Good Friday Lenten Dinner {on Holy Saturday}

We usually have this annual Lenten Dinner on Good Friday. I had hoped to move it to Passion Sunday this year now that our children are getting older, but ended up sick on the couch with the flu… Oh well, maybe next year?  Then, on Good Friday, we really wanted to attend Stations of the Cross and the Veneration of the Cross, but our local mission church only had one Easter Sunday Mass scheduled for the week and the only Good Friday service offered by our pastor and/or assistant priest at the main parish (in the next town over) was scheduled for 7pm… Instead our local priests were participating in (and we were all invited to join) the "Ecumenical Service" at the First Christian Church (?) at noon…. Anyway, I'm not sure what that was all about, but we ended up opting to make the drive, to the church where Sean and I were married, to pray the Stations of the Cross and the Divine Mercy Chaplet at 12pm and then attend the Good Friday Service and Veneration of the Cross at 3pm. It was beautiful, inspiring, and the perfect way to spend Good Friday. We had some errands to run afterwards, which made for a very long day in town, so I considered skipping the dinner all together this year but we ended up modifying it for Holy Saturday instead.

You can find the pictures from our 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2014 Good Friday dinners in the archives for Good Friday. Here are the pictures from this year's Lenten Dinner: on Holy Saturday:

.: Water :.

Glasses of Water to drink and a bowl of water for washing hands... 

"Pilate took water and washed his hands before the crowd saying, "I am innocent of this righteous man's blood." Matthew 27: 24

.: The King's Crown :.

A Small Bean, Cheese and Chip Crown… 

"And Pilate asked Him, 'Are you the King of the Jews?' And He answered him, 'You have said so.'" Mark 15: 2

.: Out of Envy, The Purple Cloak, and Golgotha Eggs:.

Chunky Guacamole is Green for "envy"

Once again Grape Fruit Leather was served for the Purple Cloak.

This year, instead of making Golgotha Eggs (skulls), I just used a few leftover White Cadbury Eggs from the girls'  Chocolate Easter Nests, for our Golgotha Eggs.

"[H]e perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered Him up." Mark 15: 10

"And they clothed Him in a purple cloak . . . ." Mark 15: 17

"And they brought Him to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of the skull)" Mark 15: 22

.: The Crown of Thorns :.

The Crown of Thorns were made by my the children with Ritz Crackers, Peanut Butter, and Pretzels.

". . . and, plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on him." Mark 15: 17

.: The Seamless Garment :.

Using my kitchen scissors, I cut cheese quesadilla to look like a seamless garment.

"But the tunic was without seam, woven from top to bottom; so they said to one another, 'Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.'" John 19: 23-24

.: The Two Robbers, Roman Centurion & Vinegar to Drink :.

Two fresh sprigs of Basil are used to represent the two robbers since "legend has it that the Basil plant grew around the site of Christ's crucifixion. The Victorian Language of Flowers lists Basil as symbolic of both hatred and best wishes. The taunting thief and the good thief come to mind."

"100" Cherry Tomatoes represent the 100 Roman Centurion.
(I was a little short this year… and in too much of a hurry to cut them all in half.) 

Plus some Cheese Cubes to represent the dice used to cast lots...

And with Him they crucified two robbers, one on His right and one on His left." Mark 15: 27

"And when the centurion, who stood facing Him, saw that He thus breathed His last, he said, 'Truly this man was the Son of God.'" Mark 15: 39

"And one ran and, filling a sponge full of vinegar, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying 'Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take Him down.'" Mark 15: 36

.: The Temple Curtain :.

"And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom." Mark 15: 38

.: Laid in the Tomb :.

This year, since we had our dinner on Holy Saturday, the children made Resurrection Rolls! 

"And he brought a linen shroud, and taking Him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud, and laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb."

This year I forgot to pull out our usual small card stock signs (I think my mind was focusing on all the baskets that needed to be filled and everything else that still needed to be done that night!) but you can find them over at Scribd.

For more past Lent and Easter posts:

The Lenten Season In Our Catholic Home

Easter - Pentecost :: From the Archives

{pretty, happy, funny, real} :: Instagram Recap

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life with Like Mother, Like Daughter. ~

{pretty}

{Easter Wednesday} Today is the last day to pre-order and save on The Catholic Daily Planner for August 2015 - July 2016 from Michele Quigley, but I can't decide which cover to choose this year! Do I pick a new one, or reorder one of my favorites? Decisions, decisions…

{happy}

{Holy Saturday} Filling plastic eggs and Easter baskets while the Paska bakes and the girls finish making Chocolate Nests... That's what I'm doing now before moving on to the next thing on the list for today! 

{photo taken on Easter Sunday} I tried taking another family picture this Easter using the swing set ladder and my camera's self-timer… It turned out kind of blurry but at least we got one! Actually most of my Easter pictures turned out blurry for some reason, but I just posted this one {actually the one I posted was a little different} and a few favorites of just our children over on the blog here. Now to sort through the rest of the photos! Happy Easter!

{funny}

{very early Easter Sunday morning} I'm up late hiding Easter baskets (for the first time, inspired by a friend of ours) this year... Hehehe! Now if I can just find seven spots large enough.

{real}

We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee, because by Thy holy cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.

{Good Friday} Our little three year old asked me to carry him around the church so he could look closely at each station, after we finished praying the Stations of the Cross and the Divine Mercy Chaplet. His sweet comments about each one were so precious. It was definitely worth the drive to attend the Good Friday services at the beautiful church where Sean and I were married. We will go back at 3pm for the Veneration of the Cross. 

"If you seek patience, you will find no better example than the cross. Great patience occurs in two ways: either when one patiently suffers much, or when one suffers things which one is able to avoid and yet does not avoid. Christ endured much on the cross, and did so patiently, because when he suffered he did not threaten; he was led like a sheep to the slaughter and he did not open his mouth." ~ St. Thomas Aquinas

"How precious the gift of the cross, how splendid to contemplate! In the cross there is no mingling of good and evil, as in the tree of paradise: it is wholly beautiful to behold and good to taste. The fruit of this tree is not death but life, not darkness but light. This tree does not cast us out of paradise, but opens the way for our return." ~ St. Theodore the Studite

You can find me on Instagram here. 

A Lenten Dinner on Palm Sunday

It's hard to believe that it's been seven years now since our first Lenten Dinner which was originally inspired by Alice's Lenten Teas. These have definitely become a favorite Lenten tradition in our home.  As our children get older I've had to be a little more creative to fit them in our full schedule. This year our Thursdays are especially full with tutors, piano lessons and more, so we moved our usual Holy Thursday Dinner to after Mass on Palm Sunday which worked out nicely. I pulled out a couple books about Palm Sunday (The Donkey and the Golden Light and Little Colt's Palm Sunday) and set them on the counter. It didn't take long for someone to pick one up to start reading! I also surprised the little ones with some new Easter Blessing Blocks from Almond Rod Toys. I know I've posted about these every year, but we love to look back and see the changes we have made from year to year.

~ Palm on the Road ~

I picked up a jar of Hearts of Palm from Trader Joe's to include in a salad. 

"And many spread their garments on the road, and others spread leafy branches which they had cut from the fields." Mk. 11:8

~ Costly Oil ~

For dressing we used balsamic vinegar and some "costly oil". 

"And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her." Mk. 14:9

~ Thirty Pieces of Silver ~

Our children gave up candy for Lent this year, but since we ended up having this Lenten Dinner on Sunday they were all excited to enjoy the 30 Chocolate Coins (3-4 each) for dessert. 

"Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, 'What will you give me if I deliver him to you?' And they paid him thirty pieces of silver." Mt. 25: 14-15

~ Unleavened Bread ~

Like last year, and to keep it simple for myself, I picked up a package of Naan since my family loves it, although technically it is a leavened bread…  It was perfect to serve with either the Chicken Soup. 

"And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the passover lamb, his disciples said to Him, 'Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the passover?'" Mk. 14:12

~ The Mount of Olives ~

This year's Mount of Olives was a couple cans of Black Olives.

"And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives." Mk. 14:26

~ The Cock Crows Twice ~

I baked a couple chickens and fed my family with them twice! :) 

On Saturday I roasted two chickens (along with parsnips and carrots) for dinner… Then on Sunday I used all the remaining meat and the remnants of one of the chickens to make a large pot of Chicken Soup for the Lenten Dinner. (The remnants of the second chicken went into the crock pot to be used for making bone broth.)  

As I mentioned last week, I've been on a special autoimmune elimination diet (AIP) which really limits what I can eat, but there was still plenty included in this menu that I could enjoy: Salad (minus the tomatoes) with the Oil and Vinegar, a few Garlic Stuffed Green Olives (I passed on the black olives), and a big bowl of Chicken soup filled with lots of extra veggies (turnips, celery, onions, carrots and leeks). I made sure to fill a smaller pot with some soup for myself (with enough for lunch the next day) before adding noodles for the rest of the family. Yummm! I need to get back to Costco to pick up a couple more Organic Chickens! 

"And Jesus said to him, 'Truly, I say to you, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.'" Mk. 14:30

~ Gethsemane Figs ~

A box of Nature's Bakery Fig Bars was an easy addition for the Gethsemane Figs. 

"And they went to a place which was called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, 'Sit here, while I pray.'" Mk. 14:32

~ Sleepy Apostles ~ 

Last year (as suggested by Jennifer Anne) I served Sleepytime Tea after dinner, and I did enjoy some myself this year, but for the rest of the family my husband suggested serving Mochas (or hot cocoa for the little ones) after dinner to "Keep those Sleepy Apostles awake!" I love it!! 

"And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep?  Could you not watch one hour?" Mk. 14:37

~ Judas' Kiss ~

One Hershey Kiss each to represent Judas' Kiss. 

"And when he came, he went up to him at once, and said, 'Master!' And he kissed him." Mk. 14:45

~ The Clouds of Heaven ~

We topped the Mochas with whipped cream... 

"And Jesus said, 'I am; and you will see the Son of man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.'" Mk. 14:62

~ Peter's Tears ~

… and sprinkled on a few mini marshmallows for Peter's Tears.

"And immediately the cock crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, 'Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.' And he broke down and wept." Mk. 14:72

The girls set the table and the boys helped prepare the soup and salad. 

I printed off some new little card stock signs, this year on red card stock for Palm Sunday.

 (You can download my document over at Scribd.)  

During dinner my husband read the sermon for the day from Sermons of the Curé of Ars after the children read all the bible verses for each menu item. 

This year our older boys came up with LEGO creations for Holy Week and Easter, instead of the Playmobil scenes they've created in the past! I'm hoping to gather all the pictures into one post to share, but here's a little peek what they were working on for Palm Sunday.

For more past Lent and Easter posts:
The Lenten Season In Our Catholic Home
Easter - Pentecost :: From the Archives

March Daybook

Outside my window…
Hot, cold, sunshine, rain, and even hail. The weather has been all over the place the last few days!

I am thinking...
I mentioned in my February Daybook that I saw my doctor again for more blood work (to check my hormone balance) and a biopsy (on my skin rash). The following Tuesday, March 3rd, I went back to discuss the results…

It's turns out that the awful rash that I've been fighting since just after my miscarriage last June (which was originally diagnosed as poison oak and then, a few months later, as systemic yeast) is actually a skin disease.  (No wonder those three rounds of treatments and the 30-day candida diet I tried didn't make a difference!) I asked my doctor if there is a cure. She responded "no" and said that it is "autoimmune caused and not contagious." She then wrote me a prescription for "steroid cream to help manage the pain" and said to come back and see her in three months. I really need to find a new doctor.

I also asked her about my progesterone level and she said "it's normal." … Sigh… "Yes… It would be in the normal range (at the very low end) if I was postmenopausal. But for me, at my age and mid-cycle, according to a friend of mine (Ranger's Godfather, who owns a lab and was able to go over my results for me a couple days earlier thanks to MyChart) it is extremely low." She looked at the results again and said, "Oh, you're right…" So frustrating. I'm just so glad I didn't listen to her last month and insisted on the hormone testing, when she tried to prescribe antidepressants and anxiety medications. I knew that wasn't what I've been needing and that something else hasn't been right. Now to find that new doctor… I wish we had more options around here.

I am thankful... 
I am so thankful that I at least finally know the cause of this skin rash! After coming home, and wiping away the tears from the shock of my "incurable skin disease", I started researching ways to improve my symptoms naturally. I ran across some articles online (this one and this one) that gave me hope that I'd be able to put the disease into remission.  I decided to try a 30-Day Autoimmune Protocol Diet. I went grocery shopping with my husband that very night and started the next morning. Today is Day 28!

It's kind of funny that at the beginning of Lent I mentioned to my husband that I wasn't going to give up any specific foods this Lent… Ha! I ended up giving up everything! Coffee, Chocolate, Sugar, Grains, Legumes, Dairy, Eggs, Nightshades, Seeds, Nuts, etc. It's been a challenging four weeks to say the least.

The good news is, other than the cold/flu I caught a couple weeks ago which was definitely a setback, my rash is improving, my moods have stabilized, I'm sleeping well, I have more energy (though still not back to what I use to have), I've lost 16 pounds as of today, and am feeling so much better. It's a start!

Learning all the time…
This school year is passing so quickly!

March 10th - I'm so proud of this girl! She just completed her Saxon 6/5 math book for the school year, which doesn't end until June 10th... That's over twelve weeks away, we haven't even gotten to spring break yet!

The first thing she wanted to do was pull out Math 7/6 to see what's coming up next! 

Celebrating the liturgical year...
In addition to the Lenten season we also have had some favorite feasts and a birthday to celebrate!

March 13th - As soon as we finish praying our family rosary these two head straight to the Lenten calendar to cover up the square for the day.

March 15th - I had a few kids to make breakfast for this morning! #friendsvisiting #Catholic #lent2015 #laetaresunday #motheringsunday

March 15th - Such a treat to be invited (our whole family and our visiting friends too!) to the Figure Skating Club's private St. Patrick's Day Party which included free skating, door prizes and yummy treats... A perfect indoor activity for this rainy day!

March 17th - Traditional Irish Soda Bread with Pure Irish Butter. {You can find the recipe here.}

You can see more pictures from Saint Patrick's Day here.

March 19th - Happy St. Joseph's Day!  You can see our St. Joseph's Day Cathedral Cake here. 

March 24th (My husband's birthday and the traditional feast of St. Gabriel) - Patiently waiting for the birthday boy to get home from work so we can celebrate!

March 25th - I ended up making a quadruple batch of Organic 6-Grain Waffles and served them with Marionberries and Maple Syrup for dinner.... Mmmmm! I didn't have any but they sure smelled good!

You can also find the Annunciation Cookies we made here. 

From the kitchen... 
It's been interesting! When I first read the list of what was not allowed on the Autoimmune Protocol Diet I didn't think there was any way that I'd be able to survive 30 days… or more! I've definitely had to spend a lot more time in the kitchen, but I've been able to stick with it!

One of the first things I did was order this cookbook which has been a great source of inspiration. 

I've made so many new and delicious recipes including Shrimp and Green Bean Stir-Fry, Sweet Potato Fries with Garlic "Mayo", Cinnamon-Scented Butternut Squash (I adapted the recipe and added apples), Citrus-Avocado Dressing, and more...

For Sean's birthday we grilled Tilapia and I made Bacon-Wrapped Pears, Brussels Sprouts with Crispy Bacon, and Curried Cauliflower.

I was even able to make a special desert (Pear-Caramel Pie) for the solemnity feast of St. Joseph! The crust was made from Arrowroot and Coconut Flour and I didn't really care for it, but the pears tasted amazing!

I am working on... 
still...working on finding ways to improve my health and making time to exercise at least a few days each week… though the exercise had to be put on hold while I was sick.

March 22nd - Tissues, tea, and a day spent in bed... This cold/flu that I've been fighting since last week took a turn for the worse and has really knocked me off my feet!

March 23rd - Sipping on broth and watching my little ones "read" to each other. Not exactly what I had originally planned for our first day of spring break, but I'm so grateful that I have a wide open schedule this week (no tutors, hockey, piano lessons, or submission deadlines) and can rest and recover quickly.

I am creating...
a check-list of the things I still need to do this week to prepare for Easter. So much still to do and so little time. I'm going to have to keep it simple this year.

I am going...
to pre-order my new Daily Planner from Michele so I can save 10%.  I use the August-July version.

I am hoping...
to finally complete the Couch 2 5K app! I started at the beginning of February and completed the first 6 weeks on March 15th before having to take a break until my cough was better. Today was my first day back! It was slow going but I managed to complete the next workout challenge!

I am praying...
for some special intentions.

March 14th - It's been six years today since my grandpa died... These two don't remember their great-grandpa (our youngest two hadn't even been born yet) but they have heard wonderful stories and just finished lighting candles while offering prayers for the repose of his soul. Rest in peace Grandpa+

I am reading…
Jesus of Nazareth: The Story of His Life Written for Children by Mother Mary Loyola.  I had to take a break from reading aloud and I'm not sure we will be able to finish it by Easter. It's such a beautiful book though and I look forward to reading the rest to the children soon!

Pondering these words…
from Divine Intimacy:

"We must not seek the cross in extraordinary sufferings, seldom, if ever encountered; we must look for it in the duties, the life, the difficulties, and the sacrifices of each day and of each moment."

I am listening…
to Lent at Ephesus.

Around the house...
Decluttering and Spring Cleaning. I didn't plan on filling 40 bags with stuff to donate this Lent but it sort of happened anyway! The weekend before last we tackled the garage and ended up donating a ficus tree, a bathroom cabinet, a rolling storage shelf, and a few bags of Christmas decorations, plus an area rug (to my sister), 4 old bikes (to the bike store), high-chair (to a thrift shop), 4 old carseats (to the fire department), and 4 bags of trash. Then, this weekend, I managed to fill an additional 20 brown bags with clothes and toys to donate from the bedrooms plus a few more bags of trash. Whew!

One of my favorite things...  
the beautiful Rosary Flip Book from Sacred Art Series. It was one of the gifts I gave my husband for his birthday this year.

This week's plans…

• Palm Sunday Lenten Dinner
• Sean away for training Monday-Wednesday
• Tutors on Monday and Tuesday
• Orthodontist Appointments on Wednesday
• Piano Lessons on Thursday
• Stations of the Cross, Divine Mercy Chaplet, and Good Friday Service 
• A Simple and Symbolic Lenten Dinner on Good Friday
• Bake Bread for Easter
• Prepare for Easter Sunday!

A little peek at my day...

One of the pictures I took on Sunday while I was preparing this year's Palm Sunday Lenten Dinner… She's just like her mother! ;)