Adventing

Last year, my Advent efforts mainly consisted of making an Advent wreath (late) and packing a few boxes for Operation Christmas drop. This year Luke is much more aware of what is going on, so I really tried to get my act together.

Orthodox Advent begins 40 days before Christmas, so we have been at it since the 15th. It kind of snuck up on me again, but not entirely.

I wanted to make a traditional advent wreath that included activities that Luke could understand and enjoy, and that could be transported. This year, like we have done for all our Texas years, are traveling to see family at Christmas. Moving right into Christmas is one of the problems that we usually run into when we travel. Who can resist with all the family around?

I took the boy and the girl (I call them by those names in an affectionate sort of way) to Hobby Lobby to see what we could find. I got the information for the wreath from my friend's blog and found all the supplies that I needed. I decided to make a felt wreath (so it could be folded up and taken on the plane with us to CA), and decorate it with pictures that helped us prepare for Christ's birth. We had all of the nativity characters, pictures of fasting foods, money (for almsgiving), and pictures that related to St. Nicholas. Here are a couple of pictures:

Felt wreath with the little girl next to it. She is happy if she can see me while I work.


Here are our candles and pictures. On the backs of the pictures I wrote a short explanation. Everyday, the plan is to let Luke pick out a picture and talk about what is represents. On Sundays we talk about the candles and what each one of them signifies. Luke has really enjoyed this! He asks me to sit with him, pick out a picture and "Glorify Him."

Spring Pictures and Red Hot Deals

Since it has been awhile, I have a lot of pictures to help everyone catch up. First, we had a lovely Pascha. Here is my first attempt at a Pascha basket:There is the traditional sweet bread, cheese, butter and red (ish) eggs. I threw in some yummy chocolates just for fun.

We just spent the past two weeks with Grammy and Papa Jones; this week, we are lucky to have my dad with us. Luke is LOVING all the attention and I am beginning to fret what he will be like when the parade of grandmas and grandpas comes to an end Tuesday.

Houston has never been more beautiful and we have certainly enjoyed our share of the outdoors. Luke frequently begs to go "ou'side!" When the weather heats up and the mosquitos become too thick, I am going to have to get creative to help him get that precious outside time.

My favorite outing, which we have made twice in two weeks, has been a trip to Hermann Park. It is a great big park (acres and acres) in the center of town. (Oh LA, you wish your downtown had a nice, friendly park like this one. You are mostly stinky and congested.)

Here is Grammy with the kiddos- they loved to stick together:

Hermann park is the perfect place for Luke because it has all of his favorite things- water features (he still shouts "Juice!" at any sight of a liquid substance), birds ("tweeeet, tweeets), turtles, koi fish, boats, planes flying overhead, and best of all....... a train that runs around the whole park. Luke got red in the face several times as he used all of his breath to shout, "Chooooo chooooo!" every time the train went by. We also rode the glorious "Chooooo chooooo!" and very much enjoyed the ride.

Grammy and Papa with Luke watching the train:

The park also has some Japanese Gardens. Here are Clara and Luke in the flowers:
Wendesday of last week, we had a baby shower for Bethany and new baby Getz. With help from Nathan's mom and a friend, here is the table that we created:
These past few days have been filled with lots of deal seeking and finding. Now I am trying to sort through it all. My best deal was a heap full of designer clothes (some new with the tags on!) for $15. Seriously, I just got a new wardrobe filled with Banana Republic, Gap, etc..., clothes for family and friends, and plenty of items to fuel my eBay sales for the next few months.

Preparations for Pascha

We have been very busy as of late, but wanted to update the blog with some of the events from the past week.

Last Sunday, Grammy and Papa came to town. We have had a wonderful time seeing them and get to enjoy there company for one more week!

On Tuesday, I got go to go church ALL BY MYSELF. I love taking Luke, but once in a while it is nice not to have my Mr. Wiggly, Mr. Talkative toddler sitting/standing next to me. The Orthodox Services for Sunday- Tuesday night of Holy Week are called the Bridegroom Matins. The theme of these services is watchfulness- we are reminded that the "Bridegroom (Christ) comes in the middle of the night," and our lamps should be lit. These have long been some of my most favorite services to attend.

Wednesday, we dyed eggs with Grammy, Aunt Bethany, Clara and the Hemati's. Luke loved coloring the eggs with a white crayon and watching the eggs go in and out of the dye.We made some for our egg hunt on Sunday afternoon and some for our Pascha basket. Here we all are:
Our red Pascha egg:
All of our dyed eggs. Notice Luke's artwork on the blue egg in the middle? He can even say blue, green and purple (bu, green, and pupple) now.The pascha (easter) basket traditionally includes red eggs, cheese, a sweet bread, and several other items and is taken to church and blessed at the Easter service.

Yesterday and today, Luke and I went to more services. We also made kulich-a traditional Easter bread. Kulich is a traditional Easter bread that will also go in our pascha basket. Luke received a little table and chair set from his godparents and has already logged many hours sitting at it. Here he is with Daddy, playing with some plastic eggs that we will also use for our Sunday hunt. I am not sure yet if I will put any candy in them- he seems to like them enough as they are. Also, he and grammy have been pretending that they are cups and have been drinking juice out of them. :)

The egg tea party:
Video at the little table with Daddy:

By Request

Lent began this afternoon with the Forgiveness Vespers Service. This is our first year in an Eastern-Rite Orthodox Church. I really enjoyed the service today and look forward to the weeks ahead.

Emily asked me to join in on the lenten discussion and about some good vegetarian/vegan recipes, etc... The focus of lent is truly about fasting from sin, but fasting from certain foods, prayer, and almsgiving are avenues to this end. Here are some of my "tips" or getting through lent. Let me add the disclaimer that I am NOT an expert at fasting. These are just some things that I have found helpful.

1. Pray! Pray like you are really in a battle (it is more real than we know). If I begin the day praying, I have more energy to journey on and am less likely to despair. I suggest Met. Philaret's prayer for the beginning of the day, and the Lenten standard: The Prayer of St. Ephraim (see below). Really embrace the words and keep them with you throughout the day.

2. Go to the extra church services if at all possible. It is SO encouraging to remember that we (the Church) are all in this together. It is easy to get bitter if you feel alone in fasting. Truly, I have found that struggling through Lent with my fellow parishioners glues our community together in a way that nothing else can.

Since Luke doesn't do well at the night services in general, I am going to try to listen to Ancient Faith Radio podcasts during the season. We will try to actually make it to church too, but it may not always be possible.

3. Have a project. If you are spending less on food, buy extra food for the local food bank, send money to Haiti, etc... Almsgiving really helps fasting make more sense to me.

4. Find good recipes and recycle them. I always face the temptation of trying out all sorts of recipes and spending hours in the kitchen. As our priest in CA said, Lent is about simplification. The fast is to focus our minds on the spiritual, not on proper meal preparation. OrthodoxMom.com and Orthodox Mother's Digest have hosted several fasting recipe swaps.

5. Have a baked potato night each week. Baked potatoes are great, and there is little prep time involved. I like to rub oil on the skins before baking them. They are 10x better this way and it encourages everyone to eat the skin (the best part in my opinion!). Vegans-serve with baked beans, chopped green onions, BBQ sauce, salt, pepper, grilled onions. Vegetarians- use cheese, cottage cheese, butter, sour cream, etc... Homemade pizza once a week is also good, and fun for a Saturday night.

6. Make breakfast easy. I like Emily's idea of having oatmeal every day. For myself, I know that the more I have to think about, the more distracted with food I become. I also like cheese or a homemade energy bar for breakfast.

7. Prep veggies and fruit and dips to have on hand. Tomorrow I will make hummus, ranch dip (160z sour cream + 1 packet dry ranch dressing mix), and cut up a bunch of carrots.

I guess I will end with a central prayer for the Lenten season. May God bless you all and multiply your efforts to His glory!

Lenten Prayer Of St. Ephrem The Syrian

O Lord and Master of my life!
Take from me the spirit of sloth,
faint-heartedness, lust of power, and idle talk.

But give rather the spirit of chastity,
humility, patience, and love to Thy servant.

Yea, Lord and King! Grant me to see my own errors and not to judge my brother, for Thou art blessed unto ages of ages. Amen.

Epiphany/Theophany- 5 years

"The heavens were opened to show us that our baptism will open the heavens for us. God is made accessible to us. We can know the Unknowable. We can be changed. A good work is done in us, and we have the means to have the promise fulfilled in us."
~St. John Chrysostom on the feast of Theophany

Yesterday, we celebrated the feast of Theophany, also called Epiphany. This feast day s especially near and dear to me as I was chrismated into the Orthodox Church on this feast five years ago.

I began my journey into Orthodoxy filled with lots of enthusiasm and determination. I loved the whole experience- participating in the sacraments and the church year, diving deeper and deeper into my questions about God, struggling against myself through prayer and fasting, telling everyone of the great jewel I had found.

Looking back now, I see that time as a honeymoon of sorts. It was like when Nathan and I were first dating- everything was wonderful, fresh and new- I was completely preoccupied and in love. My relationship with God was exciting and fulfilling and I felt like I was growing towards Him in leaps and bounds. I wish that this particular time of my journey had lasted longer, or that the same wonderful feelings could be something that I could experience again any time I wanted.

After my initial entrance into Orthodoxy, the real work began. Fasting was no longer new and glorious, but was tedious and ordinary. The beautifully scripted prayers stopped fascinating me and began to feel repetitive. I began to feel like a bit of a failure. Why was I not as motivated or disciplined as at the first? Why was this so hard?

Discouraged, I confessed all of this to a priest at a women's retreat a few years ago. He was very understanding and helpful. He reminded me that in all serious, long term relationships, there is an initial exciting period. But then, just as in marriage, the hyped emotions die and the day-to-day routines set in. Our struggle towards Christ (or towards our spouse) becomes less glamorous and more about being faithful and finding joy in the rhythm of daily life. This was encouraging to me.

I still struggle with being discouraged in the day-to-day Christian life, and in my many failings. 5 years out, I wish I was in a better place. However, one important thing that I have learned from Orthodoxy is that salvation is a process. We are not instantly victorious Christian people (as I often wish were the case).

When I feel discouraged these two things give me particular hope:

1) The words of St. John Chrysostom that I quoted above: "We can be changed. A good work is done in us, and we have the means to have the promise fulfilled in us." We can change- God became man that he might enable us to become like Him and participate in His divine life.

2) A well known Orthodox story: A monk comes to his priest distraught and confesses that he continually falls into sin, and askes what to do. The priest tells him to get up when he falls, and to keep getting up each time he falls until the day he dies. We are to do the same

So, five years in, I am fallen and humbled. But, tomorrow is a new day, and God willing, I will get up and begin again.

New Book

My new book just came. I am excited. :)

Here is a snippet from the back cover:

"The Orthodox Church is a repository of great and full spiritual literature- much of which can make a mother of young children feel like she's an irrelevant, distracted, decidedly non-spiritual entity... Is it possible to flourish and grow in your faith, while changing diapers and driving carpool? Close To Home shows that the answer is yes- and what's more, that your not alone."

Seriously, since the move and since Luke has gained some key new abilities (walking!), church has felt very chaotic. For weeks, I think that I have only been in service half of the time and actually paying attention for half of that. I know that going to church and being part of its community is not just about what I get from it, but I have felt so lost lately. I am looking forward to this read.

Holy Week, Pascha, and Recovery

What a whirlwind of a week! Holy Week and Pascha (Orthodox Easter) have kept me more than busy! Here is a bit of our past week:

For the third year in a row, I planned our Paschal Luncheon. It is our church's tradition to eat together after the Easter liturgy and celebrate together. I LOVE planning this event. I LOVE actually cooking it and watching everyone enjoy themselves even more. If someone would pay me, I would do big events like this all the time. (anyone, anyone? :) )

This year, my menu was based on a Mexican/Latin American theme:

Carne Asada
Puerco Pibil (Nathan's specialty)
Chicken Verde
Black Bean and Corn salad
Mexican Caesar Salad
Mexican Wedding Cookies
Tres Leches ice cream

With all the fixings of course!

I went to the Bridegroom Matins service on Monday evening (Luke was already in bed). I enjoyed the freedom of worshipping by myself at one of my favorite services of the whole year. Nathan was extraordinarily busy the next couple of days so stayed around the house to help.

We all went to the Maundy Thursday service. I chanted a few hymns during the foot washing and stripping of the altar. I still remember how much this service meant to me the first time I experienced it. There is nothing like it. Luke enjoyed it quite thoroughly, though did not sleep at all. We got home at 10:00 and Luke was bouncing off the walls. Yes, he was punchy because we were out too late, and he got over-tired. Well, it is once a year.

Friday and Saturday, Nathan and I (and several wonderful helpers) worked all day to get everything prepped and ready. We wanted to stay at least for the Good Friday service, but Luke was in no mood for it. He had slept TERRIBLY the night before and was plain worn out. I knew that he had alread been pushed pretty hard, so we went home.

Yesterday was glorious. I was a bit stressed over the meal (the first meal after everyone has been fasting has to be good!), but with everyone's help, it turned out great.

Luke wore his first buttoned down shirt and looked very cute! Unfortunately, his Target diaper (I will NEVER buy them again) failed after the service and he peed all over himself and me. So, no family photo this year. :( Luckily I had brought a change of clothes for both of us, and we went on with our day.

We have a tradition of ringing bells during the "Gloria" section of the liturgy on Easter Sunday and this scared Luke silly. He cried and cried, but was over it quickly. Poor little guy. He does scare easily- I hold him sometimes to vaccuum.

On the way home, Luke slept (for the first time since he woke up- it was 4:30pm!!) and I ran into our nearest Golden Spoon frozen yogurt shop. Truly, I could go without meat for the rest of my life, but not frozen yogurt! Nathan let me get a whole quart to bring home for my Easter basket. :)

We finished out the day with a few Father Knows Best episodes and were all in bed before 9pm. Ah, sweet sleep. Luke is on his second nap of the day right now, and I am heading for my first.

Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!

A Prayer

Luke and I pray this as part of our morning prayer routine. It is so calming that I thought I would post it. It was composed by St. Philaret of Moscow.

"O Lord, grant me to greet the coming day in peace, help me in all things to rely upon your holy will. In every hour of the day reveal your will to me. Bless my dealings with all who surround me. Teach me to treat all that comes to throughout the day with peace of soul and with firm conviction that your will governs all. In all my deeds and words, guide my thoughts and feelings. In unforeseen events, let me not forget that all are sent by you. Teach me to act firmly and wisely, without embittering or embarrassing others. Give me strength to bear the fatigue of the coming day with all that it shall bring. Direct my will, teach me to pray. And you, yourself, pray in me. Amen."

Christ is Risen!

Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tomb bestowing life!

I love this sermon. Christianity in its essence and the foundation for our joy.

The Easter Sermon of John Chrysostom

Is there anyone who is a devout lover of God?
Let them enjoy this beautiful bright festival!

Is there anyone who is a grateful servant?

Let them rejoice and enter into the joy of their Lord!

Are there any weary with fasting?

Let them now receive their wages.

If any have toiled from the first hour, let them receive their due reward;
If any have come after the third hour, let him with gratitude join in the Feast!

And he that arrived after the sixth hour, let him not doubt; for he too shall sustain no loss.

And if any delayed until the ninth hour, let him not hesitate; but let him come too.

And he who arrived only at the eleventh hour, let him not be afraid by reason of his delay.

For the Lord is gracious and receives the last even as the first.

He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour, as well as to him that toiled from the first.

To this one He gives, and upon another He bestows.

He accepts the works as He greets the endeavor.

The deed He honors and the intention He commends.

Let us all enter into the joy of the Lord!

First and last alike receive your reward;

rich and poor, rejoice together!

Sober and slothful, celebrate the day!

You that have kept the fast, and you that have not,

rejoice today for the Table is richly laden!

Feast royally on it, the calf is a fatted one.

Let no one go away hungry.

Partake, all, of the cup of faith.

Enjoy all the riches of His goodness!

Let no one grieve at his poverty,

for the universal kingdom has been revealed.

Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again;

for forgiveness has risen from the grave.

Let no one fear death,

for the Death of our Savior has set us free.

He has destroyed it by enduring it.

He destroyed Hades when He descended into it.

He put it into an uproar even as it tasted of His flesh.

Isaiah foretold this when he said,

"You, O Hell, have been troubled by encountering Him below."

Hell was in an uproar because it was done away with.

It was in an uproar because it is mocked.

It was in an uproar, for it is destroyed.

It is in an uproar, for it is annihilated.

It is in an uproar, for it is now made captive.

Hell took a body, and discovered God.

It took earth, and encountered Heaven.

It took what it saw, and was overcome by what it did not see.

O death, where is thy sting?O Hades, where is thy victory?

Christ is Risen, and you, o death, are annihilated!

Christ is Risen, and the evil ones are cast down!

Christ is Risen, and the angels rejoice!

Christ is Risen, and life is liberated!

Christ is Risen, and the tomb is emptied of its dead;

for Christ having risen from the dead,

is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

To Him be Glory and Power forever and ever. Amen!

The Annunciation

For those of us still in Lent, the Annunciation is an especially bright feast day. Besides being one of the great Twelve Feasts of the church, it is the world's first message of hope. Until this day, no one knew exactly how God would bring salvation to the world. I am making salmon, couscous and asparagus tonight for dinner in celebration (good baby food :) ). Have a blessed feast day!

"Today marks the crowning of our salvation and the revelation of the mystery before all ages. For the Son of God becomes the son of the Virgin, and Gabriel proclaims the grace. Wherefore, we also cry out with him, 'Hail, O full of grace, the Lord is with you.' "

Annunciation of the Theotokos

The Reading is from Luke 1:24-38
In those days, Elizabeth the wife of Zacharias conceived and for five months she hid herself, saying, "Thus the Lord had done to me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men." In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you! But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end." And Mary said to the angel, "How shall this be, since I have no husband?" And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible." And Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

Home from the Monastery

Last weekend, Nathan went up to the monastery of St. John of San Francsico, up near Redding, CA with some friends. St. John of San Francisco lived in Shanghai first and later in San Francisco. St. John established an orphanage in Shanghai and worked many miracles. There are not many US saints, or recent ones, and he was both. He died in 1966 in San Francisco and his relics still remain there. I used to think that something like visitng relics was morbid or even superstious and un-Christian. But really, how many miles to people travel to get a celebrity's autograph, or even the annual family pilgrimage to the world of Disney (not that there is anything wrong with that). Why not travel even the few hours to see and venerate the relics of a beautiful saint? One who gave his life to save the world? Who are our heros, but them first of all? I think that we will try to make some pilgrimages in the coming year.

I was home alone for a while for the first time since we have been married. It was an interesting experience to have so much quiet, and one that I hope to repeat more often. I fared pretty well, mostly because it was only three days that Nathan was gone. But its funny how after two-and-a-half years, you don't sleep as well when your dearly loved one is gone. (Someone joked that they hoped that Nathan wouldn't take up permanent residence there. :) )Yay, Nathan is home again!