share our JOY

JOY{filled}family

striving to radiate Him always

Lenten Plan {Printable}

by Filed Under: Lent, Uncategorized Leave a Comment

But if there be one Season of the Year more than another in which the Faithful ought to reflect upon what is taught us both by faith and experience, as to the existence and workings of the wicked spirits,—it is undoubtedly this of Lent, when it is our duty to consider what have been the causes of our last sins, what are the spiritual dangers we have to fear for the future, and what means we should have recourse to for preventing a relapse.”    ~The Liturgical Year of Dom Prosper Gueranger concerning the Season of Lent

Here is a simple printable that we use for the Lenten & Advent seasons.  It serves as a tool to help us stay committed to our Lenten plans.  We sit down as a family to discern and finalize our family Lenten Program.  Then Dad sits with each child to discuss what they want to offer Jesus and how they are desiring to grow in virtue during the Lenten season.

This year’s family Lenten program will be focused on the Nineveh 90 Challenge, in preparation for the 100th Anniversary of Fatima.

The daily section is designed to list the commitments to be done at least 3x per week.  While the weekly section is reserved for those commitments that change from week-to-week in Lent or must be performed only 1-2x per week.

I print 2 copies/page times the number of weeks in the Lenten season/Nineveh 90 Challenge for each child.  You could also laminate and use a wet erase pen.  A full sheet is printed each week for the master family list.  A child rotates the weekly duty of leading us in our Lenten program and checking off the items for the day/week.  This shifts the accountability and gives each child another opportunity to grow in virtue.

Having shared all that, there is no one way to use this printable.  You are free to use this printable as you see fit for your own personal use and share.

Dearly beloved Brethren: you know that the day of Scrutiny, when our elect are to receive the holy instruction, is at hand. We invite you, therefore, to be zealous and assemble on N., (here, the day was mentioned) at the hour of Sext [the sixth hour of the day]; that so we may be able, by the divine aid, to achieve without error, the heavenly mystery, whereby is opened the gate of the kingdom of heaven, and the devil is excluded with all his pomps.”  ~ The Roman Sacramentary of St. Gelasius

 

This Lenten season, we pray for a complete transformation, total abandonment to God’s will, with child-like trust in His fatherly care, and readiness for service in profound humility after the example of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

We also pray that your Lenten journey be all that the good Lord wills for you and that you may joyfully cooperate with His grace.

+Ad Jesum Per Mariam+

Holy Family of Nazareth

by Filed Under: 01 January, 01 January Saints, Holy Family, Patron Saint, Prayer, Prayer for Families, Uncategorized Leave a Comment

The Holy Family is our model.  We have consecrated our family to the Holy Family and continue to seek their intercession.  This is our family prayer….

Heavenly Father, you have given us the Holy Family - First Suday after Epiphanymodel of life in the Holy Family of Nazareth.  Help us, O Loving Father,to make our family another Nazareth where love, peace and joy reign.

May it be deeply contemplative, intensely Eucharistic, revived with joy.  Help us to stay together in joy and sorrow in family prayer.

Teach us to see Jesus in the members of our families, especially in their distressing disguise.

May the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus make our hearts humble like his and help us to carry out our family duties in a holy way.

May we love one another as God loves each one of us, more and more each day, and forgive each other’s faults as you forgive our sins.

Help us, O Loving Father, to take whatever you give and give whatever you take with a big smile.

Immaculate Heart of Mary, cause of our joy, pray for us.
St. Joseph, pray for us.
Holy Guardian Angels, be always with us, guide and protect us.

Amen.

~ Bl.  Mother Teresa’s Prayer for Families

A new printable of this prayer will go up in prominent places within our home today, the glorious feast of the Holy Family.  Click here for your free Prayer for Families printable.   Additional mediation resources are listed below.

Prayer for Families

Here are images that you can use on your phone and social media.

Prayer for Families banner

Prayer for Families - phone

Resources:

 

Sancta Familia ~ ora pro nobis

It’s a…

by Filed Under: Baby, Our Lady of La Leche, Prayer, Pregnancy, Uncategorized 3 Comments

OurLadyofLaLecheBaby G4 is set to arrive in Jan 2015.  We opted for a 20 (23.3) week ultrasound (9.30.14) given the past reports.  The results were bitter sweet.  The baby is doing fine but there was bad news regarding my anatomy.  We will know more at 28 weeks (10.31.14).  We continue to pray for healing, protection. and peace as we wait for better confirmation.

Prayer to Our Lady of La Leche during Pregnancy

O Lord Jesus Christ, through the intercession of Your tender Mother, Our Lady of La Leche, who bore You close to her heart during those long months before Your birth, I place my baby and myself entirely in Your Hands. Free me, I beseech You, from useless and consuming worry. Accept the sacrifice of my aches and pains, which I unite to Your sufferings on the Cross. Above all, most merciful and loving Jesus, protect this child You have given to me from all harm, bestowing the health and vigor every baby needs. Implant in my heart and on my lips the words and prayers of Your Mother and mine, our Lovely Lady of La Leche. All this I ask that my child and I may live to praise forever Your Holy Name. Amen.

 

The good news, we were able to find out the baby’s gender.

The Predictions

 

The Reveal

Anything for a Friend

by Filed Under: Uncategorized

Melody has generously given me a blog award.  I must say, I share her sentiment…

I must confess that I am a terribly ungracious blog award-receiver in general. They often come with requirements and I usually procrastinate and then don’t end up acknowledging the kindness.

I’ve failed to follow the guidelines for blog awards for far too long.  I apologize to all those who have graciously acknowledged my blog with an award in the past – trust that your intentions were added to my prayers.

~~~

This one is for you Melody!  The good Lord has blessed me through your blog and even more so through your friendship.  I will forever hold a place in my heart for you and your dear family.  You have and continue to play an important role in my journey.  You amaze me with your talents especially your way with words.  You put a voice to my heart’s promptings and provide me solace, knowing that I am not alone.  More impressive than your talents are your desire and willingness to lay everything aside for Him. 

I will continue to hold you near in prayer.  May the Good Lord give you the grace to live the radical life, inspire and lead many souls home.

I too, pray that we meet one day if it be His holy will.  Until then, you know my number.  Smile

7 Things about Myself

  1. I’m not a procrastinator, I just work best under pressure. Which is what I’m doing now.  I should be working on final details for a bake sale that is scheduled for this Sunday but instead I’m here, blogging away.
  2. I’m currently fighting the temptation to become overwhelmed with having another boy on the way.  The moments when I witness one little man jumping off the table with scissors in hand towards another little man do not help the temptation.
  3. I can easily see myself living as a hermit or perhaps in the cloistered life especially when I’m post rage from the example given in #2.
  4. My heart was melted several weeks ago.  Dad went to help his mom clean out  her attic.  He came home with a few boxes full of treasures.  One of which contained a large ziploc bag full of letters.  Turns out that Dad saved every letter I ever wrote him while in high school. Sweetness!  I’ve shared more sweetness about my beloved here.
  5. I’m a wannabe crunchy, homestead loving, minimalist….. You saw the “wannabe,” right?  I desire to go al’ natural in almost all areas of my life but fear that my laziness lack of know how will lead me to failure.  I even dream about living off the grid.  Dad humors supports me for the time being.  We pray to joyfully go where the good Lord leads us!
  6. I’m not very good at majority of things but I’m often told how gifted, confident, blessed with time, talented…I am.  The truth is, His grace allows me to fake it until I make it.  Showing up is the real challenge.  I’ve learned if I just show up He can do the work.  He is my everything!!!
  7. On a more serious note, I have a cross, a secret of sorts.  I have sought direction and received absolution.  I have peace but consequences remain.  Dad and I have committed to carry this cross on our own and not burden others with it at this time in our lives.  I share this for three reasons.  One, too often we look at our neighbor and think that they have it all together and they don’t struggle like we do.  The reality is, as children of God, we all have a cross to bear.  Let’s keep our eyes on Him!!  The second reason I share this news is because I sense that many believe there is time to ask for forgiveness. To those that fall into this category, I urge you, DO NOT BE PERSUMPTIOUS for you know neither the day or the hour – seek forgiveness today!  Lastly, your sins of today will forever leave a mark on you while on earth – consequences.  Yes, the Good Lord forgives all that come before Him with true repentance but we are human and live in an imperfect world.  Do not tread the waters lightly.  Avoid unnecessary occasions of sin, pray for spiritual protection always, and visit the sacraments often.  Make frequent acts of reparation! 

7 Other Bloggers

This is a tough one for me since I have many blogs that I follow and Melody and Tiffany have already been included with this award. I hope to be back soon with my 7 nominations.

~~~

The rules:

  • Recipients need to thank the giver Include the logo of the award in a post or on your blog (yup.)
  • Post 7 things about yourself
  • Pass the award onto 7 other bloggers of your choice and let them know they’ve been nominated 

    • An Invitation to Love

    by Filed Under: Uncategorized

    “As Lent is the time for greater love, listen to Jesus’ thirst…’Repent and believe’ Jesus tells us. What are we to repent?  Our indifference, our hardness of heart.  What are we to believe?  Jesus thirsts even now, in your heart and in the poor — He knows your weakness. He wants only your love, wants only the chance to love you.”  ~Blessed Teresa of Calcutta
    ~~~
    i thirst
    Click on the picture to view the I Thirst For You Prayer

    Prayers have been answered and I have been brought closer to You.  You have done so in the most direct way, a complete stripping of physical and spiritual joys.  I ache from the pain that fills my entire being.  I desire only to satiate Your thirst.  I pray that my love is enough.  I have nothing else to give.  I beg You for Your grace and love as I try so desperately to remain steadfast at the foot of Your cross.

    May the Blessed Mother dispose of me and this offering, all for Your glory.

    ~~~

    Jesus, love me.
    love me in my brokenness
    love me in my disappointment
    love me in my sorrow
    love me in my weakness
    love me in my pain
    love me in my nothingness
    love me in my misery

    Subscribe to our Newsletter