Week in Recap, Many Blessings!

We had our beloved munchkin 

4 days this week.

*

It was really fun!

Sometimes, since he is only a newly 6 year old,

he got a bit homesick but overall he was very

happy and had tons of fun!

*

On St. John's day 

the Munchkin and I made a cake

for this special day!

Munchkin poured in all the

dry ingredients :)

Aunt Elizabeth poured the

chocolate chips on top;

these made the Munchkin very

excited indeed :)

We had a really lovely dinner

with Munchkin and gave him

a little book on St. John as well...

*

Our days ended up being like this:

7 AM up for breakfast ~ first thing we had

was a little Holy Water and Prosphora! 

Munchkin had two crepes

with strawberry jam (that my Mom made and

brought with her when they were here).

We would pray and light a candle before eating.

He always got to choose who we would ask prayers for;

sometimes St. Nicholas or the Mother of God or 

our Lord Jesus Christ who all the prayers are

ultimately going to of course

and later in the week, St. George and then St. John :)

Then we would kiss the icon of the Lord or of the Saint 

and eat.

Then play time.

NAP for Aunt Elizabeth and then 

prayers together and getting ready for swimming.

10-12 SWIM!

He did so well! He ended up going in the 'big pool' as well

as the fun kiddie pool and is more

confident in his life jacket in water where he can't touch.

I am so proud of him!

He says that swimming is one of his new sports now :)

HOME again at Noon and then a snack.

Fun bath time while I made lunch.

Then quiet time from 1-2 or so.

Then play, math games, listening to stories,

doing crafts, playing with legos, and on

St. John's day we read this book on St. John 

while sitting on my bed.

I had some sweet tasting vigil bread that we had

special on St. John's day together

before we read about him.

(btw, these books, the St. John book being one of them,

are absolutely wonderful for kids and great

read alouds! I am so impressed with the content in

words and drawings!)

More playing.

When Uncle Mr. Husband was at work

he would call when he was near home

and we would race out to 

blow bubbles at Uncle Mr. Husband

as he came up the stoop stairs!

Then dinner.

Talking with Mom on gmail-skype...

Play, clean up, read Bible stories

and Uncle Mr. Husband would read the 

Gospel reading of the day and I the Epistle. 

Then some more stories or theological talks

and then prayers before bed and bed.

We would start again about 7 AM the next day!

*

Before bed I would read a few more pages of 

Conversations with Children

and was really encouraged and gently instructed by

this book.

I really can't recommend it enough!

*

God-willing the Munchkin comes again this coming week 

and we will have a lot more fun!

*

I do not have as much time for blogging or

blog reading as I want to make this Munchkin's time

with us as special as possible;

I am really happy to see that at this age

children are so incredibly open to God, the Saints, to miracles.

I am trying to do one new Saint a day

(I have been collecting Orthodox children's books 

since I got married with the hope of one day kids

visiting us like we have now)

and we do prayers throughout the day when we 

also light a new candle. 

*

I love being a 'Church and Family Auntie' 

and having kids over, where they can

have fun with games, the pool and also have

times where we do small prayers or read about a new Saint.

*

I am slowly doing more orders for our church bookstore also

and this book, a simple one on the Holy Liturgy,

has proved very popular. 

*

The pool down the street has been wonderful!

I am at the pool every morning during the week now,

with the kids or if no kids at home, by myself or Mr. Husband

or neighbours who are dear friends! 

*

I thank God for this special time.

Monday ~ Loving a Young Munchkin

My brother-in-law and Mr. Husband got the

futon couch up!

The seat of the couch is 55" in depth so it

is big enough for a smaller child to sleep on for a bed!

We put down soft flannel sheets for bed, lots of pillows

and Bears, Rabbits and an Eeyore! 

The paper, crayons and water colours that I ordered

have been used this afternoon!

Some nice cards have been made!

Cleo is still not sure what to think of new people

but she is doing well.

*

This morning we went to the pool!

*

It's a good time for me... still getting our 

rhythm down for these days but

this morning we did some small prayers and

I am finding this book to be invaluable

in suggestions on how to talk about the God,

including the mystery of the Holy Trinity,

to young children. 

*

I am a bit tired with so much going on,

but the main rhythm of pool in the morning and 

afternoon at home is working well for me.

*

The munchkin I and Mr. Husband are watching

loves St. John like we do!

We are going to bake a cake for St. John's day tomorrow

or the day after, on his day!

We are hoping to find our vegan chocolate chips 

for the cake tonight but we will see!

Either way, it's going to be fun to bake

a cake for St. John with my young 6 year old munchkin

that we are caring for this week and next!

*

Saint John loved children

and I am so glad we have such loving Saint to celebrate! 

More than halfway to Pascha!

 Well dearly beloved friends,

we have made it to another Friday in Great Lent.

*

I know Lent can be a very challenging time.

For me as well...

but God is with us and promises mercy.

*

I have been thinking of St. John the Wonderworker,

Archbishop of Shanghai and San Francisco 

and the wonderful stories in this book,

that appears sadly out of print...

I am blessed to have a copy of it but was hoping to get

a copy of it for a dear friend; if anyone has

a copy for sale in their church bookstore, etc, do let me know!

(email here).

*

I took this picture this morning

of one of the pictures that I love of St. John

and that I often think of when thinking of his love

for others, especially children.

I love how loving he looks at them.

A good reminder of how Christ Himself loves children

and how Christ is the source of all goodness and light.

*

I am reading a story of another beloved Saint,

St. John of Kronstadt,

in the recent issue of the great

journal, road to emmaus:

and it is so wonderful to read more on 

St. John of Kronstadt!

*

I love this quotation of St. John of Kronstadt:

"When you are praying alone, and your spirit is dejected, and you are wearied and oppressed by your loneliness, remember then, as always, that God the Trinity looks upon you with eyes brighter than the sun; also all the angels, your own Guardian Angel, and all the Saints of God. Truly they do; for they are all one in God, and where God is, there are they also. Where the sun is, thither also are directed all its rays. Try to understand what this means."

*

I was talking to Mr. Husband the other week

about how when I was younger,

I worked at the Bible Camp I loved and had the honour of 

talking to a young girl (who had a troubling dream) about how 

when I first flew in a plane, 

I realized that all the clouds I would see from below, that were dark,

were only hiding the sun that is there

and that we must remember that above the darkest of clouds,

there the sun is still shining.

*

We do not understand often why there are dark clouds in our life;

why is there tragedy, heartache, confusion...

but Pascha is real;

Christ is Risen from the Dead.

He is preparing a place for us in the Heavens.

Goodness is REAL... sometimes I find that I and perhaps others 

forget... but true goodness, light and mercy is found

in the Person of Jesus Christ.

*

So I thought I would write on this today,

in hopes of encouraging us in the struggles that we 

find ourselves in.

*

Yes, we are in a battle that is still being waged but yet

the battle is won; 

I know I can get so fainthearted when I see all the hard things

around me and my faith is often weak...

A few weeks ago I was so discouraged

by what I could see in part as my lack of faith;

but I was reminded of the great gentleness of God and of this

simple prayer that I clung too during those times:

A Prayer in Times of Despair

O Lord, it is so easy to walk with You when things go well and nothing seems wrong. Yet, now I feel as Peter must have felt as he saw You walk towards him on the open sea. He tried to come to You and then lost hope and began to sink. When I am down, come to me as You came to Peter. Help me, even though my faith seems weak.

God is merciful and is Love,

the source of Love and the Definition of Love...

May this day be one that we

remember that even as we see our shortcomings,

when we repent of them we are given

the doorway of hope and the possibility to defeat despair...

May God bless and strengthen us in our Lenten Journey!

Fish Dinner for St. John's Day

Another way to celebrate Saint's Days is
having festive meals.

We are in the Apostle's fast* now
and St. John's Day was on Tuesday
and it was a fish day.

So Mr. Husband and I had salmon burgers :)
They were wild-caught Alaskan salmon
and they fried up very nicely in our
cast iron skillet.

Since it was a feast day for us,
we used my nice white with flowers china;
it used to be my Grandmother's and is dishwasher safe,
so a great one to use for festive occasions
that we still want to be able to clean up quickly from.

We used our nice silverware and
had a simple salad with our standard balsamic vinaigrette. 

Just a bit of oil and balsamic vinegar from
the oil and vinegar cruets in the picture above.

I like having golden raisins
(or dried cranberries or dried cherries)
with my salad.

 

Add a fresh baked potato and cut carrots
and one has a lovely meal!
*
Having special meals and incorporating the fasts
into our life as a family is an important way
to keep the life of the church in our home.
And a wonderful way to enjoy St. John's day!

*

(*one of the unfortunate impacts of the new/old calendar 
that happened in the earlier 1900s is that 
we are not all on the same fasts and feasts at the same time
in the Orthodox church. 
Personally I think it unwise to judge 
anyone by what calendar they are on
but I do live with a certain amount of sadness that 
we have this complication.
But God can work within anything and 
we can all rejoice in God and in the liturgical life of the church,
even if with two calendars).

St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco

I've written years ago

about when I was reading about St. John,

and how he is dear to both

Mr. Husband and myself. 

I've linked to a series of podcasts

about someone who knew him.

This book on him is excellent if you can get it.

Wonderful stories about him online,

including this, this and this.

 Akathists to St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco 

 are found here and here.

{if you need them emailed to you,

write me here.}

 Another book about his life is found here.

The Orthowiki has many things on him and

more links including to his homilies, videos, pictures here.

*

This one looks like it has some great stories.

Here is another link on his life.

Ways we can honour Saint John on his day:

~ Akathist to St. John

~Troparion and Kontakion to St. John (posted below,

found here).

~ Displaying his icon and having a candle or lampada lit

~Read stories about him 

~Ask his prayer for our daily concerns.

~Love the Mother of God who he also loves

~Go to a service for him if one is able

*

Troparion (Tone 5)

Thy care for thy flock in its sojourn has prefigured the supplications which thou didst ever offer up for the whole world. Thus do we believe, having come to know thy love, O holy hierarch and wonder-worker John. Wholly sanctified by God through the ministry of the all-pure Mysteries, and thyself strengthened thereby, thou didst hasten unto suffering, O most gladsome healer–hasten now also to the aid of us who honor thee with all our heart.

Kontakion (Tone 4)

Thy heart hath gone out to all who entreat thee with love, O holy hierarch John, and who remember the struggle of thy whole industrious life, and thy painless and easy repose, O faithful servant of the all-pure Directress.

Troparion (Tone 6)

Glorious apostle to an age of coldness and unbelief, invested with the grace-filled power of the saints of old, divinely-illumined seer of heavenly mysteries, feeder of orphans, hope of the hopeless, thou didst enkindle on earth the fire of love for Christ upon the dark eve of the day of judgment; pray now that this sacred flame may also rise from our hearts.

Kontakion of St John (Tone 8 )

Chosen wonderworker and superb servant of Christ/ who pourest out in the latter times/ inexhaustible streams of inspiration and multitude of miracles,/ we praise thee with love and call out to thee:/ Rejoice, holy Hierarch John, wonderworker of the latter times.

Monday - sunshine, laughter, sadness, prayers and the Saints

Mr. Husband made
the liver and onions last night.
I helped at the last minute
but he did all the work.
*
It was sweeter than I thought it would be.
I am having a second helping today
for lunch and find them
even better the next day.

Mr. Husband esp. loves the burnt parts...
:)

I love how Mr. Husband and I
can joke around.
He's doing a lot of the work
right now since I am still unwell...
*
Mrs. Wife: are you going to have dessert?
Mr. Husband: No. Were you?
Mrs. Wife: I was thinking of having some ice cream.
Mr. Husband: well, why don't you eat some ice cream
and talk to me while I do dishes?
Mrs. Wife: well, I am supposed to obey my husband so 
I guess I will eat some ice cream! 
Mr. Husband: There's a first time for everything. 
:)

When Mr. Husband first
visited me in Ottawa
1.5 years ago or so now
he bought me groceries.
Specifically he bought me a
Liter of Olive Oil
which he carried many blocks home for me.

One thing I try to do every morning
is light our lampadas,
putting in fresh oil,
tending the wicks,
cleaning them a little
and lighting them... 

Mr. Husband,
back when he was not yet Mr. Husband
but was my Orthoman
 buying me that
olive oil
was a deeply meaningful gift for me
as I strive to always have my
main hanging lampada to St. George
lit at all times. 

 

I have loved St. John of Shanghai and Sans Francisco
for years now;
I have linked to talks about him in the past.
I've read this book on his life 
a few summers ago
and was at the Greek monastery
a few year ago I was there
on his day.
*
A few days before a local Ottawa clergyman
from another church
and I met unexpectedly on the street near where
I live.
I mentioned the job loss that I was facing at the time
and he said to ask Vladkya John for his help.
I did not realize then that it was just a few days
before Saint John's Day
and that I would be at the Greek monastery on his day.
*
I went into the chapel at the monastery
and there was a small icon of him
in the front on the iconostasis;
I was alone and able to pray for his help.
*
Meanwhile Mr. Husband loves St. John Maximovitch as well
and the icon you see in the picture above
is one he was given some years back.
*
We still look for his help.
*
This morning I learned that
one of the parishioners at my
Ottawa parish is continuing to be quite ill.
He is one of the oldest parish members,
worked in the church and church cemetery for years
and he and his wife both made it
to the liturgy, my wedding and the reception
even though they were ill.
The cloth that was used for the table
for the Dance of Isaiah
at the wedding was borrowed from them,
their only child had been swaddled in it
just after he had been baptized.
*
They taught me the love of the prayers for
the departed and of caring for the church in
practical daily ways.
She taught me how to fold alter clothes that
we used there.
I told her once that when I grow up
I want to be just like her.
He is ill,
more ill everyday.
It is a great suffering.
*
I am so happy to be married to Mr. Husband.
I would not change my life one bit.
But how I miss those I love in Ottawa
and feel my prayers
so small compared to what I wish I could
pray for them.
*
They are like the Grandparents of the parish
and we all pray with and for them
where ever we may be.
*
I am glad I can bring needs like this to our
very loving and tender Mother of God,
the Most Holy Theotokos.
To St. Nectarios and to St. John Maximovitch.
*
Sometimes we pray only with tears,
sometimes with Akathists
and sometimes with simple words.
*
God promises his mercy and to hear.
*
Akathists that may be of use for such sorrows
that I have found are
Akathist to the Mother of God Joy of those who Sorrow
Akathist to of Shanghai and Sans Francisco 
Akathist to St. Nectarios.

St. John Maximovitch the Wonder Worker

Today is St. John of Shanghai and Sans Fransisco's day.

To celebrate I listened to some of the

podcasts on him

from Ancient Faith Radio.

Really lovely to listen to,

all about him from a subdeacon who

was a young Altar Boy when

St. John was in Sans Fransisco.

Here they are:

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

Part Five

Part Six

*

Yesterday I stayed home

away from the crowds and noise

of Canada Day

and rested and read all about

Abbot Moses of Optina

whose work at Abbot and as Librarian

endeared him quickly to my heart.

**

Slowly I am feeling more myself again;

today was the last day of the medicine.

Still recovering but the corner has turned.

***

Wonderful that today is St. John's day.

Wonderful that there are Saints in the world

to help us.