Hand-Maid With Love

Sunday, December 8, 2013

~ St. Nicholas ~

As our Homeschool Group's First Friday Mass Coordinator, I thought it would be fun to celebrate the feast of St. Nicholas, who is the patron saint of children, with a festive flare.

So I visited this website and came up with some fun activities to help celebrate the occasion.

Some of the activities included:

ST. NICHOLAS GAMES & ACTIVITIES

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

CROZIER
St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, carried a crozier to be a shepherd for his people.

Guess how many candy-cane “croziers’ are in the jar?

CROZIER
A hooked staff carried by a bishop; represents a shepherd's staff as the bishop is to be the shepherd of the people, as Jesus is the Good Shepherd. Again, a crozier is a general symbol for bishops, but unique to Nicholas among gift-givers.

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Life saver

for children
St. Nicholas, is a “Life saver”; he saved 3 children from the wicked inn keeper.

Guess how many “life savers’ are in the jar?

LIFE SAVER

FOR CHILDREN
Show Nicholas as the protector of children, from the story rescuing young children or students from the evil butcher or innkeeper. Usually three children are in the tub, but sometimes only two are present.

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sailors
when sailors were in a ‘crunch’, as the angry seas tossed their ship about for 2 days; good st. Nicholas prayed, bringing them safely to the harbor of myra.

Guess how many “crunches” are in the jar?

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animals
quick fact: another st. Nicholas, st. Nicholas of tolentino, is know as a patron saint of animals. A studious, kind and gentle youth, at the age of 16 Nicholas became an Augustinian Friar.

Guess how many “animal cracker cookies” are in the jar?

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fish
the fish in the sea swam in the angry seas that tossed the sailors about, before st. Nicholas brought the boat to safety.

Guess how many “swedish fish” are in the jar?

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coins
st. Nicholas gave of his own ‘coins’ to help 3 young maidens pay for their dowry, sparing their lives from slavery.

Guess how many “coins” are in the jar?

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Advent is a time to reflect on the lord's coming.
December holds many opportunities to learn about him,
to know him,
through his saints and through his mother.

~ advent ~
Preparing our souls to receive Christ worthily.

Linking up to Equipping Catholic Families Saints Cele-Linky
&
Catholic Bloggers Network
~+~ Homeschooling & Liturgical Calendar ~+~

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

~ Guide Us to Thy Perfect Light ~

We three kings of Orient are
Bearing gifts we traverse afar.
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
Following yonder star.

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

Born a king on Bethlehem's plain,
Gold I bring to crown Him again,
King forever, ceasing never
Over us all to reign.

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

Frankincense to offer have I.
Incense owns a Deity nigh.
Prayer and praising all men raising,
Worship Him, God on high.

Welcome...to our family's ADVENTures...

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

Myrrh is mine: Its bitter perfume
Breaths a life of gathering gloom.
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding dying,
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb.

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

Glorious now behold Him arise,
King and God and Sacrifice.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Sounds through the earth and skies.

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

Joining Jennifer over at Catholic Inspired for the FUN AND FABULOUS

http://www.catholicinspired.com/2013/12/wise-men-adventures-link-up-part-1.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+catholicinspired+%28Catholic+Inspired%29

Linking up to Catholic Bloggers Network

Monthly Link-Up Blitz

~ Family Journal ~

Saturday, November 30, 2013

~ CHRISTmas Presence: Keep Christ in Christmas 2013 Edition ~

"I’m participating in the KEEP CHRIST in CHRISTMAS Blog Link-Up 2013

sponsored by the Catholic Bloggers Network.

Be sure to visit as many links as possible,

listed at the bottom of this post.

~ + ~ + ~ + ~

There are certain cues that can help turn our focus away from the busyness of life and the distractions of secular...let's call them "temptations". Even if you are not prone to the allurements of the "Holiday Season", you could find yourself retreating to the point of missing out on the opportunity to evangelize. And we are all called to evangelize. As Catholics, by the very nature of our baptism, we are called to evangelize. Yes and Amen.

Remember, the New Evangelization. The USCCB sum it all up, better than I ever could, here.

So what are these 'cues'?

In our church, we see the Liturgical colors change. From the green (the Holy Ghost,
life, eternal hope) of the Ordinary Time, to the color of purple (penance
humility, melancholy), during our season of Advent.

In my home, I put away the pretty autumn décor and slowly replace with Christmas items...Yes, Christmas. Although, Christmas does not officially begin until December 25th, I use the Advent season to prepare for the coming of Christ.

So, out come the nativity scenes, and the Advent Calendars, and the Advent books....
Even the Christmas tree will make its appearance, while we wait to 'light' the tree until Christmas Eve (or during a short reprieve for both Gaudete Sunday and the Mother's Rosary & Cookie Exchange).

Christmas music is limited (sans choir practice in preparation for Christmas) during Advent.

Our Christmas Tree is certainly Keeping Christ in Christmas. Borrowing from last years post...here are some thoughts on the Christmas Tree:

I thought, since we call it a CHRISTmas Tree, that we should at least have ornaments that represent CHRIST on our tree. Sound reasonable?

That would still include all the sweet little ornaments that my children have made over the years...and the thoughtful gifted ones from family and friends.
At first, I started rotating some of the older and more sentimental ornaments...we've accumulated quite a few ornaments over the past 22 years (and those that we brought to the marriage - so, if you think about it, that's about 96 years of combined accumulation!! yikes). We've lost some along the way...the count declined some at around the toddler years...no surprise there.

Over the recent years, we have been collecting Christmas ornaments that are *CHRISTmas* themed...so, no snowman, ballet slippers, reindeer, or mouse ornaments - cute as they are. We keep those *type* ornaments (that we already own) for sentimental reason, but have really been enjoying finding and adorning our tree with Christ-like ornaments. Truly helping us to keep Christ in Christmas.

All things CHRISTmas.

And, since I LOVE angels, and have quite the collection of angel ornaments, they are also included in the tree décor.
Also, (and more importantly) since God has used good angels, as part of our Messianic history (as messengers and such), and are heavenly creatures - spiritual beings created by God, to serve and adore God and are our guardians; They, too, have a place on our Christmas tree. Besides, it was the angel Gabriel that announced the incarnation of our Lord to Mary...therefore, it's appropriate to include angels.

Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Angel proclaiming the Good News!

Advent traditions that we love to keep include the Jesse Tree.
Again, borrowing from one of last years Advent post:

~ Maranatha! ~

~ Come, O Christ the Lord! ~

We used these Advent candles last year.
I think we can get another 32+ hours of burning out of them. :o)

Several years ago, we switched over to use this ornament-style for our Jesse Tree,
from the Paper Dali.

Hand-made with love...

My children colored, cut and laminated them. We, then, punched a hole at the top and tied a purple ribbon on. Then, after the daily reading, we hang the "ornament" on the "tree".

We have tried a variety of Jesse Tree styles over the years...this one stuck. And so, here we are.

Simple and Sweet

"I am the Root of Jesse and David's Son, The radiant Star of morning and God's own Light."

Wishing you a very blessed and fruitful Advent Season....as we prepare for His coming.

~ Come, O Christ the Lord! ~

This year, in order to feed this mama's soul, I will visit Jenny's A Catholic Woman’s Advent Devotional, specifically for women.

All the while, I make sure to teach, remember and enjoy some of the Feast Days within the Advent season. For instance (again, borrowing from the archives):

On the vigil of St. Nicholas' feast day...

The girls didn't need to be reminded to put their slippers out by the fireplace.

Conductor...needed reminding. :o)

The slippers were placed by the fireplace...in anticipation of *three golden coins*.

On Dec. 6th - the actual feast day:
After morning Mass, we hurried home to continue our St. Nicholas tradition...

Ta-da...

~ Peppermint Hot Chocolate ~

There are so many wonderful ideas when preparing for the coming of Christ; just remember to keep it simple. Don't try and do all the Advent ideas, which can be overwhelming. Use only what works for you and your family as your present situation allows.
I am always grateful for all the wonderful blogs that share their family traditions and activities. I am also appreciative of the time spent organizing link-ups like the KEEP CHRIST in CHRISTMAS Blog Link-Up.
It is encouraging and helpful in so many ways. Please share one of your favorite Advent traditions or activities in the comment box...

One last thought from me (mostly to myself), remember to
Prioritize:
Faith, Family, then Fun. You will find that you will accomplish much more by keeping Christ in the center of whatever you choose as an Advent 'activity'.

Holy Mass
Daily Spiritual readings
Simple Devotions
Choose one. Nourish, first, your soul...the rest will follow.
Your peace will evangelize to your family, friends and beyond...

Wishing you a very

HAPPY AND HOLY ADVENT & CHRISTMAS...REMEMBER: