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St. Frances Xavier Cabrini

by Filed Under: 11 November, 11 November Saints, 12 December, 12 December Saints, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Leave a Comment

We must pray without tiring, for the salvation of mankind does not depend upon material success . . . but on Jesus alone.  –St. Frances Xavier Cabrini

 saint-frances-xavier-cabrini

Traditional Calendar December 22

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A PRAYER FOR PEACE OF MIND by Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini

FORTIFY me with the grace of Your Holy Spirit and give Your peace to my soul that I may be free from all needless anxiety, solicitude and worry. Help me to desire always that which is pleasing and acceptable to You so that Your will may be my will.

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St Frances Xavier Cabrini

Patron: hospital administrators; immigrants; orphans.

Symbols: ship; heart; book.

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  RESOURCES:

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Shh! Don’t tell the kids…

by Filed Under: Lent, Mardi Gras, Pre-Lent, Shrove Tuesday

Dad and I have a secret from Shrove Tuesday.  We had an after hours treat.

I bought these to make for Rose’s party.

3.8 coffee mix

We decided to try them since they were on clearance at Costco.  They’re delicious.

I’m not a coffee drinker but I do enjoy an occasional caramel frappuccino.  Dad loves anything with sugar and caffeine.

3.8 mom and dad's shrove tue treat(I’m posting this pic as a Lenten exercise in humility.)

We made ourselves a farewell drink to bring in my favorite season of the year, the Lenten season.  It was our carnival.

Carnival is from the Latin Carnevale or “farewell to meat”, and it is a time of joyful feasting and fun. The practice of celebrating carnival probably began in ancient times when the Sunday a week before the beginning of Lent was called Dominica Carnevala, or “farewell to meat Sunday” — referring to the Lenten fast from meat and animal products…~ Women for Faith & Family, The Observance of Lent – Part I

The cappuccino mixes now sit on the counter to tempt dad.  As for me, I got my fix.  I’ll see how long it lasts.

I said good-bye to all drinks that are not clear and tasteless – I’m only drinking water.  I have to get creative with fasting since I’m nursing and have a dispensation from adhering to the laws of fasting.

ALL FOR!

SIMPLIFY

by Filed Under: Lent, Organization Leave a Comment

“Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.” ~ Luke 13:15

Simplifying is a constant theme in my family’s journey.

Simplify is another prompting from the Holy Ghost that has been placed on our hearts.  We are a work in progress but definitely feel the call to SIMPLIFY in ALL areas of our lives – words, material possessions, food, extracurricular activities, spiritual practices……to better follow Him.

Simplify~Repair~Love

In the past years, I’ve followed the  Archdiocese of Cincinnati – 40days 40bags.  I was introduced to this great Lenten challenge by Jessica.

I wanted to step it up this Lent.  A couple of friends and I are following the Simple Mom’s Project Simplify.  I’ve been following Tsh throughout the year via her site and book, Organized Simplicity.

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I’m also slowly digesting Addicted to Stuff! to help me in my efforts.  I pray for perseverance and resolve to gain the order that God wills for my family.

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We call races and generations Houses; and the Hebrews were wont to speak of the birth of children as “the building up of the house;” as it is written of the Jewish midwives in Egypt, that the Lord “made them houses;”  Exod. i. 21. whereby we learn that a good house is not reared so much by the accumulation of worldly goods, as by the bringing up of children in the ways of holiness and of God; and to this end no labour or trouble must be spared, for children are the crown of their parents. ~ St. Francis de Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life (3.38)

I may post pictures of this journey if I’m up for the exercise in humility.

O most Blessed Virgin Mary, help me!

Ad Jesum per Mariam

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Additional Resources:

  • Like Mother and Daughter  – Organizing tips.  Be sure to check out A Pep Talk for Organization.
  • Fasting From Our Clutter – Reflect on clearing clutter from your life this season of Lent. This update offers ways to fast from our personal habits, the clutter in our homes, our spiritual clutter and the confusion of our culture as we prepare for Easter.
  • Smart Martha – For mothers who want to learn how to work smarter and not harder; who want to take time to refocus and get their home life in order; and for mothers who may simply need some inspiration in this tiresome task of managing a home.
  • iHeart Organizing – Jen offers free organization printables, resources and printables.
  • The Idea Room – Organizing tips and inspiration (an organizer’s eye candy).

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Prayer for the Home
Visit, we beseech Thee, O Lord, this dwelling, and drive far from it all snares of the enemy; let Thy holy Angels dwell herein, to preserve us in peace; and let Thy blessing be upon us forever. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Daily Meditations

by Filed Under: Lent, Meditation

Here is a wonderful FREE resource that can be used during Lent and all year long.  I forgot to list this resource in my Lenten post. 

You can read the meditations on Colleen Hammond’s site or subscribe to the email loop.

This meditation comes from a set of books written in the 1800s by Fr. M. Hamon. They have been out of print for over 100 years.

Today’s meditation is on the Three Temptations of Jesus in the Desert.

Summary of Today’s Meditation

We will meditate today upon the three temptations of Jesus in the desert, that is to say: first, an excessive care of the body and of health: second, the self-love which presumes upon itself and desires to attract notice; third, ambition and self-seeking. We will then make the resolution: first, to avoid excessive delicacy in the care of our body; second, to seek God only in all things. Our spiritual nosegay shall be the advice of the apostle St. James: “Resist the devil and he will fly from you.” (James 4:7)

Pre-Lenten Recap

by Filed Under: GFG, Lent, Mardis Gras, Picture Recap, Pre-Lent, Shrove Tuesday

pre-lenten cleaning dragonfly with dad
3.1 – Dad and Dragonfly getting their pre-Lenten cleaning on.
papi the beaver taking a break 3.1
3.1- Papi the beaver and the girls taking a break from cleaning.  They’ll try anything to get out of cleaning.
3.8 – Shrove Tuesday
shrove tues visit to the elderly 3.8
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.
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!
Activity Source: Around the Year with the Trapp Family by Maria Augusta Trapp, Pantheon Books Inc., New York, New York, 1955
We try to coordinate with other families but we’re not always able to gather a group.  The morning starts with Mass and ends with a play date and feast in the park.  This year, my nieces and Dragonfly’s Godmother and God-siblings were able to join us for Mass and the visit.  
We had a blessed time.  The residents were elated to see all the children.  Many of the residents desired to place the beads on the children.  They desired to put smiles on the children.  It was beautiful to see such act of charity.  After all, we were there to visit them and bring them a special offering.  Somehow we managed to distribute over 100 necklaces and leis.
ALL FOR!
kids in the park
We visited a park on the way home.  It was not in the best of shape but that didn’t seem to bother my kids.
3.8 shrove tue sparkles in the park3.8 shrove tue sweetie in the park3.8 shrove tue papi in the park3.8 shrove tue df and rose s in the park         shrove tuesday lunch kid's choice We let the kids pick their lunch.  Pizza, candy, pretzels, ranch & cucumbers. and soda. 

shrove tuesday lunch dl 3.8











They were thrilled with the day!

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