for all human life

In the next 40 days, many are praying for the sanctity of human life to be upheld and supported. May women in difficult situations be inspired to choose life, and may they be supported in overcoming whatever hardships would cause them to abort their child. And may we all really understand the underpinnings of the militantly pro-abortion groups. Here's a little hint:

read more at What Does The Prayer Really Say

To Sleep Perchance to Stream- 7 QuickTakes

In no particular order and probably with some serious omissions: here are a few favorites to stream on Netflix.Yes, I know the company is getting a bit stingy, but I think they think the future is in streaming.

1. Monk and Psych- 45 minutes is just about the perfect time amount to devote to 'vegging out' in front of the computer screen. We enjoyed Monk and we are watching Psych right now. I guess it is still on the air with new episodes.

2. Sherlock Holmes episodes with the master Jeremy Brett and Miss Marple with Joan Hickson- television was highly censored when I was a kid (thanks Mom and Dad, now Grease is something brand-new for me to watch), so we only had free rein with PBS. This was in the good old days, and we devoured a lot of British television. I never got into Dr. Who (even though I love most science fiction), but other than that, it was British television all the time.

3. All Creatures Great and Small- this is the 'England of my dreams.' And it stars Peter Davison from Dr. Who! Who knew?

4. Keeping Up Appearances- this British comedy is one of my favorites. You will laugh, and you can watch it in front of your mother; I did. A friend just recommended Bless me, Father. I'm going to check it out.

5. The Andy Griffith Show and The Dick Van Dyke Show- my big girls (they're not allowed to see Monk or Psych- too much 'gore') are enjoying watching these classic t.v. shows. We watch movies, but watching one episode limits t.v. time.

6. All those National Geographic documentaries. Who needs the History Channel? China's Lost Daughters was an especially good one, and my husband really learned from the film on Alexander the Great.

7. For the kids- I choose Shaun the Sheep and Pingu. Busy Town Mysteries is sort of cute, even if they aren't exactly like the original books.

So there you have it! Any favorites of your own to add?

find more quick takes at conversion diary.com

my first YarnAlong, or In Which I Don't Knit

My first knitting project was a baby blue cotton blanket that I made for a friend. I had just miscarried my first boy at twenty weeks in utero. I proceeded to make a few easy things like scarves, but I never really got into the art form. I collect yarn and knitting books occasionally, but I don't knit. It really is a perfect activity to do while waiting the required hour and a half at the doctor's office. But I don't knit. I think I got off on the wrong foot with the craft, and it is time to exorcise those old feelings.

The big girls, however, are beginning to enjoy crafting. Daughter #2 is crocheting, and Daughter #1 is learning to quilt. They are using their budding talent and skill for their 'Crafters for Life' club that will donate handmade items to crisis pregnancy centers. Daughter #1 wants me to teach her to knit because crocheting is Daughter #1's 'thing.' So even in this demi-paradise, there is a bit of sibling rivalry. But I might just have to pick up my knitting needles again.

She's working on granny squares to make into a blanket, and she's reading Rainbow Valley (my old copy) for the third time.

She's sewing like a wild woman to get ready for the next Crafters for Life meeting. She has completed six quilt tops. As you can see, it is a very simple pattern, but it has been fun. The fabric came from one of my sisters who will be receiving an extra special quilt in time for a certain someone who is arriving by St Valentine's Day. The George MacDonald book was purchased at the recommendation of, yes, Leila at Like Mother, Like Daughter

find many many more yarn alongs at small things

I'm not THAT PW: How to Make Hot Chocolate in 36 Easy Steps

Life is serious. Death is serious. Mothering, homeschooling, working, vacuuming- all serious. So, I try to stay positive and not-so-serious when possible in my blog writing (with a touch of reality and truth throw in) and my internet surfing (for example, I'll watch a bit of So You Think You Can Dance and never, ever watch a minute of The Bachelor or Big Brother- see how balanced and positive I am?)

I am very late to the party that is 'PW'- nope, not 'priest's wife'- that is 'Pioneer Woman' to all of us city folk. Her blog is very pretty and busy and makes her a million dollars a month or year in advertising revenue. I have read it a few times, using google to get to it. Boy was I surprised when I clicked on a satire site! I suppose you have to be pretty famous for someone to take the time to satirize your site with photo after photo of barbie dolls making fun of your latest recipe. I don't think it is kind to make fun of someone however famous- except these 'hater' blogs had a few valid critiques, mostly about the care of horses and food safety in the kitchen.

Since this blog's P'sW is mostly a mom, I am in the kitchen virtually all day- at least it feels like that some days. I am always on the lookout for simple, healthy, inspiring, inexpensive recipes to use with my family. I looked at the PW blog for inspiration; she makes a lot of money with the ad revenue connected to her cooking section. I came across 'The Bread.' She writes that it will change my life. In eight photos, she shows how to make 'The Bread'- a store-bought French loaf cut length-wise and spread with two sticks of butter. And that's it. It is garlic bread with twice the butter and minus the garlic. Hmmm...maybe I am being judgmental and jealous of her revenue stream...I'll find another recipe...

So I am temporarily a satire site...here's my recipe for hot chocolate. I hope it isn't too complicated a recipe for anyone (tongue planted firmly in cheek)!

P's W's FAMOUS Hot Chocolate

Place three teaspoons of hot water in a heavy-bottomed pan.

We'll be using cocoa powder for this recipe. Usually, I use fair trade cocoa, but somehow this one made it into my Ghanaian woven shopping basket.

Place four heaping tablespoonfuls of cocoa into the water (I use a bit of water at the beginning so I can heat the cocoa and whisk so it won't clump)

This is going to get hot. Take a drink of yummy elderberry juice if you have it on hand.

Here's the sugar. It's organic, but still not fair trade. Argh.

Place four rounded tablespoonfuls of sugar into the pot.

Choose from your collection of vanillas. Be both horrified that you keep buying vanilla- but also proud that you finally cleaned out the cabinets and know what you have- for the moment. You will add one teaspoon of vanilla to the cocoa mixture. Whoops! I didn't get a photo of that essential, complicated step! Whisk it all together- another step that didn't get photographed- maybe I was too hard on PW with her 38 photos of an easy recipe....

He's not a basset hound or a mustang horse, but here in the real world free of government subsidies, Lucky is a nice addition to the family. He's not getting any cocoa, though.

Pour four scant cups of milk into the mixture. I hope you notice my glass cup recommended by Leila at Like Mother, Like Daughter- she had better not recommend anything else or she'll put me in the poor house.

Turn on the fire to medium and whisk!

Make it nice and frothy. I hope you used 2% or whole milk. No half and half or cream here- and no skim milk either. Let's attempt a little balance, shall we?

Swirl it around some more for good luck. Turn off the heat. Don't forget. Really- turn off the heat.

Prepare your marshmallows. I like to go with a Trinitarian Three for each cup.

Place three marshmallows in each cocoa cup.

Ladle one-fourth of the cocoa into each cup.

Admire your complicated cocoa creation before the children slurp it down in a second or two.

WHEW! That was exhausting! I was going to photograph the steps to making popcorn, but this was just too much. PW is a genius. I'm not.

Until next time...

The Great Doxology- A Series on The Divine Liturgy of St John Chyrsostom

I'm no theologian, but theology is a huge part of my life. Monday rolls around, and I have nothing to write unless I am going to rant about some struggle with the weekend. That might be alright occasionally, but not every Monday. So I have decided to start a series, going through the Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysotom. You might be familiar with a different translation, and some jurisdictions have simplified portions of the Divine Liturgy, but this is our Liturgy. I'll be writing some personal reflections, and I hope you will write your own thoughts in the comment box, especially if you, dear reader, are a theologian.

Before the Liturgy, the priest will be busy at a side altar, preparing the bread for the service. That is a little service in itself. One of these days, I'll have my husband write about it because it is not quite clear what is happening because the people are usually busy singing hymns and then the priest incenses the altar and icon screen and the congregation sings:

The Great Doxology

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will among men

We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you; we give you thanks for your great glory

O Lord God, heavenly king, Father almighty, O Lord, only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit.

O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, who takes away the sins of the world- have mercy on us, you who take away the sins of the world.

Receive our prayer, you who sit at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us.

For You alone are holy, you alone are Lord, Jesus Christ, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Every day will I bless you, and I will praise your name for ever and ever.

Make us worthy, O Lord, this day, to be preserved free from sin.

Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, and your name is praised and glorified forever. Amen.

Let your mercy, o Lord, be upon us as we have hoped in you.

Blessed are you, O Lord, teach me your righteousness.

Lord, you have been our refuge from generation to generation. I said: Lord, have mercy on me. Heal my soul, for I have sinned before you.

Lord, in you have I hoped, teach me to do your will for you are my God.

For with you is the source of life; in your light will we see light. Extend your mercy unto those who know you.

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us.

The Doxology is found in many traditions, the equivalent in the Roman-rite would be the 'Gloria.' The language here is very rich and alludes to Old Testament tradition. One could meditate on each line and take days to really understand what one is singing. Perhaps this is a reason why it is good that we pray it at every Divine Liturgy. Of course, one can just recite it robotically, but if one really prays while singing it, it is a perfect prayer.

I always feel a little calmer when we start the Great Doxlogy. Probably we couldn't find shoes or socks. Probably the little kids are squabbling over who gets which soft toy to hold. Probably we are rushing to put food into the coffee room. Maybe the baby's bottle overturned in my purse- I've never been a baby bag person. Even those days that work because I followed my own Sunday morning advice can be hectic. So, when we start the Great doxology, I can breathe a sigh of relief- even if I can't stay long because the baby decides to act up.

'For with you is the source of life; in your light will we see light' is speaking to me especially. Perhaps it is because the days are getting shorter lately. We are children of light. Christ is the light. Darkness has no place in us because God has made us His children. Although we sin, we are called to constantly renew our relationship with God through the sacraments and personal prayer so that we can 'enlighten' ourselves through God's mercy. I also love that the words 'light' and 'life' are so similar in the English language because these concepts are one and the same.

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Contrast this with a prayer-poem written by Fr Ed Hayes and reproduced by the National Catholic Reporter- it celebrates the darkness that is within us- a darkness that as children of light we should reject  

I unite myself with ancient memories that sleep within.
Ancestors of long ago whose fears have left their fingerprints upon me,
remind me of my holy communion with that river of humanity
that flows through my soul.
May this flame be my autumn sacred fire.

I greet you, child of night — my anger.
May I live with you in a creative way.
Be fuel for the prophet within me
to speak and act against the darkness of injustice.

I greet you, daughter of the dark — my sexual needs.
May I always dance with you in creative, selfless ways.
May I live with you in openness and without fear. (for the remainder of the text, click here)