Mardi Gras

Nancy, Me and Angie Last Year Mardi Gras Bunco

Mardi Gras, Carnival, Fasching...
I am not Catholic so this holiday never really meant that much to me until I lived in Europe. Our little town had nearly a week of celebrations every year for the occasion marking the beginning of lent. In my travels I've picked up a few decorations for Mardi Gras. I decided to decorate my buffet in honor of the fun I had with buddies and the crazy German people celebrating the very Catholic holiday. I started to think about lent today. Funny how the German people introduce Boch beer during the season. For those of you who don't know, a few pints of this beer can darn near knock you out. I've had friends that have given up things like swearing, chocolate and even the three lettered word that I won't publish due to the G rating on this blog. I thought to myself "This is sort of a negative resolution. Not negative as in a bad one but in the sense that you give something up instead of adding something to your to-do list. " If I were Catholic what would I give up. What haven't I given up already. I've lived through a year without my husband, months on funky diets without any sugars or tasty foods (not to get skinny just to get rid of a bad system bug I had in college), times where I worked for free (volunteering), given up time with my friends and family. I guess I haven't been homeless, well I did have a stint in college and another in grad school where I basically lived off friends couches. What is it that I think is a vice that I should give up to God in order to prove that I am a faithful person. This year has been a year of giving ups and letting goes. It will continue to be one as I give up my independence to become a mom and give up my husband for another year of duty. I think I'll just try to add an act of faith for lent this year. I will try my best to say a little prayer every day. Not just for me and my family but for those in need and those who may not know they are in need. Just a little offering to a higher power to say "I can't do everything by myself and I know I can't change the world but maybe you could keep some things in mind as we all muddle through it."