Turmeric Lentil Soup is one of the most popular soups in our home. If it’s winter or rainy outside and I want a budget-friendly, real food winner, this is it. The best part is that it doesn’t take any special ingredients. We almost always have them on hand, even if it’s the end of the […]
Salmon has been one of those foods that have increased in our meals a lot as our healthy journey has progressed, especially as we did a grain-free elimination diet (recipes here) and tackled a few Whole30 diets. We aim to get our fish as all Sustainable Seafood. It’s also one of my husband’s least favorite foods ever,
Your mission, if you choose to accept, is to celebrate Lent intentionally to improve yourself – spiritually, physically, emotionally. Lent has always been a major time of focus for me, and I take it seriously every year. It is to my eating and spiritual habits what January 1st is for most people, except with the
Ever made rubber in the oven? Let’s just say my first experience cooking unprocessed fish at home didn’t go so well. I was in college and trying to eat healthy recipes – or maybe frozen cod filets were just on sale, I can’t exactly remember. Anyhow, I clearly didn’t know a whit about how to
Your mission, if you choose to accept, is to do something special with your family this week. Special family time doesn’t have to be anything special, just being together and getting silly suffices! What a way to get moving with the kids! After a couple of heavy research and controversy posts last week, a (negative)
Lent is designed to be a time for sacrifice and self-denial, the point of which is to deepen one’s relationship with God and strengthen habits of self control. What you “give up” you can “offer up” as a prayer, united with Christ’s sacrifice of the Cross. Fasting is a powerful way to make an impact
Lent is over. The joy of the Resurrection is here! With that joy, for me, came sugar, gluten, unsoaked grains, a bloated feeling and a lack of structure in my prayer life. I work so hard for 40+ days at certain habits, and as soon as Lent is over, sometimes I fall right off the
Mary and Martha Moment: How to Keep up on Daily Prayer Read More »
Why sacrifice? Why suffer on purpose? During the season of Lent, Catholics and many others choose to accept suffering, even bring it on themselves through voluntary sacrifice called fasting. To the outside observer, it may seem meaningless, even a bit insane to call suffering a form of prayer. I couldn’t disagree more. I’ve mentioned before
Mary and Martha Moment: On Sacrifice and Suffering Read More »
Do you take Sundays “off” during Lent? Sundays aren’t counted in the 40 days of Lent because they are solemnities, or holy days of celebration. We commemorate the Resurrection on Sundays, the eighth day of the week, so “when the bridegroom is present, the guests cannot mourn.” We do not have to observe our Lenten
Mary and Martha Moment: To Solemnity or Not to Solemnity? Read More »
When my almost-five-year-old son heard that Lent was coming, he exclaimed, “I remember Lent! I hate Lent!” Surprised at his fervor, I fought to remain calm and detached myself and asked, “Oh? What do you remember about Lent that was so bad?” “I don’t get desserts in Lent!” he fired back with an earthy groan.
Mary and Martha Moment: Celebrating Lent with Children Read More »
This is the third of a three-part series to build you up in your quest for stewardship of all God’s resources. Part One: Trust in the Promise of your Meal BlessingPart Two: Baby Steps Sometimes I feel guilty writing Food for Thoughts for you all. I hate that frequently I’m sharing bad news, facts about something
Give Up or Do More? The query, “What are you giving up for Lent?” just doesn’t cut it with me. It falls short of recognizing the three-fold purpose of Lent: prayer, fasting, AND almsgiving. I always try to say, “What are you DOING for Lent?” and I used to post my third graders’ “Lenten promises”
Mary and Martha Moment My Standard Sacrifice Since I was a child, I remember my father doing the same things for Lent every year. He would go to daily Mass and observe a modified fast by avoiding eating between meals. When I was in high school, I too began to eat only three meals a
