Last weekend, (the 17th) we went to Wakulla Springs State Park south of Tallahassee.  Our plans started when we were looking for something to do on a weekend that had forecast-ed highs in the 70s. At first I had this awesome plan to go to Daytona Beach, then to Canaveral National Sea Shore . This would have involved an overnight stay, all of which could have been done cheaply, but in the end, we decided to make it a day trip and looked for local things instead.
Joshua had heard a story about the Springs in Florida last month on NPR and was excited to try one out. I was skeptical, but agreed to go. I was mostly skeptical because my experience is that swimming in rivers and inland lakes is just gross. (Murky bottoms, slimy rocks, seaweeds.)
I have to say I was pleasantly surprised at how nice they were! Clean, clear, and cool. There were lots of people there, but once you got to past the shore line, there was a lot of room to spread out. There was also shaded areas in the water, so the sun wasn’t that horrible either. Â At Wakulla Springs they also had a boat tour, which was pretty cool, we even got to see manatees in the wild!
Here are a few pictures of our boat tour (no manatees though, we enjoyed those screen free):
Birds and Turtles Sunning in the River
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Cypress Trees
Spanish Moss on the TreesScholastica, the Happy Baby
Joshua’s nephew, Blake, and his wife, Jenna, were visiting Florida, so we made plans to meet up with them and ended up deciding on checking out Rainbow Springs State Park. We had been to a different spring in the Panhandle last weekend and were impressed and were looking forward to checking out another spring. (Note: The waters in the springs in Florida are 72 degrees year round, so nice and cool for swimming in 90 degree weather.)
Rainbow Springs – Photo by Blake
We were not disappointed! It was great. The water was cool, though the swimming areas was crowded, it wasn’t packed, so we had a lot of room to float/tread water, and that we did. The water was over six feet deep at the end of the dock. When we were getting in, Joshua got in first, and when he stepped off the bottom step, he went under water. Thankfully we had put the little kids in boats and the bigger kids had arm floats and fun noodles (and strong swimmers) with them. We swam out and had a great time, visiting and watching the kids get used to playing in deep water.
Margaret was fun to watch, she was all over the place and pretty much taught herself to swim. She and Karol both jumped off the dock into the water and thought it was great. Caecilia thought it was great when she got to hold my foot and I’d move her across the water.
Benedict and Scholastica played in their little boats and Scholastica loved getting splashed.
The water was clear to the bottom, and we could see fish swimming around down there. Next time we go back, we’ll have goggles to help us see all the other things down there.
We ate lunch at the park, using the fire another family had made. That made lunch a lot quicker than it would have been, to make so we were able to swim again. The park was packed, no picnic areas available, so we sat on the ground and in our camp chairs. I thought we had packed heavy until I saw people carrying in 12 packs of pop, three coolers per family, and a crockpot. (Yes, a crockpot.)
The people visiting there were very friendly, no pushing, no shoving, no dirty looks when we put our stuff down in a shady spot, five feet from another family.
After lunch we got back in and swam until there was thunder and had to get out. The guys took the kids for a walk to see if the storm would blow over, but when it started raining, we headed to the cars. We were able to see a pretty awesome thunderstorm on the way to town (where we got dinner).
We stayed in town visiting for a lot longer than we probably should have, considering the nearly three hour car ride home, but it was worth it. We haven’t seen Blake since he was just a wee teenager and now he’s all grown up with a wife, a daughter, a job, and a mortgage. This was also our first time of meeting Jenna and it was great to do so!
It was hard to say goodbye as it will be a while til we see them again, because Rural South Georgia and Montana are a million miles apart, it seems.
This video is over an hour long, but it is all the members of the South Georgia Strings Project playing a various times. My kids and husband are at the beginning, you should check them out.
Toward the end, the Valdosta Youth Orchastra plays two pieces and I think they are pretty amazing, if you don’t watch the whole video, check out the beginning and starting at the one hour mark! The pieces in between are really good as well, so if you have time, check out the whole thing!
I have had a small obsession with making Chocolate Chess Pie recently. So much so that I made three of them in a week. (Don’t judge, I shared. The first one I made just for dessert, the second one I made because we had company, and the third one I made to show my friend how awesome it was.)
Joshua told me that I should start working on something else, since I managed to perfect the pie, I should move on to something else. (Sure, I will, after I make this one last pie, dear.)
I created this recipe by mixing a few recipes I had found and for the first time out of the gate, it turned out pretty well. It’s also nice because it is a smaller recipe, it only makes a dozen cupcakes, so there aren’t a lot in left overs. If you don’t have Coconut Cream Concentrate, I’d say you can go without it, just make sure to add just a bit more butter. To add the coconut flavor, sprinkle some toasted coconut flakes on top before eating.
Chai Tea Cupcakes
½ cup butter, softened
¼ cup Coconut Cream Concentrate
1 cup sucanat (sugar)
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 ½ cup fresh milled hard white flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 ½ teaspoon cinnamon
½ cup brewed chai tea
½ cup whole milk
1. Cream together the butter and the Coconut Cream Concentrate for 2 minutes.
2. Scrape the bowl then add the sucanat (or sugar) and continue creaming for 3-5 minutes.
3. Scrape the bowl and add the egg and vanilla, and mix until blended.
4. In a small bowl, add the flour, baking powder, salt and spices. Mix with a fork.
5. Mix the tea and milk together.
6. Add the flour and milk/tea to the batter in two installment, mixing until they are incorporated.
7. Fill cupcake holders to about 2/3 full and bake at 350 until finished, about 20-25 minutes.
Icing
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons coconut cream concentrate
3 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ginger
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
3 tablespoons milk
1. Cream the butter and coconut cream concentrate together.
2. Add the powdered sugar and mix together until it is a incorporated into the butter.
3. Scrape down the sides and bottom then add the spices. Mix to combine.
4. Slowly add the milk, a tablespoon at a time until it reaches the desired consistency.
If you’d like to order Coconut Cream Concentrate, you can do so here:
(I do get a small compensation from Tropical Traditions if you order through the referral link posted.)
Yesterday, I happened across a news article about Sarah Palin and her comments about baptism and waterboarding. Folks, if you are still a fan of hers, it is time to move on, especially if you are Catholic. We, as Catholics, cannot support those who support torture. The denouncement of torture is spelled out very clearly in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 2297.
2297 Kidnapping and hostage taking bring on a reign of terror; by means of threats they subject their victims to intolerable pressures. They are morally wrong. Terrorism threatens, wounds, and kills indiscriminately; it is gravely against justice and charity.
Torture which uses physical or moral violence to extract confessions, punish the guilty, frighten opponents, or satisfy hatred is contrary to respect for the person and for human dignity. Except when performed for strictly therapeutic medical reasons, directly intended amputations, mutilations, and sterilizations performed on innocent persons are against the moral law.90
Paragraph 2298 goes on to state that Holy Mother Church has never supported these cruel practices.
2298 In times past, cruel practices were commonly used by legitimate governments to maintain law and order, often without protest from the Pastors of the Church, who themselves adopted in their own tribunals the prescriptions of Roman law concerning torture. Regrettable as these facts are, the Church always taught the duty of clemency and mercy. She forbade clerics to shed blood. In recent times it has become evident that these cruel practices were neither necessary for public order, nor in conformity with the legitimate rights of the human person. On the contrary, these practices led to ones even more degrading. It is necessary to work for their abolition. We must pray for the victims and their tormentors.
To support those who support torture is to support torture. Oh, I’m sure there are some saying “No it’s not!” but I ask, would you support a candidate who supports abortion? No, then why would you support a candidate who supports an evil that is also spelled out a being morally wrong in our Catechism?
I am going to take this one step further and ask how we can support political parties who have no problem with torture. To quote this article:
I regret having believed that Republicans actually offered a substantially different choice to voters (as compared to Democrats) instead of being the other side of the same filthy coin, minted by oligarchs, circulated by sycophants, and duly rendered to Caesar.  It’s becoming increasingly clear that we serious Catholics are politically homeless in this culture of death and destruction, and that both major parties only tolerate us as long as we’re willing to stifle our Catholic consciences and give them our votes. (emphasis mine.)Â
I love the second Sunday after Easter, also known as the Feast of Divine Mercy. Saint John Paul II gave us this beautiful feast (through Saint Faustina from Jesus, of course) in 2000, just a few months before I found my way back Home. When I was Confirmed in 2003, I chose the name Maria Faustina after the beautiful apostle of Divine Mercy. So we always do this feast day up pretty big anyway, but this year we even more reason to celebrate!
Karol on the way home from Mass. (Poor kid and allergies.)
This kid’s patron was named a SAINT! Karol is named after Saint John Paul II (using his birth name) in honor of the great man who taught me (us) so much about life. Through the Theology of the Body, I learned to love (not just accept) the teachings of Holy Mother Church on sexuality. Through his gentle leadership, I saw a great witness on life. Through his death, I learned how to live and how to die with dignity. It seems obvious that my son would be named after such great a man.
I pulled out this book and found in it the prayer card from my great-grandfather’s funeral. Are you able to read the prayer on the back? Pray for poor souls!
To not leave out the second pope being canonized, I found this book among my things and while flipping through, looking to see if there were pictures, I found this prayer card. I told Joshua when I die, this prayer is to be used on the back of any prayer cards made up for me. Nothing fluffy, nothing poetic, just a plea to pray for my soul and the souls in purgatory!
The bunting hung up in the dining room.
It think that turned out better than I thought it would! We hung the bunting in the living room as well. And though flowers, aren’t they lovely? (With my camera-phone shot, it doesn’t do them justice, they are beautiful.)
The area dedicated to the Saint John Paul II. I also added a few Divine Mercy things as well as a book on Saint John XXIII.
Having a son named after a former holy father, you get a lot of pope stuff. Karol’s godmother gave him the picture and and statue at the far end of the table. A (now priest) friend of Joshua’s took the middle picture of the (now) great saint. (Quick side story, the “other side” of that picture was posted on Facebook and Twitter this weekend, it was pretty cool to see it from the Holy Father’s perspective.) Karol’s godfather sent him the statue of the holy father around the time of the beatification in 2011.
A Polish Pope-Saint needs a proper feast, (homemade) pierogi, Polish Sausage and sauerkraut.
Of course we had some good food and friends over to enjoy it with us. We also made two Italian Easter Pies as a nod to Saint John XXIII.
And dessert.
What’s a party without dessert? I also made the Polish Cream Cake that is supposed to have been a favorite of Saint John Paul II, it was pretty good, if I do say so myself.
Scholastica after the festivities, she was tired.
The best part of the party was when we gathered together to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet during the Hour of Mercy.
I cannot let a note of the day end without mentioning the homily at Mass. We had a visiting priest as our pastor was out of town, and our visiting priest knocked it out of the park. He mentioned the Feast, he mentioned Saint Faustina, he mentioned the two pope saints, he mentioned confession, he mentioned the deepness of God’s mercy.
He also discussed why we have a hard time understanding the depths of God’s mercy for us. It is because we have such a hard time forgiving. We like to hold on to things, hurts, anger for a long time and don’t forgive people or don’t forgive ourselves. God is not like that. We confess our offences and God forgets them, they are gone!
I came away from the homily fed, full of hope and joy and with a mission. To let go of the things I won’t forgive myself for and to really, really, truly forgiving those who have “trespassed” against me.
Saint John XXIII, pray for us.
Saint John Paul II, pray for us.
Saint Maria Faustina of the Most Blessed Sacrament, pray for us.
Karol, Margaret, and Joshua are taking violin lessons through the South Georgia Strings Project. I am very thankful for this option here in South Georgia for my kids to learn a musical instrument, especially at such a low cost. Take a look at this video from the Strings Project:
The video was from the day they had “Bow Olympics”, that is why Karol is wearing an oversized Detroit Red Wings Jersey (hockey) and Marg is wearing her swim floaties.
Over the weekend we went to Jacksonville for their Eucharistic Congress and had a great time. I will admit I was cranky when we hit the road and had to work hard to not snap at kids and Joshua. I could feel the devil attacking me, trying to get me to destroy the early morning peace. I also get this way when facing unknown situations and crowds. I worked hard and managed to only make a few snips at my family.Â
When we arrived in Jax, our GPS sent us the wrong way twice (that didn’t do much for my nerves) and we finally arrived. The parking attended was badgering me to move when I was trying to get Benedict out of the van, and I snapped at the guy. Calm down, dude. Then we locked our keys in the van. I knew then that it was going to be a great conference and it was.
Waiting for the Congress to begin. They were super excited to see the Sisters.
If you live anywhere near Jacksonville, Florida make an effort to go next year. We drove over two hours to go and it was totally worth it. God willing we will go next year as well. The morning started with a procession of all the parishes in the diocese followed by a Keynote address by Cardinal DiNardo. He was outstanding. I “live” tweeted it and I’m glad I did because now I can look back and read the parts that really stuck out to me. Â He said lots of great things, but the part that stuck out the most was when he said the Liturgy in Heaven will be perfect. No more saying “What was up with the music?” or “Why did the deacon do that?”. He had on more example, but it was speaking right to me because most Sundays, I’m walking out of Mass thinking that.Â
On the stage, if you look closely, you can see the speck of red. That’s Cardinal DiNardo.
Mass was celebrated after the address then we had lunch. We packed our own but there was a downpour for about two hours and we were too far from the van to even attempt a run to eat (you couldn’t bring food into the convention center). We went with a purchased lunch. Note for next year: Bring an umbrella and get there earlier to park closer.
Future priest?
After lunch we dropped the older three off at the “Children’s Track” and Benedict off at the childcare room. This was really a great treat for the parents, it really gave us the chance to hear the talks, visit the vendors, and talk with people we knew without having to keep eyes on the kids.
The afternoon talks were wonderful as well. What a blessing we have with the Eucharist! What a blessing we have to be Catholic!
When we picked the kids up from their area, we got to hear what a great time they had! “Mama, a man came in and sang ‘Lord, I Need You!’, I sang along quietly!” and “The bishop came to talk to us!” and “They brought Jesus to us and we knelt and prayed!” Benedict didn’t have much to report because he slept most of the time.
Joshua with the Vocation Director for the Diocese of Saint Augustine, trying on priesthood. (Joshua’s company designed and sells that cut out.)
When the Congress was over, we went to the house of some friends we had met last year at the ordination of Fr. John Paul in Birmingham. It’s always great to get to know better fellow Catholics who are very like minded (and grind their own wheat;)). We went to Mass with them in the morning at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Downtown Jax. Just beautiful!Â
We headed back to their house for brunch, our kids played, and we went to the backyard and checked out the bees. Oh, yeah, I’m definitely now thinking about keeping bees. Joshua can take care of them though ;). Then we packed up and hit the beach. It was Scholastica’s first time at the beach (on her BAPTISM DAY!) and she slept though most of it. The kids all played in the somewhat cold water and I stood in it, letting the waves soak the bottom of my skirt.
While standing on the beach talking, I noticed a group of men walking down the beach, one older man on the arms of two younger men and another man walking just off to the side holding a phone. When they got closer, I saw the older man was holding a rosary and the younger man was reading the prayers off his phone. What a beautiful site to see.
We then decided it was time to hit the road and head back home. First we had dinner at Chipotle, then stopped for a milkshake (it was Laetare Sunday and Scholastica’s baptism day after all, then home.
Thanks for the great weekend, Jacksonville, we’ll be back!
Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ, our Lord.
