Celebrating the New Year

Wow!  2017.  Hello!

Several of our family friends hosted our annual Old Fashioned New Year's Eve Family Celebration...we included a Sparkling Cider Toast and Balloon Drop at the stroke of twelve...(EST).

Fun Favors of chocolates and holy cards

Of course, we begin by giving thanks for all the blessings we received throughout the year...what a beautiful Mass!



The tables and ceiling were decorated with a lot of silvery-gold twinkly-bling.
We had about 100 guests...including the five families that helped plan and organize, decorate and serve...

I love this backdrop...Merry Christmas!

The noodles and rice and side dishes were SO DELICIOUS...not to mention the hand-made desserts...

There were so many wonderful desserts hand-made by one of the teens...THANK YOU, "L"

And the celebration wouldn't be the same without the traditional roasted pig...

Everything was amazing and delicious and much fun was had by all...

What a great family and friend memory and an exciting way to ring in the New Year!

Happy 239th Birthday America!

"GOD BLESS AMERICA,

LAND THAT I LOVE,

STAND BESIDE HER

AND GUIDE HER

THRU THE NIGHT

WITH A LIGHT 

FROM ABOVE"

~ Irving Berlin, 1918

Have a safe and blessed 4th of July

Corpus Christi

A lot is going on these days...fun activities, school year ending, vacations, anniversaries, parties, and then there's...

CORPUS CHRISTI

Ordination of a Priest

Joining Like Mother, Like Daughter for some {pretty}, {happy}, {funny}, and {real} Veritas!

ORDINATION of a PRIEST

Our friend (and past children's choir director) was ordained today;  
a Dominican priest.

Church of St. Dominic

The Most Reverend Charles Morerod, O.P. was the Celebrant & Consecrator.

I did not take a lot of pictures, not a one during the Liturgy.  But here are few light shots of the joy and love from the day...

{pretty}

Ordination

{happy}

The Most Rev. Charles Morerod, O.P,

{funny}

{real}

A custom where one receives a blessing from a newly ordained priest.  
After a priest's first thanksgiving or public Mass, one can then receive a plenary indulgence.  

Fr. Corwin, O.P.

"You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek."

Go to Like Mother, Like Daughter to find more contentment...

Joining Catholic Bloggers Network

~ Family Journal ~

~ Caramel & Carmel ~

One of my favorite confectionery sweet treats includes using caramel...

I love, love, love...Caramel Apples.

Sweet, Smooth and Creamy caramel sauce is not that hard to make.  I have a few recipes that I like, but the simplest and easiest is always my first choice when deciding which to use.

One caramel beverage that I (now), occasionally, enjoy is the Caramel Macchiato. 

I am not a big coffee drinker, however, I once had this beverage not too long ago and now I have been wanting to try and replicate this delicious hot beverage...without paying the coffeehouse price.

Not at all similar, but close in spelling, is Carmel.  Carmel (or Carmel-by-the-Sea), which is a small town in Monterey county that houses the new Mission Carmel - was founded on the 3rd of June, 1770 , headed by Fr. Junipero Serra. 

This summer, we recently visited several California Missions, from Northern California to Southern California.

In 1602, a Carmelite friar, Sebastian Vizcaino, named the Carmel Valley after his patron saint, Our Lady of Mount Carmel. 

Although the feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel is in July, the devotion to Our Lady can be faithfully celebrated anytime.

Our Lady appeared to a Carmelite, St. Simon Stock,  and revealed to him the scapular on the 15th of July, 1251!

I found this beautiful scapular in San Giovanni Rotondo while on our Altar Boy Rome Pilgrimage.

The best known scapular is the brown scapular; it looks something like this:

The brown scapular of the Carmelite Order

You can find scapulars in many colors (and sizes), depending on the various Orders and devotions within the Church.

Getting back to caramel...In my quest to make the perfect Caramel Macchiato, I found that maybe I should just find a caramel Coffee drink that I could enjoy...without the shots of espresso - which give me the shakes.  :o)

Rather, something that is calming...or at least something that keeps me free from agitation - because those espresso shots were a bit much for my beating heart.

Also, I wanted something that was quick and easy, and that does not take a lot of clean up or fancy machines and equipment.

So, here is what I came up with...

Ingredients: 
Disclaimer:  I am not, by any means, endorsing either product...just saying what I used to get the results that I did.
Milk (I used organic low-fat 1%)
Carmel Syrup (I used Le Lirop de Monin - Organic gourmet syrup)
Coffee (I used Mount Hagen - Organic Café - freeze dried instant)

Directions:  In a pan, heat milk to almost boiling.  Place 1 teaspoon instant coffee in cup with 1 oz. caramel syrup.  Pour hot milk into cup.  Stir with spoon, then pour back into pan and whip with whisk mixer-stirrer (an electric hand mixer would be overkill).   Pour back into cup and enjoy! 
Takes all but 5 minutes.  All my 'tools' get thrown into the dishwasher.  If you like it fancy, drizzle some caramel on the top like some coffee shops do, or make a tiny little scapular pattern if you are creative and care.
...I restrained myself.  :o)

I will tie this caramel drink into the celebration of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel devotions and feast days...because although they are different, I cannot help thinking of one, without thinking of the other.  :oD

I know this simple version is perfect for me...

It is economical, simple, quick, easy enjoyable and...delicious!

Our Lady of Mount Carmel...pray for us!

Linking up to Catholic Bloggers Network
2013 Monthly Link-Up Blitz

~ Liturgical Calendar & Homeschooling ~

&

 

Saints Cele-LINKY

~ July 2013 ~

~ Celebrating your Saint ~

This month we celebrated Butterfly's Confirmation saint....

Butterfly's patron saint

SAINT KATERI TEKAKWITHA

 

Flower of the Algonguins
Lily of the Mohawks
1656-1680

Here in the United States we recently celebrated her feast day, which is July 14th.

In Canada, St. Kateri's feast day is celebrated on the 17th of April...I guess we will just have to celebrate twice!  :o) 

I spotted this tapestry of her image while walking in Rome...I was so excited and bought it for my girl.  I framed it to keep it dust free...
Butterfly chose to hang it above her bed.  It's lovely.

Tapestry portrait of St. Kateri from Rome, Italy

Here is an oil painting of St. Kateri which was painted by Fr. Chauchetière. 

One of the oldest portraits of St. Kateri from

Like Jesus, St. Kateri suffered much.

She was orphaned, disfigured and partially blinded by smallpox...and she was treated cruelly, and made an outcast in her village.  She was ostracized by her own people, neighbors & children...

When she converted to Catholicism, she was shunned and endured great ridicule.  Stones were thrown at her as she walked to daily Mass.

Through all this hostility, she remained with a charitable heart.  She is described as having virtues of piety, industry, purity, and fortitude.

Little Lamb made a special cake to help celebrate Butterfly's patron saint.

You can see the rest, HERE.

I always bring out the *guardian angel* candle holder for special feast days & anniversaries:  Baptism, First Holy Communion and (now) Confirmation.   Even if I don't have time to create a special dessert (like the one above) or even a special meal to commemorate the day, the candle alone sets the occasion and we are reminded to give thanks...and to pray.

 

Celebrating your child's saint, (or your saint), can be that simple...

O God, who, among the many marvels of Your Grace in the New World, did cause to blossom on the banks of the Mohawk and of the St. Lawrence, the pure and tender Lily.  Kateri Tekakwitha, grant we beseech You, the favor we beg through the intercession that this young lover of Jesus and of His Cross may soon be counted among the saints of Holy Mother Church, and that our hearts may be enkindled with a stronger desire to imitate her innocence and faith.  Through the same Christ Our Lord.  Amen

Linking up to Catholic Bloggers Network:  2013 Monthly Link-Up Blitz

~ Liturgical Calendar ~

www.catholicbloggersnetwork.com

and
Arma Dei ~ Equipping Catholic Families
Saints Cele-LINKY
July 2013

 

~ Sweet Hearts ~

Earlier today we enjoyed the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus...

We celebrated by attending First Friday Mass and Benediction, along with other home school families and my girls Children's Choir.

Tonight, in the spur of the moment, I decided to try Tiffany's Sacred Heart Fruit Dessert; with just one minor adjustment and one simple  shortcut...

Minor adjustment:  I substituted the suggested sugar cookie dough for (our family favorite) chocolate chip cookie dough.  (Also, I accidentally forgot to use powdered sugar & vanilla - that's what happens when I try to rely on memory). 

Simple shortcut:  I used my 'heart' dish, instead of the suggested paper template.

Boy was it SUPER EASY, and boy was it GOOD!

 

 

~ Hearts ~

A very blessed Sacred Heart of Jesus...

I hadn't planned to cook or bake anything special today, although,

I may be able to pull off Tiffany's Sacred & Immaculate Hearts Fruit Dessert, which look awesome & delicious and (can it be?) EASY!

My son just reminded me that today was also "National Donut Day"!

I'm going to have Butterfly make some donuts, too! In the shape of HEARTS.

Have a Blessed First Friday!

 

And a Blessed Sacred Heart of Jesus!

phfr: ~ Confirmation Celebrations ~

Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Wisdom

Knowledge

Counsel

Fortitude

Understanding

Piety

Fear of the Lord

I found these beautiful wooden 'Come Holy Spirit' signs and then printed out each Confirmand's name to designate their seat & to reserve a pew for their family.

 

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

Every Thursday at Like Mother, Like Daughter

 

And

Joining the Catholic bloggers Network's 2013 Monthly Link-Up Blitz

 

{pretty}

 

The sanctuary was so beautiful in red...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Butterfly's cake was from our favorite cake shop (downtown)...and similiar to Conductor's cake.

So beautiful, so delicious.

 

 

{happy}

 

This is the moment that has been anticipated...

Come Holy Spirit!

I wasn't able to capture "The Slap"

 

 

I love the picture above (lower left) where big brother (and MC) is assisting his sister.  Butterfly read the Prayer of the Faithful (above, right). 

She is pictured with her sponsor (lower right)

 

 

{funny}

 

 

We had a full house...ten of the Confirmandi came together and continued  the joyous celebration at our home.  We were surrounded by families and friends - it was an absolutely wonderful day!!! 

There was singing and laughter and a good time was had by all...

 

 

Did I mention Singing!?!  They were singing beautiful music, playing the piano and singing songs like Ave Verum Corpus!!!!  No prompting, no planning.  It was simply spontaneous and from the heart (and soul)...us adults heard this glorious sound (coming from the inside of the house)...

as we file into the house,  we found this scene (above).

 

I had to hold back tears...I was so struck and overwhelmed.

These are our teens!!!  Needless to say, us mothers (and fathers) were beyond pleased.

And yet ANOTHER reason why I/we home-school.

 

 

One of the young men even broke out an accordion...it was a wild party, I tell ya!

 Butterfly chose two different cakes, chocolate and rasberry in fondant and lemon with light lemon creme in whipped cream...we made the toppers on the whipped cream cake, while my baker made the topper on the fondant cake.  Two cakes were perfect...last year we had cake coming out of our ears more than enough!

 

 {real}

 

~ The Catechists ~

 

Husband is wearing his RED tie...

going over the particulars.

 

~ The MC (Master of Ceremonies) ~

 

My son making sure things run flawlessly, (and they did).

 

 

Our good friends (who's daughter also made her Confirmation) put out this spread!!!
Aren't those 'Tongues of Fire' in the middle of the meat tray great!?! 
So creative and festive!

Everyone pitched in to make an amazing feast for all....
 

I wasn't able to take a picture of our traditional 'First Communion Punch', now called 'Confirmation Punch' - it was a big hit! 

And below is our beloved pastor leading us all in song...

 it was a remarkable day!

 

~ + ~

Confirmation Prayer

O Holy Spirit of God; take me as Thy disciple.

Guide me, illuminate me, sanctify me. Bind my hands that they may do no evil.

Cover my eyes that they may see it no more. Sanctify my heart that evil may not dwell within me.

Be Thou my God. Be Thou my guide.

Whatsoever Thou forbiddest me I will renounce.

And whatsoever Thou commandest me, in Thy strength I will do.

Lead me then unto the fullness of Thy truth.

Amen.

Go to Like Mother, Like Daughter to find more contentment...

 

Visit more bloggers at the Catholic Bloggers Link-up Blitz, here!