Where Are They Now?
In 2009: In 2024: Links: The Will To Wife Archdiocese of Cincinnati Center for New Evangelization Mount St. Mary’s Seminary / The Church Wanderer The Human Formation Coalition Dead Theologians Society / World Cube Association
Yet Another Lentil Salad
There are so many lentil salad recipes out there and this is actually not my favorite one (will post that one of these days). But I had some white wine I needed to use up (which is actually optional), so here we are.
Something to Do With Fresh Tomatoes
It’s the height of summer, and I’m beginning to be inundated with tomatoes from our farmer’s CSA box. My own tomato plants aren’t even flowering yet, as the seeds I sowed early on (German Johnson, from my friend Anna) are growing very sloooooowly (it might be the soil in that particular grow bag)… so I…
Green Soup
This is the default soup I use for when I have an abundance of greens — spinach, kale, chard, etc., AND when I want all the kids including the picky teen to eat their greens. The original recipe comes from Deborah Madison’s The Greens Cookbook, though her recipe only uses spinach. I also don’t provide…
Quinoa Tabbouleh
I already have my tabbouleh story from 2006 in this blog, so won’t bore you with that. We’re mostly gluten-free now, so I thought I’d post an updated recipe using quinoa. I didn’t mean to grow so much parsley this year! But I inadvertently did, so there’s an abundance in the garden that I needed…
February Masala
I’m naming this by the month because there are many masalas for coffee and tea that I want to make, so I wanna leave room for others that I might post here. 😀 This is a mix that could easily be put together and kept in an airtight jar. Use 1/4 teaspoon per serving, with…
Cooking Broccoli with Mustard
I’m cleaning out old drafts from this blog and found a draft for broccoli with mustard seeds, which I found (in 2006) from traveling chef Shuna Lydon’s old blog Lucullian Delights. Well, fast forward to 2024 and I found these. The mustard seed powder provides a viable source of the enzyme myrosinase that can be…
Quezon’s Budin
I grew up with cassava growing beside the house, outside our fence — so, not our property, but free to use since no one was using the land at the time. My mom tells me they used to plant it just outside their master bedroom, on the other side of the house. Anyway, cassava is…
Sausage on Curried Lentils and Rice
This is one of those use-what-you-have recipes, so I don’t provide amounts.
Grilled Tuna on White Bean Salad
A super-quick and easy salad to put together, topped with grilled tuna. Canned tuna can be subbed, of course, just so happened that my local fresh fish monger (Seafood Station) had some fresh tuna and I couldn’t pass it up. Great for if you’re wanting to increase your fiber intake, and excellent for Lenten meatless…
Sticky Toffee Pudding
This is a dessert that not a lot of people talk about these days, though knowing that fads come and go, I’m sure one day people will remember it and start looking for the recipe again. I love this recipe because even though it’s not allergen-free, I think it would easily adapt to GF and…
A Mother’s Prayer
Years and years ago when my kids were still little, I came across this prayer in a newspaper (might have been Our Sunday Visitor), that a mom said she prayed every night after tucking her kids into bed. It was something like “Lord, fill the gaps” that she missed even though she was trying to…
The Fifth Joyful Mystery: A Tale of Two Vocations
For the past several months I’ve been meditating a lot on the Fifth Joyful Mystery, more than I used to. For one thing, I had been wondering why this mystery is called JOYFUL. Whenever I read or hear the Gospel story, the foremost emotion I could relate to was Mary’s worry at having lost her…
The Gift of Cancellation
Cancel Culture isn’t new, though the phrase is (relatively). People have always cut off ties when relationships no longer work for them. Anyone who has lost friends/a significant other knows this. Social media just made it worse — “friendships” became “easier”, but easy come, easy go — easier, and more visible, and therefore more painful, the…
The Gift of Pain
Years ago, a wise friend shared that she doesn’t pick her Lenten penance anymore, because God knows what she needs during the season of Lent and she trusts Him to send that penance her way at the right time. (I’ve probably written the same thing elsewhere on this blog. I’m consistent that way 🤣.) I…
Week of February 12, 2023
And the numbers keep rising. Lord have mercy. Turkey-Syria quake deaths to top 50,000: UN relief chief Anyone else excited about this RomCom from EWTN? So many similarities to the book I’m writing (my male protagonist is atheist/agnostic Jamie who falls in love with a devout Catholic girl). Probably going to be cheesy but I…
Ahjumma Reviews: Doom at Your Service
Synopsis from CJ ENM: Dong-kyung has been working hard ever since her parents passed away. Her life seems to get stable after working as an web novel editor for 6 years, but one day she gets diagnosed with a brain cancer. She blames her unlucky life and wishes to curse everything to disappear, which unintentionally…
Book Review: Homeschool Moms at the Feet of Jesus
This is a book review for Homeschool Moms at the Feet of Jesus by Teresa Gumap-as Dumadag, for which I received a preview copy. Homeschool Moms at the Feet of Jesus is a short but pithy book that will help you to bring order to your heart, so you can bring order to your days.…
Till We Have Faces 2021
I just finished rereading Till We Have Faces, which I first read in 2015, and which I wrote about here. Six years later, my insights into the book are very different. Orual and Psyche could still be seen as two different people. They are both on a faith journey, but Psyche makes the leap of…
Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes
O ever immaculate Virgin, Mother of mercy, health of the sick, refuge of sinners, comfort of the afflicted, you know my wants, my troubles, my sufferings; deign to cast upon me a look of mercy. By appearing in the Grotto of Lourdes, you were pleased to make it a privileged sanctuary, whence you dispense your…
The Angelus in Poetry, Art, and Prayer
Recently in doing some research for the young adult novel I’m working on, I stumbled across a quote from Van Gogh: “There is peace even in the storm” The Letters of Vincent Van Gogh The quote didn’t exactly square with the image I had of Van Gogh, from what little I know of his life…
Gaining A Daily Plenary Indulgence
Several years ago, friends and I were discussing how to get to heaven, and I commented about the difficulty of achieving complete detachment from all sin. My friend Jay Balza had a lot to say about that. His comment was so helpful that I printed it out and kept it all these years, because it’s…
Person of Color, But Child of the Father First
I’m not white and I’m not black. Perhaps I should just shut up and let people sort things out for themselves? What can a Catholic Asian possibly say that would make a difference? I can only give it my best shot. I’ll answer a question I’ve seen many ask of those who dare speak out.…
The Real Presence | The Jerusalem Catecheses
#TheRealPresence From the Jerusalem Catecheses The bread of Heaven and the cup of salvation On the night he was betrayed our Lord Jesus Christ took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples and said: “Take, eat: this is my body.” He took the cup, gave thanks…
Churches and Cathedrals of Prague and Vienna
[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.0.6″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.0.6″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.0.6″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.0.6″] Don’t know why this post isn’t working properly (not displaying images) on mobile. No time to fix it, will have to wait. 🙂 Or, a tip: if you’re on mobile, click on settings, and check “Desktop site” and you’ll be able to see the pics. [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.0.6″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″…
The Problem with Humility
It’s the hardest lesson to teach, and it’s the one I just can’t seem to get right… but teach it I must. After five years, I’m rereading Kristin Lavransdatter, and I still wanna smack her and hug her all at the same time. Such pride! The willfulness and arrogance of youth: I still revert to…
Open Letter to Priests from Kevin Wells
//The paradoxical, brutal fruit of real romance – and Vianney knew this interior reality as intimately as anyone – is the daily and simple deaths for one’s lover. All the priest-saints knew this. Their vocation to edify, transform and save souls meant doing battle with evil.// http://www.catholiclane.com/open-letter-to-priests
In the Bleak Mid-Winter, Gustav Holst
In the bleak mid-winter Frosty wind made moan, Earth stood hard as iron, Water like a stone; Snow had fallen, snow on snow, Snow on snow, In the bleak mid-winter Long ago. Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him Nor earth sustain; Heaven and earth shall flee away When He comes to reign: In the bleak…
The Grace of Not Being Enough
In November the hubby, the big kids, and I had the pleasure of attending Leah Libresco-Sargeant’s talk on her book Building the Benedict Option (Amazon Associates link). (The event was sponsored by The Angelico Project which we are really excited about.) I finished the book last week. Which lessons I could apply to my life…
What is Sainthood?
I wrote this July 5 in response to a question at CTG, and so I’m posting here in hopes that its helpful for my kids and anyone else passing through: what is sainthood? humility humility humility. if you can figure out how to be little and hidden, to desire no one’s approval except the Lord’s,…
Advent Thoughts from Years Past
I was going through my unpublished drafts and came across these two, so I’m publishing now as part of my digital decluttering efforts: Unfinished Draft From 2011: Two weeks ago I finally tackled the kitchen island that hasn’t been decluttered since we moved here in ’06. Yup, sometimes it takes me FIVE YEARS to get…
Notes on Integrative Oncology
I’m reading Cancer Secrets (Amazon associate link) right now by Dr. Jonathan Stegall and it’s really speaking to me. He’s a Christian so his worldview matches mine. I’ve only read the intro and the beginning of the first chapter but I can tell I’m going to love this book. And of course, going on a…
A Cancer Diary
Before I begin, let me say that I have NOT been officially diagnosed with breast cancer. I’ve had some troubling symptoms, and got a thermogram November 8. Here’s an article on breast thermography. Got the results on November 22 and my left breast is at TH5, which is “high risk”, or “very abnormal”, or “severely…
Charity Amid Confusion
[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.22″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.0.5″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”3.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”] Confusion is not of God, we know this. The question is, how do we respond to it? Our best example, as with most things, can be found in Mary. At the Annunciation, did Mary understand everything?…
Updated: Hope for the Church
[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22″ custom_padding=”||13px|||”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”||15px|||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”] As long as we have men like Alexander Tschugguel in the Church, we have hope. It wasn’t a spur of the moment decision, it took discernment and wisdom. Thank God for courageous men like him. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1p74CEA1_go In the…
Is It Mama Mary?
But if we’re the least bit uncomfortable about the difference, we’re told it’s only because of our “Western sensibilities”. Okay then. Here’s a compilation of Marian apparitions/images of popular devotion, and the places where Mama Mary appeared/the image originated… as we can see, not always “the West”. Top row, from left: Our Lady of LaVang,…
What I Wish I’d Known
SAVING GRACE you don’t do it for yourself you don’t do it for your kids you don’t do it for your husband you don’t do it for company you do it for God God sees God hears God knows even when no one does even when no one understands or notices or thanks or reciprocates…
Revisiting the HP Dilemma: What’s A Parent to do?
I hesitated writing this post for my friend because almost every single discussion I’ve seen or been in online about HP eventually devolved into personal attacks. There are good arguments on both sides of the divide, so it pays to evaluate both and decide what approach you want for your family. The Choice You Need…
Divine Providence
I know so many people who would have a problem with this. To me it’s the only explanation that makes sense, and I find much peace in it. ***** Divine Wisdom, says Holy Scripture, “reacheth … from end to end mightily and ordereth all things sweetly” (Wisdom 8:1). Divine Wisdom is thus identified with divine Providence,…
Musings on My Stinky Veil
A few months ago, while in St. Louis to help care for my Papa who was dying, we attended Mass at a church we hadn’t been to before. Like our kids, we love visiting different churches whenever we are out of town. I realized belatedly that I had left my black veil back home in…
Mothers, Daughters, Rape, and Abortion
You’ve seen all the articles on abortion going around. You’ve seen all the pro-choice and pro-life arguments. I’m addressing this to the mom who has daughters, wondering if she could counsel her daughter to keep a child, should her daughter get pregnant from rape. No one wants to be in that position. I pray that…
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