Pinewood Castle

Good Friday

 

Son though he was, he learned obedience from what the suffered; and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.

Hebrews 5:8

 

Holy Thursday

 

Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.

John 13:8

 

Manual Mode Monday 2/52

Joining Sarah in photography explorations . . .

The Lent of Reckoning

I feel as though my jaw has been dropping more often in recent weeks, with "Really?" resounding in my beguiled brain. Little things, little crosses to carry. Opportunities to pray and practice patience.

The Holy Father abdicated? Has this news sunk in yet? Of course I offer my prayers of thanksgiving for his eight years of service, as well as the upcoming conclave. I trust in Pope Benedict's wisdom, and the beautiful  example he is setting of accepting one's limitations. It just seems like there are some lines here to read between, and I am obviously not qualified to read between those lines. I have read a few articles that offer insight and plausible explanations, but I do not wish to get into that here. What else can we the faithful do but pray, hope, and trust?

(Source: Joe Heller)

Dan Stevens gave up Downton Abbey? His role as Matthew Crawley was monopolizing his career and that was a bad thing? I must not understand the acting profession - one would think he would be grateful, humbled. All I know is that Downton fans cheered this couple on through three seasons, were thrilled to see the leading couple finally married with a male heir and the future of the estate secured. Broody Matthew was elated to be a father, china doll Mary was basking in her maternal glow, the Crawley family had returned from Duneagle with a renewed appreciation of their secure estate and familial relationships, and the next thing we see is Matthew trapped under his roadster oozing blood.

I love this show, but because it's not literature, we don't know where it's going from season to season (unless we read the spoilers). I cried when Ethel gave up her son, but I am too put off to cry about Matthew. And this tragedy would have been averted if he had let himself be chauffeured. And since Season 4 picks up six months later, we won't even get to see how well Michelle Dockery's acting skills can portray a genuine broken heart. Humph.

 Don't like this either? Sign the petition at the White House.gov website to protest!

Did I really give up meat for Lent? How I ever lived as a vegetarian for the better part of my 20's I'll never know. I don't remember feeling this hungry. Everything on our lenten menu seems like a variation of bread and cheese. At least thick, meaty, halibut fillets on the menu for Monday, but . . .

A pound of halibut costs how much? Our local supermarket had several packages of halibut steaks, but with only one little 3 ounce hunk for $9.99 in each tray. So, $70 to feed our family halibut? Really? We went with cod.

Speaking of the cost of food these days,

Cream of tartar costs how much? This bottle set us back $7.03 . Really? Evidently the spice trade is still lucrative. Spices and tea as well . . .

A pound of tea at Teavana costs how much? A few weeks ago I set foot in a suburban shop and unknowingly asked for one bag of coco-caramel sea salt and a bag of youthberry.  My jaw dropped when my $95 bill was announced over the cash register. {heart attack} No, I explained, my husband would kill me if I spent nearly $100 on tea. I left the store with 4 ounces instead of 24 oz, and resolved to buy from Adagio next time. Speaking of hot beverages . . .

A grande caffe mocha at Starbucks costs way too much. I don't even know how much ($4?), because I usually reload my card $20 at a time and use that so I don't have to think about how much it costs to splurge on a mocha. It also comes with 260 calories, and 8 grams of fat. I'm thinking that Lent would be a great time to forgo this once-a-week-or-so habit. These bottled teas are a bit of a splurge, but way less than a mocha and only 40 calories.

I stocked up and plan to grab one from the fridge to enjoy while chauffeuring. And speaking of driving . . .

Have I really gained that much weight? I did not quite recognize myself in the mirror at the hair salon Monday. I was relieved when our consultation was over and she covered me with the big black cape. Fifteen pounds since September (really?), and yes my thyroid checks out ok. Must be the extra mochas and all the driving . . . 

Our family uses an average of 132 gallons of gasoline a month? According to our fuel bill and average mileage, we drive about 97 miles a day between the two of us. Makes me wish we could move a little closer to the places we go, but . . .

Did he really say that? It's been nearly ten years, but I still hear the words of our (former) financial planner like it was yesterday, "No, I really don't believe the housing bubble will burst." And speaking of bursting . . .

There's really nothing serious causing the pain where my gallbladder used to be? It feels like a balloon is being blown up in my upper right abdomen and is about to pop.  After six months of sucking it up I went to the doctor and endured a battery of tests. So far, everything is normal and I am being told this discomfort could be merely from scar tissue. Here I thought I was dying or something. Nope, just have to die to myself and the discomforts of an aging and out-of-shape body.

Is that man is out jogging in the freezing cold again? Seriously, I see the same gentleman in a Nike jacket with an orange hood out running pretty much every time I drive in or out of town. That's dedication! Reminds me of a news segment I saw (that I can't seem to find on the web to share) featuring a couple who walks around Lake Harriet every day. They have a custom made mitten-built-for-two and their eyebrows and eyelashes were all frosted over and hanging with icicles. Really? People do that?

I admire their stamina, but personally I would rather exercise indoors during the winter months. After my haircut, I did pay a visit to the YMCA, gathered info, and submitted my plea to The Chief for consideration. Ultimatum, really - everyone helps clean the basement (and keep it clean) so I can use my treadmill or I fork over time and money to go to the Y.

Is winter is not over yet? But I hear the birds singing in the morning! I see ice fishing houses being hauled off lakes! These are signs of spring in Minnesota - but the forecast is definitely not looking like spring!

 

Little things, little crosses to carry. Opportunities to pray and practice patience.

Wordless Wednesday

Plans for an (almost) Meatless Lent

Have you ever wondered why we abstain from meat during Lent? To save money on the  grocery bill and give the difference in alms? To practice self control when hungry from lack of protein? To offer the inconvenience as a sacrifice? Because fish was a staple food in Jesus' day?

Our family normally abstains on Fridays throughout the year, and additional days in the season of Lent. Quite honestly, I get a little frustrated with the hassle. My husband typically takes leftovers to work for lunch, so this makes Thursday night's meal meatless as well. So many of our lunches at home are meatless anyway (cheese quesadillas, English muffin pizzas, PB&J, cottage cheese and fruit, cheese & crackers, fish sticks) it seems like that should count for something if leftovers with meat need to be consumed on a Friday before they go bad.

But, is it really a sacrifice to have salmon and white wine on Fridays if hamburgers are less expensive? Making something other than pasta or cheese pizza takes more effort or extra money. With ballet on Friday nights, I don't often have the time to make anything more complicated. Plus, leftover pizza makes a great lunch after Saturday morning music lessons.

My kids don't really care for beans (though I serve them anyway), soy messes with your estrogen, seafood is expensive, and my lab tests show I really need the iron meat provides. Given that I feel better (more patient, less hungry) when I eat more protein, all the abstinence rules start sounding superstitious, legalistic, and counter intuitive. I admit - I am struggling to make sense of this.

Because the teachings of the Church usually make sense after actually looking them up and learn about the WHYS, I did a little googling and found this article. If you don't want to click over, or are reading this on your phone, I will quote the author (a priest), but do click over eventually and read the whole thing and the role of zinc in the diet:

The Angelic Doctor tells us that meat, milk, and eggs incite lust in the soul. In order to quite the passions and to help the Christian faithful grow in the virtue of chastity, the Church required that such foods be abandoned during the whole of the season of Lent.

This view changes my perspective, but honestly, I not sure that I agree with St. Thomas. Let's just say this does not ring true with my own personal experience during my vegetarian years. Maybe a meatless diet makes a difference for those who are trying to live virtuously? If this is true, it makes perfect sense that so monastic communities and peace activists follow a vegetarian diet.

For me, at my current stage in life, I can't say that lustful temptations are something with which I struggle. As for anger, I have room for improvement. Lack of sleep, cloudy days, wacky hormones, and too much sugar seem to be more likely culprits than the consumption of flesh meat. I feel the most stable when I eat a diet high in meat protein and low in sugar and carbs.

Could it be that the practice of abstaining from meat is geared more for men than women? And does abstaining from meat just once a week make a difference in zinc levels to curb the passions?

I don't know, but I am willing to test this out by planning a meatless (almost) Lent. Our menu plan includes fish, a few eggs when needed, and meat only on Saturday or Sunday (or feast days), depending on our schedule. I will have to give more thought to the milk, cheese, lentils, and shell fish.

February 11 - 16

M - Fillet of Sole, salad, potatoes

T - Creamy Red Beans and Rice

Ash Wednesday - Crock Pot Mac & Cheese, salad

St. Valentine's - King Crab Legs and Lobster Tails, rice, veggies, and cherry chocolate cake (have you tried the jarred cherries from Trader Joe's? No red #40!)

F - homemade pizza

S - Orange Chicken & Rice

February 17 - 23

S - TBA

M - Arabian Baked Halibut, veggies, rice

T - Cheesy Black Bean and Corn Bake

W - Pasta with Tuna and Black Olives

TH - Salmon Loaf, veggies, chips

F - homemade pizza

S - Pork Roast and sides

February 24 - March 2

S - Tomato Basil Risotto

M - Crunchy Salmon with spinach

T - Minestrone Soup and bread

W - Pasta with Cream Sauce, Peas, and Chives

TH - Split Pea Soup and bread

F - fast food fish sandwiches

S - TBA, might stay in the city

March 3 - 9

S - Chuck Roast, veggies, and popovers

M - Salsa Shrimp Soup and tortilla chips

T - Black Bean Soup and tortilla chips

W - Linguini with Clam Sauce, salad

TH - Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup

F - Pizza

S - TBA

March 10 - 16

S - Roast Chicken and sides

M - Fettuccine Alfredo with Shrimp, salad

T - Pasta and Spinach Sauce

W - Risotto Milanese with Scallops

TH - Broccoli Cheese Soup

F - Pizza

S - TBA

March 17 - 23

S - St. Patrick's Day - Irish Beef Stew and soda bread

M - Salmon Croquettes, chips, veggies

T - St. Joseph's Day - Sloppy Joe's or Italian pasta

W - Creamy Garlic Penne Pasta, veggies

TH - Fish Sticks

F - Pizza

S - Corn Chowder and bread

March 24 - 30

Palm Sunday - Roast Pork and artichokes, figs and cheese

M - Roast Cod and Crispy Potatoes

T - Lentils with Cumin and Coriander

W - Potato Soup and Oatmeal Bread

Holy Thursday - Lamb Chops, spinach pie, grapes, matzo/Seder type of meal

Good Friday - Hot Cross Buns, Salmon Burgers

Holy Saturday -TBA

Easter Sunday -Resurrection Rolls, Ham, New Potatoes, Asparagus, lamb cake

{I am always challenged to prepare special foods and get to church over the Triduum, so I like building in flexibility here.}

Also, we hardly ever eat out, like in a sit-down restaurant. We do drive-through in a pinch, but we have some very busy weekends coming up, hence the TBA status.

Planning your menu too? Be sure to check out Catholic Cuisine, A Continual Feast, A Book of Feasts and Seasons, and Cooking with the Saints.

And let me know what you think, what your experience has been with abstaining from meat?

Whatever your approach, have a blessed Lent!

 

From the Archives

Some ideas for Lent that don't include giving up chocolate and coffee.

(Even though that's a huge sacrifice and I usually do it anyway!)

 

It's a Mouse & Cookie Kind of Day

It's Cleaning & Reorganizing Day.

When you put away St. Valentine's decorations you realize you have collected too many for them to share a storage tub with St. Patrick's too. So you add "storage tub" to the Target list.

You bring up the Purple Box (advent and lent) and pull everything out. You realize that you never did get an "N" or a "T" to change your advent PREPARE to the lent REPENT like one of your favorite bloggers does. You add two letters and a little bottle of purple paint to the Michael's list.

You find the card stock crosses you painted and decorated last year but never made into a garland. Where did you put the hole punch?

Then your dear, dear husband takes all the car seats out of the van so he can take it to the fancy car wash that cleans floor mats and interior windows just because he know the state of the van is driving you nuts. He figures out our two car seats have expired, finds a YouTube video on the possible consequence of this in case of an accident, decides to err on the side of safety and orders two new Britax car seats. Good thing there is 20% code at diapers.com!

Now it's time for you to clean the glass on the back door to make it ready for the Lenten path that is faded but still usable. You already cleaned the floor and moved the chairs to the family room. Your kids turn this into a train, just like you did when you were young. This is the excitement of the day. You even eat lunch picnic style on the floor because the kids beg you to leave "the train" up longer.

There is at least one oasis of calm and order you can set your eyes on. And good thing you cleaned out those votives last year. It's the one thing all day that did not lead to another!

Thank you, all you bloggers, who have shared so many wonderful ideas over the years that have become beloved family traditions. We are looking forward to a cleansing, yet joyful Lent.

Spring May Not be Coming, but Lent is

Lent is coming and everyone seems to be posting links to past posts detailing their past and present plans. I won't bog you down with more of the same - but can tell you that we also do the usual things in our family: the crown with toothpicks and a sacrifice bowl in the center, stations of the cross votive candles, some sort of calendar to mark the days, and mostly meatless meals. If you really want to see photos and more info click here.

Otherwise, we are trying a few new things including Amon's Adventure: A Family Story for Easter (from the same author as Jotham's Journey) and a Catholic Faith Folder (lapbook) for Lent. We now have copies of the Alphonsus Ligouri Way of the Cross for each reading member of the family, and a little plastic pieta statue to place somewhere helpful for devotions.

I have to be honest and a little raw here - sometimes when it comes to making extra sacrifices my temptation is to whine, "Don't I sacrifice enough?" I mean, I stay home with my children instead of working as a musician or teacher, I homeschool them instead of using that time to go to the gym, run errands, cook, clean or volunteer. I sacrifice my sleep and my body and my health and sanity for my five children and don't always have enough left over to nurture my marriage. What more does God want of me? And don't I deserve a few indulgences in exchange for all this?

Of course the answer is He wants everything and He wants us to give it cheerfully and gratefully. We wants us to weed out our vices and to stretch and grow, even in painful ways and through trials and tears. And even though I personally (in spite of my prayer and spiritual efforts), feel like a number to Him most of the time, with only occasional evidence throughout the year that He thinks of me in particular, I am gathering that He is a much more personal God to others. The huge success of One Thousand Gifts is a testament to that. After resisting the urge to buy this book and hop on the bandwagon I am giving in and buying it today with my Amazon credit. This will be the spine of my Lenten journey of thankfulness praise and intentional effort to recognize God's touch in my little everyday life.

Where will blogging fit in? The past few weeks I have enjoyed more time away from the computer - it seems formidable challenge to sit here for an hour or more in this season of my life. Yet, without regular blogging I find that I do not take adequate time to reflect on our days, to post photos and to be deliberately thankful and appreciative for my life and my children and my husband and all the joys each day brings. One hard day of work blends into the next and pretty soon I feel like dried out clay resistant to being shaped and molded. I end up stiff and joyless.

I have a hunch that this is why blogging is so popular with homeschooling moms. When we are in the moment we can't or don't always think our circumstances are funny or feel the joy in our daily grind and constant interruptions and frustrations. We share with our husbands when they get home, but feel awkward that we have thousands of words to spill and he only has a hundred or so and our gushings are met with grunts, an occasional smile or a change of topic. Blogging helps us keep our passion alive - not selfish passions mind you, but our joy and gratitude and ability to experience the sacredness in the ordinary. This is what I what to keep revive in myself this Lent and what I intentionally want to make my focus, for my sake and my family's sake.

I will start by thanking you, whomever you are, for clicking my book links to Amazon. Because of you I am putting my most recent Amazon Associate credit to purchasing the Amon and Thousand Gifts books. Thank you so very much - every little bit counts and I will try to do better about sharing more good books and CDs in return.

May God bless you and your time online!

P.F.A.

Prayer

Fasting

Almsgiving

May your Lent be a spiritually fruitful journey to the glories of the Resurrection.

I Think I've Got it Covered

I think I am done with my last minute splurges too. I had a few things to get out of my system. Like a salon haircut after which my husband did say I looked ten times better (that means a lot coming from him). A nice wool coat 75% off. Some CDs. A nice meal of fettuccine Bolognese sauce (made with ground beef and tomatoes with white wine, whole milk and pancetta) with a glass of red wine. Time for a little more austerity.

Lenten Plans:

Bake a braided wreath with toothpicks this week (p. 94 of this month's Faith & Family).
Bake bread on Thursdays for Friday.
Rotating breakfast, lunch and simple desserts (like dates and oranges) lists posted on pantry door.
Assembled a Lenten songbook for circle time.
"Growing Good Fruit" from A Year With God ready to go.
Lenten path on window from last year.
Planning on two stations every Friday night at home.
Catholic Mosaic books at the ready.

Holy Week:

Decorate Easter candles
Make Easter cards
Color eggs
Lenten Tea
Take a spring break and go on some local field trips early in the week.
Don't forget to use the lamb cake mold! (I forgot last year!)

For Me:

I loved Father's sermon yesterday about giving things up for Lent. Basically, the message was this: do more than give up M&M's or TV or soda. Try giving up sin! Will God really care if we give up candy if we are unwilling to give up our attachments to sin? Giving up chocolate will sound like a lame defense on judgment day.

So this was all I needed to hear before deciding not to give up chocolate. Rather, it will be my incentive to treat the children with more kindness, patience and respect. Every time I lose my cool with one of them they have my permission to mark a check on the white board. If at the end of the day I have no checks a little square of organic dark chocolate will be my dessert. Maybe with a Brazil nut too for thyroid-supporting selenium.

I like to be calm and cool and collected. And I would be if kids didn't have the ability to find the end of even the longest fuse! Sometimes I feel like lightening really might start shooting from the ends of my fingertips. Honestly, I know I need to model better behavior when I see my children acting the same way I do with one another. Yuck. It's time for a change. One area at a time. Oh, there are ever so many more. Pride, gluttony, sloth, envy, old grudges. I will have to depend on God's grace and the Sacraments to transform much of that.

That and some spiritual reading. I am open to last minute suggestions here as I am really struggling with the selections already on my bookshelf. I feel the need for something very practical and current. The Domestic Church Room by Room? Some Alice von Hildebrand?

Having listed out all of these plans I can see that I might be approaching Lent with a to-do list to merely check off. I hope it will be much more personal and heartfelt than that for me and my whole family. Sometimes when planning for the family I focus too much on the externals, but the intent of course is for the external activities to affect an inner change. Growth. Metanioa. Daily!