St. Gerard of Majella's Feast Day

Today is the feast day of St. Gerard of Majella. He has always held a special place in my heart and my prayer life.

I was saying daily prayers to him, beseeching his assistance in adding a child to our family -- not knowing that C was nestled safely in my womb for many months (I was 28 weeks along before finding out I was pregnant.)

I continued calling upon him during the remainder of my pregnancy and then again during my 2nd pregnancy. I found a small statue of him that sits on my dresser long before I was expecting L. A few months ago he fell and broke his arm. I kept his hand safe, but just today finally glued him back together.

When I hear of someone expecting, I often send one of his prayer cards along to the expectant mom. He is the patron saint of expectant mothers, among other things.

He was a tailor, apprenticed out at a very young age to help support his mother after his father's death. He patiently waited for admission to the Redemptorists, who didn't want to take him because of his frail health. He performed miracles throughout his life, which earned him the name of "Wonderworker."

One story I love is that he was forbidden by his superior to perform any miracles without permission. A man fell from scaffolding, and St. Gerard stopped him in mid-air while he went to ask permission to save him. He received permission, and the man floated gently down to the ground.

He was also able to bi-locate and was often seen caring for 2 families at the same time during the plage of the early 1700's.

When we baptized L, we were asked to name a family patron saint. It was easy for me to choose St. Gerard.

We'll make some biscotti in honor of him today (he was Italian) and perhaps the boys will sew a little bit in honor of his time as a tailor.

Mother Talk Review: Deceptively Delicious

When I first heard about this book, I couldn't wait to read it! I have one child who is a picky eater, and a husband who turns up his nose at any vegetable except canned green beans and raw carrots.

Jessica Seinfeld created a cookbook that is a delight to look at and then filled it with tons of recipes that sneak in extra vegetables and fruits. She took kid-friendly recipes and added in various fruit and vegetable purees to increase the nutritional kick.

I love cookbooks, and this one hit all the big points for me -- color pictures of the food, simple how-to's, recipes that are unique and delicious. The beginning of the cookbook has some great basic information -- from stocking your pantry to specific how-to's on creating purees. After the basics are covered, it moves into the recipes -- including breakfasts, mealtimes and desserts.

My boys have been helping me cook more and more these days, and I debated about asking their help with these recipes. While I knew my 5 year old would be eager to eat any of them (since he eats most vegetables happily!), my 6 year old can refuse to eat a dish if a vegetable is even mentioned in the same room as food prep. I decided to ask their help on one recipe, and try another without their knowledge. I handed the book over to my boys and asked them to pick a recipe to try.

They chose Chicken Alphabet Soup -- I think because they liked the look of the large pasta letters in the picture (which I was unable to find at our grocery store.) Her trick for the soup is to stir in cauliflower and sweet potato puree instead of adding any recognizable vegetables. The recipe is very simple (broth, chicken, pasta and the purees) but it tasted good. Both boys liked it, and I never thought of adding puree into chicken soup before -- usually I just add chopped carrots.

I decided to try her brownie recipe, even though the thought of spinach in brownies made me grimace. She added carrot & spinach purees to the recipe -- and warned that the spinach flavor wouldn't disappear until the brownies were completely cool. Ummm, for the first time ever I threw brownies away. I didn't tell my boys or my husband about the spinach, but they all took 2 bites and wouldn't eat more. They definitely had an odd taste.

I didn't want to end on that note, so I tried her Angel Food Cupcake recipe, which added yellow squash to the batter and carrot puree to the frosting. This was a success, with everyone eating their cupcakes and not even noticing the flavor of squash in the cupcakes.

I also tried her ketchup recipe, which the kids liked just fine and had fun helping me prepare. We actually don't eat a lot of ketchup around here, but we eat enough of it that I liked the idea of having a healthier version on hand. It freezes easily in smaller portions that should last a few months.

Overall, it's a great addition to my cookbook collection. I will definitely try more of the recipes in this book. I like having some tried & true ways to add more vegetables to our diet.

My only complaint is that the recipes lacked nutritional information. I would have liked to see the calorie counts, fiber content, etc. for each recipe.

You can check out a few of the recipes from her book at the book's website.

If you'd like your own copy, it's available at Amazon and other bookstores. The publisher is also running a contest if you'd like to try & win a copy!

things about L

Just a few things to say about L --

She's very ticklish and laughs a LOT!

She anticipates being tickled even! If someone comes near her, and she thinks she might get tickled, she'll start to giggle. It's very cute ;)

I can see that her muscles are growing stronger, but she hasn't mastered sitting independently yet.

When someone else is holding her, and she catches sight of me, her arms and legs start flailing -- as if she's trying to fly out of their arms and into mine. When I take her, she snuggles her face into my neck and holds on tight. She will glance up and grin at whomever was holding her, and then snuggle right back into me. It's very sweet :)

Her eyes light up when she hears her brothers & her father, and especially when she catches sight of them. They dote on her right back.

Her sleep is so - so these days, but we're managing.

old friends, good friends

My friend, A, visited last weekend. While I was a bit worried about her visit, I needn't have. It was wonderful to see her and spend good chunks of time with her. She was great with the kids, and was a welcome extra pair of hands.

I am grateful that we've stayed in touch all these years, and that our friendship hasn't suffered from distance.

I had much more that I wanted to say, but L nurses so often and I can't type and breastfeed at the same time, so that's all I have time for now.

Thanks to those who prayed for my special intentions. I'm hoping that things are improving, but I'm not sure of the outcomes yet.

A Prayer for Special Intentions

I truly believe in the power of prayer. We're going through some tough times right now, and I'm doing my best to trust in the Lord.

If you're reading this, I would appreciate a prayer for our special intentions - specifically regarding DH's employment. I have a special affinity for St. Gerard and we have taken him as the patron saint of our family. I found this prayer at Catholic.org.

Almighty and loving Father,
I thank you for giving St. Gerard to us
as a most appealing model and powerful friend.
By his example,
he showed us how to love and trust You.
You have showered many blessings
on those who call upon him.
For Your greater glory and my welfare,
please grant me the favours
which I ask in his name.

(Mention your needs here...)

And you, my powerful patron,
intercede for me before the throne of God.
Draw near to that throne
and do not leave it until you have been heard.
O good saint,
to you I address my fervent prayers;
graciously accept them
and let me experience in some way
the effects of your powerful intercession.

Amen.

old friends

A friend is coming tomorrow for a visit. I'm amazed when I think that we met in 1987! Other than my family, I've never stayed in touch with anyone this long! We usually connect only a couple times of year now, but when she's in the southwest or I'm in the midwest, we try to see each other.

I'm grateful that we have stayed friends. We met when we were both starting college -- literally a lifetime ago. Our lives have changed so much in the last 20 years (as they should!) but it's comforting to have that connection to my 20 year old self.

I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed at life, and a little nervous of potential judgment by her. She has no children, and I know she is of the opinion that couples should have no more than two. I feel that I have to be an example of grace -- that I should be able to effortlessly handle my children and my home. Unfortunately, I'm feeling rather graceless these days.

The truth is -- she won't judge me. We couldn't have remained friends this long if there was judgment by either of us. Deep down, I have to believe that she accepts me and my choices.

But, I still can wish that things were a little more together around here. And, hopefully the boys won't act like hellions.

rolling, rolling, rolling

Our little girl rolls both ways with no trouble these days.

After a few nights of solid sleep, she was up this morning at 3AM. Not hungry, but wide awake! I watched the Top Chef finale while she giggled and cooed and then finally decided to eat and settle back to sleep around 5:30.

I pulled out the cloth diapers yesterday. Money is ridiculously tight right now, and dropping $10 for a pack of disposables cuts into our budget too much. Thankfully, I still have many diapers from C & N, so we can start up again with no expense. I kept telling myself I'd start using cloth when I was on top of laundry, but that hasn't happened. Maybe using cloth will help me get back on top of my laundry? They make her bottom so big in cloth! I will have to bump up to the next size in onesies just to fit in her new diaper butt!

Wedding Cake

Alexa, over at Randomly Selected Thoughts, asked her readers to post a picture of their wedding cakes. Here's mine!

There was a fountain underneath the 2 main layers, and miniature bridesmaids were walking up the staircases. It was very beautiful, and tasted YUMMY too! We love Rich's in Milwaukee for cake ;)

Feast of the Archangels

Today is the Feast of the Archangels. (it's also L's 5 month birthday!)

I gave the boys holy cards this morning of Raphael and Gabriel, but somehow didn't have any for Michael. I did find a wonderful coloring page that included St. Michael's prayer for them to work on today.

We read about the angels from Saints and Angels, and will be making a devil's food cake later today for St. Michael. I also pulled out a picture of my grandfather, (who was named Gabriel) and we talked about him and his life.

I was going to make an angel's food cake, but decided to save that for the Feast of Guardian Angels on Tuesday.

I found this wonderful prayer to the angels that we'll be saying as a novena starting today. There's a special intention that we're praying for, and I have faith that we'll be taken care of.

Bless the Lord, all you His angels. You who are mighty in strength and do His will, intercede for me at the throne of God. By your unceasing watchfulness protect me in every danger of soul and body. Obtain for me the grace of final perseverance, so that after this life I may be admitted to your glorious company and with you may sing the praises of God for all eternity.

All you holy angels and archangels, thrones and dominations, principalities and powers and virtues of heaven, cherubim and seraphim, and especially you, my dear guardian angel, intercede for me and obtain for me the special favor I now ask ...

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be world without end. Amen.

Blogger Meme

I've been tagged by Deb over at Ukok's Place! (Thanks, Deb!)

1. Do you attend the Traditional Latin Mass or the Novus Ordo Mass?
I attend the Novus Ordo Mass and have never attended a Traditional Latin Mass. There was a notice in the bulletin last week that our former parish is starting to have a TLM and I considered attending, but the Novus Ordo is all I have ever known.

My parents remember the TLM and my mom has mentioned in the past that she missed the Latin hymns - but she doesn't attend mass regularly anyway. I know my great-grandparents and grandparents fully embraced the NOM and I admit I don't understand the fuss that is kicked up by some Catholics. I go to mass to be in the presence of our Lord, and while I am sometimes frustrated by the way certain things are presented (like never going with the responsorial psalm in the missal!), I am blessed that I can sit in the presence of Him.

2. If you attend the TLM, how far do you drive to get there?

N/A

3. If you had to apply a Catholic label to yourself, what would it be?
I'm Catholic. That is label enough, isn't it?

4. Are you a comment junkie?
I enjoy receiving comments, but it doesn't make or break my day when I don't receive any! I read many blogs that I never comment on, but I still enjoy reading.

5. Do you go back to read the comments on the blogs you’ve commented on?
Sometimes, but not very often.

6. Have you ever left an anonymous comment on another blog?
Not that I can remember.

7. Which blogroll would you most like to be on?
I don’t want to be on anyone’s blogroll if they don’t want me on it.

8. Which blog is the first one you check?
I usually check my bloglines account first, to see who has updated recently.

9. Have you met any other bloggers in person?
Yes.

10. What are you reading?
The Awakening by Kate Chopin, The No-Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers & Preschoolers by Elizabeth Pantley, Brother Sun, Sister Moon: Stories of St. Francis by Margaret Mayo, and too many children's books to list!

Bonus Question! Has your site been banned by Spirit of Vatican II?

I have no idea what that site is ?