We Made It!

It has been a couple of weeks since the last time I wrote...I guess we've been a little busy.

We successfully packed up everything we own, loaded it up, stacked it in a storage unit, and officially checked out of our 2 bedroom apartment forever. In a nutshell, it was messy, chaotic, and stressful...dare I mention the gallon of paint my 2-year-old dumped "spilled" on the clean carpet...or the fresh sidewalk chalk art makings all over the just-washed front porch and windows...or the...I think not.We are relieved that that part of our move is over. On a different note...it was SUCH a blessing to have good friends to help us on this side of the move. It has been quite overwhelming to feel the love of God through those we love.

We have been living in Albuquerque, NM for 2 weeks now and currently reside in a lovely (furnished) 1 bedroom apartment. We are in love with this city and have had such a blast over the last few weeks. So far we have enjoyed visits to the zoo, aquarium, and botanical gardens and have gone to an Isotopes baseball game. We have also enjoyed many FREE activities including visits to multiple library programs (reading, singing, dancing, puppet shows, and more...we're looking forward to the upcoming magic show, petting zoo, and recycle man band that will visiting within the next several weeks), checking out and reading library books, a scenic drive up to Sandia Peek, a visit to PetSmart (the miniature aquarium/small animal zoo), a trip to the duck pond to feed the ducks, and outings to many new and exciting parks. It has been so much fun to live in a big city with all that it has to offer.

The littles (specifically my 2 and 3) are very much looking forward to this coming week because they are signed up to attend Vacation Bible School (with mommy and baby girl as tag alongs). If all goes well I think I'll sign them up for another one next week.

We'll see.

The "D" Word

For the last several weeks our "(very) nearly two" has been using the "D word" ALL of the time. Every day, several times a day, he'd shout "you bammit!".

As you can probably imagine, this concerned me. And I was completely puzzled as to where he'd learned it. I mean, my Mr and I don't very rarely swear (blush), their little friends don't swear, and they don't watch "that kind" of television...hmmm...???


Well, yesterday, it came to me all at once, from a most unexpected source. As we were watching Peter Rabbit, Mr McG started running after Peter and shouting "(Come back here) you varmint!" and sure enough my little man echoed "you bammit!".


Aha! My little guy was saying "you varmint"!


No suds for this little boy...thanks to Mr. McG, it seems we won't have to resort to the soap-in-the-mouth technique after all. Ha!

From the Mouths of Babes...

Yesterday, as we sat down to pray before lunch, I noticed that my ten month old folded her hands when the prayer began, and kept them folded until the prayer was done. I made a comment to my boys about how lovely it was that their little baby sister was praying with us. Without skipping a beat, my "nearly three" said "Oh yes. That  makes Mary so happy".

What an awesome privilege and blessing it is to be a mother!

Celebrate the Solemnity of St. Joseph - Prayer, Craft, and Song

Happy Solemnity of St. Joseph!

Today I am praying for my beautiful son on his feast-day, for my holy, humble, and heroic husband who strives to follow the example of this blessed Saint each and every day, for my wonderful father and father-in-law, and for all of the other holy men in my life. I am so thankful for each and every one of you, and am a better wife, mother, daughter, sister, and woman because of your presence in my life.

 

This is my favorite prayer to this beautiful and blessed man:

Oh, St. Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God. I place in you all my interests and desires. Oh, St. Joseph, do assist me by your powerful intercession, and obtain for me from your divine Son all spiritual blessings, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. So that, having engaged here below your heavenly power, I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of Fathers.

Oh, St. Joseph, I never weary of contemplating you, and Jesus asleep in your arms; I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine head for me and ask him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath. St. Joseph, Patron of departing souls - Pray for me. 

Taken from the Pieta Prayer Book

*This prayer was found in the fifteenth year of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In 1505 it was sent from the Pope to Emperor Charles when he was going into battle. Whoever shall read this prayer or hear it or keep it about themselves, shall never die a sudden death, or be drowned, poison shall not take effect on them; neither shall they fall into the hands of the enemy; or shall be burned in any fire, or shall be overpowered in battle.

Here are a couple of ideas that you can use with your littles to celebrate today's Solemnity (and if they're too late for today, remember that the whole month of March is dedicated to this beautiful Saint. Or you can re-visit this post on May 1 for the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker):

Craft Ideas: 

1. Sacred Space:

Today we are going to change up our sacred space by placing an icon of St. Joesph in the center and adding a bouquet/vase of lilies (see craft below)...adding a hammer, a piece of wood, and a square would be neat too. 

2. Paper Roll Doll Craft:

We are going to make St. Joesph, Mary, and Jesus (the boy) dolls using paper and toilet paper rolls. Learn how here.

3. Hand-print Lily Craft: 

Last but not least we're making this awesome lily craft. The lily is a sign of virginity in the Church and St. Joseph is often depicted holding one. Get step by step instructions (with pictures) on how to make a St. Joseph lily here.

Song Idea:

This song was taught to me and my siblings when we were young, by my beautiful mother, who in turn learned it from  the sisters at her grade-school. Today I am thrilled to pass it along to my littles. I guess you could call it a family tradition!

St. Joseph the Carpenter

St Joseph was a carpenter, a carpenter, a carpenter,

and Jesus used to watch him hammer, hammer all day long

And Jesus learned to hammer too, to hammer too, to hammer too,

And he could make a table or a little chair for you

It really was not hard at all, not hard at all, not hard at all,

For God who made the lovely world to make a chair or two

 (author unknown)

I'll have to post a video with the melody...to find the time...if only.


PAX,

b

P.S.

If you'd like to read a beautiful little commentary on St. Joesph and the men in our lives hop over to Sarah's blog and read her post.

Lenten Ideas for Littles

When I was in college, studying to be a teacher, I remember almost every one of my professors saying, at one time or another, that "Great teachers are excellent thieves".

What does this have to do with Lent?

Well, what was meant by that phrase is that as a teacher, in most circumstances, one does not have to come up with brand new ideas...the majority of the time, one has only to look at what another has already thought up and tweak it to ones liking. I decided to take my professors' word for it and become a "thief" of ideas.

That being said, I have "stolen" a fair number of these ideas for lent from others. The ideas listed below are not a conclusive list of every great idea I have come across, but merely the things that my Mr and I will incorporate into our home this Lenten season to use with our littles (specifically our 2 and 3 year old).

#1. Liturgical color wheel Craft (Sun/Mon before Lent)
Idea: Talk to your littles about the liturgical seasons and the significance of the liturgical colors. Explain that we are currently  in "ordinary time" but in the next couple of days we will be beginning the season of lent. Make a separate wheel for each child and let them turn the wheel to the appropriate season (this is something you can re-visit each day/week before going to mass - explain that the priest will be wearing purple, the altar will be decorated in purple, etc and them point out the colors and talk about their meaning when you get there)

(What exactly DO the liturgical colors symbolize/mean? Find out here.)

  

     This wheel is quite simple...perfect for little ones (bottom piece)

     

(top piece)

(click to enlarge)

                                                                      

This wheel is a little more elaborate and more appropriate for older children. (click to enlarge)

* This idea was originally taken from Catholic Icing, but I can't find the post to link it to. If you find it, let me know!

#2. Salt Dough Crown of Thorns (Tuesday before Lent)
Idea: This is a wonderful visual for littles when explaining the suffering of Christ. Each time your littles perform a good deed (share without being told to, help their siblings or friends, etc...) they get to take out a "thorn" (toothpick) from the crown. When all the thorns have been removed, the crown can be painted gold or decorated as you like, and used as an Easter decoration. Get direction on how to make this craft here.
                             
*This idea was taken from Catholics United For the Faith Website

#3. Merciful Cross (Tuesday before Lent)
Idea: This activity is quite similar to the crown of thorns activity in that it gives a visual reminder to little ones that their actions are directly united to the cross. Instead of pulling a thorn from the crown, your little gets to stick a flower to the cross each time they perform a good deed. I'm planning on making LARGE flowers and a small(ish) cross to make sure it is completely covered by Easter.

*See the original post by Kimberlee over at Pondered in My Heart here.

#4. Lenten Sacrifice Boxes (Ash Wednesday - Fasting)
Idea: Talk about the meaning of sacrifice with your littles. Also talk to them about Jesus' Sacrifice of Love. Have your littles choose a few items/toys to "give up/sacrifice" for Lent and put them in a box. Put the box of   out of their sight until  Easter.

"Good-bye for Lent...see you at Easter!"

                                                      
*See the original post by Lacey over at Catholic Icing here

#5. Stations of the Cross for Littles (to be prayed on the Fridays during Lent)
This is the BEST idea I've seen so far when it comes to praying the stations of the cross with little ones. It even has MANIPULATIVES! (If you haven't noticed...I'm a pretty big fan of manipulatives). You'll have to visit Kimberlee's blog to appreciate just how amazing this really is.
I am not quite sure if my littles are ready for this yet but we're gonna jump right in and give it a try...if it doesn't work this Lent, than it'll be something to look forward to next year.

Stations to color...

...and manipulatives to go with each station! Genius!

*See the original post by Kimberlee over at Pondered in My Heart here.

(I have to say that I just love this woman's blog. She is beautiful, intelligent, a first rate "thief", and oh so CREATIVE!)


#6 The ABC's of Lent
Idea: Make a new Lenten poster/picture each day to go with the "letter of the day". Write the "letter of the day" at the top of the picture, have the littles color the picture, talk about the picture, review the letter sound, and have the littles try to "draw" the letter several times.

Our two little boys are both learning their letter sounds and are VERY excited about letters right now so my Mr and I came up with these earlier this week.

A - Ashes, Alms giving
B - Bread, Blood
C - Cross
D - Divine Mercy
E - Eucharist
F - Fish, Fast
G - Give, Good Shepherd
H - Holy, Hope, Heart
I - I.H.S.
J - Jesus
K - King
L - Love (Jn. 3:16), Last Supper
M - Mother Mary, Mary Magdalene
N - Nails
O - Offering
P - Penance, Prayer
Q - Quiet
R - Repent
S - Sacrifice
T - Twelve Apostles, Tomb (ideas for "t" and "u" were contributed by Caroline, one of my readers)
U - Ubi Caritas (hymn traditionally sung on Holy Thursday)
V - Vinegar
W - Water
X -
Y -
Z -

#7 - Read!
Idea: Read as many age appropriate, Lent/Easter books to your littles as possible! I have listed two that our littles love below. (Please let me know if you have a favorite lent/Easter book...I'm always looking for great books that revolve around the liturgical seasons)

This historically accurate book is an adaptation of the award winning The Very First Easter and fills in the gaps left by other Easter books. It presents a fresh insight into Holy Week and Easter from both the Scriptural and secular contexts. Recommended for ages 4 and under.

Featuring the wonderful illustrations of Tim Jonke, this best-selling children's book tells the Easter story from a new and unusual point of view. Three trees on a mountain dream of what they wanted to become when they grew up. One wants to be a treasure chest, another an ocean-going boat, and the third a signpost to God. Their wishes come true in a way they never expected. Children will be deeply touched as they understand, perhaps for the first time, the significance of Christ's life and his atoning sacrifice on the cross. Recommended for ages 4 and up.

*descriptions taken from christianbooks.com

#8 - Sing
Idea: Sing as many of your favorite Lent/Easter songs with your littles as possible! We have 1/2 hr set aside each day for music time, so we'll just focus this time on songs for the season.


#9 - Pray
Idea: Pray a short morning offering with your littles each morning. We are also going to pray a decade of the rosary with them when they wake and one decade before bed using the rose counters and cards mentioned in this post.

This is the morning offering that we put together and will use with our littles:

Jesus, In my heart I believe in your tender love for me. I love you and give you all my thoughts, words, and actions today.
Amen. 

 


#10 - Plant Seeds/Bulbs
Idea: Flowers/plants are a sign of new life. Plant flower bulbs in a bowl of soil, covering halfway. Leave bowl in a dark closet for two months, keeping soil moist (a process known as forcing bulbs). When shoots appear, let them bask in the sun. Leave one bulb out as a reminder of how they began.
NOTE: If you plant your seeds/bulbs very soon then you will have some beautiful flowers for the Easter season.

#11 - Almsgiving
Make a little box with your littles and cut a slot in the top. Have them collect spare change throughout the week and empty the contents into the collection basket each week, or donate the money to a specific charity of your choice. Explain that they are helping to provide for those less fortunate/those in need.

find these and other ideas here

This sums up the main ideas that we'll be using at our house this lent. I hope that you'll be able to use some of them with your littles too!

Praying the Rosary with the littles - Part II (How to Make Fabric Roses)

Here is a picture tutorial showing the steps I took to make the fabric rose counters mentioned in this post. It is really quite a simple project that is not so simple to explain so hopefully these pictures will give you a good idea of how to put them together. If you have any questions please feel free to write them in the comments at the bottom of this post and I'll try to respond promptly.


Step #1: Select and purchase fabric. Hint: For this project a thin cotton fabric is by far the easiest to work with. (I chose a two-toned red for added dimension. Almost all fabric comes on a bolt and is the same width so all you have to know is that for each rose you will need 2.5 inches of fabric. At the store I purchased mine, they required that I buy at least 8in. of each kind. So I purchased 8 in of the white fabric (this made 3 Our Father roses) and 12.5 in of the red fabric (this made 9 Hail Mary roses). This entire project cost me under $5.00(!)...which was less than I would have spent on yarn or cheap artificial roses).


Step #2: Mark lines on the backside of the fabric every 2.5 inches and cut along each line.

  

 Step #3: Fold one strip of fabric in half and pin all along the rough side (I prefer to place the pins perpendicular to the needle/thread path).

 Step #4: Using a running stitch, sew all the way across the rough side of the fabric.

Step #5: Pull your needle/thread to make the fabric "scrunch" a bit and then tie off and snip the thread.

Your strip should now look something like this.

 Step #6: For defined petals, sew perpendicular lines (to your original tread path), every 2 inches, all the way across the strip.

Can you see those petals?

Step #7: Start to wrap the petals around themselves and sew the bottom as you wrap (I use what I call a whip-stitch...I'm not sure what it is actually called).

 Step #8: Bravo! You've made your first rose! Give yourself a pat on the back and know that Our Lady is smiling upon you.


Here are some of the roses in our basket...

 I can't wait to get started on a yellow set for my "nearly two" and a pink set for my God-daughter!

I picked up this heart shaped basket from our local Goodwill for 99 cents! I think it is just perfect for our roses.

Our offering of love

I'll leave you with the following two quotes...


"I call upon all believers, all Christian families, all the sick, the elderly, and especially the young, to once more take up the Rosary in your daily lives. May this appeal of mine not go unheard."
                                                                                            -Pope JPII Letter on the Rosary

This image of Our Lady of the Rosary is the painting that Blessed Bartolo Longo obtained in Naples for the people of Pompei on November 13, 1875.

“O Blessed Rosary of Mary, sweet chain which unites us to God, bond of love which unites us to the angels, tower of salvation against the assaults of Hell, safe port in our universal shipwreck, we will never abandon you. You will be our comfort in the hour of death: yours our final kiss as life ebbs away. And the last word from our lips will be your sweet name, O Queen of the Rosary of Pompei, O dearest Mother, O Refuge of Sinners, O Sovereign Consoler of the Afflicted. May you be everywhere blessed, today and always, on earth and in heaven”. 
                                                                                                  -Blessed Bartolo Longo

The Most Beautiful, Beautiful...

Over the past two weeks my "nearly three" (our first-born little) has been using the word "beautiful" a whole lot. He will use this word to describe his crayons, toy cars, block towers, play-do creations, and on, and on.

After a few days of running around the house in loose T-shirts and sweats (don't send Stacy & Clint over here...I'm ok. Really.) I decided to put on a skirt and a little make-up for my Mr. When I came out of the bathroom my little guy stopped what he was doing and said "mommy, you look beautiful!" My heart melted.

Shortly thereafter, my husband went out of town for a couple of days and my "nearly-three" began using the phrase "the most beautiful, beautiful.....". Precious.

I had gone to the dollar store, the movie store, and the grocery store the day before my Mr. left and had picked up some cheap toys and books, some fun movies, and some yummy junk-food (I will readily admit that the junk food was mostly for myself...ahem...) for each day that my Mr. was away and tucked them away in a "treasure bag" to be pulled out every time I got too frazzled to cope for another second a few each day.

Each time I would pull something out of the bag my nearly-three would exclaim in all seriousness, "Mommy! This is the most beautiful, beautiful present I have ever got!!!" or "Mommy! This is the most beautiful, beautiful, movie I have ever seen!!!" or "Mommy! This is the most beautiful, beautiful cookie I ever tasted!!!" and similar other "beautiful, beautiful..." phrases all weekend. It was as if he'd never seen or experienced these little treasures before. Each time he used this phrase I couldn't help but throw my head back and laugh with complete delight in my child. It felt so good and brought such joy to my heart.

I share this story with you, not because there is anything out of the ordinary, or anything cuter here than you've heard come from your own childs mouth, but because when I pondered these events later, this thought came to me..how much more does Our Father in heaven delight in US His little children. Do our words touch His heart and make Him throw his head back in delighted laughter? I think yes. You (yes you) and I are His beautiful, beautiful children...(shall I assume you're all women reading this? I think I will)...we are daughters of the King! And what we do and say, no matter how insignificant it may seem, matters to Him. So no matter what your days may bring, no matter how frazzled, insignificant, tired, little, sinful, hidden, unappreciated or lost you may feel, remember that you are a daughter first and that your daddy cares and thinks YOU are the most beautiful, beautiful. He will help you through it all. "Who" you are brings joy to His heart.

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with might through his Spirit in the inner man, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have power to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 3:14-21