I thought some of you may be interested in seeing what I've been doing since I haven't been posting so much lately. My friend Dessi and I have been collaborating on an ebook called

Holy Hands: Cooking & Crafting with the Saints!

It has biographical sketches of 12 saints, some of whom have been featured here at Building Up the Byzantine Family, along with some fresh new stories! There is a recipe and a craft to accompany each saint story to keep your little saints busy as they learn how to share the gifts God has given them!

Check it out at Seton Magazine!

Holy Hands: Cooking and Crafting with the Saints

by Dessi Jackson & Lynne Wardach

Inside are twelve short, mysterious and delightful stories of the Saints, packed with delicious recipes and crafts that will not only taste good, but fill your home with fragrance and good food!

These hands-on family activities are designed to provide beautiful teaching opportunities about the lives of these lesser-known saints, and the important message that their holiness and example should permeate our lives. Dessi Jackson, immigrant from Bulgaria and mother of six has collaborated with her daughter, Maria, to produce the stories. Lynne Wardach, Byzantine Catholic and mother of five teens created the accompanying crafts.

These authors present a fun, creative and inspiring collection of activities to bring your family together. You are encouraged to gather your children around you and read aloud the Saint story, and then work together to make St. Mamas’ Homemade Cheese, or the Seven Sleepers’ Pot Pies. And then, to teach children the beauty of sharing, create a St Rita of Cascia Rose-Petal Rosary or assemble the amazing Magdalene’s Aromatic Foot Scrub.

Each saint story comes with a related recipe and craft, so that each month you and your family can come together and incarnate the sweet sanctity of the saints in your homes!