share our JOY

JOY{filled}family

striving to radiate Him always

Lenten Family Joy Journal

by Filed Under: Crafts, Gifts, JOY Journal, Lent

Through the traditional practices of fasting, almsgiving and prayer, which are an expression of our commitment to conversion, Lent teaches us how to live the love of Christ in an ever more radical way. ~ Pope Benedict XVI, 2011 Lenten Message (3)

Finding JOY in my life has been a call of mine for sometime.  I’ve been recording my JOY for several years now, in efforts to grow a JOYfilled heart.  It has been a much needed spiritual practice for me. 
I have recently been renewed by friends, Ann and other bloggers.
Jenny at A Moment Captured and Melody at Blossoming Joy inspired me to step it up for Lent.

In order to undertake more seriously our journey towards Easter and prepare ourselves to celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord – the most joyous and solemn feast of the entire liturgical year… ~ Pope Benedict XVI, 2011 Lenten Message (2)

Here is the JOY Journal that I made for my family.  We’ve been entering our JOY each day after family prayer.

lenten joy journal JOY
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JOY Journal
Mini-Tutorial

lenten joy journal supplies

supplies:  note book, mod podge, foam brush, nail file, and holy images.  (i prefer to upcycle items.  i used an old religious catalog.)
  • hand tear or cut the images as desired.

lenten joy journal front cover

  • glue the images to the  cover.  overlap images for complete coverage.
  • trim the edges with a nail file.  be sure that there is not glue on top of the images for this step.

lenten joy journal filed cover

  • repeat the above steps for the back cover.
  • apply another coat of mod podge over the images.
  • let dry.
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My Biggest Sacrifice

by Filed Under: Lent, Prayer

In case you didn’t know, Lent is my favorite time of year.  I joyfully embrace the cross and yearn to grow closer to Him.  Dad and I prepare a personal Lenten program for ourselves and for our family.  We help the children with their personal Lenten programs.  We also create marital Lenten program.  It sounds like a lot but, really, we keep it simple.

Dad and I serve as each other’s spiritual advisor – to become ONE in Christ.  Our marital Lenten program varies every year with the exception of one element that remains the same on a yearly basis.  We’ve agreed to select a sacrifice for one another.  It is often my biggest sacrifice.  Here are the parameters:

  1. Take time away from home to finalize all Lenten programs and seek direction.  This is usually done on a date walk.*
  2. Start the discussion with a prayer.
  3. Tell the other what item you would like to see him work on/sacrifice for Lent.
    • only one sacrifice can be set
    • be specific
    • give an example
    • there can be no refuting the sacrifice chosen
    • arguing is NOT allowed
  4. Close the discussion with a prayer.
  5. Pray daily for one another.
  6. Repeat steps 1-4 as a follow-up on a weekly basis or daily if needed.

*We invented date walks several years ago when getting away for a date night was not possible.  The walks can last no longer than 45min and no kids are allowed.  They are great for our physical, emotional and spiritual health.

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High school sweet hearts 

Dad and I back in high school.

Married Couple’s Prayer to the Sacred Heart

O most Sacred Heart of Jesus, King and center of all hearts, dwell in our hearts and be our King; grant us by Your grace to love each other truly and chastely, even as You have loved Your spotless Bride, the Church, and have given Yourself up for her.

Bestow upon us that mutual love and Christian forbearance which are so highly acceptable in Your sight, and a mutual patience in bearing each other’s defects; for we are certain that no living creature is free from them. Do not permit even the slightest defect to mar that full and gentle harmony of spirit, the foundation of the mutual assistance in the many and varied hardships of life, that is the end for which woman was created and united inseparably to her husband.

O Lord God, grant that between us there may reign a perpetual holy rivalry toward a life perfectly Christian, by virtue of which there may shine forth more and more clearly the divine image of Your mystic union with Your Holy Church, as You have deigned to imprint it upon us on the auspicious day of our being made one.

Grant, we beseech You, that our good example of Christian living may serve as a powerful inspiration to our children to conform their own lives to Your holy law; and finally, after this exile may we ascend into heaven, where by the help of Your grace, for which we earnestly pray, we may merit to be joined with our children forever and praise and bless You through everlasting ages, Amen.

Prayer Source: Family for Families, The by Francis L. Filas, S.J., The Bruce Publishing Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1947

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.

image

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.

image

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)

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