We are well into our second week of Lent. This year, in particular, I anticipated the arrival of Lent with great expectations. You see, almost every year during the month of January and part of February, I experience a kind of spiritual desert. Maybe it has to do with our long winters and shorter amounts of sunlight, but there are days when it feels as if I am just going through the motions in my prayer life. I feel sort of "dried up" on the inside. This year was no exception and I welcomed the season of Lent to really focus on spending more time in prayer, scripture and other spiritual reading. I also want to say that it is during this desert experience that I am eternally grateful to my parents for instilling within me a spiritual discipline; one that I rely on to carry me through, until I once again am renewed and refreshed.
FAT TUESDAY
What has become our tradition on Fat Tuesday, is to order this beauty above. It is so good that we couldn't even wait to eat it before taking a picture.
Monkey used to work at a local pizza joint, and often after his shift, he would bring over a "Top of the Line with Sauerkraut." I was hesitant to even try it at first, as I am a traditional pizza girl. I like "normal" toppings and I avoid "specialty" pizza (i.e. taco, cheeseburger, etc). One bite of this baby, however, and I was completely hooked. Totally delicious and totally worth eating it on Fat Tuesday. Because it is an indulgence, we really only eat it this one time of year.
During supper, we discussed the sacrifices each person would make during Lent, in preparation for Easter. Some are giving up their video games, some are giving up sweets, one is giving up "being mean" (???), and Pumpkin is giving up orange soda. For the record, I don't buy soda for the kids and I can probably count on one hand the number of times Pumpkin has drank orange soda in the last year, but whatever. She considers it a sacrifice and that is what is important.
I have given up my phone for uses other than phone calls. I have had some really successful days, and then there are days when I have forgotten and I find myself checking my e-mails or Facebook. On a positive note, my kids have noticed me putting my phone down, which tells me that it is a practice I need to continue well after Lent is over.
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| This is our new centerpiece for the season. It contains a Crown of Thorns, a Rosary, Sacrifice Beads, a Rice Bowl, and a prayer card. Each candle represents one Sunday in Lent. The pink candle is for Laetare Sunday, and the red candle is for Passion Sunday. |
ST. PATRICK'S DAY
The Love Bugs look forward to St. Patrick's Day each year. We don't have a bit of Irish in our blood, but we still take the time to celebrate with exuberance. They get a non-uniform day (which they consider a treat) and dress in green.
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| The girls insisted on a funny picture. The boys wanted nothing to do with this! |
After work, Monkey cooked supper for us; corned beef, cabbage and rice, Chamorro style. We had planned on our usual Shamrock Shakes, however the youth from our parish were hosting a fundraiser at the Dairy Queen, so we settle for Dilly Bars instead (well, I actually got a Blizzard - shhhhhh). I promised the Love Bugs we would get the Shamrock Shakes this weekend.
So that's it for my little update. Lent is off to a great start and today is the first day of Spring. The sun is shining, the snow is melting and I'm putting away all of my winter/snowman decor.
I wish you all a very blessed Lenten season, one that draws you closer to Jesus and springs forth light and love in your heart!
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