he Anchoress has a beautiful post on our modern day saints…a good Lenten read. I’ve ordered both books by Ann Ball (Modern Saints: Their Lives and Faces Book I and Faces of Holiness II: Modern Saints in Photos and Words) for the boys for religion.

• The Process of Becoming a Saint
• EWTN’s Process of Beatification & Canonization
• Saintly Youth of Modern Times Explanation of Titles

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By Brian T. Olszewski
Catholic Herald Staff

During Lent, the church instructs its members to make prayer, fasting and almsgiving integral parts of their lives. For you who wish to supplement your spiritual diet, your Catholic Herald presents the following 40 options for prayer, fasting and almsgiving, in no particular order, as ways to help you experience a grace-filled Lent — a Lent in which you deepen your relationship with God.

1. Learn about your patron saint.
2. Pray for — by name — people you don’t like and for people that don’t like you.
3. Participate in a healing service.
4. Read a Catholic magazine every time you visit the library.
5. March 19, in honor of St. Joseph, patron saint of carpenters and fathers, build or build upon a relationship with one of your children.
6. Buy two of everything on your grocery list, and give the duplicates to the local food pantry.
7. Find out why you should have fun on Laetare Sunday, and then do so.
8. Start a “cuss bowl.” For every unkind word you utter, put in a dollar — two dollars during Holy Week. After Easter, give the money to an English as a second language program.
9. Bring a “Baltimore Catechism” to a gathering of Catholic friends, and start asking each other questions.
10. Give away a material item you really value.
11. Pray for those, e.g., children, parents, spouse, siblings, who have left the church.
12. Talk to a neighbor you rarely or never talk to.
13. Keep a dish of ashes in a prominent place as a constant reminder of the season.
14. Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
15. Test your knowledge of Scripture.
16. Read a biography about Archbishop Oscar Romero and/or watch the video “Romero.”
17. Open a Christmas Club account with the intention of giving the money to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
18. Visit a church when you don’t have to.
19. Reserve a button on your car stereo for the Relevant Radio station in your area.
20. Pray the news — for the people whose stories of hardship are reported daily and weekly.
21. Read an entry from a Catholic encyclopedia.
22. Attend Mass at a parish other than your own
23. Tithe your tax return.
24. If Catholic schools get NCAA tournament bids, learn for whom those schools were named.
25. Observe five minutes of silence every day.
26. Instead of watching the Academy Awards on Feb. 27, watch “The Passion of the Christ.”
27. Use a Lenten theme in decorating part of a room.
28. Memorize a Proverb.
29. Participate in a faith formation presentation.
30. Tell someone your story(ies) of faith, how God has made a difference in your life.
31. Disconnect the TV and/or the computer.
32. Identify your God-given gifts, how you use them, and how you could use them better.
33. Fast from gossip.
34. Pull the rosary out of your drawer and say it. Too boring? Say the Scriptural rosary.
35. Remove your watch before leaving for church on Palm Sunday.
36. Develop a prayer list.
37. Read a history of the papacy.
38. Find out who Raamah, Putiel, and Uzzah are.
39. Sacrifice your time in order to help others.
40. In the words of St. Francis of Assisi, “Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary use words.”

The boys worked on their Holy Week crafts. The braided Crowns of Thorns were not done per the instructions (none of us could figure them out!) so we just braided the palm and tied it off with purple cording. I think they turned out nicely.

Quinn’s lamb…he actually had a great time doing it (even though he is still recuperating and doesn’t have much energy) but I had to wipe his fingers each and every time they got glue on them…which was with every cotton ball placed. It tooks us a very l - o - n - g time to do the lamb. (I think it looks more like a rabbit than a lamb.) We used a paper bowl instead of a plate and colored felt for the eyes, nose, mouth and ears. Quinn was so excited and accepted his accolades with a big smile.

Sickness here again…sore throats, vomiting and fevers. Holy Week will be light on schooling, especially now since most of us are sick again but nonetheless, a busy week was planned. I need to find time to go to confession (the boys and Michael went on Saturday); we are supposed to go see a movie with friends, the boys have co-op on Wednesday and we’re planning to attend Easter Vigil on Saturday night. Not a great time to get sick! I’m praying that we get well quickly and will probably make a doctor’s appointment for Quinn today. For school this week the boys are going to work on their Calvert math, continue with their coloring the Lenten calendar’s Holy Week printable and we’re going to be making Crowns of Thorns with our palm and purple ribbon. Quinn and I will read a couple of little Easter board books and make a little lamb with cottonballs. On Saturday we’ll be dyeing our eggs…

Our family tradition of dyeing Easter Eggs at my parents’ house continues each year with my family and my sisters’ families meeting at my parents’ house on Saturday morning to dye our eggs…together. Momma lays newspaper on the table and has assorted dyes, cups, little metal egg dippers, white crayons, stickers and more. The children gather around the table…cups get tipped, dye gets spilled and eggs get cracked but we have a great time. *smile*

I was looking for some “egg” ideas for this weekend and ran across a couple of great websites…for all ages.

• How to Boil Perfect Eggs
• Egg Decorating with Martha Stewart
• The American Egg Board - a great selection of topics
• Links to Egg-Themed Curriculum (pre-K-High School)
• Soft-Shelled Eggs (experiment)
• Watch a Baby Chick Hatch
• Easter Activities for Kids
• Easter Coloring Pages
• Easter Lesson Plans

He Hopped so very Quietly

We didn’t hear the Easter Bunny
Hopping down the hall —
He hopped so very quietly,
He made no noise at all.
But on the breakfast table
He left bright Easter toys —
Downy chicks for little girls
And rabbits for the boys.
Then we found bright Easter eggs
Tucked behind the chairs
Upon the windowsill and in
The corners of the stairs.

~~~ . ~~~

A beautiful Easter poem.

Weaving Palm

Palm Weaving: The Story…and the Art

A Crown of Thorns

Palm Cross

I’ve updated CatholicGraphics.com with the palm I made in Photoshop this morning…I have it larger (for printing) if you need it.

Blessing for Lent
Merciful God, you called us forth from the dust of the earth;
You claimed us for Christ in the waters of baptism.
Look upon us as we enter these Forty Days bearing the mark of ashes,
and bless our journey through the desert of Lent to the font of rebirth.
May our fasting be hunger for justice;
our alms, a making of peace;
our prayer, the chant of humble and grateful hearts.
All that we do and pray is in the name of Jesus.
For in His cross You proclaim Your love for ever and ever.
~ Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers ~

I updated CatholicGraphics.com with the Lenten graphics (PSD/Clipart) that I created for here on my blog. Also added Laundry Day to Art Work…it’s been a very long time since I updated any of my websites. Dani3D.com is due for a major makeover…I accidently deleted all the master image/html files for the website so I’ll have to start again from scratch with a new design.

We may get more snow today. We have a homeschooling co-op class this afternoon.  Mrs. Dawn will be teaching the children about poetry.  I hope Quinnie lets me stay and listen.  Probably not though because he sure does love “reading” books in the library and playing with all the cool things that they have for the little ones.  *smile*

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Lenten Reflections

2

In you, LORD, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. In your justice deliver me;

3

incline your ear to me; make haste to rescue me! Be my rock of refuge, a stronghold to save me.

4

You are my rock and my fortress; for your name’s sake lead and guide me.

5

Free me from the net they have set for me, for you are my refuge.

6

² Into your hands I commend my spirit; you will redeem me, LORD, faithful God.

Psalm 31:2-6 

Taken before bedtime last night. Yes, my twins are wearing their (clean) underwear on their heads and no, I still don’t understand why but when I told them to stop acting silly, that I was going to take a photo and post it on my blog, they obligingly went to get my camera for me. I’ll spare them (and you) the full body shots of their chubby little bellies. *smile*

Quinn getting into the (see how silly we are) act.

On a more normal note, Sean got his hair cut this past week and boy, does he look good! I really do have handsome boys. *smile* I’m going to try to get a photo of him this evening and post it tomorrow.

This morning I’m watching my twin nephews, Hans and Erich, (2 1/2 years old) for a couple of hours…it’s always fun here when those two little stinkers come to visit.

Winds Of March
Winds of March, we welcome you,
There is work for you to do.
Work and play and blow all day,
Blow the winter cold away.

Spring, Almost
The sunshine gleams so bright and warm,
The sky is blue and clear.
I run outdoors without a coat,
And spring is almost here.

Then before I know it,
Small clouds have blown together,
Till the sun just can’t get through them,
And again, it’s mitten weather.

~~~ . ~~~
Homeschooling

Today the boys will continue to work on the Second Week of Lent, Lenten Calendar printables from Trinity Acres. We’ll also be starting a new lapbook on St. Patrick’s Day, a nice freebie from LiveandLearnPress.com. You have to join the egroup and you will find information on downloading it on the bottom of your group emails. I’ll be doing a modified (very modified) version with Quinn.

Evan-Moor has some nice (and free!) Irish/St. Patrick’s Day download/printables for K-6th grade. We did them on Friday. It’s a little hard to find the freebies but if you click on “Free Stuff” from the top and then the grade level you should be able to locate the pdf files.

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Lent

I’m really starting to miss baking (I gave it up for Lent). I so want to bake a cake, pie, cookies, anything! *smile* For the season…Lenten Cakes.

Lenten Cakes
(from Traditional Recipes Greek Cookery)

• Ingredients:
  • 1 1/2 cups olive oil
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups orange juice
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 wineglass brandy
  • 1250 gr (2.8 Ib) flour
  • Oil for the baking sheet

Preparation:

Beat the sugar into the olive oil. Add the
orange juice, the baking soda, dissolved in the brandy, and finally the flour,
little by little. Knead the ingredients together thoroughly. Form the dough into
6-inch (15 cm) long cylinders the thickness of a finger. Shape it into circles
or twists or figure- eights, place them on a lightly oiled baking sheet and bake
them in a moderate oven for about 20 minutes.

Lenten Reflection

8

Do not hold past iniquities against us; may your compassion come quickly, for we have been brought very low.

9

Help us, God our savior, for the glory of your name. Deliver us, pardon our sins for your name’s sake.

Psalm 79:8-9

Old Fashioned Chicken(less) Noodle Soup

8 cups of chicken or vegetable broth
2 ½ cups sliced celery
1 ½ cups sliced carrots
1 ½ cups leeks, sliced into half moons
(make sure you rinse leeks thoroughly)
6 small new red potatoes, diced
8 to 10 oz. kluski noodles
¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
Salt and Pepper to taste

Bring the broth, celery, carrots, leeks and potatoes to a boil in a large pot
over high heat. Reduce heat to medium and simmer gently for 10 minutes.
Add noodles, cover pot, remove from heat. Let stand for 15-20 minutes,
until noodles are done and vegetables are tender. Stir in parsley and salt and pepper to taste.

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Homeschooling

Thanks to my dear sweet husband who told me that tomorrow evening, Saturday, March 3, 2007, there will be a total lunar eclipse. (He likes to be mentioned in my blog. *smile*) Maximum eclipse 6:20 p.m. EST, my neck of the woods. Some links to view…

Shadow & Substance

NASA

Lunar Eclipse Computer

MrEclipse.com

Sky & Telescope - SkyTonight.com

Creating pysanky (pes-un-keh and/or peh-san-keh) or Ukrainian Easter Eggs is a beautiful and ancient form of folk art. To create the colorful and striking designs the artist first writes on them with beeswax using a tool called a kistka and then applies dyes, lightest to darkest. When the final and darkest dye has been applied the egg is carefully heated to melt the many layers of wax so that it can be removed with a soft cloth. As the wax is removed, the colorful patterns of the applied ornamentation are revealed. A Lenten ritual in Ukraine, the eggs symbolize the Resurrection and promise of eternal life. They are kept in the home for protection, planted in fields to ensure wealth and abundance of crops, placed by family graves or in coffins out of respect for loved ones, given as gifts or presented to young men as signs of affection. These beautiful eggs have always fascinated me. Many Eastern Rite or Byzantine Catholic parish websites have information on creating them.

How to make them…

Learn Pysanky.com

Pysanky - The Ukrainian Art of Dyeing Easter Eggs

Family Corner’s Ukrainian Eggs

PaperEggs.com is a great site and offers pages on the designs, what the colors and symbols mean and even has printable pysanky for your children to color.

Pysanky Egg 1

Pysanky Egg 2

Pysanky Egg 3

Pysanky Egg 4

Pysanky Egg 5

(You can keep going up to egg 10 by changing the numbers in the url.)

ScissorCraft.com offers a Pysanky Easter Egg Game where you can decorate your pysanka online.

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Lenten Reflection

7

Though I walk in the midst of dangers, you guard my life when my enemies rage. You stretch out your hand; your right hand saves me.

8

The LORD is with me to the end. LORD, your love endures forever. Never forsake the work of your hands!

Psalm 138:7-8

Some, too fragile for winter winds

141

Some, too fragile for winter winds
The thoughtful grave encloses—
Tenderly tucking them in from frost
Before their feet are cold.

Never the treasures in her nest
The cautious grave exposes,
Building where schoolboy dare not look,
And sportsman is not bold.

This covert have all the children
Early aged, and often cold,
Sparrow, unnoticed by the Father—
Lambs for whom time had not a fold.

Emily Dickinson

~~~ . ~~~
Lenten Reflection

11

“You shall not steal. You shall not lie or speak falsely to one another.

12

You shall not swear falsely by my name, thus profaning the name of your God. I am the LORD.

13

“You shall not defraud or rob your neighbor. You shall not withhold overnight the wages of your day laborer.

14

You shall not curse the deaf, or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but you shall fear your God. I am the LORD.

15

“You shall not act dishonestly in rendering judgment. Show neither partiality to the weak nor deference to the mighty, but judge your fellow men justly.

16

You shall not go about spreading slander among your kinsmen; nor shall you stand by idly when your neighbor’s life is at stake. I am the LORD.

17

“You shall not bear hatred for your brother in your heart. Though you may have to reprove your fellow man, do not incur sin because of him.

18

Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against your fellow countrymen. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.

Leviticus 19:11-18

Lent:  A Time of Fasting and Feasting

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The Loveliness of Baking Fair is today. Grab a cup of tea and enjoy some good recipes.

Today is George Washington’s birthday, the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter and the day before we’re supposed to go on our field trip to the National Aquarium in Baltimore with our homeschool co-op. I’ve been sick for about 2 weeks now (head and chest cold), praying that the twins and Quinn won’t come down with it (Michael and Sean are sick too…sounds quite lovely here every morning with all of us trying to cough up and out the infection) but Quinn woke up early this morning around 1:00 a.m. telling me that he had a sore throat and sounding a little nasal. I gave him juice and a few bites of poptart (he was hungry too!) and settled him back down. I’ll probably try to get him in to see the doctor today…nothing like trying to cope with an earache over the weekend. I’m really praying that a miracle will occur before tomorrow as I know how disappointed the boys will be if we have to bow out of the field trip.

~~~ . ~~~

Lenten Reflection for Today

15

“Here, then, I have today set before you life and prosperity, death and doom.

16

If you obey the commandments of the LORD, your God, which I enjoin on you today, loving him, and walking in his ways, and keeping his commandments, statutes and decrees, you will live and grow numerous, and the LORD, your God, will bless you in the land you are entering to occupy.

17

If, however, you turn away your hearts and will not listen, but are led astray and adore and serve other gods,

18

I tell you now that you will certainly perish; you will not have a long life on the land which you are crossing the Jordan to enter and occupy.

19

I call heaven and earth today to witness against you: I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live,

20

by loving the LORD, your God, heeding his voice, and holding fast to him. For that will mean life for you, a long life for you to live on the land which the LORD swore he would give to your fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”

Deuteronomy 30:15-20

~~~ . ~~~

Homeschooling

A lot of blogging homeschooling families are bird watching, participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count, eBird, or Project FeederWatch. I’ve printed out the list of birds for my area, dug out my binoculars (to better identify the birds on the creek), kept the feeder filled and unearthed my Audubon Birds of the Northeast Guidebook from the bookshelf.

Once in winter,
I stood,
White flakes brushing my face
With white fingers,
I waited with the others
We shivered on the steps–
Stuck out our tongues to catch snowflakes
So cold they would burn.
Soon the big doors would open
On smoke and candles
and a cold thumb would brush
My forehead with a cross of ashes
“Dust to Dust” he would mutter
While snowflakes melted in my hair.

~ From Ashes to Easter ~

~~~ . ~~~

Lent: Fasting and Abstinence

Intro to Lent 1: Prayers

Lenten Prayers and Hymns

Heart Prayer for Children: Lent

The Lenten Journey
(non-demoninational)

~~~ . ~~~

12

Yet even now, says the LORD, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning;

13

Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the LORD, your God. For gracious and merciful is he, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment.

14

Perhaps he will again relent and leave behind him a blessing, Offerings and libations for the LORD, your God.

15

Blow the trumpet in Zion! proclaim a fast, call an assembly;

16

Gather the people, notify the congregation; Assemble the elders, gather the children and the infants at the breast; Let the bridegroom quit his room, and the bride her chamber.

17

¹ Between the porch and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep, And say, “Spare, O LORD, your people, and make not your heritage a reproach, with the nations ruling over them! Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”

18

Then the LORD was stirred to concern for his land and took pity on his people.

Joel 2:12-18