Past Years ~ Present Year

I have loved my old faithful artificial tree that has given my family much happiness and glow over the PAST YEARS...

However, this year, I had a strong desire to GO (real) GREEN....

Advent 2014: Week Three

+ Preparing our souls to receive Christ worthily +

"We should love and feel compassion for those who oppose us, since they harm themselves and do us good, and adorn us with crowns of everlasting glory."

                               -St. Anthony Zaccaria

With our parochial vicar's prompting, my son and I have been working on gifting our altar boys & acolytes, with a modest 'thank you' gift, for all the wonderful service they have given to our church.  Every year our pastor has gifted them a little treat, which they always appreciate.  

I think they will like this year's treat, as well.

Preparing for the Celebration
I woke up to find, on my desk, a wooden peg nativity set.  It was lovingly colored by my Little Lamb.  We are all looking forward to the coming of Our Lord.

A bonus was the mini-celebration of our Papa Francis ( who shares my confirmation name sake).  Son Dulce de leche was in order, as was a splash of Frangelico.  I will have to re-purpose this bottle after its contents have been used...

The Jesuscaritaest blog reinvigorated me to pull out our Ero Cras O Antiphon House; which we were inspired to make many years ago.  Even though I brought it out on time, we have not had a moment to do the readings with all the other activities going on:  from choir to ice skating to a trip to the ER...  

My children took this picture on their own, to thank me for their gift...I think they were happy with their slippers/socks.

                                             Sharing Family traditions, reflections, activities & crafts over at 
                                                                             Catholic Bloggers Advent Link up

Advent 2014: Week Two

ADVENT:  WEEK TWO

+ Preparing our souls to receive Christ worthily +

"No one heals himself by wounding another."  ~ St. John Chrysostom

Celebrating Feast Days:
St. Nicholas is always a fun feast day to celebrate...no matter what your age.  It was also a great opportunity to gift everyone slippers since the weather is finally cold (& wet).  I like the idea of the sock slippers for my girls.

On December 8th we celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.  This year we attended Mass at our Cathedral.  Our bishop gave another awesome homily.  I didn't realize that about the same year the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary was being defined by the bishops, before Pope Pius IX officially declared it on the 8th of December, 1854...the California Gold Rush (49ers) was in full swing.  It is very interesting, when you put events on a timeline, what world history was being made.  

(l) Mass on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception; (r) Conductor serving as Episcopal Server.

Preparing for the Celebration:
We do not put Baby Jesus out until Christmas Eve, and we are slowly preparing our home for the great Feast & Celebration of Christ's birth...I usually put up our Christmas Tree for Gaudete Sunday...I will see how things play out this year - I've got my wreaths up and in place though!  This year we bought some wreaths through Conductor's Trail Life group fundraiser to help support some of their activities.  Win-Win.   I was going to hang the wreaths outside, however, I found they make beautiful centerpieces and advent wreaths...besides,  I love the smell of fresh pine in my home.

Week Three Advent Activities:
Our Lady of Guadalupe Feast Day - December 12 (Mexican Hot Chocolate, Chicken with Mole)
The Memorial of St. Lucia - December 13 (Cookie Dough Truffles, Lussekattor)
St. John of the Cross Feast Day & Gaudete Sunday - December 14 (Gazpacho)
St. Mary di Rosa, St. Maximinus,...St. Valerian Feast Day - December 15
St. Valentine Feast Day - December 16

ADVENT:  WEEK ONE

Sharing Family traditions, reflections, activities & crafts over at 

Catholic Bloggers Advent Link Up

Advent 2014: Week One

Sharing Family Traditions, reflections, activities & crafts over at 

Catholic Bloggers Advent Link Up

~ + ~ THE LORD IS COMING ~ + ~

SPIRITUAL READING

+ Books on Saints for Elementary Grades +

Traditionally we have read books from the Lives of Saints whose Feasts days land during the Advent season.  We have tons of books to choose from, so, I will fill our baskets with those that pertain to the month of December.

+ Books for High School +

These are books that I am considering:

Advent with St. Francis: Daily Reflections  (Franciscan Media)

Advent with the Saints:  Daily Reflections (St. Anthony Messenger Press)

+ Books for the Mama! +

A Mary Christmas (Franciscan Media) 

Advent Meditations with Fulton J. Sheen - 28 reflections (Liguori Publications)

ADVENT FOOD PREP

+ St. Nicholas +
Last year, at our First Friday Mass we had several activities after Mass and Devotions.  However, at home, we celebrate with Hot Chocolate and Gold Coins.

FAMILY & CHURCH TRADITIONS

St. Nicholas Feast Day is December 6th

+ Jesse Tree +
I have been very happy with our (now retired) Jesse Tree ornaments, which I originally created using the Paper Dali templates.  After my children colored the ornaments, we laminated them and added a purple ribbon.  I guess they are now, priceless. 

+ Advent Calendar +
We have 2 Advent calendars that we enjoy...here is a favorite of ours:

+ Advent Candles +
Both a family and church tradition...

+ Nativity Scene +
Our nativity scenes make their appearance, but we cover Baby Jesus until Christmas Eve.

ADVENT ACTIVITIES:

+ St. Nicholas +
Last year, after our monthly First Friday Mass, I organized several St. Nicholas Games & Activities such as:
St. Nicholas Coin Toss
Chocolate St. Nicholas Craft
Nutter Butter St. Nicholas Cookie Decorating
St. Nicholas Guessing Game (adapted from Catholic Inspired)
Apple St. Nicholas
St. Nicholas Roll-Up
Coloring Table of St. Nicholas, St. Lucia & Our Lady of Guadalupe
St. Nicholas Story Time

The next First Friday gathering for our home-school group is coming up quickly...I'd better get to work!

+ ADVENTures +

Last year we participated in the fun Adventures hosted by Jennifer...I recommend this activity for your family, too!  Week One, post Two, post Three, post Four, 

COMING SOON - WEEK TWO ADVENT IDEAS

+ Cookie Exchange & Rosary Night +
Week Two...

+ Parish Advent Retreat +
Week Two...can't wait!

 

You can find more Family Traditions, reflections, activities & crafts over at 

Catholic Bloggers Advent Link Up

~ That Same Star ~

~ EPIPHANY OF THE LORD ~

And by the light of that same star,

Three wise men came from country far;

To seek for a king was their intent,

And to follow the star wherever it went.

This star drew nigh to the north-west,

O'er Bethlehem it took its rest,

And there it did both stop and stay,

Right over the place where Jesus lay.

Then entered in those wise men three,

Full reverently upon the knee,

And offered there, in his presence,

Their gold and myrrh and frankincense.

Then let us all with one accord,

Sing praises to our heavenly Lord;

Who with the Father we adore

And Spirit blest for evermore.

Merry Christmas & Blessed Epiphany of the Lord

Wise Men Journey Initial Days - Guide Us to Thy Perfect Light

Wise Men Journey Days Three - Six:  Westward Leading, Still Proceeding

Wise Men Journey Days Seven - Fourteen:  Bearing Gifts

Final Wise Men Adventure link-up at Catholic Inspired

~ Bearing Gifts ~

Keeping it simple, however, things get hairy at times.

Recognizing baby Jesus as the Messiah, the Three Kings traveled thousands of miles to worship Him.

They were persistent.  Following a star that would lead them to the Holy Babe.

Guided by a wondrous star, the magi doggedly sought the Light.

Carrying their gifts of great symbolism, they doggedly pushed forward.

Gold for a king.

 

Incense for a priest.

 

Myrrh, used to anoint the dead. 

Drom relies on straw (in more ways than one) to give him strength and stamina

Quite the expedition.

The star is leading them to Bethlehem.  In Hebrew, Bethlehem means House of Bread.  Hmmm.

They were from the East. 

They were, the Magi.

Stopping a bit from the treacherous journey,
they leave an impression in some places.

 

When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.

O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect Light.

View previous travel days here and here

Joining Catholic Inspired
Wise Men ADVENTURE Link-Up