** 1 **
Ladies, I’m so excited for this weekend! Tonight we’re going to a small get together/game night at a friends house, and the best part is that it’s Mexican themed!
I’m in charge of bringing chips and guacamole and salsa. I’ve been looking for recipes. I have a good guacamole recipe, but I’m looking for a good salsa recipe, especially if it uses strawberries or pineapple, since we have a lot of those at home. Let me know if you’ve got anything good up your sleeve!
** 2 **
Then on Saturday we’re going to Brown County State Park to meet up with Eric’s family and spend a few days hanging out in the cabins and doing some hiking.
I’ve never been there, but it’s supposed to be the “hilly” part of Indiana. Woo-hoo!
** 3 **
As many of you know, we moved recently. Well, the first weekend in the house we were unloading a carload of boxes and other items. Sirius was outside. The following conversation ensues:
Atticus: “Come here, you have to see this!”
Me: “I’m upstairs. What is it?”
Atticus: “Just come down and see it!”
Me: “I’m upstairs. This better be good.”
I come downstairs and follow his voice out the back door, where I see this:
Yes. That is a dog behind the wheel of the car. He climbed in the open passenger side and parked himself in the driver’s seat. Anyone who has a dog knows they are usually sources of comic relief. This was hands-down, the funniest thing Sirius has done.
What’s really funny is that he has a bit of a history of being an escape artist, having run away and been returned three times since we’ve had him. I joked with Atticus that he’s progressing to stealing the car in order to make his getaway.
** 4 **
Last night we were fortunate to attend a training session with Fr. Tom Aschenbrener of Chicago, who has written a wonderful, wonderful, Marriage Prep program for his parish in Chicago. It’s really taken off there and is being used by several parishes there and in several dioceses around the country.
The DRE at my parish is the nun who runs the pro-life office at the Archdiocese here in Indy, and she (working with the office for Catholic Education) wants to bring this program, called One in Christ, to our parish. The hope is then that it can be piloted out to other parishes in the Archdiocese.
It’s such a wonderful program. It can be done over 3 or 5 sessions. It includes basic catechesis of (1) creation, the fall, redemption (2) what are the sacraments? (3) what is the vocation of marriage? (4) covenants and virtues (5) almsgiving and tithing (6) unitive end of marriage (7) procreative end of marriage (8) contraception (9) NFP and (10) infertility.
It’s amazing! It’s what I WISH we would have had at our pre-cana, rather than an afternoon program talking about love-languages and …. I don’t even remember what else, because it was so unremarkable. I certainly do remember that our “instructors” failed to mention that not only is contraception morally wrong, but failed to mention that the Church even HAS a teaching on it. *shakes head*
Anyway, we attended the session because our parish is looking for couples to consider being facilitators for the program and presenting one of the sessions to the couples. Someone approached us about it and we went to check it out. I guess you can tell I’m into it! I hope we’ll be able to participate in helping Catholic couples prepare for marriage in a lasting way.
** 5 **
When I was a little girl I loved the Anne of Green Gables series. You know, though, I didn’t realize until a few weeks ago at the library that there are more books in the series! I only knew of the first three: (1) Anne of Green Gables (2) Anne of Avonlea and (3) Anne of the Island! What? There are like four more books in the series!
I am now reading Anne of Windy Poplars, and have Anne’s House of Dreams up next. I feel a little like I was cheated.
** 6 **
I haven’t forgotten that I promised to write about Rome! I’m going to do my best next week to get to a post or two. I’m not going to bring the computer this weekend. I need a break from the internets.
In addition to (hopefully!) some posts about Rome, look for a surprise next week as well!
** 7 **
I hope you all have a happy, healthy Memorial Day weekend!
That marriage prep program sounds great! I’m so impressed you guys are going to help lead it. We’ve talked about getting involved in the pre-cana here, but just haven’t gotten around to it yet.
And I love fiestas! Have a great time at yours!
I loooooove Anne’s House of Dreams. Don’t forget Rilla of Ingleside and Rainbow Valley–my other 2 favorites.
1.When I make salsa in the summer with fresh tomatoes, I know the recipe by heart. For salsa using canned tomatoes, I use the Pioneer Woman’s recipe. I’ve never made salsa with strawberries or pineapple. If you do, I’d love to know how it comes out!
2.Brown County is pretty hilly. Not sure if it is as hilly as the southeastern-most part of the state though. Have fun there!
3.Maria is our comic relief, and she often does exactly what the dog did. But then she’s a person, so it’s more natural I guess.
4.That pre-Cana course sounds really neat. Ours was okay, but after two years of marriage we know we’ve learned nothing practical from it. Our priest didn’t use a curriculum, he just lectured us. I know it was better than surrounding local parishes, but I don’t think it did much to prepare us better for marriage.
5.And goodness, you didn’t know about the other Anne books? I feel bad for you. I read those books so much…I have probably read them all at least 5-6 times. “Rilla of Ingleside” is probably my fave. They’re all great, though. LM Montgomery wrote a lot of other books; you should be able to find them in the library.
Have a great weekend!
SARAH!:) Yes, you have to write about Italy!!!:) Love the shot of Sirius, and as for Anne of Green Gables…I got the series when I was little but always was bummed that really on the first two were turned into decent movies. They’re great!:)
1. Strawberry salsa sounds delicious! Never had it, but good luck making it…and have fun tonight!
2. Oh my goodness, I can smell the hot woody summer forests already! Enjoy the trip!
4. Your passion for this program is remarkable, but more so, your involvement in Church is astounding! I really appreciate your energy and work. It takes a lot of initiative to be as involved as you are…and I WISH I had your drive!
7. That’s so true!
#4: Would love to hear more about the Marriage Prep program. My husband and I coordinate our parish’s program.
#5: Yes, there are 8 books total in the series, I almost envy you getting to discover them for the first time ~ I have read and re-read them over and over
Sounds like great fun this weekend, have a wonderful time.
That marriage prep program sounds great! Good for you for getting involved.
Your dog and my dog would make great pals!
That’s awesome about working with that marriage prep program! We had an Engagement Encounter, which was nice, but I wish there was more to it.
I can’t wait to hear more about Rome!
The state park is awesome! If you get the chance, go to the small town nearby–there are some great coffee shops, used book stores, and little knick-knack shops.
You were cheated with the Anne books! Though Windy Poplars was not my favorite.
How did the fruit-salsa turn out?
I agree with CM – you were cheated with the Anne books – enjoy!
The pictures of Sirius in the car – hysterical! (And could totally be my dog too! We couldn’t find her one weekend when we were packing to go away, she had been waiting in the car for at least 20 minutes).
Hope your weekend was great!
Hey- I was just passing by and noticed that my comment wasn’t published. I just wanted to say that I’m sorry if my comment offended you or came off in a negative way…I didn’t mean for it to sound mean/bad/weird/etc, so if it did, know that I didn’t mean for it to come across like that.
Katie
Hey, I was just passing by and noticed that you didn’t publish my comment. I just wanted to say that I didn’t mean for it to offend you or for it to come across mean/bad/inappropriate. :/ I’m sorry if it did. Know that it was not my intention for it to come across that way. Katie