Wordless Wednesday - "Ash Wednesday" Edition

Good Early morning!

Well, this isn't an Ash Wednesday picture. We won't be getting ashes till this evening, but this picture was taken on Monday after Lovely did her Day 1 of Lenten Adventures.

She watched the video - an overview of what will happen this Lent, what Ash Wednesday is, etc and then there is an audio section that told about Jesus, John the Baptist, etc. While she listened she was drawing on her magna doodle. The audio was pretty broad stuff for her age, so I wasn't going to make her sit at attention. I just let it play as we both worked on things. It talked about the crucifixion, Jesus giving His life for us, John the Baptist in prison, etc (talking about followers living the faith). When it was over, we were "done" and I asked if she had any questions. She then showed me the magna doodle and her art. I was so surprised - she drew the explanation she heard! It's all there - John the Baptist in prison, Jesus on the cross, the men on either side of him, even signs of hope and flowers. Check it out!!!! Maybe you can even see what I know is there!


This proves kids are listening, and understanding, more than we sometimes give them credit for. She's quite a wonderful kid :)

We wish you a peaceful and fruitful Ash Wednesday and start of Lent!!

Lenten Plans

Happy Shrovetide, season of Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, etc. :) :)

As we recover from a nasty stomach bug, and our appetite and strength return, my family is really trying to think of fun things to eat and do before the 40 days of cutting back begin on Wednesday. I loved reading how Kate's family has an ice cream dinner on Tuesday. FUN!!!! Another family I know likes to leave a lot of sweet treats out all day - pancakes, donuts, chocolate croissants, snacks, etc before Lent begins and then future "fun snacking" is reserved for special days, Sundays, or Easter Sunday. I have small group tomorrow and our Familia group will probably have King Cake, etc. on hand. Hubby wants to go to a local pizza buffet tomorrow night, so we'll do that and then I'm attending a "Mother's Night In" at a friend's house with more Fat Tuesday snacking later tomorrow evening (hmm, maybe I should bring some ice cream....???? hehe). I'll probably be BEGGING for Wednesday's cut back from sweet foods LOL!!

On Wednesday, Hubby has to play at his other church, so we'll all go together for an evening Ash Wednesday service at the Cathedral. Lovely LOVES Ash Wednesday, so that will be fun to share with her and Valiant.

Then Lent begins. While I've always "done" Lent (Hubby only started in 1999 when he joined the Church) - I don't think I/we've experienced it as deeply as we started doing last year. Being parents, and parents of a older daughter who really loves to talk about faith and live it, can open doors to something so beautiful in our own faith life. As I grew up, I always gave up something (snacking, chocolate, etc) and in college and post college/early married life I was challenged to "add to" during Lent, not just give up - it just never had the spiritual impact it had last year as Hubby and I did things with Lovely. I simply never thought deeply about the effects of what I was doing for 40 days. This past year, we discovered wonderful traditions out there that enriched even the parents' prayer lives. Blogging my feelings was also wonderful for me (I started blogging last Lent, wow!! It's been almost a year). I learned about extending what I 'gave up' or 'added to' in my Lenten practice so I think deeper about my faith - not just giving something up and not evaluating the process or growing for it. I'm looking forward to Lent even more this year!

Blogging is so great because I can read other people's ideas and see if they can work for our family. Also, the internet has been great because Lovely loves the internet "Lenten Adventures" which gives us so many kid friendly ideas, challenges, and traditions she (and we) enjoyed last year. It helps me make a plan for what I will sacrifice for Lent, what Lovely can do, and what we do together as a family. So, thanks to so many different sites (I'll link below - some have been linked above) I'll list what goals our family has for the next 40 days.

Family/Lovely Goals:

~ 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. (Kate's cute mice are something I'm now thinking about too!!! So many ideas!!!)
~ 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.
~ We will cut down on "fun" snacks or treats, aside from Sundays or Feast Days. I'm not talking about cutting after school nutritious snacks to refuel - but cutting back on cookies, baking, etc that are more "fun" for Lent. We WILL, though, still do Lenten cooking/baking that ties into the lessons we learn together - so pretzels, etc will also not fall into this cut back.
~ We'll be making a Lenten Lamb Calendar like what Karen has listed on her post. It looks so cute and fun way to count the days!! It's like an Advent Calendar countdown.
~ 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.
~ 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.
~ Kate has a bunch of great links I want to check out this week at the end of her post.
~ Family Adoration

Daddy's Goals:

~ Giving up soda for Lent (this is huge for him).
~ 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.

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. I picked this because I always say I'm going to do this, and don't - because it is hard, and I hoard the little things in life, I need to push myself and let go of the worldly distractions that clutter my life. Anyone want to join me?? Hubby is - come join us?
~ Rumor has it that Faith and Family Live will post new Lenten Meditations like they did last year (I linked to some examples I reposted on my blog) that, now that I know they exist, I want to make part of 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. It gives 3 things a day to cover Fast, Praying, and Giving. 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.
~ Another friend had a good one I should do - give up yelling for Lent. Wow...I need to do that too!!

*** Here is a GREAT one from Rachel - this would be huge for me.....wow, what a thought to ponder. How many of us would this help, especially as women??

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!!!

Happy St. Valentine's Day!!!!!

I hope you feel the love today surrounded by those who care about you!!! For our family, that love was shown by both girls letting Daddy and I sleep in till 9am (wow!) and Daddy getting up and fixing us these:

Pumpkin Pancakes with pumpkin butter (and some powdered sugar....I hope that won't mess with my glucose test tomorrow!! LOL!!)

Later today, I'll sit at the table and help Lovely makes these for a Valentine treat!!! I hope to post pics later...(I have no idea where our heart cookie cutter went...maybe it went to visit its Valentine today).

Much love!!!

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow...

Pics from our "Blizzard of 2010" - what a nice blessing when we're 'under the weather'. It forces us to stay home, get a BIT of fresh air, and something wondrous to look at as we rest...













Let it Snow.... :) :) As for me...I'm enjoying being back on the couch, drinking water, and reading magazines (oh yeah...and NAPS!!). Hidden blessings in a sickie weekend.....

BOOS and YAYS for ANOTHER Long weekend...

BOO: Lovely got the stomach bug at 4am this morning.
YAY: She and I can snuggle on the couch together. We can pray Hubby and little Val don't get it!

BOO: At my midwife appt this morning I was told (even though I feel so much better and perky) I'm sicker than I thought, have lost 5 lbs, and am dehydrated (which explains the Braxton Hicks/contractions I've been feeling). So my glucose testing was delayed and I was told to go home, try some bed rest, DRINK, eat and sleep and come back Monday at 9am vs. being sent in for IV fluids. Hmmm.....I think I'll heed their advice!
YAY: It's a great excuse to just cuddle up this weekend with some snow, blessed it is only moderate bed rest, and my husband is home to help instead of at work.

BOO: The southern snow has canceled flights TO here before the snow even started. Thus, my brother and his family cannot come visit this weekend.
YAY: We're too sick for them to come anyways. We can recoup with the soft, lovely, falling snow and the 4 day weekend we have. No pressure to entertain or temptation to get off the couch to see family we love who came so far to see us. We can wait for another time.

BOO: All that hard work while sick this week (and previous weeks) to get the house clean for their visit and stocked with food for entertaining. We did all that for nothing, right?
YAY: The house is CLEAN and we have NO responsibilities aside from relaxing, healing, staying off our feet and being together as a little family - in a clean home with good food (as we are able to eat it). That just makes it better!! Especially when it is snowing - no errands needed!

I wish you all a good weekend, and if YOU are sick....get well soon!!!!

Small Successes - "Surviving" Edition

I'm surviving a stomach bug - 'nuff said lol. I'm hoping it is gone before out of town family arrive tomorrow - and my glucose test was supposed to be tomorrow. I guess I should reschedule that, huh?

Much love....

(As for Thankful Thursday? I'm thankful to be feeling WAY better than yesterday! I've even eaten some cereal! God is good and health is good!! AMEN!)

A Father's Love

What made the Super Bowl for me when I don't normally care?

I'll tell you two ways:

1) Post Katrina New Orleans NEEDED and DESERVED this. Such spirit!!!! Loved that!!!

2) These images of the Brees. I got choked up looking at it on the TV live as it happened. I was glad to find the images online here. What a moment for a father and his tiny son. Maybe I got teary cause I'm pregnant, or maybe because I have seen the same look my husband give my girls at big moments in his life - when they are all he sees no matter what else is happening.

Pretty amazing, huh? Drew's eyes just got me...




I was trying to remember what Drew Brees' pic reminded me of from our past, and I dug these up from 2004. Here is Hubby in the hospital recovering from one of the treatments and major surgeries he needed and seeing baby Lovely for the first time in days. His face and eyes said much the same:





Whether it is the 44th Superbowl, or the "Superbowl moments" of life - there is NOTHING like a father's love for his children. Nothing. Thank God for unconditional love.