The Glories of Mary

I just prayed the "Regina Coeli," and was looking around the internet researching this prayer, and found this online -- wow!

Lake Lanier and hitting the water locally...

I have been poking around the internet looking at places I'd like to visit around Lake Lanier. This restaurant looks good and this marina would be fun to visit. This website has information on all the public access parks, but it looks like there is conflicting information regarding bringing your dogs along.

This outfitter is close by, and I would like to get in a trip before the peak season begins. I read in a local magazine that this outfitter up the road in Dawsonville has an indoor pool where they give kayaking lessons -- you can learn how to roll in a controlled environment.

River tubing is big around here -- the one trip we had planned in Jasper last summer was cancelled due to a thunder storm. I will add on to this post as I continue my research (the links are bear at this point, but I'll fill them in...)...

The Pot Calling the Kettle Black...

I agree whole-heartedly with this essay....

Family in Kentucky on First Sunday of Easter

the big drive

I wish somehow I could capture the palpable softness that is in the air right now. As we made a whirlwind trip up to Kentucky, leaving last Friday and returning yesterday afternoon, I told my hubby that I felt as if we were driving through an Impressionist painting. There were so many redbud trees. Their lovely flowers stood out amongst the pale-green, baby leaves of the budding hardwoods. So, this morning, as I go around the house taking all the purple construction paper off our religious art (yes!), I want so very much to hold these early spring days in my heart. Our Savior is risen indeed: and, I have this sense that He is calling me to cast out all fear. God is the God of surprises. He is the Father who gives His children what they need, not necessarily what they want. He wants me to shed my fears. I had no idea that this would be my Easter blessing. I had little idea how coated in fear I am. I am reading and discovering some very powerful ideas about the Resurrection...

Hot sauce recipes

I have been over at Melinda's website checking out recipes and products. I bought a bottle of their chipotle sauce at Ingles and am ready to spice up dinner time around here.

How language can set our hearts ablaze with Love...

I had half an hour to read and pray a little...these reflections printed in Magnificat at the end of the Mass readings are rich indeed. This is from Mother Marie des Douleurs who was the foundress of the Benedictine sisters of Jesus Crucified. Since she died in 1983, I hope to have the time to research this inspired foundress. Here is a quote from the meditation:

She (Mary) put herself wholly into this perspective of final, absolute triumph, and we see her always in a golden light. She believed, not in a timid faith in tune with the weaknesses and vicissitudes of our present life, but with a faith in harmony with the awesome ardors of the Infinite. She had seen the reign of the Spirit of her Son, and in her serenity she was in no need of patience while waiting till the sparks led at last to the blaze of glory.

(italics mine -- wow!)

the apostolate of kindness

I'm off to bed too late as I am not used to the time change. I was over here and love this...

And this from the Pope's Wednesday catechesis:

The Pope said that St. Bonaventure was "fascinated" by the idea that love still has sight in the “dark night of the Cross all the greatness of divine love appears: where reason no longer sees, love does. ... This is not anti-intellectual or anti-rational; it accepts the path of reason but transcends it in the love of the crucified Christ.”

St. Isaac Jogues, pray for us!

For a special intention:

Saint Isaac, your love for Jesus was so great that you wanted all people to know and to love him too. You gave up everything you had -- even your life -- to bring the Good News of Jesus to the Native peoples of North America.

Help me to grow in love each day. Help me to imitate Jesus and to lead others to him just as you did. Ask God to give me the courage I need to live my Catholic faith, especially when I have to face problems or things that make me suffer. I want to believe, hope, and love as you did. Pray for me, Saint Isaac. Amen.

My food resolution...

... that I wrote about in January...is hard to keep up. I cooked us up a good Sunday supper today. Last week, I was the "casserole queen." I made two casserole recipes out of my new Loretta Lynn cookbook that my in-laws gave me. This week, I'd like to try three new recipes (I printed them off the Internet and will try to go back and find the links.).

Hamburger/lentil soup, blueberry/banana bread and this chicken pot pie recipe.

Peeking ahead at next academic year....

I am having a hard time doing a little work here on the computer as there is the MOST BEAUTIFUL SNOW here today in Georgia. My two academic passions are history and writing and here are two links that may assist us next year in 4th and 7th grades:

My friend Lisa loves this writing program, and I like the idea of the DVD tutorials. This review on LovetoLearn is most helpful.

CHC's motto "Educating for Eternity" has my heart, my full attention. I am looking at how they organize their history studies and plan to go dig up the CHC materials that I own and see how they differ from their most current editions.

The snow is such a delight and such a source of profound peace. The family is all here, all content, all quiet and all "tranquilized" by the pure, white blanket of beauty that surrounds us.

A link to soaking whole grains before cooking or baking...

This recipe for "muffin bread" looks easy and appealing.

I am headed down to our parish, now a half hour drive south of us, to see our middle school youth group act out The Stations of the Cross. I think I overheard JB say that she is enacting Pontius Pilate. Should be good.