RotW: Cauliflower au gratin

In a quest to bring more vegetables in I started reading America's Test Kitchen Vegetables cookbook.  There are any number of silly things they expect you to do with some vegetables, but their cauliflower recipes were good, as I feel this poor veggie gets the short end (I feel the same way about brussel sprouts, which I'll feature another week). 

Often times it's touted as "surprise mashed potatoes"...yeah, surprise, they suck.  But cauliflower, when roasted, has a nice, nutty flavor and, when not boiled/steamed to mushiness is quite delicious.  This is my favorite way to make it.

Cauliflower au Gratin:

Prep time:  5 minutes
Cook Time:  30 minutes
Servings:  4
WW:  2

Ingredients: 
2-3 cups fresh cauliflower, cut into bit sized heads

SotW: Saint Andrew Avellino

Feast/Memorial Day:  November 10
1521-1608, Naples

Andrew studied humanities and philosophy at Venice, Italy where he received his Doctor of civil and ecclesiastical law. He was ordained at age 26. He practiced as a lawyer at the ecclesiastical court at Naples. During a heated courtroom argument on behalf of a friend, he supported his position with a lie; in that setting, he had committed perjury. It shook him so badly, he gave up the legal profession, and settled into a life of penance.

Commissioned by his archbishop to reform the convent of Sant' Arcangelo at Naples, a house of such lax discipline it had became a topic of gossip in the city. Through good example, constant work, and the backing of his bishop he managed to restore celibate discipline to the house, but was nearly killed for his efforts when he was attacked by people ordered off the premises.

The night of the attack, he was taken to the house of the Theatine Clerks Regular for his wounds to be treated. He was so impressed with them that he joined the Theatines at age 35, taking the name Andrew in reference to the crucified Apostle. During his life he was named master of novices for ten years and eventually became Superior of the Order. He helped found Theatine houses in Milan and Piacenza and helped establish others.

St. Andrew was an eloquent preacher, and popular missioner and spiritual director, bringing many back to the Church. He was also a writer and extensive correspondent. Friend and advisor of Saint Charles Borromeo.

Suffered a stroke while celebrating Mass, and died soon after.  For this reason, he is recalled as the patron saint of stroke victims.  As such, I will be praying for Andrew's intercession for my grandmother as she continues her recovery. 

WIltw: It's the unexpected moments

Life is always interrupted.  We can set out our plans, well designed, thought-out, inclusive, exclusive, etc., but there are always moments that cannot be scripted.  And those moments are often the most meaningful and show us our true character. 

My grandmother suffered a massive stroke almost three weeks ago and life has been tilted since then.  Schedules have changed, prayer requests have altered, and stress has been added.  But through this a stronger bond than we night have been aware of has become apparent. 

My mother-in-law is visitng Medjugorje over Holy Week and I'm sure it will be a life-changing trip. 

My family is sick and dealing with illness involving late nights, poor sleep, and much coughing.

The most fun is often had when none was expected.  Life is beautiful, amazing, wonderful, and never to be predicted.

MMotW: Where I needed to be

I host a variety of events for YOUth Ministry.  I try to have service, fellowship, and faith/prayer nights each month, though, obviously, they often tie in with one another. 

If I try to do an even tied solely given to prayer my numbers are never good.  At least, not yet, as this is a new opportunity for them, both at this parish and, more importantly, at their age, since they're just now starting to really flex their prayer muscles.

In any case, Palm Sunday afternoon I was setting up stations (this link was my inspiration starting point).  It has a fair number of details to pull together, so while I was setting up I was in and out of rooms at the building.  I was the only one in the building, as it was still over an hour until my event started.

So, when I walked out of the presschool room with a bowl of uncooked rice I was a little startled to see a young man in the hallway, looking into the rooms I was setting up.  He appeared nervous and didn't offer his name when I introduced myself.

He said he needed to talk with someone.  Immediately I offered to contact our priest, but he shrugged and said he'd just come in and talk with me while I set up.  And so we did.  As I moved around the room, setting up stations based upon the Lord's Prayer he haltingly told me he knew something had to change in his life, that he wasn't working up to his potential and he wa tired of it. 

He was needing to make change, but he wasn't sure how and he doesn't really have a support network as his parents work late and on the road often and his siblings are younger and his friends are all doing pretty much the same thing. 

I listened to his words, but, for one of the first times I was really able to listen to what he meant.  He was looking for answers and I told him I didn't have any.  But that he seemed to already have them in his head.  He hadn't set foot in a church in 12 years, though he believed in God.  That's a good place to start, I said. 

We talked, sproradically, for the next hour before my kids began to show up.  He excused himself, but before I let him go I asked to pray with him.  He was nervous, until I said he didn't have to do anything but listen and be there.  I prayed for God to watch over him with special care and to help guide his heart and mind now that he has resolved to change.  When we were done he had tears in his eyes.

I still don't know his name.  My prayer stations went fine, but my job that afternoon was to be there for that young man, who hadn't even intended to stop that afternoon.  God knows better than we do, always, and so I am grateful I was there, setting up an underutilized event, as I was able to offer than still nameless young man some hope and fellowship.

TMofW: Sick Babies

So, we are once again sick in our house.  Little Mae caught a cold last week that worsened over the weekend and it's spread so we all have upper respiratory congestion and coughs.  Mae is also leaking boogers all over the place.  It's fun.  Really. 

What I find very sweet is the way they do and do not take care of one another. When one of them is coughing, the other will helpfully come up to one of the adult and inform us of this. 

If they are tired, they will cuddle with one another, but only if Eve permits it.  Otherwise - no touching. 

They will help one another eat food, by reaching to the other's high chair. 

They will complain when the other is keeping them up at night.

Fortunately, this only lasts a few days before they both tend to improve. 

Recipe of the Week: Abby's favorite oatmeal

I've become an oatmeal addict.  For the first time in my life I've eaten oatmeal more than 1-2 times/year.  In fact, I've had it almost every morning for the past three weeks.  It all started when, on a whim, I ordered the McDonald's new oatmeal, in an effort to keep on track with my weight watchers.  It was delicious. 

And so, when my parents delivered a half gallon of maple syrup from my aunt and uncle's sugar bush (more on that in another post) I decided to make it at home for myself.  It's still delicious and I look forward to making it almost every morning.

Abby's Favorite Oatmeal:

1/2 cup quick cooking oatmeal (simply because I'm hungry when I wake up and can't wait too long)
1 cup water
1 T pure maple syrup (sometimes less, but always at least 1.5 tsp in order to get the flavor)

Toppings:
1/2 chopped apple (with peel)
7-8 craisins
1/8 cup chopped almonds/walnuts/etc. 

Pour oats and water into small pan and turn on medium high heat.  Once it begins to "boil" add maple syrup and stir.  Let it bubble for another 1-2 minutes, until the oats look slightly mushy (it's delicious, I promise!).  Pour into bowl and dump on the toppings.  Enjoy!

WW points = 7

It's very filling and super yummy.  Plus, warm food always makes me feel more full, which I know it's mostly psychological, but if it works, it works. 

Saint of the Week: Peter

I need to get a little more personal with my saints.  Although Mondays' entries are designed to help me learn about new saints, just copying and pasting info from different websites doesn't mean I actually learn the information.  So, today I'll write briefly on one of my favorites - St. Peter.

Yep - that St. Peter - the one at the pearly gates, who was given the keys to the Kingdom, the first pope, the one upon whom Jesus built his Church.

I love St. Peter.  Aside from Jesus, Peter is the person from the Bible I love the most.  He got it wrong, constantly.  He was constantly interpreting things Jesus said incorrectly, he reacted the opposite of how Jesus "wanted" he denied Jesus three times and even during his redemption he couldn't raise himself up to Christ's level  - yet he was the one upon whom the Church was built.  He NEVER doubted that Jesus was the Christ. 

And that gives me hope.  Because I get it wrong all the time.  I misinterpret actions of others, I don't place my faith first in life, I forget to give thanks and praise to God, I sin everyday. Yet, if Peter is whom Jesus chose - well, then, I have a chance of being welcomed in to the Kingdom. 

I cannot adequately express how happy that makes me feel.  That hope balloons me up.  Recently I was reading the book, "Win it all" by Justin  Fatica, of the 'Hard as Nails' ministry.  It's a decent book, written for teens and has wonderful discussion questions and challenges for their age.

In it was an eye-opening passage, which once again, reminds me of how important language is.  Peter denies Christ three times after the agony in the garden, denying that he knows him exactly as Jesus had said he would.  After Christ's resurrection he goes to Peter and gives him a chance to redemption, asking Peter three times "Do you love me?"  Peter answers, "You know I love you." 

In the American English translation we lose so much of the meaning, because we only have one word, "love" to express our admiration for things as mundane as candy bars to the overwhelming love we should have for our Lord and Savior. 

In the original Greek (this is from the Gospel of John) Jesus asks with the word 'agape', which is the most intimate kind of love there is...not a romantic, sexual love, but an overwhelming intimacy - the kind we are all called to have with Christ.  So, Christ asks 'agape'? And Peter answer, 'phile', the love which means close friendship, brotherly love - a close bond, but not the extreme closeness of 'agape'. 

Jesus asks again, 'agape'?  Peter answers again, 'phile'.  Jesus asks a third time, but this time he recognizes where Peter is at and meets him at his level, using 'phile'.  Peter responds, 'phile'. Jesus MET Peter where he was capable of loving him. 

That exchange is so important to me, because I am broken, sinful, searching.  And though I yearn for agape, I know that realistically I can only offer phile at this time in my life.  So, if Christ was willing to meet Peter where he was at, I am confident he is willing to work with me as well so that one day, perhaps on that day of the Final Judgement, I can stand and answer agape. 

What I learned this week: Importance of family

So, I've fallen behind, as we took a short family vacation...Tough Monkey Total Mania.  It was wonderful.  My family, which includes me, my husband, our children, my sister, and my mother and father packed bags and headed to Honey Creek Resort in Monrovia, IA.  It was wonderful. 

We had a cabin to ourselves, which turned out to be perfect, as it was a cold, windy, rainy weekend, despite the fact that it's halfway through April and we've only had a handful of days to play outside.  Having the extra room of the cabin, as opposed to a hotel room, was glorious. 

My mother also needed the break, as Grandma Helen suffered a massive stroke the previous weekend and there had been a lot of stress involved (and still is, obviously).  But Grandma has stabilized and been moved to a skilled nursing center for rehabilitation, so things are looking up. 

I learned, yet again, the extreme importance of family.  How those relationships and bonds are so vital.  I am especially happy for the connections my daughters have to their grandparents.  We live with Randy's parents currently; we'll be moving out around the one year mark and everyone is sad about it, as seeing them so involved with one another - that it's normal to have Grandma and Grandpa there every morning, it beautiful. 

And my parents are very involved -we generally see them 1-2 times/month for 2-3 days/time.  And my sister lives 20 minutes away.  It's that sort of close extended family that reminds me again and again that this move back to Iowa was by far the best decision we could have made.  Allowing my children the opportunity to have close relationships with grandparents and aunts is something I didn't have and something I completely want to foster in my children.

Time spent doing things, but, more important, doing nothing but playing, board games, hanging out, makes it all so normal and routine that I know my daughters are better off for it.  Thank God for these small and important blessings. 

Twin Moment of the Week: Little Sister, where are you?

Yesterday was yet another gorgeous spring day so the girls and I took a short drive to a special partk (not our reguar one) for some extra good playing.  A few minute after we arrived a kindergarten class from the school across the street came over for recess. 

Mae was in heaven.  She loves big kids and immediately started following them around.  Eve continued to do her own thing and occassionally get frustrated as the big girls impeded this plan.  After awhile I noticed one girl in particular was playing with Mae. 

They were chasing each other around, playing follow the leader, taking turns on the slide, swings, stairs.  And then, in a moment that melted my heart, Mae, in her two year old attention span, lost interest and began playing with Eve again.

A very plaintive cry was heard from the top of the slide tower, "Little sister, where are you?"  It was repeated twice before Mae seemed to recognize it was meant for her and came running.  And so they played together for the remaining ten minutes.

In the day since we returned Mae has now added this phrase, along with a shrug of the shoulders, to her repetoire, which is, in all honesty, quite adorable. 

And she IS the little sister, by a whole two minutes, so it fits.  :)

Recipe of the Week: Chicken & Rice Casserole

I love casseroles.  I'm getting in to the habit of making a few casseroles on Saturday or Sunday and them using them throughout the week.  It's wonderful and it's a habit I hope I can keep up. 

Chicken & Brown Rice Casserole

Prep Time: 5 minutes (plus time for cooking the rice)
Cook Time:  25 minutes
Servings:  5/6
WW points:  7

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces.
2 cups cooked brown rice
1 can condensed cream of chicken soup (recommend low-sodium or fat free)
7/8 cup water
mushrooms (optional)
broccoli (optional)
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp basil
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper

Toss chicken with spices and place in casserole dish.  In bowl, mix other ingredients together; pour over the chicken and cover.  Bake for 20-25 minutes (until chicken is done).  Enjoy!

**NOTE:  To use a slow cooker, add all ingredients to slow cooker, chicken on the bottom, and cook on low for 4-5 hours, or until rice is tender. 

Saint of the Week: St. Gemma Galgani

Today's saint is brand new to me again.  I was reading through our catechist magazine about Easter and saw the tiniest little blurb about Gemma:

St. Gemma (April 11) often talked to her guardian angel.  Remember to thank yours for his protection (and try not to test his patience too much!)

So, for starters - angels are not humans, nor can humans become angels.  Angels are seperate beings, ethereal in substance and appearance (it's said humans cannot see them under normal circumstances) and were created by God.  Humans, also created by God, are His children, whereas angels are His servants. 

Angelore is something I'll probably get in to later down the road, as it fascinates me.  But for today, we're focusing on St. Gemma.

Here's some more info I found on her: 
March 12, 1878 – April 11, 1903

She was the fifth of eight children, born to a relatively wealthy family (her father was a pharmacist) in Italy.  By the time she was 18, both her parents and three of her older sibliings had died from tuburcelosis.

She was not allowed to join the Order of the Passionists because of her poor health and the visions she received.  Instead, she turned her life to serving her family - she took a position as a housekeeper and turned down two marriage proposals and together, with her Aunt Carolina, raised her brothers and sisters.

At the age of 21 she began exibited the stigmata (wounds of Christ) on her hands.  She received several powerful visions, including one of her guardian angel and Mary. 

Her own young sister, Angelina openly mocked her gift of visions and initial opinion of her from the Church was of grave skepticism.  However, after a series of intense interviews with Gemma, her spiritual director, and others, it became known and accepted that her visions and suffering were true. 

She died at age 35, after a long battle with tubercelosis and was canonized within 30 years, extremely fast for any saint.  She is extremely popular in Italy and Latin American and is a patron saint of pharmicists, as that was her field of study (she was top in her class) at St. Zita's before she withdrew to attend to her family.

Note on Guardian Angels:

We all have them.  In fact, if we ask they will reveal their name.  When was the last time you spoke with yours?  I'm going to go talk with mine. 

Peace, Abby

What I learned this week: Sharing the truth

This week I had the realization that I don't have friends.  And that, since college, I've actually lost my ability to make friends.  I am often in a holding pattern throughout my day, always trying to get through something before moving on to the next.  I don't have time to sit and savor the moments I am given with the people I am gifted.

Instead, I'm always running errands, always trying to get home with the girls, get work done, etc.  I have a hard time delaying my schedule, even when there's nothing pressing.  Part of that is the twins.  That probably comes off as a complaint, but I think it's true.  They're at a wonderfully tricky age, where they are growing more independent, but still so very needy.  And I probably feed it to that.  Randy seems no where near so concerned with making sure they have their nuks, blankies, drinks, snacks, distractions, diapers, etc.

So, I think there's a part of me that wraps myself up in my daughters and seeing to their needs so as not to notice, or not appear needy for friends.  But, as I move on to this aspect of my life, during my intrspection process I see that I do not make friends a priority. 

So, how do I stop?  How do I make myself vunerable to other women with whom I have things in common?  I also use the fact that I'm living with my in-laws as a crutch.  I have grand dreams that things will change once we move out on our own, but will it really?  I never had large numbers of friends. 

Do I not listen enough?  I have trouble with names.  Is this because I can't be bothered with their names?  Does that simply reinforce my theory that I'm "too busy" for friends?  I hope not, as those thoughts make me very sad.

So, with weight slowly getting under control, person hygiene back in importance, enrolling in a certificate program to test my mind - now I need to focus on being a better friend so that I may get some in return. 

Ministry Moment of the Week: Strengths & Weaknesses

This week we were down one staff member, due to family obligations.  And so, Monday afternoon it fell to me to do a tour of the church sanctuary  to some of our second graders.  I have bad luck working with second graders; both times I've substitute catechized it's been a disaster.  The first time I did it I had to explain the Mass.  Of the four kids that came that morning, only one actually went to Mass.  The other kids kept putting their foreheads down on their desk because they couldn't follow.  Eventually the one student who did attend gave up answering the questions and sat there sullenly.  I even tried going off topic and gave them coloring pages but it didn't work.

I'll take on a room full of surly high school football-playing seniors than second graders.

 In any case, I had to lead a tour of the sanctuary on Monday evening.  So, I looked at script left for me and improvised.  It went ok, as they listen very well at that age.  We pretended to know where they were supposed to processed..  Then I had to talk on the parts of the Mass.  Yeah.  I can do that, but at a sixth grade level.  It was awkward.  I dismissed them 10 minutes early. 

Obviously, working with whom I do, speaking to their understanding is my strength, my gift from God.  And I am grateful to have that opportunity to use it.  I admire those who can work with younger children; it is a skill I currently do not have and will have to develop as my own children grow.

In the meantime I prefer the emotional rollercoaster that is middle school and the moral dilemmas that are high school.  I love those ages of youth, with their inquisitiveness and curiosity and to see them finally beginning to flex their faith muscles - what a glorious thing to witness.

Twin Moment of the Week: more blankies

The girls, now 2 years and 3 months, have really started holding conversations, playing cooperatively, and getting affectionate.  And while twins are great and amazing, bedtimes can be tricky, as they go to bed together, but don't always fall asleep together. 

Late last week we were having one of those nights where they were obviously tired and obviously not going to give in to an easy sleep.  So, after prayers, Good Night, Moon, and multiple songs Randy and I tucked them in and said goodnight.

Mae immediately decided to pull her bed down to the floor and make a nest.  Eve moved from the bed they share over to the other twin bed.  Fine.  They both had about five blankets each at this point.  As they were ramped up, Randy stayed downstairs and held the door shut (we can't babyproof this handle b/c it was installed too close to the door frame)


After about a minute they quieted down.  Then Randy heard the following:

"More blankies"  said Eve, plaintively.
"Ok."  replied Mae.  Rustling was heard as she stood up and handed her sister another blankie.
"More bankies." Eve said again.  And, again, Mae got up and gave her one.
"More blankies." for the third time.  And, for a third time, Mae obligingly got up and gave one to her sister.
"More blankies."
"No, Ebe, go to sleep."  Mae said, settling down in her not-quite-so-cozy nest.

The admonishment apparently worked, as Eve quieted down, as did Mae, and they soon fell asleep.

Recipe of the Week: Tomato Chicken Pasta

So, here's the deal.  I started weight watchers five weeks ago.  It's been going ok.  I've already lost 6.4 pounds, and that includes two weeks of gaining after taking my daugther in to the hospital overnight and the funeral of a close friend.  I think I'm doing ok.  I'm loving eating so many veggies and there are days I can't seem to meet my point goal, regardless of what I eat.  I'll probably post much more about my ww experience.  Suffive it to say that my five year goal is to lose 100 lbs.  It's huge, but do-able. 

In any case, I've had to re-examine how I cook.  Actually - it wasn't my cooking - it was portion control, fsat food, and emotional (bored) eating.  Here's one of my favorite go-to recipes, taught to me by my father:

Tomato Chicken Pasta

Serves 4 teenagers/adults
Prep time: about 5 minutes

Total time: about 25 minutes

WW points:  8

Ingredients:
4 chicken breasts
1 14.5 oz. Italian seasoned diced tomatoes
2 T oil (I prefer olive oil)
½ cup flour
½ tsp. oregano

½ tsp. parsley

½ tsp. garlic powder/salt

Salt & pepper to taste

Cooked pasta of choice (I usually use whole wheat or multigrain)

In skillet add 2 T oil on medium heat. Cut chicken into 1-inch uniform-ish size pieces. In plastic bag (I use a grocery bag) add flour, oregano, parsley, garlic powder/salt, salt and pepper. Place chicken in bag and coat evenly in the flour mixture. Add coated chicken to skillet and cook about 3-4 minutes on top and bottom. Add canned tomatoes, cover, and let simmer for 10-12 minutes, until chicken is cooked through. Serve over hot pasta.

P.S.  For a slightly more indulgent version, melt 1/2 brick of neufachtal cheese into the sauce - super creamy!

Saint of the Week: Saint Isidore (Feast Day, April 4)

Although I have heard the name Isidore, I've never done any research on him.  Reading his biography below - wow.  Incredible man.  ANd why we're somewhat on the subject - do you know why we ask for intercession?  When you're ill - do you ask your friends and family for prayers?  When someone you know is having a difficult time with it -do you ask others to remember them in prayer?  So it is with the saints.  The saints are those who came before us.  All of us are called to be saints.  Saints are not made by the Church, they are simply recognized for the extraordinary life they lived.  So we ask for their intercession (prayers) on our behalf.

And now, on to Isidore.

 Patron saint of:  the Internet & Students

Isidore was literally born into a family of saints in sixth century Spain. Two of his brothers, Leander and Fulgentius, and one of his sisters, Florentina, are revered as saints in Spain. It was also a family of leaders and strong minds with Leander and Fulgentius serving as bishops and Florentina as abbess.

This didn't make life easier for Isidore. To the contrary, Leander may have been holy in many ways, but his treatment of his little brother shocked many even at the time. Leander, who was much older than Isidore, took over Isidore's education and his pedagogical theory involved force and punishment. We know from Isidore's later accomplishments that he was intelligent and hard-working so it is hard to understand why Leander thought abuse would work instead of patience. 

One day, the young boy couldn't take any more. Frustrated by his inability to learn as fast as his brother wanted and hurt by his brother's treatment, Isidore ran away. But though he could escape his brother's hand and words, he couldn't escape his own feeling of failure and rejection. When he finally let the outside world catch his attention, he noticed water dripping on the rock near where he sat. The drops of water that fell repeatedly carried no force and seemed to have no effect on the solid stone. And yet he saw that over time, the water drops had worn holes in the rock. 

Isidore realized that if he kept working at his studies, his seemingly small efforts would eventually pay off in great learning. He also may have hoped that his efforts would also wear down the rock of his brother's heart.

When he returned home, however, his brother in exasperation confined him to a cell (probably in a monastery) to complete his studies, not believing that he wouldn't run away again. 

Either there must have been a loving side to this relationship or Isidore was remarkably forgiving even for a saint, because later he would work side by side with his brother and after Leander's death, Isidore would complete many of the projects he began including a missal and breviary. 

In a time where it's fashionable to blame the past for our present and future problems, Isidore was able to separate the abusive way he was taught from the joy of learning. He didn't run from learning after he left his brother but embraced education and made it his life's work. Isidore rose above his past to become known as the greatest teacher in Spain. 

His love of learning made him promote the establishment of a seminary in every diocese of Spain. He didn't limit his own studies and didn't want others to as well. In a unique move, he made sure that all branches of knowledge including the arts and medicine were taught in the seminaries. 

His encyclopedia of knowledge, the Etymologies, was a popular textbook for nine centuries. He also wrote books on grammar, astronomy, geography, history, and biography as well as theology. When the Arabs brought study of Aristotle back to Europe, this was nothing new to Spain because Isidore's open mind had already reintroduced the philosopher to students there. 

As bishop of Seville for 37 years, succeeding Leander, he set a model for representative government in Europe. Under his direction, and perhaps remembering the tyrannies of his brother, he rejected autocratic decision- making and organized synods to discuss government of the Spanish Church. 

Still trying to wear away rock with water, he helped convert the barbarian Visigoths from Arianism to Christianity. 

He lived until almost 80. As he was dying his house was filled with crowds of poor he was giving aid and alms to. One of his last acts was to give all his possessions to the poor. 

When he died in 636, this Doctor of the Church had done more than his brother had ever hoped; the light of his learning caught fire in Spanish minds and held back the Dark Ages of barbarism from Spain. But even http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=9079129592859896928greater than his outstanding mind must have been the genius of his heart that allowed him to see beyond rejection and discouragement to joy and possibility.

Re-launch

In the continuing effort of making year 30 a remarkable year, to kick off a new decade in a positive way, I'm refocusing my energies on this blog.  The goal will be to post five days a week  - each of the weekdays.  My proposed topics will be:

Monday:  Saint of the week
Tuesday:  Recipe of the week
Wednesday:  Twin moment of the week
Thursday:  Ministry moment of the week
Friday:  What I learned this week

I've already got lots of ideas lined up.  The goal is to type these entries during the extra half hour early I'm going to get up.  So, here's to me adding structure.