~FingerPrint Friday......Traditions~

There's a song by Stephen Curtis Chapman that goes:

I can see the fingerprints of God

When I look at you.

I can see the fingerprints of God

And I know it's true.

You're a masterpiece

That all creation quietly applauds

And you're covered with the fingerprints of God.

I see God's Fingerprints in Traditions....those time-honored customs passed down from generation to generation.

Jim and I made Fried Dough last night to take to our grandchildren tomorrow. God's Fingerprints will be evident as we watch those little smiles and "Hmmmmmm"s when they bite into them. God's blessings at their best~

I'm reprinting last year's photos and column, as I'm busy in the studio today. Enjoy!

St. Joseph, the husband of Mary and the earthly father of Jesus, is said to be the patron saint of home, family and laborers. His Feast Day is celebrated on his birthday: March 19th. It's a Sicilian tradition to make Fritelles or Fried Dough on that day. Depending on the region of Italy you are from, they may be called zeppole, or sfinges instead. For an interesting picture collage of fried doughs from all over the world, click here.

My Nonna always used her homemade raised bread dough to make Fritelles, as did my Mom, but I've found that the frozen Rhodes bread dough works quite well....and is way easier!

All you do is tear off about 2 inch pieces of the raised, raw dough, and fry them quickly in about a 1/2 inch of hot canola oil. Drain them on paper towels, then roll them in granulated sugar. My Mom often tucked raisins into the raw dough before frying. I make one batch with raisins for the kids, and one plain batch for Jim. One bite into the sugary, doughy delicacy will have you hooked. They rarely have time to cool before they've all disappeared...no matter how many I make!

Whenever I fry them up, I'm transported back into time......standing in my Nonna's or my Mother's kitchen, swinging my tanned legs back-and-forth, long curls flying, licking every last bit of the sugary coating off each of my fingers, begging for "just one more".

I continued the tradition by frying up batches of Fritelles for the boys on Sunday mornings in March before mass all the years they were growing up. It's a tradition that we continue to this day.....whether it's just Jim and I, or the boys, Jackie, and the grandchildren. Fried Memories at their finest~

Buon Giorno di San Giuseppe – Happy St. Joseph’s Day!

Stop over at Beki's Blog to read more FingerPrints and join in the fun~

Click on the link to go to more blogs celebrating New Friends Friday~

~Fingerprint Friday....Snow Days~

There's a song by Stephen Curtis Chapman that goes:

I can see the fingerprints of God

When I look at you.

I can see the fingerprints of God

And I know it's true.

You're a masterpiece

That all creation quietly applauds

And you're covered with the fingerprints of God.

I see God's Fingerprints in my grandchildren playing in the snow! They love it. You can tell by their faces that it mesmerizes them just like it did to me and my siblings when we were their ages! Snow.......gotta love it. Thank you, God~

So look around you. What do YOU see that are the Fingerprints of God???

Stop over at Beki's Blog to read more FingerPrints and join in the fun~

~FingerPrint Friday~

There's a song by Stephen Curtis Chapman that goes:

I can see the fingerprints of God

When I look at you.

I can see the fingerprints of God

And I know it's true.

You're a masterpiece

That all creation quietly applauds

And you're covered with the fingerprints of God.

I see God’s Fingerprints whenever I look at my Mom. All over her. He’s with her on this horrific journey through alzheimer’s. It’s comforting to know she’s not alone.

Today, for my birthday, I’m taking her roses, with this letter:

It’s my birthday, Mom. Thank you for giving birth to me. Thank you for being such a good mother. You taught me so well. I am proud of the kind of mother I am to my boys. And it’s all because of you.

Thank you for all the sacrifices you made. For all the late nights you stayed up sewing ‘special’ outfits for me to wear to school the next day. Thank you for doing people’s alterations late into the night to pay for Girl Scout fees, skating lessons, piano lessons. Your ‘sewing lessons’ helped me create and sell my Ragamuffin dolls. They helped put two boys through college. Thank you for that, Mom. Thank you for teaching me that all things are possible with hard work and determination.

Thank you for teaching me the importance of family.

I pray that you know how much it all means to me.

I love you, Mom.

Carol

xoxoxoxox

Pop on over to Beki's blog to read more Fingerprint Fridays~

~Monday Blessings~

Mom started eating again after refusing food for 3 days last week.

Aunt Fran came through her 1st week of chemo (lymphoma of the brain) with flying colors.

Jim's LOVING his new job. It's the blessing of his career!!!

Tom and Amy's wedding plans are coming together beautifully. They're happily redecorating their new home.

All the kids will be in town this coming weekend to celebrate my birthday.

Fawnie has adjusted to being the only puppy, and is LOVING all the attention.

36 inches of Snow!!

A brand new month~

I'm well and back in the studio again.

Life is good.

What are YOUR Monday Blessings?