Integrity

Old Smut Face has ways of reaching out his gnarled freakish evil extended fingers into any and all situations.  He also sends spies.   My circle of WHOM I ACTUALLY TRUST just got dramatically smaller.  Be a friend to my face. Yet, be a gossip and tale bearer behind my back.  Go ahead.  What do you think your gossipy little compadres are saying about you?  Behind YOUR back?

I'm NOT interested in gossip.  I'm not interested in any of it.  Oh, I used to be right in the thick of it.  I admit it.  And no, I'm not proud of that.  But I did learn... and at least I'm adult enough to admit it.  And I'm not mad.  Honest.  Hurt a little? Oh yeah.  That I am.  But drawing in further to my bubble.  I'm not perfect.  But at least I'm honest about it.

Loving your neighbour..  that I can do.  Doesn't mean falling for their fake friendship.  Lies.  Backstabbing.  Etc.   Omitting truths is the same as lying, in case there was some confusion.  

So yes.  I'm aware of spies.  Those tools of the devil.  I just don't say anything.  When you finally notice I've pulled back... and quit being such a happy puppy around you... maybe then you'll figure it out.  Maybe.  Pride does blind you, after all.

Being a happy puppy has not done me any good.  It's set me up.  Made me an easy target.  Made me easy to use.  Not every nutcase is going to be as obvious as a crybaby public rant.  Some actually (the ones with brains) have sense enough to keep it private.  At least the loud dumb ones you can SEE coming.  Because they like the show.  The love the audience and pitifully, crave the attention.  It's sad really.

The quiet sneaky ones..  that's the ones who have to be careful about.  It's like unwilling playing a game you've never played before.  You aren't quite sure what the next move is going to be, and the rules (to them) don't matter.  

I'm not playing their stupid game.  You're either my friend or you're not.  It's really pretty simple.  Stop the pretending.  If I wanted drama, I'd go back to junior high.  Which evidently is where some folks are perpetually stuck.  Geez you're not 14 anymore.  For your own sakes.  Graduate yourself out of there. Grow up.  Start acting like an adult.  Hold yourself to a higher standard.  Learn what integrity means. 

My friends.  My real friends are precious and few.  They matter.  They count.  They don't play these stupid games because they can't stand the b.s., and the drama.  They actually have adult lives to live, with adult responsibilities.  They know right from wrong.  They have integrity.  They're not fake.  They ARE genuine.  I'd rather have but ONE single friend in the whole world, then be surrounded by fakes with no integrity.

Forgiving

Everybody talks about forgiveness, but
 I think we can all agree... it is not always easy.
 Pride is not a friend to anybody.  Pride whispers in your ear.  It embellishes on any and all hurts..  blows things out of proportion.  It can take one comment, maybe one that you don't agree with, and the devil (old smut face) whispers in your ear and now you believe its a personal attack.  He's a jerk, isn't he?  The devil needs to be throat punched.  Hosed down with a super soaker full of Holy Water.  Forget the super soaker.  We need an oversized firehose out for that creep.

He splits families.  He destroys friendships.  He convinces you to skip church, skip prayers, harbour resentment, have hard feelings, hold grudges, turn up your nose and not speak.  He is a master at plugging your ears, so you can't hear any other voice but your own.  He tells you how great you are.  It's always everyone else's fault.  If ONLY other people understood/got it/ weren't such goody two shoes/ nauseatingly self righteous/ stupid/ ignorant/..  pick one!!  Yep.  He's seriously a jerk.

Do you hold grudges?  I will be the first to admit that I have.  If they were giving away Olympic Medals for grudge holding, I promise you I'd be a gold medallist.  More than once.  I'm talking the Miss Universe of grudge holding.  No... I'm not proud.  But I gave it up.  For realsies.  I've got enough gray hair, thank you.  (That's also from worry, but that's another blog entry for another day).  

I am, like everyone else on God's green planet, a work in progress.  I don't get everything right.  Never will.  I'm not perfect.  Far, FAR from it!!!  But... I recently had a small epiphany.  And no, it certainly did NOT come from me.  I'm not that smart, nor that deep.  LOL

Someone I've been upset with... well..  me being upset with them wasn't hurting anyone else but me.  

Notable point: (gleaned from someone else, and I'm convinced this is straight from the Holy Spirit.

No matter WHAT you're doing/ not doing.. whatever the situation...  you have TWO choices.

You choose God, or you don't. 

BAM!!

Forgiveness... that's choosing God.  My silly feelings/ego blah blah blah..  big whup, ya know?  I'm over here like SERIOUSLY... who CARES??!!   Let it GO. (Please God, no songs from Frozen)  GIVE IT ALL TO GOD!!  Seriously?  All we do is mess everything up anyway.  And stupid Smut Face all whispering in our ears 24/7!!??

  Tell Smut Face to EAT HIS OWN POISON!!  

Let go.  Give everything to God.  Trust in Him.
And that person who hurt your widdle feewings?   FORGIVE them!!  Give it to God.  HE knows just what to do.  He's got this!!  

Your going to have rough/bad/crummy/irritation/someone needs to be high fived in the face with a chair days.  We all do!!  It's up to US to remember our two choices.  Choose God? Or not?  He gave us free will.  Your choice.  The ball is officially in your court.    You're not always going to get it right.  But fortunately, God always does.  

PAX!!

This is dedicated... to the friend who blocked me..

To my friend who has blocked my family...

Posting solid information on my own Facebook wall backed up with legit, solid links, photographic evidence from a reputable source we all believe in, and posted IN LOVE and NOT judgement, is no reason to be angry and rant about me, personally, in a public forum.  I'm sorry you disliked my post.  It was NOT directed at you.  I shared information out of love. Not judgement . I left out my own personal opinions... I called no one by name.  I posted links videos and some photos from some reputable sources.  I posted this because it is important to get this information out.  Because I love and care about family and friends.

 Without a single reply to me, either to my post, or even privately, I was hung out to dry by you and your friends, on your page... I was even called names.  And I watched in silent horror and sadness as you were encouraged in your anger by your friends, who only know your side.  I stayed silent. But I was heartbroken.

I remained silent also back during the election, when you blocked my 23 yr old daughter, and her husband, (who had nothing to do with it), because you couldn't just agree to disagree politically with someone half your age.  You blocked my child.  Over politics.  I stayed silent.  You did the same thing on your wall that time too.  About my child.  I said nothing.  And believe me, it wasn't easy.

That hurt me DEEPLY.  But I stayed out of it.  Four months later I messaged you privately, trying to reach out. I was tired of the silence and the hurt.  Hoping bygones could be bygones.  I missed you.  I wanted to tell you we loved and missed you.  That Pride did NOT need to win one single day more.  Anything said or done (regardless of who said what was irrelevant) was in the past.  That we loved you like FAMILY... You said you'd reply.  "When you had time".  After a month, you still had not replied.  Though you'd been online many, many times. Including when my daughter and her husband vacationed out West, taking selfies as they enjoyed their first vacation together as man and wife.... you AGAIN made unkind comments... implying narcissism.  And again I said nothing.  And my letter to you, that I wrote you, in love, willing to put aside all the pain and hurt feelings, in my willingness to let all that go.. was deleted by you.  And now I'm blocked too, right along with my adult daughter and her husband.

Facts:  The Italian Saint, Padre Pio, is NOT "Sedevacantist".  Nor did he "spout hogwash".  I'm shocked, frankly, that you'd say that.  Yes.  He's the one who told about the 3 days of darkness.  I tend to believe a holy priest who had the ability read souls, and had the gift of the stigmata.  http://www.ewtn.com/v/experts/showmessage.asp?number=326829

Sacramentals are gifts given to us. Priests use holy water, chrism oil, and so on in holy mass.  It's common for Catholics to have statutes and sacramentals in our homes... our Domestic Church.  They are not "just there to make you look holier than you really are".   https://www.catholicsacramentals.org
 As far as statues... YOU have statues!!  In your house!!  I've seen them.  I think they're beautiful.

Veiling:  whether you do or don't is none of my business.  It's between each of us, individually, and God.  It does not make you holier.  Or less holy.  We are all sinners regardless.  The sisters are veiled.  Half the ladies at mass veil.

Asking/demanding answers:   unless you're my kid, that's NEVER happened.  I don't feel I should have to explain myself to others, and nor should they have to explain themselves to me.  I'm NOT a judge.  I'm not God.  I'm not a priest.

You and I have had some wonderful conversations over the years.  We shared views, even ones when we didn't agree.  But we loved each other enough, to agree to disagree.  Like adults.  I have NEVER called you names or run you down publicly.  But now you've stated that I've "harassed you for years"??!!  Seriously??!!

I've never doubted your faith.  I've never in my life even insinuated that you were not Catholic.

Cooking:  I don't buy your food.  I don't CARE what you cook... or why, or how.  Seriously.  I have my own menu for my own family... that's just silly.

You don't have to answer to anyone other than God, your priest, and your husband.  And same for the rest of us.  I have my own family to worry about. What you do is YOUR business.  Please don't accuse me of otherwise.

You want me to "tend my own garden".  I WAS.  I posted something on MY wall.  Not directed at you.  You know, if you didn't like it, you could have ignored it, or talked to me privately.  What I posted, was post in love, not judgement, I kept my own opinion out of it.  I was sharing important, information regarding spiritual warfare.  Because I care more about the souls of my family and friends than I do my popularity... or lack thereof.   If you agreed or not was your choice.  I knew not everyone would like it.  But the name calling was going too far.  I've read PLENTY on social media that has annoyed/angered me.  But I ignored it.  We all have a right to our opinions.  And we have freedom of speech.  But I don't run my mouth and bash about in on a public forum.  Oh sure, I get mad.  But I CHOOSE to ignore it and move on.  However when I'm being called names... and the topic of discussion... I have trouble ignoring that. BUT I didn't fight with you about it.  I didn't slam you back on my wall.  I just tried to ignore the ugliness.

I'm not angry.  I'm sad.  And I'm hurt.  But again, this isn't about me.  I hope one day you can get past your anger.  I'll be here waiting.  I meant what I said in my letter 2 months ago.  Pride won again.  Let bygones be bygones.  We can't keep letting pride win.  The past is in the past.  Dust in the wind.  Friendship is bigger than ego.

I pray one day this is something we will laugh over.  And I'm posting this here, since you've blocked me I have no other way to contact you.

Love you!!

Fasting Bread Recipes (not just for Lent!)

FASTING BREAD RECIPE Taken from Sr. Emmanuels' book, "Healing and Liberation Through Fasting". This bread is very hearty and really sustains one who chooses to fast on bread and water. 3 cups white flour 4 cups wheat flour 1 pkg dry yeast 1/2 cup of lukewarm water 2 cups of very hot water 1 beaten egg 1 Tablespoon Salt 2 Tablespoons Sugar or Honey 2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil 1 teaspoon of butter 1 cup Raisins (or fresh apple peeled and cut) 1 cup Almonds or Walnuts 1 cup Plain Oats In a medium sized bowl, dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup lukewarm water. Cover with a plate and wait a few minutes until bubbly. In a large bowl, combine the flours. Make a well in the flour and add the yeast mixture. Mix a bit. Reusing the now empty medium bowl, combine Salt, Sugar, Butter, Oil, Raisins, Nuts, 1 beaten egg, and the two cups of very hot water. Pour this over the yeast mixture. Mix/knead the dough, adding flour and or water as needed. Knead the dough until it comes clean from the bowl. Cover with a plate or towel and let it rise ten minutes. (I often skip this step and the bread still tastes fine) Knead it again until it has spring to it. Place in well greased bowl and cover, letting it rise until doubled in size, 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on room temp. Form into desired shapes. This will make two large or three medium loaves. Place in greased pan. Brush the top with remaining egg (if you did not use it in recipe) and sprinkle with sesame seeds, oats or poppy seeds, if desired. Bake at 375 degrees for 35 minutes, until done and golden brown. **************** ANA's FASTING BREAD RECIPE I know there are many recipes for bread but I thought I would share this one with you because it's the same type of bread my family bakes from the area of Medjugorje and the surrounding villages in Hercegovina and Croatia. This is the closest thing I have found to their bread using our regular flour. Their bread is usually round and slightly flat. They bake their bread on a hot brick with coals placed on top of an iron lid called an "ispod Sac". When the bread is done, they brush the left over coals off the lid and lift it up with either a wire that hangs on the wall, or if they're real careful with a pot holder. But usually, since the lid is really heavy, it is lifted off with a pully kind of thing. I've got pictures of this somewhere and it's kind of neat to see. The bread is more coarse then regular white bread and is dense with a slightly heavier crust. So, here's the recipe without the big heavy lid and the hot brick: 1 Pkg Dry Yeast 1 1/2 Cups Warmed Milk 3 Tablespoons Softened Butter 1 1/2 Teaspoon Salt 1 Tablespoon Sugar 3 Cups All Purpose Flour. (Their flour over there is a little different). Put Yeast into the warm milk and butter in large mixing bowl, let this disolve for 1 minute. (Not hot milk or you'll kill the yeast). Add salt, sugar flour and beat or mix for about 1 minute. Pour batter into greased loaf pan. slash the top, cover and let rise for about 35 minutes. Bake at 375 for about 45 minutes. Take out of pan and let cool. This bread is excellent toasted. It's also great to make it the day before, or early in the morning on fast days. The rest copied "as is" from website, on my phone. I apologise now for how wonky it's bound to look! r. Emmanuel Lenten Fasting Bread Recipe from Sr Emmanuel Medjugorje Fasting Bread Recipe 3 cups white flour 4 cups wheat flour 1 pkg. dry yeast or three tablespoons of active yeast ½ cup of lukewarm water 2 cups of very hot water 1 beaten egg 1 Tablespoon of Salt 2 Tablespoons of Sugar 2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil 1 teaspoon of butter 1 cup of Raisins (or fresh apple cut up into small pieces)7 1 cup of Almonds or walnuts 1 cup of Plain Oats Blend flour in a large bowl.  Make a well in the flour.  After yeast dissolves in ½ cup lukewarm water (5-10 minutes), add to flour.  Mix flour over yeast mixture making soft balls.  Add salt, sugar butter, oil, raisins (or apple) and nuts, ½ beaten egg to 2 cups of hot water.  Pour over yeast.  (Continually add flour and water as needed) Knead the dough until it comes clean from the bowl.  Let it rise 10 minutes covered.  Knead again until it is has spring to it.  Place in well greased bowl preferable 70-80 degrees F until it is double in bulk.  Form into desired shapes.  Brush the top with remaining egg and sesame seeds, oats, or poppy seeds, if desired.  Bake at 375 degrees for 35 minutes, until done and golden brown.  (Use the “wet knife” test) Makes 2 large or 3 medium loaves.  Chiapati Ingredients: 1 cup whole wheat flour 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons olive oil 3/4 cup hot water or as needed Directions: 1.     In a large bowl, stir together the whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour and salt. Use a wooden spoon to stir in the olive oil and enough water to make a soft dough that is elastic but not sticky. Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface until it is smooth. Divide into 10 parts, or less if you want bigger breads. Roll each piece into a ball. Let rest for a few minutes. 2.     Heat a skillet over medium heat until hot, and grease lightly. On a lightly floured surface, use a floured rolling pin to roll out the balls of dough until very thin like a tortilla. When the pan starts smoking, put a chapati on it. Cook until the underside has brown spots, about 30 seconds, then flip and cook on the other side. Continue with remaining dough. Naan “A yeast raised East Indian flat bread with a delicious chewy texture.” Ingredients: 2 tablespoons warm water (110 degrees F /45 degrees C) 1 teaspoon white sugar 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast 1/4 cup warm milk 1/4 cup plain yogurt, room temperature 4 tablespoons melted butter 3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon poppy seeds Directions: 1.     Put warm water in a small bowl, add sugar and yeast and stir until dissolved. Set     aside for 5-10 minutes or until it foams. 2.     Blend in the warm milk, yogurt and melted margarine. In a large bowl, mix flour,     salt, baking powder and poppy seeds. Pour in the yeast/milk mixture all at once     and work it into the flour, using your hands. Continue mixing, adding flour or     water as needed, until the mixture leaves the sides of the bowl. 3.     Knead for 6 to 8 minutes or until smooth and elastic. Place in a lightly oiled bowl     and turn to coat. Cover with a damp cloth and let stand in a warm place to rise for     about 4 hours or until doubled in volume. 4.     Preheat oven to 550 degrees F (285 degrees C) or your oven’s highest setting and     set a rack in the lower third of the oven. Place a large pizza pan or iron griddle on     the rack and preheat. Also preheat the broiler. 5.     Punch the dough down and knead briefly. Divide into six pieces and shape them     into balls. Place them on an oiled plate and cover with lightly oiled plastic wrap.     Let balls rest for 10 to 15 minutes. Roll out and stretch each ball until it is about     10 inches long and 5 inches wide. Remove the pizza pan from the oven, brush     with oil and place one of pieces of bread on it. 6.     Bake at 550 degrees F (285 degrees C) for about 4 to 5 minutes until bread is     puffed and has brown spots, then transfer to a wire rack, returning pizza pan to     oven to keep hot. Place bread under broiler until ‘charcoal’ dots appear on the     surface. Wrap finished bread in a towel while baking the remaining loaves. (If     your pizza pan is big enough, try baking two loaves at the time.) Indian Naan II (Exotic Ingredients) Ingredients: 2/3 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C) 1 teaspoon active dry yeast 1 teaspoon white sugar 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 cup ghee 2 tablespoons plain yogurt 2 teaspoons kalonji (onion seed) Directions: 1.     Whisk the warm water with the yeast and sugar until the yeast is dissolved. Cover     and let stand in a warm place for 10 minutes. 2.     Sift flour and salt three times into a large bowl add the yeast mixture, half of the     ghee and all the yogurt. Mix into a soft dough then knead on a floured surface for     about 5 minutes or until dough is smooth and elastic. Place the dough in a large     greased bowl, cover and let stand in a warm place for 1 1/2 hours or until the     dough is doubled in size . 3.     Punch down dough then knead for 5 minutes. Divide dough into 6 pieces. Roll     each piece out into 8 inch round naans. 4.     Cover an oven tray with foil and grease the foil. Brush the naan with a little of the     remaining ghee and sprinkle with some of the kalonji. Cook naan one at a time     under a very hot grill for about 2 minutes on each side or until puffed and just     browned. Easy St. Phanourios Bread Fasting (with oil) Preheat oven to 350. 1. 1 cup sugar 2. 1 cup oil 3. 2 cups orange juice 4. 3/4 cup raisins 5. 3/4 cup chopped walnuts 6. 1 tsp. baking soda 7. 4 cups flour Mix oil and sugar, and beat until it’s a creamy yellow. This may take a long time. Put the baking soda IN the orange juice, and stir until dissolved. [NB: this can be spectacularly dramatic if you use a two cup measuring cup with two cups of o.j. in it. (Please don’t ask how I found out.) It might be easier to hold a two cup measuring cup OVER the bowl full of oil and sugar and pour in *one* cup of o.j., mix in 1/2 tsp. baking soda, watch the fireworks, pour it into the bowl, and again mix *one* cup of o.j. with 1/2 tsp. baking soda, stir and pour again. If you don’t dissolve the baking soda completely, you get lumps of it in the cake. So, stir well.] Add the flour, then the raisins and nuts. Pour the batter into an ungreased 9″x13″ pan and bake at 350 degrees F. for 45 minutes (or until a clean toothpick dipped in the cake emerges clean.) I use a bundt pan instead of one 9″ x 13″, and my kids prefer this with chocolate chips in the place of the raisins and nuts. It doesn’t really need a frosting, but if you wanted to drizzle a stiff glaze made out of, say, powdered sugar and lemon juice and a little water over it, that would be okay, too. If you wanted to put spices in the batter, I’d go with a tiny amount (1/4 tsp. or less) of ground cloves. EZEKIEL FASTING BREAD If you want to order the grains and beans to grind into flour yourself, click here. Combine the following whole grains: * 2-1/2 cups hard red wheat * 1-1/2 cups spelt or rye (Biblically spelt was used, Ezekiel 4:9) * 1/2 cup barley (hulled barley) * 1/4 cup millet * 1/4 cup lentils (green preferred) * 2 Tbs. great northern beans * 2 Tbs. red kidney beans * 2 Tbs. pinto beans Stir the above ingredients very well.  Grind in flour mill. (NOTE: all of these grains and beans can be ground in the GrainMaster Whisper Mill with no problems). Measure into large bowl or DLX: * 4 cups lukewarm water * 1 cup honey * 1/2 cup oil Add to liquids: freshly milled flour from the above mixture of grains * 2 tsp. salt * 2 Tbs. yeast Stir or knead until well kneaded about 10 minutes. This is a batter type bread and will not form a smooth ball. Pour dough into greased pans. You may use 2 large loaf pans (10x5x3) or 3 med. loaf pans or 2-9×13 brownie pans. Let rise in a warm place for one hour or until the dough is almost to the top of the pan. If it rises too much it will over flow the pan while baking. Bake at 350o for 45-50 minutes for loaf pans and 35-40 minutes for brownie pans. *For fasting divide bread into 8 equal parts weighing 1/2 pound each. Eat a 1/2 pound cake and drink a quart of water every day. For fasting I do not alter the recipe. Beckers Bread and Roll recipe This is a very sweet, moist, cake-like bread. For a more traditional bread texture I have used this combination of grains in The Beckers Bread and Roll recipe. Replacing the 7 cups of flour with the 9 cups of flour from the milled grains in this recipe. You may also add fruits and nuts or use the flour made from this mixture in other favorite recipes. This healthy combination of grains and beans is worth experimenting with. Combining grains and beans makes a complete protein. Ingredients Convert Measures * 1/2 c. rolled oats * 3/4 c. boiling water * 5 tbsp. butter * 3 teaspoon salt * 1/2 c. honey * 3 c. 7 grain mix * 3 tbsp. yeast * 1/3 c. dry lowfat milk * 2 c. hot water * 1 c. gluten flour * 3 to 4 c. white flour Directions 1. You may grind 7 grain in a blender or possibly use as is. In small bowl, pour boiling water over oats. Add in butter, salt and honey. In large bowl, put 2 c. 7 grain mix, 1 c. gluten flour, 3 Tbsp. yeast and dry lowfat milk. Mix and add in oat mix plus 2 c. hot water. Add in remaining 1 c. 7 grain and mix. Add in sufficient white flour till dough loses stickiness. Knead 8 to 10 min. Place in greased bowl to rise. Divide into 2 loaves. Let rise. Bake at 375 degrees for 50 min. Makes 2 loaves Share on Facebook

Catching Up

It's been a long time since I came on here, and bared my soul.  It's a vulnerable thing, you know?  Who sees?  Who reads?  Are they judging me?  Or DO they find the comradery of a kindred spirit?  Can they, or do they even relate?

So.  I'll be 50 this year.  The crows are circling more frequently (small joke directed at my previous post), to the point I can hear the wings as they soar overhead.  Ever so softly.

I've entered a new phase of my life.  My eldest daughter was married May 28, 2016.   In our home parish.  They were engaged over a year.  We gave her a beautiful wedding.  She and Michael married, and promptly moved away from us.  To another city.  Nearly 3 hours away.  Close enough to visit.  But not 2 blocks away, as I would have preferred.  I miss her.  I am still in tears when I think of her.  At nearly 24, she's still my baby.

After only 5 months of marriage, they've bought a pretty brick home on an acre of land.  She's happy.  Her husband is a decent, sweetheart of a guy who loves her dearly.   We are pleased with her choice, thank you God.  And I'm proud to say, she is 10 weeks pregnant.  I'm going to be a Granny!!!

Robyn, my younger daughter, is on her fourth year in Special Olympics.  We finally got the diagnosis for her... she's on the autism spectrum.  Which...  we pretty well knew.  But now it's official.  Legally blind.  Autism.  And puberty.  Jesus help me.  There is no spinning vortex of evil quite like the fun filled combination of autism and puberty!!!

I will continue this later.  Hubby is breathing all over me to know what I'm writing.  And doggies demanding attention.  I have chores to do, a Mardi Gras cake to pick up, and chicken wings to buy, clean, and prepare.  Our last blowout before Lent.

Happy Saturday!!