Cold Oatmeal!

This looked like an interesting way to have breakfast at the ready for a busy morning.

5 cups uncooked quick oats
1 green apple, shredded
1 red apple, shredded
1 cup grapes, chopped
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup honey
3 cups milk (or more to reach desired consistency)
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Toss the shredded apples with a bit of lemon juice to keep them from turning brown. Combine all the ingredients and refrigerate overnight. Serve cold for a quick, easy, healthy breakfast.

Where's the joy . . .?

We have a wonderful new priest in our parish from Nigeria. It is amazing to see the cultural differences in the perception of joy. Yesterday, was the Feast of the Assumption and Father could barely contain himself with the joy of the occasion. He rightfully pointed out that we probably express more joy at Thanksgiving. We should treat the wonderful feast days of the Church in that manner, too. He even broke out in song at one point during his sermon. You could sense the sincerity. He was actually joyful and expressing a full heart.

A friend said he met a Nigerian in the seminary and the young Nigerian's main confusion was how quiet our Masses are. I guess that we have sort of evolved into a people who are more afraid of what others will think rather than face true emotions.

My husband likens our priest to a crashing wave and the congregation are the rocks on the shore. Water doesn't wear down rocks immediately but, perhaps, we eventually learn to break out into joyful song when we mean it.

Always go to the source . . .!

used to think that the brain was the most wonderful organ in my body. Then I realized who was telling me this.
- Emo Phillips