Dormition Fast August 1st Through the 14th

Edit- I talked with Father Paul and he said we can fast from meat only so since I'm nursing my lil guy thats what I'm gonna do plus give up my sweeties- baked good, cookies, pies, cakes, ect.... Oh my!!!!


I'm posting this for myself so I can remember what to do.....

The general guidelines for the Dormition Fast are as follows:

WEEKDAYS are Strict Fast Days. On these days we abstain from meat, dairy, fish with backbones, fowl, wine, and oil.

SATURDAYS and SUNDAYS are Wine and Oil Days. On these days the fast is relaxed to permit wine and oil, but we still abstain from meat, dairy, fish with backbones, and fowl.

The one exception to these general rules is that the Great Feast of the Holy Transfiguration of our Lord, God, and Saviour Jesus Christ (August 6), which always falls during the Dormition Fast, is celebrated as a Fish, Wine, and Oil Day. On this great feastday, the fast is further relaxed to permit fish with backbones, in addition to wine and oil, but we still abstain from meat, dairy, and fowl.

Notes:

Meals for the fast should follow the dietary restrictions and be cooked simply. Portions should be smaller than usual.
If you have a medical condition that requires you to relax the fasting guidelines, then do so.
Generally speaking, children and elderly people are allowed to relax the fast under the guidance of their spiritual father.

Peanut Butter Filling for Brownies... YUMMY

This is so good. I made mine as brownie cupcakes. Just make your brownie filling as you normally would then either drop this mixture on by spoonfuls or make it as cupcakes by filling the cup a little more than 1/2 full with brownie mixture then adding about a tablespoon of the peanut butter mixture. I got 18 when I made mine.

Peanut butter Filling-

4 Tablespoons of melted unsalted butter- if you only have salted just leave out the salt.

1/2 cup of powdered sugar- I added just a tad more

3/4 cups of peanut butter

1/4 teaspoon of salt

1/2 teaspoon of vanilla

Beat all together. I shook the pan a little when I added it to the brownies to settle it in.

Bake at 325

Manny's 9 Month Bday Gift

All the children have Waldorf dollies and so we got one for Manny that I hoping will be a "lovey" for him. Its a cute little bunny.



Mason has his Pawpan- he named it years ago and used a sharpie to draw eyelashes on it! But he still loves him.

Beach Picts at Erie

Our Little Trip to Erie

Nasa in His New Simon Ring Sling

Takin a lil nap. Peace

Another Prayer Answered

So I have been looking into taking a NFP class so I can get some "formal education" on the subject instead of just doing the reading on my own but I havent had any luck yet so I thought I would just order the materials from Couple to Couple League but wow its pricey, too much for me right now so then I looked up the books on Paperbackbookswap- an awesome site if your a booklover, and we have a few in this house- and I was so excited cause a found quite a few of them and I had 6 credits to spend but the main book, the most expensive one, wasnt there. I put it on my wish list thinking it will never end up on there cause its like a $70.00 book but to my suprise and delight when I logged on and checked my email this morning there was an email from PBBS that said my wish- my prayer- had been granted and someone posted The Art of Natural Family Planning lastnight. What a blessing. Can you believe it, less than 12 hours! I'm so happy right now, can you tell? God is good.

Feeling Much Better

Wow, that was aweful but I'm doing much better now...
My cutie learned a new trick in the last few days, now he stands and claps- 8 months, 3 weeks old and he's standing and clapping on his own. I would have never thought he would do that so early since he's so darn big.
He's him catchin a break-



Well maybe him catchin a ride and me gettin a break from chasing him!

What a week

Sickness has overtaken our house this week. It started with me waking up and thinking it was allergies but I soon realized I had a summer cold. Manny and Tommy got it too. Then the dog had some kind of stomach problem and lastly I ended up with a breast infection. It started yesterday evening. I was really dizzy, felt the lump and came down with a fever and the chills very fast. So when my hubby got home from work I was under the covers with goosebumps, shivering in 90 degree weather. Then I started vomiting. I don't think in 12 years of nursing I ever had one this bad. I couldn't even stand up straight or go up and down the stairs. I felt like I wasn't all there like when I got my knee operation and they sent me home with these really strong painkillers and after taking one I said to Tommy, `"There is no way I can take these and be home alone with four children." I am so thankful I have a good husband and I don't have to try and deal with stuff like this alone. I felt so bad I don't know what I would have done without him. My girls were really helpful as well. And my mom was kind enough to help this afternoon by picking me and Manny up- there was no way I could drive- and letting me rest there while she played with the baby.
Well, I;m off to take my antibiotic before I go to sleep. I really didn't want to have to get them but I didn't want to end up with an abscess.

More Narnian Goodies

My husband brought home more Narnia books for us from the library today and these 3 are my favorites, cant wait to read them.....

The Unofficial Narnia Quizbook

The Narnia Cookbook

A Book of Narnians

How Do You Spell Permanent?????

I just had to post this, just for myself so I don't forget. I am a horrible speller and I just asked my husband, who is a great speller "How do you spell permanent?" And you know what he said, "M-A-R-R-I-A-G-E!!!!" I just love it. Amen, honey!

Saturday Night Verspers and Liturgy.....

The boys went to Verspers and Liturgy with me and we spent about 5 mins in the main Church and the rest in the "cryroom". Manny was overly tired and Mason was hungry. My fault. I should have remembered snacks and put the baby up in the Beco to sleep but since I just carried him in he just wanted down to crawl around. Here are some pictures....

Mason looking out the window into the main church-



Manny looking out the door wanting to crawl up and down the isles-




This is one of the beautifully painted windows. This is of the 1st day of Creation.

Rosary Anyone?

See his wooden Rosary beads in his lil hand?



I love living in our new home. Its just so easy to go to Divine Liturgy, Confession, First Friday Mass, Holy Rosary! Well, its not as easy to make excuses and not go. I always tell myself I'm going to do these things and then let the smallest things hold me back but yesterday the boys and I walked to First Friday Mass and today Manny and I walked down to say the Holy Rosary. It was at noon and the timing was just right for a little nap. The walk down is about 5 min.s so I thought he may fall asleep on by back in the Beco on the way but he made it and only let out of few little cries and he passed out before we got to the first Sorrowful Mystery.
There were only about 10 other older folks there and they just thought he was the best baby ever. He ended up sleeping on by back though the Rosary and the Divine Mercy Prayers. Now I wonder how he'll do for Verspers and Liturgy tonight?

Gearing up for a Narnia Unit Study

We are going to start a unit study on Narnia and C.S. Lewis soon so I'm getting ready and I'm so excited. I will post more when I come across great things.

Princess Peach

Our Morgan is such a talented artist. This is her drawing of Princess Peach- this was NOT traced. What a blessing this is for her. Her older sister Madison loves to write stories so I pray that they will write and illustrate childrens books together someday. Wouldn't that be wonderful?

Please Pray for the Unborn

I picked up this prayer card at Divine Liturgy on Sunday and wanted to ask if anyone else might want to spiritually adopt a unborn child with me.
The card is Our Lady of Guadalupe- Intercessor for the Unborn. It says-
To help stop the anti-life push in the world the late Archbishop Fulton J Sheen encouraged the spiritual adoption of an unborn child. This is done by praying that one particular but unknown child's life be spared abortion and be allowed to continue to live.

Here is the prayer to say daily for nine months....

"Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I love you very much. I beg you to spare the life of the unborn baby that I have spiritually adopted who is in danger of abortion."
(How easy is that!)

The name I wish to give my baby is:__________
(I gave my baby the name Joseph cause it just came to me.)

During your earthly life this spiritually adopted child of yours will be known only to God but in the world to come it is hoped that you will meet the souls your prayers saved and spend eternal happiness with them.
(Wouldn't that be cool!)

Jesus may your peace and your love embrace the hearts, minds and souls of the family, friends and loved ones who encourage this abortion and lead them all to your sacred and eucharistic heart.

Fun Day at Kooser State Park

Wow, yesterday was a good day. We got up and went to Kooser State Park. Its only about an hours drive up the mountian and well worth it. It was a rare 65- 70 degree day here in July and we took advantage of it. The weather was just ideal. I wish it could be like that all year long. Slight breeze, partly cloudy and cool but warm enough to swim, just perfect.

My mom came with us since my hubby couldn't get the day off and I have to say the children couldn't have been any better. No whining, fighting or complaining. Oh, no begging for anythig either! I am so proud of them. And as a bonus my little guy slept the whole way up and the whole way back. That was such a blessing considering he screamed the whole ride back from Kennywood Saturday night for 35 straight minutes. Luckly it was just Mason and me in the car with him and not everyone else.

They swam and caught tadpoles along the shoreline. The tadpoles are so tiny and cute so now we are raising a few more that will be little frogs unlike the Bullfrog tadpoles we have been raising for 2 months. I'll blog about those little guys later. Or atleast I'll try too. They have been fun to watch grow.

Then to complete my good day, in our mailbox at home where 2 letters, one from our school district approving the girls portfolios for the year and our program for next year and the other from the PA Cyber school saying Marlee passed as well. Yeah! Another year of homeschooling approved by the state. I'm always pleased with what they do but here in PA you have to get their approval as well.






They all had fun collecting these tadpoles that were everywhere along the shoreline.




Morgan swam for a while but got chilly so she just hung out on the beach looking pretty.







Madison loves to swim and goes out as far as she can.




Mars swimming




Marlee taken a rest and warming up after swimming.




He's just so handsome!




This is Mason having fun on this cool rock structure play area.







This is my mom with Manny- I hope I look that good 20 years from now.




A rare picture of me with the Marlee and Manny- I dont like having my picture taken.



Manny on our walk. Can't you tell he's crawling now, he's poised and ready to go.




Veiws of the beach...






Lake view



The forest




Isn't this just beautiful? I just love ferns and moss and trees. I could live in a little cabin in the forest, bugs and all. If not a farm someday-so expensive- a little log cabin in the woods would be just as good to me! Thats my idea of a retirement home.




Mushrooms growing in the forest. If you look closely to the right you can see a little critters hole in the ground next to the tree. This is one of the many Oaks so there are acorns everywhere.



I just thought this was neat.





The pavilion close by



Fireplace inside




Put him up in the Ergo




All of 30 seconds later my babe was sacked up after a fun afternoon.