Papa's day off.

I took a week's break from the blog to get established in Lent. All is going well - prayer life increased, a daily period of silence is set, service opportunities abound, and of course, God provides His own special challenges to us, but not without giving us the necessary graces. Thankful for this Lenten season...hopefully we can reap as much as possible from it.

After an incredibly busy weekend with the parish, we were happy that Andrew had Monday and Tuesday off. We took the opportunity to sleep in! and get outdoors. Today was a gorgeously sunny day; these are far and few between during the Seattle winter, and so we made the most of it.

We started with breakfast - always nice to have Papa around to help and to make faces with...

 Notice the top teeth!

After participating in a 40 Days for Life prayer vigil at a Planned Parenthood, we set off to a couple of local parks.

Volunteer Park boasts a climbable water tower for some great views and a nice little exhibit on the historical background on Seattle's city parks. It appears we owe much to the Olmsted Family for many of these parks, as they insisted on the importance for places of greenery and solitude within the city so the working society would have places of respite.

"Landscapes move us in a manner more nearly analogous to action of music than to anything else...gradually and silently the charm overcomes us; we know not exactly where or how."
Frederick Law Olmsted, Sr. 

 The Cascades were in full view.

 After enjoying the grounds, we drove to a few locations known for good Seattle city viewpoints. Michael fell asleep, so we took turns getting out of the car to snap photos. Kerry Park atop Queen Anne's Hill provides great views of the downtown area and the Puget Sound. I am starting to fall in love with this city...

Next we headed to Golden Gardens Beach to soak up the abundant sunlight! It was chilly with the wind coming right off the water, but the sun, ahhh...

 Getting an assist from Papa's sunglasses. I need to find him a little pair...

 We stopped at Uneeda Burger for dinner - this place uses 100% natural, hormone free beef and bison, with grass-fed options, and we had been there once before. We ordered Michael his own plate (first time), and of course "Paleo-ized" our burger meal with lettuce wraps and sweet potato fries.

We had such a lovely, fun day together! Thank you, Jesus!



More Paleo and a little {Lenten} challenge.

So you know we've been eating pretty clean the last 6 months. (Let's not factor in the holidays though. :) We've enjoyed better sleep habits, weight loss, energy increase, only 1 sickness (hmm, it sprang up right after the holidays), I'd also like to say more clarity of mind, although the husband may say otherwise. Grin. Here are a few more Paleo dishes I've made, and so easy and fast! (Laura):

My version of Paleo lasagna - spaghetti squash, spinach, and any tomato sauce mixed with whichever meat or shrimp I have on hand.

Sweet potato shepard's pie courtesy of Karen Kempf - check out her blog for yummy GF recipes and lots of nutritional info!

Red potato and leek soup.

Peach and blackberry crisp with coconut flour/almond topping.

Hmm, this doesn't look like something too delicious (taken with Andrew's phone camera) but it is the result of our first Paleo chocolate ice cream made with coconut milk and maple syrup for sweetener. I was out of town when Andrew whipped it up in my Christmas gift (which I have a very strong suspicion was more for him than I) but he said this ice cream is extremely delicious and he is looking forward to more. 

As sweets aren't found in our home, other then in the forms of dark chocolate and the occasional pint of ice cream, and the fact that meat is such a staple in our meals, I've been thinking about what food(s) to offer up this Lent. The fact that we are still eating Paleo style, makes treat or cheat foods all the more enjoyable, and so I figure, no treats/cheats for Lent and no evening wine glass for me. I've also decided to follow the Whole 30 "cleanse" which is basically Paleo in the strictest sense of the word. No occasionally safe add-in's like red potatoes, corn, cheeses, nut flours, Greek yogurt, cream, honey, dark chocolate, etc., and I will be keeping an eye out for added sugar in products. I feel it's a good sacrificial food choice for me to make, and one that will still allow me to get the nutrients I need as a nursing, active mama. Here are 30 reasons to do Whole 30 - most of these benefits apply to Paleo in general, but I am hoping these will be even more apparent as I complete this strict sugar cleanse. Also hoping that this will get me over the final little hurdle and back to my pre-pregnancy weight for good! I am starting today so that I will get 40 days of it in before Holy Week...not sure yet if hubby will participate 100%, but that's ok.  I will of course check in with my thoughts at the end of the 40 days and continue to share a few meal ideas along the way. Feel free to ask for any recipes that pique your interest!

We are thankful to have discovered this method of eating - it has worked so well for us and we enjoy it! So much so that it takes a very good restaurant to coax us to eat out, and we have decided to save eating out for the "cleaner food" restaurants. Thankfully we live in a more food-conscious city and can find quite a few places where I don't have to worry about what is in the meat. :) 

11 months!

Out precious boy just hit the 11 month mark yesterday...can't believe in one more month he will be 1. Sigh. It seems Michael has developed so much in the last month alone...trying to say words, giving affection, displaying comprehension of things and directions, enjoying his books more and more...and then in some not so desirable qualities, characteristic of nearing the toddler stage - expressing his needs or wants with a scream, striking just for the sound/effect, trying to catch our attention before doing something he is not allowed to do... Time for discipline - firm, consistent, gentle - to be more in order. :) But Michael is really such a dear, sweet boy, and very close to his parents. We love him so very very much. Here is how we spent his 11-month day. 

Early morning nurse and snooze - look at those lips!

Yes, that is a scratch from Michael on my face. Accident, I'm sure. And yes, I am exhausted.  All of his 4 top teeth are coming in together.

 Then he woke up and we watched the birds...and looked for Mr. Squirrel.

Then we had a little snack with Papa. Michael now voluntarily folds his hands for grace before meals.

It was a grey and drizzly day, but we are learning to not let that stop us from venturing out and exploring. I am also learning that is it a different kind of beauty, and presents a different kind of lesson - we can learn from the still, steadfastness of nature; it continues to remain deeply rooted in Being and purpose no matter what the weather. We checked out a beach on the Puget Sound - Carkteek Park.

 Michael saw his first train(s).

 Michael's very common "extended hand pose" - I think when he does this with his typical "uhhh?" sound, he is asking what something is. We see this gesture and hear this all day long. :)

 Then Michael fell asleep just as we reached the playground, so off we went again.

 We drove around a new (to us) part of town and found an organic, free-trade chocolate factory - of course we had to go inspect and they had taste samples! Score. Would like to return for the hour long factory tour someday.

 Then we picked up some coffee before heading to another one of Seattle's parks.

This is the Gas Works park, overlooking Lake Union, which borders downtown Seattle. These structures are the remains of a 1906 plant which manufactured gas from coal until the 1950's. 

Yep, so this is our city, folks. I bet this grassy knoll would do beautifully for a picnic some bright, clear day.

It was an enjoyable Saturday; cuddling our little boy and experiencing more of Seattle. These days pass so quickly - too quickly - these ever changing seasons of our lives. There never seems to be enough time to love, to appreciate, to forgive, to fix, to improve as fast or as much as one wishes. And so we learn to embrace the present moment as completely and as intentionally as we can, and do our small things with great love; there is no greater purpose to strive for than that.

Joy of being - a Lenten resolve.

Lent is fast approaching!  Yesterday in CCD class, I instructed my 8th grade students to review the virtues which we have been studying the past few weeks, and choose one to especially reflect upon and practice throughout Lent. Of course, a good teacher should exemplify the truths that she teaches, most particularly in religion, right? ;) As I have mentioned a time or two before, joy is a virtue that I often reflect upon, am working towards, and pray for the grace to make it more of an immediate habit. My intense focus and fast-moving mind (and probably lack of enough sleep due to a nursing baby) often causes me to react to situations and interactions with far less cheerfulness, positivism, and grace than I should. My husband gently reminded me of this recently, and as I have been pondering what things to focus on improving during Lent, his suggestions feel opportune. I desire true joy of being so that I may radiate more of our Lord's joy to those I encounter, so they may know the depth of His eternal mercy and love. This, I strongly feel, is our special business as women; to impart joy, beauty, and love to our fellow man and the world around us. We were created with a soul and body that desires to love, a spirit that seeks to create and beautify, and a mind that quickly perceives what is needed to achieve balance and harmony. Now, to daily impart all this with a calm and collected demeanor, and a smile? As an authentic joy must go hand in hand with peace of spirit, we must trust our Lord to help us balance the complexity of our days and attend to each matter yes, diligently, but also with peaceful acceptance and sincere joy. One of my favorite saints, St. Gianna Berreta Molla, was a true model of the joyful, peaceful, wife, mother, and Christian woman who balanced perfectly the spiritual with the trials of the physical life, and I often return to her story and words. Here are St. Gianna's thoughts on the reasons to smile...

Hymn to the Smile

To smile at God, from who all gifts come to us.

To smile to God, the Father, with ever more perfect prayers to the Holy Spirit.

To smile at Jesus, drawing near him in Holy Mass, in Communion, in visits to the Blessed Sacrament.

To smile at him who personifies Christ, the Pope; at him who personifies God, our confessor, even when he calls us to mortification.

To smile at the Holy Virgin, model upon which we must pattern our lives, so that whoever looks at us may be led to good thoughts.

To smile at the guardian angel because he was given us by God to guide us to paradise.

To smile at parents, brothers, and sisters, because we ought to be torches of joy, even when they impose duties on us that go against our pride.

To smile always, pardoning offenses.

To smile in the Association, banishing any criticism and murmuring.

To smile at those whom the Lord sends us during the day.

The world seeks joy but does not find it because it is far from God.

We, full of the joy that comes from Jesus, carry joy in our hearts with Jesus. He will be the strength that helps us.

Since we know that we find our joy in the Lord, what better place to start our day than in front of the tabernacle, where He resides, waiting and yearning to relieve our burdens and fill our souls with His joy and love? I have been able to go to morning Mass now and again, but feel that in order to gain a deeper joy and peace, I must make an effort to increase my attendance. St. Gianna again confirmed this for me:

"To be an apostle...the soul ought always to be in grace, that is, ought to be the temple, the living tabernacle; I ought to have the divine life in me to be able to communicate it to the souls that surround me. Let us often think that with grace, with Jesus in our hearts, we are "Alter Christus". We will certainly not only keep from committing sin, but we will bring joy everywhere, the fragrance of Christ."

Love that phrase - the fragrance of Christ! What woman does not want to have a lovely scent? What better place to acquire the perfect aromatic combination of love, joy and peaceful fulfillment than from His dear presence? St. Bonaventure refers to the Lord as being the complete and eternal source of these things at the end of his 'Prayer after Communion'..."May Thou alone be ever my hope, my entire assurance, my riches, my delight, my pleasure, my joy, my rest and tranquility, my peace, my sweetness, my fragrance, my sweet savor, my food, my refreshment, my refuge, my help, my wisdom, my portion, my possession and my treasure  in Whom may my mind and my heart be fixed and firmly rooted immovably henceforth and for ever. Amen." If we ask for this sweet fragrance humbly with the fervent desire to share it with others, how can He refuse? Ladies, join me this Lent in more frequent Mass attendance and ask of Him the privilege to become fragrant flowers of His love, so that we may bring His warmth, beauty, and peace to the world through our joyful countenances.

Dear St. Gianna, pray for us!

Candlemas.

Feasts and celebrations don't end after Christmas, you know. Ahh the beautiful thing about the Catholic faith! In her wisdom and guided by the Holy Spirit, the Church constantly reminds us to intertwine our secular life with the liturgical year, to have celebrations, to hold dear the joys as well as the sorrows, for there are lessons to be learned in each, especially from the events of our Lord's life, and those of the saints. Today marks the feast of the Purification of our Lady and the Presentation of the Child Jesus in the temple. It traditionally takes the title of "Candlemas", and a special Mass may be said with the use of many candles and a procession, and/or candles may be blessed. This serves to highlight the words of the prophet Simeon, who, as he met the Holy Family in the temple, called the Child a "light to the nations." This is a lovely and informative page on the traditions and character of this feast day. I especially appreciated this bit on the symbolism we may take from the candles, from Dom Prosper Gueranger, OSB in his Liturgical Year:

"The mystery of today's ceremony has frequently been explained by liturgists, dating from the 7th century. According to Ivo of Chartres, the wax, which is formed from the juice of flowers by the bee, always considered as the emblem of virginity, symbolizes the virginal flesh of the Divine Infant, who diminished not, either by His conception of His birth, the spotless purity of the Divine Mother. The same holy bishop would have us see, in the flame of our Candle, a symbol of Jesus who came to enlighten our darkness. St. Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury, speaking on the same mystery, bids us consider three things in the blessed Candle: the wax, the wick, and the flame. The wax, he says, which is the production of the virginal bee, is the Flesh of our Lord; the wick, which is within, is His Soul; the flame, which burns on top, is His divinity."

On this day, we are encouraged to bring candles to be blessed, and Fr. kindly agreed to bless mine after Mass. I love having the secular objects that we use day in and out, blessed. They serve to not only make our homes holy through merit of their blessing, but are visual reminders that we must strive to make our being and doings, holy in His sight, so He will accept our offerings and bless its fruit. Blessed candles are good to have on hand to light as protection against storms, at the beside of the dying, on All Souls' Day, and in the little sacred corners of our home.

This is a prayer we recited after Mass in Florida during the hurricane season for protection, and it may be used during storms and times of trials along with your blessed candle:

Jesus Christ a King of Glory has come in peace + God became man + and the Word was made flesh + Christ was born of a Virgin + Christ suffered + Christ was crucified + Christ died + Christ rose from the dead + Christ ascended into Heaven + Christ conquers + Christ reigns + Christ commands + May Christ protect us from all storms and lightning + Christ went through their midst in Peace + and the Words was made Flesh + Christ is with us in Mary + Flee you enemy spirits because the Lion of the Generation of Judea, the Root David has won + Holy God! + Holy Powerful God! + Holy Immortal God! + Have mercy on us. Amen.