We have reached the fourth Sunday of this rather short Advent. Tonight we will celebrate the vigil of Christmas Eve and break our fast. Tomorrow, we are going to have to celebrate the Christmas service at home, because our only other options are to drive two hours away or to go at 8:30 in the morning after the late night to a church we aren't really involved in at all or at 11:30 at a Spanish only liturgy. The Catholic churches in town seem to be the only ones who are having Christmas services at all here, which makes me sad. Not because they are, but because so many churches who insist that we keep Christ in Christmas then don't have church on Christmas, so people can do breakfast/family/presents instead, not after, but instead. If we want to keep Christ in Christmas, we should keep the Mass in Christmas. Worship Him on Christmas, then do your brunch and presents and all of that.

Anyway, it is the beginning of a long feast and we are looking forward to it. Today is the last day of the fast, and it is shorter because of the vigil. I am grateful that there are churches holding services and that our priests have cared for us by providing us with the Eucharist, so we can worship Him, even in our home.

We are planning our normal 12 Days of Christmas treats, and will be resting and enjoying Christmas music and silly Christmas movies. Ballet and gymnastics and all of that starts earlier than we start back at schoolwork, but we will try to rest and have fun as much as we can, celebrating our Savior and retreating a little from our culture's consumerism. I pray you have a blessed Christmas holiday and season (which lasts through February 2)!

• Sunday - Fourth Sunday of Advent and Christmas Eve
  Breakfast: Vegetable Breakfast Burritos, Fruit Plate, Tea and Coffee
  Dinner: Breaking the Fast at Church - Chex Mix, Mock Turtles, Cookies, Meat and Cheese, Smoked Salmon, Crackers, Cake, Pie
• Monday - Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord
  Breakfast: Christmas Bread and Butter, Bacon, Eggs Royale, Hot Cocoa and Coffee
  Dinner: Garlic Rib Roast*, Wine Pan Sauce, Cranberry Horseradish Relish, Boursin Stuffed Potatoes*, Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Braided Egg Bread, Triple Chocolate Cheesecake with Candy Cane Ice Cream, Brown Sugar Shortbread, Christmas Cookies, Wine, Eggnog (with and without Kahlua - leaded or unleaded)
• Tuesday - Feast of Saint Stephen
  Breakfast: Croissant Breakfast Strata, Fruit Plate, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Hibatchi and Sushi, Partridge in a Pear Tree Pie, Cashew Brutal
• Wednesday - Feast of Saint John
  Breakfast: Lemon Cream Cheese Butterhorn Bars, Sausages, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Roast Chicken, Potatoes, Carrots and Onions, Peppermint Meltaways, Dark Chocolate Cherry Cookies
• Thursday - Feast of the Holy Innocents
  Breakfast: Almond Bear Claws, Sausage Links, Fruit, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: White People Enchiladas, "Mexican" Rice Pilaf, Black Beans, Orange Cranberry Cookies and Christmas Pineapple over Vanilla Ice Cream
• Friday - Feast of Saint Thomas Becket
  Breakfast: Ricotta Fritters with Maple Syrup, Bacon, Sliced Apples, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Persian Chicken Tah-Chin, Persian Chopped Salad, Rosewater Almond Tea Cookies, Pistachio and Cardamom Crescents
• Saturday
  Breakfast: Swedish Cardamom Knots* to break the fast after Liturgy
  Dinner: Peruvian Kebabs with Beef Heart and Grilled Lamb Chops, Super Crisp Peruvian Roasted Potatoes, Salad, Chocolate Cranberry Walnut Cookies, Brown Butter Ginger Chews

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.

Christ is Born! Glorify Him!

Labels: Advent, Christmas, Church Year, Faith and Morality, Fasting as a Family, Homemaking, Keeping the Feast, Menu Plans, Nativity, Prayer Requests, Tales from the Kitchen