Small Successes vol. 1

                                  

This is my first time "playing along" at Small Successes at Faith and Family Live.

1st Success:
I need to exercise more, read blogs less. I realized I could put my laptop on my treadmill and be able to walk and read blogs - double dipping and I love it.

2nd Success:
Two of my sisters have come the last several years and decorated my house for Christmas - they have a gift and do a fabulous job. This year they came but didn't do as much as usual - and so I finished it ON MY OWN!!! It looks very Christmasy around here and I love it!

3rd Success:
I have a Program of Life that I had misplaced for several months - I never realized how much I used it until it was gone. I was cleaning today and found it!! Hurray and thank you dear Jesus. I feel like I can get back on track.

Raspberry Almond Shortbread Thumbprints

Raspberry Almond Shortbread Thumbprints

cookies:
2/3 cup sugar
1 cup butter, softened (2 sticks)
1/2 tsp almond extract
2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup raspberry jam

Glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
11/2 tsp almond extract
2-3 tsp water.

1. Heat oven to 350degrees. In mixing bowl combine sugar, butter and almond extract. Beat at medium until creamy. Reduce speed to low and add flour. Beat until well mixed.

2. Shape dough into 1" balls. Put 2" apart on cookie sheets. With thumb, make a dent in center of each cookie (edges may crack slightly) Fill indentation with a tiny amount of jam.

3. Bake for 14-18 minutes or until edges are lightly brown. Let stand for 1 minute.; remove from cookie sheet. Cool 10 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, in a small bowl stir together powdered sugar, 11/2tsp almond extract and enough water to make a thin glaze. Drizzle over cookies. Cool completely.

Kara @ Kara's Kitchen Creation is having a cookie swap and I have joined. There are lots of yummy cookies - go check them out.

Adoro Te Devote

2 minute Motivational Speech

I am giving a talk on motivation - I really liked this.

Save Your Marriage

Mothers

"All that I am or hope to be, I owe to my Mother."

Abraham Lincoln

11 year old sings for Life

The girl in the video is only 11. She wrote the song and the music and performed it at the Allen County Right to Life Banquet before 700 people - it is AMAZING!!!!! I know her parents are very proud of her.

Dinner with Dougie, and the Best Ribs Ever

Tonight we had "pig" ribs. They were fantastic - the only problem is I used Pepsi instead of Coke to cook them. Yes, pop is my secret ingredient and WHO KNEW that it wouldn't be fall off the bone scrumptious with the competition???? So, if you make these, believe me when I say COKE is what you need and NEVER EVER EVER NEVER USE DIET!!! (Recipe at the end)

My son lives 2 houses away and works for his dad - they see each other ALL the time. He however rarely just comes over. I don't blame him, when I moved out at his age I lived 4 miles from home and didn't come home for like 3 months. I loved my parents, my little brothers and sisters - there were no hard feelings, I just had too much going on. And I started dating my husband to be and we spent all our time together.

HOWEVER now that the shoe is on the other foot I feel desperately lonely and neglected. "Stop in -I'll make you whatever your heart desires for breakfast, for lunch, for dinner." Part of the problem is I am a "luck of the draw" kinda cook. The last time I cooked for him and his fiance I dang near gave them salmonella (I followed the instructions but still undercooked the chicken by a LOT) So, I don't think she is willing to eat here anymore. Sigh. It makes me sad - but I totally understand - I have chicken issues myself.

TONIGHT I made The Best Ribs Ever and called and invited them over. I am confident in my ribs turning out. Unfortunately She had class but Dougie came, brought my sweet grandbaby and his roommate....YEA! I love me a full table! I love feeding my grandbaby. I love having guests and I especially love having all my children in the same room!!! I know these opportunities will become fewer and farther between and I am so glad I was able to see the gift it was and is.

Here is the recipe that made it all happen!

Best Ribs Ever

1-2 slabs of pig ribs
Steak seasoning
2 litre of COKE
BBQ Sauce

Put the ribs in a foil lined pan (for ease of clean up)
Sprinkle liberally with steak seasoning or just use salt, pepper and garlic
Pour COKE over - cover tightly with foil.
Cook at 270 degrees for 2 hours and 50 minutes.
Fire up the grill, put cooked ribs on grill, baste in BBQ sauce and cook for about 15 minutes - until the sauce gets all yummy!
That's it! Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy!

I linked this to Chatting at the Sky's Tuesday's Unwrapped and Balancing Beauty and Bedlam's Tasty Tuesday. and Heavenly Homemakers Gratituesday.

Crisp Cinnamon Cookies

Awhile back I thought someone in my house loved "corn flakes" for breakfast, and evidentally I went on a corn flake buying bonanza! It has taken us a lllloooooonnnnngggg time to get to the end of the boxes. On the side of the box of generic Meijer Corn Flakes was a recipe for crisp cinnamon cookies and so I gave them a try. They were very good! I am posting the recipe in case someone else has some end of the box cereal they want to use up. (and so I don't lose it, we really liked the cookies.)

Crisp Cinnamon Cookies
1/2 cup (1 stick) of butter, softened
1/2 cup coconut oil
1 1/3 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp ground cinnamon (OOOPS I put 2 TBS in - I think it is fabulous with the extra )
1tsp baking soda
2 1/2 cups corn flakes, crushed to 1 1/4 cups.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Beat butter and shortening until smooth and creamy. Beat in sugar and eggs until fluffy. Add flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and 1/2 tsp salt (if desired and I didn't). Beat well. Stir in cereal, mix well. Drop by TBS onto ungreased cookie sheet about 2" apart. Bake 9-11 minutes. Let stand 1 minute before removing to wire racks to cool.

I used 3/4 cup whole wheat flour and 1 1/4 cup regular
I only used 1 1/4 cup sugar (next time try with only 1 cup)
I used 2 TBS cinnamon

I have some other "healthy cereal" that my kids hate, I think I will try this with them. Waste not, Want Not!

Queuing Up at the Grocery Store by Eddie Izzared

this is hysterical - There is some BAD LANGUAGE so beware!

I wanna win some Ugg Boots!

Seriously, I have 5 daughters and we only have generic uggs around here- we would love a pair to share or even better I can give it for Christmas!

Bang Bang Chicken

I bet you thought this was going to be a recipe. Nope. It is a method, a method for getting shredded chicken without using 2 forks, or a knife or even your hands. "What?! Impossible!" you say. No it is super dee dooper easy.





Cook chicken. Let cool, debone if necessary. Put in a ziploc bag be sure to let the extra air out. (Important step or your chicken will fly all over the kitchen, trust me) Get out your rolling pin. Now beat the tar out of your chicken in a bag. This flattens it, and shreds it nicely. You can now use it in any sort of recipe that calls for shredded chicken. I have not tried it but I bet it would work for pork or beef also.

You will want to use this to shred your chicken for Chicken Enchillada Lasagna.

I got the idea from a recipe for bang bang chicken.

Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy!




This totally Works for Me!
And because I think this is a great frugal idea - I have linked this to my other blog -Frugality and Crunchiness with Christy.

Au Gratin Potatoes

These are soooo yummy. Definitely worth the work and time.

Au Gratin Potatoes
6-7 potatoes, peeled and sliced thin
1lb Colby jack cheese - grated
1lb provolone - grated
1 white onion sliced into rings

Soak the potatoes in salt water for 15 minutes. Drain.

Spray (or grease) a pan. Layer potatoes and onions then cheese - repeat at least one more time. Cook at 450 degrees for one hour.

Quote on Forgiveness

“We ought to pity and love our enemies rather than hate and detest them, for they heap up evils on themselves but deserve well of us; they provoke God’s anger against themselves, but adorn us with the crown of eternal glory. We ought to pray for them; we should not be overcome by evil.”
- St Antony Mary Zaccaria

Biblical Art

The Pope and Harry Potter

The Pope gives Harry Potter movie his blessing.

I am so glad. I have taken my kids to see the previous Harry Potter movies - and we enjoyed them all. Years ago when all the hoopla over the HP books began I read the first 4 books so I could decide for myself. What I didn't like about the books was that Harry kept getting away with things. And not being punished. "If you ride on a broomstick you will be kicked out - Harry is fabulous on the stick and so instead of being punished they put him on the Quiditch team -" stuff like that happened all the time. And I didn't like story where they had to kill a baby plant - that looked and screamed like a baby - in order to save someone. Abortion undertones it seemed like.

I have not read this book - don't really have the time. I am greatful that I don't need to.

Rice Pudding

What another Rice Pudding Recipe?? Well I had never made it or eaten it before and just had to try.

This recipe has peaches in it - however my kids didn't care for the peaches - I did!

Grease  a rectangular cake pan with coconut oil (or butter - just don't use that nasty Pam)
Cut up 1-2 peaches and layer on bottom. You can put nuts in this.
Sprinkle with cinnamon.

Mix together 1 cup whole raw milk (if you can get it), 1/2 cup sugar, 1 cup cooked rice and 2 beaten eggs. Pour over peaches. Cook in a 375 degree oven for about 25 minutes. I am not sure - I might be over cooking but I like it a little dry.

Cucumber Salad

While I realize this is turning into a food blog - I can't help it. This is the best way for me to preserve recipes that I like. Since I have no readers - I can do that if I want to!

Cuke Salad
Peel and slice 2 cukes
Slice 1/2 sweet onion
layer in bowl - salt pepper and sugar each layer.
Mix together about a cup of sour cream, 2TBS sugar, splash of apple cider vinegar and a TBS or so of EVOO. Stir into bowl mixing well. Allow to marinade for at least an hour - the longer the better.

I have been making this for years but I just discovered how much better I like it with a little EVOO and extra sugar in it.
Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy!

Yummy Meatloaf

I made a yummy meatloaf tonight. What I love about meatloaf is everytime it is a little different or a lot different. I was nervous as my kids had company and not everyone likes meatloaf. They asked me to send the recipe to their mom - I take that as a HUGE compliment. This is what I used:

1lb ground turkey
1 Italian Sausage Link - casing removed
1 egg
garlic powder
onion powder
ketchup
chipoltle sauce (just a tad) (I have used BBQ sauce in the past)
bread 4 slices ripped up small
1/2 each shredded small zucchini and yellow squash
cheese - mozzarella (any cheese is good) shredded - about a cup.

mix, cook at 375 degrees in a small greased cake pan for 35 minutes. Check and see if done. (170 degrees internal is what I use as a guide) Drain the grease. Cut and serve.

Serve with ketchup to dunk into. Mashed potatoes would also be great with this.
I wish I had taken a picture - it wasn't as appetizing looking as it tasted.

For Joe, I made it in a single serving dish and used rice cheese. His was yummy also - If I didn't have cheese it would have been ok.

A blogaversary party over at "Like a warm cup of coffee"

On my birthday this fun blog turns one - and boy oh boy does she have lots of stuff to give away! You need to go check it out!

Like a Warm Cup of Coffee this will take you straight to the fun.

Fiat Commercial Catholic Parody

Pork Chops - How to use up the leftovers!

Over at my other blog I posted how I made soup, fried rice and BBQ pork all from 5 leftover pork chops.
Very yummy, very frugal, very green and very cheap. Does it get much better than that? I don't think so!
Easy peasy lemon squeezy!

Imagine Spot 2

Another wonderful video by CatholicVote.org

Fr. Corapi speaks on the Notre Dame Scandal

Granola - Homemade Yummy-ness!

I was inspired by a recipe I found in Bob Greene's "Get with the Program! Guide to Good Eating" Let me tell you I Y Granola!

I tweeked it some, taking into account that I didn't want to buy anything - my plan was to use up some things I had on hand.

Here is the original with my tweeks highlighted.

Homemade Granola


3 1/2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup oat bran (I omitted)
1/2 cup whole raw almonds ( I used some raw mixed nuts I had instead)
1/2 cup apple juice concentrate (I used OJ concentrate)
1/2 cup honey (local and organic)
1 tsp cinnamon (I used more)
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
4 egg whites
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup raisins or currants (I used golden raisins)

Preheat oven to 350F Spread oats on a large nonstick baking pan and toast, stirring often for 30 minutes. Cool. Reduce the oven heat to 275F. In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats, oat bran if you are using it, nuts, juice concentrate, honey, cinnamon, and vanilla. In a separate mixing bowl, whip the egg whites to soft peaks. Add the sugar and beat 1 minute more. Combine the oat mixture with the egg whites and spread evenly on a nonstick baking sheet. Toast for 30 minutes, stirring often, until evenly browned. When cool, add raisins. Store in an airtight container.

This is so good! I eat it straight, or my favorite way is with yogurt and fresh fruit. Scrumptious!!

easy peasy lemon squeezy!

When You Know the Notes to Sing.....

This is a wonderfully happy Youtube video. I think it was filmed in Amsterdam. It will make you want to smile, dance and sing along!

Flies Flies Everywhere

Over at Frugality and Crunchiness with Christy I posted about making your own flystrips. Riveting reading if you ask me. You didn't? Well I promise it is worth a click if you want to get rid of all those pesky flies and don't want to buy the flystrips full of chemicals. I'm just saying!

April Showers bring May flowers

April was a hard, long month full of sadness and introspection. I mentioned the death of my great nephew - an infant not quite one. My husband's uncle/godfather passed away and so did my uncle. All three happened in a little over a week.

I am still struck by how sad I can be when I think of the loss of Baby Stephen and how his death affected all our lives. But I am also greatful for the time we had with him and would never ever trade that for anything. I feel the same about my own baby Luke.

Lent and then Easter were also a huge part of my April. Those 2 great seasons of the Church Year always bring their own sadness at my sin and personal responsibility in the suffering and death of Jesus. But then I remember that Easter follows Good Friday. Without the cross there can be no Easter. It is the same in my own life. Without the cross that I must pick up each day to follow my Lord and Saviour I will have no Easter, no Resurrection. In order to spend eternity with God I must embrace my cross.

I believe that into every life there will be little "May flowers" that will also happen. I am banking on them.

• The Pure Fashion Show is today - Tessa is a model. Her daddy will be walking with her in his tuxedo - be still my beating heart. And my sweet little girl Sylvia is making a guest appearance as a flower girl in the Bridal set. I cannot wait.
• Cassie will graduate in the top of her class. She is an amazing girl and I am very proud of her.
• Tessa, MollyK, Toria, Patrick and I all celebrate birthdays!
• Spring weather!
• Planting of my garden.
• Sophia will be 6 months - she gets more and more wonderful each day I adore my grandbaby!
• Mother's Day. Need I say more?
• Flowers, birds, new life everywhere.
• The Ft. Wayne Children's Zoo is open.
• My brother's wife is having a baby someday soon.

Thank You dear Lord Jesus for the flowers you put into my life!

I was inspired to make this list from the Inspired Room - she posted on 20 little happy things to celebrate in life (including a $100 gift certificate) I am also inspired by Tuesdays Unwrapped at Chatting at the Sky.

Makigami

Over on my other blog I wrote a post about Makigami. Makigami is an innovative new way to produce many things that are currently being made from plastic. Makigami is made from recycled paper and water. You don't get much greener than that!
It is worth checking out the link - and be sure to watch the youtube video also!

Baby Stephen

Baby Stephen passed away today. Please pray for his mommy and daddy and his Gigi - my sister. He would have turned 1 at the end of this month.

I know he is out of pain and in heaven. He doesn't suffer anymore. It is those of us left behind who will miss him everyday that suffer. I am certain that Baby Stephen is in heaven with my baby Luke and together they are with the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit and they are eternally happy.

To see a picture of this sweet baby go here.

Did You Know

A thought provoking video about the age we live in.

Spicy Potato Soup

I posted a yummy crockpot soup over on my new site Frugality and Crunchiness with Christy.
Check it out!
Easy peasy lemon squeezy!!

Holy Week Suggestions

Tomorrow begins the Holiest of of Days - when we remember and observe Jesus Christ's Passion and Death.

How are you observing these days?

Might I offer some suggestions, many of which we do at our home.

1. One way we can prayerfully live the mystery of the salvation of mankind is by immersing ourselves in the gospels. I suggests reading the Passion of Our Lord during Holy Week in the following manner:

• Wednesday of Holy Week- the Passion according to St. Matthew
• Holy Thursday- the Passion according to St. Mark
• Good Friday- the Passion according to St. John
• Holy Saturday – the Passion according to St. Luke
  

2. Because it can be very challenging to enter into the spirit of the Triduum with the constant noise of our world around us, you may also voluntarily choose to abstain from media ( TV, radio, internet etc… unless the subject matter is related to the mysteries the Church is celebrating) from Holy Thursday until Easter Vigil, and avoid the distraction of social or entertainment engagements, to create a climate of quiet reflection in which it’s easier to hear God’s voice more clearly.

3. Find out when your Church is holding Holy Week services and attend all that you are able, bringing your children with you.

4. Fasting and abstaining from meat on Good Friday, in remembrance of Christ's suffering.

5. Not quitting your Lenten resolutions until Sunday, even though "technically" Lent ends on Wednesday.

6. Offer prayer for those entering the Church this Easter.

I pray that you have a Holy and Blessed week and that on Easter Sunday you will be filled with the joy and hope of our Risen Lord.

God Bless, Christy

Mother-in-law Cake

While I wonder why it is called this - it doesn't prejudice me from attempting to bake it!

Mother-in-Law Cake

2 cups sugar
2 cups sifted flour
1/2 cup butter (original calls for margarine - but I never cook with it - gotta love butter)
1/2 cup Crisco (imagine that!)(I use coconut oil)
4 Tbs cocoa
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup water
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 slightly beaten eggs
1tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon

Combine sugar and flour in bowl. In a saucepan combine butter, shortening, cocoa, and water. Bring to a boil. Add boiled mixture to sugar and flour. Add remaining ingredients. Beat well. Pour into greased 9" cake pans and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

And if it doesn't turn out the first time -check here to see why.

It must be called Mother-in-Law cake because it is so stinkin' good and you can butter her up with a piece!! Duh!

From the marvelous little book: Food Wonders Common and Simple, Fort Wayne Christian School

Welcome to the Roman Catholic Church Newt Gingrich

It seems that while being "tight-lipped" about his conversion story, Newt Gingrich has indeed joined the Catholic Church this Easter season.

In an interview with OneNewsNow he was reluctant to say more than:

"I haven't talked about this much in public, and I'm not going to for at least six months or a year, but I will say that I found myself deeply comforted, and a deep sense of belonging and of finding a peace in my soul
in a way that I just found very, very powerful," he explains.

I think it is wonderful. More than wonderful, it is a powerful Easter Miracle for Newt and his family.

Happy Holy Week Everyone!

It's Birthday Time Did Your Cake Turn Out??

It is April and April is Birthday Time in my family.

Josh and Sylvia have birthdays along with my Mom, Mother-in-law, 2 sisters, a brother, a niece, a nephew and a a great nephew .

So, the thought of birthday cakes comes to mind! I have always thought that how they came out was something of a crap shoot - NOT SO! In a lovely old church school cookbook, I found some great recipes. Which I am putting in separate posts. But what I thought was the real find was the following list of common problems and the reason why.

What a great find!

I don't bake a lot of cakes but when I do I want them to turn out.

Cake Failure?
What Happened?

Cake too brown
1. Baked too long
2. Oven too hot
3. Too much sugar

Not brown enough
1. Too big a pan
2. Too little baking powder or inactive baking powder
3. Not baked enough
4. Too little sugar

Holes in cake
1. Too little mixing
2. Too little liquid or shortening
3. Too cool in oven

Crumbly texture
1. Too little mixing
2. Too much shortening or sugar

Dry cake
1. Too little shortening or sugar
2. Too much baking powder
3. Over baked

Heavy cake
1. Too much shortening or liquid
2. Wrong proportions of sugar and flour

Cake humped or cracked in the center
1. Too hot an oven
2. Too much flour
3. Or a combination of the above

Sticky (?)
1. Too much sugar or shortening
2. Under baked

Cake falls
1. Under baked
2. Substituting self rising flour and not reducing leavening

Food Wonders Common and Simple, Fort Wayne Christian School

Catholics respond to President Obama and the Notre Dame scandal

Father Jonathan Morris provides an update on how Catholics across the country are responding to the Notre Dame commencement invite to President Obama and the honorary law degree he will be receiving there.






It saddens me to know end the the University of Notre Dame would so blatantly honor the most Pro Death President we have ever had.

I want to go on record as thanking the over 13 Bishops who have come out against it. Especially Bishop D'Arcy of the Fort Wayne South Bend Diocese. It is too bad he can do little more than boycott - unless of course he takes away their Catholic status.

So I was just thinking...

So I was just thinking - why am I a closet earthy crunchy enviromentalist?? Do I believe in global warming - heck no. Do I think any animal, plant or ecosystem deserves more protection than unborn babies (or live ones for that matter) NO. Do I care about my carbon inprint - a tad.

So why am I an earthy crunchy person?

• Because it is right.
• Because it is good.
• Because it is part of being a good steward of this earth we have been given.
• It often supports my local economy -which I care a lot about.
• To reduce, reuse and recycle is also using the gifts God has given me wisely.
• And I love how often being green and living frugally overlap - which I Really Really like!

I wanna be green, but only after I have acted in accordance to my Christian beliefs.

God Bless,
Christy

President Obama

It certainly seems that the only promise he has kept is to kill the unborn. Sigh. Our nation, our world is in dire straits. Only the holiness of the Christians and their willingness to speak up, to mobilize, to act for life, and for liberty and for economic stability will save us all. I cannot help but be sucked into the doom and gloom about his "handlers" - we cannot just sit back and do nothing!
I wonder what others are doing?

check out this link: http://www.prisonplanet.com/the-best-way-to-wake-up-the-world-to-the-obama-deception.html

Or if you don't like that version of President Obama's agenda read this article from the Washington Post.

If you want to purchase the sticker above for $4.99 go here.

Baby Wipes Piggy Bank

Empty baby wipes make a great piggy bank. The hole in the middle is perfect for dropping coins into. It is sturdy, it can hold $75.00 worth of coins. One of the best parts is that my kids would never think to look in an old baby wipe container and so my coins are safe from little pilferers!
Thanks to Womens Day for this great tip!

Amazing Grace at the Coliseum

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid271552717/bctid1913313052

these guys have beautiful voices, and they are good looking also. Follow the link, I promise it will be worth it!

Christy

(I labelled this youtube, but it really isn't - it is just so I don't loose it in the blog)

Baby Stephen

His name is baby Stephen. He is 11 months old. He has leukemia. He is not doing well. He needs a miracle. Please please please pray for my great - nephew.

Thank you for your kindness.

Christy

Sunday Loophole

I wonder how many Catholics use what we refer to in my family as the Sunday Loophole during Lent? You know, you gave up chocolate or coffee or soda or some such thing but because Sunday is a feast day - a day in which many religious communities eat a little better - no fasting or abstaining on feast days - you go ahead and eat a weeks worth of chocolate, a 2 liter of soda, a pot of coffee - all beginning at 12:01am and ending at 11:59pm.
yea it is a loophole
yea we use it
yea it makes giving some things up bearable.
My kids are gonna have a much harder time becoming saints if we keep teaching them the "loopholes!"
So, if you saw I was on facebook and accepted some friend requests you now know why!
Hoping the rest of your lent is blessed.
Christy

Charity, Justice

When you are dealing with problems, try not to exaggerate justice to the point of forgetting charity.
St. Josemaria Escrva, from his book Furrow # 973

Because this song makes me smile.

Abbey-Roads: Fr. Groeschel consoles the Legion of Christ

Abbey-Roads: Fr. Groeschel consoles the Legion of Christ

Facebook Fever

Facebook Fasting

At first I thought I was the only one considering "fasting from facebook", then slowly a FB friend here and there said they would be too - so I didn't feel all alone. Then I was sent the link from a friend about an article the National Catholic Register ran about it. Now I know I am one of many who feel that it will be a sacrifice to give it up. It has only been 20 minutes since Lent began (it is now 12:20am - Ash Wednesday) and I already just want to pop in and respond to a friend request - I hope they don't think I am rude by not replying.

Lent

Next Wednesday is Ash Wednesday - how are you going to live this season?
I often struggle with this. Spending a lot of time discerning how I will spend the Lenten season, what will I give up? what will I add? Some years I do so much better than others. Last year I got to Holy Thursday and thought - " how did it go by so fast? and did I really grow in love and holiness?" I want this year to be different. I need my Lent to make a difference in my life. We all do. We live in such a secular-nonChristian world that we need to take a good look at our Catholic identity. Our Catholic faith and how we live it.

I will probably give up pop and between meal snacks and TV -these are my yearly sacrifices but I need to do more - daily mass, meditations, stop complaining, rid myself of excess in all areas - all things that I need to do anyways but the gift of Lent reminds me of them.

My plan is grand - but what is a plan if it isn't grand!

The Super Bowl Commercial You Didn't See

Catholic Spiritual Direction: How should I prepare for a meeting with my Spiritual Director?

Catholic Spiritual Direction: How should I prepare for a meeting with my Spiritual Director?

Catholic Spiritual Direction

www.rcspiritualdirection.blogspot.com

The blog Catholic Spiritual Direction which is hosted by Fr. Bartunik LC is a wonderful new blog that helps to explain not only Spiritual Direction but he also answer questions you may have about Spiritual Direction. It gives great help to those who are actively pursuing holiness.

What is a Legionary of Christ?