They say it's your birthday! It's my birthday too, yeah!

My 50th birthday is this week. Rich wanted to do something big for it, but we are both so exhausted, and it just sounded like a lot of work, no matter how fun it might end up being for me. So, instead, he took the day off for my birthday, and we are going to go to a salsa dance on the beach and spend some time window shopping at cute, kitchsy places, and having a fun, easy going time. I'm not huge on big gifts or big parties for my birthday, I really just want people who know me well to remember and wish me a happy birthday.

This week begins with a neighborhood picnic where we will grill all sorts of meats and delicious things and share with our neighborhood. Besides my birthday, though, we have a fairly low key schedule, which is much needed. There is so much to catch up on here, with all the extra things going on in our lives. Please keep us in your prayers, still. It's been a little discouraging lately.

A set of friends from church is coming with pizzas for us this week, as they said they could see we needed blessings and rest. God bless them. We are grateful for all the support we've had. We are all so exhausted from all these challenges, and it feels like we are always tired.

Again, I have reason to bless my parish family this week. One family is taking care of the bulk of dinner for church, and the rest of the parish are bringing things to go with that meal.

• Sunday - Feast of Saint Vincent de Paul
  Breakfast: Sausage, Egg and Cheese English Muffins, Tea and Coffee
  Dinner: Chicken Fajitas, Sides/Salads/Fruit/Desserts brought by Parish
• Monday
  Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs with Cheese, Toast, Peaches, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Friends Bringing Pizza, Green Salad, Zlevanka
• Tuesday
  Breakfast: Cornish Splits with Qishta and BLackberry Jam, Bacon, Tea and Coffee
  Dinner: Arabic Beef and Vegetable Soup with Lemon Juice and Garlic Paste, Croatian Salty Bread Rolls, Sliced Melon
• Wednesday - Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene
  Breakfast: Apple Muse, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Black Bean and Potato Enchiladas, Salsa Rice, Sliced Oranges
• Thursday
  Breakfast: Cinnamon Nut Raisin Bread with Cream Cheese, Fruit Plate, Milky Coffee
  Dinner: Broiled Bratwursts, Jalapeno Corn Pudding, Chopped Salad, Sliced Peaches
• Friday
  Breakfast: 'Ijja, Khoubz Araby, Duqqus, Mixed Berries, Sahlab and Coffee
  Dinner: Fried Fish, Tartar Sauce, Coleslaw, Potato Wedges, Mascarpone Berry Cake
• Saturday - Feast of Saint James the Apostle
  Breakfast: Sweet Potato, Pepper, and Onion Hash, Fruit Plate, Milky Tea with Honey, Mint and Rosewater
  Dinner: German Sausage and Potato Bake, Leftover 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 Saturday.

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