An Outsider Looks at Lent

inspiration, personal growth

Lent

This week the world will be partying it up for Mardi Gras before they sober up on Ash Wednesday and enter the Lenten season. I grew up in a branch of Christianity that does not teach or engage in the practice of Lent, but of course I’ve heard bits and pieces about it all my life. I know many Christians, both Catholic and Protestant, who observe Lent, and I have always admired the devotion of those who engage in this holy holiday sincerely. So I went on a quest this week, reading and talking about Lent, searching my Bible, and praying about a way that I can grow in my faith through this 40-day journey.

So, what’s up with Lent?

Lent is the 40-day period leading up to the celebration of Easter, which commemorates the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Lent is 40 days long to symbolically mirror the 40-day period Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness in preparation for his public ministry. 40 is a recurring theme throughout the Bible, and it always represents a period of preparation for change. During the great flood it rained for 40 days and nights. Moses spent 40 days on Mt. Sinai getting the laws from God, and the Israelites roamed the desert for 40 years before God gave them the Promised Land. Saul, David, and Solomon each ruled Israel for 40 years. Jesus fasted 40 days in preparation for his ministry, but he also spent 40 days after his resurrection preparing his Disciples before the ascended into heaven. It is beautiful to realize that a pregnancy, a familiar time of preparation for great change, is 40 weeks.

All most of us “outsiders” know about Lent is giving up something bad, like pop or alcohol (usually grudgingly…), and we’ve heard a lot about eating fish on Fridays. Abstaining from meat one day a week is a corporate fasting practice that binds people together in their common sacrifice. Meat is considered one of the pleasures of life, but fish is allowed as an exception because in the early church, a simple drawing of a fish (you’ve seen them on car bumpers…) was a sign to other believers in a time when Christians were forbidden to practice their faith. Additionally, many of the Apostles were fishermen by trade, and Jesus cooked them a fish dinner after his resurrection. On a goofy side note, I learned that McDonalds invented their Fillet-o-Fish sandwich in response to down hamburger sales during Lent. Vatican II made it allowable to substitute some other sacrifice or good deed for abstaining from meat on Fridays, so it’s not as practiced as it once was, but they still run specials on the Fillet-o-Fish…

I think the point of Lent is to examine your heart and root out areas where you are spoiled by excess. It could be what you consume, or how you spend your time. Examine yourself this week and think about what you might do to prepare your heart, learn greater discipline, and grow in your faith and as a person during this Lenten season. I haven’t decided exactly what my personal plan is, but I think this year I’ll give Lent a try.

Lent/Easter 2016
Tuesday, Feb 9 – Mardi Gras (not a religious holiday, but the last day of gluttony and excess before cracking down during Lent)

Wednesday, Feb 10 – Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. Catholics begin Lent by attending church to ask for forgiveness for sins. As a symbol of their grief over their sins, ashes are put on their foreheads in the shape of a cross. Just yesterday I learned that those ashes come from the palm leaves from Palm Sunday the year before – celebration turned to mourning, which reminds me that the inverse is true as well. In Isaiah we read that God gives us beauty for ashes.

Sunday, March 19 – Palm Sunday, the celebration of Christ’s triumphant arrival in Jerusalem a week before the crucifixion.

Friday, March 25 – Good Friday, a somber commemoration of the day Christ was crucified to pay the price for our sins.

Sunday, March 27 – Easter Sunday, commemorating the day that Christ rose from the dead, victorious over death.

 

Does your family have any Lenten traditions? What are you adding or giving up this year to commemorate Christ’s sacrifice and prepare your heart for Easter? Leave a comment!

6 Cheap CROCKPOT Meals Your Family Will Love

Resources, Saving money

cheap crockpot meals

When it comes to making affordable, nutritious meals on a tight schedule and/or budget, the crockpot is a girl’s REAL best friend! Slow cooking allows you to come home at the end of a long day and not have to spend a lot of time cooking, and it keeps you from giving in and ordering out when you’re exhausted. It also allows you to make tender, delicious meals with cheaper or leaner cuts of meat. So here’s a roundup of 6 cheap crockpot meals that each serve four people.

  1. Taco Chicken – I got this recipe years ago from a friend, and it has become a regular staple at my house.2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
    16 oz chicken stock (remember, I make mine for FREE using chicken bones! Click HERE for that recipe)
    1 packet of taco seasoning
    optional: sliced white onion and/or peppers

    It’s really that easy, three ingredients tossed in the crockpot and cooked all day (4-6 hours) on low heat. When you’re ready to eat, shred the chicken with two forks, and you’re all set for quesadillas, chicken nachos, tacos, or healthy taco salads.

  2. Basic Rice & Beans – My friend Heidi, whom you know from her guest post a while back, kicks off every week with a basic rice & beans dinner. Like our Food Shelf Friday meals, her rice & beans Mondays are a cost-saving measure that allows her family to support kids through Compassion International. It also reminds them that this is reality for much of the world. You can read Heidi’s inspiration – We Are That Family’s blog about rice & beans Mondays HERE.bag dry black beans
    rice

    Put dry black beans in the crockpot, and fill the pot with water. Let it soak overnight without turning on the crockpot. The next morning, rinse the beans, add fresh water just to cover the beans, and a sprinkle of salt. Cook on low until dinner. Make plain rice according to package directions right before you eat.

    Heidi and her family eat the rice and beans plain, because most of the world does, but if you want to take this basic recipe to a new level, try adding some cumin, salsa, or diced onion and peppers to the beans, add lime juice to the rice, or top the dish with salsa, cheese, avocado, or cilantro.

  3. Crockpot Bean with Bacon Soup (from Money Saving Mom)– I know, ham and bacon are not exactly cheap. But if you buy a ham for a holiday dinner, the leftovers can go a long way. This soup is warm, filling, and uses the ham bone – stretching the value of that holiday ham and turning leftovers into a new meal.Ham bone
    6-8 cups of water
    1 (1 lb.) bag of navy beans (2 cups)
    2-3 bay leaves, depending on size
    salt and pepper, to taste
    4-5 pieces of bacon
    Small amount of chopped ham (optional, the bone will probably have a good amount still on it, so it’s not necessary to add more unless you have some more leftovers to use up)
    1 small onion
    3 stalks celery (optional)
    1/2 cup heavy cream, (optional, I usually use whole milk that I keep on hand for cooking)

    Bring ham bone to boil in water. Add salt, pepper, celery and bay leaves, reduce and simmer for 1-2 hours. (You can use plain water, but the bone gives it some more flavor, and bone broth is super good for you) Strain broth, add to crockpot.

    To prepare beans, soak overnight or for a quick soak, bring 6-8 cups water to boil, add beans and boil for 2 minutes, remove from heat, cover and let stand for 1 hour. Drain and rinse, add the crockpot.

    Cook bacon for a few minutes, then add chopped onion, sauté until golden brown and bacon is done, but not crisp. Remove from pan and chop, add to crockpot. Add ham to crockpot, if desired.

    Cook on low in the crockpot for 8-10 hours or on high for 5-6 hours. Add heavy cream, and continue to cook about 15 minutes more. Remove bay leaves.

  4. Crockpot Baked Potatoes – this is another terrific way to make leftovers feel like a fresh new meal.Potatoes
    Aluminum foil

    in the crockpot on low heat for about 8 hours, and that’s it! Let everyone top them with leftovers, canned stew or chili, or just cheese for a quick, warm, personalized meal everyone will enjoy.

  5. Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches – I love the Six Sisters Stuff They have lots of great freezer meals that you can make up on your day off and throw in the crockpot when you need it. That’s where I found this beef sandwich recipe. While beef roast doesn’t exactly equal “cheap,” a little research on Grocery 411 taught me about the most affordable cut of beef for this recipe – a skill that will help you cut down on grocery spending. Check out the link to learn more about saving money by buying the right grade and cut of beef.2-3 lb select grade beef chuck roast
    2 cans (14.5 oz each) beef consommé (it is right next to the soups and beef broth)
    6-8 buns (croissants are delicious with French dip, but can be overpriced)

    Place roast in the crockpot and pour beef consommé on top. Cook on low for 8-11 hours, or on high for 5-7 hours. With 2 forks, shred roast and serve meat on buns. Top with Provolone or Swiss cheese (optional), and serve the juice from the crockpot on the side.

  6. Crockpot Roast Chicken – Lately I have found whole chickens at the grocery store for $5-7. That’s not a bad price for feeding a family of four. In contrast, a rotisserie chicken at the same grocery store is $9 now. Prepare ahead and get the same roast chicken dinner for almost half the price!1 whole chicken, baggie of neck, giblets, etc. removed. Rinse and pat dry with paper towels
    1 lemon
    salt, pepper, and seasonings to taste

    Slice the lemon and place the slices on the bottom of the crockpot. This adds a little flavor, but more importantly it keeps the chicken from sticking to the bottom of the crockpot. Place the chicken breast side up in the pot, sprinkle with seasonings, and cook on high for about 4 hours or until the chicken reaches 165 degrees.

    You can shake this up a bit by changing out the seasonings. You could cut a garlic clove in half and stuff it into the chicken before cooking, add sprigs of fresh rosemary, or place additional lemon slices under the breast skin or on top of the chicken.

 

So there you have it, a hot, tasty, easy roundup of slow cooker recipes that are, or can be, affordable. Do you have a favorite crockpot recipe? Share it in the comments!

Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) 101

101, Government Programs, Uncategorized

FDPIR

It’s time again to take a look at one of America’s food aid programs. If you’re interested in the other programs I’ve covered in this series, check out the links!

SNAP (Food Stamps)
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
UN World Food Programme (International)
Meals on Wheels (Non-profit, not government program, although they do distribute on behalf of programs that feed the elderly)
Head Start 101
The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)
The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)

 

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” – The Declaration of Independence

All men are created equal… It’s a founding principle in America, the core of who we think we are as a nation. But are we really born equal in this country or anywhere in the world? But all over this nation (and around the world) there are those who are born into situations that will stunt and limit them for their whole lives. Poverty, discrimination, and disability impede the unalienable rights of many.

Most of us are familiar with America’s history with the Native American population. As white settlers moved west in the 18th and 19th centuries, they decimated the native populations and forced the survivors onto smaller and smaller reservation lands. For the most part, these reservations were located on land that was no good for farming and without valuable mineral resources. The native cultural practices and languages were discouraged or forcibly changed. Cruely, the Indians were not allowed to be themselves, nor were they accepted even if they did change.

For generations, Native Americans have been behind the curve – perfectly capable but stunted by malnutrition, poor medical care and education on the reservations, and the cycle of poverty and suffering has just kept perpetuating itself. Of course there are exceptions, but when you start with an uphill climb just to get to a level playing field, it’s hard to win.

Many answers have been suggested. One of them is to include Native American reservations in government food distribution programs. The idea, of course, is that access to healthy foods will keep people healthy, and give children the nutritional support that they need to learn and grow. So the American government established a wing of the commodity-distribution program that specifically addresses nutrition on Indian reservations.

Being a commodity distribution program, the people who receive aid from the FDPIR program do not receive money or vouchers, but are given a monthly box of food stuffs from an approved list of foods. The program targets “low-income American Indian and non-Indian households that reside on a reservation, and households living in approved areas near a reservation or in Oklahoma that contain at least one person who is a member of a Federally-recognized tribe.”

To receive aid from this program, one must contact one’s tribal government to apply. Aid is distributed based on financial need, and families have to reapply every 12 months, or 24 months in the case of the elderly or disabled.

 

I hope you have appreciated this series of government program 101 posts. If you know of a program I missed or if you have any questions, please leave a comment!

Book Review – The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner

Book Review, Uncategorized

Book Review template[1]

During the last year, I have gotten involved with helping authors launch their books onto the market. It’s a lot of fun to get chapters and even whole books to sample, and the best part is the wonderful people I have met through this work. One of these women, Anna, has an incredible life story, and I was honored to hear her tell her tale at a retreat this fall.

Anna grew up in a violent polygamist cult. Her father and uncle were leaders of the group, and she grew up surrounded by her mother’s sister-wives and over 50 siblings. Anna escaped the cult as a teenager, and for years she has been healing and telling her dramatic tale. She’s writing a book about her experience, and hopefully I’ll be helping to launch that one very soon!

Through her research, Anna discovered a cousin who grew up in the same compound and who also escaped and wrote her story. That book, The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner, was due to come out soon, so Anna put us to work helping Ruth launch her book. Bloggers in the group were offered first dibs on the advanced copies of the book, but I hesitated. My blog, as you know, is specifically geared toward the cause of global hunger. But Anna shared with me that hunger is actually a big part of their story. So I ordered a copy, waited impatiently for the release day, and devoured it in two days (and it only took that long because I had to work!).

Ruth’s memoir is beautifully written. She paints a vivid picture of her life growing up in a little shack in a cult compound in Mexico. She faced a lot of uncertainty, years of abuse, and devastating losses, yet she looks back and remembers the good times as well as the bad. As evidenced by the powerful title, The Sound of Gravel is rich with sensory language. Ruth’s love for her siblings and her mother radiate off every page.

And Anna was right, hunger is a very present character in Ruth’s story. Several of her siblings suffered mental disabilities probably linked to the malnutrition they faced as babies and young children. Ruth relates the shame she felt using food stamps to buy groceries for her siblings, and the challenges she faced as a child caring for her younger siblings and trying to make them something filling to eat. There are a lot of rice and beans dinners in Ruth’s story, and vivid memories of cornbread and cakes whose rarity made their appearance memorable.

Ruth’s story reminds us that although poverty can be caused by bad choices, it is often the innocent children who suffer the most. Adults can handle periods of scant provisions, but the physical and emotional damage done to a growing child can last a lifetime. If you want to read a beautiful story of one girl’s struggles and overcoming, I highly recommend this book. It reads like a novel while exposing great truths about polygamy, poverty, and the triumph of the human spirit.

New Year’s Resolutions 2016

Uncategorized

New Year 2016

Welcome back! I hope you had a wonderful time over the holidays with your loved ones and are ready to get back into the swing of things. I know I am!

As I mentioned last year at this time, I’m not a big fan of New Year’s resolutions. It feels cliché to make big plans and promises because the year on the calendar changed. We have all the best intentions, but most of us fail. And once we slip, we just walk away until next year. Yet something about the fresh clean calendar beckons. It’s the one time of the year when we collectively look at the future and wonder what it will bring us. We feel the weight of the financial and dietary strains of the holiday season and we hope that the new year will be better than the old – that we will be better than last year.

So last year I gave in and set some New Year’s resolutions that were focused on others instead of myself, and although I failed to meet the details of the goals I set for myself, I still feel that the exercise was helpful. All year I had this goal in front of me. All year I had this on my mind. I didn’t hit all the marks, but I did some good things.

My resolutions for 2015 were:
– Have a Food Shelf Friday dinner 50 of 52 weeks in 2015 – we hit 40-something. I stopped counting after the second one we missed…
– Pack meals at Feed My Starving Children 6 times in 2015 – we went twice as a family and I went once with a group from church.

Clearly I did not accomplish my goals. BUT…

– Our 40-some FSF meals mean 40-some families got a meal from the local food bank, my family kept the hungry on the front of our minds, and we did all this without going over our usual grocery budget

– Twice this year my family spent its togetherness time helping rather than spending or eating, and we helped pack thousands of meals.

Those are good things! And I learned a few things that will make 2016 even better. Getting my little family of three together for a whole evening is hard. Between Scouts, sports, church commitments, jobs, and school, we’re stretched. BUT, a packing event at Feed My Starving Children doesn’t have to be a whole family evenhttps://foodshelffriday.com/about/t. I can go on an afternoon by myself, or just J and I can go during the day in the summer. I really held myself back waiting for all the pieces to fall into place for my whole family to have an evening to dedicate to FMSC.

So, my resolutions for 2016:

  • Have Food Shelf Friday dinners 45 of the 52 weeks of the year.
  • Participate in packing events at Feed My Starving Children 6 times, with or without my family
  • Attend at least one hunger-related fundraiser
  • Volunteer at least 50 hours to hunger-related work (not counting the time I spend blogging)
  • Participate in some variation of Hope for Dinner twice in 2016 (the week before Easter and the week before Thanksgiving)

So I tried, and I learned and grew and stepped up my game for the new year. I’m calling that a win!

What are your resolutions for the new year? Share them in the comments for accountability and to inspire the rest of us!