My feelings toward Lent in the past are no secret. It is usually a really tough season for me, a mother who feels like at the end of the day of giving all of myself to my children there is little extra left to give to God. Discipline has also been a challenging idea for me lately. It seems counterproductive to my free will, which I feel can often be squelched by the demands of motherhood. Take away my free... Read more
Lenten Pretzels: Dissolve 1 package of active dry yeast into 1 1/2 cups of lukewarm water. Add 1 t. of salt and 1 T. of sugar. Blend in 4 cups of flour. Knead the dough until it is smooth. Cut it into small pieces. Roll the dough into ropes and twist the ropes into desired shapes. Place the pretzels on lightly greased cookie sheets. Brush them with one beaten egg. Sprinkle them with coarse salt. Bake them immediately at 425... Read more
This hymn is the very first thing in my Lenten binder. The words are simply beautiful. A blessed Ash Wednesday to you all. Hymn at Matins for the Office of Lent The fast, as taught by holy lore, We keep in solemn course once more, The fast to all men known and bound In forty days of yearly round. The law and seers that were of old In divers ways this Lent foretold, Which Christ, all seasons’ King and guide,... Read more
Like MaryAlice, I’ve been absent lately. I have a good excuse– 4 impacted wisdom teeth. After some general anesthesia (my throat is still sore and the procedure was 2 weeks ago!), and a 2 hour long surgery, my teeth are out, my incisions are healing, and I’m now able to chew a little bit. My energy level is slowly improving, reminding me that the aging process isn’t kind to our bodies, but also making me grateful that I only had... Read more
Taking photographs helps me to work on gratitude. I love especially to photograph weddings, where I focus on the beautiful details. These details matter to me because they were considered carefully by the bride months before, but they are lost in a joyous blur of beauty on the actual day. No one flower makes the wedding, but hopefully the details all come together to create the atmosphere that the bride and groom were dreaming of for their wedding. Isn’t the... Read more
“the Lenten journey, in which we are invited to contemplate the Mystery of the Cross, is meant to reproduce within us “the pattern of his death” (Ph 3: 10), so as to effect a deep conversion in our lives; that we may be transformed by the action of the Holy Spirit, like St. Paul on the road to Damascus; that we may firmly orient our existence according to the will of God; that we may be freed of our egoism, overcoming... Read more
My computer was infected with a nasty virus, and K’s husband came to the rescue but it took several days to get the old Thinkpad back in order. I have had email access through my iPhone and (slow) web browsing, so I have been keeping up, but I have been unable to blog or comment much for a few weeks. The good news is, I’m back, but I have so many wannabe posts stored up in my mind that you... Read more
One of my son’s most endearing qualities is that he, like many little boys, likes to collect small treasures for his mother. He has been known to pick wildflowers, make leaf rubbings, and even catch especially interesting little bugs for me. Yesterday was one of the more unique gifts – during recess he had found a small pine cone, hollowed it out, and filled it with small white flowers. He stowed it carefully in his pocket (“So that the teachers... Read more
“If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’or ‘What are we to wear?’ All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and... Read more
it’s been quieter around here recently. The bad news is that it’s because the baby found a new hobby. Read more
Building Cathedrals
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