Ages of Grace Coming Soon!

I'm so excited!  I mentioned this orthodox blog before and how I love it, well she is going to be offering a curriculum for homeschoolers called Ages of Grace.  You can read more about it here in her interview.

We Have a Date.....

No, not me and my hubby...I wish... but me and these wonderfully delicious looking salted-chocolate-and-pecan-cake-bars from The Pioneer Woman.  I can't make them today for 2 reasons-
1. Madison isn't eating chocolate for Lent and
2. I don't have any pecans and  I'm NOT going to the store again today.
But we will meet again just as soon as Lent is over.

Vanilla Candied Nuts

These are the easiest and best tasting candied nuts I have tried yet.  Givem a try.

Here is where I got this recipe.  She has some really good ideas.

2 cups nuts- I use walnuts

1/3 cup of PURE maple syrup

1/8 tsp. sea salt

1/2 tsp. pure vanilla

mix all in skillet over med-high heat for 3-5 mins.  Cool and store in Mason jar.

Sweet Cinnamon Scones

Madison is such a sweet girl.  She wouldn't eat her daddy's peanutbutter chocolate brownie birthday cake because she gave up chocolate for lent so to reward her I made her one of her favorites this morning, scones.  I tryed a new recipe you can find HERE.  They came out delicous as most things do from The Poineer Woman Cooks.  Madison-who can be a pick eater- says she will try just about anything from here site and we just love to read her notes cause she just has a special style.

Anyway, please make these and enjoy.  They are so good right out of the oven that they dont even need any additional butter on them, and you wont hear me say that very often!

Review of Blue Diamond Almond Nut-Thins

We bought these in country ranch and they are yummy...thumbs up from hubby- who swears he doesn't like nuts and Madison too!

Wheat and gluten free also no artificial flavors or colors!  They have tocopherols and ascorbyl palimate for maintaining freshness. 

Happy Birthday Daddy

Marlee did a little mud art for her daddy's b-day.

Listen to the Lyrics

Watching You by Rodney Atkins

Morning at the Park

The Snackmaster Strikes Again......

Almost Here on DVD

Cant wait!  Got it on preorder

Fun Playing with Our Cousins

Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross

Third Sunday of Great Lent

Troparion - Tone 4

O Lord, save Your people,
and bless Your inheritance.
Grant victories to the Orthodox Christians,
over their adversaries.
And by virtue of Your Cross
preserve Your habitation!

Kontakion - Tone 7

Now the flaming sword no longer guards the gates of Eden;
it has mysteriously been quenched by the wood of the Cross!
The sting of death and the victory of hell have been vanquished;
for You, O my Savior, have come and cried to those in hell:
"Enter again into paradise."

Review of Applegate Uncured Chicken Dogs

Very good.  Lean, low sodium.  Hubby likes them but thinks they are a bit chewy.  But perfect with homemade chill and cheese.

Passed Out

Someone got up a little too early and passed out...well nursed back to sleep.. so I got to go to Liturgy without him today.  Marlee still came along but we got to sit in front and not in the cryroom.  It was so nice to sing and participate.  The sermon was just what I needed too.  Father talked about living your life for eternity and not to worry about the people of this worlds option....follow Gods word.  How reassuring.

Just in Time

A Little Way of Homeschooling-
Thirteen families Discover Catholic Unschooling
By Suzie Andres...Forward by Mike Aquilina



Are you blessed with one of those friends who just seems to know when your gonna need a little pick me up? I'm blessed with a few of them and one of them I think of as sort of like a mentor of sorts... someone who is a few years a head of me on this journey of motherhood and who is just so darn inspiring. She seems to understand most of what I'm going through and has been there and done that. Well, she blessed me the other day with this book and just seemed to know that I was going to be needing the inspiration and affirmation.

I'm doing the best I can here and I'm going to be always trying to do better but I do have a set of core beliefs that just aren't going to change no matter how some may feel about them. They aren't going to stand before God in judgement for my decisions.... I am. I do not believe in birth control.... the Church teaches its wrong...each and every child is a blessing.

 I practice NFP and I do my best. Am I activity trying to conceive right now..no. And if I was I probably would be. I am blessed with fertility not cursed! Why is it that at times others make me feel like it is a curse. Am I ever going to feel anything but fear and apprehension when it comes time to tell family members if God does choose to bless us again with another life...no and thats so sad but so true. Wont be any different than its been for years.
Okay, there is sooo much more I would like to say but I think I'm just going to hold my tongue and pray about it.... I dont want to go to Divine Liturgy this morning feeling like this....angry, sad, and disappointed. Man, now I feel like I need to go to confession for all the thoughts that have been swirling around in my head!
Blessed St. Anne pray for me and all mothers for peace, gentleness of spirit and acceptance.  In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit....Amen.

Enjoying Spring

Marlee is drawing the beautiful daffodils aka narcissus we picked and then she identified the type..."Ice Follies". They smell so good.

p class="mobile-photo">

Madison's Learning to Cook

Madison cooked them after Malree and I mixed up the batter.

Marlee helped me set the table

Yummy...

Manny sat and ate for about 30 seconds in his highchair before he climbed in my lap....needless to say we both needed a bath when we were done.

Always Getting into Something

So cute though....