Here in Suburbia. Walking My Own Camino.

I have the day off while our sons are in school. It's been a day full of frustration and reflection. Thanks to my friend Webster's blog post (He's blogging as he walks the Camino de Santiago de Compostela, the pilgrims' walking route in Northern Spain, with his adult daughter) I actually found something to say about all this.

My morning was, well, wasted, because it had been so long since I'd shopped at Wegman's that I got lost driving there. Then, I headed to my local Costco, spent an hour buying more than $200 worth of groceries, only to discover my pin number on my ATM card is messed up. So I left the store with nothing more than what I walked in with. This is when my day got really interesting.

On the Menu: Greg's Grilled Corn

My husband, Greg, makes the best corn on the cob. Ever. (He also makes a mean meat loaf, wonderful linguine with broccoli and sun-dried tomatoes, stunning Cesar salads, and on and on....)

Given that corn on the cob is as traditional for Memorial Day weekend menus as hamburgers and hot dogs, I figured I would share his recipe. Greg adapted this recipe from one he found at least 10 years ago in Fine Cooking magazine. "I only steal from the best," he quipped. 

By the way, we don't have a gas grill. We have a cinderblock grill - that looks like it installed in our backyard in the1950s. We use charcoal but he has made as many as two dozen ears at a time  on a propane grill. It's an adaptable recipe. Here goes.

A PreConcert Ramble in a Cathedral

Our son's chamber music group held their concert last night at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Trenton,  New Jersey, about an hour's drive from our home. I had to drop him off at 5 p.m. and the concert didn't start until 7. One thing I did to while away the time was to take some photographs of the cathedral with my cell phone. Two photos worked out pretty well and reflect the beauty of that sacred space.

This Moment: A Knight in Shining Armor at his Brother's First Communion Party

this moment - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link at www.soulemama.com with your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Making Joyful Noises: A Maestra and Her Mission

I want to share a slice of heaven my family has been privileged to encounter. We stumbled upon the wonderfulness that is Sherri Anderson during a tough time in my children's lives. This is a powerful example of how God can take a sad circumstance and turn it into something beautiful. "All things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose."

A few years ago, I was working fulltime in Trenton, New Jersey and we found ourselves unexpectedly without summer activities for our older son, then 11. As a family, we found ourselves there because some adults in our lives made petty, unfair, hurtful, lousy decisions about his summer, adults we thought had our son's best interests at heart. That is a story for another day.

Brutal Blessing: "Saints of the American Wilderness"

Let me tell you, there is no way I would have our 12-year-old child read this book. I ordered "Saints of the American Wilderness" by Rev. John A. O'Brien because our younger son has chosen Antoine Daniel as his Confirmation name and I was planning to read the book with him. Antoine Daniel is one of eight Jesuit missionaries martyred in 17th century Canada.

 It is so brutal in its details that many times I had to put the book down and take a breather. That said, adults should read "Saints of the American Wilderness" if they want to understand the sacrifices our ancestors made to bring the message of Christ to the North American continent. Be forewarned: within the first few chapters, we read detailed, and I mean detailed, accounts of cannibalism, finger chewing, sadistic torture and on and on. These details are not gratuitous. They go a long way in helping the reader understand exactly what these French men faced as they evangelized among the Hurons of what is now Ontario.

A Felt Icon for a First Communion

You know what I love about the internet? You can discover all kinds of information with your fingertips AND you can buy all kinds of obscure stuff from all over the world. Quirky things that can actually help build a child's faith and prayer life. Alec, a family friends' middle child, celebrated his First Communion today. That's him at his home next to his dad after the Mass after he changed into a plaid shirt and striped shorts. His patron saint is Alexander of Comana, the charcoal burner. Seriously? I had never heard of the guy.