striving to radiate Him always
We ended the summer with a splendid family event at our parish. The SS annual pig roast and square dance was a glorious way to end the summer and have Rose say farewell to her parish community.
You can’t take the girls out of the dance tent. The “hoedown” is one of their highlights of each year.
The boys saved their first dance for the last dance. 
They danced the night away, 10 PM to be exact.
summer happenings as life seems to be slipping away. a new season awaits. God’s grace sustains me and His love compels me to persevere.
1. baby g3 turned 4 months. 2. dragonfly private d was dozing off while on duty. 3. Beauty sleep while waiting for mama to finish getting ready so I could feed him. He is, by far, my easiest baby. God is good!!! I know He gives us only what we can handle. I tease that He knew I couldn’t handle much. Thank you Jesus for all my sweet children.
summer shenanigans.
we were blessed to have a dedicated shepherd travel hours to bring us JESUS while camping.
camping in lake tahoe with four other moms and a total of 30+ kids…BLESSING!
trial camping cooking, boiled baggie omelet – delish!
clean eating.
1. baby g spent many days sleeping in the red wagon while commuting from pool to home. 2. first trip to ikea for baby and girls. the girls are officially interior designers.
my city kids, wannabe country kids, climbing any tree within sight.
baby g sleeps anywhere, plays with everyone, and loves the water. he went for his first this summer.
happy, happy boy. loves to talk to mama.
sparkler fun. this is the only way that papi will hold a sparkler. i love that he is a calculated risk taker.
the easy life.
i love my stars and stripes.
the boy’s favorite pastime, skipping rocks like dad.
baby’s first fourth of july.
my early bird. baby g sleeps through the night. dad and i love when he wakes up early to cuddle and play. it reminds us of the early years with only one or two little ones.
1. the month started with an indoor campout. 2. sweetie is the designated “yaya” for baby g. 3. dragonfly greets baby g every morning, with a book or special toy for play time.
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~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~
Every Thursday, here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!
On the occasion of the New Year 1935 Saint Maria Faustina made this entry in her spiritual Diary: "Jesus likes to intervene in the smallest details of our life. And He often fulfills secret wishes of mine that I sometimes hide from Him, although I know that from Him nothing can be hidden. There is a custom among us of drawing by lot on New Year’s Day, special patrons for ourselves for the whole year…”
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We are trying to get an early start on 2013. Dad initiated the saint selection for the family’s patron saint for 2013. Then each of us took a moment for prayer before we allowed a saint to select us as our personal patron saint for the year.*
We used the Saint’s Name Generator.
Here are our patron saints for 2013:
*Only those who receive or will receive Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist, selected a patron saint for the year. The boys will focus on growing in devotion to their namesakes.
Family Patron Saints from 2010 I 2011 I 2012.
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
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
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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:
Daily Prayer Meditation & Intention:
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JOYfilledfamily
Family Lenten Activities:
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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,
"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
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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.
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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!
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“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.
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We exchanged St. Valentine’s treats.
St. Valentine’s Prinatable ~ Sanctus Simplicitus
Heart Rosary ~ Catholic Icing
Holy Card Printables ~ Holy Reflections - Heart Rings ~ Family Fun
We shared some St. Valentine’s Mini Sweet Pizzas.
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It was a blessed day shared with others, in thanksgiving for God’s love and the Love in which we have for Him.
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
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The Search for St. Valentine
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.