Akathistos

I ran to the bathroom (inevitably this is when something goes wrong) and then heard Grace crying in the other room.  I ran out and this is the explanation that I got from David:
Gracie sad.  Gracie cry.  Gracie mad.”
“Why?” I asked.
“David a lion.  Roar!!!  Gracie scared.”
“Grace is scared because you were pretending to be a [...]

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The wonderworking icon, before which St John of Damascus (December 4) received healing of his amputated hand, was given by him to the Lavra of St Sava the Sanctified. In the thirteenth century the icon was in Serbia, and afterwards it was miraculously transported to Athos to the Hilandar monastery.
(Commemorated on July 12th)
In the ninth [...]

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I posted about a contest a few weeks ago over at Adventures of an Orthodox Mom.
And I won! (So did Marfa.)  How exciting.  I’ll post photos when the jewelry arrives.

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All Purpose Cleaners:
1) Equal parts water and vinegar in a spray bottle- easy clean-ups (I use this all the time)
2) Vinegar and Salt. Mix together for a good surface cleaner.
3) Baking soda on a damp sponge. Baking soda cleans and deodorizes all kitchen and bathroom surfaces.
Found this one online: 3 tbsp. vinegar, 1/2 tsp. washing [...]

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We’ve been “going green” for several years now- basically since I found out I was pregnant with my son.
Here are a few ways that we started:

Washing our clothes in cold water
Making natural cleaners
Using cleaning products without a lot of (or any) chemicals (laundry detergent, hand soap, shampoo, toothpaste, etc)
Buying organic and natural foods
Using less plastic [...]

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St Martha the Mother of St. Simeon the Stylite- Commemorated on July 4
Saint Martha lived in Cilicia of Asia Minor during the fourth and fifth centuries and came from a poor family. She and her husband, Sisotion, were the parents of St. Simeon the Stylite.
At the age of eighteen, Simeon received the monastic tonsure without [...]

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I just love this new blog: Orthodox Christian Education!
Please take the time to check it out today.

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I received my package from Geri for the Orthodox Mom Travel Swap this weekend. And I’m going to Hawaii!! Thanks, Geri!
I would have liked to take a photo of how nicely everything was wrapped, but my son starting unwrapping before I could get my camera.
Geri included all sorts of wonderful things for my “trip” (you [...]

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To celebrate this Fourth of July, Adventures of an Orthodox Mom is giving away some jewelry from a hot new company called String Beans Inc.  This a really nice Etsy store, where all of the jewelry is made from beans.  What a neat idea!
My favorite is GGGRRREEEENNNNNNNNNNNN. I love how eco-friendly these products are.  You [...]

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My mother-in-law took these beautiful photos of our first Divine Liturgy on our Land, which took place on Pentecost Sunday.  It was a very warm morning, but that did not hinder the beauty of the event.

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