Will wonders never cease? Here I am with two ideas for me to work with. Both are connected with important days this week. Guess I will let the dates decide which comes first. Midweek we have Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent.
My daughter, who is a member of Our Lady Of Mercy in Fayette, planned months ago to have a parish mission on the Sunday before the beginning of Lent. My grandson, who grew up in Kendallville, graduated from Notre Dame with a degree in German and Theology. From his work at a retreat center after graduation he received a scholarship for his Masters and Doctorate Degree in Theology. His studies are completed, but he is working on his required writings before he is awarded the degree. Anita decided to use this inside information and after a long time of planning, tonight we can say “Mission accomplished”. A number of relatives from Edgerton attended the 8:30 Mass, along with a light breakfast and a soup and sandwich lunch. Aaron very capably presented five hours of lectures, interaction with other guests and a little humor and several breaks. His main topic was how we can and should make Lent a happy time, bringing us closer to God and thus closer to greater happiness. It was a great day with nearly 40 people attending, leaving with a greater understanding of their faith and the pattern to follow to greater spiritual involvement to bring our lives closer to God and His plans for us and thus to a state of greater happiness. Aaron, I am so glad you are a part of our family, but prouder of the work that God has done with you to serve Him and make us appreciate more what God has given to each of us. It was a magic day indeed.
Now to the secular level we have on Thursday Valentine’s Day. May each one of you have someone to love and be loved by in return. May I give you an abbreviated account of the love of my life? When I moved to Edgerton in my sophomore year there was this boy who was a classmate and rode on my school bus. So what. It was family rule that there would be no dating until we were 16. At that time in my life my mother died suddenly and my father told me I could not date until I was out of high school! I believed him and put boys on the forbidden list. When we were seniors, I asked him to exchange senior pictures. His answer was that he would if I would go with him to an employee’s Thanksgiving dinner of the Kroger store. Yes, Edgerton used to have a Kroger store. It was in property that is probably part of the Huntington Bank. I thought, “ O.K. he is a nice boy” but I had never even dreamed of dating him, but my Dad let me go. We dated a long time, just enjoying each other’s company, and there was no other “dream boat” on the horizon. When we realized there was something special between us , it was during World War II, we had no money, and there was the difference in our faiths, which we kept silently in the background.
After five years of dating we had solved all but the money problem and decided that marriage was the plan that God had for us. During this period of dating, spending time with each other, sharing good times and heartaches, our feelings for each other turned into real deep love for each other. This was a pattern that proved a statement I made when I told a relative who was considering marriage on a shorter relationship. He stated the fact, ”But I love her”! I told him that it was more important that he LIKED her. Like the person first, then it will grow into real love. This was my experience, except God had different plans and took him from me at a young age of 57. But the love never left my heart. I hope you can be so lucky.
I received an email today touting the importance and power that is in the lowly lemon. Simply wash and freeze the whole lemon. When it is frozen grate it , peel and all. Then sprinkle it on your salads, fruit, soups, or anywhere you wish. It claims many health benefits from general health to cancer cells. I won’t go into all of the claims, but I am going to keep the information and see if the predictions are true. On the other hand, I like lemons, we know they contain healthy vitamins and who knows unless you try it, they will probably make some foods taste better.
I noticed an eight year old magazine lying quietly on the lower shelf of my computer cabinet. It looks brand new so how did I know that I should keep it? After a quick inspection , I noticed a simple fish recipe that I thought you might like to try. Also, I don’t remember ever giving you a recipe for just fish and it is one of my favorite kinds. I think both recipes are for two people,
PARMESAN BAKED COD
4 cod fillets, four ounces each
2/3 cup mayonnaise
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
¼ cup chopped green onion
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Place fillets in an 8 inch baking dish coated with nonstick spray. Combine mayonnaise, cheese, onions and Worcestershire sauce. Spoon over fillets. Bake uncovered at 400 degrees for15 to 20 minutes.
Again, I could not resist this simple dessert recipe.
FRENCH VANILLA BREAD PUDDING
2 slices cinnamon raisin bread, cubed
1 egg
½ cup refrigerated French Vanilla nondairy creamer
1 caramel, cut into small pieces (What would two hurt?)
1 tablespoon chopped pecans
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon butter
Place bread cubes in two greased custard cups. Whisk egg with nondairy creamer. Pour over bread cubes. Sprinkle with caramel pieces, nuts and cinnamon. Dot with butter. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Or until bubbly and brown.
Why not try to increase the ingredients and bake it in an 8 inch
baking dish? I would like more than a custard cup full!
May both your Valentine’s day and Lenten preparation for Easter be filled with magic and deeper spiritual experiences.
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