The Holy GreatMartyress Marina

      The Holy GreatMartyress Marina was born in Asia Minor, in the city of Antioch, into the family of a pagan priest. In infancy she lost her mother, and her father gave her over into the care of a nursemaid, who raised Marina in the Orthodox faith. Upon learning that his daughter had become a Christian, the father angrily disowned her. During the time of the persecution against Christians under the emperor Diocletian (284-305), Saint Marina at fifteen years of age was arrested and locked up in prison. With firm trust in the will of God and His help, the young prisoner prepared for her impending fate. The governor Olymbrios, charmed with the beautiful girl, tried to persuade her to renounce the Christian faith and become his wife. But the saint, unswayed, refused his false offers. The vexed governor gave the holy martyress over to torture. Having beaten her fiercely, they fastened the saint with nails to a board and tore at her body with tridents. The governor himself, unable to bear the horror of these tortures, hid his face in his hands. But the holy martyress remained unyielding. Thrown for the night into prison, she was granted Heavenly aid and healed of her wounds. Tied to a tree, they scorched the martyress with fire. Barely alive, the martyress prayed: "Lord, Thou hast granted me to go through fire for Thine Name, grant me also to go through the water of holy Baptism".

      Hearing the word "water", the governor gave orders to drown the saint in a large barrel. The martyress besought the Lord, that this manner of execution should become for her holy Baptism. When they plunged her into the water, there suddenly shone a light, and a snow-white dove came down from Heaven, bearing in its beak a golden crown. The fetters put upon Saint Marina of themselves came apart. The martyress stood up in the fount of Baptism glorifying the Holy Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Saint Marina emerged from the fount completely healed, without any trace of burns. Amazed at this miracle, the people glorified the True God, and many came to believe. This brought the governor into a rage, and he gave orders to kill anyone, who might confess the Name of Christ. There then perished 15,000 Christians, and the holy Martyress Marina was beheaded. The sufferings of the GreatMartyress Marina were described by an eye-witness of the event, named Theotimos.
      Up until the taking of Constantinople by Western crusaders in the year 1204, the relics of the GreatMartyress Marina were situated in the Panteponteia monastery. According to other sources, they were located in Antioch until the year 908 and from there transferred to Italy. Her venerable hand was transferred to Athos, to the Batopedeia monastery.

© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.

Jodi

Junktique Find

Look what I found at our local Catholic Churches Junktique sale yesterday. A beautiful 100 percent cotton -no yucky polyfill-quilt from the Company Store with 2 large and one small pillow shams! I'm so excited. We looked them up on there site on the Internet and the quilt alone is $179.00. I got ours shams and quilt for..... You ready? A whopping $5.00! What a blessing.

Oh, that's cold

Dreams......

Our dream when we're older, cause we know it can't happen anytime soon except by the grace of God, is to buy some property in the woods somewhere and build a little cabin to live in which would eventually become our children "family cabin" when they're older. Well anyway, we would love this to be the view out of our window as we sit and have our tea in the morning.

Mr. Bubble

Wash Day

What a Ham!

Todays Scripture Reading on Marriage

Wouldn't it be something if people followed this teaching?

1 Corinthians 6:20-7:12

20	For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.
1	Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
2	Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.
3	Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband.
4	The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.
5	Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
6	But I say this as a concession, not as a commandment.
7	For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.
8	But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am;
9	but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
10	Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband.
11	But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.
12	But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her.

The Sobor of the ArchAngel Gabriel

      The Sobor of the ArchAngel Gabriel is celebrated on the day following after the Annunciation/Blagoveschenie, ie. 26 March. This feast is celebrated a second time 13 July. The reason for its being established probably served the dedication in the XVII Cent. of a church at Constantinople, constructed in the name of the Holy Archi-Strategos / Chief of the Heavenly Hosts.

      The Archangel Gabriel was chosen by the Lord to make the blest-announcement to the Virgin Mary about the Incarnation of the Son of God from Her, to the great rejoicing of all mankind. Therefore on the day after the feast of the Annunciation – the day itself on which the All-Pure Virgin Herself is glorified, we give thanks to the Lord and we venerate His messenger Gabriel, who contributed to the mystery of our salvation.

      The holy Archistrategos (Leader of the Heavenly Hosts) Gabriel acted in service to the Almighty God. He announced to Old Testament mankind about the future Incarnation of the Son of God; he inspired the Prophet Moses during the writing of the Pentateuch books of the Bible, he announced to the Prophet Daniel about the coming tribulations of the Hebrew People (Dan. 8: 16, 9: 21-24); he appeared to Righteous Anna with the news of the birth from her of the Ever-Blessed Virgin Mary. The holy Archangel Gabriel stayed constantly with the Holy Virgin Mary when She was a child in the Jerusalem Temple and afterwards watched over Her throughout all Her earthly life. He appeared to the Priest Zachariah, foretelling the birth of the Forerunner of the Lord – John the Baptist. The Lord dispatched him to Saint Joseph the Betrothed: he appeared to him in a dream, to reveal to him the mystery of the Incarnation of the Son of God from the All-Pure Virgin Mary, and warned him of the wicked intentions of Herod, ordering him to flee into Egypt with the Divine-Infant and the Mother of God. When the Lord before His Passion prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane to the extent of sweating blood, according to Church tradition, to strengthen Him there was sent from Heaven the Archangel Gabriel, whose very name signifies "Strength of God" (Lk. 22: 43).
      The Myrh-Bearing Women heard from the Archangel the joyous news about the Resurrection of Christ. 
      Mindful this day of the manifold appearances of the holy Archangel Gabriel and of his zealous fulfilling of the Divine Will, and confessing his intercession before the Lord for Christians, the Orthodox Church calls upon its children with faith and with fervour to have recourse in prayer to the great Angel. 
      (The account about the Sobor-Assemblage of the Bodiless Powers is located under 8 November.)

© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.

Want a Ride?

Mannys just spending a little time outside before it gets way too hot!

Righteous Veronica

      Righteous Veronica was, according to tradition, that woman with the issue of blood, who received healing by a touch to the hem of the robe of Christ (Mt. 9: 20-22). She gave the Lord a veil, with which the Lord wiped His face, when He went to crucifixion. On the veil was imaged the Face of the Lord.

And Some Cookies for Dessert

Before....

Yummy

Le Cruesets 1st Meal

Here's the before.....

And after

I made the Pioneer Womans Sour Cream Noodle Bake

Final Podium of the Tour de France

Well the Shlecks didn't take no. 1 but they did come in 2nd and 3rd which is still awesome! Congrats to them and Cadel Evans for a great and exciting tour.

Le Creuset your finally mine

Look what I found on clearance yesterday at Williams-Sonoma! It's just what I have wanted for a long time. Color and all. It's beautiful! Can't wait to break her in.
I got such a good deal. I wish I could have gotten a few more pieces. But the only reason I could get this one is because my husband got a giftcard from work. Thank you Cigna. What a blessing.

Eatin at California Kitchen

Andy is in Yellow!

Today is a good day. Yesterday Andy won the stage and today he moved into 1st place and is wearing the yellow jersey. I hope he does a great time trial tomorrow and can hold onto it. This has been such a great Tour and him winning and Frank placing would just be the best. Go Schlecks!

Marlees hot too!

Mason is hot too!

Hot doesn't even describe it!

98 degrees with a heat index of 107 and HUMID

Todays Glutten Free Lunch

Steamed broccoli with fresh mozzarella cheese and homemade sauce. It's so good I don't even miss the noodles. It's also loaded with calcium.
I ment to take the pict before I started eating but it is so good I forgot and just now remembered. Back to lunch....

Pawpans leaving the Beach

They are on the way home. Yippy !
Please God grant them a safe trip.

Kefir Grains

Here's the grains after the got ready and plumper up. Now they are making my first batch. I'm so excited.

My Baby is Sick

Don't you just hate it when little ones are ill. I don't like it when any of the children are sick but when they aren't talking yet it makes it so much harder. Manny has a cough and now a bit of a fever but he can't tell me if anything is hurting him. And he's having a hard time sleeping....poor guy. I guess all I can do is nurse him, hold him and try to comfort him the best I can and of couse pray for him.
On a happy note, my oldest baby is coming home tomorrow! Yeah!

Big Thor Won Again!!!!

Pittsburgh Popcorn

Pittsburgh Popcorn is a wonderful place in the Strip District. They have the best popcorn. I'm not a big fan of popcorn unless it's Kettle Corn. Well they flavor or drizzle delicious goodness on theirs. We tried to make out favorite at home and it came out pretty good but just not the same. I made a batch of kettlecorn- recipe is on my blog but I'm blogging from my iPhone while I'm nursing baby to sleep so I can't link to it- and drizzled melted chocolate and peanut butter chips on it. Manny thought it was great but he can't have much cause he's just not ready for the kernels yet.

Today's Readings

The Scripture Readings

1 Corinthians 1:1-9
Matthew 13:24-30

Troparion

St. Sisoes the Great, Troparion, Tone I —
A desert dweller, an angel in the flesh,/ and a wonderworker wast thou shown to be,/ O our God-bearing father Sisoes,/ for having acquired heavenly gifts through fasting, vigilance, and prayer,/ thou dost heal the infirm,/ and the souls of those who have recourse to thee with faith./ Glory to Him Who hath given thee strength!/ Glory to Him Who hath crowned thee!// Glory to Him Who worketh healings for all through thee!
Kontakion, Tone IV, "Thou hast appeared today..." —
Having struggled, thou wast seen to be an angel on the earth, O venerable one,/ ever illumining the thoughts of the faithful with divine signs.// Wherefore, we honor thee with faith, O Sisoes.

Note to Self

Even though I would love to nap with baby today there is just too much to do-
Pray Hours
Sweep and Shark floor in kitchen
Bake
-Cinnamon Bread
-Porkroast
-BBQ Beef
Make and freeze pizza
Work with Kefir grains
Bills
Water plants
Laundry
Pick up toys

Off to work.....

Jodi

Today's Readings

The Scripture Readings

Matthew 11:27-30 Matins Gospel
Romans 16:17-24
Matthew 13:10-23
Galatians 5:22-6:2 St. Athanasius
Luke 6:17-23 St. Athanasius
2 Corinthians 6:1-10 Sts. Elizabeth and Barbara
Matthew 15:21-28 Sts. Elizabeth and Barbara

Martyrdom of St. Elizabeth Romanov and Nun Barbara (1918)

     Grand Duchess Elizabeth was a grand-daughter of Queen Victoria of England and the older sister of the Empress Alexandra (July 4). After marrying Grand Duke Sergei she converted to the Orthodox faith, though this was not required by her position. After her husband was assasinated in 1905, she took monastic vows and withdrew from the world, founding the Convent of Saints Mary and Martha. There she served as superior, devoting her time to prayer, fasting, and caring for the sick and the poor.
     During the Russian Revolution, she was seized by the God-hating Bolsheviks and taken to the Urals, where she and several with her were martyred by being thrown alive down an abandoned mine-shaft. When the fall did not kill them, soldiers threw grenades down the shaft to complete their work. Saint Elizabeth was singing the Cherubic Hymn when she died.

     The Nun Barbara, her cell-attendant, voluntarily followed St Elizabeth into exile and received martyrdom with her. Their relics were recovered and taken at great risk to China, then to Jerusalem, where they were deposited in the Convent of St Mary Magdalene. When their reliquaries were opened in 1981, their bodies were found to be partly incorrupt, and gave off a sweet fragrance.
     Footnote: After the assasination of her husband in Moscow, Grand Duchess Elizabeth had a cross erected at the site of his death, bearing the inscription "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." After the revolution, the cross remained standing through the devotion of the people of Moscow to St Elizabeth, until it was personally torn down by Lenin.

Memory Verse

Hebrews 13:15-16

15	Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
16	But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

The Galatian Icon of the Mother of God

      The Galatian Icon of the Mother of God is situated in Galata (one of the districts of Constantinople), at Pergia (in a tower). In honour of the holy icon a monastery was formed, which existed until the XVII Century. An exact copy of the image is located in Moscow, in the Church of Sainted Tikhon, at the Arbat Gate.

Holy Royal Martyrs of Russia

     "Tsar Nicholas II was the son of Alexander III, who had reposed in the arms of St John of Kronstadt. Having been raised in piety, Tsar Nicholas ever sought to rule in a spirit consonant with the precepts of Orthodoxy and the best traditions of his nation. Tsaritsa Alexandra, a grand-daughter of Queen Victoria of England, and a convert from Lutheranism, was noted for her piety and compassion for the poor and suffering. Their five children were beloved of all for their kindness, modesty, and guilelessness.
     "Amidst the political turmoil of 1917, Tsar Nicholas selflessly abdicated the throne for what he believed was the good of his country. Although he had abdicated willingly, the revolutionaries put him and his family under house arrest, then sent them under guard to Tobolsk and finally Ekaterinburg. A letter written from Tobolsk by Grand Duchess Olga, the eldest of the children, shows their nobility of soul. She writes, 'My father asks that I convey to all those who have remained devoted to him... that they should not take vengeance on his account, because he has forgiven everyone and prays for them all. Nor should they avenge themselves. Rather, they should bear in mind that this evil which is now present in the world will become yet stronger, but that evil will not conquer evil, but only love shall do so.'

      "After enduring sixteen months of imprisonment, deprivation, and humiliation with a Christian patience which moved even their captors, they and those who were with them gained their crowns of martyrdom when they were shot and stabbed to death in the cellar of the Ipatiev house in Ekaterinburg in 1918.
      "Together with them are also commemorated those who faithfully served them, and were either slain with them, or on their account..." (Great Horologion)

Our spot at Holy Ghost

Here's a picture of Manny standing on the little wooden bench listening to Father James' sermon today. We are still in the "cryroom" cause if we go out Manny wants to run up and down the isles and go up and kiss the Icon, not to mention dip his whole hand in the Holy Water and try and lick it off his fingers. When Divine Liturgy is over he runs up to the front and then is allowed to kiss the Icon and take some blessed bread. He loves it. He always reaches for a handful and says "umm umm". Oh and in the nave when he walks by the candles he puts his finger up to his lips and says "shhh"

All tucked in

Madison sent me a picture of Pawpan all cozy in a little bed she made up for him. Mason is so happy!

Pawpan's on his way

Mason had Madison take his best buddy Pawpan-he named him when he was 2- to the ocean with her so she sent a picture of him on the car ride down. Isn't it sweet?

Feast of All Saints in North America

…O Lord, the lands of North America offer Thee all the saints who have shone forth in them.

Congrats Big Thor

I love watching the Tour de France with my husband. He got me hooked on it about 10 years ago and it's one of the best things about summer-which i don't really care for- there is.
It's been a great race so far for me. I love Thor Hushovd of Norway and he wore the yellow jersey as race leader for days and today he won the stage against all odds It was awesome! Now if the Schleck brother take 1st and 2nd overall it will be the best year ever.

Can you see the lil grains?

Kefir Water is started

The grains come dehydrated so they need to soak in sugar water to "plump" back up and get ready to do their job.

No sissy don't go!

Manny is laying on his sisters luggage as a protest to get her to stay. Our oldest has been asked to go to the beach for nearly a week with my parents. She is so excited.... The rest of us not so much. Mason is having her take his beloved companion doll Pawpan and Morgan is already counting the days till she comes home and she hasn't even left yet! Tommy and I have been praying she stays safe and has fun. Marlee is the only one who is kind of happy to see her go cause then maybe just maybe Morgan will get desperate and play Barbies with her.

My orders in!

I'm so excited. I'm making water kefir and mozzarella and ricotta cheese. My grains and kit came in today along with a bag of Red Rooibos Tea. I feel like a kid in a candy store!

"Ummmmm"

This is what Manny says when he see's food he wants. He just woke from his nap to a batch of fresh baked pumpkin cookies..... Ummmmm.

Fried Zucchini Flowers

I think these are out favorite part about growing our own zucchini. They ate so wonderful. When I had more space and grew more zucchini I would fry and freeze some but not anymore sadly.
All I do is make a batter out of
Unbleached flour
Parm. Cheese
Garlic salt
An egg
Splash of milk
The batter will resemble pancake batter
Dip the male flowers in and fry on oil
I usually use coconut oil
Drain on paper towels

On the way home

Here's a pict of Manny on the way home from Sandcastle yesterday. Doesn't he look cute. I love these rashguard shirts. They protect them nicely from too much sun and they are easier then sunscreen.

Today's Readings

The Scripture Readings

Romans 16:1-16
Matthew 13:4-9
Hebrews 9:1-7 Theotokos
Luke 10:38-42; 11:27-28 Theotokos

Prayers for Intercession

I read about these Saints in todays readings and thought they would be perfect to ask for intercession for my uncle.  I love learning about the Saints.  

      The Holy Martyrs, Wonderworkers and UnMercenaries Cosmas and Damian – were brothers by birth, born at Rome, and physicians by profession. They accepted a martyr's death at Rome under the emperor Carinus (283-284). They were brought up by their parents in the rules of piety, they led strict and chaste lives, and they were granted by God the graced gift of healing the sick. By their good and unselfish attitude towards people, combined with their exceptional kindliness, the brothers converted many to Christ. The saints usually said to the sick: "It be not by our power that we treat the sick, but by the power of Christ, the True God. Believe in Him and be healed". For their unselfish doctoring of the infirm, the holy brothers were called "unmercenary physicians".
      Their active service towards neighbour and spiritual influence on the surroundings, leading many into the Church, attracted the attention of the Roman authorities. Soldiers were sent after the brothers. Hearing about this, Christians implored Saints Cosmas and Damian to hide themselves away for a while until they could render them help. But the soldiers, not finding the brothers, arrested instead other Christians of the settlement, where the saints lived. Saints Cosmas and Damian then came out of hiding and delivered themselves over into the hands of the soldiers, asking them to set free those arrested because of them.
      At Rome, the saints were at first locked up in prison, and then were taken for trial. The saints openly confessed before the Roman emperor and the judge their faith in Christ God, having come into the world to save mankind and redeem the world from sin, and they resolutely refused to offer sacrifice to the pagan gods. They said: "We have caused evil for no one, we have not involved ourselves with the magic or sorcery, of which you accuse us. We doctor the infirm by the power of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and we do not take any sort of recompense for rendering aid to the sick, because our Lord commanded His disciples: "Freely ye have received, freely give" (Mt. 10: 8).
      The emperor however continued with his demands. Through the prayer of the holy brothers, imbued with the power of grace, God suddenly struck Carinus blind, so that he too in his own experience might know the almightiness of the Lord, not forgiving blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. The people, beholding the miracle, cried out: "Great is the Christian God and no other is God, except Him!" Many of those that believed besought the holy brothers to heal the emperor, and he himself implored the saints, promising to convert to the True God Christ the Saviour. The saints healed him. After this, Saints Cosmas and Damian were with honour set free and again they set about doctoring the sick.
      But what the hatred of the pagans and the ferocity of the Roman authorities could not do, was done by black envy, one of the strongest passions of the sinful nature of man. An older physician – an instructor, under whom in their time the holy brothers had studied the medical craft, became jealous of their fame. Driven to madness by this malice, and all overcome by passion, he summoned the holy brothers, formerly his most beloved students, that they should all get together for a gathering of various medicinal herbs, and setting far off into the mountains, he murdered them, throwing their bodies into a river.
      Thus as martyrs ended the earthly journey of these holy brothers – the Unmercenary Healers Cosmas and Damian. They had devoted all their life to a Christian service to neighbour, having escaped the Roman sword and prison, but treacherously murdered by a teacher.
      The Lord glorified His God-pleasing ones. And now through the prayers of the holy Unmercenaries Cosmas and Damian is received healing from God for all, who with faith recourse to their saintly intercession.

What a fun day

Today Madison, baby Manny, my mom and I went to Sandcastle water park. We had a great time and I wish I could have taken pictures but I didn't want my phone to get wet or taken.
I hope to make it back soon with Marlee and Mason. They would love it! Daddy it taking Mason to Kennywood Park tomorrow and he is so excited!

1000 Tickets!

Marlee hit the jackpot at David Busters- that's what our 5 year old calls Dave and Busters.
Congrats Marlee!

Hurrying to get it done...

While the children are still asleep I'm trying to hurrry to finish copying and making my Book Of Hours found here at Evlogia.  I love her blog.  She has wonderful homeschooling information there and here at Ages of Grace.
Mason just informed me my times up as he and Manny are now awake!

Today's Readings

Romans 15:7-16
Matthew 12:38-45
1 Corinthians 4:9-16 Apostles
Mark 3:13-19 Apostles

Saints Peter and Paul

      

Troparion
Holy Apostles Peter & Paul, Troparion, Tone IV —
O first enthroned among the apostles/ and teachers of the whole world;/ entreat the Master of all,/ that He grant peace to the world// and great mercy to our souls.

Kontakion, Tone II —
The steadfast and divinely eloquent preachers,/ the foremost of Thine apostles, O Lord,/ hast Thou received into the delight of Thy good things and into rest;/ for Thou hast accepted their pangs and death as greater than any wholeburnt offering,// O Thou Who alone knowest the hearts of men.

The Kasperovsk Icon

      The Kasperovsk Icon of the MostHoly Mother of God during the War of 1853‑1855 defended the city of Odessa against an incursion of hostile forces. Under archbishop Innokentii (Borisov) it was directed "that this event should not be forgotten in the teaching of posterity", and to make celebration on 1 October. The icon had already been acknowledged as wonderworking and glorified by the MostHoly Synod in 1840, after investigation of a whole series of miracles. Before this, the image had been kept by the landowner Juliania Ioannovna Kasperova, who received it inheritance as a sacred family heirloom in 1809.

 

© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.

Today's Readings

Luke 24:1-12 (4th Matins Gospel)
Romans 6:18-23 (Epistle)
Matthew 8:5-13 (Gospel)

Update on the No Poo Method

It's been going well. Has it been 2 weeks now? I'll have to look back. My hair feel soft and smooth and is less oily in my opinion. Overall I'm very happy.

Jodi

Cinnamon Chip Danish Recipe

I'm so mad. I just typed this whole recipe in and it didn't work! Here we go again......
16 Rhodes Rolls or 1 loaf thawed
Roll it out in a rectangle on parchmente
Mix-
6 oz cream cheese softened
3 tablespoons sugar
1 egg yolk
Blend in 1 1/3 cups cinnamon chips
Spoon on the dough in middle lengthwise
Cut long sides of sought inn1 inch slits and braid by twisting and pinching.
Move to baking sheet, cover to raise for 30 mins, bake at 350 for 30 mins
Cool and drizzle with glaze
Glaze-
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 1/2 tablespoon soft butter
Lil milk to thin it

Cinnamon Chip Danish

Ain't nothin quite like it!

The Nativity of the Holy Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord, John

      The Nativity of the Holy Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord, John: The Gospel (Lk. 1: 57-80) relates that the righteous parents of Saint John the Baptist – the Priest Zachariah and Elizabeth, lived in the ancient city of Hebron, and reached old age being childless, since Elizabeth was barren. One time, Saint Zachariah was making Divine services at the Jerusalem Temple and saw the Archangel Gabriel, standing on the right side of the incense offertory. He predicted, that Saint Zachariah would father a son, who would announce the Saviour – the Messiah, awaited by the Old Testament Church. Zachariah was troubled, and fear fell upon him. He had doubts that in old age it was possible to have a son, and he asked for a sign. And it was given to him – it appeared at the same time as a chastisement for his unbelief: Zachariah was struck speechless until the time of the fulfillment of the archangel's words. 
      Saint Elizabeth came to be with child, and fearing derision over the lateness of her pregnancy, she kept it secret for five months, until there came visiting her distant relative the All-Blessed Virgin Mary, to share with her Her own joy. Elizabeth, at the prompting of the Holy Spirit, was the first to greet the Virgin Mary as the Mother of God. And together with her Saint John also – in the womb of his mother Righteous Elizabeth – did greet "with leaps as in song" the MostHoly Virgin Mary and the Son of God incarnated within Her.

      It became time, and Saint Elizabeth gave birth to a son, and all the relatives and acquaintances rejoiced together with her. On the eighth day, in accord with the law of Moses, was made the circumcision. His mother named him John. Everyone was amazed, since no one in their family had been named such. When they asked Saint Zachariah about this, he motioned for a tablet and wrote on it: "John is his name" – and immediately the binding of his tongue at the prediction of the archangel was unbound, and Saint Zachariah, at the prompting of the Holy Spirit, glorified God and pronounced the words of prophecy about the Advent-Coming into the world of the Messiah, and about his own son John – the Forerunner of the Lord.
      After the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ and the worship of the shepherds and the Magi, wicked king Herod gave orders to kill all the infants. Hearing about this, Saint Elizabeth fled into the wilderness and hid in a cave. Saint Zachariah as a priest was at Jerusalem and was doing his priestly service in the Temple. Herod sent soldiers to him to find out the abode of the infant John and his mother. Zachariah answered, that their whereabouts were unknown to him, and he was killed right there in the Temple. Righteous Elizabeth continued to live in the wilderness with her son and she died there. The lad John, protected by an Angel, dwelt in the wilderness until such time, when he came preaching about repentance and was himself vouchsafed worthy to baptise the Lord Who was come into the world.

Today's readings

The Scripture Readings

Romans 9:18-33
Matthew 11:2-15

Troparion

Holy Martyr Julian of Tarsus, Troparion, Tone IV —
In his suffering, O Lord,/ Thy martyr Julianreceived an imperishable crown from Thee our God;/ for, possessed of Thy might,/ he set at nought the tormentors and crushed the feeble audacity of the demons.// By his supplications save Thou our souls.

Today's readings

Mark 16:9-20 (3rd Matins Gospel)
Romans 5:1-10
Matthew 6:22-33

Home alone with baby

My husband just left with all the older kids so Manny and I are home alone. I'm happy to just rest with him, well as much as you can rest with an over active 20 month old who is in to everything! I will miss my helpers who are taking my place of following him around and picking up after him. I'm sure the floor will be a disaster.
Missed Divine Liturgy today which I am not happy about but we'll read today's readings and probably listen to the cd at home. I wish I had one of my church though. It's always easier to sing along.
Well I think Lil man is ready for a nap. Yeah! Mama will take one too while laying on an icepack.

Jodi

Todays Readings

Luke 1:39-49, 56 Matins Gospel
Romans 9:6-19
Matthew 10:32-36; 11:1
Philippians 2:5-11 Theotokos
Luke 10:38-42; 11:27-28 Theotokos

From today's reading in Luke-

And it happened, as He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, "Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!"
28	But He said, "More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!"

Jodi

Update

Well they did absolutely nothing for me at Med Express other than say the UTI test was negative. I am still in so much pain. It's really getting quite annoying!