Minnesota Mom

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Of Mice and Men and Grain-Fed Steer

by Filed Under: Anecdotal, Food and Drink, Hearth & Home, Minnesota Me Leave a Comment

This is Jerry.He’s a cattle farmer from North Dakota and is what you would call a good guy.That’s what you’d expect, right?Cattle farmer + North Dakota = A good guy.That’s the equation.Jerry was in town yesterday to drop off a load of beef. His sister attends our parish, so he parked his truck outside her house and that’s where we met him.The kids … [Read more...]

Sleep Mode

by Filed Under: Lent, Minnesota Me, Spiritual Growth 8 Comments

It’s the 3rd Sunday in Lent. Do you know where your resolutions are?As always at this point in my Lenten journey, I find myself thinking that the past two and a half weeks have been much too easy. Too middle of the road. Too…Ordinary Time.I feel like the kid in the picture below.As in, asleep on the job.In need of a pick-me-up.And hoping—praying, … [Read more...]

Food for Thought

by Filed Under: Lent, Minnesota Me, Spiritual Growth Leave a Comment

“We could spend our days in regret or anguish, letting that become the focus of our lives.But then who is God in our lives? What is controlling us? What is guiding our actions day-to-day? Is it the voice of Jesus, or is it the voice of our own desires, our memories and our anger?” (From “Ritual Apologies” by Amy Welborn)Read the rest here.And have … [Read more...]

Open Thread Wednesday: The American Idol Edition

by Filed Under: Cultural Commentary, Family Fun, Minnesota Me, Parenting 49 Comments

I am opening comments on this post because, despite my best Lenten intentions to be joyful, last night found me disheartened and discouraged.You may blame American Idol.And you may pity my poor husband, who had to bear the brunt of my disappointment.It no longer matters that I have a quilting class on Tuesday evenings (starting next week) because I … [Read more...]

Here comes the Sun

by Filed Under: Lent, Minnesohta, Minnesota Me, Quilting Leave a Comment

Lenten.Today has just been Lenten.It’s cold and it’s dreary and I can’t bake. Well, I could except we’ve given up treats for Lent and who wants to fill their counter with yummy baked goods only to give them all away?! (Um, Mags? About those spiritual goals of yours…)So what’s a poor homebound like me to do—besides cook and clean and complain, of … [Read more...]

Wanted: One Stuffed Snowman

by Filed Under: Felicity, Hearth & Home, Minnesota Me, My Girls Leave a Comment

My daughters have literally scores of stuffed items.Whenever one of them goes missing, (ahem!), I will overhear them discussing its absence:“Do you know where your snowman is, Felicity? It’s in the attic!”That’s where they think all the “lost” objects are, you see. What they do not know is that we don’t have an attic.We do, however, have a … [Read more...]

Lenten Reflections

by Filed Under: Just Me, Lent, Minnesota Me, Spiritual Growth Leave a Comment

I spend a lot of time fretting over why some people do what they do. I wonder, why don’t I just ask them?* * *If there are two things I’m really, really not fond of, they are sin and death. Since both are absolutely unavoidable, I should learn how to deal with them.* * *I have been praying fervently for a spiritual director. When I told this to my … [Read more...]

Maggie’s Quick Picks: A Review of Slumdog Millionaire

by Filed Under: Minnesota Me, Reviews Leave a Comment

John and I squeezed in a date last night and went to see Slumdog Millionaire. Wow. We both agreed that it was very deserving of the Oscar for Best Movie.I do have to disagree with the snippet published in our local newspaper, which read, “You’re going to love this crowd-pleaser about a man accused of cheating on India’s ‘Who Wants to Be a … [Read more...]