It's been almost a week since I last updated my little corner of blog land here.  I guess maybe the reason is that I'm still in shock that I now have a 15 year old in our house as we celebrated her birthday last week and I wrote her annual birthday tribute post.

Or maybe I haven't been a consistent blogger because I continue to work with a small team on the website, Saintnook, where the Saints are always online! What is Saintnook you may ask?  Read all about it and enjoy!
Fun and exciting things are happening with this project so if you haven't signed up for the Saintnook email newsletters, don't hesitate.  Just do it!  By signing up you receive special news and updates from us. We promise to send you only the kind of thing you want to see; secret releases, new Saintnook features, fun activities, and so on.

Or maybe I haven't been a consistent blogger because our local Catholic homeschool group is starting a co-op using Classically Catholic Memory (CCM) and we are still organizing and planning all that will go into a faith-filled, fun, and successful co-op!  Have you heard of CCM?  If so, do you use CCM at home or in a co-op setting?  If so, I would love to hear all about your experience(s) with CCM!

Whatever the reason I haven't popped over to update my blog, it's always fun to jump back on board and write a post when I can.

This past Sunday was Pentecost Sunday, when the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles and it is the birthday of the Church!  It's a big deal and a great reason to celebrate!  Pentecost also falls 50 days after Easter and marks the end of the Easter season and we now enter Ordinary Time in the liturgical calendar.  
Red is the liturgical color for Pentecost as it represents fire and the altar is decorated with red linens and banners and the priest wears red vestments.  Our local parish also paid tribute to our fallen men and women in service as it is Memorial Day weekend as well.

Sunday night we had "Pentecost Pancakes" with 3 of my children since my husband and other 2 children were out of town for a soccer tournament all weekend and got back late Sunday night. 


Pentecost pancakes for dinner with 12 "flames" to represent the 12 "fruits" of the Holy Spirit: charity, generosity, joy, gentleness, peace, faithfulness, patience, modesty, kindness, self-control, goodness, and chastity. Although on Pentecost the Apostles received the gifts of the Holy Spirit, but fruits of the Holy Spirit worked better with the strawberry theme. :)


If you are looking for an easy, delicious and "patriotic" fruit salad (for Memorial Day or the 4th of July), this one is it.  Just cut up strawberries and plums and add in the blueberries and it is a perfect combination.  I served this salad at my sister's bridal shower in 2012 and it was a hit and I've served it for several other formal and informal occasions.


I hope your Memorial Day has been blessed as we remember all those that have sacrificed so much for our families and freedom.  Thank you just doesn't seem to be adequate enough for all those who have paid the ultimate price for our country's freedom.  Our family continues to pray for all our military men, women, and families.

God bless America!