God has been so good to us over these past few weeks of hardship and sorrow. He has sent so many people to bless us and taken care of even our simplest needs. We are looking for those lights in what feels like a rather dark time right now.

Our gleaning group has definitely been one of those lights for us. The folks running it have really looked out for our family and been generous and thoughtful. There is an abundance of fresh produce in our home, and we are eating such tasty fruits and vegetables.

It is Jerome's birthday this week, which means that we only have four more birthdays left this year. Mariam and Shawn are later this month, then Alexander and Amelia in the fall.

We are going to be saying goodbye to Dominic and Shawn this week, and that is a little sad, but they have great support and a fabulous church family at home.

Last night the winds of fall already blew. It usually comes like clockwork on the Monday after fair, but wind and rain came while fair was still going. I hope that doesn't mean that we will have an even shorter summer, though I wouldn't be upset if we had a longer fall. Fair was so strange this year, with no booth to work, and then a few scary incidents. I am looking forward to a week of rest.

• Sunday - Feast of Saint Helena
  Breakfast: White Chocolate Strawberry Cake, Raspberries and Grapes, Fried Eggs, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Spicy Brazilian Coconut Chicken and Vegetables, Rice, Watermelon, Sides/Salads/Fruit/Desserts brought by Church Family
• Monday
  Breakfast: Homemade Cottage Cheese with Avocado, Cucumber, Cherry Tomatoes and Cracked Black Pepper, Nectarines, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Slow Cooked Garlic Pork Roast, Yellow Squash, Corn and Egg Bake with Basil, Sliced Canteloupe
• Tuesday - Feast of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux
  Breakfast: Biscuit Breakfast Bake, Sliced Apples, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Mousakka'a, Arabic Rice Pilaf, Morroccan Beet Salad, Muhallabiyeh
• Wednesday
  Breakfast: Scrambled Chickpeas, Shishito Peppers and Summer Squash, Sliced Canteloupe, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Tbikhat Ful, Garlicky Swiss Chard, Marinated Cucumbers and Onions, Sliced Canteloupe
• Thursday
  Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs, Sausages, Sliced Peaches, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Parsleyed Peppercorn Beef Patties, Rice Pilaf, Buttered Corn on the Cob, Sliced Watermelon
• Friday - Feast of Saint Zaccaeus of Jerusalem
  Breakfast: Apple Coconut Breakfast Bowls with Honey Peanut Drizzle, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Succotash (Corn, Beans, and Peppers), Rice, Cucumber and Beet Salad, Sliced Canteloupe
• Saturday - Feast of Saint Bartholomew the Apostle
  Breakfast: Pancakes (Gluten-free for Jerome) with Maple Syrup, Fruit Plate, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Italian Beef Sandwiches on Herb and Olive Bread with Fried Peppers and Onions, Corn on the Cob, Fruit Plate

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.

Rejoice, O Virgin Mother of God, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee! Blessed art though amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, for thou hast borne the savior of our souls.

Dominic said that when we pray this prayer, or any other Marian prayers like the Hail Mary, which are based on the text of Luke, we are placing ourselves in the prophecy from Mary's own lips: "For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed" Luke 1:48

Labels: Birthday, Church Year, Faith and Morality, Family, Homemaking, Menu Plans, Prayer Requests, Tales from the Kitchen