Lena {JOYfilledfamily}

Lenten Program Update

February 25, 2012 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Health, Lent, Total Consecration 1 Comment

Here is brief update on my Family Lenten Program.

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Getting the Kids on Board

February 25, 2012 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Clean Eating, Education, Kids in the Kitchen, Lent, Resources

I knew that my family needed another push in the way of healthy eating so I used a gift card to purchase Paleo Pals: Jimmy and the Carrot Rocket Ship. The book was intended to excite children about a healthy lifestyle of eating fresh, whole, unprocessed foods.

Piper, Phoenix and Parker are not ordinary children, they are super heroes that travel the land helping other children learn about living the healthiest, most exciting, most super lives possible. They are known as The Paleo Pals, and this is a story about how they help out Jimmy, a little boy who is not sure if eating paleo food is even one tiny bit exciting or super. Climb into the carrot rocket ship, travel to brilliant green farms, and live Jimmy’s exciting adventure with Piper, Phoenix and Parker, The Paleo Pals!

It’s always my goal to teach my kids why we do what we do, whether it be our faith, dress, daily diet, or etc… It’s important to me that their hearts and minds be cultivated to discern what is good and pleasing in all areas of their lives.

I had managed to educate them the best I could since the start of our clean eating. I would simplify what I was learning to guide them in our journey to a restoration of health and optimal nourishment. They began to question the food that was being offered to them by friends and family, politely declining when needed. They even became pro-active and would pack their food for outings. My kids truly desire to eat what is good for them. Still, I find it necessary to step up their nutrition education.

My husband and I found it fitting to incorporate nutrition into our Lenten Plan – Health & Fitness. Dad began reading Paleo Pals to the kids during afternoon snack on Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent. He will continue to read it throughout the first part of Lent since it is rather lengthy for the littles to get through in one sitting.

I have enjoyed listening to the reading sessions and seeing my kids excitement. They are thrilled to see other children eat the way they do. The boys are especially tuned in to the superheroes. There are challenging words and concepts, none of which are foreign to my children. I did find the book to be a bit on the propaganda side, at times. Dad and I take the time to discuss the images and story line.

the littles snacked on their carrot rocket ships – organic carrots fresh from the farm.

There has also been an opportunity to discuss other issues such as attitude, obedience to your parents, giving thanks for what you have, table manners, and other things of the like. Dad and I have woven in our faith so that the littles can better appreciate why we are choosing to eat the way we are – to glorify God with all that we have, given the means that we have! ALL FOR!

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my littlest guy has been making some great improvements. he is slowly venturing away from his pureed squeezies. wednesday it was carrots and friday it was fish mixed up in shredded cheese, of course. we’re taking baby steps!

Ash Wednesday

February 22, 2012 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Ash Wednesday, Lent

"Memento, homo, quia pulvis es, et in pulverem reverteris."

Remember, man, that thou art dust, and unto dust thou shalt return. (Gen. 3. 19)

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“Grant to Thy faithful, O Lord, that they may begin the venerable solemnity of Lent with becoming piety, and perform it with undistributed devotion.”

Fasting, alms, penance and the corporal and spiritual works of mercy are the best means to employ during the forty days of Lent to gather heavenly treasures. For this purpose, O Christian, God Himself summons you today, while through His church He earnestly cries out to you: “Remember man that thou art dust, and into dust thou wilt return. ~The Gospels for Lent and the Passion of Christ

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Pre-Lent – Ash Wednesday: Introit from Corpus Christi Watershed on Vimeo.

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Resources:

Shrovetide

February 21, 2012 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Pre-Lent, Shrove Tuesday

It has to be experienced to be fully believed, but there is a great blessing on such a Carnival time, shared in a family. To have spent a good Carnival will finally prove to the greater honor and glory of God, in enabling us to spend a good Lent!

My family is gearing up for the official start of Lent. We spent Monday (CLEAN MONDAY) doing our pre-Lenten cleaning. Shrove Tuesday will take us outside of the home for majority of the day. We will visit a nursing home to bring joy to the sick and elderly.

A dear friend helped us start this tradition. Several years ago, Tiffany coordinated a group of families to visit the elderly bearing Mardi Gras jewels and wearing silly hats, all to share our joy. We adopted the simple act of almsgiving and now make a regular visit to the elderly on Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras. It is a lovely way to enter the Lenten season.

We’ll take the party pack to our parish. The kids have requested their traditional Shrove Tuesday lunch, pizza. Dad and I will accommodate for this one last hooray. We’ll take some time for recreation and then offer our services to the parish. Dad will complete his weekly yard work, I will help the littles clean the pews, and Rose is planning to check in with Father for her assignment. God willing, I will be able to sneak away for some much needed spiritual direction. We hope to wrap up our day out with a visit to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. There, we will bring our Lenten intentions and complete our first day of our Consecration renewal – AD JESUM PER MARIAM.

Many have been invited to join us but I’m not sure who will show. It really doesn’t matter, this tradition was made for us to bring JOY to others as a family. Bringing others along was the icing on the cake – so no icing this year but we still got a cake. AMEN!

We will return home for more festivities. We’ll recap on our Lenten program and say a family rosary. Next, we’ll watch a movie since Dad has declared it movie night. We’ll probably have pancakes for dinner. Then we will pack up the TV and DVD/VCR player to store in the garage. We will enjoy our last comforts before we begin our time in the desert, in darkness and silence — removed from the world (in the best way we can).

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Oh, Christian soul make your body a living and dying victim; mortify you passions, your senses, and your desires; mortify yourself at all times, and in all places; mortify yourself with zeal, mortify yourself with discretion. ~Considerations and devout meditations for every day during … Lent, by a member of the Society of Jesus

Family Lenten Program

February 19, 2012 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Family Night, Lent, Lenten Calendar

Dad and I have finalized our Family Lenten Program, personal Lenten program, and the Lenten programs for all of our children. Praise God for the early start.

I am seeking to regain order in my home and to further simply during the Lenten season. I’m creating a Lenten Binder to organize all the programs, activities, prayers, and anything else that pertains to my family’s Lenten progress.

Rose and Sparkles will post the 2012 Lenten Calendar in the home, tomorrow after Mass. I will diligently work on the Lenten Binder. Copies of the following items will be included in the binder and posted on the fridge for easy access and accountability. I have a tendency to set my eyes on lofty spiritual goals, often more than I am capable of implementing to completion. The result is always the same, complete frustration and all that follows. I am praying that my family’s simple approach to this Lenten Season will produce the fruits that He wills for us.

As always, my family has removed ourselves from all extracurriculars not related to the Church or our livelihood. Our days will be centered around prayer. We will refrain from participating in superfluous social events – leaving the home only out of necessity for our state in life, Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy, and of course, MASS.

All technology use will be kept to a minimum. The TV that was used for videos is being removed from the home for the entire Lenten Season (and beyond – God willing). My computer use is still being discerned since Dad and I are not in complete agreement. I say, remove it entirely and he says, use it in moderation. My nature is all or nothing. I don’t want to inflict undue hardship on myself by not working within my means. Ultimately, I will submit to what Dad decides – ALL FOR!

In addition, my family will recommit to a lifestyle change that He has called us to follow. **I listed my plan here.** It has not been easy to break free from the poor diet that we had become accustomed to eating but He continues to give us the graces to move down this path so that I can have a complete restoration of health and my family can be nourished with real food – all for His glory!

Prayers for a blessed and fruitful Lenten Season.

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JOYfilledfamily

2012 FAMILY LENTEN CALENDAR

I’ve listed a small portion of my family’s daily Lenten Calendar. You may click on the title above for a download to my complete calendar.

February

Monday 20 – Feria, 4^th Class
- Clean Monday
- 7 pm adult Catechism lesson from Fr. Lyons
Tuesday 21 – Shrove Tuesday – Feria, 4^th Class
- Corporal Work of Mercy – visit the elderly
- fun and fellowship
- family work day at parish
Wed. 22 – ASH Wednesday, 1^st Class
- 7 pm High Mass
Thur. 23 – Chair of St. Peter, 1^st Class (for FSSP)
- Adoration
- 7 pm High Mass
Friday 24 – Friday after Ash Wednesday, 3^rd Class
- Mass & Stations of the Cross
Saturday 25 – St. Matthias, AP, 2^nd Class
- 9 AM Mass
- First Holy Communion preparation
- family work day at parish
Sunday 26 – First Sunday of Lent
Monday 27 – Feria of Lent, 3^rd Class
- 10 am prayer at abortion clinic
- Clean Monday
- 7 pm adult Catechism lesson from Fr. Lyons
Tuesday 28 – Feria of Lent, 3^rd Class
Wed. 29 – Ember Wednesday, 2^nd Class

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The following charts are to serve as checklists. I used a printable chore chart, found here to complete these Lenten charts.

I have printed two copies of each chart listed below. One copy will go into my Lenten Binder and the other copy will be laminated for durability and use with a white-board pen. The laminated charts will be displayed in a prominent spot so that we can better manage this year’s Lenten program.

JOYfilledfamily

2012 FAMILY LENTEN PROGRAM

Daily Family Lenten Program:

Morning Offering
Angelus
Daily Readings – 1962 Roman Missal
Lenten Reflection – Bringing Lent Home with Mother Teresa
Angelus
Total Consecration Readings – True Devotion to Mary & Leading the Little Ones to Mary
Examen
Rosary – Meditations by St. Louis de Montfort
Compline

Daily Prayer Meditation & Intention:

Mon – Souls in Purgatory & End to Abortion
Tue – Holy Angels & Conversion of Family
Wed – St. Joseph & Godparents & Godchildren
Thur – Holy Eucharist & Pope Benedict XVI & Priests
Fri – Crucifixion & The Sick
Sat – Blessed Virgin Mary & Vocations
Sun – Blessed Trinity & Poor, homeless, and those in great need

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JOYfilledfamily

2012 FAMILY LENTEN ACTIVITIES

Family Lenten Activities:

Review personal Lenten program chart (daily)
Update the Sacrifice Bean Jar for sacrifices/almsgiving (daily)
Pick Cleaning item out of jar & perform assigned task from the Lenten Cleaning Calendar (Mon.-Sat. with an emphasize on Mondays)
Family service at parish (Saturday)
Adoration (Thursday)
Mass & Stations of the Cross (Friday)
Mass (Saturday)

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JOYfilledfamily

2012 PERSONAL LENTEN PROGRAM

Each member of my family has a custom chart. This is blank chart for your own use.

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Now it is only right that, before we arrive at that glory of impassibility and immortality which began in Christ, and which was acquired for us through Christ, we should be shaped after the pattern of Christ’s sufferings. It is then only right that Christ’s liability to suffer should remain in us too for a time, as a means of our coming to the impassibility of glory in the way He himself came to it. ~Meditations For Lent – St. Thomas Aquinas, (1-2 85 5 ad 2.)

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Pax Christi,

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