is Working-At-Home a Legit Idea?

Wouldn't it be wonderful to create a business from your garage and have the success of Bill Gates? Success of that portion really sounds absurd when you are juggling diapers, after school activities, and cooking meals. Can it really be done?


Working from home is does sound like such a fantastic castle in the air type dream for a mom is trying to make ends meet for her family. It is not impossible, but the trick, I think, is trying to find something that will pay a nice paycheck on a regular basis.

Liz Pulliam Weston says that if we have discipline and realistic expectations, working at home may be a realistic goal that can be achieved. In a article on MSN, Working from Home, she said those she interviewed who made decent money at home also made decent money in the regular work-world. . Most were educated, had strong business skills and a had previous success in the workplace.


Self-discipline is a virtue that is a must if you want to work from home. You need to be able to motivate yourself to ensure that office work is completed in a timely manner and not put off so that you can wander onto other household tasks.

Weston also makes it clear that working from home may not necessarily lead to big money. She concurs with what WAHM is constantly warning readers–be on the lookout for scams. If a job ensures fantastic financial rewards, it’s probably too good to be true. Also, legit home-working opportunities will not ask you for big financial investment up-front. Do your research, and follow your gut-feelings.

It is good to know that working from home may not make you rich, but with persistence and diligence you can make a large contribution to your family’s financial bottom-line, which I think we would all be happy with!

Free for Catholics

I wanted you to know about a terrific website:

www.freeforcatholics.com


There are plenty of wonderful freebies on the site including CD's, please let me know what you think!

Amish Friendship Bread Recipe

Amish Friendship Bread

This is so much more than a recipe is is a way of life and thinking that escapes the modern way-of-life today. In our hi-tech world almost everything comes prepackaged and designed for instant gratification. So where does a recipe that takes ten days to make fit in? Maybe it's a touch stone to our past - to those days not so very long ago when everything we did took time and where a bread that took 10 days to make was not as extraordinary as it seems today.

When you've made your bread, you can give your friends a sample and the starter that made it! Then your friends can make their own and pass it along to their friends. This is why the bread is called "friendship bread". When you pass the starter on to a friend, make sure they understand that they will need to follow the instructions beginning at day one then will use the Amish Friendship Bread Recipe (with the oil, eggs, vanilla, etc.) on Day 10.


Amish Friendship Bread Recipe

Day 1 - receive the starter (the recipe for the starter is below)

Day 2 - 4 stir

Day 5 - Add 1 cup each flour, sugar and milk.

Day 6 - 9 - stir

Day 10 - Add 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk. Divide into 4 containers, with 1 cup each for three of your friends and 1 cup for your own loaves. Give friends the instructions for Day 1 through Day 10 and the following recipe for baking the bread.

After removing the 3 cups of batter, combine the remaining cup of Amish Friendship Bread starter with the following ingredients in a large bowl:

2/3 cup oil
3 eggs
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
1 to 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 cup sugar
2 cups flour
1 1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda

Using a fork beat by hand until well blended. You can add 1 cup raisins and 1 cup nuts (optional).

Grease two loaf pans with butter, sprinkle with sugar instead of flour.

Bake at 325 degrees F for 45 minutes to 1 hour (individual oven temperatures vary). Cool 10 minutes, remove from pans. Makes two loaves of Amish Friendship Bread.

Amish Friendship Bread Starter

This is the Amish Friendship Bread Starter Recipe that you will need to make the Amish Friendship Bread (above). It is very important to use plastic or wooden utensils and plastic or glass containers when making this. Do not use metal at all!

Ingredients:

1 pkg. active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water (110°F)
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
1 cup warm milk (110°F)

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm water for about 10 minutes. Stir well.

2. In a 2 quart glass or plastic container, combine 1 cup sifted flour and 1 cup sugar. Mix thoroughly or the flour will get lumpy when you add the milk.

3. Slowly stir in warm milk and dissolved yeast mixture. Loosely cover the mixture with a lid or plastic wrap. The mixture will get bubbly. Consider this Day 1 of the cycle, or the day you receive the starter.

For the next 10 days handle starter according to the instructions above for Amish Friendship Bread.

Other Variations:

One thing that is terrific about Amish Friendship Bread is that there is so many variations of the final bread, you can keep on reinventing it every 10 days! Here are some options you may want to choose:

Lemon Amish Friendship Bread

Supstitue Lemon Extract for the vanilla. To the basic recipe and 1 box of lemon puding and an additinal 1/2 cup of milk. Omit the cinnamon and nuts.


Chocolate-Chocolate Chip Amish Friendship Bread

Omit the cinnamon from the basic recipe and add 1 (5.1 oz) box of instand chocolate pudding, and additional 1/2 cup milk, 3 tsp. cocoa and 3/4 cup chocolate chips. Bake for 1 1/2 - 1 3/4 hours.

Our Family Friday Tradition - Homemade Fish Fry

Although we would love to be able to attend church fish fry on a weekly basis, it does not fit in our family budget to make it a commonplace event in our lives. Living on one budget, the $40.00 a week bill is hard thing to make happen.

We use to live next to a wonderful Catholic family who had six grown children. Along with all of the grandchildren, a weekly visit to a fish fry would cost them hundreds of dollars each week. So, their family would get together before lent and make hundreds of perogies for the freezer and host their own family fish fries, moving it house to house each week. Then, they would go to Church for the Stations of the Cross. I always admired them, they are a close family, one that I hope ours would be like in years to come as my children grow.

A few years ago I decided to start my own family fish fry tradition. I get out the deep fryer, first I cut tortia's in triangles and deep fried them, then dusted them with cinnamon and sugar for dessert. I have a french fry cutter and make homemade deep fried french fries that the kids just love. After I get those out of the fryer, I deep fry a couple pieces of fish. I get the fish from Gordon Food Services, a box that lasts us all of lent only cost me $18.99. We did this last night, and afterwords, went to church. Yes, it is a lot of work for mom, but I think well worth it! I hope in years to come, as the children get older, I will have other hands pitching in to help.

I am a little behind this year, I did not get a chance to make the homemade pergoies, so yesterday I just used store bought ones. Next week I will post a picture of our Friday homemade fish fry, as well as recipe's for the perogies, lazy-mans lasagna, and noodles and cabbage. You can change your menu around every week, I promise this is a tradition that your entire family will soon look forward to!

Lenten Sermon

This was forwarded by a Byzantine Catholic Priest, Fr. Michael Hayduk:

This sermon was written by Fr. John Parker, Rector of Holy Ascension Orthodox Church in Mount Pleasant, SC. It is modeled on the well-known and beloved Paschal homily of St. John Chrysostom. My thanks to Archpriest Martin Canavan for sharing it with us. May this holy season bring all of us closer to Christ and each other; renewal by the power and action of the Holy Spirit and the forgiveness of sins so that we may rise in newness of life with Him on the third day. (MH)

If anyone be devout and love God,
Let him commence this radiant fast with joy!
If anyone be a wise servant,
Let him, rejoicing, enter into the school of repentance.

We who have wallowed long in sin,
Let us now begin our return.
If anyone has strayed from the first hour,
Let him today repent with zeal.
If anyone has sinned from the third hour,
Let him with gratitude embrace the fast.
If anyone has fled God from the sixth hour,
Let him have no misgivings about his prompt return;
Because he shall in nowise be turned away therefore.
If anyone has indulged the flesh since the ninth hour,
Let him draw near, fearing God alone and trusting in His mercy.
And if anyone has turned away only at the eleventh hour,
Let him also not hesitate to turn back with haste.

For the Lord, who is longsuffering and full of compassion and mercy, will accept the last even as the first.
He restores him who repents at the first hour,
As He does him who turns back at the eleventh.
And He shows mercy upon the last,
And cares for the first;
And to the one He gives,
And upon the other He bestows gifts.
And He both accepts the confession,
And welcomes the intention,
And honors the contrite heart and rejoices in the return.

Wherefore, enter all of you into the holiness of your Lord;
Offer your repentance,
Both the last, and likewise the first.
You rich and poor together, repent, for today we stand outside the closed gates of paradise.
You sober and you heedless, prostrate yourselves before your King!
Return to the Lord today, both you who have sinned with knowledge and those who have done so in ignorance.

Your pantries are full; empty them to the hungry.
The belly enslaves us, let no one be dominated thereby.
Enter all of you into the Great Fast;
Stripped of heavenly wealth by sin, all draw near to God’s rich loving-kindness!
Let no one despair in his sinfulness,
For the Bridegroom comes at midnight.
Weep all of you for your iniquities,
And draw near to the life-giving Cross of our Lord.
Let no one put confidence in the flesh,
For the Devil has deceived us all thereby, and therewith enslaves us to sin.

By turning from God, we are made captives.
We have called good evil and evil good, and put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter.
And Isaiah, foretelling this, did cry:
Woe to those who put darkness for light, and light for darkness!

We are embittered, for we are banned from Eden.
We are embittered, but it is we who have mocked God.
We are embittered, for now we shall surely die.
We are embittered, for we have succumbed to the serpent.
We are embittered, for we are fettered in chains.
We partook of a fruit, and met the deceiver.
We were entrusted with paradise, but we chose Hell.
Our eyes were opened to see the nakedness of sin.

Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver us!
O Lord, make haste to help us!

This is the acceptable time, let us repent!
This is the day of salvation, let us crucify the passions!
The end is at hand and destruction hangs over us!
The end draws nigh, let us come again to our senses!
The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand, what first-fruit shall we offer?
Let us delay not, lest we remain dead in the grave, sold under sin!
For God desires not the death of the sinner, but that he should turn from his wickedness and live!
So, let us choose life, and live, for the mercy of God endures forever!
To Him be glory and dominion
Unto ages of ages. Amen.

Lent Begins this Week for Roman & Byzantine Catholics

Lent is coming to both lungs of the church this week, Byzantine Catholics (Byzantine Catholics are in full communion with the Pope) will begin on Monday (Pure Monday), while Roman Catholics will begin their Lenten journey on Ash Wednesday. Pure Monday for the Byzantines is a day of strict fast, all meat and dairy is forbidden, including eggs and all egg and dairy product derivatives.

St. John Chrysostom taught that the real value of fasting actually lies in the interior, that by fasting and penance the faithful withdraw from sin and progress towards greater holiness.

The period of Lent is marked by both interior and exterior fasting and is a time of spiritual renewal. Although The Great Fast actually takes place during the darkest and coldest parts of winter, it should be the the goal of each pentitent that his or her interior light will actually get brighter as a result of his or her lenten practices.



“Turning away from all wickedness means keeping our tongue in check, restraining our anger, suppressing evil desires and avoiding all gossip, lying and swearing,” said St. Basil the Great of Lent .”To abstain from these things – herein lies the true value of the fast.”

Joel 2:12-14 - “Yet even now," declares the LORD your God, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments." Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster. Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the LORD your God? (ESV - Reading for the Sixth Hour on Wednesday)

Review of the 2/9/10 Oprah Show - The Domincan Sisters of Mary

I have to say that I was skeptical that I would feel good about the way the story on the Dominican Sisters would be slanted. I am soooo happy to say that the story was well done and the sisters were treated with the utmost respect. The world got a great education on the sisters vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. It was incredible how they likened what they give up as any bride would, but they are a bride of Christ. They went on to say that any woman who is married does give up a certain amount of freedom of money, possessions, and the like, as do they.

It was wonderful that we got the personal history on the nuns before entering the convent. By the worlds standards, they had sucessful lives. But although they were succesful women in thier own right, the still had that empty spot could be filled by any worldy success or goods, the spot could only be filled by Christ himself. They spoke of the all of the trappings of modern life like the ipods and facebook, and how they actually enjoyed the sense of freedom of being away from it all.

One sister commented of how God does takes care of everything, she was dating a young man who she loved very much and they were engaged to be married. He took her to see his sister when she was going to take her vows to become a nun. It was at the time when she herself actually received her callig. Now, that young man that she was going to marry will become a priest when this woman takes her final vows. One thing I keep on hearing from these woman, God is so good.

When asked how could they could ever be open to a life without sex, one of the sisters likened it to loving chocolate, she because chocolate is good, it does not mean you are going to have it every day, or have any less of a life because you do not indulge in it. They lead a very integrated life where they are actually married to Christ and their sexuality is expressed in their love of and service to others.

It wonderful to see how the sister had fun in their daily activities. You could just feel the love for God in that convent. I came away from this show in awe of these woman, and their simples lives as the brides of Christ. I look to my own life today and see how I want to simplify and pare down my life, so I can focus more on the service to the people in my life, not always having to give service to the things that often take control.

What a great witness!

Dominican Sisters of Mary on Oprah Today!!

Be sure and try to catch Oprah today, Tuesday, February 9th. The show will be featuring The Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist. These devout Orthodox Sisters having been getting much attention paid to them because of their rapid growth since their humble beginning in 1997, when four nuns responded to John Paul's call for a new evangalization. The Domincan Sisters now have 100 members, and their mother house is already at capacity. At a time when most have an anverage age in their 70's, the average age of a sister here is 26! What a wonderful proclamation to the world that these young nuns will be making today! Let's be sure to pray for their continued success!