Sunday....Nativity Approaches in Small Steps

Made my favourite "Fia Sauce" .. a red pasta sauce with olive oil and red wine, Italian Plum Tomatoes, fresh basil and spices. I got this recipe from a book called 

"Canada's Best Slow Cooker Recipes" back in 2002/2003 (maybe a bit earlier?) 

from the wonderful Fort Langley Library in BC Canada. 

I find this sauce so versatile, we can have it for festive fast days in Advent 

(really good with added (drained) can of clams or during feast periods 

with a beef sauce that is next to this recipe in the same book.

 I think the first person I ever served this for was a friend in BC 

whose first born was a baby at the time (she is so grown up now!!!) ...

 It freezes well (that's why all but one of these jars is not fully full so it has room to expand) 

and smells so good when it's bubbling in the Crock Pot!

 I remember once in Ottawa I had this sauce with meat as a spaghetti dinner party... that was fun! I remember a dear Romanian friend saying that I make good spaghetti :) 

I've made it many times since moving to NJ and my beloved Husband and I enjoy it! 

Last year, for Western Christmas we were still in NJ and had a local friend over (whose Christmas it was) and we had it with clams and salad.

***

Church was good.

A sermon about the Hope God gives us.

Really nice time talking with people.

I appreciate that I have more than one Church family in my life.

***

So I was struggling today with our unbloggable and how long it feels

and how hard at times.

So I did what I am so blessed to be able to do.

I called my parents.  

Usually I talk with Mom but I knew I needed to

talk with my Dad so I did.

Here's some of what he said, I want to remember it and it was really

encouraging so I thought I would share.

He reminded me that we don't know why God is allowing things to happen

that are personally difficult.  

That we can't see the big picture, it would be too much for us.

However, God has a plan, a reason and is doing something that is for

the best for both my Husband and myself. 

That I need to be patient and remember to have perspective beyond my 

immediate perception... remember what the struggle is in part...

(I am saying this badly, but that was his meaning,

I can't go into what he actual said in this case).

And then I talked to Mom who reminded me to 

'lean on my Heavenly Father and take it all to Him' 

***

Well. 

Since I have the Christmas tree up already, tomorrow I hope to change

some of my icons for Christmas.

And clean house of course. 

I think I have 10 coming for the St Nicholas lunch this week.

I plan on making more of the Fia sauce to enjoy with them.

I really hope my dishes come tomorrow, as they are schedule to come.

***

May God help us all, no matter what we are facing.