Feast of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha

Saint Kateri Tekakwitha is the patron saint of environment and ecology and was just recently canonized in October 2012. She is also the patroness of Native Americans and people in exile. She is known as the Lily of the Mohawks. She was the first Native American to be recognized as a saint in the Catholic Church. She was orphaned as a child because her mother, father and younger brother were killed during a smallpox outbreak. Saint Kateri was scarred horribly but survived the outbreak. She did many outdoor devotions by forming crosses with sticks to pray the Stations of the Cross and creating rosaries out of rocks and praying with them. These unique and special outdoor devotions are the reason she is the patron saint of ecology and environment. She died at a very young age of 24 and all of her scars disappeared from her face.

The simplistic beauty of this saint make her a perfect example for children. In the Book of Saints Part 2 there is a nice little biography about Saint Kateri Tekakwitha too. There are many different ways for you to introduce your family to her as well. I would suggest trying out a few of the suggestions below:

Holy Heroes Glory Stories: Saint Kateri Tekakwitha

National Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Shrine in New York

Catholic Icing: Headband Craft

Catholic Playground: Coloring Page

Pinot Noir and Prayers: Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha 

Pinot Noir and Prayers: Saint Kateri Tekakwitha

Catholic Mom: Catholic Dream Catcher

This year I really wanted to go on a nature walk, unfortunately the weather did not hold up today. Severe thunderstorms rolled in during the afternoon and I was quite busy with an IEP/ kindergarten transitional meeting for Goalie. I will discuss that later though.

Since my nature walk and picnic were rained out, I decided it was best to stay inside and have an indoor picnic instead for dinner. I made Chili and Cornbread and placed our picnic blanket in the living room to enjoy dinner. We opened up our screen door so we could enjoy the peaceful sound of the rain falling and the gentle roar of thunder. We will do a nature walk tomorrow or Sunday if the weather clears up.

I have plans to watch In Her Footsteps: The Story of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha with my husband when he gets home from work this weekend. I would love to hear how your families celebrated today!

Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, pray for us!

Menu Plan Monday: 7/11-7/17

Clean eating is the only good thing I have been doing lately. I have allowed myself to fall off the running and exercise wagon pretty hard this past month. I honestly think the only reason I haven't put on the 10 pounds I recently lost is because I have been keeping LOTS and I mean HUGE amounts of vegetables in my recipes lately! Well after reading an exhilarating and motivational post about why July is a good month to Make Healthy Changes, I am ready to jump back on the wagon and get this right. Fingers crossed I hold on a little tighter and make some more good healthy habits!

Monday: Feast of Saint Benedict

Breakfast: Egg Sandwich

Lunch: Leftover Mexican Spaghetti Squash

Dinner: Benedict Cross Mini Pizzas

**Healthier ideas for the pizza are in my new post about Saint Benedict checkout my old post here**

Tuesday

Breakfast: Peanut Butter Banana Overnight Oats

Lunch: Vegetables and Quinoa

Dinner: Crockpot Kielbasa Dinner

Wednesday

Breakfast: Peanut Butter Banana Overnight Oats

Lunch: Sub sandwiches

Dinner: Turkey Burger Cookout

Thursday: Feast Saint Kateri Tekakwitha 

Breakfast: Fruit and Yogurt

Lunch: Saint Kateri Picnic on a Nature Trail

Dinner: Turkey Chili and cornbread

** Checkout my older posts about Saint Kateri here and here and If you are feeling adventurous try this recipe for Firewater Chili**

Friday: Feast of Saint Bonaventure and St. Swithin

Breakfast: Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal

Lunch: Avocado Tuna Sandwich

Dinner: Crockpot Italian Soup

*Dessert: Crockpot Baked Apples with cinnamon*

Saturday: Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel 

Breakfast: Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins

Lunch: Garden Salad

Dinner: Turkey Meatball Subs with Caramelized Onions

Sunday:

Breakfast: Overnight Peanut Butter Banana Oats 

Lunch: Avocado Tuna Sandwich

Dinner: Leftovers!

Mexican Spaghetti Squash:

1 Large Spaghetti Squash

2 Zucchini (diced)

1 Can Corn

1 Can of Rotel

1 Can of Black Beans

Cumin, Garlic, Black pepper, Paprika and Cilantro to season as you see fit

Olive Oil

Shredded Cheddar (optional garnish)

Greek Yogurt (optional garnish)

Cut spaghetti squash in half and remove the seeds. Sprinkle squash with olive oil. Place on a baking pan face down.Bake spaghetti squash in the oven for 40-45 min at 375 degrees F. While the spaghetti squash is baking, combine remaining ingredients, a splash of olive oil and seasoning in a pan and cook on medium heat for 30-35min. When the spaghetti squash is done, remove it from the shell with a fork and toss the vegetable black bean mix with it or place the vegetable black bean mix on top on the spaghetti squash. Top with greek yogurt, cheese and/or extra cilantro if you like. Enjoy!

Crockpot Kielbasa Dinner:

2 links Kielbasa (sliced)

1/2 small Cabbage (sliced)

2 Yellow Onions (sliced)

1 lb red potatoes (diced)

1 lb baby carrots

Black pepper, sage, thyme and dill to taste

**I added half a bottle of Fat Tire to the recipe this time around**

This is one of the easiest crockpot recipes you'll ever make. You literally dump all the ingredients into the crock pot and set it on low for 6-8 hours! Enjoy!

Crockpot Vegetable Italian Soup:

1 onion large  (chopped)

4 carrots medium (chopped)

4 stalks celery (diced)

42 oz vegetable broth

14 oz diced tomatoes (drained)

6 oz tomato paste

1 pound frozen green beans

1 zuchinni (diced)

1 yellow squash (diced)

oregano, thyme, pepper, garlic (crushed or minced) to taste

Throw all the ingredients in the crockpot on low for 6-8 hours. Serve with fresh bread or a garden salad! Yummy!

Avocado Tuna and Overnight Oats Recipes can be found in my past Menu Monday post

***This is for the weekly linkup called Menu Plan Monday on I'm an Organizing Junkie
and also with Let's Get Real**

Saint Kateri Tekakwitha

I am so excited to be writing this post about SAINT Kateri! Last year I was writing about Blessed Kateri, what an amazing opportunity to share how this amazing this new saint is and share how she has made an impact in my life in the short time I have been praying for her intercession in my life and my children's. There were a couple fun ideas and crafts I described before but I would love any new suggestions or ideas! Last year we made sand art and colored from Holy Heroes free coloring book they offered. If you have a chance you should check out their website and purchase their Glory Stories CD about Saint Kateri. It is amazing and people of all ages will appreciate it! The CD even includes an interview of the little boy whose miraculous recovery in 2006 helped pave the way to Kateri's sainthood!

My plans for Saint Kateri's first year as a saint were postponed. I really wanted to make a visit to the Indian Temple Mound nearby on Saint Kateri's feast day but they are not open Sundays. Instead, I felt it would be very appropriate to spend some time outdoors with the boys. We are still having some difficult times and I feel so much more at peace hearing the soft sounds of birds, the gentle whisper of the wind and the grand beauty that the world offers us. God has bestowed a vast world for us to enjoy and Saint Kateri was very aware of this. I have started running and praying quite often to help me cope with my current circumstances and I have asked Saint Kateri to intercede and pray for me and my family. I can honestly say that the quite time I spend running and praying has helped me exponentially. I have Saint Kateri to thank for that I am sure. Praying outside is something I think everyone should do. I have fallen in love with the closeness and personal feelings that accompany it. I am thinking of creating a rosary garden including statues of Mary but also Saint Kateri, she is the patroness of ecology after all :o) And she also made her First Communion on the Feast of the Annunciation.

There is a Nation Shrine in Saint Kateri's name that I hope to one day visit! Until then I will continue with my small outdoor prayer time in her honor. Below is a picture of me and my children enjoying homemade lunchables and praying the Litany of Kateri and the rosary this past Sunday. It was so peaceful and I think the boys enjoyed it too.

St. Kateri, Star of Native People and Bright Light for all! We thank God for your heroic courage, constant perseverance and deep love of the Cross. Pray for us that our love for Christ may deepen. And may we imitate you in following God's Will even when difficulties arise. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen

Saint Kateri, pray for us!