~ Preparing for Lent ~

Making way for the Purple...

It seems like I just put away my Christmas decorations...hey, wait, I did just put away my Christmas decorations...

Now it is time to start thinking about Lent, which is only 15 days away!

Since my oldest two are now in high school, I have been searching for some "age appropriate" ideas for LIVING LENT.  

We will certainly turn to our Lenten Traditions of Fasting, Alms-giving and Prayer, however, I would like to find something that my oldest two will find meaningful...something that will "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." ~ Psalm 51:10.  

Station of the Cross 2013 project

We are a very close family, and we have always actively lived the liturgical seasons as a family.  Taking time out of our day to live and pray the season together, even for a moment, is a tradition that I would like to keep alive in my home.
We shouldn't outgrow traditions, not even if my children have grown taller than me!  lol.  Traditions give us a certain closeness or unity, they also create memories for us.
Traditions teach us our Faith.  As a family, we should live our Faith together.  
I believe that God's grace and peace resides in a home that keeps true to his Traditions.
"For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you..." ~ 1Cor 11:23

So, I was thinking...maybe some Lenten Fireside Chats or BookClub style discussions or maybe viewing a DVD series (and engaging in a study program together) like Catholicism, which we have owned for several years.  Maybe it is time to revisit this beautiful work...

Sharing our Faith.  Growing in Faith.  

Living our Faith. 

Family style, if you will.

Last year's Shrove Tuesday King Cake

Shrove Tuesday

I know one tradition that my children still look forward to...

This year we will be using the King Arthur Gluten-Free version...it is my absolute favorite!

~ The Gifts that Keep on Giving ~

I am still living Christmas.  I have not had a moment to journal about all the beautiful gifts of love that the Christmas Season brings.  

The Gifts of Love that keep on Giving!

I used one of my Christmas Gifts this morning, and I just had to share...

My Butterfly gifted me with so many wonderful tokens of charity and affection. 

~*~ Twelve Cooked Meals ~*~

~*~ Twenty-Four Cups of Hot Tea ~*~

~*~ Ten Bed Makings ~*~

~*~ Four Dog Washings ~*~

And if that wasn't enough LOVE, my sister in law made this absolutely beautiful Treasure and Memory Box for the family.

On the exterior, a collage of pictures of Christmas' Past.

In the interior are cards to Create Written Memories for each Christmas.

This has love written all over it...literally.

I am feeling overwhelmingly blessed these days and I am so thankful to God for all the blessings in my life.  My husband, my children, my family and my friends.  But I know that it is my Faith that brings me the most joy, and with the knowledge that I am loved bounteously by He that has made me.  He is the most perfect Gift, that gives - continuously.

+AMDG+

"If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.  And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.  God is love.

Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him...There is no fear in love."

~ 1 John 4:15-16

PRIORITIES

That is it.

Plain and simple and to the point.

The word I chose to help steer my 2015 year.

PRIORITIES.

There are a lot of good and wonderful works to be done...but there are certainly more important things to be done.  My vocation as a wife, mother, and teacher to my children are my top PRIORITIES.  One or all of those three supersede anything else.

I love this quote by Socrates.

I love the chance at a New Beginning...

I have been very busy getting our activities on the calendar.  I have heard it said that 'priorities are the steering wheels of life.'

Prioritize.  It is a word that works well with SIMPLIFY.  

Simplify is a word my husband and I adopted years ago, and continue to use, to help run our household and day to day planning.

I have also heard, "The key is not to prioritize what's on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities."  ~ Stephen Covey     YES!!!

In addition to my 'word of the year' I have been praying about my resolutions...My thoughts about RESOLUTIONS.

Wishing you a blessed and fruitful New Year!

Christ + Mass = CHRISTMAS

A very blessed Christmastide to my family, my friends, and all mankind...

May the joy and peace of the Christ Child remain in your heart and soul, forever.

The gift that keeps on giving.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."  ~ John 3:16

O Holy Night: Christmas Eve 2014

Silent night, holy night

All is calm, all is bright

Round yon Virgin Mother and Child

Holy Infant so tender and mild

Sleep in heavenly peace 

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour is born
Christ, the Saviour is born

Silent night, holy night

Son of God, love's pure light

Radiant beams from Thy holy face

With the dawn of redeeming grace

Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth

Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth

December 2014: Surprises {phfr} style

Joining Like Mother, Like Daughter for some pretty, happy, funny, and real family fun!

{pretty}

Little Lamb surprised me with this pretty nativity set she made.

{happy}

Conductor and I will surprise the altar boys with this modest gift for the altar boys of our parish.

{funny}

This is the outcome of two photographers trying to get a pic of one another; Surprise!

{real}

The old ones have worn...St. Nicholas' feast day is the perfect time to 'surprise' them with a new set.



Go to Like Mother, Like Daughter to find more contentment...

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