Spy Wednesday:: Some Silver and a lesson

On Palm Sunday we entered Holy Week with cheers and shouts of Hosanna!

Then came the calm before the storm.

Spy Wednesday!

"But if it is a male or a female slave that it gores, he must pay the owner of the slave thirty shekels of silver, and the ox must be stoned."

~Exodus 21:32 

For 30 pieces of silver

a friend became a traitor. 

We first started hiding 30 pieces of quarters silver for the kids to find last year.  I don't remember where the idea first came from but, I'm glad I saw it. 

It's a wonder how a short game of finders keepers can lead to a lesson about

greed, betrayal, consequences,

and mercy. 

They ran, sought after, grabbed 

pushed and found. 

At the end we read about what Judas did. 

Read from Psalms: 

"Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me." Psalms 41:9

 This has an effect on the kids.  

Not enough to give up their silver though; nonetheless it's a good talk and they get it.  

This little child was content with her one piece of silver.  It was enough for her.

"Then Judas, his betrayer, seeing that Jesus had been condemned, deeply regretted what he had done. He returned the thirty pieces of silver."

~Mathew 27:3

The Son of Man came not to be served, 

but to serve 

and to give his life 

as a ransom for many. 

A Sweet St. Valentine Gala

Banners, cake, a story and lots of sweet faces!

I'm glad the projects were started early.  One day a cricut machine will 'magically' appear in my house; and make the crafts a whole lot easier.

Our St. Valentine Gala was yesterday.  A few days prior to the actual feast day, but since the 14th landed at the start of Lent, and on a Thursday (crazy days for us); an early celebration was the best idea ever!

I made the banners using each a picture of each child.  Then I wrote a verse from the bible regarding love around the hearts.  All together the banner looked really cute and they were scattered through out the living room and dining room.  A gift for each family to take home and place in their own space.

We had the focus of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary as well as St. Valentine.  Keeping this feast Catholic is always important, especially in these times were in.

When the kids arrived, it was PARTY time!

We first read the real reason for St. Valentines' Day.  As, I'm told by my Lucy (who was celebrating a very grown up Jane Austin Valentine Tea down the street) I get into my 'teaching' modes easily.  Hey, aren't I a home schooler?  So, yes we talked briefly to the kids about true love.

Loving the way God loves.

Love is hard.

Love takes work.

Love should be cared for.

Love should be shared.

Because we have the best example of what love is, and how to love.  We have Jesus on the cross.  We have the knowledge that God so loved us, that he created each of us to love and be loved.  He loved us so much that he was willing to die for us.

Beautiful LOVE!

We promptly went from reading and talking to EATING

and crafting!

Each child planted an ivy around a wire heart.  I had meant to decoupage the images of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary.  But, I couldn't find my decoupage stuff.  To bad too because the images were so cool!

But during the planting, I told the kids that like this ivy, if we care for our faith by staying close to the sacraments and Jesus our faith would grow just like the ivy. 

Strong. 

Vibrant.

We just didn't have food and crafts though.  There was a scavenger hunt.  What were they hunting you ask?  Rabbits? Eggs? Dogs?

NO!

They went hunting for HEARTS!

Each heart had a number on it.  Once all the hearts were found they had to line up in according to their numbers.  That was funny!  Who would have thought that finding the #3 and where he should go would be so hard...  Us moms just laughed; they received NO help from us.

The hearts had a verse from

1 Corinthians 13: 1-13

Each child had to read aloud the verse written on their heart. 

This was cool!

Ending our day with the St. Valentine exchange and play-play-play

 

  

 

It was an awesome afternoon among friends!

Dear Saint and glorious martyr,

Teach us to love unselfishly and to find great joy in giving.  Enable all true lovers to bring out the best in God and in each other.  Love.  Love is patient and kind, it doesn't envy or boast and it's never pround.  Love is not rude or selfish.  It doesn't get angry or keep track of wrongs.  Love doesn't delight in bad things, but it rejoices in the truth.  Love always protecdts, trusts, hopes, and preservers.

Love never fails.

St. Valentine, Pray for us!



Envisioning Hearts, Pink, & St. Therese

I'm hosting a St. Valentine Gala soon (like this Monday) and my head has been swimming with ideas.
If you can picture this; it'll be an afternoon of several families between the ages of infancy and 11ish.

The older siblings will be up the road celebrating a Jane Austine Valentine Tea, dressed in Regency sweetness.

Back at this manor, though, we are looking at ideas for our younger group.  Something that focuses more on the love that is God rather than the amounts of sweets in our bags.
(though that is important to a 7 year old for sure ;0).

I've scanned the boards and have one too many ideas lingering in my head.  So, I'm narrowing it down to a manageable few.  I'm thinking along the lines of:

The Sacred Hear to Jesus

 (I mean how perfect is that)

St. Therese's examples of love

(including her quotes everywhere)

That'll be our focus but, I can't put down any other details, as there may be some lurking here; who may spill the beans.

Until then here are some quick pictures of the things/crafts happening around the house...

Lacy @ Catholic Icing shared this free St. Valentine countdown. 

As the kids take down a heart; we read it after morning prayers and then the scripture is placed on the door.  That way we can return to read them throughout the days leading to Lent.

We've already read some beautiful verses!

Rose is sewing these felt heart pockets for her friends.  This was the kind of practice she needed to master her running stitch. 
According to her, she's become an expert!

This is a little peek at my project of the week

Now I'm off.  

I have lots of hearts to cut out and some goodies to bake...

Holy Week 2012

"In God's providence the Cross of Christ was destined to be a sign of glory and not an emblem of shame: from that Cross came victory over Satan, from it came life, resurrection and salvation"

♥

Blessed be God!

Blessed be His Holy name!

And blessings to you all during this Holy Week!

Our plans for this week

• Stations of the Cross and benediction at our parish this Wednesday
• A few practices with the kids (track and softball)
• Confession
• Veneration of the cross here at home with the kids
• A special dinner for Holy Thursday
• A hike and very special dinner on Good Friday

(My FIL is yet again been blessed.  His cancer has once again been remarkably controlled and tumors have all reduced from the chemo.  He feels well enough to have the whole family over on Good Friday; and we are all so grateful for his health and time with us!  Thanks be to God!!) 

• Easter Vigil at our parish on Saturday

(A sweet little girl is receiving her sacraments that night, please pray for her)

• Easter Sunday!!!!!

 (Not sure what we are doing yet but it'll be with family and I'm sure there will be a feast of some sort and a nice bottle of wine ;-)

God of such unwavering love,
how do I "celebrate"
the passion and death of Jesus?
I often want to look the other way
and not watch,
not stay with Jesus in his suffering.
Give me the strength
to see his love with honesty and compassion
and to feel deeply
your own forgiveness and mercy for me.
Help me to understand
how to "celebrate" this week.
I want be able to bring
my weaknesses and imperfections with me
as I journey with Jesus this week,
so aware of his love.

St. Joseph, Pray for us!

St. Joseph, how wonderful it is to celebrate your feast day today.  You who showed love and complete trust under great difficulty.  You who accepted the gentle words from God's messenger without hesitation.  You serve as an example, you and our Mother Mary, of a holy family.  We've remembered your past days with lots of food, altars adorned with gifts for the hungry, gatherings and treats.  Today, as you know, we've scaled down the celebration.  But just a bit.

The children are coloring sheets, they are building and creating pieces for a little altar, and dinner will be an old favorite.  All for you!

Continue to pray for our families, dear St. Joseph.  Pray for our husbands, as you are the example and patron of fathers.  Pray for the men in our our lives; our fathers, husbands, brothers, uncles, father-in-laws, sons, and friends. 

My little working bees!



Our resources:

1.   3D Mini Altar and coloring sheets;

thanks to Evann for first inspiring how we celebrate San Giuseppe's feast day.

2.  Past post from St. Joseph's Feast Days;

 here, here, and here

Dinner for tonight

Minestrone Soup

Creamed Raspberry Cupcakes

Shrove Tuesday!

Whether today is Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday or even Pancake Day for you.  It is always the last day before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent.  40 days of self sacrifice, of doing more, growing more, being more for Jesus.  It's a time of silence and keeping focus on our souls.  For many it'll be a time of deep reflection, while for others it may be a time of change.

Shrove Tuesday is the last day of what traditionally was called "Shrovetide," the week preceding the beginning of Lent. The word itself, Shrovetide, is the English equivalent for "Carnival," which is derived from the Latin words carnem levare, meaning "to take away the flesh." (Note that in Germany, this period is called "Fasching," and in parts of the United States, particularly Louisiana, "Mardi Gras.") While this was seen as the last chance for merriment, and, unfortunately in some places, has resulted in excessive pleasure, Shrovetide was the time to cast off things of the flesh and to prepare spiritually for Lent.  Actually, the English term provides the best meaning for this period. "To shrive" meant to hear confessions

~ Catholic Culture

This is my favorite season of the liturgical year.  We are going to have a mix bag of pancakes and a dish packed with meat for dinner.  Then I'm off to assist with the confirmation class and we are in for a super treat with Fr. S beginning our evening with a talk regarding Lent.  Since he just returned from a retreat with fellow priest, I'm sure he is on FIRE right now and ready to feed the flock.

For my kiddies though we've had a day of music, lessons and Mardi Gras fun...check it out:

I wanted the kids to know whey there are 3 specific colors used on Mardi Gras

So I used a simple chart I made for them to fill in the meaning as we spoke about each color

(it's an easy little download I made and you may use it if you like)

Purple is for Lent signifying Justice

Gold is for Easter signifying Power

Green is for Epiphany signifying Faith;  

it officially ends the season of Epiphany and is the vigil for the starting of Lent

We then moved on to make Mardi Gras masks.  We used a simple template from here first found by Charlotte.

We spent some time on these, talking about our human mask.  The easiness of hiding our sins behind such masks but how our real selves are always seen by God. 

Our real selves are always so much nicer and the masks are fun to use for play.  But I really wanted the kids to understand that the play of 'Mardi Gras' as seen on T.V and such isn't what we celebrate.  As Fr. S stated tonight (I had to finish this post after my class) we enter into Lent to shed ourselves of what keeps us fulling from God.  We don't party it out on 'Fat Tuesday'.  We use today to prepare our way as we enter this time of Lent.

Look at those smiles...

Now for the morning and the start of Lent!

God, heavenly Father, look upon me and hear my prayer during this holy Season of Lent. By the good works You inspire, help me to discipline my body and to be renewed in spirit.

Without You I can do nothing. By Your Spirit help me to know what is right and to be eager in doing Your will. Teach me to find new life through penance. Keep me from sin, and help me live by Your commandment of love. God of love, bring me back to You. Send Your Spirit to make me strong in faith and active in good works. May my acts of penance bring me Your forgiveness, open my heart to Your love, and prepare me for the coming feast of the Resurrection of Jesus.

Lord, during this Lenten Season, nourish me with Your Word of life and make me one with You in love and prayer.

Fill my heart with Your love and keep me faithful to the Gospel of Christ. Give me the grace to rise above my human weakness. Give me new life by Your Sacraments, especially the Mass.

Father, our source of life, I reach out with joy to grasp Your hand; let me walk more readily in Your ways. Guide me in Your gentle mercy, for left to myself I cannot do Your Will.

Father of love, source of all blessings, help me to pass from my old life of sin to the new life of grace. Prepare me for the glory of Your Kingdom. I ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever.

Amen

Check out http://catholicicing.com/2012/02/lenten-link-up/
to Lent!

Las Posadas begin today

Will you be joining one?

Para Nuestra Virgencita de Guadalupe

Traditionally, we greet the dawn on the feast of Nuestra Virgencita with Mass and Las Mañanitas.  The local panaderias are packed in the early morning and in most kitchens there is the familiar smells of champurrado or hot ponche.

We awoke to sing to nuestra Virgencita!

Request her prayers

(a special request was made as a good friend has lost her mother today)

After our Little Flowers meeting & Lucy's Hospitality Program at her Nina's;

we feasted on a nice dinner

Fajitas de Pollo

Arroz Rojo con aguacate

Tortillas de Harina

Pan Dulce

&

Hot Champurrado

Cecilia couldn't wait to eat her pan

As mentioned over @ Catholic Cuisine

Champurrado is a thick Chocolate drink, served hot and made with corn flour (masa harina, I like to use Maseca).

Most Latino households have one version or another of a champurrado recipe (or receta).  Really they'll vary between families. 

But basics stay the same

Ground Masa

Chocolate

A form of Sugar

Cinnamon

Whole Milk & Water

My mom has her own version.  She has never written her recipe down and I always forget the ingredients.  There are like 20 something items in hers. 

My MIL's comarde has a recipe that....shhhh don't tell my mom....but it's super duper good!!! 

My SIL uses that recipe, and again I've never written it down.  I just depend on the goodness of their kitchens to make me some. 

Honestly, I just need to write these recipes down once and for all.

Here is one that I think taste pretty good (with some variations) from the web:

* Ingredients *

3 cups of water

2 cinnamon sticks

1 anise star

¼ cup masa harina

2 cups whole milk

½ disk Mexican chocolate,

chopped (Abuelita or Ibarra chocolate) more if you like your drink richly chocolate.

note: you can use a semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate if you can't find either of the two mentioned above.

3 ounces piloncillo, chopped or 1/2 cup packed brown sugar (if you can get the piloncillo don't substitute)

* Directions *

In a large saucepan boil milk with the two cinnamon sticks and anise star. Remove from the heat, cover and let the cinnamon sticks and anise star steep for about 10 minutes. Remove the cinnamon sticks and anise star, return to low heat and slowly add the masa harina to the warm milk, whisking until combined. If you happen to have a molinillo, use it; it works better than the whisk.
Add water, chocolate, and piloncillo next.

Continue to whisk away. 
The masa in the drink can easily burn and ruin the whole batch, low heat and a continuous whisk will keep it from burning.

Continue to heat until boiling; reduce the heat and simmer for at least 10 minutes.  Don't walk away from the pot though.  And I would continue whisking until you serve.

(This recipe is pretty easy and can be adjusted to your taste.  Some like their champurrado thicker than others do.  Add less or more milk for the thickness.  I wouldn't add more water.  Some like to add ground cloves.  Some like to do the mix of the masa and milk in a blender.  The options are totally open)

However you observe December 12th isn't the important part.  It's knowing that Our Lady is with us praying for us and taking those request to Jesus.

Dios te salve María, llena eres de gracia, el Señor es contigo bendita tu eres entre todas las mujeres y bendito es el fruto de tu vientre Jesús

Ruega Por Nosotros, Madre de Dios