First, thank you all for your prayers. We've tried a new medication, and though I'm still having new flare ups, they aren't as bad, and the places that were truly awful are looking and feeling much better. We had a fun filled weekend, with three parties, two that the kids were invited to attend, and one for just us. There were many opportunities for great food, dancing, and conversation, which was wonderful! People who knew us and those who were complete strangers complimented on our kids' behavior, and on our dance moves, numerous times, which was nice for us. It always surprises people that Rich is such a great dancer. Mostly because he is so straight laced and an upright executive type. So, when they see how we dance together, the first comment is a compliment, the second is about how surprised they are that he has those moves, and the third is about how they now know why we have so many children and/or how this is how we must have gotten all of those children. Really. We've started answering that dancing isn't actually how babies are made.

After getting home around midnight, my sweet husband made the Saint Nicholas Cookies for our kids, because I am not supposed to have my hands in flour. I told him how to use the food processor as a short cut, but even so, he finished around 4:00 a.m., since he isn't used to either making the dough, working with it or the filling, or doing the shaping. The kids were so happy to see their cookies at their places for breakfast, and have the tradition continue. Rich got less than three and a half hours of sleep, I fell asleep on the couch while he was baking, but we still made it to church. Late. We went to some friends for a truly potluck dinner after church, and had lovely food to share. There was everything from pulled pork to black beans and rice to pizza.

In any case, we did a fairly good job of sticking to the menu this past week, though we have a couple things we moved around that are reappearing here this week. There is quite a bit of fruit this week, because we have a ton from our stockings left. So, there are satsumas, and (because Saint Nicholas heard that the kids were interested in having their own pomegranates) HUGE pomegranates that people are eating over multiple days. Plus all the apples we gleaned and bought from the last Saturday of the Farmers' Market. I'm hoping we can find a good deal on pears, though it may be too late for that. Citrus should be easier to find, but I'm also hoping to get some quince, which are rare around here.

Below, I include our daily Bible readings which we use to read through the entire Bible each year. We read through all of the Old Testament and New Testament, reading the Psalms and Proverbs twice. Remember that the Psalms are according to eastern numbering in our daily Bible reading, also I Kings is the original designation, it is I Samuel in western Bibles (II Kings is II Samuel in the west, III Kings is I Kings, and IV Kings is II Kings, I Ezra is also called I Esdras in other translations, II Ezra is often translated as Ezra or II Esdras, though this is complicated by it sometimes being I Esdras being Ezra in modern language and II Esdras being Nehemiah, and in that case, there is a III Esdras, it really depends on which translation you read).

• Sunday - Feast of Saint Nicholas Isaiah 37-40, Psalms 104:28–45, Proverbs 22:27–31, Hebrews 1
  Breakfast: Saint Nicholas Initial Cookies, Satsumas, Pomegranates, Chocolate, Rice Pudding with Cinnamon Sugar, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Potluck - we brought Greek Roasted Potatoes with Feta, and an Arabic Style Coleslaw
• Monday - Feast of Saint Ambrose Isaiah 41-43, Psalms 105:1–15, Proverbs 23:1–5, Hebrews 2
  Breakfast: Yogurt & Jam, Fruit, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Pasta with Tomato and Pepper Sauce and Feta Crumbles, Leftover Coleslaw
• Tuesday - Feast of the Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Theotokos Isaiah 44-47, Psalms 105:16–31, Proverbs 23:6–12, Hebrews 3
  Breakfast: Fried Eggs, Fruit, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Not Texas Chili with Chopped Onions, Tomatoes, Avocado, Lime Wedges and Sour Cream
• Wednesday Isaiah 48-51, Psalms 105:32–48, Proverbs 23:13–18, Hebrews 4
  Breakfast: Oatmeal with Cinnamon Sugar, Mint Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Harvest Pancakes, Fried Eggs, Fruit Plate
• Thursday Isaiah 52-57, Psalms 106:1–14, Proverbs 23:19–23, Hebrews 5
  Breakfast: Toast with Cream Cheese, Za'atar and Olive Oil, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Ham and Vegetable Frittata with Stilton, Coleslaw
• Friday Isaiah 58-62, Psalms 106:15–30, Proverbs 23:24–27, Hebrews 6
  Breakfast: Slow Cooker Rice Pudding with Apples and Dried Cherries, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Beet Gratin with Fontina and Walnuts, Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
• Saturday Isaiah 63-66, Psalms 106:31–43, Proverbs 23:28–32, Hebrews 7
  Breakfast: Creamed Eggs, Toast Fingers, Fruit Plate, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Roasted Salmon, Rice Pilaf, Steam Sauteed Carrots and Green Beans with Dill

What is on your menu this week? If you want a recipe, ask and I will provide it as soon as I can. If there are any starred recipes, I will follow up separately with a weekly recipe round up.

Labels: Advent, Blessed Virgin, Church Year, Family, Homemaking, Menu Plans, Prayer Requests, St. Nicholas, Tales from the Kitchen, Theotokos