Christmas Novena ::

†Christmas Anticipation Prayer†

Beginning on St. Andrew the Apostle's feast day, November 30, the following beautiful prayer is traditionally recited fifteen times a day until Christmas. This is a very meditative prayer that helps us increase our awareness of the real focus of Christmas and helps us prepare ourselves spiritually for His coming

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment In which the Son of God was born Of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires, [here mention your request] through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother. Amen

Reading List:: Advent & Christmas

We are liking this rhythm of wrapped books in a basket, the little snuggles under blankets, the bright eyes as they glance from page to page.  It's all so sweet.  Even if the day has been loud or crazy...the kids instantly settle down for this very moment.

Ours are not wrapped, yet.  Perhaps I won't get to wrapping these up this year.  For some reason I can't find purple wrapping paper without paying a ridiculous amount.  Gold for our 12 days of Christmas books were less pricey, so those are good to go.  I'm going by last year's list of readings   , with only a few variations to make room for some new books.  But I'm pretty excited about this year's list.

~ Advent Readings ~

November 27 ::  Prairie Christmas

November 28 ::  The Gifts

November 29 ::  The Candle in the Window

November 30 ::  The year of the perfect Christmas tree : an Appalachian story

December 1   ::   Merry Christmas, Strega Nona

December 2   ::   The Christmas Candle

December 3   ::   Country angel Christmas

December 4   ::   Jingle, the Christmas clown

December 5   ::   Saint Nicholas

December 6   ::   The Miracle of Saint Nicholas

December 7   ::   Home for Christmas

December 8   ::   Mary, The Mother of Jesus

December 9   ::   The Lady of Guadalupe

December 10 ::   The littlest angel

December 11 ::   Through the animals' eyes : a story of the first Christmas

December 12 ::   The Story of Our Lady of Guadalupe Empress of the Americas

December 13 ::   Lucia, Saint of Light

December 14 ::   Corgiville Christmas

December 15 ::   The Legend of the Poinsettia

December 16 ::   Night of Las Posadas

December 17 ::   Christmas in the Trenches

December 18 ::   Spirit child : a story of the Nativity

December 19 ::   The Christmas Promise
December 20 ::   Bright Christmas: An Angel Remembers
December 21 ::   Papa's Christmas gift : around the world on the night before Christmas
December 22 ::   The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey
December 23 ::   The First Christmas Stocking
December 24 ::   The Night Before Christmas

~ Christmas Reading ~

December 25 ::  The Very First Christmas & Tonight You are my Baby: Mary's Christmas Gift
December 26 ::  Father and Son: A Nativity Story
December 27 ::  An Angel came to Nazareth
December 28 ::  All for the Newborn Baby
December 29 ::  The Twelve Days of Christmas
December 30 ::  The Story of Christmas: According to the gospels of Matthew and Luke
December 31 ::  The Little Match Girl
January 1       ::  Mary, Mother of Jesus
January 2       ::  The Clown of God
January 3       ::  Baboushka and the three kings
January 4       ::  The true gift : a Christmas story & The Christmas Gift / El regalo de Navidad
January 5       ::  This is the Star
January 6       ::  The Story of the Three Wise Kings

~ For Lucy:: Our bigger girl ~

Silent Night: The Story of the World War I Christmas Truce

In the early months of World War I, on Christmas Eve, men on both sides of the trenches laid down their arms and joined in a spontaneous celebration. Despite orders to continue shooting, the unofficial truce spread across the front lines. Even the participants found what they were doing incredible: Germans placed candlelit Christmas trees on trench parapets, warring soldiers sang carols, and men on both sides shared food parcels from home. They climbed from the trenches to meet in "No Man's Land" where they buried the dead, exchanged gifts, ate and drank together, and even played soccer

I read this last year, or maybe it was the year before.   But I remember being so impressed with the miracle of that night.  Lucy is just now old enough to read this, 14, but she is also touching on this part of our history in her studies.  So, I think it's a good fit for her.  Please know this is what we've opted for her to read aside from the picture books.

I'll have to add the links to the books a bit later.  It's way too late for me now and my eyes are about to pop.  *update; the links are up and there have been some addition and changes. 

Happy readings!!!

Advent Reading

It's that time again...
We are adding and finding new books to enjoy during the Advent Season.  Our own library is getting richer each year with these little finds.  But we do use our library, a lot, for the ones we aren't able to purchase...at least not yet ;-)

~ new this year ~

 I've found a few good books on the discounted racks, to which I am so very grateful for : :

Prairie Christmas by Elizabeth Van Steenwyk

We started our Advent reading with this little find.  It was sweet and a instant hit with Rose. 

Mary, Did you Know?

This book is a surprise for my kids, especially Lucy.  I nearly yelled when I saw this book at my mom's local christian store.  It's one of Lucy's very favorite songs to sing.  Lucy's cousins and her have sung this sweet gem at our parish right before the midnight Mass.  I wouldn't be able to write down how beautiful their voices and the music sound among the candles, poinsettias and of course Jesus. 

The Wee Christmas Cabin of Carn-na-ween by Ruth Sawyer

~ Just a few of our favorites ~


The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey
A tear jerker every time!  It's sweet, it's beautifully illustrated and Lucy and I love it!


The Christmas Promise
by Susan Campbell Bartoletti and David Christiana
I do like the choked up throat and tear jerker books.  This one never fails me either...I have to take breaks in between some of the pages and one long breath for the final page. 

The Christmas Story
Beautiful pictures!  Even the littliest one in your family will love this one.

The Night of Las Posadas

We've hosted Posadas in our home or have attended others; but it's a latino tradition that takes me way back.  I can feel the cool air, the heat from our candle, the familar songs of the precession.  With Mary and Joseph leading the group.  House to house we go.  Asking for shelter until finally someone sings a yes.  We enter smelling the sweet warm ponche and are greeted by hellos and well wishes.  We then feast on pan dulce or some pozole (or menudo).  This will depend on our generous hosts.  Children play...adults sing and talk.  And we end with the breaking of la pinata.
It's pretty awesome!

There are a few more books that are probably making their way to my front door.  Some came by recommendations while others I've had on a wish list for a while.  All of the books, though, are sure to make for some nice reading time.

Look out for a linky-link by http://showerofroses.blogspot.com/2011/11/favorite-advent-and-christmas-books.html.  I hear she is setting one up.

*Update*
The link is up!

Thanksgiving Greetings ~

Almighty Father,

 you are lavish in bestowing all your gifts, and we give you thanks for the favors you have given to us. In your goodness you have favored us and kept us safe in the past. We ask that you continue to protect us and to shelter us in the shadow of your wings. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen

Prayers

Maybe, it's from all the years I spent with girls just like these.  Maybe, it's from seeing first hand how mommies and daddies can and have 'broken' their own children.  Maybe, it's because I'm a Mommy. 

I don't know.  But my heart hurts for these two precious souls.  I hurt for their pain.

Please, go read about two very precious souls here. 

Then offer a prayer.

God bless!

Feast for a King

It's Christ the King

Today:

Mass

String Quartet Concert

Holy Hour

&

Dinner

~ Menu ~

Sliced Glazed Ham

Roasted Corn & Asparagus

Warm Spicy-Tofu Soup

&

A Lemon Crowned Cake

 ~ Prayer ~

Christ Jesus, I acknowledge You King of the universe.

All that has been created has been made for You.

Make full use of Your rights over me.

I renew the promises I made in Baptism,

when I renounced Satan and all his pomps and works,

and I promise to live a good Christian life

and to do all in my power

to procure the triumph of the rights of God

and Your Church.

Divine Heart of Jesus,

I offer you my efforts

in order to obtain that all hearts

may acknowledge your Sacred Royalty,

and that thus the Kingdom of Your peace

may be established throughout the universe.

Amen.

~ Coloring Pages ~

coloring page credit: Sanctussimplicitus.com

Pictures soon too follow, but I have a ham to get out of the oven....

God bless!

{Pretty, happy, funny, real}

This was one of "those" weeks that flew by.  It was busy, yes.  But each day there were moments to savor.  This {phfr} post is about one of those moments

~ Capturing the context of everyday life ~

Every Thursday, here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!

{Pretty}

A trip to the Getty
Among the paintings, the gardens and art we think this little gal is the prettiest thing to look at.

{Happy}

Two kinds of happiness of love to see

1. From children who spend time with their father and giggle among the gardens.

2.  From a mother who gets to see her long distance son again.

Her smile behind that sign must have been huge!

{Funny}

Here is a story:

We started off Thursday morning making posters for my London Brother's arrival.  I had thought his flight was arriving at 1:00, we thought we had plenty of time.

I check the status of his flight at 11:45 and see that the flight is early...early!  Yes, and hour early. 

We run to get into the van.  It'll take at least 40 minutes to get there.

We speed drive as fast and as safely as we can to the airport.

We arrive and park.

We run into the terminal, waving posters, looking for a brother who must be wondering where his welcoming committee is...

This is the picture showing our confused faces as we realize

we are A FULL 2 HOURS early and not late.

I'm behind the camera...

laughing

laughing

laughing.

It really was funny!

(I had accidently looked at the wrong fly in date and my military time know-how...needs work, oop's)

{Real}

A brother's visit home for Thanksgiving from across the Atlantic is worth the wait!

Pay a visit to Like Mother, Like Daughter and encourage each other in finding contentment throughout their day.

Journey through the states

Why can't I find the time to blog!

That sounds so funny and looks worse in type...I can't find the time to sit and write because there are parties to prep for, cookies to bake, lists to compile, books to check out...so much to do.

This particular post has taken almost a week to finish.  I'm glad I got it in because it was a really cute night.

On this day, pictured above, a group of travelers came by.  We've been traveling back in time and visiting some of our countries very first states.

~ The Thirteen Colonies ~

Together the kids and I have learned a lot

read a lot

baked/cooked a lot

&

watched and sang

a lot!

A few weeks ago we invited our two families (it was a big group ;-D) over to check out what we've learned.  This post is a little recap and shout out to the efforts of these kids.

Each, who are dear to my heart (sniff-sniff)

Each of the kids chose one specific state to display for the evening's showing.

They illustrated what they liked about their state, learned about one of that state's famous citizen, drew the state's flag onto the poster and

wrote a little piece that each shared with the audience.

That was a couple of weeks of works. 

Then kids spent the day cooking for our guest. 

We used this book here for our recipes.

The United States Cookbook

Jessica had mentioned using this book for her states studies with her children.  I really recommend it.  We began to use it sometime last year.  Our library carried the book so I kept checking it out to use with the kids.  So often in fact that our librarian, at the time, finally told me I should just consider buying it.

I have bought it...

But boy have we gotten some good use out of it....

~ Menu ~

Italian Submarine Sandwiches

Crab (Crabby) Cakes

Baked Beans

Banana Bread

Peach Roll Ups

Pretzels

Italian Subs

"New Jersey" 

Crab Cakes

"Maryland"

Baked Beans

"Massachusetts"



They made a feast!!

We had their posters up throughout the room and some of the pictures that captured this journey of ours. 

They did so well with their speeches, some had them memorized!  We then closed with singing

 "The Star Bangle Banner".

They had long since memorized the song and we read the full version of the poem a while back.  But that afternoon the kids kept singing the song as they cooked.  We had the Edison guy come by during the afternoon and I wish I could have captured his face.  He smiled and smiled and chuckled a few times; finally stating he hasn't heard kids of their age sing that song...let alone know it.

It was really cute.

Now we are off on some other adventures!

Thanks to Jessica for first sharing her use of these fabulous books.  I'm not sure when or where I first saw the books, I know it came from someones blog.  Perhaps it was Elizabeth Foss....

Who knows

but

Thanks to you too for sharing such an awesome find!

Discover America State by State Series

F is for the First State: Delaware

G is for the Garden State: New Jersey

K is for Keystone: Pennsylvannia

P is for Peach: Georgia

P is for Palmetto: South Carolina

N is for Nutmeg: Connecticut

M is for Mayflower: Massachusetts

B is for Blue Crab: Maryland

G is for Granite: New Hampshire

E is for Empire: New York

M is for Maple Syrup: Vermont

Our Prayer Table

I had seen this project over at Charlotte's blog last year and had wanted to do this with our family.  With Rose nearing her First Holy Communion and the Church praying for the Holy Souls Purgatory' I knew that it would be a great teaching moment.  So we prayed, talked and made a pretty place to remember our dearly departed.

I printed out my children's patron saints (this could have been a HUGE list, but I kept it small with adding just one each of their many friends).  I also added a photo for the many babies aborted or lost through miscarriages.  ♥ Our own little saint is here, as we remembered our own miscarriage of last year ♥.

Lucy took control of the poster and the younger kids helped set up the table.

We also got our pan de muertos from our favorite panderia. We enjoyed it with some hot chocolate, after we payed a visit to the gravesites of our departed family members.

1030 All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.

1031 The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned.606 The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence and Trent. The tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire:607

As for certain lesser faults, we must believe that, before the Final Judgment, there is a purifying fire. He who is truth says that whoever utters blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will be pardoned neither in this age nor in the age to come. From this sentence we understand that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come.608

1032 This teaching is also based on the practice of prayer for the dead, already mentioned in Sacred Scripture: "Therefore [Judas Maccabeus] made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin."609 From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God.610 The Church also commends almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead:

Let us help and commemorate them. If Job's sons were purified by their father's sacrifice, why would we doubt that our offerings for the dead bring them some consolation? Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them.611

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church

5!

Yes, you little Cecilia are now 5!

October 29, 2006

we were gifted a teeny-tiny dark eyed beauty.

For months you had dreaded your 5th birthday.  How can a little girl not want to turn 5?  You kept saying you didn't want to grow up.  You stated more than once how you wished you could stay my "little girl forever".  That you couldn't "bare to see me get old".  Some of what you said troubled me.  Over time though, and as we neared your birthday, you seemed to have gotten over your 'hurdle'.

There is still a mention or two about living with your Papi and I until we are grey and grandparents.  But just the other day you asked me,

 "how is it that bills get paid".

And you made a realization that,

"adults can have dessert, even when they don't finish their dinner".

So, I suppose you've come to terms with one day becoming an adult.

Until then,

you may stay our little girl for as long as you wish!

With candy apples, lollipops, chocolate covered pretzels and cake!

That will be just alright with me!

Turning 10

A belated birthday tribute

With all the running around to and fro choir practices, viola/guitar/piano lessons and such; I haven't had the time to post about our birthday celebrations. 

Nor did I get to post any photo tributes to them either. 
So in a quick flash, here it is b-day #1.

Max is 10

10!

A double digit birthday!

As a treat I took him out to get some breakfast.  It was supposed to be a mother and son morning

but

a little someone didn't want to be left behind

He looked 'so thrilled'.

But really, he had no reason to be down.  His celebrating lasted a whole week.

Caught in the act!

Trying to sneak into the candy...

Simple cake

For a grateful kid

It was a day of quiet fun

followed by a weekend of

great fun!

laser tag-

pizza-

lots of boys-

some family in the mix-

laughs and ice cream

We love you, mijo!!

Love that you still want and need our tight hugs.

Love that you aren't embarrassed when your sisters call you by their special names for you.

Love that you are you and feel no need to rush.

Love that you are engrossed with rocks, insects and clouds.

We just love YOU!