share our JOY

JOY{filled}family

striving to radiate Him always

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

~~~

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).

~~~

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!

Resurrection Eggs

by Filed Under: Crafts, Lent

 

 

SUPPLIES:

  • cardboard egg carton (styrofoam does not take well to paint) 
  • purple paint
  • paint brush
  • 12 plastic eggs
  • purple sharpie
  • glue stick
  • printed carton cover
  • printed narration
  • scissors
  • 2 pieces of small plastic wrap
  • egg contents
    • 1 – aluminum foil cut into 30 small pieces.
    • 2 – plastic chalice (can be found at your local Catholic supply store or party store)
    • 2 – pita bread cut into a small circle
    • 3 – olive pits or olive branch
    • 4 – 2 sticks
    • 5 – string/twine
    • 6 – thorns from a rush bush
    • 7 – purple cloth
    • 8 – sticks and string
    • 9 – 3 nails
    • 10 – cut sponge
    • 11 – white cloth
    • 12 – this egg will remain empty

DIRECTIONS:

paint the outside of the egg carton with purple paint

print, cut and color the carton cover.  glue it to the top of the egg carton

Resurrection Eggs - Carton Cover

label the plastic eggs #1-12

insert the egg’s contents

  • 1 – cut and roll 30 pieces of aluminum foil.  wrap with plastic wrap
  • 2 – plastic chalice.  cut pita bread and wrap with plastic wrap.  (my pita bread has lasted for years w/o mold)
  • 3 – olive pits or olive branch
  • 4 – 2 sticks
  • 5 – tie several pieces of string/twine together
  • 6 – thorns from a rush bush
  • 7 – purple cloth
  • 8 – create a cross using the sticks and string
  • 9 – 3 nails
  • 10 – cut a small piece of sponge and mark it with a purple sharpie
  • 11 – white cloth
  • 12 – this egg will remain empty

print narration onto purple paper.  fold.  insert into egg carton.

Resurrection Eggs - Narration

 

share, recite and meditate as desired.

 

Lenten Calendar & Family Lenten Program

by Filed Under: Lent

JOYfilledfamily Lenten Calendar 2011 16x20

My Lenten Calendar Inspiration – Shower of Roses

This year’s Lenten calendar has slightly changed from last year.
I print my calendar at Costco Photo in 16×20 ($5.99) for the family down stairs and 8×10 ($1.49) for bedrooms upstairs.
Here is the link to the PDF version of my 2011 Lenten Calendar.  I’d be more than happy to share the digital file with anyone who is interested. 
Email me your request – JOYfilledfamily{at}gmail{dot}com.
**UPDATE** I’m happy to share this Lenten Calendar for your personal use.  I will gladly send out the 2011 Lenten Calendar – JPEG file at any time in the Lenten Season.  Please do not hesitate to ask.  It’s never too late!

~~~

Not much has changed in our Lenten program this year.  As always, we look to simplify.  We use free resources or resources we already have on hand.
Family Goals For Lent:*

  • Grow in CHARITY
    • Be Charitable.Be Useful. Be Gentle. Be Joyful. Forget about self. ALL FOR!
  • Increase prayer life and grow in devotion to Our Blessed Mother
  • Learn more about the lives of the saints
  • Reclaim our family Adoration time
  • Clean physical house by simplifying and purging
  • Clean spiritual house by almsgiving, works of mercy, and spiritual readings  

*these are in addition to our personal Lenten programs
Lenten Activities: listed on the calendar

  • Lent for Children: A Thought a Day (daily)
  • Update the bean jar for sacrifices/almsgiving (daily)
  • Review personal Lenten program chart (daily)
  • Pick Cleaning item out of jar & perform assigned task from the Lenten Cleaning Calendar (Mon.-Sat.)
  • Adoration (Thursday)
  • Stations of the Cross (Friday)
  • Select family almsgiving activity for the week (Sun.)

in addition to the children’s collection for the Bishop G’s Maternity Home and simplifying our home by donating new and old items to the homeless shelters.

  • visit the elderly/sick in the rest home
  • pray at the abortion clinic
  • provide service to the pregnancy resource center
  • cook meal for Father
  • cook meal or invite family to home for meal
  • invite someone to Mass
  • provide additional service to Parish

Daily Prayer Intention:

  • Mon – End to Abortion
  • Tue – Conversion of Family
  • Wed – Godparents & Godchildren
  • Thur – Pope Benedict XVI & Priests
  • Fri – Souls in Purgatory
  • Sat – Vocations
  • Sun – Poor, homeless, and those in great need

Lenten Resources:
kids

teens & adults

~~~
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.)
~~~
Prayers for a blessed and fruitful Lenten Season.
Pax Christi,

Subscribe to our Newsletter