Tea Towel Swap

Here they are:

I participated in my first swap.

Over the last month or so, I have been thinking about or creating 2 tea towels for this online swap. My swap buddy is from Washington state- the internet is pretty cool, right? It was very fun making these for someone. I hope she likes them! I also have to include a recipe in this swap...still thinking about that one, but if I come up with something really good, I'll post it on the blog.

Holier than thou

You know you're Orthodox when...

your 7 month-old refuses to eat meat during Lent:

Since the first time I put a spoon in her mouth she has loved food. Green beans, carrots, fruit, vegetable soup, hummus- you name, she'll eat it. I should start entering her in contests at county fairs. Is she her mother's child or what?

Before I ventured into the world of starting my child on solid foods (and I use the food "solid" loosely) I read several articles about the subject. If there was any consistency to them, it was that they all said how terrible it would probably be- food splattered all over the baby, you, the wall, your next door neighbors house. The picture they painted was pretty stressful and messy. They said, "Don't bother videoing the first feeding because it will not be the easy, happy event that you envision."

So it was with trepidation that I slowly approached her with the first spoon full of squash. To my astonishment and relief, she opened her little bird mouth and lapped up the squash in record time. She didn't even get A DROP on her bib. If only we HAD video taped it! (Darn those psycho parenting books)

But, it was bound to happen. My perfect eater just had to make a mess at some point. I was bound to have to use some Spray-n-Wash on a bib at some point, even bound to have to get out the mop or broom after a (or every) feeding.

I have to say, even cleaning up the splattered chicken and vegetables off of the floor, the counter and the baby I still think she's just about perfect.

This will just be one of those stories from her life of piety that will read, "Even as an infant, Zoe refused to break the Great Fast."

Let it snow

A couple of weeks ago...Zoe's first snow. It was amazing that the day before I was wearing a short-sleeved t-shirt and jeans. Then the next day I'm scrambling around my kids room to find anything that seems realatively warm. I think 3 layers did the trick. (Good thing Daddy bought a sweater for his babe when he went to Maine last summer!)

Our just-over-an-acre yard looked amazing covered in a blanket of perfectly white snow. I've never seen such a busy street be so peaceful. Looking out onto our backyard reminded me of being in Central Park.

Now, like every other Southerner, I am ready for my short-sleeved t-shirt again (it is March, people!)

Forgive Me

I recently posted about the differences between my 4 Great Lent experiences. This Lent, my fifth, is starting out like none other.

For me, the beginning of the Great Fast always begins with a service on Sunday night (before the actual beginning of Lent on Clean Monday) with a service called Forgiveness Vespers. I am definitely no student of the differences in the various church services, but as far as I can remember it seems generally like any Vespers service with one big difference- there's a group hug at the end.

Well, not really a group hug- but you were intrigued weren't you?

At the conclusion of Vespers, everyone present lines up against the walls (or radiators!) of the church, forming a huge circle. I know what you're thinking. "This sounds a little too touchy-feely for Orthodoxy." Well, in one sense you'd be right, but keep reading...

Then, starting with the priest, we each go up to every person in the room and ask for his/her forgiveness. ("NOW you're sounding more Orthodox") You stand in front of your fellow believer and say, "Please forgive me, a sinner" and then usually cross yourself and bow.

The mere saying of these words brings humility to the soul. The bowing of the body brings even more humility- you are forcing your body to fall in line with your soul, making the whole person feel as one and connected to Christ, His Church and humanity.

I say connected to humanity because you are keenly aware in this service that all of your sin has an impact on Christendom- not only in an obtuse, spiritual way, but in a real one. My sinfulness has an impact on you. My sin has an impact on my sister in Louisiana. My sin has an impact on a grandmother in China. It affects humanity.

Humbling doesn't begin to describe it.

It is with those thoughts that we ask for forgiveness from every person in the room, some of whom we have never met.

The response from the other person is, "God forgives and I forgive."

How could we not forgive others when God forgives us so greatly? Easy to say, not easy to do. I don't forgive others for insignificant offenses, then expect God to forgive me for infinitely worse.

This Lent is different for me so far in that I was not able to make it to Forgiveness Vespers for the first time in my 5 years of being Orthodox.

This doesn't mean that Lent hasn't begun. It doesn't mean that I can't ask for forgiveness. In fact, it makes me realize that I need to seek forgiveness from God and those around me everyday, not just in that poignant service.

Please forgive me, a sinner.