• Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
share our JOY

JOY{filled}family

striving to radiate Him always

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Brown Scapular
  • Liturgical Calendars & Planners
  • Wellness
    • Essential Oils
    • Fitness
    • Nutrition
  • Homeschool
  • Sacraments
    • Baptism
    • First Communion
    • Confirmation

St. Margaret of Scotland ~ Initiative ~ Black Eyed Susan

February 18, 2012 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: 06 June, 06 June Saints, Lent, Little Flowers, St. Margaret of Scotland, Wreath III

Here’s a quick recap of my sixth meeting of the year for Little Flowers.

The meeting was held on the First Saturday of February.  We took up three pews at Mass.  Thirty-four girls were in attendance.  This included some new members and the girls preparing for First Holy Communion with Father L.

We did the normal routine; grace, snack and social time, reviewed last month’s saint and virtue, introduced the saint and virtue of the month, studied the coordinating flower, listened to a talk from Father L, received a blessing, worked on a related craft/project,  updated LF binders, and closed with a prayer.

~~~

saint-margaret-of-scotland-nov-16

SAINT MARGARET
QUEEN OF SCOTLAND

Widow

Old ~ Feast Day – June 10 – New ~ Feast Day – November 16

The granddaughter of King Edmund Ironside of England, Margaret (c. 1050-93) married King Malcolm III of Scotland. Malcolm perceived that Christ dwelt in the heart of his queen and he was always ready to follow her advice. The royal couple’s chief aims in life were to serve the Church, to maintain justice and to make their subjects happy. Queen Margaret was known as the mother of orphans and the treasurer of the poor of Jesus Christ. Her private life was most austere, and she carefully educated her eight children in the fear and love of God.

~~~

11_16_margaret2

Patron: Death of children; large families; learning; queens; Scotland; widows.

Symbols: Black cross; sceptre and book; hospital.
Often portrayed as: queen, often carrying a black cross, dispensing gifts to the poor.

~~~

The lesson of St. Margaret of Scotland and the virtue of initiative extended into the craft/project time.  I opted out of a traditional craft.  Instead, I coordinated a Lenten Donation Drive. 

lenten dontation drive

Father L and I thought this would be a fruitful way to celebrate St. Margaret of Scotland’s charity.  It was also an act of initiative for the girls to begin their preparation for Lent.

 JOYfilledfamily

Lenten Donation Drive handout pic

lf initiative

The girls decorated fliers to post around the parish and to distribute to family, friends, neighbors, and etc…

lenten collage

All items collected, from now until the end of Lent, will be donated to the local St. Vincent de Paul.  This corporal work of mercy will be a beautiful gift to Jesus from all the girls and their families. 

lf blessing 
~~~

The girls showed more initiative by preparing something special for Fr. L, Fr. S, and Fr. M, in honor of St. Valentine.  The girls had to complete the following sentence, “I love my Priests because____________.”  I recorded each response on a pink doily.  Each girl signed her love note. 

initiative donation

I took the love notes home to create a banner.  I had initially planned to hang the banner in the parish office but soon realized that the banner was far too big, and wonderful, for the closed quarters. 

love banner

I displayed the banner in the gym on Sunday morning (two days before the feast of St. Valentine) for all to see.  It was the perfect place and time since the Rosa Mystica Girls Society was holding their annual bake salwe love our priestse.  I only hope that the Little Flowers’ Valentine lasted and was on display for the intended recipients.  (I shall find out on Sat.)

banner

St. Margaret of Scotland ~ ora pro nobis

~~~

 
Handouts:

  • Initiative Divider Sheet ps4g12
  • Initiative Activity Sheet
  • St. Margaret of Scotland Bio for Kids ~ Holy Spirit Interactive
  • Initiative Memory Verse ~ Shower of Roses
  • St. Margaret of Scotland Coloring Page ~ Curmudgeonry
  • St. Margaret of Scotland Coloring Page ~ Waltzing Matilda
  • Black Eyed Susan Coloring Page ~ Family Education

Resources:

  • St. Margaret of Scotland Bio ~ EWTN
  • Works of Mercy Printable ~ Holy Reflections
  • St. Margaret Paper Doll ~ Paper Dali
  • Initiative ~ Shower of Roses
  • Little Flowers Link Up ~ Shower of Roses
 

2012 Lenten Calendar

February 18, 2012 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Lent, Lenten Calendar

O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, despondency, lust of power, and idle talk; But grant rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love to thy servant. Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own transgressions, and not to judge my brother; for blessed art Thou unto the ages of ages. ~ St. Ephraem, Doctor of the Church (d. 373)  This prayer is often prayed with a prostration after each stanza.

2012 Lenten Calendar - OldJOYfilledfamily 2012 Lenten Calendar - Old BW

*The calendar can be printed with a purple or white background. The links to the calendar downloads are listed at the bottom of this post.

I opted for a more subdued calendar this year.  This calendar corresponds with the Liturgical Calendar – 2012 of the Traditional Roman Rite.  I’ve included saints that are not celebrated in time of Lent for my family’s private devotion. 

In order to keep up the character of mournfulness and austerity which is so well suited to Lent, the Church, for many centuries, admitted very few feasts into this portion of her year, inasmuch as there is always joy where there is even a spiritual feast…During the last few centuries, she has admitted several other feasts into that portion of her general calendar which coincides with Lent; still, she observes a certain restriction, out of respect for the ancient practice. ~“The Mystery of Lent” – Extraordinary Form (Tridentine) from Dom Gueranger’s “The Liturgical Year”

Here is a key for the calendar:

  1. Saints listed with a (larger) picture (formatted in the center of the calendar square) are from the Liturgical Calendar 2012.
  2. Saints with (slightly smaller) pictures (formatted in the right of the calendar square)are those listed in the Roman Missal. 
  3. Saints listed without a picture come from the Breviary. 

2012 Lenten Calendar - Old - KEY

The following prayers are also included on the calendar.

O Lord Jesus! who spent forty days in the desert without food or drink, and didst permit Thy self to be tempted by the evil spirit, give me, I beseech Thee by that holy fast, the grace to combat, during this holy season of Lent, under Thy protection, against intemperance, and to resist the suggestions of Satan that I may win the crown of eternal life. Amen. ~Rev. Fr. Leonard Goffine’s The Church’s Year

~~~

Prayer Before A Crucifix ~ En ego, O bone et dulcissime Iesu
Behold, O good and most sweet Jesus, I fall upon my knees before Thee, and with most fervent desire beg and beseech Thee that Thou wouldst impress upon my heart a lively sense of faith, hope and charity, true repentance for my sins, and a firm resolve to make amends. And with deep affection and grief, I reflect upon Thy five wounds, having before my eyes that which Thy prophet David spoke about Thee, o good Jesus: "They have pierced my hands and feet, they have counted all my bones." Amen.

This prayer calls to mind Psalm 21, in particular verses 17 and 18, which concern our Lord’s Passion. A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful on any Friday of Lent or Passiontide who after Communion piously recite this prayer before an image of Christ crucified. On other days of the year the indulgence is partial.

~~~

You may download and print the calendar for your personal use.  I only ask that you offer a decade of the Rosary for Priests of the the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP).

2012 Lenten Calendar – Traditional Roman Rite

White – 2012 Lenten Calendar – Traditional Roman Rite

***Please leave a comment stating how you plan to use this or any other Lenten Calendar.  Also, feel free to leave your suggestions for future calendars.***

Email me at JOYfilledfamily{at}gmail{dot}com if you prefer to have a JPEG file and/or PDF sent directly to you.  I will gladly send out the 2012 Lenten Calendar – JPEG file at any time in the Lenten Season.

I print my calendar at Costco Photo in 16×20 ($5.99) for the family down stairs and 8×10 ($1.49) for bedrooms upstairs.

~~~

Catholic Icing ~ Lenten Link-Up

Like Mother, Like Daughter ~ {pretty, happy, funny, real}

Catholic Bloggers ~ Blog Round-Up

Sharing the LOVE

February 15, 2012 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: 02 February, 02 February Saints, Family Night, Marriage, St. Valentine, St. Valentine's Day

"Spread love everywhere you go: first of all in your own house. Give love to your children, to your wife or husband, to a next door neighbor… Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God’s kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting." ~Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta

~~~

My family sought to share our Love of Christ with others on this special day – the feast day of our 2012 Patron Saint, St. Valentine.

~~~

The day started with breakfast delivered in bed.  I couldn’t stand to be away from my loves so I took my breakfast downstairs.  My family ate together and shared our love. 

Dad presented me with his homemade chocolate dipped strawberries and apples.  He was so thoughtful in buying the supplies and sneaking them in the house without me knowing.  He even used gluten-free chocolate chips.  Dad stood up late to make the treats with the help of Sparkles.  They were delish—much too good for children!

dipped strawberries

~~~

“What is the mark of love for your neighbor? Not to seek what is for your own benefit, but what is for the benefit of the one loved, both in body and in soul.” ~St. Basil the Great

Then my family went for some fun and fellowship on this blessed feast day ~ bowling & pizza in the park. 

e & e bowl

papi and dadsparkles and dragonflysparkles bowling

rose bowling

~~~

We exchanged St. Valentine’s treats.

st valentine's bookmarks v2st valentine's bookmarks

St. Valentine’s Prinatable ~ Sanctus Simplicitus

heart rosary

Heart Rosary ~ Catholic Icing

valentine rings

Holy Card Printables ~ Holy Reflections  -  Heart Rings ~ Family Fun

We shared some St. Valentine’s Mini Sweet Pizzas.

chocolate heart cupcakes

~~~

It was a blessed day shared with others, in thanksgiving for God’s love and the Love in which we have for Him.

st valentines day

Dad and I are looking forward to a in-home date night this evening.  We will bring out the Love Envelope, open a bottle of wine that we purchased from our getaway and share some sweet treats.

“My Jesus, fill my heart with so much love that one day it will break just to be with you. My Jesus, you know I have placed you as a seal on my heart. Remain there always.” ~St. Bernadette Soubirous

 

St. Valentine’s ~ ora pro nobis

~~~

The Search for St. Valentine

Love Quotes

Eats for St. Valentine’s Day

February 13, 2012 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: 02 February, 02 February Saints, St. Valentine, St. Valentine's Day

St. Valentine’s Healthy Heart Breakfast

st. valentine breakfast

~~~

St. Valentine’s Sweet Pizza

valentine

Love Envelope

February 11, 2012 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Marriage, St. Valentine's Day

date night questions for my love

I wanted to share a collection of Date Night Questions* that Dad & I have been using since our getaway.

I decided to refresh our collection of date night questions but I didn’t want to start from scratch.  I went searching online and found a blog that listed numerous questions.  There were approximately 100 questions, categorized into six categories.  I’ve listed the categories and a sample question.

    • General date questions
      • If money and time weren’t an issue, what would you most like to do?
    • Getting to know one another
      • What one thing have you learned about God (or yourself) this past year?
    • Honoring one another
      • Some qualities I see in you that I would like to cultivate in my own life are…
    • Sin
      • What is your greatest source of frustration right now? How have you achieved victory in your attitude?
    • Marriage and family life
      • As a demonstration of my love for you, I would like to improve in the area of . . .
    • Home schooling
      • How can I support you as you work so diligently as an educator of our children? Where are you defining education in a way that brings undue hardship on yourself?

I copied and pasted the questions into a Word document for easy access.  I even color coded the questions.  I printed and cut the questions into strips.  Then I placed them in an envelope with a cute cover.

I had planned to use the questions sporadically over the weekend.  Things didn’t turn out as planned, Dad couldn’t wait.  He initiated the dialogue within eight miles into the trip.  The file never got a rest.

I randomly selected a paper strip from the envelope.  I read the question.  Dad and I took turns answering the question for ourselves.  Then we took turns answering the question for each other.  We answered majority of the questions.  I kept a journal of our answers. This exchange was very edifying for us as a couple and as an individual.

The Love Envelope is what we now call the date night questions.  It was Dad’s favorite part of the trip.  He has requested that I bring the envelope along every time we get a chance to be alone (dinner for two in the kitchen while the kid’s occupy themselves, shopping trips, gas runs, Adoration, etc…).

The time we had away, to enter into dialogue and be fully attentive to each other, yielded a beautiful refreshment and intimacy. That intimacy has helped to sustain us through some recent trials.

ALL PRAISE AND GLORY TO GOD!

 

  • Date Night Questions for my Love – Envelope Cover
  • Date Night Questions for my Love – Questions

 

*the Date Night Questions we found on a non-Catholic website.  Some of the questions were altered.

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 132
  • 133
  • 134
  • 135
  • 136
  • …
  • 233
  • Next Page »

Hi! I'm Lena, mama of JOYfilledfamily.
We are a traditional Catholic family striving to live for Jesus Christ in everything we do. We pray to completely surrender our will to His and to become His servants. Our mission of this blog is to share our JOY.

This blog serves as a journal of us making good memories, living the liturgical year, and our spiritual journey.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

  • Home
  • About
  • Blog

Copyright © 2026 swank WordPress Theme <a PDCD