Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, which is a period of forty days in which we fast and prepare for the passion (Holy Thursday), death (Good Friday) and resurrection (Easter Sunday) of Christ. We are also asked to go to Mass and receive the blessing or mark of ashes. The priest rubs the ashes onto our forehead in the form of a cross, whilst receiving the ashes the priest says to us, "Remember man that thou art dust and unto dust thou shalt return" as a reminder for us that we are mortal, we were created from ash and will return to ash when we die. The ashes are from the previous year's Palm Sunday palms which are burnt and then blessed.

I find Ash Wednesday to be a day of sadness, but also of joy as it is a reminder for us of what is to come.

Here are some good articles on Ash Wednesday:

http://www.ewtn.com/vlibrary/search2.asp

http://catholicism.about.com/od/holydaysandholidays/p/Ash_Wednesday.htm

Will write again soon!

Ave Maria!

Mon

Cooking

I never used to cook & I never liked cooking...it was kinda, well, I don't really know...I just didn't like it! But over the past few weeks I have been cooking nearly every night & surprisingly I really enjoyed it!!! :)

One of the main things I love about cooking is choosing what to cook! There are soooooo many good & delicious recipes out there that it's nearly too hard to choose :)

I found the website - taste.com.au - to be really helpful (I'm not sure if there is an Amercian/UK version but I think you girls should be able to use the Aussie one).

Some of my fav recipes are:

All-in-one Quiche - really easy!!!
White Chocolate & Passionfruit Torte - sooooo good!
Quiche Lorraine - seriously worth making!
Chocolate Yogo - easy, easy, easy!!!
Canalloni - just remember to squeeze the spinach (something I learnt the hard way lol)

These are just a few, you should try them out :)
Well, betta go!

Ave Maria!
Mon

Please Pray!

Please pray for all the people in Victoria (Australia) who are suffering from the bush fires. It is officially Australia's worst natural disaster with a devastating death toll of close to 200 people, unfortunately this number is expected to rise. Please pray that they will have the courage and strength to go on. May Our Blessed Mother watch over, bless and protect them always!! Ave Maria, Mon x

Summer, walking & praying :)

It has been pretty hot here lately, well that's kinda obvious being Summer in Australia! I haven't had a chance to go to the beach yet as we've been too busy :( Fingers crossed we can go soon! Yesterday it was really hot...it didn't get cooler till around 8:30pm, so my family and I went for a walk around our block. We prayed the Rosary while we were walking, it was really beautiful. I find that when I am in the bush it seems easier to pray, for wherever you turn there is a tree or flower or native bird that reminds you of God. I also look at it this way: When you pray while you are walking you are getting spiritual and physical exercise!! :D I reckon that's pretty awesum! lol Anyways, I have to get back to cleaning up the house and other fn stuff like that! :P Ave Maria! Mon