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JOY{filled}family

striving to radiate Him always

Christmas Giveaway

by Filed Under: Giveaway, Organization, thirty-one 24 Comments

I have recently enlisted as an Independent Consultant for Thirty-One.  I fell in love with their product design and quality.  I’m thankful that I have the opportunity to make extra income to help my family (without leaving my home), give back to great causes, enjoy great products at discounted prices, and share such an opportunity with others.  ALL FOR!

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OUTLET SALE

Thirty-One is offering a pthirty-oneost-Christmas Day sale.  The Outlet store opens for shopping at 7am PST on Dec. 26 (Feast of St. Stephen)  and ends at 9am PST on Dec. 28 (Feast of the Holy Innocents). 

The sale includes favorite discontinued prints and products from previous Catalogs.  These products are perfect for any gift-giving occasion.

Shop early so you don’t miss out on the deals!

15% of all profits (from my shop sales) will be donated to charities!

You may leave your suggestion for charities for future donations.

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SHOP THE OUTLET SALE

How to shop the Outlet Sale:

Online:

  • visit me at https://www.mythirtyone.com/joyfilledfamily/
    • select the Outlet Sale advertisement

    Email & Phone:

  • Contact me via email to place your order or request a phone call. 

    gelfamily{at}att{dot}net

    Note:

  • Please be certain that Lena Flores (238738) is specified as your consultant before finalizing your purchase.  Thank you!

    For this sale, all sales are final. No returns or exchanges will be accepted. All styles are only available while supplies last. Thirty-One Gifts reserves the right to cancel or hold an order based on the product quantity or product availability.

    ~~~

    GIVEAWAY

    I will be running my giveaway concurrently with the Thirty-One Outlet Sale.  The giveaway will start on Dec. 26 (Feast of St. Stephen) and end on Dec. 8 (Feast of the Holy Innocents).

    organizing utility tote

    The first winner will receive an Organizing Utility Tote (valued at $30). (The print may vary from that displayed in the pic above.)

    The runner-up will receive a mystery prize from the Thirty-one collection.

    All winners will be announced by Jan. 1 – Feast of the Circumcision.

    Enter the giveaway via the Rafflecopter widget below. 

    a Rafflecopter giveaway

     

     

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    CONSULTANT INFO

    spring enrollment kit

    New consultants will receive the spring enrollment kit* (above) for $99.   In addition, all new consultants who host their first party in January can double their Hostess credits (with any party over $500).  In other words, a new consultant has the possibility of receiving $180 in free product as the "Hostess" and a $125 commission (which in turn will cover the enrollment costs).

    Contact me to find out how you can earn extra income, get great incentives, and more!

    *The Spring Enrollment Kit features:
    • Cinch Sac in Punch Bowl
    • Keep-It Caddy in Turquoise Cross Pop
    • Large Utility Tote in Party Punch
    • Lil’ Expressions Mini Zipper Pouch in Natural w/ Grey
    • Organizing Utility Tote in Island Damask
    • Pocket-A-Tote in Turquoise Cross Pop
    • Retro Metro Bag in Lotsa Dots
    • Scarf in Pink Punch Bowl
    • Small Rosette Clip in Turquoise
    • Thermal Tote in Punch Bowl
    • Thermal Zipper Pouch in Island Damask
    • Timeless Wristlet in Party Punch
    • Top-A-Tote in Grey
    • Start-up business supplies

    • Merry Christmas ~ Family Christmas Cards

    by Filed Under: Christmas, Christmas Card

    May you and your family be merry on this blessed day & season.  MERRY CHRISTmas!!

    be merry blowing kisses

    JOY to the world JOYfilledfamily

    christmas blessings

    peace on earth JOYfilled family

    JOYfilledfamily PEACE LOVE JOY

    ~~~

    Our Christmas photos were taken early this year with an impromptu trip to the park since our scheduled shoot didn’t work out. I was happy with the photos but a bit disappointed with the photo cards. I put it off for far too long then life happened and the Christmas cards almost got nixed. Dad encouraged me to get them done in the eleventh hour. I opted for a simple, less customized, inexpensive option – Costco 1hr photo. I paid $15 or 50 6×7.5 prints with sturdy silver-lined envelopes.

    The cards above are some of the outtakes from Shutterfly, before Dad made his way to the hospital.  The card below is a slightly modified version of my family’s Costco photo card.

    ~~~

    Comfort and JOY JOYfilledfamily 2012

    2011 I 2010 I 2009

    CHRIST in Christmas

    by Filed Under: Advent, Christmas 8 Comments

    I’m participating in the Keeping Christ in Christmas Blog Carnival, hosted by Arma Dei/Equipping Catholic Families, Raising (& Teaching) Little Saints, Truly Rich Mom. We’ll be sharing different ways, tips, stories and real-life experiences that will help us focus on Jesus as the Reason for the Christmas season. Please scroll down to the end of the post to see the list of carnival entries.

    greatest-nativity

    Keeping our eyes on Christ is my family’s daily goal.  During Advent it becomes even more important for us to work on keeping Christ in Christmas.

    Our primary objective for keeping Christ in Christmas is to observe each liturgical season in it’s entirety.

    Here are a few examples on how we try to keep the focus on Him during Advent & Christmas.

    ~~~

    The focus of Advent is preparation for the coming of the Lord — both in commemoration of His Nativity and His coming again at the end of time… The Christmas season does not begin until the first Mass at Christmas Eve, and doesn’t end liturgically until the Octave of the Epiphany on January 14. It goes on in the spiritual sense until Candlemas on February 2, when all celebrations of Christ’s Childhood give way to Septuagesima and Lent.

    Sole focus is on preparing our hearts for Jesus.

        • Simple practices that help us keep this a penitential season.
        • Limited celebratory events.  No extracurriculars.  Similar to our Lenten practices.
        • Advent List, Christkindl, Jesse Tree, Christmas, Novena, and more.
        • We take a mock pilgrimage, Journey to Bethlehem.  Journey To Bethlehem is an interactive walking tour from the recreated town of Nazareth to Bethlehem.  The journey Gloria Holy Reflectionsrecreates the events that happened on the evening of Christ’s birth. 
        • Decorations are focused on Christ, only.  Nativities are the primary décor.  The lights must wait for Christmas.
        • Christmas music is limited (to the best of our ability) until Christmas day.
        • Gift giving is not emphasized.  That means no wish lists or presents stuffed under the tree.  Instead, acts of charity are discussed and encouraged.
            • Absolutely no Santa Claus.
        • All family members receive the sacrament of Confession during the Third and Fourth Sunday of Advent.
        • All family members present their hearts (gifts) during the Third and Fourth Sunday of Advent.  This is done by way of Adoration.  Each leaves a wooden heart at the nativity manager in Church.  The heart symbolizes their offering for Jesus. Our hearts are with Christ at His time of birth.  The hearts are picked up during the Christmas season and placed on the family altar as a reminder of our offering.

    40 days after giving birth, Mary goes to the Temple to be purified and to “redeem” Jesus per the Old Testament Law of the firstborn. Christmas truly ends as a Season with Candlemas and the beginning of Septuagesima.

        • Put a small offering of gifts under the tree for the children on Christmas Eve.
        • Visit Our Lord and Savior at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass on Christmas Day.14820268-brussels--june-24-nativity-paint-on-the-wood-from-saint-antoine-church-on-march-2012-in-brussels
          • We visit Him before we ever turn towards a present. No opening any gifts on Christmas eve or Christmas morning – CHRIST IS FIRST!
        • Have a birthday party for Jesus on Christmas morning.
          • Happy birthday, cake, and the works.
        • Keep the Christmas decor up for the entire span of the Christmas season.  (Many think we’re nuts or lazy but it’s done all for His glory!)
        • REJOICE!!! Sing and play Christmas music all season!
        • Increase daily Mass attendance.

    It is, that, from the day itself of our Saviour’s Birth even to the day of our Lady’s Purification, there is, in the Calendar,an extraordinary richness of Saints’ Feasts, doing homage to the master feast of Bethlehem, and clustering in adoring love round the Crib of the Infant-God. ~ “The Mystery of Christmas” from Dom Gueranger’s “The Liturgical Year”

    ~~~

    Rohden-Franz-von-Geburt-Christi-Nativity-detail-w600

    ~~~

    Keeping Christ in Christmas Blog Carnival Entries:

    Please take the time to visit other blog carnival participants and leave a comment on their posts! The list will be updated throughout the day, so please do come back and check on them.  ALL FOR!

    Save the Date ~ Outlet Sale

    by Filed Under: thirty-one

    Shop in your slippers and stock up on discontinued Thirty-One prints and styles at great prices.

    thirty-one

    Here are the details:
    Shopping starts at 10 a.m. EST on Wednesday, December 26 (Feast of St. Stephen) and ends at noon EST on Friday, December 28 (Feast of the Holy Innocents).

    It includes favorite discontinued prints and products from previous Catalogs, while supplies last! These products are perfect for any gift-giving occasion.

    Shop early so you don’t miss out on the deals!

    How to shop the Outlet Sale:

    Online:

  • visit me at https://www.mythirtyone.com/joyfilledfamily/ 
    • select the Outlet Sale advertisement

    E-mail & Phone:

  • Contact me via email to place your order or request a phone call. 

    • gelfamily{at}att{dot}net

    Note:

  • Please be certain that Lena Flores (238738) is specified as your consultant before finalizing your purchase.  Thank you!

    • For this sale, all sales are final. No returns or exchanges will be accepted. All styles are only available while supplies last. Thirty-One Gifts reserves the right to cancel or hold an order based on the product quantity or product availability.

     

    ~ Sharing Thirty-One ~

    spring enrollment kit

    New consultants will receive the spring enrollment kit* (above) for $116 (includes tax and shipping).   In addition, all new consultants who host their first party in January will receive the exciting hostess benefits for the month of January (any party over $500 will double the Hostess credits).  So in actuality a new consultant has the possibility of receiving $180 in free product as the "Hostess" and a $125 commission which in turn will cover the enrollment costs.

    Contact me to find out how you can earn extra income, get great incentives, and more!

    *The Spring Enrollment Kit features:
    • Cinch Sac in Punch Bowl
    • Keep-It Caddy in Turquoise Cross Pop
    • Large Utility Tote in Party Punch
    • Lil’ Expressions Mini Zipper Pouch in Natural w/ Grey
    • Organizing Utility Tote in Island Damask
    • Pocket-A-Tote in Turquoise Cross Pop
    • Retro Metro Bag in Lotsa Dots
    • Scarf in Pink Punch Bowl
    • Small Rosette Clip in Turquoise
    • Thermal Tote in Punch Bowl
    • Thermal Zipper Pouch in Island Damask
    • Timeless Wristlet in Party Punch
    • Top-A-Tote in Grey
    • Start-up business supplies

    Solemn Rorate Mass

    by Filed Under: Advent, Marian, Rorate 2 Comments

     

    Solemn Rorate Mass from December 15th, 2012, at St. Stephen the First Martyr Parish. The Rorate Mass is a special votive mass for Our Lady during Advent, traditionally celebrated by candlelight in the early morning. St. Stephen’s is a parish run by the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter.


    The piece is "Gabriel’s Message," a traditional Basque Advent carol, sung by the Choir and Choristers of St. Stephen the First Martyr Parish on the album "The Little Road to Bethlehem.”

    This video was created by a talented parishioner, Jennifer Rego.

    ~~~

    More on the Rorate Mass can be found here.

    EROCRAS

    by Filed Under: Advent, O Antiphons

    The seven “O Antiphons” (also called the “Greater Antiphons” or “Major Antiphons”) are prayers that come from the Breviary’s Vespers during the Octave before Christmas Eve, a time which is called the “Golden Nights.”
    Each Antiphon begins with “O” and addresses Jesus with a unique title which comes from the prophecies of Isaias and Micheas (Micah), and whose initials, when read backwards, form an acrostic for the Latin “Ero Cras” which means “Tomorrow I come.”      ~ FisheatersO-Antiphons_02

    17 Dec. O Sapientia – Wisdom

    O Sapientia, quae ex ore Altissimi prodidisti, attingens a fine usque ad finem, fortiter suaviter disponensque omnia: veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae.

    O Wisdom, who came from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from end to end and ordering all things mightily and sweetly: come, and teach us the way of prudence.

    18 Dec. O Adonai – Lord

    O Adonai, et Dux domus Israel, qui Moysi in igne flammae rubi apparuisti, et ei in Sina legem dedisti: veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento..

    O Lord and Ruler the house of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the flame of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai: come, and redeem us with outstretched arms.

    19 Dec. O Radix Jesse – Root o anitphons

    O Radix Jesse, qui stas in signum populorum, super quem continebunt reges os suum, quem gentes deprecabuntur: veni ad liberandum nos, iam noli tardare.

    O Root of Jesse, that stands for an ensign of the people, before whom the kings keep silence and unto whom the Gentiles shall make supplication: come, to deliver us, and tarry not.

    20 Dec. O Clavis David – Key

    O clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israel: qui aperis, et nemo claudit; claudis, et nemo aperit: veni, et educ vinctum de domo carceris, sedentem in tenebris.

    O Key of David, and scepter of the house of Israel, who opens and no man shuts, who shuts and no man opens: come, and lead forth the captive who sits in the shadows from his prison.

    21 Dec. O Oriens – Dawn

    O Oriens, splendor lucis aeternae, et sol iustitiae: veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris et umbra mortis.

    O dawn of the east, brightness of light eternal, and sun of justice: come, and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.

    22 Dec. O Rex Gentium – King

    O Rex gentium, et desideratus earum, lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum: veni, et salva hominem, quem de limo formasti.

    O King of the gentiles and their desired One, the cornerstone that makes both one: come, and deliver man, whom you formed out of the dust of the earth.

    23 Dec. O Emmanuel – Emmanuel

    O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster, exspectatio gentium, et Salvator earum: veni ad salvandum nos Domine Deus noster.

    O Emmanuel, God with us, our King and lawgiver, the expected of the nations and their Savior: come to save us, O Lord our God.

    Capture2

    Ero Cras

    Take the first letters of each of the titles, starting with the last and working back to the first. You spell: EROCRAS or “ero cras… I will be (there) tomorrow”.

    Capture2Capture2

    Resources:

    Capture2

    O Antiphons Playlist

    Rorate Mass

    by Filed Under: 12 December, Advent, Marian, Rorate

     

    The "Rorate Mass," so called because it begins with the words of Isaiah 45:8,  "Rorate caeli desuper, et nubes pluant iustum…" (Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the Just One…), is a votive Mass offered within the season of Advent in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Celebrated by candlelight, and traditionally held before dawn.

    As the Mass ends the sky is just starting to glow with the new day and we journey from darkness to light and the coming of the Word Made Flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mother is upon us.

    mass for our lady in advent

    Will we be the darkness who receive Him not or will we be children of the light?

    ~~~

    Resources:

    ~~~

    Santa Lucia

    by Filed Under: 12 December, 12 December Saints, St. Lucia, St. Lucy Leave a Comment

    cau1e

    Saint Lucy
    Virgin and Martyr

    Feast – December 13

    Lucy, patron of Sicily, and one of the saints of the Canon of the Mass, was martyred at Syracuse in the persecution of Diocletian about the year 304. The legend of her martyrdom says that she was denounced as a Christian by a rejected suitor. Refusing to apostatize, she was condemned to a brothel, but a mysterious force prevented the persecutors from moving her from the tribunal. After an unsuccessful attempt had been made to burn her to death, her neck was pierced with a dagger.

     

     

     

    Prayer in Honor of St. Lucy

    O God, our Creator and Redeemer, Mercifully hear our prayers that a we venerate Thy servant, St. Lucy, for the light of faith Thou didst bestow upon her, Thou wouldst vouchsafe to increase and to preserve this same light in our souls, that we may be able to avoid evil, to do good and to abhor nothing so much as the blindness and the darkness of evil and of sin.

    Relying on Thy goodness, O God, we humbly ask Thee, by the intercession of Thy servant, St. Lucy that Thou wouldst give perfect vision to our eyes, that they may serve for Thy greater honor and glory, and for the salvation of our souls in this world, that we may come to the enjoyment of the unfailing light of the Lamb of God in paradise.

    St. Lucy, virgin and martyr, hear our prayer and obtain our petitions.

    ~~~

     santa lucia feast day treat

    This year’s St. Lucy’s treat is a far stretch from that of last year’s feast day.  It’s the result of parents feeling guilty that we have been “treatless” for many of he feast days this year.  It’s what results when we return home at 10:30 pm the previous night from Mass & celebrations for Our Lady of Guadalupe.  It’s us (as parents) making the best of our recent crosses and taking advantage of a good deal – Krispy Kreme offering free dozen donuts on 12.12.12.  ALL FOR!

    krispy kreme ~~~

    Resources:

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    IMG_5375

    Sparkles, the youngest girl in the family, served up the morning treat.

    ~~~

    2012 Santa Lucia Day Link-Up

    Christmas Masquerade Ball {pretty, happy, funny, real}

    by Filed Under: {phfr}, Christmas, Rose, Rose GFG

    pretty

    Elissa ready to go Christmas Ball

    Rose enjoyed a blessed time with friends at a Christmas Masquerade Ball. It was a beautiful, wholesome, and blessed evening hosted by fellow parishioners. ALL FOR!

    happy

    Christmas Ball

    funny

    lissa and siblings

    The girls wanted to take a picture with their sis.  Papi refused to get in on the group pic – he wanted a pic with rose, only.  Dragonfly was out cold, recuperating from his five day stay with Nana & Papa due to our recent Advent blessings.

    real

    dad and liss 5 days apart

    Rose had a blessed date night with Dad on 12.2. Two days later (on 12.4) he had a serious accident (fall off a ladder). By His grace Dad was able to see Rose off for her Christmas Masquerade Ball (12.7).

    We have much to be thankful this Advent.

    ~~~

    {pretty, happy, funny, real}

    ~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~
    Every Thursday, here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!

    Making a List…

    by Filed Under: Advent, St. Nicholas

    Many of the legends concerning St. Nicholas had to do with his abounding charity and extraordinary miracles, and particularly his Christ-like love for children, so that in Catholic countries he is said to make an annual visit on his feast day to bring presents to little ones.

    ~~~

    Once again, my Advent is not according to plan.  This includes this lovely feast day of St. Nicholas. 

    No gifts for the kids but we did manage to give a special something in thanksgiving for my husband’s well-being & His grace, united with the intercession of St. Nicolas & Our Blessed Mother.

    All praise and thanksgiving to the good Lord who leads me and my family and provides us the necessary grace to persevere. Advent Checklist - JOYfiledfamily

    Lastly, in honor of this blessed feast day I’m sharing our Advent list.  This list mimics that from our Lenten program. 

    Our days are not perfect but we seek to persevere in daily prayers, spiritual readings, and almsgiving – all in joyful waiting and desire to prepare our hearts for JESUS CHRIST.

    Below are links to versions of our Advent list.  It’s a simple list that helps keep us accountable.  ALL FOR!

     

    ~~~

    “Let us pray that we shall be able to welcome Jesus at Christmas not in the cold manger of a selfish heart, but in a heart full of love, compassion, joy and peace, a heart warm with love for one another.”

    ~Bl. Teresa of Calcutta

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