The Season of Lent

Today is Ash Wednesday. The season of Lent has begun. We, as Christians, are now walking with Christ on our forty day journey through the desert – from death into life, as we will joyfully celebrate on Easter Sunday.

This morning I began reading my daily Lenten devotional (wrong year, but it still works). The gospel reading was from Matthew (6:1-6, 16-18) and touched on a subject that, as we begin Lent and throughout, we must keep in mind: Jesus says, “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.” This message is not directed towards Lent alone, and can be applied to our daily lives as we are influenced by social media, news, friends, family, and even people we do not know. We are guilty of trying to impress others through these mediums which we believe will satisfy us and fill a void inside. Lent is not about getting attention from others in regards to your deeds or fasting. Rather, it is a very personal, private journey in which we must open ourselves up to becoming closer with God through our actions and prayers.

As R. Scott Hurd, the author of my devotional, further explains:

"Jesus knows that we often bring mixed motives to our religious undertakings. Some of our motivations – the ones inspired by God – are noble and good … But sometimes we have other motives that aren’t as laudable. We may do religious things because we hope others will see us as holy, or at least good, and perhaps admire us for the kind things we’ve done. When we act in this way, we’re seeking to glorify ourselves – and there’s the catch. As Christians, all we do, in one way or another, should be done for the glory of God. As we journey through the days of Lent, let’s ask the Lord to purify our motives, so that what we do is not driven by concern for public relations, but by a genuine sprit of praise and humble commitment to the Gospel."

I invite you to share some of your Lenten resolutions! Through sharing, we can help each other when we fall, pray for one another, and walk the journey together.

Here are some of my Lenten resolutions/practices:

+ reading and praying a daily Lenten devotional

+ praying each day for specific family members and causes

+ cutting back on sugar intake (it’s one of my biggest temptations)

+ taking time to be a better friend and get in touch with those I have been meaning to; better contact/communication and connection with those friends I do see more often; deepening friendships through meaningful discussion

+ making donations to the CRS Rice Bowl

+ attending a few Soup and Stations (of the Cross) events on Friday evenings; also, perhaps attending a Fish Fry

What are your Lenten resolutions this year?

Heart Garland DIY

Perhaps it looks a bit childish, but it's the thought that counts, right? :D

I have had TONS of leftover, unused coffee filters sitting in my cupboards for months. I have been brainstorming other ways to make use of them, and with Valentine's Day coming up, I figured it would be simple enough to cut out some hearts and put them on a string. So, there ya have it. And with the intention of having perfectly shaped hearts, I was able to use a lot of filters as it took a few tries to get the right heart! Get creative and think of other ways to shape the hearts, other string colors to use, and other times of the year to hang up some heart garland.

What are some other ways to use unused coffee filters?

Seven Day Virtual Marriage Retreat

National Marriage Week began on February 7th and ends February 14th. A virtual retreat with Pope Francis was created and can be found here (Marriage Retreat #2). Please take some time each day for seven days to pray for your own marriage and also the marriages of those around you. Even those dating or engaged can participate in the retreat.

A and I are behind on starting the retreat (this weekend was filled with sickness and restless nights), so although our day one starts today, we will still take time each day to pray for our marriage. And just in time for Valentine's Day, too! What a better way to celebrate :) Especially since our marriage is still fresh, we believe it is very important to begin praying for and strengthening our marriage in these early years to ensure a lifelong union bound in love, friendship, trust, and faith.

More resources about National Marriage Week, mass readings and prayers, and even Catholicism in general, can be found on these websites: usccb.org and wau.org. I am also available for questioning or discussion :)

From our wedding day: November 2nd, 2013 - Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park

 Grand Rapids, MI

Easy Homemade Salsa

One of our favorite snacks to have on hand at the Woodbeck Household is tortilla chips & salsa. Literally every time we make a trip to the grocery store we are picking up a new bag of chips and a new jar of salsa to replenish our stock. Well, last time we went to the store I suggested buying ingredients to make salsa on our own because I felt as though we were spending so much money on this delicious snack every time when it's easy enough to make at home. Just pick up a few cans of tomatoes, beans, and chiles to keep your pantry stocked for whenever you're ready to make more salsa!

Last night we made the salsa to complement the burritos we were having for dinner. It turned out great and was so fresh and delicious! The recipe is below.

Ingredients:
+ a 28oz can petite diced tomatoes (we accidentally bought a regular diced can and the chunks of tomato were a little too big, but it worked. Also, depending upon the consistency you prefer, you can choose to drain all or most of the juice)
+ 1/3 - 1/2 cup black beans, drained (amount depends upon your liking)
+ small can of green chiles (we went for mild), peeled and cut
+ frozen corn (thawed)
+ diced onion, diced red pepper, diced green pepper
+ fresh cilantro, salt, and pepper to taste (one could also add garlic powder)

The instructions are simple: basically, just mix everything together to your liking! My husband made the salsa for us last night and the flavor was perfect. Serve with tortilla chips or in a burrito, and enjoy!