Christ is illumined! Let us shine forth with Him!

Though we are coming to the end of the holiday, we are enjoying celebrating the Christmas season to its end in February. Theophany is this week, and I am trying to get excited about going to the blessing of the water in the snow and ice and frigid single degree weather. It snowed some more this week. Not too much, but with our temperatures, it stays around for far too long. We hit -12˚F yesterday morning, and Rich had to spend more than four hours getting our pipes and pressure tank back to normal, even with heaters, lights and closed pumphouse doors. Living in a place that stays frigid through April has made me appreciate the snow even less than before. I used to find it pretty, at least, but now I see it and despair. But Christ is born, regardless, and I am keeping that in my mind.

We had so much leftover that some of last week's meals have carried overthrough this week. We return to our normal abstinent diet schedule on Friday, which will be a relief in some ways. It is a good thing to mark our time and even what goes in our mouths by the life of Christ. Jerome's introduction to milk is not going well, but it also coincides with our below zero temperatures and dry, winter weather, so we are not sure which is doing it to him. The humidity and temperatures are supposed to go up this week, so we will keep going with the introduction, and see if he improves. It would be sad for him no longer to be able to have milk, but it doesn't necessarily exclude cheese, since the proteins are used in a different way in them, so we will still try the cheese after this, even if he can't have milk. Please pray for him and for clarity on this issue.

• Sunday - Feast of Saint Basil
  Breakfast: Yogurt and Jam (Coconut Yogurt for Jerome), Toast (Gluten-free for Jerome), Cara Cara Oranges, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Ham and Pinto Beans, Fried Potatoes, Peppers and Onions, Ice Cream (Jerome safe treats will be brought)
• Monday
  Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs, Fried Ham, Toast (Gluten-free for Jerome), Sliced Apples, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Korean Beef with Scallions, Stir Fried Carrots, Green Beans and Onions, Jasmine Rice, Oranges
• Tuesday
  Breakfast: Beet and Labneh Bruschetta (Gluten and Dairy-free for Jerome), Blood Oranges, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: French Onion Soup with Gruyère Croutons, Salad, Fritule
• Wednesday
  Breakfast: Cinnamon Rolls (Gluten-free with Coffee-Maple Glaze for Jerome), Sausages, Cara Cara Oranges, Tea and Honey
  Dinner: Lengua Tacos, Quick and Dirty Mexican Rice, Carrot Slaw with Cumin Lime Dressing, Vanilla and Chocolate Marshmallows*, Chocolate Pinwheel Cookies
• Thursday - Feast of the Theophany (Epiphany of the Lord)
  Breakfast: Ham and Potato Bake (Dairy-free for Jerome), Sliced Apples, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Kabob Koubideh, Sabzi Polo, Loubiyeh bi Zeit, Galette des Rois
• Friday
  Breakfast: Battatas ou Bayd, Toast (Gluten-free for Jerome), Blood Oranges, Tea and Honey
  Dinner: Winter Vegetable and Wild Rice Soup, Crisp Carrot Slices, Fruit Plate
• Saturday
  Breakfast: Christmas Scones (Gluten and Dairy-free for Jerome), Bacon, Fruit Plate, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Leftovers, Fruit

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 on Saturday.

Labels: Christmas, Church Year, Epiphany, Faith and Morality, Family, Governor Inslee Needs a Frozen Fish to the Forehead, Homemaking, Menu Plans, Nativity, Special Diet, Tales from the Kitchen, Theophany