Sunny Tuesday ~ cleaning, cooking, and the Eve of a Great Feast

Once again,
I find how tired I am after a trip.
And Mr. Husband hurt his back a bit
so we are a little out of sorts.
*
I need to return two library books.
I ordered groceries online, they will come late this afternoon.
*
I am trying to figure out some good ideas for
toys for our littlest short people, under 5 years old.
I did find some teddy bears, made in the USA.
Any ideas for small gifts that are not being made 
by slave labour? 
Do share, please and soon!! :) 
{Note, I don't think I have much time to
make presents, FYI, though ideas on
this are welcome too.}
*
I got a head start on dinner today.
Will just reheat them...
Vegan potato and onion pierogies!


I chopped up two onions first.

Fried them in canola oil.

Put perogies in boiling water.

Once they float up they are done.

Spooned the perogies into the fry pan
with already caramelized onions. 

Fried the perogies until they lost the look
of being 'wet' and had a bit of golden colour on them.

They were pretty good!

I used up our organic frozen peas as a side.
These will be for me, as Mr. Husband does
not care for many cooked veggies... :)

 

A pretty simple lunch
and now I know they will work DV
for Christmas Eve's Holy Supper!!
*
I woke this morning so grateful for
Mr. Husband and I's home.
I was thinking of the
nuns abducted in Syria
and am praying that they will have a safe return
home soon.
*
It is a wonderful thing to have a home
that is peaceful and seeking to join in
the the liturgical life of Christians and the Church.
*
FYI, for those who wish to have more
information on Wes and Alana and how to help them
financially, please see their new website.
*
Tonight Mr. Husband and I hope to prepare for tomorrow's
Feast of the Theotokos' Entrance into the Temple.
We have prayers for this that we hope to do at home,
as it would be difficult for us to find a church near by
on the old calendar and in English.
*
We still have not gotten the 12 Festal icons for the
12 Great Feasts... Any thoughts on
where we should look?
*
Tomorrow will DV by my Oma's two year anniversary
of her falling asleep on this Holy Feast.
May her memory be eternal!

At home for the Feast of Entrance of the Theotokos

Blessed feast everyone!
*
Praying for Maureen today...
and others on my heart that I cannot speak of...
*
Mr. Husband and I are still sick
and were not able to go to liturgy :(
Please pray for us also -
we really want to be back to our normal selves...
*
Today I have opened all the windows
and Mr. Husband and I hope to be able to go out
and get some fish to make for dinner today
for the Feast.


The weather is unseasonably warm
so it is nice to have
windows open and sunlight...

Our wedding crowns :)

I lit our bedroom lampada
and am cleaning as much as I can
to get our lives back in order
and to help us get
over this lingering
sickness.

 

Cleo is loving the windows open too!
I am trying to get in a better habit of daily
Cleo brushing
and to do so I give her a treat afterwards.
She too had a nicer treat for the Feast!
*
Mr. Husband and I went over some of the prayers
last night for today's feast
and they are so beautiful!
And the lines for Christmas are wonderful!
This is a blessed time of year...

My Oma: Part II - Entry of the Theotokos into the Temple

The Theotokos, when she was three years old after the flesh, was led to the Lord; and Zacharias, the priest of God, received her in the temple with rejoicing and established her there.

*

My Oma was taken to heaven on the morning of the

feast of the entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple.

I had a ride to an old calendar church

that day

after sitting outside my parent's door as I knew

that a phone call at 7 in the morning meant

that my Oma had died.

When I was in the car riding to church

I realized that my Oma had been taken

on this feast day of the

Mother of God.

I told the priest about my Oma's death

before the service

and he commented about the Mother of God

taking my Oma home

and how he has seen icons of this feast

where it looks almost like the

Theotokos

at three years old

is skipping up the steps of the temple.

I found this incredibly comforting;

that the Mother of God had taken my Oma

on her feast day,

a day of entrances.

It must of been hard for St. Joachim and Anna to

let there child go.

But how wonderful that the Mother of God

came to the temple;

that she was prepared to bear Christ

the Saviour of the world.

I had never really noticed this feast in such a deep

way as the day my Oma died

and the Mother of God took her...

*

Today the living Temple of the holy glory of Christ our God,

she who alone among women is pure and blessed,

is offered in the temple of the Law,

that she may make her dwelling in the sanctuary.

Joachim and Anna rejoice with her in spirit,

and choirs of virgins sing to the Lord,

chanting psalms and honouring His Mother.

*

Some years back, when I was a couple months

from becoming at catachumen

I was at my Oma's for Christmas;

I think she turned 95 that year.

And late that night I remember thinking

very strongly of my Oma as a Mother

and the Mother of God.

Now I realize how much the Mother of God was present

in my life and especially during that time;

my Oma bore and raised 8 children;

Somehow I know that my Oma is close to

the Mother of God...

Anna, the all-blessed cried out rejoicing:

'O Zacharias, take her whom the prophets of God

proclaimed in the Spirit, and

lead her into the holy temple,

there to be brought up in reverence,

that she may become the divine Throne of the

Master of all,

His Palace, His resting place,

and His dwelling filled with light.
*

My Oma died on this feast and

was buried on the feast's leave-taking.

*

May the Mother of God always protect my

Oma Grace...

(all quotes in italics are from

The Festal Menaion for this feast)