Revolution of Love

Revolution of Love

Do small things with great love.

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7 Quick Takes (3/8/14): Chemo Update, Meatless Meals & When Calls the Heart

It’s Saturday evening and I have 30 minutes participate in Jen’s 7 Quick Takes. Here it goes.

 

~ 1 ~

The view from the window at the Cancer Center.

Cancer Update: Yesterday I went with Brian to his introductory chemo class. He was supposed to start chemo on Monday but his surgeon moved back the date for another two weeks so that the port he put in his chest could heal up more. He is scheduled to begin chemo on Monday, March 24. It was a little strange being there and seeing the room with all the chemo chair recliners and learning about the side effects and precautions we have to take etc but Brian was in good spirits, considering everything going on. At least the view out the window is pretty and peaceful. It looks out the hills surrounding the center.

It’s funny that yesterday I felt fine and was pleased that Brian seemed okay and felt he could handle it and we’d manage this journey together. However, tonight as we were coming home from Mass he made a comment about the chemo and I had a delayed reaction. I had to fight the tears back as it all started to sink in… all the side effects and the possibility that it may not work. I had to let it go and not allow myself to go down that road. But sometimes I wonder… what is the emotionally healthier thing to do? To let the fear into my heart and then cry it out. Or to not allow myself to think about it…to keep my thoughts on the surface and not go deeper. Is that being in denial? I don’t know what I should be feeling. Or perhaps I should say, I don’t know what to do with how I am feeling.

~ 2 ~

Mwah – I do know one thing, Brian and I truly, truly appreciate your prayers and your concern, especially from those people who have shared their own cancer stories. I have read your comments and emails to him and he is touched by them. Please forgive me for not answering all your comments. Don’t think I do not love hearing from you. So if I did not answer you right away, I’m sending you here a big XOXO of thanks! 😉

~ 3 ~

Movie Matinee – This afternoon Bella and I were able to slip away for a couple of hours to see Frozen. Bella already saw it with her aunts and uncles when it first came out but I wasn’t able to go with her. So we finally went to see it before it left the movie theaters. I really loved it and the music. (I downloaded the soundtrack when I got home.)  🙂 I also love that Bella is still at an age when she doesn’t mind having mother daughter outings with me. I am treasuring all these moments! Thankfully, when we got home Brian and the house were still in one piece. As we drove up our driveway we could hear the boys (aka. Anakin Skywalker, Coty the Clonetrooper and Master Yoda) yelling and playing in the backyard to the sheer delight of all our neighbors. 😉

~ 4 ~

Say what? – Oh, something else I did today was try a new recipe that my sister-in-law posted on Facebook. It is for a brownie made out of black beans instead of flour. Ugh! Can you imagine?? However, my curiosity got the best of me and I made a batch for the kids for their Sunday morning treat. I just took them out of the oven and they smell good but who knows what it will actually taste like. I’ll wait to taste it tomorrow. We’ll find out if it actually is a treat or another Lenten sacrifice. 😉 (If it turns out decent I’ll share it at Tuesday’s Pinterest Party.)

 

~ 5 ~

Beyond the Fish Stick – Speaking of recipes, it’s time for Beth Anne’s third annual Lenten Meal Plans Link-up. She is teaming up with Sarah and Abbey to give us an online home where we can share our favorite meatless meals and recipes. Beth Anne also has a Pinterest board to go with the link-up. Plenty o’ inspiration!

 

~ 6~

In the Kitchen – I also added a page on the blog menu (see above) for recipes. I have struggled in the kitchen but after a lot of practice I feel a lot more comfortable and now find joy in trying new recipes. I made a list of the recipes I’ve shared here on the blog. There is also a section of meatless meals for Lent. However, I did leave off the list previous recipes I posted that were high in sugar and low in nutrition since we don’t eat that anymore. Sigh.

 

~ 7 ~

When Calls the Heart – Okay, my time is up. Brian just came in and he is ready to watch a movie with me. Actually, we’ve been watching a lot of action/superhero movies so tonight we will catch up on the new Hallmark series When Calls the Heart. It is based on the book(s)  When Calls the Heart (Canadian West Book #1) by Janet Oke. The show has a “Little House on the Prairie” feel, perhaps because it is directed by Michael Landon, Jr. Plus, I am a sucker for a romance story and I’m rooting for Elizabeth and Jack. 😉

Have a good night and don’t forget to set your clocks forward. I would share my thoughts on Day Light Savings Time but I don’t want to use that kind of language, especially during Lent. Grr. 😉

PS – You can follow RoL on Bloglovin, Feedly or another news feed. If you are a social media fan like me, we can stay in touch through Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, GoodReads or Instagram. 😉

{pretty, happy, funny, real} vol. 84 & Theme Thursday: Dirt

I didn’t quite finish my second Lent post so for the time being I’m doing a quick photo mash-up as I link up with Cari for Theme Thursday: Dirt (refer to {pretty}) and Like Mother, Like Daughter for {pretty, happy, funny, real}. If you follow me on Instagram, you’ve probably already seen most of these but for family not on Instagram, these are more for you. 😉

{pretty}

I’m linking this photo with Theme Thursday: Dirt.

 Bella has been working on a science project this week and it was perfect for the theme of dirt.

New buds are starting to sprout through the dirt.

A week later, she had this.

There are signs of spring everywhere. The trees are growing leaves and flowers are beginning to bloom.

Including these on a neighbor’s tree. So pretty.

 

{happy}

I was happy to be able to go to Mass yesterday with my sweeties.

{funny}

It was funny to see this thing on the road the other day. Bella and I were a little freaked that it was going to tip over. The girls chatting in there didn’t seem too concerned.

I was at Whole Foods and saw this escargot for sale. (I tried not to gag.) When I came home I had to watch the I Love Lucy episode where Lucy has lunch in a French cafe. 😉

{real}

I’m participating in the Holy Lensphoto challenge from Surviving Our Blessings.com. Every day from Ash Wednesday up to Easter Sunday, they provide a prompt based on the daily lectionary scripture readings.

Yesterday’s topic was “fast.” (And I’m really tempted to saty up until midnight so I can eat that peanut butter and jelly sandwich I’ve been craving all day!)  😉

Happy Thursday. 🙂

PS – You can follow RoL on Bloglovin, Feedly or another news feed. If you are a social media fan like me, we can stay in touch through Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, GoodReads or Instagram. 😉

Lenten Ideas 2014 – Bringing Lent Home

FOR THE UPDATED VERSION OF THIS POST, PLEASE GO TO – Pinterest Party & Link-up (vol 35): Lenten Activities for the Home (2015)

* * * * *

It’s hard to believe that Lent starts tomorrow! The only good thing is that I’ve actually prepared for it now instead of two or three weeks into it. I know, right? Shocker. We are doing many of the same traditions we did last year. Here are the main ones.

I love putting wreaths and welcome signs on our door. For Lent, I made a simple Lenten wreath to mark the season.

***

We have our regular family altar in the entryway of the house and that stays pretty much the same all year. However, we have a shelf in the family room by the table where we eat that we decorate according to the season. Here is where we keep our Lenten things.

***

We set up a candle centerpiece using a long rectangular tray filled with six votive candles for the six weeks of Lent.

***

I purchased tiny wreaths from Michael’s that fit around the candle. We add a wreath to a candle on each Sunday of Lent.

***

We printed off Catholic Icing’s Lenten Calendar and I placed it in an inexpensive frame from Ikea. I use a dry erase pen to mark a cross on each day as it passes. It is great for the kids, who have no sense of time, to see how many more days until Easter.

***

One of the kids favorite activities for Lent is their Act of Love and Prayer jars. The Act of Love jar has different things they can do each day such as share a toy with your sibling or be extra nice to someone at school or do an extra chore. The Prayer Jar has a special intention for each day. With our evening schedules, we have found our best prayer time to be before dinner since we are already gathered together. Since the altar is right next to our table, we light our candle, Brian leads us in prayer and then we chose an act and prayer intention for the next day. (The morning of the following day I remind the kids what our act of love and prayer intention is for that day.)

* * *

This year we also added Kendra’s idea of using Sacrifice Beans. Every time the kids complete one of their Acts of Love or makes a sacrifice they put a dried kidney bean in the bowl. On Easter Sunday the dry beans are changed to jelly beans or some other treat. (I’m thinking a visit to the Aquarium unless I can swing a trip to Disneyland. I’m trying to work some Disney magic…) 😉

* * *

In case you think we are a holy family with heads bent in prayer, let me also give you a dose of reality. I also had to add a “prayer helper” of the day sign. When it comes to who gets to offer their prayer intention first or who gets to blow out the candle or who gets to choose the Act of Love that day, we have had the boys literally come to blows and screaming, which ends in me yelling at them and Brian sending them to their rooms for misbehaving. (Aw, peaceful prayer time.) Since they are used to having a “Student of the Day” in school so we took that same concept with the “prayer helper of the day.” The name rotates and we have greatly reduced the yelling and body blows.  (Now if we can just get John-Paul to stop praying for things like “more Star Wars toys” as his prayer intention. 😉

Lastly we added our Stations of the Cross pictures to the altar. When we say the Stations of the Cross as a family, we follow this book The Way of the Cross from Magnificat/Ignatius.

 

Here are some other Lenten activities we will be doing as a family.

  • Turn off the TV and the computer/iphone more. I have a basket of religious type books that the kids can look at or we can read together. I am also using the Lenten Adventure Activity Books from Holy Heroes, which are great! There are activity pages and coloring pages for the young ones for each day of Lent up until Divine Mercy Sunday.
  • Fasting from Eating Out. Instead of eating out we will eat whatever left overs we have in the house. We will use the money we saved to buy food to put into the food boxes at church for St. Vincent de Paul’s ministry. The kids get to pick out food and take it to the church. (My sacrifice is letting them “help” me.) 😉
  • Visit Jesus – Make more visits to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Let the kids light a candle before they kneel and pray.
  • Donate – Spring clean the toy box and donate toys they don’t use anymore to our local St. Vincent de Paul thrift store.

We can add more as we go but this is what is planned so far. For ideas for your own family, check out these sites.

Today I focused on things we do as a family. Next I’ll share what I’ll be working on myself this Lent. 🙂 In the meantime, share you favorite Lenten traditions in the comments. 🙂 If you have a blog, leave your link!

PS – You can follow RoL on Bloglovin, Feedly or another news feed. If you are a social media fan like me, we can stay in touch through Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, GoodReads or Instagram. 😉

Moments of Grace Online Daybook (3/2/14) & Project Snapshot Mondays Vol 2

Today is Day 7 of my participation in Jen’s 7 Posts in 7 Days Challenge.

I was originally going to write my LENT 2014 post for today but I didn’t get to finish it so I am posting Monday’s Daybook today instead. (I’ll hopefully have the lent post down by tomorrow.)

I’m linking up my daybook with Jenny and I’m linking up my photo with Pam for  Project Snapshot Mondays. Scroll down to the bottom for that one.

AND


Moments of Gratitude…

Today I am especially thankful for

  • A lovely visit with my mom last week. I’ve been trying to spend more time with family. I miss my parents and siblings and I’m making an effort to get together with them more often!
  • This past month having Brian at home. Although he was recovering, it was a treat spending so much time with him.
  • That Brian is well enough to go back to work tomorrow, at least part time. (Although I am REALLY going to miss having him here with me.)
  • For another 4 day weekend coming up. Hopefully we can plan a family outing before Brian starts his chemo next Monday.
  • For yesterday’s storm that gave us some much needed rain.

 

Beauty in the Ordinary…

The surrounding brown hills are turning a lovely shade of green after the rain and the days are getting longer. Spring is just around the corner. 🙂

 

In the Kitchen…

M – Chicken Cacciatore with Brown Rice

T – Fat Tuesday Treat – Eat Out

W – Tuna Melts & Tomato Soup

Th – Tostadas

F – Vegetarian Chili and Easy Chili Cornbread

S – Homemade Pizza & Greek Salad

S – Leftovers

 

Praying…

  • For Brian’s continued recovery from cancer and for the chemo treatments that start March 10.
  • For all those suffering from illness, addiction and depression.
  • For all those who are pregnant, especially family and friends.
  • For those suffering the cross of infertility and those who have lost a child in miscarriage.
  • For the safety of our deployed military and for their families waiting for them at home.
  • For the conversion of sinners and the souls in purgatory.
  • For some special intentions.

 

Pondering…

I am putting the finishing touches on my Lenten plan. I am thankfulfor the grace to work on it now and not waiting until a couple weeks into Lent. 😉

 

Around the house…

This week I need to clear off my desk area and my dining room table. I have let it slide and want it neat and clean again!

 

Reading…

I completely forgot that I had The Book of Thoth (Vatican Vampire Hunters #2) on my Kindle so I started it last night, although on Wednesday I’ll start my Lenten reads but I’ll save that for another post.

Listening to…

The Academy Awards, specifically the performance of the song “Happy” from Despicable Me.  I’ll admit that I DVR the show  and fast forward a lot of it but there are still parts I enjoy.

 

On my DVR…

When Calls the Heart, Fr Brown Mysteries, The Walking Dead, Blacklist, EWTN’s Grab Your Catechism and the movies Leave Her to Heaven and Shop around the Corner.

 

On the blog…

I actually completed all 7 posts in the 7 day challenge. I couldn’t keep up that pace all the time but it was fun for the week. 🙂 Tomorrow or Tuesday by the latest I’ll have my Lenten Ideas posted.

 

Posts I’ve Liked on my Bloglovin

Pinned…

 

Plans for the Week…

Doc appointments, school functions and a 4 day weekend.

 

Captured…

(I am linking up this photo with Pam for Project Snapshot Mondays.

This weekend I took a little time to handwrite some notes and cards to people. Although I could email or text much faster there is something special about getting an old school letter in the mail. When I was done I was adding a little washi tape to pretty up the envelope and I was admiring the bright colors in my washi box. Note cards, pens, washi, all those little crafty things and stationary brings me a touch of joy.

Thanks to Jen and Pam for hosting! 🙂

PS – You can follow RoL on Bloglovin, Feedly or another news feed. If you are a social media fan like me, we can stay in touch through Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, GoodReads or Instagram. 😉

In the Kitchen: Carrot Apple Muffins

Today is Day 6 of my participation in Jen’s 7 Posts in 7 Days Challenge.

Since we no longer have our traditional donuts after Sunday Mass, on Saturday I have to make sure that I bake a healthier treat for Sunday morning. And since my mom was asking for the recipe of the carrot apple muffins I made, I thought I’d post it today. So here you go, mom. 🙂

I found this recipe for Carrot Apple Muffins on the Whole Foods website and I altered it a little.

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1/4 cup sugar(I used unrefined coconut sugar, which is more natural than regular sugar.)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon non-aluminum baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 cup grated carrots
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 1/4 cup chopped apple
  • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1/4 cup lowfat buttermilk
  • 1/4 cup canola or safflower oil
  • 1 teaspoon real vanilla extract
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly oil a 12-cup standard muffin tin or use muffin papers. Set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
In a separate bowl, combine carrots, applesauce, apple, eggs, butter milk, oil and vanilla. Add half the carrot mixture to the flour mixture, stir until blended then add the rest of the carrot mixture.
Spoon batter into muffin cups and bake about 20 minutes or until a toothpick in the center of a muffin comes out clean. Serve warm. (I used my new “heart” muffin pans that I bought for Valentine’s Day.)
The muffins are good but only slightly sweet. I drizzled a little honey on the plate for added sweetness. 🙂

PS – You can follow RoL on Bloglovin, Feedly or another news feed. If you are a social media fan like me, we can stay in touch through Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, GoodReads or Instagram. 😉