Yesterday, someone spotted the large St. Benedict's crucifix that I was wearing, and said, "Are you a Christian?" When I responded, "Yes!" this person said, "Well, I'm an atheist," and seeing no reaction, then decided to up the ante by stating, "no, I mean I believe in the Devil, and he will kill everyone!"
It was obvious that the person sought an emotional reaction, but I felt an overwhelming calm and said, "The Devil cannot do anything to me, because Jesus died to save me and all believers." For once, this person fell silent.
A few words from little old me . . .
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Sunday cooking
We have a busy week ahead, so I cooked some things today which we can re-heat and eat all week.
Made "Easy Quiche" with eggs, 1% milk, 2% cheddar, lean ham, asparagus and Jiffy baking mix. The recipe is quite like those Bisquick "impossible" pies. The double batch baked nicely in a large Pyrex dish and now we have sixteen servings for breakfasts to-go. It's tasty hot or cold and will give us the protein we need to start the day. Maybe not as healthy as oatmeal, but it is much better and cheaper than something from 7-11 or Dunkin' Donuts.
I also made lots of chili for lunches, based on a modified Betty Crocker recipe I got from my school's home ec teacher. It has just a touch of unsweetened cocoa as part of the spice blend! We had some of it over elbow macaroni for supper tonight.
Robert made yummy chicken salad out of rotisserie chicken leftovers. Now don't think we are strictly carnivores, we have salad to eat with all of these and I baked some nice sweet potatoes and white potatoes to add to our lunches and suppers. We have bananas, little Forelle pears and large Braeburn apples for fruit this week. I also have the makings for a pumpkin dessert - I plan to use phyllo dough instead of a traditional pie crust, and will use a muffin tin to make them single serving size.
The goal is to eat home-cooked food as much as we can, even though we have a very hectic week and it would be tempting to simply pick up things on the run.
Made "Easy Quiche" with eggs, 1% milk, 2% cheddar, lean ham, asparagus and Jiffy baking mix. The recipe is quite like those Bisquick "impossible" pies. The double batch baked nicely in a large Pyrex dish and now we have sixteen servings for breakfasts to-go. It's tasty hot or cold and will give us the protein we need to start the day. Maybe not as healthy as oatmeal, but it is much better and cheaper than something from 7-11 or Dunkin' Donuts.
I also made lots of chili for lunches, based on a modified Betty Crocker recipe I got from my school's home ec teacher. It has just a touch of unsweetened cocoa as part of the spice blend! We had some of it over elbow macaroni for supper tonight.
Robert made yummy chicken salad out of rotisserie chicken leftovers. Now don't think we are strictly carnivores, we have salad to eat with all of these and I baked some nice sweet potatoes and white potatoes to add to our lunches and suppers. We have bananas, little Forelle pears and large Braeburn apples for fruit this week. I also have the makings for a pumpkin dessert - I plan to use phyllo dough instead of a traditional pie crust, and will use a muffin tin to make them single serving size.
The goal is to eat home-cooked food as much as we can, even though we have a very hectic week and it would be tempting to simply pick up things on the run.
Good weekend
Yesterday, we got together with friends we hadn't seen in awhile and walked around a free street festival. The cold, dry weather made it even better. So nice to have the company of good friends and to be able to have a "date night" without spending tons of money.
Today, we began getting the second graders at church ready for the Christmas pageant. We talked about God's mercy, and the waiting-time of Advent, but the most fun for the kids was practicing the Christmas carols! Our church assigns the roles by grade, and I think our grade will be angels. The kindergartners always get to be the animals (no memorizing lines!).
Today, we began getting the second graders at church ready for the Christmas pageant. We talked about God's mercy, and the waiting-time of Advent, but the most fun for the kids was practicing the Christmas carols! Our church assigns the roles by grade, and I think our grade will be angels. The kindergartners always get to be the animals (no memorizing lines!).
Friday, October 8, 2010
Haven't had much time to post !
So much has happened in a couple of weeks! I finished two professional development trainings: one on CRISS - CReating Independent Student Strategies and the other in Classroom Management. Those were after school classes, so I was getting home around 8:30 p.m. What made the days really long is that Robert and I share a car, and he had to drop me off at work at 6:30 a.m., so we leave home an hour before that! I'm not on official duty until 8:30 a.m., but it is a very quiet time on campus when I can get some planning done.
Why so early? Robert is back at work! He's getting paid well and they are sending him to various job sites and keeping him busy. Let's hope and pray for a little increase in commercial building, so all of the electricians and other tradesmen can get back to work and stay employed!
There have been lots of challenges at school - the kind you would expect in an urban setting. Robert says that I need to write a book about it someday.
Today was pay-day for both of us! We were able to get two more tires for the car, having purchased the other two about a month or so ago. Our ride now feels safer and more comfortable! Next step - save up for a used truck or van so Robert and I can commute separately on the days when it would make life easier!
Tomorrow - Robert works and I do housework and "teacher planning stuff."
Why so early? Robert is back at work! He's getting paid well and they are sending him to various job sites and keeping him busy. Let's hope and pray for a little increase in commercial building, so all of the electricians and other tradesmen can get back to work and stay employed!
There have been lots of challenges at school - the kind you would expect in an urban setting. Robert says that I need to write a book about it someday.
Today was pay-day for both of us! We were able to get two more tires for the car, having purchased the other two about a month or so ago. Our ride now feels safer and more comfortable! Next step - save up for a used truck or van so Robert and I can commute separately on the days when it would make life easier!
Tomorrow - Robert works and I do housework and "teacher planning stuff."
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Rosary & other prayers
I found an inspiring YouTube channel for videos of Catholic devotional prayers such as the rosary and the chaplet of Divine Mercy.
http://www.youtube.com/user/mysaviormygod
If you thought that praying the rosary was just repeating prayers, these videos will help you learn about the important mysteries one is supposed to contemplate during the prayers. This one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QS0xsCH4CtA uses good voice talents, music, film clips, and scripture quotes to help us focus on the message of the Joyful Mysteries. There are three videos just to cover the Joyful Mysteries; these remember the events that were joyful for the Holy Family, from the very beginning of Jesus' life on earth. There are other videos for the Glorious (Resurrection is one), Sorrowful (The Cross) and Luminous (follows Jesus from the River Jordan to the Last Supper) mysteries.
A detailed explanation of how to pray the rosary is found here:
http://www.rosary-center.org/howto.htm
Also note that you can listen to these prayers and scripture quotes (often set to music) at www.spiritfm905.com radio or www.ewtn.com radio or television. You can get Spirit FM 90.5 on regular broadcast radio throughout Tampa Bay and many cable systems carry EWTN TV.
http://www.youtube.com/user/mysaviormygod
If you thought that praying the rosary was just repeating prayers, these videos will help you learn about the important mysteries one is supposed to contemplate during the prayers. This one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QS0xsCH4CtA uses good voice talents, music, film clips, and scripture quotes to help us focus on the message of the Joyful Mysteries. There are three videos just to cover the Joyful Mysteries; these remember the events that were joyful for the Holy Family, from the very beginning of Jesus' life on earth. There are other videos for the Glorious (Resurrection is one), Sorrowful (The Cross) and Luminous (follows Jesus from the River Jordan to the Last Supper) mysteries.
A detailed explanation of how to pray the rosary is found here:
http://www.rosary-center.org/howto.htm
Also note that you can listen to these prayers and scripture quotes (often set to music) at www.spiritfm905.com radio or www.ewtn.com radio or television. You can get Spirit FM 90.5 on regular broadcast radio throughout Tampa Bay and many cable systems carry EWTN TV.
Wandering 'round Wally World
Well, we went to Super Wal-mart this morning. It wasn't too crowded; perhaps some folks don't have as much money at the end of the month? I had to get some school supplies and we needed motor oil, air filters and a bunch of different things.
While wandering through the aisles, we saw a pair of young teenage boys. One was wearing a Halloween mask, obviously one on sale at the store, which he had not yet purchased. He said to us, "Hey, I like your mask!" Hilarious, of course, because we weren't wearing masks, we are just old (forty-something) people. So, I said, "Ha-ha, very funny," and continued with my shopping, ignoring them.
Saw them again, in a different aisle, racing around, now both with masks, wigs and a plastic trick-or-treat jack-o-lantern. They say, "trick-or-treat!" I said, "Ha-ha, sorry, I don't have anything."
You'd think that would have been the end of it, but no. One boy says, "Money would be just fine!" Hmm, cute little imp; just go right up to a stranger, while in disguise and ask for money! I said, "Sorry I don't have any money," and started to walk past them, trying to ignore them. Then one said, "Well, how are you going to pay for that stuff in your cart? Why don't you put some of it back?" Now I was getting pretty irritated. I told them that I was a teacher, but didn't say where, and told them I didn't want to play their silly games. Then, one said, "You see, all teachers are rude!" Okay, I'm the one who was rude in that situation, because it isn't rude at all to accost complete strangers at Wal-mart!
Made me think of Dennis the Menace. Mr. Wilson was irritable, partly because he was older and set in his ways, like many of us including me. But Dennis truly was annoying. The difference is that Dennis didn't mean to be annoying; he wasn't trying to incite ire for kicks and was apologetic when corrected.
Robert was in another part of the store by the time of the second encounter. I don't think these kiddos would have been so bold had Robert been within sight.
While wandering through the aisles, we saw a pair of young teenage boys. One was wearing a Halloween mask, obviously one on sale at the store, which he had not yet purchased. He said to us, "Hey, I like your mask!" Hilarious, of course, because we weren't wearing masks, we are just old (forty-something) people. So, I said, "Ha-ha, very funny," and continued with my shopping, ignoring them.
Saw them again, in a different aisle, racing around, now both with masks, wigs and a plastic trick-or-treat jack-o-lantern. They say, "trick-or-treat!" I said, "Ha-ha, sorry, I don't have anything."
You'd think that would have been the end of it, but no. One boy says, "Money would be just fine!" Hmm, cute little imp; just go right up to a stranger, while in disguise and ask for money! I said, "Sorry I don't have any money," and started to walk past them, trying to ignore them. Then one said, "Well, how are you going to pay for that stuff in your cart? Why don't you put some of it back?" Now I was getting pretty irritated. I told them that I was a teacher, but didn't say where, and told them I didn't want to play their silly games. Then, one said, "You see, all teachers are rude!" Okay, I'm the one who was rude in that situation, because it isn't rude at all to accost complete strangers at Wal-mart!
Made me think of Dennis the Menace. Mr. Wilson was irritable, partly because he was older and set in his ways, like many of us including me. But Dennis truly was annoying. The difference is that Dennis didn't mean to be annoying; he wasn't trying to incite ire for kicks and was apologetic when corrected.
Robert was in another part of the store by the time of the second encounter. I don't think these kiddos would have been so bold had Robert been within sight.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Tilapia and more
Fresh tilapia was on sale at Publix this weekend so that's what we baked that for supper along with some zucchini. Simple and yummy. Still have another meal-for-two's worth of tilapia in the freezer. May try grilling that later in the week.
We also made some things that we'll eat during the week. Robert made meatballs; he added salsa to make them moist and different. I made a beef stew in the crock-pot; my special additions were a splash of merlot and just a bit of Salt-free Spike (r) and Gravy Master (r).
We stocked up at the grocery store yesterday, so I'm thinking we won't have to do much shopping during the week. Then on Saturday, we will pick up our monthly prepaid SHARE order. This time we are getting an extra good price on extra-lean ground beef, and of course the usual very fresh, bargain-priced in-season produce.
Laundry is caught up, and I cleaned and whitened my sneakers. So it's looking as though I'm mostly ready for the week.
We also made some things that we'll eat during the week. Robert made meatballs; he added salsa to make them moist and different. I made a beef stew in the crock-pot; my special additions were a splash of merlot and just a bit of Salt-free Spike (r) and Gravy Master (r).
We stocked up at the grocery store yesterday, so I'm thinking we won't have to do much shopping during the week. Then on Saturday, we will pick up our monthly prepaid SHARE order. This time we are getting an extra good price on extra-lean ground beef, and of course the usual very fresh, bargain-priced in-season produce.
Laundry is caught up, and I cleaned and whitened my sneakers. So it's looking as though I'm mostly ready for the week.
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