Laetare Jerusalem: et conventum facite omnes qui diligitis eam: gaudete cum laetitia, qui in tristitia fuistis: ut exsultetis, et satiemini ab uberibus consolationis vestrae.

Be joyful, O Jerusalem: and come together all you that love her: rejoice with joy, you that have been in sorrow: that you may exult, and be filled from the breasts of your consolation.

Laetare is milk-joy Sunday. It is the Mother's Day of the Church, remembering the Church as our Mother and the Blessed Mother herself, who is both the mother of God and of all believers. This week has a couple fish days in it for us, and is a little bright spot in the work and discipline of Lent. We have two major feasts this week, beginning with the Feast of Saint Joseph today, and ending on the Feast of the Annunciation on Saturday, which is also Elijah's birthday. So, he has all the Holy Family to remember and celebrate this week. Saint Joseph is one of Rich's favorite saints, and one of our family patrons (he also loves Saint Michael). We are blessed to be able to commemorate them this week, as we have a special devotion to the Holy Family in our family.

Even with those two fish days (and one last week!), we are in the fourth full week of Lent, and it is getting challenging. We have had a package of fake ground beef in our freezer that I got as a freebie at Safeway a little while ago, and we are going to use them and my faux cheese sauce, plus beans, peppers, salsa, olives, scallions, avocados and poblano cashew cream to make some faux nachos this week as a treat. The kids have been waiting for us to use it, and it will be quick and a fun meal before we get to Holy Week and the last push in the race.

We ended up having to cancel Evening Prayer at church because so many people were not feeling well, and just did Evening Prayer at home with the kids. However, since I had already started part of dinner for after the service, we had a ton of rice left, and I decided to use it in breakfast for tomorrow. Some of the sick folks are a couple of our kids, so please keep them in your prayers.

• Sunday - Laetare Sunday and the Feast of Saint Joseph
  Breakfast: Roasted Vegetable Pizzas, Fruit, Honey Cake, Tea and Coffee
  Dinner: Cumin-Crusted Sablefish, Roasted Vegetables, Rice, Tyropita, Salad, Fruit
• Monday
  Breakfast: Coconut Milk Rice Cereal with Brown Sugar, Cake Spices, and Mixed Dried Berries and Raisins, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Pinquito Bean Tacos, Rice, Fruit Plate
• Tuesday
  Breakfast: Steel Cut Oats with Raisins, Cinnamon and Brown Sugar, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Thai Pumpkin Soup, Salad with Sesame Citrus Dressing, Fruit
• Wednesday
  Breakfast: Toasted Bagels with Faux Cream Cheese, Spanish Olives and Sliced Radishes, Fruit Plate, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Vegan Lentil Moussaka'a, Salad, Fruit
• Thursday
  Breakfast: Potato and Vegetable Hash Burritos with Salsa, Fruit Plate, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Faux Nachos, Fruit Plate
• Friday
  Breakfast: Peanut Butter Toast, Fruit, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Galayet Bandora, Kesra, Green Salad
• Saturday - Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
  Breakfast: Ful, Toast, Sah'awiq, Fruit Plate, Tea and Coffee
  Dinner: Roasted Blue Hake with Tomatoes, Olives and Capers, Home Fried Potatoes and Peppers with Onions, Chocolate Orange Marmalade Cake

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 a Saturday.

Labels: Birthday, Church Year, Faith and Morality, Family, Fasting as a Family, Governor Inslee Needs a Frozen Fish to the Forehead, Homemaking, Laetare, Lent, Menu Plans, Tales from the Kitchen