JOY

I've known my pastor for eleven years and he has had a few homilies I have remembered. One in particular stands out, JOY. He has used it on the third Sunday of Advent but I suggested he use it for Christmas since it's been a while. It's quite simple and I'll summarize it. Basically, if you use the word JOY as an acronym for how to live your life, you will have everything in the proper order. J=Jesus, He should be first in your life; O=Others, others are next, and then Y=You, you come after Jesus and others. If you put you first, it would spell YOJ which is not a word at all. So, there you have it, JOY!

Christmas

The last two days have been full of family, food, fun, gifts and relaxation. Christmas Eve I worked during the 4:30 pm family mass. My family had the good sense to stay home. It is so hectic and crowded. We have two Mass going on at that time, one in the Church, the other in the hall. I arrived home and we had a delicious dinner, cooked by our son. Seafood ravioli with a seafood cream sauce, crab cakes, and green beans.
Christmas morning we all attended Mass at 8:00 am and then I Stayed to work until 11:00 Mass. The family went home to pancakes and bacon cooked by our daughter. When I came home we opened presents. I have a great new cookbook and a mandolin. I think I may have over played the Mama Mia! cd, since my husband asked me to wait until he left the house to play it again.
Then some dear family friends cam over for dinner. I cooked the main dishes, lasagna and roast beef, husband cooked the mushrooms and spinach, and daughter made Jesus' birthday cake. The chef had the day off! Everything was delicious and we had a great time.
Today we are resting and getting ready for our big party tomorrow. It's been a long time since we've had such a big party and we are all excited. I always call it an open house, but as my husband says, no one gets the idea, the idea of coming and then going after a while. They come and stay all night. Of course, that's the fun of it all for me. Parking can be a problem, but otherwise, it's all good. Come by of you are in the neighborhood.
Hope your Christmas was wonderful and that the rest of the season is full of joy!

Catholic Carnvial

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If You Want Your Dream To Be ... [brother sun, sister moon]

A favorite song from a favorite movie.

Mary Did You Know

Humility and Confession

This season of Advent I have been reading In Conversation with God each day and it has been a wonderful prayer tool. Fernandez speaks often about virtues, especially the virtue of humility. Today, the words which struck me were,"The virtue of humility, so evident in Our Lady's life, is truth, the true recognition of what we are and are worth in the eyes of God and of our fellow men. It is also an emptying of ourselves to allow God to work in us with his grace."

Last week I went to confession, which is an exercise in humility. Before I went I of course examined my conscience and thought about what I am like and what I am worth to God. I realized that I often fall short and so that is why I go to confession. It amazes me that so many people never go to confession. The most common reason I hear is that "I really don't do anything that bad." Well, neither do most of us who go to confession. I certainly am not out in the world murdering, being adulterous, or stealing. But, almost every day, at some point, I realize that I am operating out of my will and am full of myself instead of allowing God to fill me with his grace and work through me.

It is a lack of humility which causes me to sin and I believe it is a lack of humility which causes people to stay away from the sacrament of confession. It is only in humility that I can look at myself, search my soul, examine my conscience and say, "yes, I have sinned and need forgiveness." The grace from the sacrament is so powerful and affirming, such a reminder that by emptying ourselves we make room for God's grace.

And by this grace we come to recognize who we are and how God has given us everything. As we approach the birth of our Savior, let us say in humility and trust, "Come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord."

Gospel Reflection

As I read and then listened to the Gospel today I was again struck my Mary's fiat that changed the whole world. She lived her whole life forming her will to that of the Father's and she succeeded. Some say Mary being chosen was a reward for good behavior on her part and while that's true ion some level, her being chosen was a gift. A gift to her and a gift to us, for without her fiat where would we be?
"Let it be done according to your will." How often do we say those words and then take them back because of fear, discomfort, or laziness? It is so often a matter of making sure our feelings do not get in the way and our desires of the flesh or the world do not overcome us. That is what it takes to allow God's will to become our own. Or we try to bargain for a better time. Mary didn't say, "Yes, but can you wait until Joseph and I get married so it doesn't look so bad?" She said "yes" and trusted in God for the details.
It is believing and acting on the belief that God gives us what we need to do what he wants to do. We must be disciplined and vigilant, willing to be uncomfortable if necessary, knowing that in the end, saying "yes" to God's plan is the only way to thank him.

I Blinked!

It seems like it was just last Sunday a minute ago. So, what has changed in this past week. Well, our daughter is home from school. I picked her up last Wednesday and we also stopped in Orlando on the way home to visit a family friend. I am also a week older, that happened on Friday. Our tree is up, the Christmas menus are planned, and the cookies baked. Now all that's left is to help decorate the Church and organize all the liturgical ministers for the two days of liturgies, cook a few meals and relax. Not sure how this happened, but I am ahead of where I usually am at this point in the season. Wait, I do know how it happened. I celebrated Advent, the whole season with deliberate intention and it made a difference.

Birthday Gift

This is the quilt I made for my daughter's 20th birthday last month. Eric Carle was a favorite author of hers as a child and now.

So, here is The Very Hungry Caterpillar!

Virtual Cookie Swap

Check out the Cookie Swap at Faith & Family Live!. Happy Baking.

Cookie Swap

Chocolate Chip Biscotti
3 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter (no substitutions)
1 cup sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup mini chocolate chips or finely chopped regular chips
Optional: dark chocolate for coating
pre-heat oven to 350, grease a large cookie sheet
Mix together flour, baking powder and salt in bowl.
Cream butter and sugar, add eggs and vanilla
Add flour and then chips. Batter will be stiff.

Divide the batter in half and make a 12" log about 3" wide with each portion on the greased cookie sheet. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until logs are lightly browned. Cool for 20 minutes, move to cutting board and slice the logs into 1/2" thick slice. Place on the cookie sheet and then bake for 8 minutes on each side.
If you want to dip them in chocolate wait until they are cool.Melt chocolate and then dip the cookies, scrapping off excess, place on wax paper covered cookie sheet and put in the refrigerator until set.

Saints at the Dinner Table

I choose a great book to review from the Catholic Company. I kept seeing this book in magazines, websites and really wanted to buy it, but I never did. Then I saw it as an option to review. Saints at the Dinner Table by Amy Heyd combines learning with cooking, eating and entertaining. It is a wonderful book to read and the recipes are outstanding. There are twelve different saints in the book and a meal for each one. Amy tells us about each saint and then gives a reflection on why she choose the saint and/or why the saint is important to her. The saints range from the ever popular and well known St. Joseph to St. Josephine Bakhita who is a new saint to me. Amy presents an "inspired menu" for each saint. The menus include entree, vegetable, and dessert at a minimum. Dinner topic questions and a meal prayer are also included.

I choose a dish from St. Isidore of Spain, Manor House Chicken. The recipe was easy to follow, timing was on target, and most importantly, everyone loved it. So much so, it will be the main dish at a dinner party we auctioned off at our live auction in October. One of the couples there had tasted another dish I was thinking about using for the dinner and hands down, this one came out the favorite. I'll not leave you in suspense. It is a chicken and chorizo sausage dish with onions, artichoke hearts, and baby bella mushrooms.
I love to cook and entertain, so this book will be getting much more use. But the dishes are not just for company, most are quick and easy enough for every day. Some of the other dishes include: St. Margaret's Charity Meatball Soup, Poor Clare Beans, and German Black Forest Ice Cream Sandwiches. I'll be baking Hildegard's Joyful Cookies for Christmas.

This book would be a great gift for new and experienced cooks and I think would be great for a family with children to learn about some of our great saints. If you've finished your Christmas shopping, it would be nice to give to someone entering the Church at Easter.

Week in Review or Where I've been if you were wondering

So, I had vacation from work this week. And this is what I did:
brought the car to the shop
wrote 2 papers
had my modem replaced so we could get online again
decorated the house
hosted a practice dinner party
sent out invitations to a real party
finished my Christmas shopping
bought my books for the next class
lost a book I need for the next class (St. Anthony, help!)
read three books
went to adoration
missed reading blogs and writing on mine
called every night and have not had jury duty at all
bought new tires
made some new Christmas decorations
decided on the entrees for Christmas dinner
wrapped the gifts that had to be mailed (husband mailed them)
had my hair cut and eyebrows waxed
went to the supermarket way too often
cooked dinner almost every night
thanked God every day for the gift of TIME to relax

Sunday it is back to work, but only for three days, then I am off again, yea!!!

Catholic Carnival is Up

Click on over to Real Life Rosary for the carnival this week!

Internet Shopping

I decided I really prefer shopping over the Internet to shopping in stores. There are the obvious reasons: no crowds, can shop at odd hours, comparison shopping is easier. But the best, I realized today is this; it's like shopping twice, once when you actually buy the item and then when it gets delivered. Double the thrill for one price! Actually triple, when the recipient opens the gift and just loves it. Okay, so little things make me happy. I'm going shopping, bye.

Advent-Day 6

"One consequence of a strong faith is optimism, and the certainty that things will go well. God's power goes with us and drives away all possibilities of fear. He who has given us a vocation to holiness and divine mission will also give us the grace to fulfil it."
(In Conversation with God, Vol 1)

Jury Duty

A few weeks ago I received notice in the mail that I was selected for jury duty from 12/8 to 12/19. You don't go each day, you call the night before and find out if they are selecting a jury and if not, you are free. So, I had already scheduled some vacation time for 8-12 and a few days the following week, mainly so I could go and get my daughter from school.
Well, I called, and I am free on Monday. I really hope I'm free every day. I mean jury duty is not vacation. Is it okay to pray for vacation?

Advent - Day 5

God's Will is intimately bound up with meeting each day with a loving smile, with the fulfilment of our duties no matter how difficult they are and, with the help, both supernatural and human, that we give to those at our side.
In Conversation With God, Vol 1

Every day I pray that I do his will as I go about my daily business. Especially when my day is too full and there are many, many people who need my attention. It is difficult to stop during hectic days and think about what God's will is for a task, situation, or conversation. But, with his help, I can.

School of Christain Formation

I had the most wonderful time teaching the past six weeks. I t made me realize I really, really miss directly instructing people in the faith. Now, of course, what am I going to do about it? I can't have my old job back as DRE as someone else has it and it's too much to teach these classes regularly while I still have about nine months more to go in my own classes and do my real job at church as well. What a position I am in! I don't know if God will open another door or should I try to find one? I'm hoping my prayer time will shed some light onto the situation.

Advent-Day 4

Today's gospel (Matthew 15:29-37) strikes me in tow way; one, that Jesus said "My heart is moved with pity for the crowd" and then proceeds to feed them after curing their illnesses. What love is present in these actions. God, made man, serves those in need with infinite care and gentleness. That is our example to follow, not only in Advent but always.

Mercy is my word, thought and prayer for today. For me, that one word sums up who God is, was and always will be.

Advent-Day 3

"Christian peace, so necessary for the apostolate and good fellowship, is the product of interior order, of a consciousness of our failings and virtues, of unfailing respect for others and a complete confidence in God, who, we know, will never abandon us." In Conversation with God

Help me Lord, to know your peace through interior order.

This That and the Other Thing: Catholic Carnival 201: Let's Have a Contest

This That and the Other Thing: Catholic Carnival 201: Let's Have a Contest

Jesse Manibusan -

A song that came to me as I prayed with Isaiah today. (just listen, don't watch as it is off somehow)

Advent - Day 2

"Come, let us climb the LORD's mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths." Isaiah 2: 2

Sometimes, I think I am climbing the mountain, but the instruction is not coming. Or, I think I'm on the mountain with others and we are all hearing the same instruction, yet it isn't the same at all. And not in a I heard what I need to hear kind of situation, but rather, other people hear instruction for others, never for themselves and always different than what I hear as the right thing to do. We all need ears to hear God's instructions and the first thing I think we should listen for are our instructions, not others. This way we will walk the path we are meant to according to his will.

Open my ears, so that I hear your instruction and can walk in your path.

Cable

Somehow or another, we now have cable in the house. This should be interesting.