It seems a little bit insincere to talk about the things I’m excited for with everything that is going on in Eastern Europe at the moment. Tragic. Unnecessary. Pointless.

Although they are faring better than I think most of us thought they would.

We will see what happens, I urge you to continue praying for peace.

“Keep calm and carry on.”

And so we will. This weekend was bittersweet as my sister was in town until Saturday afternoon, but Stephen was working Saturday and Sunday so I hardly got to see him at all. He is currently very tired as he has been working 14 hour days since last Thursday. And I miss him. (I know, poor me right?!).

Nevertheless, there are things to be grateful for:

Dijon Baked Salmon
Food is CLEARLY near and dear to my heart, there’s no point trying to hide it. This is another recipe from Downshiftology and it was another win—easy and super tasty. And just in time for Lent!!

The Great Fast
Speaking of Lent…are you ready for it?! Ash Wednesday is this week, one of the most attended services of the year. During the first year of COVID I remember they just sprinkled ashes on our foreheads without actually touching us, I’m curious to see what they do this year, especially since the CDC’s new pronouncement. This year, I’m giving up some of my more used apps on the phone (Safari, YouTube) along with some other small penances. I’m excited to see how this step away from technology bears fruit, although I know it won’t be easy as I am quite the addict!!

Essays
One of the great parts of marriage is accountability. Stephen owes me $5 every time he curses (turns out cursing like a sailor is a real thing). I owe Stephen a short essay on a saint quote or Scripture passage every time he catches me worrying about something. Yesterday I wrote my first (I currently owe him three) based on Padre Pio’s famous words: “Pray, hope, and don’t worry.” It was surprisingly helpful.

This article
Artist Gwyneth Thomspon-Briggs encourages us to make our daily lives more beautiful in this article posted by Aleteia. I love her position of prioritizing beauty and creativity in our lives, instead of always bowing to our routines. I am certainly guilty of this, especially since having a baby, routine has become a cornerstone for me. And while I don’t think that is all bad, I agree with Gwyneth when she says that we should still allow time for beauty and cultivating our talents—even if that means occasionally getting off schedule. Also, her art is super cool so you should definitely check it out!

Fools for Heaven
My sweet friend, Stephanie, published her first book recently and I’m so excited to get my copies! It is a series of poems for children based on the lives of the saints. Her playful approach to these heroic tales is a wonderful tool for sharing the faith with little ones and introducing them to prose. Plus the illustrations are adorable!!

I hope this week brings good news. Thanks for being here.

Cheers,
Miranda