simplemama

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Erika Marie

“…the Lenten journey starts off with a bang of grand resolutions and lively hopes. However, by this time many are ready to curl up in front of the tube with a bowl of triple-scooped chocolate ice cream and turn away from any type of soul-stretching activity. For those who suffer from seasonal mid-Lenten blues, a quick splash of water and a reflection on Jesus’ own trek to the Cross can offer a quick remedy. The Stations of the Cross presents us with a simple fourteen-step guide through Lent”

1. Cook a pot roast in the crock pot with or without BBQ sauce or other seasonings. 

2. After it is cooked and all cooled, I run it through my food processor to get it nice and fine.

3. Then I add the BBQ sauce (and salt if needed)

4. I spread a little BBQ sauce on some store-bought or home-made buns and add in the Beef with or without cheese and there you go! 

5. I like to serve this meal with steamed veggies and potatoes. Sometimes this means I steam some potatoes and then mash them with butter and garlic powder and salt.  Sometimes I just throw a bag of frozen tator tots or fries into the oven too.  You could also cook the pot roast with veggies and then it would all be combined in the sandwiches.   A nice house salad works well too.  There are so many ways to be creative!  What ways do you serve your BBQ Beef sandwiches?

Check out what others are cooking for Tasty Tuesdays!

It’s been a soul-strengthening week so I’m focusing on the small things today:

1. Received MUCH needed grace through the Sacrament of Confession

2.  Sorted and put away 1 pile of Laundry (don’t ask how many more to go!)

3.  Made dinner the past 3 nights even though I wanted to just order a pizza for my husband and children and then run for the hills.

Share your Small Successes over at Faith & Family Live!

The good: After I wrote the above paragraph, I had a great conversation with my husband since I wrote down my thoughts it was easier to say it out loud.  I realized that his life at work is difficult too. He deals with whiny adults and endless task lists.  Thanks to modern technology, his work follows him and finds him even while at home sometimes.  That said, we’ll keep working together and it’s ok for me to ask for more help.  I also promised to try to avoid unloading my entire day on him upon his arrival.  He helped me remember that this too shall pass and I need to listen to my own advice.  Simplify. Take each day at a time, each child at a time, each pile of laundry and dirty dish and meal at a time.  I’m so thankful for God’s grace.  When my thoughts in my head say, “I can’t,” God says, “Yes, we can.”

1. Peel and chop up a cucumber.

2. Dice a tomato

3. Season with salt and pepper (and lime if you have)

4.  Add some greek cheese

5. Mix it all around and enjoy!

Check out what other moms are cooking for Tasty Tuesdays!

I finally completely finished another punk knitter diaper cover! This time I used a yarn that is thicker. (I forget what type of yarn it is at the moment) and I actually got gage! I had to use size 4 needles to get it. It’s a little tight around so next time I’ll cast on some more and maybe not do so many decreases as the crotch area is too narrow.  I even learned a little crochet to add the leg cuffs!  Since it fit tightly, I got out of having to do an i-cord so was happy about that.  I’d like to make one more soaker for this medium size, what pattern should I do next??

1. Cow
2. Chicken
3. Pig
4. Lamb
5. Fish

Every year during Lent, I hear the same question from Catholics and non-Catholics alike in regards to our abstinence from meat on Ash Wednesday the Fridays of Lent: “What about fish, eggs and other animal products?

I’ve never really been able to answer the question so this year I decided I would find out.  A few days after I set this goal in my mind, I happened to be perusing through the Holy Bible and my eyes landed on this letter of the apostles from the book of Acts:

“It is the decision of the holy Spirit and of us not to place on you any burden beyond these necessities, /namely, to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols, from blood, from meats of strangled animals, and from unlawful marriage.  If you keep free of these, you will be doing what is right. Farewell.” (Acts 15:28, 29)

I don’t recall fish or eggs or milk ever being mentioned as sacrifices offered up to idols.  So I suppose this could be the answer.  I decided to consult Mr. Google and found some interesting information but nothing with an answer to beat that of the letter from the Apostles.  Here are some excerpts of things I found while browsing around:

“First, some areas of the Church abstained from all forms of meat and animal products, while others made exceptions for food like fish. For example, Pope St. Gregory (d. 604), writing to St. Augustine of Canterbury, issued the following rule: “We abstain from flesh, meat, and from all things that come from flesh, as milk, cheese and eggs.”

“Eating fish was allowed, and later eating meat was also allowed through the week except on Ash Wednesday and Friday. Dispensations were given for eating dairy products if a pious work was performed, and eventually this rule was relaxed totally. (However, the abstinence from even dairy products led to the practice of blessing Easter eggs and eating pancakes on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday.)”

“Over the years, modifications have been made to the Lenten observances, making our practices not only simple but also easy. Ash Wednesday still marks the beginning of Lent, which lasts for 40 days, not including Sundays. The present fasting and abstinence laws are very simple: On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, the faithful fast (having only one full meal a day and smaller snacks to keep up one’s strength) and abstain from meat; on the other Fridays of Lent, the faithful abstain from meat. People are still encouraged “to give up something” for Lent as a sacrifice. (An interesting note is that technically on Sundays and solemnities like St. Joseph’s Day (March 19) and the Annunciation…”

http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0527.html

Also, here is a good timeline of the evolution of fasting practices during Lent throughout the years.

Although the practices may have evolved over the centuries, the focus remains the same: to repent of sin, to renew our faith and to prepare to celebrate joyfully the mysteries of our salvation.

If anyone else has some answers to this question, I’d love for you to share them!

1.  Ran a mile without stopping! 

2. Vacuumed the whole upstairs and kitchen!

3. Successfully remembered how to carry a baby on my back in my Beco!

Share your Small Successes over at Faith & Family Live!