A Mother's Prayer

Someone shared this prayer at my MOPS meeting last week and I thought I would pass it on...

Happy Monday!  

(Fingers crossed for no snow days this week!)

A Mother's Prayer

Lord, give me strength just for 

To lead my children in Your way.

Oh, give me wisdom, Lord, and grace

To show to them Your precious face!

And help me, Lord, to teach them, too,

The things of Christ so rich and true.

Just let them see in me, dear Lord,

Your holiness in life and word.

Keep me from sinning with my tongue,

From harsh, quick words that might have stung.

Their tender hearts that trust me so

And watch to see which way I go.

Dear Father, keep my thoughts so pure

That they will always know for sure

My Lord has lead me all the way.

Lord, grant my prayer just for today.

Author Unknown

Tree of Thanks

Last year around this time our pastor gave a talk that has stuck with me.  In it he mentioned that "if you are not teaching your children to be thankful, you are teaching them to ask for more."

So in that spirit and with the upcoming holiday, we made a Thanksgiving tree of sorts over the weekend.  I simply stuck a large tree branch in a pot with rocks and we were good to go.  (Of course Michael has become interested in those rocks...thankfully they are too big to do any damage!)  I printed out tags for everyone to write out what they are thankful for.  Simple.  And the kids are really enjoying it!  And I love seeing what they have come up with over the past few days.

Ellen's grateful heart.  

Funny because we don't own any!

He really does love them!

Thought for the Day...

This was in a mailing I recently received from MOPS...love this verse.  

A good reminder to put it all to prayer!

Happy Monday!

Book Review {Catholic Family Gifts}

Summer is in full swing here.  School is out and the kids are home full-time which means I need to be on my "A" game every day.  Taking time for myself helps me be a better mom.  If I take care of myself, I can take care of them.  One way to fulfill this is to have some quiet time and do some spiritual reading.

Catholic Family Gifts was kind enough to recently send me a copy of A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms, written by Lisa Hendey.

I have only had this book for a few weeks, but I am really enjoying it and looking forward to using it throughout the year!  Each of the 52 chapters contains the story of a saint, from the well-known Blessed Mother to lesser known holy men and women like Josephine Bakhita.  Then goes on to share lessons and wisdom that can be learned from their life.  Scripture verses are given for the week, as well as activities for both you and your children for the week.  Each chapter has a specific prayer to pray asking for the intercession of the saint and then closes with some food for thought for the week.  I have been inspired in my quiet time by these holy men and women!

To purchase A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms and other spiritual reading materials, go to catholicfamilygifts.com.  Catholic Family Gifts offers beautiful religious goods for any occasion, from sacramental gifts to devotional seasonal items.  They are a family business that is run out of Illinois and are committed to helping you "Bring the Faith Home."

Use the coupon code W1306SWA for 10% off your order at Catholic Family Gifts.  Offer expires 6/30/13.

Michael's Baptism

Michael was baptized on May 25...and I'm just posting pictures now because he is the 4th child!

Michael Ryan I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit...

 With godparents Uncle Joseph and Aunt Rosemary.

With all of his grandparents.  He's a lucky boy! 

 And a shot of the 6 of us!  

(Ryan and I didn't plan on coordinating our attire - great minds just think alike after 9 years.) 

 And then we partied!  

Lent

 " Even now," declares the Lord,

"return to me with all your heart,

with fasting and weeping and mourning."

Rend your heart and not your garments.

Return to the Lord your God, 

for He is gracious and compassionate. 

slow to anger and abounding in love,

and He relents from sending calamity.

-Joel 2:12-13

Merry Christmas!

O come let us adore Him...

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Merry Christmas!

Pumpkin Prayer

Jude brought this "pumpkin prayer" home in his backpack last week and I thought I would share:

Dear Jesus,

As I carve my pumpkin, help me pray this prayer:

Open my mind so I can learn about You.  (Cut the top off the pumpkin.)

Take all my sin and forgive the wrong that I do.  (Clean out the inside.)

Open my eye so Your love I will see.  (Cut eyes shaped like hearts.)

I'm sorry for the times I've turned up y nose at what You've given me.  

(Cut a nose in the shape of a cross.) 

Open my ears so Your word I will hear.  (Cut ears shaped like the Bible.)

Open my mouth to tell others You're near.  (Cut the mouth in the shape of a fish.)

Let Your light shine in all I say and do!  (Place a candle inside the pumpkin and light it.)  

Amen.

Encouraging Words

A friend recently sent me a "Bible Verse Exchange" in the form of an email forward.  I usually delete any forwards that make their way to my inbox, but I was happy to take part in this one and looked forward to the encouraging bible verses that would be delivered to me.  Who doesn't need encouragement sent right to them at any and all hours of the day?

And they came yesterday when I was especially in need of happy and uplifting words.  Here are some of my favorites:

"The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:7

"The Spirit helps us in our weakness.  We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.  And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit intercedes for the saints..." - Romans 8:26-27

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace."  - Colossians 3:15

"Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."  - Isaiah 40:31

"You are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me." - Psalm 31:3

"The Lord give strength to his people; the Lord blessed his people with peace." - Psalm 29:11

"Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord."  - Psalm 31:24

 

"I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength."  - Philippians 4:13

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."  - Romans 15:13

"I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessings on your descendants."  - Isaiah 44:3

Independence Day

Thankful for our country's past.

Praying for it's future.  

Happy 4th!

Lenten & Easter Reflections...by Jude

I thought I would share some of my 3 year-old son's thoughts with you for Holy Week:

"So when you catch a fish it turns into a big chicken nugget to eat?"
"I don't like jellybeans because they are made from jellyfish."

"Mom, if you do that I will let you put 100 beans in the jar!"

Hope you have gotten a little more out of Lent this year...  


Have a good week!

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Calendar Decor

A few years ago we picked up a free religious art calendar at our parish.  It had some beautiful pictures in it and I saved a few of them hoping to frame them one day.

One of the pictures I saved was of St. Jude.  I thought it would be great to have framed in Jude's room.

I recently picked up a frame from Target with two 5x7 openings and cropped the picture from the calendar to fit on the one side.  

Then I printed out one of my favorite St. Jude quotes on card stock and added it on the other side:

"I encourage you to fight on for the faith which 

once and for all God has given to His people."

-Jude 1:3

It was inexpensive art for Jude's bedroom and he likes "sharing" his room with his patron saint.  

Lent...one day late.

Here's why...  Ryan had his hernia surgery on Friday and things went downhill at our house quickly from there.  While his surgery went well and he is healing fine, I became increasingly sick after he was home.  Saturday landed me in my doctor's office with scrips for Tamiflu and a narcotic cough medicine.  As my luck would have it, the side effects I got from the Tamiflu were the nausea and vomiting.  Thankfully I finished that prescription yesterday and was able to nap here and there (something I normally never do).  The kids have also been exchanging a fever/cough/runny nose, so I haven't had anyone to pick up or drop off at school...(or sleep much at night).  

I *think* things are on the upswing here.  So today I will finally be putting Valentine's decorations away (sorry, neighbors!) and getting "Lent" out.  

Here are some things we have done in the past that our kids enjoy and we find meaningful for Lent:  

1. Bean Jar

2. Stations of the Cross Box

3. Lenten Countdown Chain

And last year I bought this lamb at the Dollar Store and tied a purple ribbon around it.  It sits above my kitchen sink and is a simple way for me to remember what Lent is about. 

Here's hoping our Lent finishes out stronger than it started!

"Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires." 

James 1:19-20

Merry Christmas!

(Image found here)

"Sink down and kneel.

Bow low before His presence 

there upon the hay."

-Jeanne Kun in My Soul Magnifies the Lord; A Scriptural Journey with Mary 

'Tis the Season...for Christmas Programs!

Clare and Jude both had their Christmas programs at school this past week.  And both were angels...typecasting?  I like to think so!  :)

Christmas break starts today for everyone!

Glad we are one step closer to Christmas!

2011 Nativity

This is neat...

Our Advent Traditions

Here are some of our Advent traditions that our kids enjoy that keep help "keep Christ in Christmas" at our house and also give them visual of "how many days until Christmas?"

Lighting the Advent wreath at dinner.  (They have been very good about taking turns as to who gets to blow the candle out each night...so far!)

We have a store-bought banner and today will begin moving the star around the manger scene every day.

I also make a paper chain (similar idea for the one we make for Lent) with Christmas-type activities or "good deed" suggestions for the kids to complete.  (A friend sent me this link and we copied some of their action items for our paper chain.)

(And, yes, if you have an eagle eye I cheated and did not make links on the chain for the days that we will be traveling for my sister's wedding in a few weeks.  Sometimes it's easier to avoid the confusion of extra links...or for me to remember to take the extras off when no one is watching!)

We also put a piece of hay in the manger when we do good deeds or have good behavior, etc.  So on Christmas morning Baby Jesus will have a nice, soft bed.  (The secret here is the my kids LOVE doing this and I can threaten to take a piece of hay OUT of the manger if they are misbehaving and their behavior usually changes very quickly!)    

This is a book I picked up at our local Christian bookstore and has been a big hit.  It has a small bible story to read, then several things to find hidden in pictures.  (Similar to an "I Spy" book.)  It's perfect for kids 3 and up.    

www.creativecommunications.com

So those are our tried and true Advent traditions!

Linking up with:

www.firefliesandjellybeans.blogspot.com

raegunwear.blogspot.com

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

The Angelus by Jean Francois Millet

"With food on our table and friends at our door,

we have much to be thankful for."

Thought for the day...

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9