Catholic-families Archives | Page 13 of 15 |

Making May Baskets for May Day Deliveries

April 30, 2009 By Laura 6 Comments

Last year we spontaneously decided to throw some May Baskets together for May Day, secretly deliver them, and hope they make someone feel thought of, and smile. The kids had fun putting them together, and even MORE fun delivering them. We only did 2 baskets last year, but this year we thought of 4 recipients that would be more than delighted with such an unexpected surprise, on a seemingly ordinary Friday. Now that the kids learned last year what fun it is, <click link see last year) they’ve been VERY excited this year/week to do it again.

So all week we’ve been picking up the little things we needed, and today we got it all together and made our May Baskets, to deliver for May Day.

I stamped 4 tags, and each of the kids colored them, and wrote Happy May Day! on them. That’s {J} trying to write slowly and neatly. (He prefers to ‘whip it out’.)

On the inside, I did have them sign them the R Children….because in this day and age, I fear no one would dare eat goods left on their doorstep from ‘Lord knows who’. Especially older folks, who have especially truly witnessed the deterioration of society. But this is a CHEERY HAPPY post, so I won’t even bring that up. lol

We baked some blueberry bread loaves, and wrapped those up once they were cooled enough. The house smelled so darned good, it was hard not to eat them ourselves! But, then we’d have to start all over baking again, and there was no time for that! (And who knows if we’d give in again! lol) We also picked up some tea cookies.

{A} got the tags tied on with a pretty little bowed ribbon.

They all made some baggies of sugar free candies, and {O} matched nicely. (This pleases her.) We know at least one of our recipients is a diabetic, and as far as the rest….well, sugar-free candy never hurt anybody. : ) Right? They are pretty good too. Yes, I tried them. One of each color, just to be sure. Got it covered.

{S} got a bunch of decaf tea bags out of our kitchen jar, to throw a handful of those in too.

This year it occurred to me that, perhaps it would be a good idea to include a little history on May Day Baskets. I assume most people know about this age-old tradition, but, you know….maybe not. We don’t want to look crazy or anything. I mean, that’s our little secret. lol

The kids packed up the baskets with all of the goods, and everything fit just right. Huh. We’ve got fresh flowers to stick in in the morning, and we’ll be good to go! With 4 houses to go to, we’ve got some driving around town to do, and each of the kids will take a house. Let us all pray (that means you, too) that no one gets injured trying to boogie back to the van after ringing the doorbell, before they get caught! That’s my fear. Seriously. (That’s normal for a Mama, right?) Weather said this morning that there was a 70% chance of rain tomorrow. But later this evening it’s down to a 50% chance. Maybe SOMEONE is pulling for us. Huh huh? But if not, {O} has got her hot pink raincoat ready, and since the boys do not have one, they are deciding if they want to wear one bad enough to wear {O’s} pink one, when it is their turn to deliver a basket. Because wearing a raincoat is a VERY exciting thing, you know. Just ask our 6 year olds! I can only imagine how they would contain themselves if they knew about the galoshes out there in the world, in all colors! (Please….we can’t keep up with the shoes and boots as it is! Footwear is sucking up our $ and our floor space.)

Soooo….Wish us luck! Wish us SUN! Wish us a band-aid free day!!

We’ll be reporting back to the blog about it all.

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Photos of Our Easter Day Details – 2009 – Simple Easter Ideas

April 17, 2009 By Laura 6 Comments

Just another short post, with lots of photos, from our blessed Easter Sunday. We hope they are simple Easter ideas, to share with you.

The kids woke up to these surprises on Easter morning. They were thrilled!

The kids, looking all dapper, just before heading out to a beautiful Easter morning Mass. {A} altar served, as usual. The kids were surprised with some gifts from friends at church, too. People can be so kind and thoughtful.

When we got home, we had our simple Easter dinner.

This is my plate, below. As you can see, I despise carrots, and I love asparagus. : )

I also forgot to put some potato salad on my plate before I took this photo, which I worked so hard on. lol

The Easter cookies {A} baked, and us parents helped decorate. It was tooooo FUN!

Chocolate Coconut Jelly Bean Cake, which was also more fun, to take photos of.

I took some individual shots of the kids too.

Easter is one of my very favorite holidays to take photos on. The spring-ish atmosphere, all of the colors around, and the sheer joy in the air, as we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection, after a long and soul-searching Lenten season. But the truth is, I just always have my camera in hand, taking photos, because I love to, and I can. 🙂 I like to think this is a great place to share them, with you all, as they all are the details of our days, our life, and our joys. Just so you know…This blog will always have more photos, than wise words spoken. Because I definitely always have more way photos. lol

Our Giveaway winner, Regan, had received her home-made gifts. So would anyone like to see photos of what she received? I took lots of those along the way for that, too. Of course. It’s coming up!

Our family hopes your Easter was all kinds of Blessed and joyful, too!

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How to Make a Beautiful Palm Cross – Tutorial with Directions and Photos

April 5, 2009 By Laura 3 Comments

Hi Friends! Are you ready to make a beautiful Palm Cross, with your Palm Sunday palms? Well we are ready to show you, with this step-by-step tutorial, complete with directions and photos!

Today has begun Holy week, so as we move through it, I am sure it’ll slow down around here a bit once again, as we help bring our children, in a mindful, prayerful and heartfelt way, through the most significant events of Jesus’ life, which led to the willing sacrifice of His own life, for us.

Last year on Palm Sunday, Michael took the fistful of palms we brought home from Mass, and created a big cross with them for our home.

Last Year’s Palm Cross

Our family has enjoyed it so much throughout the year, that the kids and I wanted him to make another new one with the palms we brought home today. So as he did, I took photos, with the thought that maybe some of you may want to create one this way as well, with your own palms, for your own family home. It is a difficult thing to explain in words only, so I am hoping the photos will help show you how to do it.

How to Make This Beautiful Palm Cross

First, he takes 3 sets of 2 palms each, and at least one good palm whisp.

In the area the intersection of the cross is, he put the ends of one set of palms alternately layered in between 2 of the others, going in the opposite direction of course.

Then he takes the last set, and layers those for the other side.

Pinching it all together at the intersection, he takes one side of the palms and makes a loop with them to the back.

He secures that with his fingers to the middle as well, and then does the same with the other side.

With the formed cross in hand he takes the wisp and starts wrapping the intersection of the crossed pieces, to secure them tightly.

The below collage, to be viewed left to right in rows top to bottom, is not every single move. It just gives you a general idea of how he wraps it around, crisscrossing, and going up and down as well.

When he only has about 2 inches left, he turns the cross over, and places it on the table, and holding the wrap tightly, he takes the remaining end and feeds it under the wrap a couple of times, and then just pulls it tightly. The front of the middle of the cross then looks like the last square in the above collage.That’s it!

We’re sure you all have found various ways to make your own beautiful crosses with palms as well, or perhaps you just stick them behind the crucifix of your home, as we have done for many years as well. We would love for you to share how you do display your blessed palms in your home, what you may make with them, or any traditions you may have for Palm Sunday in your family.

We hope you had a happy and peace filled Palm Sunday .
May God bless you all, this Easter season!

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Veggie Pockets – Lent Meatless Meal – Recipe

February 27, 2009 By Laura 5 Comments

Here’s a delicious meatless meal for the Fridays of Lent, or for any day, for either lunch or dinner! My kids love most vegetables, so these pocket sandwiches are always a real hit with them! They always cheer when they ask what we are having, and they always ask for 2nd one!

I didn’t take any photos in the early stages, as I usually do just for fun. But I think you’ll be able to follow along just fine without them.

Ingredients:

red peppers
zucchini
summer squash
broccoli
vegetable oil
American cheese
whole wheat pockets

~ Naturally, you can use any stir-fry type vegetables your family likes best.

1.) Wash *all vegetables well, of course. : )

*How many of each vegetable you use depends on your family size. Use your best judgement. Once it’s all in the pan you’ll get a better idea.

2.) Clean out red peppers, and dice.

3.) Zucchini and summer squash:

>>> a.) Cut off ends.

>>> b.) Cut length-wise in half

>>> c.) Cut again lengthwise, cutting halves into half. Now you have 4 quarters of lengthwise slices. (Aren’t I great at explaining these things? Maybe I should have taken photos of this part too. lol)

>>> d.) Now slice the quartered lengths the short way, about 1/4″ thick. You will have nice quarter-0f-a-slice pieces.

4.) Cut up broccoli into medium sized pieces, chopping off ends first. (You will chop it all up later.)

5.) Get broccoli going in a steamer. (We have a Black & Decker Handy Steamer. But you can steam however you do.)

6.) Heat a large stir-fry pan at medium-heat, and add 1-2 tablespoons of vegetable oil.

7.) Add red peppers, zucchini and summer squash to pan, and stir up.

8.) Cook all vegetables in steamer and pan, to desired tenderness. (We call it done when fork inserts nicely. Be careful not to overcook.)

9.) Remove steamed broccoli from steamer, and put on cutting board.

With a large chopping knife, chop up into smaller pieces, and then add to the pan on stove-top, with other vegetables.

Stir all vegetables together.

So happy to-ge-THERRRRRRRR! (Name that tune!)

For pockets, we use this brand:

10.) Take a bread disc out, and cut in half.

11.) Lay some slices of American cheese in the pocket half. Break slices up to fit nicely. (Us grown-ups sometimes put some Pepper-Jack in too, for some kick! But it’s delicious just with American.).

12.) *Fill pocket up with vegetables.

* For the little ones, we don’t overload it, because it’s a wide/big pocket, and a little bit difficult to for little hands to handle. Reminders to eat over plate are a good idea, with these babies! But what falls to the plate can be eaten up with a fork, after.

** Us grown-ups really fill it up. : )

Filled just right for a kiddo.

13.) When they eat it all up, and ask for another, SAY YES!! A kid can never eat too many vegetables! : )

ENJOY!!

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We Welcome This Lenten Season!

February 23, 2009 By Laura 3 Comments

With the Lenten Season just 2 days away, beginning with Ash Wednesday, for once our family is ready. Usually, it seems to sneak right up on us, (despite the many reminders along the way), and we are scrambling to figure out what we will do for Lent. Of course, we all know, that with making such decisions so spontaneously and haphazardly, we didn’t truly contemplate in our heart how we would go about living the Lenten Season consciously, or how we can best grow closer to Christ, as we prepare our selves and our hearts for Easter. We did get into the swing of it, in the first few days of ‘too late’, managing to follow our Catholic obligations. But they were done almost just as that > obligations.

But this year, we weren’t letting it happen again. What’s more, I have heard Lent calling me for some time now. And by this time, we are all well prepared; armed with Lenten plans, and joyful hearts of anticipation.

I suppose Easter is time in which most ‘anticipate with joyful hearts’. And we certainly do as well! After all, Easter is THE most sacred and celebrated day of the Catholic faith. Even more so than Christmas. For in God’s Only Son, rising to life, rose with Him salvation that is ours, if we choose to embrace it.

But Lent is a time we are anticipating with joyful hearts as well, because it is a time we can best show our love for Christ. It is a time we are called to focus more on Him, sacrifice for Him, spend time with Him and grow closer to Him. Through reflection. Through prayer. Through Penance. As an individual, and as a family, we ultimately grow in strength and commitment to our relationship with Christ. How can these gifts be anything less than joyful? They are indeed gifts we are called to embrace. As Catholics, we are unquestionably called to embrace them in these 40 blessed days, until the celebration of Easter. And for the good of ourselves!

I won’t get into my (longer than usual) personal list of Lenten commitments, of which I have pondered with an attentive heart. But I will share with you a couple of other agendas on our Lenten list. As a family, we have decided to add a Mass to our week. And early morning Mass…..which, for anyone who knows us well, is a sacrifice in itself. We are not at all a morning family. We enjoy waking up when we do, and having our leisure morning—sipping coffee, (< definitely me), nibbling toast made of home made bread, starting our fire – to keep us warm as we wake and wash, and get ready to tackle our schooling and work agendas for the day. No…..dragging ourselves out of bed, after a crude alarm sound, and rushing to get ready to leave anywhere, is just not our cup of tea. Even a little. But, we figured…..Lenten sacrifices are not meant to be necessarily enjoyable. They are meant to be….a challenge. Difficult for us. A personal hardship, of sorts. And hey…..if we can make it to an 8:00 a.m. basketball game (we did TWICE this season!), we can surely make it to Mass!!

Attending and experiencing the Mass itself, ….not at all a sacrifice. But a BLESSED GIFT!

A couple of weeks ago one evening, my oldest daughter, {A}, and I, had come across a Mother/Daughter Quiz, in my FAVORITE magazine, Faith and Family. To begin with, the questions posed were for me, as the mother, to answer for my daughter. It was to see how well I knew her. One of the questions was : “What is her favorite day of the week?”. I knew the answer to that immediately: Sunday. She loves the Mass. But more than that, she loves to SERVE the Mass. As an altar server. She has expressed countless times, how much closer she feels to Jesus, being up on the altar, and serving Him. It isn’t just something she SAYS. It’s something EVERYONE can SEE. I can’t tell you how many times we have been approached by people after Mass, to be told how they are amazed at how reverent she is up there. Truly absorbed in every moment. Relishing in it, even. She is scheduled for certain Masses, (and always the most important ones), but gleefully and (very eagerly…trust me…) volunteers to fill in for anyone who does not show up at the Masses we attend. She jumps out of our van to go check and get ready, before our van is even turned off. So yes……clearly the answer was Sunday.

Ding Ding Ding!!! Another right answer for Mama. I scored very well, in the end, I might add. I know my kiddo.

At the end of the quiz, the daughter is to question the Mama. My answer was Sunday too – but for a different reason:

I VERY MUCH love receiving the Body and Blood of Christ. I look forward to until I find myself ‘at His table’ once again, and I receive with a joyful and hungry heart. It lifts me in such an indescribable way. The moment I consume the Eucharist, and Jesus once again becomes part of me, I feel whole. Alive more so than before. I am certain I feel the Holy Spirit flowing through my blood, and renewing every part of me. I feel an overwhelming urge to weep, out of the relief! It truly gives me strength to ponder or resolve the difficult situations/relationships in my life. (Although sometimes, it takes 2 to tango. lol). More than any other time, I can deal with them with at least some shred of grace. A Christian perspective that in all honestly, I know I am called exercise always. I am weak, and a sinner. I’m a constant work in progress. With the Good Lord’s help, I like to think.

My beautiful, freckle-faced, spunky little God-daughter, will be welcomed to Jesus’ table for the first time this spring. She is making her First Communion this May. I am SO excited for her, I can’t tell you. I will travel to be there, to witness her on this special, special day in her life. Oh, I know children don’t always fully understand the vast reality of what a gift this is, for them to be able to participate fully at the table of the Lord, from that day forward. I know they are a child, and have not yet experienced or comprehended all that this means for them. But it is, prayerfully, a very crucial milestone, in the spiritual journey we are called to follow. I have faith, and pray regularly, that she will grow closer to God, with each precious day of her life. And that one day, she will feel what I do, when receiving, and becoming one with Jesus. Perhaps she will feel something quite special inside. A magic she cannot explain. Some children do!! But one day, God-willing, she will be old enough, and have an open heart enough to know, just what that feeling inside is. It is not a figment of the imagination, or sugar rush. But the love of Christ and the movement of the Holy Spirit, renewing our very souls. It will be a beautiful day, no matter what the weather. (But let’s pray for sun! Remember?….He hears these little, petty prayers. He’ll decide if our petition is worthy of granting.)

Our own three little one’s will receive their Sacraments of Penance and First Holy Communion, next spring. We are preparing them, with SUCH excitement and anticipation. On both our parts, and theirs! They have waited for as long as they could talk….always asking “When can we go up too?” “How old will I be when I can receive Communion too?”. At each Mass, at Communion time, they sit back, and pull up their legs to ‘Sit like little Indians, so that all of the people in our pew can get in and out. And they seem to watch us longingly, as I glance back occasionally to check on them. What a day that will be, when we will not have little Indians in the pew any longer. My-oh-my!!

I also look forward, in this Lenten season, to spending more time with Jesus, at the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. My only quiet time with Him, is often spent half asleep. Because my children must be asleep, to have true quiet! So I intend to find the time to sneak away, and have that time with Him.

Our kids will also be taking part in this program called Lenten Adventures. In fact, they start later today! It is a free online program for kids that consists of videos, stories, prayers, activities – all as part of lessons on their faith during the Lent/Easter season. It’s free! All you need to do is sign up, and you get 3 e-mails a week, with links to everything you need. We can’t vouch for it yet, as we have never done it before, but it looks pretty good! If you are interested in checking it out for your own kids, just click on the link above. I hope it is fun and deeply educational, and helps them truly participate in their own age-appropriate way this season. I guess we’ll see!

May we ALL grow this Lenten season….as individuals and children of God…as families who hope to hold Christ as the center and core of their homes and families. May the light and love we called to, especially during this season, be a place we long to stay in each and every day, long after our 40 days are done.

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Last Year’s Palm Cross

How to Make This Beautiful Palm Cross

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