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Communion Edition – Tile Necklaces

by Filed Under: Crafts, First Communion, First Communion JOY, Little Flowers

First Communion Link - Girl

I wanted to do something special for my Little Flowers who were scheduled to receive their First Communion.  Rose quickly prompted me to make tile necklaces.  All of her friends loved the necklaces that they received for Christmas and wear them often.

I chose St. Therese to be the featured saint since she is the patron of our group.gift st therese

 I personalized the back with a First Communion picture and the date of their joyous day.gift date back

Lastly, Rose and I made simple rosary/necklace satchels for the gift and future use.gift presentation

Sparkles had a more personalized necklace since I know her patron saint.gift st bernadette

LINKED:

First Communion JOY – Party

Share the JOY of your First Communicant.  This can be a First Communion Post from this year or recent years past.  It’s just a simple way to share your JOY and lift one another up in prayer.

Craft Basket Wednesday

Celebrating Easter – Week 1

by Filed Under: Easter, Garden of the Good Shepherd, Good Shepherd's Garden Party, Little Flowers 9 Comments

I’m so very thankful that I found Jessica’s Blog, Shower of Roses about a year ago. It has been a great gift. She continuously inspires me to fully live out the Liturgical Year in my home, domestic church. However, I’m often slow to implement many of the ideas. I have to be certain I take on only that which is conducive to my family’s current state in life. This includes our budget, energy levels, church commitments, and etc…

I was fascinated by Jessica’s implementation of The Garden of the Good Shepherd upon my initial discovery.

This is my first go at following this guide for the Easter season. I’m not sure I’d be willing to give it a go without Jessica’s and Charlotte’s aides.

The Good Shepherd’s Pasture
I decided to celebrate the first week of Easter & The Garden of the Good Shepherd with my Little Flowers Girls Group. I had initially planned to host an Easter Tea for my Little Flowers last meeting but went for the informal festivities of this celebration instead.


We had a great turnout of about 20 girls. Some of which were 4 years old, new members. A nice showing of moms stayed to help and enjoy the celebration.


Our meeting followed Saturday Mass.  We started the meeting/party with prayer, an introduction of new girls, and group assignments. We were off and running.


I wanted to keep a crafty theme going for this celebration since I use crafts to help the girls grow in their virtues and develop their domestic skills. I decided to have the girls create their own baked treats. I also added some traditional crafts to the mix.


I created six stations for groups of 4-5 girls. Each group rotated together throughout the celebration.
stations JOY blur 
Before the girls could switch their stations, I read a day from the Good Shepherd and held a brief discussion with the girls. A Little Flower was selected to adhere the sticker to the board.

Garden of the Good Shepherd Stations:
(items used for 20 girls)

 

Ewe Cupcakes & Shepherd’s Crook
-Prepared cupcakes (2 packages of cake mix) – $0.99/cake box
     -48 Cupcake liners – $1/package of 36

-Frosting (2 reg sized containers of frosting or 1 large container) – $1.50/std. container
-Knives (1/girl in group) – FREE I use my kids plastic knives from IKEA
-Mini marshmallows (1 bag) – $0.99
-Large marshmallows cut in half (1 bag) – $0.99
-Raisins (for eyes) (3 mini boxes) – $2.28 for 1 standard box of raisins
-Jelly Belly/candy (20 candies) – FREE left over from Easter
-Cups for Frosting, mini marshmallows, raisins, candy
-Premade shepherd’s crook/breadsticks – $1.75/container
(Made from 2 packages of refrigerated breadsticks. I cut each uncooked bread stick in half before shaping to reduce the size of the crook.)

Gate of the Sheepfold & Wolf Paw Cookies
-Peanut butter (2-3 cups) – $3.00

-Stick pretzels (1/2 regular bag) – $2.50
-Graham crackers (3 bags of graham crackers) – $2.50 (1 box contains 4 bags)

-Premade Wolf Paw Cookies
     -1 bag of chocolate chip cookies or ½ box of Nilla Wafers- $2 ea box
    – 1/2 bag of Almond Bark – $2/bag
     -3 bars of White/Vanilla Bark – $2/bag

ram collage v1 blur
 
Ram Collage
-Pre cut rams on cardstock – $5.50/pack of 150 sheets

-Cotton balls (1 bag) – $2
-Tacky glue (1 bottle) – $0.94 I use tacky glue because it sets fast and does not run.
-Craft sticks (1/ea. girl in group. Used to spread glue) – FREE recycled popsicle sticks
-Small containers for tacky glue (I use cupcake liners) – FREE left over from EWE cupcakes
-Wiggle eyes (1 small packet) – $0.94 (pack of 50)
-Colored pencils – FREE perk of homeschooling

Divine Mercy Wall Art/Door Hanger

-Foam cut-outs – $1.00/pack of 24-36
-7 in precut ribbon/per girl – $1.00/4 yards
-Stickers for embellishments
-Tacky glue (1 bottle) – $0.94 I use tacky glue because it sets fast and does not run.
-Craft sticks (1/ea. girl in group. Used to spread glue) – FREE recycled popsicle sticks
-Small containers for tacky glue (I use cupcake liners) – left over from EWE cupcakes
-Hot glue gun (1 used by mom)
-Hot glue sticks (2-3) – $2/bag of 36 glue sticks

related links on Divine Mercy:
Saint Coloring
All supplies used were left over from Little Flowers meetings

-Saint Coloring Pages Construction paper
-Colored Pencils
-Markers
-Scissors
-Glue Sticks

tea time JOY Blur

 
Tea & Doll House Play
-Tea hats (1/girl in group) – $1/ea found at Dollar Tree Store

-Toy tea set
Little Flowers Doll House (this house was a gift from the previous group leader. It is used for special occasions only, a real treat!)

I created info cards for all stations. The food stations had cards listing the coordinating scripture verse. This allowed the mom-volunteers to reiterate the significance of the craft.
father l JOY blur 
Father L was able to join us for a blessing between his First Communion Lessons and Confirmation testing. We presented him with a gift of thanks for all he does, an image of Divine Mercy.
ice cream joy blur

 

We went out with a bang and touched upon Week 2 – Welcome to the Lord’s Table, Milk. Milk, Ice Cream Sundaes were our final treat.

The girls had a blessed day! They were delighted with all the crafts & treats. The loved the Garden of the Good Shepherd lessons and were more than attentive. I would love to continue the Easter celebrations with the girls but will settle for a weekly celebration with my children in our home as we JOYfully await the arrival of our new blessing, Baby "G".

Papi helped me post our Garden of the Good Shepherd Book in our Liturgical corner. He decided were the “corner” should be moved to and where the book should go. He loves telling the story to all.

Papi the Shepherd waiting for his sheep (popcorn) to follow into his sheepfold.
The sheep are coming!

Deo Gratias!

Little Flowers 6th Meeting – Generosity & St. Katharine Drexel

by Filed Under: Little Flowers, St. Katharine Drexel

We had a great turn out! All 13 girls were in attendance. Angelica provided a wonderful Lenten snack, fresh fruit. The girls listened to a Glory Stories CD – St. Katharine Drexel while finishing their snack. They all took special notice of St. Katharine’s generosity. Specifically, St. Katharine Drexel was aware that all things belong to God the Father and that we are to give from our first fruits. The girls were asked to work on ways that they can practice their generosity.

The girls received their activity sheets.  They also received a packet of African Daisy seeds.  The daisy was the flower chosen to represent generosity.  The selection of the African daisy was chosen to represent the people that St. Katherine Drexel was called to serve. 

A popular annual that is chosen for its sunny disposition and long bloom season. Also known as Cape Marigold, the African Daisy (Dimorphotheca Sinuata Mix) starts to bloom in May (the Month of Mary), with a vibrant display of yellow, orange and white flowers. This plant does loves full sun locations but does not grow well in high humidity and prefers well drained soil.

The girls’ binders were updated.  Hopefully the girls will be drawn to work in their binders to grow in virtue and knowledge of the saints.


We started a collection of canned food items for the local Food Bank. This was for the girls to have an opportunity to practice an act of generosity. All items will be donated to the Food Bank in the name of St. Katharine Drexel and our Parish. The canned food drive has also been extended to the parish. The collection box is located in the vestibule. Collection will end on Wednesday, March 24.

In addition to our saint & virtue study, we created Resurrection Eggs. Resurrection Eggs are a great manipulative to help the children meditate/recall Christ’s Passion and Resurrection. Each egg contains something that symbolizes Christ’s Passion and/or Resurrection. There is a script that goes along with the eggs. The girls were encouraged to share their project with their family throughout Lent.



Resurrection Eggs
some of the egg contents shown above vary from what was used at our meeting
Activities:
Memory Verse
Coloring Sheet
African Daisy Seeds – to be planted at home

Please keep those Little Flowers preparing for their First Communion in your prayers.

St. Katharine Drexel

by Filed Under: Little Flowers, St. Katharine Drexel

St. Katharine Drexel 
Feast Day ~ March 3rd
“The patient and humble endurance of the cross—whatever nature it may be—is the highest work we have to do.” “Oh, how far I am at 84 years of age from being an image of Jesus in his sacred life on earth!” (Saint Katharine Drexel)

We will be discussing St. Katharine Drexel & the virtue of GENEROSITY at our next meeting on Saturday, March 6.

You can learn more about this saint at the following links:

Little Flowers 5th Meeting – Joy/Mirthfulness & St. Clare of Assisi

by Filed Under: Joy, Little Flowers, St. Clare of Assisi

JOY~MIRTHFULNESS
August 12
Born: July, 1194 – Died: August, 1253

 

Patron of: clairvoyance, eye disease, goldsmiths, laundry, embroidiers, gilders, good weather, needleworkers, telephones, telegraphs, television

Be very joyful and glad, filled with a remarkable happiness and a spiritual joy! [Progress] from good to better, from virtue to virtue, so that He Whom You serve with the total desire of Your soul may bestow on You the reward for which You so long. (Blessing of St. Clare, 21, 32)

Meeting Activities
Memory Verse
St. Clare Coloring Page
Embroidery Pattern
Orange Tulips
Joyful Coloring Page – Print page 4-4
Joyful Music  – #6 on Virtue Activity Page
Info on the Poor Clares – the order that St. Clare founded

Biography
Catholic Culture
Saints & Angels
EWTN
American Catholic
Domestic-Church
Women of Faith & Family


Audio & Video Resources
Homily: Feast of St. Clare
Video St. Clare of Assisi – Bob & Penny Lord
Audio St. Clare of Assisi – Bob & Penny Lord

Prayers
St. Clare’s Litany of the Sacred Wounds
Novena to St. Clare of Assisi:
Dear St. Clare, as a young girl you imitated your mother’s love for the poor of your native Assisi. Inspired by the preaching of St. Francis, who sang enthusiastically of His Lord Jesus and Lady Poverty, you gave your life to Jesus at nineteen years of age, allowing St. Francis to cut off your beautiful hair and invest you with the Franciscan habit. All through your life you offered your great suffering for your Sisters, the Poor Clares, and the conversion of souls. You greatly aided St. Francis with his new order, carrying on his spirit in the Franciscans after his death. Most of all you had a deep love of Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament, which fueled your vocation to love and care for the poor. Please pray for me (mention your request) that I will seek to keep Jesus as my first love, as you did. Help me to grow in love of the Blessed Sacrament, to care for the poor, and to offer my whole life to God. Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of St. Clare. Through her intercession, please hear and answer my prayer, in the name of Jesus Your Son. Amen.
Go forth in peace, for you have followed the good road. Go forth without fear, for he who created you has made you holy, has always protected you, and loves you as a mother. Blessed be you, my God, for having created me.  – Saint Clare of Assisi

Quotes of St. Clare of Assisi

“Place your mind before the mirror of eternity! Place your soul in the brilliance of glory! And transform your entire being into the image of the Godhead Itself through contemplation.”

“He Christ is the splendor of eternal glory, “the brightness of eternal light, and the mirror without cloud.”

“Gaze upon Him, consider Him, contemplate Him, as you desire to imitate Him.”

“I come, O Lord, unto Thy sanctuary to see the life and food of my soul. As I hope in Thee, O Lord, inspire me with that confidence which brings me to Thy holy mountain. Permit me, Divine Jesus, to come closer to Thee, that my whole soul may do homage to the greatness of Thy majesty; that my heart, with its tenderest affections, may acknowledge Thine infinite love; that my memory may dwell on the admirable mysteries here renewed every day, and that the sacrifice of my whole being may accompany Thine.”

“Totally love Him, Who gave Himself totally for your love.”

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