Tis the season for forgiveness.
Last week was the beginning of the Orthodox Easter, or Pascha. Forgiveness Sunday. What a lovely service.
It started as a typical liturgy, with forgiveness vespers sandwiched in the middle. After a lot of repentance and mercy prayers and a bunch of prostrations, the whole congregation (beginning with the clergy as a model) began asking forgiveness of each other, ending with many kisses and tears. It was beautiful, especially when I looked into the eyes of the few that I did have some hidden offense against in my heart and begged their forgiveness. A glimpse of heaven.
After that, the church transformed into purple everywhere, starting with the priests and deacons vestments, and then other cloths draped everywhere, symbolizing royalty of Christians.
Can't wait for this Sunday, the Sunday of Orthodoxy, celebrating the legalization of icons in the early church.
I'm having so much stinkin fun, it's ridiculous.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Valentine's day with my new love, Alice Waters.
Honey did good.
He bought me a cook book that I've been wanting ever since I saw it on his godmother's bookshelf: "The Art of Simple Food" by Alice Waters. To celebrate the commercial holiday, we decided to stay in, dress up and cook 4 or 5 courses. I read in a magazine recently how cooking at home for Valentine's day is an affordable alternative to eating out. Clearly they weren't talking about using this cook book. So fun.
On Saturday, we made a yummy Ratatouille. Super delish; even better the next day.
On V-day, we made 1 appetizer, I side, I main, and a dessert. Davede picked out the following selections with me in mind. I approved all.
Appetizer: We made a tomato and herb recipe w/olive oil, roasted in the oven and served on a slice of toasted baguette. Delishussss.
Side: Creamed spinach with crème fresh and herbs. We ended up miscalculating the amount of spinach we would need, so we ended up making creamed "greens," substituting the missing spinach with other available greens in the fridge (arugula, etc). It was also delish.
Main: we roasted some beef, olive oil and herbs in the oven. Can't go wrong there. Obviously yum and satisfying my iron deficiency ;-)
Dessert: Poached pairs. We used one Bartlett and one Bosc pear. We boiled them in a syrup with a whole vanilla bean, sugar and love. DE-LISH.
Great idea, fun evening. I only have one regret: that I didn't leave my perfect red roses in his step mother's kitchen. I'm only a little bitter about that.
He bought me a cook book that I've been wanting ever since I saw it on his godmother's bookshelf: "The Art of Simple Food" by Alice Waters. To celebrate the commercial holiday, we decided to stay in, dress up and cook 4 or 5 courses. I read in a magazine recently how cooking at home for Valentine's day is an affordable alternative to eating out. Clearly they weren't talking about using this cook book. So fun.
On Saturday, we made a yummy Ratatouille. Super delish; even better the next day.
On V-day, we made 1 appetizer, I side, I main, and a dessert. Davede picked out the following selections with me in mind. I approved all.
Appetizer: We made a tomato and herb recipe w/olive oil, roasted in the oven and served on a slice of toasted baguette. Delishussss.
Side: Creamed spinach with crème fresh and herbs. We ended up miscalculating the amount of spinach we would need, so we ended up making creamed "greens," substituting the missing spinach with other available greens in the fridge (arugula, etc). It was also delish.
Main: we roasted some beef, olive oil and herbs in the oven. Can't go wrong there. Obviously yum and satisfying my iron deficiency ;-)
Dessert: Poached pairs. We used one Bartlett and one Bosc pear. We boiled them in a syrup with a whole vanilla bean, sugar and love. DE-LISH.
Great idea, fun evening. I only have one regret: that I didn't leave my perfect red roses in his step mother's kitchen. I'm only a little bitter about that.
My life as of (the) late (P.A.T.)
Oh, my Pat.
I miss your face. I miss your laugh. I loved you so. I will never forget you. But life is a lot less sweet and joyful and innocent now that you're not on this side of the dividing line. I adore you, sweet lady.
Some thoughts on the journey to true Christianity...
The search for true Christianity is a difficult road. I don't want a church "experience" that is relevant to the culture I live in. I also don't want to do things just because that's the way it's been done for centuries. I long for the early church model, and I long for real relationship with God. Have I found this in the Orthodox church? I see it in the lives of ppl around me. What's my problem?
I miss your face. I miss your laugh. I loved you so. I will never forget you. But life is a lot less sweet and joyful and innocent now that you're not on this side of the dividing line. I adore you, sweet lady.
Some thoughts on the journey to true Christianity...
The search for true Christianity is a difficult road. I don't want a church "experience" that is relevant to the culture I live in. I also don't want to do things just because that's the way it's been done for centuries. I long for the early church model, and I long for real relationship with God. Have I found this in the Orthodox church? I see it in the lives of ppl around me. What's my problem?
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