Lent, Ash Wednesday, Fat Tuesday & What I am giving up / adding

I grew up Baptist, in the Bible Belt, Southern Baptist to be exact. That being said I grew up also observing Lent and Ash Wednesday.


How? You might ask, well its simple....my father would ask us each year what were we giving up for Lent and if we were giving up something physical (tv, food etc) we better enjoy it for the last time on Fat Tuesday. Growing up it wasn't expected of us to actually give something up , he would simply ask us to remind us that Jesus fasted for 40 days and how we might give up something as he gave up his life for us. Our Church did not observe it, it was a "Catholic thing" there for a good southern Baptist didn't observe it.


How my dad came to observe Lent I'm not real sure but its safe to say that other religions have fascinated him and in our house we did have several books on different types of religion's...usually a all in one reference book. He would read up on how a religion got started and what they observed.


Fat Tuesday - is most commonly referenced with Mardi Gras and yes its the day they have the biggest party...but Fat Tuesday is actually a religious holiday of sorts. Fat Tuesday is a Catholic holiday (primarily) and basically its your last chance to eat or do your lent offerings before Ash Wednesday / Lent. Fat Tuesday is also known as "Shove Tuesday". All celebrations end at midnight on Ash Wednesday in the French Quarter in observance of Ash Wednesday. 


Ash Wednesday -  Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of blessing ashes made from palm branches blessed on the previous year's Palm Sunday, and placing them on the heads of participants to the accompaniment of the words "Repent, and believe in the Gospel" or "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return". (from Wikipedia )


Lent - religious observance in the liturgical calendar of many Christian denominations that begins on Ash Wednesday and covers a period of approximately six weeks before Easter Sunday. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer through prayer, penance, repentance of sins, almsgiving, atonement and self-denial. This event, along with its pious customs are observed by Christians in the Anglican, Calvinist, Lutheran, Methodist, and Roman Catholic traditions. Today, some Anabaptist and evangelical churches also observe the Lenten season. (from Wikipedia)


Jesus fasted 40 days in the desert and during that time he was temped by the devil. The thought behind Lent  (if you are out of the Catholic faith , or so I am told) is to give up something personal and fast, as Jesus fasted.  That being said I see others also doing a reverse Lent, you add something.


So this year for Lent I am giving up Anger, I know super hard for me! I am quick to anger!! Its not always visible but I can get irritated very quickly....I think this is because I tend to wear my heart on my sleeve and my emotions often take over.  I am female after all.


This year I am also adding something.....I am going to spend the next 40 days learning or reading bible verses about anger. What God has to say about it, we know he says "Be Slow to anger" but I hope during this 40 days I will become less quick to anger!




I don't think Lent and Ash Wednesday is something anyone should skip, if anything it makes you focus on bringing your self to knowing Christ more and enduring just a small (extremely small) part of the suffering he did for us.  Its also a great opportunity to learn more about Christ and your self as well.


I do not think the next 40 days will be easy ones by any means, at this exact moment my 12yr is making as much noise as she can on purpose and keeps waking her little brother up. Giving up anger will be EXTREMLY Hard for me!


What are you giving up ?

Buffalo Ranch Chicken - Crockpot or Stove

Its not unknown that I LOVE Franks Red hot....I mean get a straw and drink it kind of love.


I'm also not someone who likes things spicy....but Franks has heat but flavor!


This recipe can be made in a 9x13 or in the crock pot....with a new born I was running behind schedule so I put it in the oven. Still ohh so yummy


4 Chicken Breast, Thighs or 6 Drum Sticks (Whatever's on sale)
1 cup Franks Buffalo Sauce (the actual Franks Buffalo Wing Sauce)
1 packet Ranch Dry Dressing


Mix Franks and Ranch until well blended
Place Chicken in pan or crock pot


(Here is where the recipe is different per cooking method)


Stove - Pour Franks mixture over chicken and cook for 45mins (or until well done)


Crock Pot- Cook Chicken for 3hrs on Low (or until done), drain juices and pour Franks mixture over chicken (I toss the chicken with the sauce to insure good coating) and cook for an additional 45 mins on low.


Serve and Enjoy!

Crockpot Coke Chicken

Well its been two weeks today that I delivered by beautiful baby boy via C-section.  Its been two very long weeks and I am finally being able to cook again with out restrictions! Chicken use to make me puke while preggin and bacon too.


Now that I am back to my old self Chicken has been on the menu almost every night of week and on top of that so has Franks Red-hot Sauce! (I LOVE that stuff)


Today is my first day at home by my self with my precious little boy, with my backup at work saying I am nervous is an understatement. I am still dealing with dizziness and uncontrollable blood pressure and I feel some days like a zombie!


So I am taking it easy....in short I honestly think I pushed my self too much.




I we tried this recipe today in our crockpot...and omg yum!


4 Chicken Breast (We actually used 6 drumsticks, they were on sale)
1 Bottle of BBQ Sauce (any kind will work, we used Kroger Hickory)
1/2 Can Cherry Coke (I actually used a little more )
1/2 C. Brown Sugar


Mix Coke, BBQ Sauce and Sugar together
Pour over Chicken already in crockpot


Cook on Low for 5hrs


We thickened the sauce after cooking, and used as extra sauce for chicken...yum