Feasting at the Stable

Friends, we Steeds love our Catholic faith. Love it! It surely is difficult to live out at times, but we are trying to build up a very Catholic culture in our family based on Christ and His teachings. And one of our favorite things about being Catholic? The feasting!

As Catholics, we do a lot of celebrating: feast days throughout the year (several each week), sacraments (and the parties that often follow), namesake/patron saint days, baptism anniversaries. Easter isn't limited to one day of celebrating - that party lasts 8 full days! And then there's the Christmas season, too...and every mass, commemorating the Resurrection of Our Lord!

We have recently made a change regarding sweets in our home. Little Steeds (and the bigger ones, too) love sweets just as much as anyone else, but we realized that they were becoming all too common at the Stable. Dessert was eaten happily every night, and treats were no longer treats...simply expected sugar intake. And so, we opted for a change.

We splurged on a large $3.99 monthly calendar at the local teachers' store, adhered some magnets to the back (fancy shmancy, I know), and put it right on our freezer door. This calendar helps us keep track of all 'dessert days' as the kids have named them. We have decided that each month we will have dessert on all Sundays, any family birthdays, any patron saint days in our family. Then we also ask all Steeds to choose a saint whose feast is celebrated that month, learn a few things about that saint's life, enlighten the rest of the family about it (clearly help from Mama Steed and Daddy Steed is needed and happily given), and that child/adult even gets to choose the dessert for that night!

Friends, Steeds are not wanting for dessert, juuuust in case you were starting to feel sorry for any of us.

We had our first go-around at this beginning on Sunday. After some lively table discussion regarding dessert preference, it was decided that chocolate cake should be made by Mama Steed and any interested helpers. And so, chocolate cake was made. Disclaimer: I'm not big on the 'by myself selfie' so I do not have any photos documenting my cake-baking. You'll have to take my word for it.

A slightly nervous Maria adding the butter she proudly softened herself.

Focused.

Sneaky.

Not so sneaky.

Chefs!

Did I mention this cake had homemade cocoa frosting? I meant what I said about feasting!

Adorable chefs eagerly awaiting dessert!

And so, many delectable desserts still await the Steeds this month! Dominic's feast day is Aug 8, so we'll celebrate with a dessert of our family's choosing. Thomas will be learning about St. Clare and choosing a dessert for her feast day on Aug. 11, Daddy's birthday and Assumption of Our Lady will be celebrated on the 15th. Maria chose St. Rose of Lima this month on Aug 23. Mama Steed chose to learn more about St. Monica this month, so we'll feast on Aug 27, followed by Daddy Steed's St. Augustine choice on the 28th plus every Sunday this month.

Yum! It's good to be Catholic!