Technically, the Dormition fast has already begun. During the Dormition fast, I join with others to dedicate our prayers toward the end of abortion - not only in law, but also in practice - that nobody would ever feel the need to resort to this. We are all under so much pressure, and all coping as best as we can, and right now, I think our fast is surving it and deepening our prayers. So, please forgive me for the poor example in our menus.

Our gleaning club and garden are keeping us in beautiful, fresh produce, and we are enjoying that. We haven't had the time for a lot of preserving, but we have watermelon, peaches, apples, plums and pluots, tomatoes, peppers, garlic, salad greens, herbs, onions, fresh peas, arugula, all sorts of lovely things to eat. The winds have been coming, and with it some cold, which makes us concerned for how early winter will come, and what kind of winter we'll have, but also because of its impact on fires and our fire season. Please pray for our area, as there are so many fires, with homes lost, and lots of destruction and smoke. It is hard for the farmers and their animals as well as families.

This week holds the feast of the Transfiguration, which is also the anniversary of the loss of our sweet grandson. As hard as that memory is, I do love that it is always going to be tied with our Lord's revelation and display of how this world and the next is not strictly separated. I love the Transfiguration! We have the Trinity demonstrated in the voice of the Father and the uncreated light of the Spirit which overshadows the mountain, we have the communion of saints demonstrated and modeled (Jesus calls on not only Elijah, who never died, but Moses, in the presence of two of the Apostles - who know exactly who they are - and shows them that they can be called on in this world) to us, and we have a Theophany, a demonstration of the divinity of Christ. Saint Peter's statement about building tablernacles is not only an impetuous statement of someone not knowing what to say. It shows that Saint Peter connects what he witnesses with the Feast of Tabernacles, which is the feast of the coming Kingdom. He sees this as a sign of the Kingdom appearing on earth. On this feast, the Jewish people build booths to serve as symbols of God's dwelling among the just in the Kingdom. Moses represents the law and all who have died, and Elijah, the prophets and all who are alive in Christ, as Elijah never experienced death. Both of these men are immediately recognizeable by Saints Peter, James and John. They know them, because the saints are available to us on earth. They can hear Jesus talking to them, and Jesus gives them an example of communicating with the saints. This is one of the major feasts of the Church year, and it is a poverty to neglect or ignore it. Glory to God in His saints!

We've had a lot of losses in our circle lately. Just in the past ten days we have had two memorials for men who left their wives as widows. One, who was 82, and one who was 33, leaving a young wife (one of our older children's friends) and a year old son. Lord have mercy on them. Please pray for these men and for their families. They do not have a lot of people who will pray for their dead.

Our sweet neighbors flagged us down the evening after their father's memorial, when we were coming home from our other errands, to bring us leftovers from the memorial and that is providing the meal for our church tonight. The folks from church will bring accompaniments to go with the smoked turkey, baked potatoes, and so on, and the meal I had planned for today will be put out on another Sunday this month, which gives me more relief. I had absolutely no cooking to do today, and got to truly rest, after a lovely brunch that Rich made for us. Our parish family is still taking their desire to lift as many burdens as they can from us quite seriously. We have people providing meals, cooking on Sundays for church, driving me to events I need to attend in other towns when I'm not up for the longer drives, offering us places to stay when we need a respite, giving our kids a fun place to go so they don't have to sit in the sorrow we are enduring. We cannot thank them enough. Please pray for us, but also for them, that they would be blessed and relieved as they have done for us.

• Sunday
  Breakfast: Beef and Garden Vegetable Scramble with Cheese, Peaches, Tea and Coffee
  Dinner: Smoked Turkey, Baked Potatoes, Green Salad, Corn, Parish brings Salad Dressing/Fruit/Desserts
• Monday
  Breakfast: Mesfouf, Plums, Tea and Coffee
  Dinner: Leftover H'ashweh, Laban bi Chiyar, Duqqus, Watermelon
• Tuesday - Feast of Saint Dominic
  Breakfast: 'Ijja, Khoubz Araby, Duqqus, Peaches, Sahlab and Coffee
  Dinner: Lahm bi 'Ajeen, Duqqus, Watermelon
• Wednesday
  Breakfast: Apple Coconut Breakfast Bowls with Cashew Butter Drizzle, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Fried Cauliflower, Taratoor, Rice, Watermelon
• Thursday - Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord
  Breakfast: Hard Boiled Eggs, Toast, Sliced Cantaloupe, Milk, Tea and Coffee
  Dinner: Polish Sausage and Potato Bake with Sauerkraut, Fruit Plate
• Friday
  Breakfast: Peanut Butter Toast, Sliced Cantaloupe, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Thai Style Stir Fry, Jasmine Rice, Fruit Plate
• Saturday
  Breakfast: Cheese Potica, Bacon, Fruit, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Meat Lasagna, Green Salad, Ice Cream

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