Prepping for Lent

I've been meaning to post our traditional plans for the last few days but I've been struck down AGAIN with a cold virus, and well, cold viruses always hit me hard. Writing this sentence reminds me I never blogged again about my chronic sinus issues being related to my Cystic Fibrosis CARRIER status (something I only just learned about) last December. I believe when I last blogged, I was going in for an MRI of my sinuses to see if there were any structural abnormalities that CF patients can have that surgery can correct. As much as I didn't want surgery, I was getting so tired of the getting an infection every month or so, I was hoping for a "quick fix". But, alas, I don't have anything bad enough for surgery at this time. My next step is getting tested for special triggers/allergies that are more common to CF. Once my insurance is in order, I'll get that done. I was hoping it would be before now, before spring pollen, etc....and that hasn't happened. So, I find myself sick again, and most likely will have an infection by the weekend LOL! But...what would Lent be without some sacrifice? I just need to gripe less about it. Since baby Gift was born, I've "borne" my sinus issues weakly - I get so down about being sick - and sinus infections are not as bad as say, cancer, or CF, or other things. It seems smaller crosses stress me out more than the larger crosses. Why is that?

Well, since I'm sick, and since it is almost 9pm (I just can't sleep with the pressure), I will make this quick. I'm always so inspired by Lent, and the ideas I glean from the internet and blogs, and those ideas have given my family traditions I never grew up with. I had dreams of this being a crafty Lent, but I don't feel the energy now. So, I'm trying to take the advice I read from many a blogger and go simple this year. Usually we make a Easter Countdown calendar (a sheep that you add cotton balls too) but I didn't have the energy to put that together this year. So, I found this link at CatholicIcing. Karen had a great idea to make solemnity days a great discovery and a special treat day from coloring the days purple - I think Lovely will LOVE that.

The rest I'll list - much stolen from last year's post lol. Too tired! It looks long, but all are just part of our routine. It's funny how much MORE I want to do!

My Goals:

~ 40 Bags in 40 Days - though I'm not sure I can commit to a bag size, I CAN make a goal to a bag a day. It is really hard to do (tried it last year) and after having a new baby and home projects, we need to commit to decluttering our house, spirits, and relationships.
~  I will be doing both my daily Small Steps for Catholic Moms, and also doing the authors' Lenten Meditations and do their daily fasts, alms, and prayers (like they did last year (I linked to some examples I reposted on my blog).  They will be my "giving up" and "adding to" for Lent. Every day is something different from an internet "fast" from e-mail/internet, to simply being more present to my kids or spouse, or no TV for a day, to not cutting corners with my daily work, or giving 5 minutes to God in the morning and evening. They challenge me, which enriches me if I listen to the instructions. I love how varied it is and it makes me give up more than I would make myself do, or DO more than I make myself do.
~ Giving up yelling for Lent. I NEED to do this.

Daddy's Goals:

~ Giving up soda for Lent (this is huge for him) and ONLY drinking water or milk.
~ He wants to do the 40 bags in 40 Days with me, but in his own areas of the house.
~ work more on some KofC duties both at home and church.

Family/Lovely Goals:
~ Ash Wednesday - if I'm healthy enough.
~  Kate give me an idea during her Advent practice to eat simple dinners - soups and salads. My family will be doing that this Lent as a family sacrifice as much as we can.
~ One of the bedtime stories each night will be a New Testament children's story - starting from Jesus' birth to His Resurrection. We did this last year and it was great - we actually used Children's bible stories to cover the whole new testament!
~ Fridays we'll attend our church's Fish Dinner and Stations of the Cross. I'm hoping to host a meatless pot luck at some point with friends as well to share time together.
~ We'll attend the Lenten Penance Service at our church.
~ We'll be doing Lenten Adventure activities - e-mailed to us 3 times a week. We loved this last year.
~ I know thanks to Lenten Adventures, we'll have a sacrifice jar where Lovely can put beans in for each sacrifice she does ("Love is what you do, not what you feel" - meaning sometimes doing things for others out of love isn't what you feel like doing). On Easter Sunday those beans become jelly beans!!! Maybe this year we'll do this beyond Lent. We loved doing it last year. This link from Karen shows this jar along with some other things we may do.
~ Another wonderful Karen makes this great visual sacrifice measure here that I'd love to do. I need to get a flower punch though...or I'll NEVER do this! But it's a great family learning tool for giving! I LOVE the handprints for remembering personal sacrifices!
~ We also will make a crown of thorns from flour, water, and toothpicks, where Lovely can pull the toothpicks out when she does something for others or Jesus. Again, we learned this from Lenten Adventures.
~ I love Erin's idea about "hiding the Alleluia" (Lovely could write out the word and we can hide it till Easter Sunday since during Lent we don't say that word till the big happy Easter day).
~ We'll make Hot Cross Buns for Good Friday and Resurrection Rolls for Easter Sunday and pretzels often (symbol of Lent).
~ I'd like to make a children's Stations of the Cross box as a learning tool that both Kate and Erin (see her pics) mention.
~ Family Adoration

So - These are our Lenten plans and goals. I can't wait to see what graces pour forth from the new focus the next 40 days. I love the traditions we discover, the growth, the journey, the prayers, and the challenge. We'll probably stumble, but the challenge is to try again. Pray for us....we'll be praying for you!!! Happy Fat Tuesday and Mardi Gras!!!


What did you do for your Fat/Shrove Tuesday and Mardi Gras? Hubby made us pancakes, bacon, eggs, and a dessert. He's too good to me and our family!

Blessed Lent!!