Here is brief update on my Family Lenten Program.
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Health & Fitness Lenten Program
Getting the Kids on Board
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!
‘Food’ Purge
It’s Day 3 for the Wellness Challenge in my home. The pantry and fridge are in need of a quick purge. I have allowed some items in that don’t belong. I did so out of convenience and celebration of a feast day—what was I thinking? I’m offering it up and moving on!
I will be using this check list below to get my pantry back in order.
Wellness Mama Challenge – Purge the Pantry
- As a general rule, if it comes in a package, box or bag, it counts
- If it contains grains, sugars, chemicals, ingredients you can’t pronounce or has a color that doesn’t exist in nature… it counts
- If feeding it to a small animal could induce a diabetic coma… it counts
- If it says “low-fat” or “Heart healthy whole grains” – it definitely counts
- If it is in a can and has ingredients other than fish (tuna, sardines, etc) or vegetables- it counts
- If it is an oil that comes from a food that does not produce an oil when squeezed (corn, soybean, canola, etc) it counts
In the Kitchen
{pretty, happy, funny, real} food edition
{pretty}
these beauties were waiting on my door step this morning.
{happy}
these were one of my pre-Lenten requests. my husband and eldest daughter made these grain-free blueberry muffins for me the family.
{funny}
my lil guy couldn’t resist the fresh fruit.
that’s his hand reaching for something juicy.
yumm!! this was the perfect apple – juicy, crisp, mildly sweet, and cool. organic fuji.
{real}
Ash Wednesday meal
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~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~
Every Thursday, here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!
My New Plan
I hit a bump in the road but I have not ended my journey to living a healthier life for Him. In fact, I need it now more than ever since I am dealing with some serious aliments. I desire a complete healing if it is His will for me. I trust that this is the path He is leading me on – it is within my means, will benefit my entire family, and help me to live out my call. I continue the journey all for His glory!
Providentially, I have been brought to some great resources online – there’s really no other way to explain how I was brought here. It continues to amaze me everyday when I read something that shows a direct correlation between what I have been dealing with and the benefit of the diet I now seek to live by. More than that, I have experienced the benefits first hand. Late last year (1.5 months into the radical change in diet), I felt the best physically and mentally than I have felt in a very long time.
Unfortunately, I am now on the decline. Is it spiritual warfare, physiological, or both? Regardless, I’m praying to stay where He has led me and I will trust in my body. I have recommitted to this lifestyle for Lent. I will take it one day at a time and keep my eyes on Him.
I will continue to use the following resources…
EPLifeFit provides a real approach to fitness, as well as the nutrition expertise. All the thinking and the programming has been done for you and you have access to a workout program that is not just a program but also a way of life. Fee based membership.
Wellness Mama Meal Plans offer healthy, affordable meals planned for you! Improve your family’s health with delicious, nutrient packed meals! This has been a tremendous time and money saver for me. Fee based subscription.
I will be participating in the Wellness Challenge. I have learned a great deal from Katie at Wellness Mama and I’m excited to have this support for me during Lent. The Wellness Challenge lasts 7 weeks, which will take me to Holy Week – perfect for my Lenten Program.
This challenge is designed to help you improve your health and stay motivated for 30 days. FREE!
Here’s a look at the first challenge…
Mini Challenge #1
Cut out the grains, sugars, potatoes, beans and all processed foods from your diet (including vegetable oils, margarine, and other frankenfats) and focus on getting maximum nutrition from meats, vegetables, healthy fats (coconut, olives, coconut oil, olive oil, tallow, lard, butter, unprocessed cream, etc) and fruits.
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Prayers for a blessed, fruitful, and healthy Lent.
AD JESUM PER MARIAM
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Ash Wednesday
"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
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
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.
~~~
JOYfilledfamily
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, 4th Class
- Clean Monday
- 7 pm adult Catechism lesson from Fr. Lyons
- Tuesday 21 – Shrove Tuesday – Feria, 4th Class
- Corporal Work of Mercy – visit the elderly
- fun and fellowship
- family work day at parish
- Wed. 22 – ASH Wednesday, 1st Class
- 7 pm High Mass
- Thur. 23 – Chair of St. Peter, 1st Class (for FSSP)
- Adoration
- 7 pm High Mass
- Friday 24 – Friday after Ash Wednesday, 3rd Class
- Mass & Stations of the Cross
- Saturday 25 – St. Matthias, AP, 2nd Class
- 9 AM Mass
- First Holy Communion preparation
- family work day at parish
- Sunday 26 – First Sunday of Lent
- Monday 27 – Feria of Lent, 3rd Class
- 10 am prayer at abortion clinic
- Clean Monday
- 7 pm adult Catechism lesson from Fr. Lyons
- Tuesday 28 – Feria of Lent, 3rd Class
- Wed. 29 – Ember Wednesday, 2nd 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
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
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
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,
- St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows
- Sexagesima Sunday
- St. Matthias
- Chair of St. Peter
- Septuagesima Sunday
- Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- The Way of the Cross
- How to Attend Mass
- Lenten Resolution Renewal
- Lenten Family Joy Journal
- My Biggest Sacrifice
- Counsels of Perfection for CHRISTIAN MOTHERS
- SIMPLIFY
- Daily Meditations
- Pre-Lenten Recap
- Charity is…
- Resurrection Eggs
- Lenten Calendar & Family Lenten Program
- L-E-N-T
Time to Recommit
Lent is coming! Part of my family’s Lenten program will be to recommit to a lifestyle change that He has called us to follow. 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.
~~~
In His joy,
Total Consecration
I am all thine and all I have is thine, O dear Jesus, through Mary, Thy holy Mother.”
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I invite you to make a Total Consecration for the first time or prepare to renew your consecration if your original consecration was on the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
True Devotion to Mary is nothing more than the perfect and certain and shortest way to live our baptismal vows.”
My family will be preparing for our fifth Annual Consecration Renewal.
I am willing to organize an email loop or private blog for anyone who desires to grow closer to Our Blessed Mother by way of Montfortian Total Consecration. If you are interested, please contact me (JOYfilledfamily at gmail dot com) or leave a comment at this post.
In any case, you will benefit from listening to this sermon from Audio Sancto – True Devotion to Mary.
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By making this consecration to Mary, you are placing yourself completely and totally in her hands. You are giving her permission to form you, discipline you, and mold you into a true follower of Christ. Do not be afraid, though, because she loves you. She will always take care of you, and knows better than anybody how to do so. It is always good to remember her words to St. Juan Diego in Mexico, “Hear and let it penetrate into your heart, my dear little son: let nothing discourage you, nothing depress you: let nothing alter your heart or your countenance. Also do not fear any illness or vexation, anxiety or pain. Am I not here who am your Mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am I not your fountain of life? Are you not in the folds of my mantle, in the crossing of my arms? Is there anything else that you need?”
The Total Consecration is divided into themes:
Days 1-12: The Spirit of the World
Days 13-19: Knowledge of Self
Days 20-26: Knowledge of Mary
Days 27-33: Knowledge of Jesus
Day 34: Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary
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Schedule of Consecration
1 21 Feb when February has 29 days. The Feast of the Annunciation is the Feast that St. Louis de Montfort recommends most of all as it is this Feast that commemorates God Himself taking on flesh and, thereby, subjecting even Himself to trust in and dependency on Our Lady
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AD JESUM PER MARIAM
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