Lenten Readings

Lenten Reading List

Not in any particular order; we read these over the 40 days of Lent.

   

        
  

 

Holy Week

We aren't away for the week, there are no games or practices on the calendar and the math is in the drawer.  We are in Holy Week.  We have entered into quietness and reflection; perhaps we should have been here 30 days ago but here we are none-the-less.

Our plans from last year are pretty much the same.  I've updated a few things for various reasons; one being that I was asked (months ago) to be a good friend's confirmation sponsor.  That has this week a bit busier than normal.  So I've opted to write out a menu plan w/ any crafts or activities along with it. 

For quick references though, I have the previous posts a click away

Triduum Sacrum

Good Friday Lenten Tea & more
There is a linky (link) at the end of this post too :)

Monday

Tea time:   Lenten Ark readings
Dinner:      Lentil and Barley Stew

Reading:    Lilies, Rabbits, and Painted Eggs: The Story of The Easter Symbols
Activity:    2011 Paschal Candle

Jessica shared her family's new Paschal Candle for this year on her blog.  I was so happy to see it.  Because of time, or the lack of it, we also used Evann's printed Paschal Candle wrap for last year's candle.  It was perfect.  But having done a more hands on candle a few years ago, I wanted the kids to be more involved with this year's candle.   I purchased Illuminated Ink's Paschal Candle kit a few weeks ago for our family (I got an extra one for a gift, it makes a great Easter basket addition) and hopefully it'll come out as nice as the picture shows :).

A bit on our Forty Days and Forty Nights: A Lenten Ark Moving Towards Easter.  I highly recommend this.  It's been an easy and beautiful addition to our readings.  The best part of it for me is that it stands as another visual for the kids.  We couldn't always keep up with the readings; mainly because we were home so little, but I'm glad we had it.

Tuesday

Tea time:    Lenten Readings
Dinner:      Tilapia Fish tacos

Activity:    Decorating eggs using Luba's Ukrainian Easter Egg Decorating Kit - Super Color Kit 

Reading:    Rechenka's Eggs (Paperstar) and The Bird's Gift: A Ukrainian Easter Story

I purchased our kit from Hearth Song.  It looks like a detailed project but, Lucy is quite excited about it.  ~ This site has some pretty ideas and projects on this style of egg decorating.  They also give out one free design.

For the majoring of egg decorating we will just use the colorful eggs provided by our lovely hens.  They lay pretty colored eggs in browns and green-blue tones.  Keeping them plain or painted with acrylics, we stuff them with confetti and little notes.  It makes for a messy but fun activity on Easter Sunday.

Wednesday

Tea time:   Lenten Readings
Dinner:     Grilled Salmon and some veggies

Activity:   Catholic Icing's Last Supper craft
Reading:    The Easter Story

Mandy Thursday

Dinner:     Fish Stew

Activity:   making Judases w/ the kids and deep cleaning our home
Attending Mass

Good Friday

Morning:           Hot Cross Buns (w/o the icing for today)
Liturgical Tea:   Our Lenten Tea
Dinner:              I'm not sure yet what to do here.  I want something simple.
Resources:        Alice Gunther provided the blue prints to our Liturgical Teas as did Catholic Cuisine

Sabbatum Sanctum

Morning:            Hot Cross Buns (w/ the icing :o))
Dinner:              Papi's chose :0)

Activity:            Resurrection Cookies:  I'll be at a retreat today so our planning is simple.
Reading:            The Easter Story: According To The Gospels of Matthew, Luke and John from the King James Bible

Easter!

With my father-in-law still undergoing chemotherapy our traditional feasting at Grandma's and Grandpa's has been changed a bit.  We'll be celebrating the resurrection and His promise fulfilled at my MIL home.

A Lamb shaped cake will hopefully make it  be on the table

We purchased the Nordic Ware Cast-Aluminum Nonstick 3-D Cake Mold, Spring Lamb some time last year.  It was so cute (sorry no pictures).
There are other options but this one was too cute not to try and make. 

Other than that the menu is still up in the air.  This year w/ my FIL cancer diagnoses and other personal concerns, celebrations have taken on a deeper meaning.  It is definitely less about the food and more about the time spent with some special people.

Please keep us in your prayers as you are in ours!

God bless!

"They placed Him in a tomb of stone,

Dead, all helpless, and alone.

But Easter morn, before the light,

He rose alive in glory bright! "

~ From The Story of the Redemption for Children

Lacy @ Catholic Icing
http://catholicicing.blogspot.com/2011/04/ultimate-guide-for-celebrating-holy.html
 has a linky page going on. 
There are LOTS of wonderful ideas to try with your family.

Palm Sunday

“(H)e should have despaired of himself and human existence had he not found the One who accomplishes what we of ourselves cannot accomplish; the One who raises us up to the heights of God in spite of our wretchedness: Jesus Christ who from God came down to us and, in his crucified love, takes us by the hand and lifts us on high.”

~ Pope Benedict XVI

speaking referring to St. Augustine of Hippo as he addresses the faithful on Palm Sunday

My prayers are with all as we enter the Holiest of all weeks

and seek the One within our own lives

God bless you all!

*this moment*

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. Photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, visit Soulemama to leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see

Our moment in baseball/softball season

and yet another Book Review

Once a month a group of the most amazing youths come over to my house for a book club.  We started this club to engage in some literary discussions while sipping tea and munching on cookies.  I have to say that I love my group of 10 teens.  They are bright, strong (headed), goofy and I just adore our time together.

The kids choose the books we read; but once in a while I come across stories that need some attention too.  The Mysterious Benedict Society is just one of those books.  Some where in this bloggin' world I heard about The Mysterious Benedict Society, I wish I could remember where :).  It's the first of a trilogy and involves 4 of your most brightest children in the world, adventures and friendship. 

There is a lot packed into this first book.  

More than adventure the book delves into issues of abandonment, insecurities, loyalty and control.  We are invited to join eleven year old Reynie Muldoon as he answers a newspaper ad calling for "gifted children looking for special opportunities."  He joins an elite group of kids through riddles, twisted plots and turns.  Their goal, to save the world from the controlling (and loony) Mr. Curtain.

As a parent there was nothing in the book that would give me caution.  Most sites rate this book for grades 5-9, but as an adult I enjoyed it.

Book 2, The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey is next.

Book Review

It's been a long Lenten season for me and I've stayed away from much of the blogging world during it.  Some of it was intentional and some of it came from just being so crazy busy.  There hasn't been too much time left over to go on the computer.  And when there was time, husband dear would throw "that" look my way.  Thus no computer.

There have also been lots of books added to my reading list.  There are a few books I want to post about but I'll wait until after Easter to do so.  Today I wanted to post about this...



Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time

I joined a book club through my county library and this was the newest book to read and discuss about. I thought it was FABULOUS.

Why?

Well it was a glimpse to a people truly not seen enough.  It was about simple people, people like my mother frankly (no, she is NOT Muslim).  The people from this story are poor, humble, fair and uncomplicated. 

On a side note:  I know the ugliness of extremists.  I've been in enough conferences and discussion groups about Islam to know what many think about Islam.  This is not a post about that nor do I want to go there.

The book is a gem.  One man began a journey to climb a huge mountain, K2.  He failed.  In that failure  a new path was opened.  It led him to a remarkable journey.  He found a bigger mountain to climb in the poverty of small villages all through out Pakistan.  Greg Mortenson met children so in love with education they would endure the severe cold, sit without a teacher on the frozen ground and use the dirt floor as a writing tablet.  Mr. Mortenson dedicated his life to these children.  Opening schools throughout the most remote, forgotten villages of Pakistan. 

I personally liked it, though I heard that some from the book club 'hated' it.  Should make for an interesting meeting :)