Friday, May 17, 2013
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Long Lost Summer Found
When I think of summer I remember long days of swimming with my friends, chasing fireflies, and wishing it would never end. Every summer I try to find those days with my own children, but they are lost. They are buried in the busyness of our lives. Baseball, soccer, play practice, piano, AHG, Cub Scouts, basketball, lego club, art class, swimming...it never ends. SUMMER!!!! Where are you???? I miss you!!! Perhaps I just need a different perspective. In fact, if I look out my window right now I know I will see two boys having the time of their lives, sliding down the Slip and Slide, enjoying the freedom of "no school", and awaiting their next big game or practice with great anticipation. I also know that there is a sweet little girl bathing herself after her own adventures outside left her covered in grass clippings. And the chubby-cheeked boy, who desperately wants to be bigger than he is, has finally surrendered after a valiant battle against his afternoon nap. Now he is resting his busy little feet, perhaps dreaming of the fun he will have when he wakes up. Maybe, just maybe, if I take time to look at life through their eyes, rather than my crabby, pessimistic "how am I ever going to do all that I need to do" eyes, I will see that my summer has not been lost at all.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
I have a little over three days before 26 little ones and their parents descend upon our dwelling. Unfortunately for me (and them), said dwelling looks more like the aftermath of a natural disaster than a home right now. I am pretty sure some nasty demon found me in the middle of the night and poured superglue on my bottom, because I've been stuck like glue to the couch all week. In fact, the only thing I have managed to clean out is every last drop of any item containing sugar in the pantry. Said items are beyond pleased with their new home, recognizable by it's lovely muffin shape, located right at the top of the waist of my jeans. Everything seems like an overwhelmingly huge chore, and the clock is ticking. I suppose I could just leave everything as is, and THIS time at the end of the party when I announce that there is no need to clean up because, "It really ALWAYS looks like this," everyone would finally believe me. I could get off the computer, finish start my lesson plans for R.E. tonight, and then dive into the cleaning. Or I could just start tomorrow. If you are reading this, let me know...how do YOU get over slumps like this?
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Empty Tomb Breakfast: Gluten Free
Here is our gluten-free version of Catholic Icing's Empty Tomb Snack (we use it for breakfast Easter morning)!
The Ground:
The Grass:
The Empty Tomb:
The Stone:
The Finished Product!
Happy Easter!
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Habemus Papam!
I was a Protestant baby in diapers when Cardinal Karol Wojtyla became Pope John Paul II, and I don't have any recollection of even knowing of his existence throughout my childhood, or young adulthood. Despite the unfortunate reality that I came to know and love him so late in his pontiff (if I am very honest with myself I can even say I did not REALLY fall in love with him until after his death), when I did come to know him, I fell head over heals in love with him. My heart explodes with love for him. My husband's heart mirrors my own, which is why our four year old answers when we call the name John Paul.
I was a baby of another sort when Cardinal Ratzinger became Pope Benedict XVI. This time a Catholic baby, having received the Sacraments of Penance, Holy Communion, and Confirmation, just one year earlier. I probably watched the highlights on NBC or some other secular media outlet. I have a few memories, but not many. I do remember knowing that it was important, but there weren't any intense emotions involved. What I did find remarkable was that in a very short amount of time this unfamiliar man, this unfamiliar face, worked his way into my heart and I quickly found myself in love again. So in early February when my daughter's, "Good morning, Mama," was replaced with, "Mama, we're getting a new pope!" my heart sank and my eyes welled up with tears. I thought he had died. I quickly learned this was not the case and my mourning was replaced with a reserved excitement, mixed with a tinge of sadness at the thought of saying goodbye.
Everything was different this time. Not only for me, but for the whole Church. For the first time in 600 years we were getting a new pope and the current one was still living! I quickly started searching for ways to learn about the process of the Papal Conclave for myself, and for my children. We watched YouTube videos, we adopted a couple of cardinals to pray for, we downloaded lessons and games (although these sat unfinished on our table). Excitement filled our home. As the conclave began we made sure to know exactly when to watch for the smoke and we were glued to EWTN and Relevant Radio. Our inbox was subscribed to the Pope Alarm so even if it happened at 5:00 am we would still be able to quickly get on the IPAD and watch.
We had been waiting and waiting for the smoke yesterday afternoon when finally the first puffs emerged. My heart sank. It looked dark to me. However, my ears heard cries of joy and soon it was evident that indeed, the smoke was white. The bells began to ring, and this time I will never forget where I was or what I was doing. Nor will I forget the way I felt. My heart was soaring and I was filled with emotion. My eyes were quickly filling with tears and although it was just me and my four beautiful babies here in our living room, we felt like we were in the center of St. Peter's Square with the rest of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Kids have a way of bringing a party atmosphere to the most boring of places! There was jumping and screaming, dancing and shouting. I quickly called my husband and shared the good news. Soon after, the phone rang, and a friend and I shared our joy over the phone while our kids celebrated in the background.
Then the waiting began again, and it was almost unbearable. Perhaps a little purgatory time could be knocked off for the faithful who spent that hour with a room full of kids (who actually needed naps) who were just as impatiently as their mom, waiting to find out who our new Holy Father actually was! This COULD be the exact reason there is a Plenary Indulgence attached to that first Papal Blessing (haha!). Finally, the curtains began to move. I have to admit, I lost a bit of the excitement. My English-only ears couldn't even pick up on the name of the Cardinal. I did catch Pope Francesco though and we waited again for Pope Francis I to emerge! In the meantime the EWTN hosts shared the name of the Cardinal and I had no clue who he was.
When Pope Francis I finally stepped out we watched with the rest of the world, as this very humble man took in his first moments in his new role as Holy Father. I was struck particularly when he asked us, little us, to pray for him. At that moment I felt an undeniable connection with the entire Church. Catholics from all over the entire world were united in prayer for our new Holy Father. We all humbly knelt as he raised his hands in his first Papal Blessing, and I thanked God that I was able to so fully participate in this part of history. The kids and I made signs for their bikes, balloons for the mailbox, and a giant poster to hang in our window. Never mind the fact that we misspelled Papam, and upon return from their neighborhood ride the kids reported the only living things out that they could share the news with were dogs! We did not care! Nothing could squelch the joy! Even the 2 year old, who says very few words, was still chanting (to the best of his ability), "New Pope, New Pope," until the sun went down and his head hit his pillow.
After all the excitement faded away, I wondered how long it would take me to fall in love this time. I am happy to report that I awoke this morning, read one article, and filled with gratitude announced, "I LOVE this man!"
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Our Gluten Free Story and Favorites
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder, which requires a life long gluten-free diet. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye, and their derivatives. Oats were traditionally considered unsafe for celiacs as well, but in recent years doctors have found that this was due to cross contamination, not the oats themselves, so a celiac may safely consume oats that are certified gluten-free. When a celiac sufferer consumes gluten it damages the villi in the small intestine. The villi are responsible for helping the body to absorb nutrients. Left untreated celiac disease can lead to malnutrition and a host of other medical problems. Once on the gluten-free diet, the celiac sufferer's body quickly repairs itself, but the diet must be followed for life, or the damage will reoccur. In addition to avoiding gluten, the celiac must also avoid any cross contamination with foods containing gluten, as well as any cooking surfaces/appliances that have been used to prepare foods containing gluten.
Shortly before our daughter's second birthday, blood work and a biopsy of her small intestine confirmed a diagnosis of celiac disease. I was relieved and overjoyed to finally have a diagnosis and start the process of getting our very sick little girl healthy. I had never heard of celiac disease before. There were no celebrities announcing their g-free status, and certainly there were no mainstream labels with gluten-free written on them. In fact, I spent the first few months strolling the grocery aisles with my toddler and infant, and my trusty thick booklet of "safe" foods to check before putting anything in the cart. I became the woman standing in the aisle with my cell phone attached to my ear, calling company after company to see if products were safe. It was not at all uncommon for a representative to have no idea what gluten was, much less to know if their product contained it.
Things have changed drastically since those early days. Within a year of her diagnosis Hyvee added a health market section which included an entire aisle of gluten-free products. I was in heaven! Not only did they have the gluten-free aisle in the health market, but they also printed and distributed a packet listing all of their gluten free products. I had another booklet to carry around! Shortly after that we started noticing the Great Value brand at Walmart was actually listing gluten-free right on the label (they have since stopped doing this, but it was great while it lasted)! Within a couple years the labels from the allergen labeling laws started hitting the shelves, and grocery shopping got easier still. It is so easy now that I cannot even remember the last time I had to call a company! Eating out is a breeze and no one looks at you like you have 3 heads when you mention it!
Naturally gluten-free products could always be found everywhere, but now even specialty products, like bread and pretzels, can be found in most stores. In fact there are so many wonderful products available it can be hard to choose. So I thought I would create a list of our family's favorite brands/items for anyone who is just beginning to navigate the world of gluten-free, because this stuff is pretty expensive and it hurts to spend that money on a product that tastes awful!
Prepared Bread Products: Hands down, my family's favorite is Udi's. The sandwich bread acts just like gluten bread! The hamburger and hot dog buns are delicious and are even making appearances in local restaurants like Red Robin!
Packaged Bread (baked at home): Breads by Anna Yummy! My favorite (click here) is top on my list because I am not much of a baker and it is sooooo easy and very tasty! Just add eggs, oil, and a liquid, and throw it in the oven for a little over an hour. It also works well egg-free (in addition to gluten-free our sweetie was corn-free and egg-free for awhile too)! It slices well and can be used for sandwiches, and tastes yummy with or without toasting!
Pancakes: On nights when mom does not have dinner planned (and nights when I do) chants of, "King Arthur Pancakes, King Arthur Pancakes," can be heard echoing throughout our home for
Daddy to make his famous pancakes. In my opinion (I am not gluten-free) these taste better than the gluten pancakes they are trying to mimic.
Cake Mix: I really like Betty Crocker's cake mixes. They are a bit more expensive than other gf mixes (which are already expensive), but I think it is worth it. I have found that with many gf cake mixes there is a grainy texture to the cake, and these mixes produce the closest texture to gluten cake that I have found. I am sure there are great bakers out there who have mastered their own recipes, but for anyone like me, who needs a mix, Betty Crocker is the girl to go to!
Snacks: Obviously there are many snacks foods which are naturally gluten-free (fruit, cheese, most popcorn, most yogurt, etc.), but I want to include a snack section because we definitely have some favorites! These pretzels from Glutino are our favorite! In fact, I like them better than gluten pretzels. Our favorite crackers from Ener-G are pretty tasty too.
Packaged Cookies: There is no shortage of great tasting packaged gluten-free cookies! When she was younger these were really handy because not only do they all taste good, but they also look like what everyone else is eating, and that can be pretty important! Midel's gluten-free animal cookies look just like Animal Crackers and are super yummy! Their other cookie products are good too. I've eaten way too many packages myself so these products are no longer present in our pantry! The taste of these Orgran cookies remind me of Chips Ahoy. Again, you won't find them in our pantry! Actually, they are not a favorite of our daughter, but everyone else in the family loves them. These Enjoy Life Snickerdoodles are a hit with everyone. Our 2 year old, who is not gluten-free recently got into a pack sitting on the counter, took out every cookie, took one bite of each, and placed them all back into the box. Apparently, he was claiming the whole box for himself! There are many other cookies out there. Really this is the one area of gluten free where I think it is hard to find something that doesn't taste good.
Low Gluten Hosts: In the Catholic Church we believe that the bread and wine are truly transformed into the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ. In order for this change to take place several things need to happen. Number one, the proper words of consecration need to be said, number two, they need to be said by a priest, and number three, they need to be said over the proper matter (bread made of wheat and water and a special wine). I had just come into the Catholic Church when our daughter was diagnosed. Immediately I worried about how she would be able to receive Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament when she was older, as I knew the gluten free hosts other celiacs used would not work for a valid consecration and would remain just a simple host after the words of consecration. We settled for our pastor's answer of having her receive the Precious Blood when the time came, but still worried about cross contamination. A few years later we were at a new parish and our pastor let us know about a special host made by some Benedictine nuns specifically for those in the Church who suffer from celiac disease. As far as I know these are the only hosts that are both safe for a celiac (they contain .01% gluten) AND meet the requirements of Cannon Law for a valid consecration. We are so blessed!
Pasta: We most frequently use Tinkyada, and are please with the results. Quinoa, which is packed with nutrients is another option, but is a bit more expensive.
Mac and Cheese: Our favorite frozen Mac and Cheese is Amy's Rice and Cheese, and our favorite stove top mac and cheese is Annie's.
Pizza Crust: Pre-made, frozen: Kinnikinnick Mix: Full Circle
Frozen Waffles: Vans
Pre-made Frozen Donuts: Kinnikinnick ...YUMMY!
After our daughter's diagnosis, my husband had borderline blood work and went gluten-free. He is feeling much better on the diet, but has never received an official diagnosis. Our 4 year old is following the gluten-free diet too, but has no diagnosis. We plan to introduce gluten and test him in the future, but for now, he is gluten-free. The rest of us have no dietary restrictions and enjoy both gluten containing and gluten-free foods on a regular basis.
I may add to this list when time allows (right now I need to dress a naked toddler who has been playing with the faucet while I have been typing this)!! Please feel free to add your own gluten-free favorites!
Shortly before our daughter's second birthday, blood work and a biopsy of her small intestine confirmed a diagnosis of celiac disease. I was relieved and overjoyed to finally have a diagnosis and start the process of getting our very sick little girl healthy. I had never heard of celiac disease before. There were no celebrities announcing their g-free status, and certainly there were no mainstream labels with gluten-free written on them. In fact, I spent the first few months strolling the grocery aisles with my toddler and infant, and my trusty thick booklet of "safe" foods to check before putting anything in the cart. I became the woman standing in the aisle with my cell phone attached to my ear, calling company after company to see if products were safe. It was not at all uncommon for a representative to have no idea what gluten was, much less to know if their product contained it.
Things have changed drastically since those early days. Within a year of her diagnosis Hyvee added a health market section which included an entire aisle of gluten-free products. I was in heaven! Not only did they have the gluten-free aisle in the health market, but they also printed and distributed a packet listing all of their gluten free products. I had another booklet to carry around! Shortly after that we started noticing the Great Value brand at Walmart was actually listing gluten-free right on the label (they have since stopped doing this, but it was great while it lasted)! Within a couple years the labels from the allergen labeling laws started hitting the shelves, and grocery shopping got easier still. It is so easy now that I cannot even remember the last time I had to call a company! Eating out is a breeze and no one looks at you like you have 3 heads when you mention it!
Naturally gluten-free products could always be found everywhere, but now even specialty products, like bread and pretzels, can be found in most stores. In fact there are so many wonderful products available it can be hard to choose. So I thought I would create a list of our family's favorite brands/items for anyone who is just beginning to navigate the world of gluten-free, because this stuff is pretty expensive and it hurts to spend that money on a product that tastes awful!
Prepared Bread Products: Hands down, my family's favorite is Udi's. The sandwich bread acts just like gluten bread! The hamburger and hot dog buns are delicious and are even making appearances in local restaurants like Red Robin!
Packaged Bread (baked at home): Breads by Anna Yummy! My favorite (click here) is top on my list because I am not much of a baker and it is sooooo easy and very tasty! Just add eggs, oil, and a liquid, and throw it in the oven for a little over an hour. It also works well egg-free (in addition to gluten-free our sweetie was corn-free and egg-free for awhile too)! It slices well and can be used for sandwiches, and tastes yummy with or without toasting!
Pancakes: On nights when mom does not have dinner planned (and nights when I do) chants of, "King Arthur Pancakes, King Arthur Pancakes," can be heard echoing throughout our home for
Daddy to make his famous pancakes. In my opinion (I am not gluten-free) these taste better than the gluten pancakes they are trying to mimic.
Cake Mix: I really like Betty Crocker's cake mixes. They are a bit more expensive than other gf mixes (which are already expensive), but I think it is worth it. I have found that with many gf cake mixes there is a grainy texture to the cake, and these mixes produce the closest texture to gluten cake that I have found. I am sure there are great bakers out there who have mastered their own recipes, but for anyone like me, who needs a mix, Betty Crocker is the girl to go to!
Snacks: Obviously there are many snacks foods which are naturally gluten-free (fruit, cheese, most popcorn, most yogurt, etc.), but I want to include a snack section because we definitely have some favorites! These pretzels from Glutino are our favorite! In fact, I like them better than gluten pretzels. Our favorite crackers from Ener-G are pretty tasty too.
Packaged Cookies: There is no shortage of great tasting packaged gluten-free cookies! When she was younger these were really handy because not only do they all taste good, but they also look like what everyone else is eating, and that can be pretty important! Midel's gluten-free animal cookies look just like Animal Crackers and are super yummy! Their other cookie products are good too. I've eaten way too many packages myself so these products are no longer present in our pantry! The taste of these Orgran cookies remind me of Chips Ahoy. Again, you won't find them in our pantry! Actually, they are not a favorite of our daughter, but everyone else in the family loves them. These Enjoy Life Snickerdoodles are a hit with everyone. Our 2 year old, who is not gluten-free recently got into a pack sitting on the counter, took out every cookie, took one bite of each, and placed them all back into the box. Apparently, he was claiming the whole box for himself! There are many other cookies out there. Really this is the one area of gluten free where I think it is hard to find something that doesn't taste good.
Low Gluten Hosts: In the Catholic Church we believe that the bread and wine are truly transformed into the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ. In order for this change to take place several things need to happen. Number one, the proper words of consecration need to be said, number two, they need to be said by a priest, and number three, they need to be said over the proper matter (bread made of wheat and water and a special wine). I had just come into the Catholic Church when our daughter was diagnosed. Immediately I worried about how she would be able to receive Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament when she was older, as I knew the gluten free hosts other celiacs used would not work for a valid consecration and would remain just a simple host after the words of consecration. We settled for our pastor's answer of having her receive the Precious Blood when the time came, but still worried about cross contamination. A few years later we were at a new parish and our pastor let us know about a special host made by some Benedictine nuns specifically for those in the Church who suffer from celiac disease. As far as I know these are the only hosts that are both safe for a celiac (they contain .01% gluten) AND meet the requirements of Cannon Law for a valid consecration. We are so blessed!
Pasta: We most frequently use Tinkyada, and are please with the results. Quinoa, which is packed with nutrients is another option, but is a bit more expensive.
Mac and Cheese: Our favorite frozen Mac and Cheese is Amy's Rice and Cheese, and our favorite stove top mac and cheese is Annie's.
Pizza Crust: Pre-made, frozen: Kinnikinnick Mix: Full Circle
Frozen Waffles: Vans
Pre-made Frozen Donuts: Kinnikinnick ...YUMMY!
After our daughter's diagnosis, my husband had borderline blood work and went gluten-free. He is feeling much better on the diet, but has never received an official diagnosis. Our 4 year old is following the gluten-free diet too, but has no diagnosis. We plan to introduce gluten and test him in the future, but for now, he is gluten-free. The rest of us have no dietary restrictions and enjoy both gluten containing and gluten-free foods on a regular basis.
I may add to this list when time allows (right now I need to dress a naked toddler who has been playing with the faucet while I have been typing this)!! Please feel free to add your own gluten-free favorites!
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Accountability
I just fell off the cliff. Actually, I jumped. I had my wisdom teeth extracted about a week and a half ago. Long story short, I am pretty sure there was some nerve damage (I go back in on Friday) and something is wrong with my tongue. It hurts to eat. It feels like there is a steak fry, fresh out of the oil, laying on the right side of my tongue. So of course it would be okay for me to eat ice cream, right? Of course. So eat ice cream, I have done. Everyday. Sometimes twice. There was this little voice in the back of my mind reminding me that yogurt and smoothies are cold too, and that it might not be in my body's best interest to get back into the sugar habit, but I quickly told that voice to take a hike. After all, I am barely eating anything else. This worked. Except for one thing. The tongue seems to be getting better so I am eating more and more. Unfortunately, my recent daily rendezvous with the ice cream has indeed reawakened my sugar addiction. This reawakening paired with my "poor me, my tongue hurts" attitude, led me to the edge of the cliff today. There to greet me (since I was desperately searching for my fix...the ice cream has run out) was an almost full container of Pillsbury Funfetti Frosting (an old favorite) just waiting for me in the refrigerator. I dove over the edge and into the creamy mouthfuls of sweet, sugary frosting. Spoonful after spoonful, never looking at the label, just enjoying each delightful bite.
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The truth is, I didn't really feel all that guilty and really didn't think it was all that bad until a few moments ago when keeping with my rules, I went to plug in the nutrition information from my binge onto www.myfitnesspal.com. WHOA! I had eaten over an entire day's worth of calories IN FROSTING!!!! No wonder I used to have trouble losing weight. I had no accountability! When I ate those spoonfuls today I knew it was bad, but I had no idea just how bad! I used to do this all the time. Without accountability the lies I would tell myself were very easy to believe. The devil likes us to convince ourselves that the harmful things we are doing to ourselves are no big deal. Each small sin, no matter how insignificant it may seem, leads us one step closer to him, and away from God. As soon as I saw the total number of calories my frosting binge had cost me, I realized how important it is for all of us to have accountability in all areas of our lives. To daily be examining our consciences and asking the Holy Spirit to show us where we have fallen, even in those seemingly small areas. Our family does pray an Act of Contrition each night before bed, but I do not do an actual examine of each day before praying this prayer, even though I know you are supposed to. There is no better time than the present to start, and this episode is proof that God can bring good out of all things, even a frosting binge!!!
On daily examination of conscience:
http://www.ewtn.com/library/spirit/examcons.txt
.JPG)
The truth is, I didn't really feel all that guilty and really didn't think it was all that bad until a few moments ago when keeping with my rules, I went to plug in the nutrition information from my binge onto www.myfitnesspal.com. WHOA! I had eaten over an entire day's worth of calories IN FROSTING!!!! No wonder I used to have trouble losing weight. I had no accountability! When I ate those spoonfuls today I knew it was bad, but I had no idea just how bad! I used to do this all the time. Without accountability the lies I would tell myself were very easy to believe. The devil likes us to convince ourselves that the harmful things we are doing to ourselves are no big deal. Each small sin, no matter how insignificant it may seem, leads us one step closer to him, and away from God. As soon as I saw the total number of calories my frosting binge had cost me, I realized how important it is for all of us to have accountability in all areas of our lives. To daily be examining our consciences and asking the Holy Spirit to show us where we have fallen, even in those seemingly small areas. Our family does pray an Act of Contrition each night before bed, but I do not do an actual examine of each day before praying this prayer, even though I know you are supposed to. There is no better time than the present to start, and this episode is proof that God can bring good out of all things, even a frosting binge!!!
On daily examination of conscience:
http://www.ewtn.com/library/spirit/examcons.txt
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