Thursday, November 14, 2019

Saint Philip's Fast, The Nativity Fast, Advent: Preparing our hearts for Jesus and Christmas

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The Nativity Fast gifts us Byzantine Catholics and other Christians with 40 days to prepare for the feast of the Nativity of Jesus Christ. The twelve days of Christmas begin then and continue with the feast of Jesus' Transfiguration. So, forty days of fasting, forty days of feasting. Every year, the Christian life is a roller coaster, a see-saw, a winding road
May Our Lord bless you this season of the Nativity Fast! 

Friday, November 1, 2019

A Simple Woman's Daybook for November

For Today
Looking out my window... I wish I could say that I am enjoying the brightly colored leave of autumn, but alas- reality gets in the way. Ash is being blown about because of the latest fires. The closest fire is about one mile away. Lord, have mercy!

I am thinking and wondering... why do politicians get away with spending $1 trillion on high speed rail which is no where complete when they could spend it on burying the electric wires that cause these yearly infernos? 

I am thankful... for our safety, for health, for my children, for this month of thanksgiving after the month of 'spookiness.' My sensitive kiddos are just about done with all the gore and guts they would see in the neighborhood and at stores. 

One of my favorite things... my small mug collection for all day tea guzzling! 

I am creating... a few simple quilts to give as Christmas gifts for the youngest babies in the extended family. 

I am wearing.... nothing special. just my go-to at-home all-black ensemble.  

I just finished reading... Agatha Christie's Curtain- Poirot's last case and The Gift of Dyslexia. I try to have a fiction and non-fiction going at the same time- that way I don't read too much non-fiction. In audio books with the kids, we are always listening to the Chronicles of Narnia on repeat or a new library find. We finished From the Mixed up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler- highly recommended. 

I am hoping... that my heart and the entire world are converted to Jesus

I am learning... that I really cannot satisfy everyone with my blog posts. Either I am too superficial or too cranky, too Eastern or too Western... that is why I don't blog. I need to get over that. 

In my kitchen... I am using my instant pot a lot! Usually I sear whatever meat I have, add onions and garlic, saute a bit, add more veggies and half a cup of broth (or more if I want it to be soup) and then pressure cook for 20-30 minutes, Easy!  

In the school room... our 7th grade son (!) is doing IEW Writing and Pre-algebra out side the house this year. Both classes are 1.5 hours long with about 8 students total. I think this will be a great benefit to him as he enters high school level work. Lots of homework and learning to figure out the instructor's expectations and dealing with other students in an academic environment instead of just 'fun' classes like art, theater, and sports. 

In my garden... my (potted) vegetable are just about done. I have two beautiful eggplants that did not produce one fruit. Ah well... 

Post Script
Everyone knows this blog, right? http://likemotherlikedaughter.org/ I am hoping that Leila will publish her home and family book soon...she hints... 

Shared Quote
It might be cliche, and I don't live in a place with nice Octobers, but I remember and I can dream.... "I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” ― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables 

A moment:  11 years ago- but I couldn't resist!
May November be blessed and joy-filled for us all!