tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41311908951396787382012-01-26T20:28:37.396-08:00Musings on the three pillars of a Catholic home:<br>Faith, Family, and FoodBethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.comBlogger6631100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-44456655587580897342012-01-16T19:48:00.001-08:002012-01-16T20:10:52.689-08:00

Seattle is incredibly temperate with mild winters and markedly “cool” summers compared to much of the rest the United States. You might compare our clime to the South coast of England. If you’re at all familiar with that sort of thing. It very rarely snows here. And when it does, we stand in awe. There is something about the first snowfall of the winter. Especially a lovely, soft, fluffy snow

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-53724779823156519172012-01-05T01:15:00.000-08:002012-01-05T01:15:00.491-08:00

I have a secret. You’re going to laugh at it. I make baked potatoes in the microwave! Okay, now that you’re done laughing, I’ll share the recipe with you. It makes for a brilliant, quick, delicious meal. I love having everything on hand before leaving for a trip and then tossing it together when we roll in, tired, from the airport or the car. But my husband would happily eat this meal at least

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-26385403827595510462012-01-04T13:26:00.001-08:002012-01-04T13:26:38.173-08:00

Let your light so shine before men that, seeing your good works, they may glorify your Father in Heaven.-- Matthew 5:16 Please join me in praying for Fr. Gabino Zavala, former auxiliary bishop of Los Angeles, today. [WARNING: There are some awful comments following this very professional article. If you wish to read them, proceed with caution, fortitude and charity.] Please pray also for

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-34782938694299211252012-01-01T07:52:00.000-08:002012-01-01T07:52:00.218-08:00

Today, we celebrate two holidays: the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God and the first day of 2012. I love the juxtaposition of these two celebrations. To me, they are the perfect pairing: a blessed beginning. Many people mark the start of the New Year with the tradition of making (and hopefully beginning to keep) resolutions. We resolve to be better. If we are Christian, we resolve to be holier.

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-88351692890088136752011-12-31T15:59:00.001-08:002011-12-31T17:23:43.568-08:00

I wish someone had told me about this game two years ago! Appropriate for kids ages 2.5+, this a cooperative game that teaches strategy where everyone wins! Our entire family LOVES it. It’s the one game even my husband will play over and over again without complaint. It’s so sweet, and we all have a blast trying to get the “little critters” home before Max has a chance to pounce! Max has been

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-52320196900283906642011-12-30T09:55:00.001-08:002011-12-30T09:55:51.755-08:00

It’s that time of year. Time to make that personal promise to get back in shape and eat less sugar. Time to dream of becoming, to amend the army phrase, all that we can be! The past week I’ve been reading a lot of inspirational posts from writers on their New Year’s resolutions. Okay, so that second one wasn’t inspirational so much as mysterious. But look at how many resolutions she made! So, I

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-66112627723655165062011-12-30T09:16:00.001-08:002011-12-30T09:16:12.661-08:00

Hello, everyone! I do still exist, as does this blog! Thanks for hanging in there. My first trimester is now past, which means I am no longer suffering from almost round-the-clock “morning” sickness and intense fatigue. My first draft is in with my agent (YES!), and I am awaiting comments for revisions, but in the meantime, all is quiet on the Western front. Youth Group is on winter break, which

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-26998406672767185552011-11-28T12:54:00.001-08:002011-11-28T12:55:00.370-08:00

I made this delicious coffee cake for the start of Advent. Fresh cranberries are readily available at this time of year and very festive, and almond is a traditional flavoring in many holiday treats—especially Swedish ones! Cranberry-Almond Coffee Cake 1 8-oz. package fat-free cream cheese, softened1 c. butter, softened1 1/2 c. sugar1 1/2 t. vanilla extract1/2 t. almond extract4 eggs2 1/4 c.

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-34826518525548862852011-11-24T10:35:00.001-08:002011-11-24T10:35:17.445-08:00

I want to give thanks today for life, for health, for home and for those who make me feel at home whenever I am with them. For all of you who read my ramblings with such grace and teach me so much each day. For my two best friends so far away and their wonderful husbands and new families. For the world’s greatest mother who is also an incredible friend. For my manuscript in my agents inbox—and

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-81480458492910950902011-11-09T03:46:00.000-08:002011-11-09T03:46:01.301-08:00

This fall, Brian and I, along with our fellow youth group leaders, took a couple dozen teens into the mountains for a weekend retreat. While we were up there, we led them out into the snow for a hike that ended inside an abandoned train tunnel. The tunnel was…how shall I put this politely? Disgusting. It was dank. It was damp. It smelled mildly of sewage and mildew and stagnant water. You had

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-81225858850781561102011-11-02T07:32:00.000-07:002011-11-02T07:32:00.231-07:00

This is a healthy, modern take on the classic Italian dish, Eggs in Purgatory. It’s a delicious meatless main course that’s perfect for celebrating All Soul’s Day. You can use the standard Catholic grace before meals before tucking in: Bless us, O Lord, and these thy gifts which we are about to receive from thy bounty through Christ, our Lord. Amen. May the souls of the faithful departed rest in

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-77952578305042207152011-10-31T03:22:00.000-07:002011-10-31T03:22:00.378-07:00

I have been DYING to write this post! And I’m going to start by thanking you all for your patience with me. Not a single follower (friend?) dropped off my radar while the blog lay stagnant for a week at a time…over more weeks than I care to count. But, I had good reason! And, now I get to share it with you. (Is there bigger news than writing a novel? YES, there IS!) MY FAMILY IS BUYING A HOUSE!

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-62311577976302490152011-10-24T17:36:00.000-07:002011-10-24T17:36:00.344-07:00

Whether your family’s carving jack o’ lanterns or saint o’ lanterns or just enjoying the delicious aroma of baking pumpkin for an autumn supper, don’t you dare waste those seeds! Toasting pumpkin seeds is a perennial tradition. Unfortunately, many recipes end up resulting in burned, bitter seeds. This one may take awhile, but the results are consistently delicious. We like ours with just plain

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-81374425817217622192011-10-12T10:39:00.001-07:002011-10-12T12:10:35.649-07:00

We spend a lot of time as mothers thinking about growth in terms of our children. How tall they are getting. The new skill she learned. The temptation he is struggling to overcome. We spend our days shaping, encouraging, disciplining—training these rowdy saplings of ours into forms of strength and beauty. But we need to grow, too. Sure, we know that. As Christians, we know too well that this

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-63947825004670213452011-10-01T03:18:00.000-07:002011-10-01T03:18:00.464-07:00

To learn more about St. Therese, read this post from 2009. Below, I have included some ideas for how to celebrate the feast of this beautiful, beautiful saint. St. Therese was deeply passionate about bringing souls to Christ, and she prayed fervently for missionaries. She even corresponded with a young missionary priest, though such a thing was almost unprecedented for a Carmelite nun. Consider

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-12158705839293681612011-09-29T03:42:00.000-07:002011-09-29T03:42:00.440-07:00

  In the traditional liturgical calendar, September 29th was celebrated as the feast of St. Michael the Archangel. In Britain, the holiday became known as "Michaelmas," since the faithful gathered for "Michael's Mass" on that day.   In the contemporary calendar, Saints Gabriel and Raphael are also honored on St. Michael's feastday, but in our home, we still call it Michaelmas and focus on the

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-20688678623798225902011-09-29T03:19:00.000-07:002011-09-29T03:19:00.787-07:00

Knowledge cannot be accumulated in a void. In order for the things we hear about and read to stick, we need to make connections. We need to integrate facts with other facts. Sometimes, we need to experience the information in different ways. Only then can we make it our own and absorb it into ourselves as something to draw on again and again for years to come. This concept has been important to

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-22500900808155858172011-09-19T05:05:00.000-07:002011-09-19T05:05:00.103-07:00

Two weeks ago was Sophia’s first ballet lesson. I think I was at least as excited as she was. I remembered when I started ballet as a kindergartener, myself. I was thrilled at the idea that she would be able to have the same fantastic, confidence-building, creativity-nourishing experience that I had. Then, I saw her in her pint-sized slippers and little bun, and my mother heart melted to

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-69416319884085711702011-09-16T19:54:00.001-07:002011-09-16T22:13:07.994-07:00

When I announced last week that I have FINALLY signed with a literary agent, I had a lot of readers asking about the project I was signed for. In short, I have been (quite unusually) signed for a work in progress, The Drafting of Josephine Saito. It’s a contemporary YA (young adult) novel about an 18-year-old girl who gets drafted into the United States army. Josephine Saito has just graduated

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-6753405639067907672011-09-14T07:24:00.001-07:002011-09-14T07:27:06.363-07:00

"How splendid the cross of Christ! It brings life, not death; light, not darkness; Paradise, not its loss. It is the wood on which the Lord, like a great warrior, was wounded in hands and feet and side, but healed thereby our wounds. A tree has destroyed us, a tree now brought us life." - Theodore of Studios BOOKS Saints: Lives and Illuminations by Ruth SaundersonThe Tale of the Three Trees by

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-65516110355430043302011-09-12T11:24:00.001-07:002011-09-12T11:26:53.484-07:00

  I grew up with a New Englander’s taste for apple pie, tart, heavily spiced and running with juices. But, my husband likes his apple pie a little different: a bit lighter on the nutmeg—no allspice or cloves, and he likes his filling gooey. It’s taken me some time to tweak the recipe to that sweet spot of bliss-inducing rightness, and along the way, I had a surprise. I discovered that my taste

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-52302665560576273152011-09-10T13:05:00.000-07:002011-09-10T13:10:11.156-07:00

I have the second best news in the world! (No, I’m not pregnant—that would be the BEST news!) I HAVE A LITERARY AGENT!!!! It is official: I just signed a contract with the completely awesome Hannah Brown Gordon of Foundry Literary + Media. I am overjoyed. I am overwhelmed!—because Hannah signed me under some pretty unique circumstances. Namely, she signed me for a book I haven’t actually

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-83481900127090786612011-09-09T19:43:00.001-07:002011-09-09T19:43:15.058-07:00

I honestly have so much admiration for single parents. Military spouses, widows and widowers, and all other manner of moms and dads who are going it alone, I salute you! Tonight, my husband was at a youth ministry training retreat. Which means he didn’t come home for dinner. And, he’ll be gone all day for the same thing tomorrow. And it’s been a very long week. So, what’s a mama to do? Pizza

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-54063066716643919582011-09-08T12:12:00.001-07:002011-09-08T12:12:49.522-07:00

Apple-Peanut Butter-Cinnamon, that is! In a small bowl combine 2T softened butter, 2T sugar, cinnamon to taste, and 1 t. vanilla extract. Blend it with a knife until smooth and well mixed. Slather 4 slices of bread with this mixture. On 4 more slices of bread, spread peanut butter. Thinly slice an apple or two (I think Macintoshes taste best) and lay the slices on the peanut buttery half of the

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-9594850105863261862011-09-06T18:27:00.001-07:002011-09-06T18:27:03.965-07:00

Shabby Apple. Frankly, it just has a nice ring to it. Well, at least I think so ;-) Ever since I first discovered this lovely online clothing site, I’ve been hooked. They specialize in feminine, modest dresses with lines now for maternity, baby, and girls, as well as their standard line for women. The styles are vintage-inspired, and though they are pricey, they are well-made (ie. lovely fit

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-48952224881668728622011-09-05T10:28:00.001-07:002011-09-05T10:28:09.250-07:00

Sophia’s first day of kindergarten… I am so proud. I am so excited. Blessing for the Beginning of a School Year Blessed are you, God our Father,Maker of the universe:You have sent Jesus to be our brotherand to save us in Your love. Bless + us as we begin this year,and help us in all we do for You.Let Your Holy Spirit give us light,and lead us to Youthrough Jesus Christ our Lord.

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-85726849888771720932011-09-01T20:47:00.000-07:002011-09-01T20:57:12.882-07:00

Reading, ‘riting and ‘rithmetic have long been considered the core subjects of education, but I would like to offer a fourth: Religion. Of course, it’s not a new idea. In The Little Town on the Prairie, Laura Ingalls Wilder recounts her 19th century school mistress beginning class with a recitation of the 23rd psalm. Laura knew the Psalms by heart, of course, but she loved to hear again every

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-22061213414417766542011-08-31T01:11:00.000-07:002011-08-31T01:11:00.123-07:00

It was an old post that I sought out, scrubbing back through the archives of a thoughtful woman of God to a lesson that she learned. And I learned… or perhaps I remembered… That motherhood is servanthood. It is one way that I serve the Lord. When I was twenty-two and only ten months married, the God of the Creation decided that I could best serve him by becoming a mother. When I was just

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-88463566045702244632011-08-28T23:07:00.001-07:002011-08-28T23:10:54.894-07:00

It’s been awhile since I have shared any photos of my adorable (at least I think so!) children. Well, a sunny (at last!) summer morning and the invitation of our lovely downstairs neighbors finally provided the perfect photo op: a day at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle. We begin with an odd bird: There’s one in every family. Technically, this one is a swan, and he’s not so much a part of the

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-11926622662498974512011-08-25T19:51:00.001-07:002011-08-25T19:56:06.561-07:00

Below, I have provided some links to the learning basket themes and booklists I am using this year in my homeschool. These are my personal documents and so are tailored to my own child and personal teaching style. If what you see appeals to you, feel free to print and use what you find. Or, you may choose to use these resources and guidelines in creating your own tailor-made approach to creative

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-46408020540707399292011-08-22T21:58:00.001-07:002011-08-22T21:58:56.021-07:00

I am constantly reminded of a simple and startling fact: I can do nothing, and yet I can do all things. I cannot add one hour to my life. But, I can move the mountains. These truths are not contradictory. They are reality. They are freedom, and they are comforting boundary. They are held together by one thing: faith. This is the sustaining, permeating glue that binds it all together and makes

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-73291217590166401202011-08-17T07:28:00.001-07:002011-08-17T07:28:51.938-07:00

About this time last year, my husband and I started talking seriously about having a third child. Not that we were ever closed to the idea, but I’d had some struggles with getting my health back in shape after James’ birth, so we’d been effectively using NFP to space pregnancies a bit in order to give my body a chance to heal. But, after a year, things were back in order, and I was ready to try

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-2591688354522685682011-08-15T05:30:00.000-07:002011-08-15T05:30:03.805-07:00

SEPTEMBER HarvestNative AmericansApplesAutumn OCTOBER SquirrelsCornLeavesPumpkinsHalloween NOVEMBER TurkeysPilgrimsThanksgivingBread DECEMBER St. NicholasSt. Lucia JANUARY The YearSnow SoupMaple Sugar FEBRUARY ChocolateSt. ValentineBearsPenguins MARCH OwlsIreland/St. PatrickHatsRain APRIL KitesEggsSheep MAY Gardens MaryMothersAmerica

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-58616080816698545002011-08-11T17:06:00.001-07:002011-08-11T17:06:37.870-07:00

The other day, I was meeting with our parish youth minister, who also happens to be a dear friend of mine. She clenched her jaw in that eek, just wait until you hear what I have to tell you way we all do sometimes, and smiled guiltily. “See this?” she said, holding up the palm of her empty hand. “That’s what I’ve got to show you for curriculum right about now.” I grinned back, held up my own

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-64624984744348515822011-08-03T20:12:00.001-07:002011-08-03T20:12:25.558-07:00

“The pace and clutter of our long, tightly scheduled days draw us away from the full satisfaction we should derive from the important daily ritual of dining with loved ones. There is nothing more beautiful than people sitting down around the table in an alchemy of spirit and companionship. Good food is pleasing, but the reality is that when we sit down with family and friends for a meal, food is

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-69481884372893170272011-08-01T19:19:00.001-07:002011-08-01T19:22:53.821-07:00

We have been blessed for the past three weeks with our annual summer visit from my mom. To celebrate her last night in town, I cooked a special dinner, and ended it with a scrumptious cherry clafouti topped with cherry chocolate chunk gelato. A mother who is also a best friend. A grandmother who is so loved. Time. Sometimes, you find yourself savoring a life that truly seems a bowl of

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-87020865456067455192011-07-25T19:16:00.000-07:002011-07-25T19:16:00.405-07:00

When the Lord grants you a perfectly beautiful day in the midst of a cold summer, you seize it. And, when a friend gives you the green light on local strawberry picking the same day, you grab a basket! And, when the berry bushes offer up 21 pounds of plump, gorgeous, delicious strawberries, you nab your apron off the hook for a Strawberry Day! We made a scrumptious cake, two loaves of moist

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-58613630288146494612011-07-15T18:56:00.001-07:002011-07-15T18:56:19.071-07:00

May the Lord grant all your greatest wishes. You are proof that He has granted mine.

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-3489347334798347562011-07-13T20:29:00.001-07:002011-07-13T20:29:07.927-07:00

Apparently, it’s its own movement. But, I went a little less extreme and just read the book. And, what a book! I won’t say too much more except: read it. Right now. If you have kids. If you work with kids. If you think you might someday want kids. If there are kids in your life. If you mentor someone who has kids. Just read it. Now, I will come clean and say that a lot of what is espoused in this

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-40275694194564876482011-07-03T21:13:00.001-07:002011-07-03T21:14:26.334-07:00

I couldn’t, and I mean could not find rhubarb anywhere. All spring. I mean, I drew up my monthly menus for April, thinking I’d snag some for muffins, but no. April came and went. No rhubarb. Then, to my increasing chagrin, the same thing happened in May. By mid-June, I’d written off rhubarb entirely and resigned myself to a year without it. Wednesday, hunting for bell peppers with the kids,

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-21053563914854162982011-06-25T20:10:00.001-07:002011-06-25T20:10:05.590-07:00

Something momentous happened yesterday evening. People cried tears of joy. And, others wept tears of defeat. And some were overwhelmed with hope. And some felt kicked in the stomach by despair. And some were elated while others were angry. To be honest, I think I felt a little bit of all of that, except the anger. One thing I don’t feel is angry. All day, thoughts and emotions clamored around

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com53tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-9185188263020716012011-06-23T09:07:00.001-07:002011-06-23T09:07:29.048-07:00

Who would have thought one batch of dough could do so much? I know that I’ve raved about this book before, but seriously—four different baked goods from a single batch of dough?? It’s ingenious! On Saturday, I can mix up a batch or two of dough, leave it on the counter while we go on a family outing, and return home hours later to dough that has risen and started to deflate. Then, I just pop

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-52301136017879071912011-06-13T19:04:00.001-07:002011-06-13T19:04:07.767-07:00

Yesterday, was Pentecost. It was also my birthday. Which means that for the first (and probably only) time in my life, the Church and I shared a birthday! I was birthday buddies with the Church! How cool is that? And, it made me think of something… When the Church was “born”, God sent His Spirit to give the disciples the gifts they needed to see them through their earthly mission. When I was

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-86279810033791081522011-06-11T23:18:00.001-07:002011-06-12T01:03:14.831-07:00

The outline for Cambion is finished! And no, I didn’t drink that bottle of rose to do it. That was just an old photo I had that is supposed to represent the celebratory feeling of the fact that the outline is finished! It’s finished! 13 pages—all plot points covered in 3 hours and 18 minutes of music. That’s right, there’s a 49 song playlist for this bad boy! The best part? I finished it with

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-25467824061495535382011-06-02T10:37:00.001-07:002011-06-02T10:37:02.070-07:00

Happy Birthday, Two-Year-Old!

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-20375191367892197002011-05-25T01:17:00.001-07:002011-05-25T01:17:15.826-07:00

http://bethanyhudson.com Come take a peek, and tell me what you think.

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-19245601371095183982011-05-19T20:54:00.000-07:002011-05-19T22:04:54.853-07:00

For this week’s 7 Quick Takes, I refer you to Frank L. Visco who offers us all an invaluable lesson in…   HOW TO WRITE GOOD The passive voice is to be avoided. Avoid cliches like the plague. (They're old hat.) Comparisons are as bad as cliches. One should never generalize. Be more or less specific. Don't be redundant; don't use more words than necessary; it's highly superfluous. Eliminate

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-91836325184733663982011-05-18T10:20:00.001-07:002011-05-20T06:55:59.708-07:00

A brilliant theatre professor at my university was fond of quoting a playwright—I no longer remember who—who once said something to the effect that “You can either be an artist who represents himself as having had an experience, or you can be an artist who is, himself, moved.” At least, I’m pretty sure that’s how it went. In any case, it’s what I can recall, and it is this concept that has

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-15436023831812544102011-05-13T09:38:00.001-07:002011-05-13T09:38:27.193-07:00

And, no, I don’t mean “sophism” as in “a specious argument for displaying ingenuity in reasoning or for deceiving someone” (thanks, Dictionary.com). I mean “Sophism” (capital S), as in brilliant things Sophia said this past week that display some measure of ingenuity, absolutely no reasoning, and which are either so sweet they make you coo or are otherwise capable of making a grown woman (me)

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-26717698078862068502011-05-08T01:19:00.000-07:002011-05-08T01:19:00.778-07:00

I have often thought that life is like the lens of a camera. One that never stops rolling and never runs out of juice. The flash sparks, shutter snaps, moment upon moment, to create the flipbook of split second snapshots that tell the story of our years. Candid camera. Capturing every body slam-bear hug, and each lip tremble. Document of sharp words and lullabies. There are moments we want to

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-89034162167429846502011-05-06T07:32:00.001-07:002011-05-06T09:36:51.855-07:00

-1- Osama bin Laden is dead. Wow. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever hear that sentence without immediately rushing off to Snopes.com to falsify the rumor. But, it’s true. Now, what do I do with it? Do I feel any safer knowing that he’s no longer out there, plotting the murder of millions of innocent people, the downfall of Western society? No, not really. This fight was never about one man, nor did one

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-69824857559941611542011-05-05T04:15:00.000-07:002011-05-05T04:15:00.115-07:00

The mug in this picture is one of my favorites. It was purchased at the bed & breakfast where my husband and I honeymooned in the San Bernardino Mountains. I love wrapping my hands around it’s warm belly on a cold, rainy morning while I breathe in the hot, brown scent of hot coffee. Next to the mug is a tea cup in my parents’ Royal Doulton wedding pattern. I inherited the set from my mother

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-49170369632500863472011-05-03T18:49:00.001-07:002011-05-03T18:51:02.244-07:00

Today is the Feast of St. James the Just, cousin of Christ, first Bishop of Jerusalem, and author of the Book of James and of the Apostolic Decree spoken of in Acts 15.   St. James suffered death at the hands of the Pharisees for publicly proclaiming Jesus to be the Christ. Even as he was being stoned to death, the great saint prayed for those who murdered him. The story of his martyrdom is so

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-11604714103198248652011-05-03T10:05:00.001-07:002011-05-03T10:05:02.207-07:00

It’s the 2nd Annual Dress Dare! Defining Beauty has defined the rules: Wear dresses and skirts throughout the month of May Feel free to make exceptions for sleep an exercise. Honor Mary, grow closer to Jesus. Be beautiful—be YOU! I’m in! How about you?

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-62608752726643970042011-05-02T08:23:00.000-07:002011-05-02T11:10:54.179-07:00

80. Tick-tock of Grandma’s namesake cuckoo on my wall82. bulk vanilla extract83. For slow-stirring forcing pause84. Milky swirls, steam curls dancing in the pan86. Cookie jar savored to the last crumb91. For wise words of woman humble, inviting me to the thanksgiving feast92. That life is not an emergency96. Sunshine against the odds98. Baby-boy spiraling down slide so high99. Full-bellied

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-25898366623468152382011-04-29T03:45:00.001-07:002011-04-29T03:53:21.620-07:00

Despite the fact that Jen and I have been blog buddies for about a year now, this is the first 7 Quick Takes Friday I have ever participated in. Isn’t that how it goes sometimes, though? Friends and family are often the last to hop on the rolling bandwagon. In any case, I’m on now. At least for this week. Let’s see what I’ve got. (And, I promise, I won’t mention either weddings or Royals.) 1.

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-58080507298438996442011-04-27T00:55:00.000-07:002011-05-03T18:53:33.545-07:00

If I am brutally honest with myself (and all  of you, I suppose), I am complainer. I might say by nature, but I hope not. I like to think that all of us are, by nature, born to praise and not to petulance. By birthright, then? In any case, I cannot remember a time when I did not complain. In the culture I grew up in, it was about more than the occasional gripe fest. Complaining was a sort of

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-26941663246355290752011-04-25T04:46:00.000-07:002011-05-02T11:10:54.182-07:00

We woke in pre-dawn darkness that never fully dispelled. It is Seattle, after all, and there is an unspoken rule that it must always rain on at least two days of the year: July 4th and Easter Sunday. Every year, Easter moves around, but the clouds are never fooled. This year is no exception. But, it’s of no concern as I shuffle slipper-footed to the stove, preheat the oven, and turn back to the

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-86257831442945462672011-04-24T00:00:00.000-07:002011-05-02T11:42:50.619-07:00

Heart bursting.Hands praising.Knees bending.Head bowing.Lips singing.Worship winging.Thanksgiving.Believing. Son rising. Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!Who did once, upon the cross, Alleluia!Suffer to redeem our loss, Alleluia! Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia!Unto Christ, our heavenly King, Alleluia!Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-52816241159559096972011-04-22T12:04:00.000-07:002011-04-22T17:13:47.257-07:00

My children and I enter the church, and it takes my breath away. The emptiness. The silence. All is stripped to bare bones. Carpet. Wood. Quiet.  No crucifix. No altar cloth. No Bible. No Eucharist. Even the holy water fonts are emptied. Barren is the word that comes to mind. A barren wasteland. The pews are still here, the piano in the corner, the kneelers that remain folded away, but it hardly

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-44296999546251210902011-04-20T08:50:00.000-07:002011-04-20T08:50:00.977-07:00

Here are my learning basket picks for the week leading up to Easter. This selection of books gently, accurately, and engagingly guides my children through the events of the Passion and makes alive for them the glory of the Resurrection. Oh, and I had to throw in a little Tasha Tudor just for some whimsical fun! A note for my Catholic readers: The story Benjamin’s Box gives a slightly inaccurate

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-7229435737198118552011-04-18T12:50:00.001-07:002011-05-02T11:10:54.183-07:00

I’ve been away. Not just in the virtual realm. In my real life. I was off on a youth group retreat. Two days after that, my family left to celebrate my best friend’s wedding in New York. We were gone for a week. The same day we returned home, my husband left for a four-day conference in yet another state. Now we’re finally all home again. Now life is starting to return to what we know as normal

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-10741922339295887932011-03-31T09:34:00.000-07:002011-03-31T10:05:12.434-07:00

Since I work with teens and am a YA author, I sometimes get requests from readers for recommendations of books for teenagers. There is a lot of fantastic young adult fiction out there right now. The market is growing, interest in literature is up—but that also means there’s a lot of junk to weed through. And, teens are incredibly impressionable, whatever they may argue to the contrary. Busy

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-54770272897183486182011-03-27T10:30:00.001-07:002011-03-27T10:32:10.255-07:00

“A woman's love is mighty, but a mother's heart is weak, and by its weakness overcomes.” - James Russell Lowell I confess I’m just at “one of those times” in my journey of motherhood. I’m busy, I’m distracted, I’m easily annoyed. I feel sometimes like I need a weekly spiritual retreat just to make it through the rest of the seven days without turning into an ill-tempered shrew. Unfortunately,

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-87558755502166312352011-03-23T21:22:00.001-07:002011-03-23T21:33:05.031-07:00

Recently, I had a reader ask me to divulge some of the secrets of my homeschooling endeavors. Well, frankly, since I’m still in year 1 of teaching only one child, I have yet to feel that I have any tricks of the trade worth divulging. However, I have learned that, as in many things, simple is usually best. We open with a prayer and have our reading lesson. Then, we read a selection from the

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-36811734571879109732011-03-20T07:00:00.000-07:002011-05-02T11:10:54.184-07:00

“Spring is God thinking in gold,laughing in blue,and speakingin green.” - Frank Johnson

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-51296837363442795322011-03-16T17:37:00.000-07:002011-03-16T17:37:00.341-07:00

Tomorrow is the Feast of St. Patrick. Normally, this holiday conjures up mouthwatering thoughts of corned beef, buttery wedges of cabbage, and fluffy boiled potatoes drenched in more melted butter. But, what do you serve to celebrate if you’re fasting—abstaining from meat and dairy? Technically, the Church allows the relaxing of self-imposed fasts on feast days—and even encourages it. After all,

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-4917663173425346582011-03-11T14:22:00.000-08:002011-03-11T14:22:00.088-08:00

One of my dear readers alerted me to this phenomenal resource. The free e-book is packed with menus, recipes, and ideas for observing a vegan Lent. God bless!

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-28784634168429315212011-03-10T06:00:00.000-08:002011-03-10T06:00:05.190-08:00

This soup is incredibly versatile. It can be made with ham or bacon. You can also omit the meat for a vegetarian variation, using olive oil in place of animal fat and water in place of meat stock. The seasoning is so rich and the texture of the soup so velvety that you won’t even miss the meat, though of course, it will taste a bit different. You may use vegetable stock in place of water, also.

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-33021194192300059272011-03-09T05:37:00.000-08:002011-03-09T05:37:00.413-08:00

My father’s final wish was that his body be cremated. When he wrote that request in his empty office half an hour before he died, it had been nine months since I’d seen him. Nine months since I’d felt his arms wrap around me. Nine months since I held his rough, dry hands. Then, never again. Before I had even booked a plane to the West Coast, the autopsy was performed, his remains transported to

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-6556572777825143962011-03-08T09:33:00.001-08:002011-03-08T09:33:21.158-08:00

Pancake Day. Mardi Gras. Fat Tuesday. Whatever you call it, today is the day for two things: a good confession and good food! I’ve been a-shriving, and now it’s time to feast! We used up every egg, drop of milk, bit of meat, and crumb of chocolate in our house this past week in preparation for our Lenten fast. I know, it’s a tough job, but somehow we saw it through. Here’s what’s on our menu for

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-44552426013048779962011-03-03T07:43:00.001-08:002011-03-03T11:05:22.870-08:00

Here is the book list I have compiled for this Lent. I prayerfully chose this list in the hope that it would convict me where I am comfortable, comfort me where I am hurt, and draw me closer to the person of Jesus Christ. I will be writing reviews as I make my way through. Amazon.com Widgets What’s on your reading list this Lent?

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-48757015072705816792011-03-01T15:36:00.001-08:002011-03-02T12:46:39.986-08:00

In 1884, this novena was revealed to Fortuna Agrelli, the daughter of an Italian commander in Naples, by Our Lady of Pompeii. It’s method is fairly simple. You say the rosary for three novenas (27 days) in petition followed by three novenas in thanksgiving, whether or not the petition has been granted. Six novenas, back to back, makes for 54 days of prayer, hence the name. A dear friend of mine

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-35035148481012314282011-02-28T10:02:00.001-08:002011-02-28T16:30:38.925-08:00

Not very long ago, the Lenten Fast observed by both Catholics and Orthodox Christians was a rigorous one. While Orthodox Christians have held to this tradition of voluntary self-denial, Roman Catholics by and large—especially in first-world nations—have abandoned such ascetic practices. Rather than give you my opinion about this change, I would rather pose a simple question: Why? Live with that

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-27269037590940397372011-02-26T16:33:00.001-08:002011-05-02T11:10:54.185-07:00

Snow falls heavy all around. The baseboard heaters rattle to life, and the thermostat needle reminds us continually just how insufficient they really are for these vaulted ceilings. My mitten-shunning children are beginning to get cabin fever, and I am, too. My husband comes home with a bundle of firewood, an armful of tulips. I put the flowers in water. He lights the fire. The snow still

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-45449353016208538672011-02-21T14:27:00.001-08:002011-02-21T14:48:38.747-08:00

This post, misleadingly, has nothing whatsoever to do with gardening. It’s about finding fellowship and cultivating community. It’s about taking a leap of faith. Before I came back to the Catholic Church, my husband and I spent a lot of time in evangelical churches. One thing that characterized them (and to which both of us were overpoweringly drawn) was a vibrant infrastructure for building

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-50368997548900993232011-02-17T06:31:00.000-08:002011-02-17T06:31:00.869-08:00

I had three-quarters of a loaf of Buttermilk Bread leftover, three almost-too-ripe bananas, and some homemade caramel sauce that a neighbor gave me as a Christmas present. This is what they turned into! You can certainly feel free to improvise. Replace the bananas and brown sugar with fresh berries or some chopped chocolate. Top with crème anglaise or a berry syrup instead of caramel sauce. You

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-20164802393228775892011-02-14T16:14:00.001-08:002011-02-14T16:19:31.960-08:00

Okay, so this post is primarily to the young wives out there. (Hopefully, you seasoned marrieds already know all about this.) What I have to say may sound radical. It may sound grossly unromantic. It might just shatter every last glimmer of poetic idealism you possess. Okay, I hope not. But here goes. In the movies, the romantic leading man (picture your favorite hunky actor here) always knows

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-35347241680102300432011-02-11T09:03:00.001-08:002011-02-11T09:04:06.575-08:00

These pillowy soft pastries are the quintessence of French food for me. We served ours up with homemade blueberry jam for Our Lady. They are representative of more than just French heritage, though. The heavenly croissants with their airy, white centers represent Mary’s purity, and blue is for the robe she appeared to St. Bernadette in. Pull a shot of espresso, and say grace! Notre Dame

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-60818220496727579672011-02-10T14:40:00.000-08:002011-02-10T14:54:19.184-08:00

  Over 150 years ago, the Blessed Mother appeared to a poor fourteen-year-old girl in the cleft of a rock in the town of Lourdes in Southern France. The young girl would later become St. Bernadette Soubiroux.   It is estimated that over 1 million pilgrims a year journey to Lourdes, which has become most famous for the healing powers of the waters in the fountain in the grotto that Mary first

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-16329911577557775372011-02-02T12:39:00.001-08:002011-02-02T12:39:36.276-08:00

Many people save the corned beef and cabbage for St. Patrick’s Day, but I like to cook ours in honor of St. Brigid. The first reason for this is purely practical. St. Patrick’s Day often falls during Lent, and our family abstains from meat during the holy fast. The second reason why I love having corned beef for St. Brigid’s Day is because Brigid worked so closely with cows as a dairy girl. I

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-40553338260182550502011-01-31T05:06:00.000-08:002011-01-31T05:06:00.743-08:00

If God is a God of order, then the way we serve Him should be orderly. Our faith should have a rhythm, its own routines, its little rituals. The ancient tapestry of Judaism is woven richly with these things, and the ebb and flow of the weeks, seasons, and years has remained largely unaltered for millennia. Those of us who adhere to the traditions and teachings of Holy Mother Church have a

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-77517549292081706822011-01-27T18:53:00.001-08:002011-01-27T18:53:47.952-08:00

“A place for everything, and everything in its place.” This was my mother’s mantra when I was growing up. I’m sorry to say, it didn’t really sink in until I had moved out and become responsible for my own housekeeping. What Ma did instill in me from birth was an expectation for order. Messiness was just not normal in our home. For all my father’s and my shortcomings in that department, there

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-21705252704953093672011-01-23T22:31:00.001-08:002011-01-23T22:31:39.390-08:00

Whenever you begin any resolution, there is a single question which will answer quickly whether your resolution has any chance of lasting success: What is your motivation? If you are dieting to look like the supermodels in the magazines or because you want a quick fix, you are not likely to get very far. Even if you do lose the weight, you are nearly certain to gain it back very quickly. This is

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-522100538933339682011-01-22T18:41:00.001-08:002011-01-22T18:41:07.866-08:00

Hello, dear readers! I just peeked at the calendar and realized it’s been nearly a week since I last posted here. The family and I are all doing well, but my brain is a bit overtaxed at the moment. I’m in the midst of working on my first round of rewrites for my current novel, getting it cleaned up to send off to an agent (hopefully by the end of next month). Please keep my efforts in your

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-48737147413151327932011-01-17T00:42:00.000-08:002011-01-17T00:42:00.907-08:00

“We grow great by dreams. All big men are dreamers. They see things…in the red fire of a long winter's evening. Some of us let these great dreams die, but others nourish and protect them; nurse them through bad days till they bring them to the sunshine and light which comes always to those who sincerely hope that their dreams will come true.” - Woodrow Wilson Winter, for me, has always been a

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-2455146561140500902011-01-15T00:41:00.000-08:002011-01-15T00:41:00.274-08:00

I originally posted this recipe in the fall of 2009. It’s a staple in our household and, as it turns out, a few of my readers by this time! Since bran and, in particular, oat bran which has a lighter flavor and texture than wheat, is back in the spotlight in a number of food magazines this month, I thought it would be appropriate to dig this recipe out of the archives and dust it off for y’all.

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-47593769545111824112011-01-13T12:44:00.000-08:002011-01-13T12:49:37.154-08:00

My resolution for 2011 is to live a year of conscious, conscientious stewardship. My husband pointed out that it is an ambitious goal, and I agree. We live in a consumer culture, and one of the tenets of consumer culture is indulgence of the self. What works for me? What is cheapest? What is the most convenient? What is easy? By contrast, godly stewardship is a call to self-sacrifice. What is

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-59682244699596296302011-01-11T13:41:00.000-08:002011-01-11T13:42:20.338-08:00

This fall, Brian and I, along with our fellow youth group leaders, took a couple dozen teens into the mountains for a weekend retreat. While we were up there, we led them out into the snow for a hike that ended inside an abandoned train tunnel. The tunnel was…how shall I put this politely? Disgusting. It was dank. It was damp. It smelled mildly of sewage and mildew and stagnant water. You had

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-22065130793920908662011-01-07T00:38:00.000-08:002011-05-02T11:10:54.187-07:00

We live in a beautiful world. I live in a particularly glorious corner of it. You can’t step outside your door in Western Washington without being bowled over by the wonder of Creation. I have never been in any other place where nature and humanity seem to fit together so seamlessly. When it rains—and it rains a lot this time of year—you can tell the natives instantly because we’re the ones

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-49116599108192244282011-01-06T06:47:00.000-08:002011-01-06T06:47:00.250-08:00

And, we’re back! I hope you all had a happy and relaxing Christmas. We certainly did! Today is Epiphany, the ancient feast celebrating the day Wise Men arrived in Bethlehem to bring their gifts to the Baby Jesus. I thought it was just as good a time as any to present you all with a gift of my own. No, it’s not a new post, though hopefully y’all are happy I’m back. It’s a new recipe! I invented

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-15572308078070033322010-12-23T13:32:00.001-08:002011-05-02T11:10:54.188-07:00

My family spent the morning delivering Christmas gifts from our parish’s St. Vincent de Paul Conference to needy families who had requested them. The presents have been gathered over the past month in response to submissions from families and organizations to help make a merrier Christmas for those who might not have seen any gifts under the tree this year. I won’t soon forget the look on one

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-38666030065996802982010-12-17T06:15:00.000-08:002011-05-02T11:10:54.189-07:00

I remember in vivid clarity the first time I held my husband’s hand. It was a handshake on a noisy, perpetually filthy road, and with it I learned his name. It stood out to me so because of it’s candor, it’s honesty, and it’s refreshing formality in a teenaged world of head nods and half-waves. It seemed somehow grown-up. I realize only now how very young we were. We have grown up together. For

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-5925259425127535652010-12-15T06:05:00.000-08:002010-12-15T06:05:00.872-08:00

For their honeymoon, my parents loaded up their car and drove the northeast coast, stopping off at bed & breakfasts sprinkled along their path and getting to know their own native corner of this great country of ours. I wasn’t conceived on that trip, but I think something of the spirit of it made its way into my genes. I have always loved bed & breakfasts far and away above any other traveling

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-24550215155397537842010-12-13T20:00:00.000-08:002011-05-02T11:10:54.190-07:00

My mother used to call me this when I was a little girl, Sweetness and Light. She always told me that one of the most remarkable things about me was my joy and that I shone like sunshine in the darkness. My optimism and my childlike wonder I carried with me into adulthood, and as it turns out, these were the very things my husband told me he was first drawn to when we started dating. Now I have

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-49391549080919135522010-12-10T18:35:00.001-08:002011-05-02T11:10:54.191-07:00

It was a stressful week capped off with a melancholy afternoon. The temptation was there to curl up and mope and wish that someone else could figure out what to make for dinner this time. Then, a little hand slipped into mine, a tentative smile wanting to giggle but wanting me to first, and then grace poured out. Candles were kindled and Christmas lights, too. We turned on some carols and

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-81377582983744815672010-12-09T04:04:00.000-08:002010-12-09T04:04:00.173-08:00

A few weeks ago, I was approached by Tribute Books to review an upcoming release, Red in the Flower Bed. Written by Andrea Nepa, the mother of an adopted Vietnamese daughter, this metaphoric rhyming tale spins the story of a little poppy seed that makes its way on the wind “from east to west” until it finds “the place that’s best” for it to be planted and grow. Poppy may not match the other

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-30119159943679115972010-12-08T06:51:00.000-08:002010-12-08T07:37:35.059-08:00

I’m a fastidious planner by nature, and I like things to go according to plan. But slowly, little by little and lesson by lesson, I am learning what it is to be a godly planner. What I have learned can be summed up in one word: HOPE. Anticipation, hope, is half the fun of planning for me. I love that feeling that anything is possible and that good things are surely just around the corner. I love

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-73511614891053822362010-12-07T07:51:00.000-08:002010-12-07T07:51:43.259-08:00

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4131190895139678738.post-23096428449879400382010-12-06T10:38:00.000-08:002010-12-06T10:43:00.108-08:00

I had intended to make my traditional “Surprise Bread Purses” for St. Nicholas Day but realized on Sunday morning that I had no cream cheese—a vital element in the recipe. I prefer not to go shopping on Sabbath, so I reconciled myself to coming up with a different breakfast. When I got home from church, I found that I was also short the dried figs needed for our yearly batch of sugarplums. (I’ll

Bethany Hudsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002485534563054176noreply@blogger.com1