You Know It's Lent When......

the children beg for their vitamins.

 

Spring Tease

February is playing with us.
We have cold winds and add logs to the fire endlessly.

Days later the children are running around outside building forts and having picnics.
The fireplace grows cold.

The next day we're back inside watching the snowflakes fall
as we huddle next to the warmth of the fire.

But......



nature is beginning to drop little hints that Spring is coming.



Michael took a walk around the yard and captured these pictures.


Here's 100 ideas for container gardening from Southern Living.
It made me feel happy and excited just looking and dreaming!

Lenten Links

So many wonderful ideas for Lenten inspiration!

It's a long season and never too late to try something new this year.

Catholic Icing
Illuminated Ink
Domestic Church




We have a locust tree in our back yard.
Mark carefully gathered some of its thorns.

 

Isaiah 53:5

But he was pierced for our transgressions,
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
    and by his wounds we are healed.

 

 



The Miracle of Life

Our parish website just shared this beautiful video.

Mothers, Fathers, Brothers, Sisters, Aunts, Uncles, Grandmas and Grandpas,

please stand up for the dignity and sacredness of the born and unborn.

We will all be held accountable for our choices:

what we have done and what we have failed to do.

 

But I feel that the greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion, because it is a war against the child, a direct killing of the innocent child, murder by the mother herself. And if we accept that a mother can kill even her own child, how can we tell other people not to kill one another? How do we persuade a woman not to have an abortion? As always, we must persuade her with love and we remind ourselves that love means willing to give until it hurts. Jesus gave even His life to love us. So, the mother who is thinking of abortion, should be helped to love, that is, to give until it hurts her plans, or her free time, to respect the life of her child. The father of that child, whoever he is, must also give until it hurts.

 

~Mother Theresa

America Needs More People (Babies)

I just stumbled on these articles on the Demographic Cliff.

Our present culture is literally killing our future in more ways than one!

Wall Street Journal Article

The Weekly Standard

Population Primer
I learned a lot at this site!

And lastly this book looks very interesting.

Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real

 

Sharing this week's contentment at Like Mother, Like Daughter.

~PRETTY~

We decided to have a Fat Tuesday/St. Valentine's Party!

 

~HAPPY~

King cake!



His Royal Highness



 

~FUNNY~

An Ash Wednesday snow storm cheered the gang.

 

~REAL~

Preparing Lenten devotions.

The leaves will be a symbol of our sacrifices.

The Fruits of the Holy Spirit!

We hope to have a very green tree by Easter Sunday!

Novena for the Pope

Pray a Novena for Pope Benedict and the Papacy!

"Fear is useless, what is needed is TRUST."
Mark 5:36

Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real

~Pretty~

 

Our two oldest met up at the Right to Life March in D.C.

Dominic captured these beautiful images of the Blessed Mother and Jesus.



Basilica of the Immaculate Conception



 

~Happy~

The children spent hours constructing a snow fort.

It has ice windows and room for standing!

~Funny~

 

His brothers thought he would make a great snow boy.

He patiently allowed them to pack the snow around him.

~Real~

Snow days are fun work.

Layering wriggling bodies of impatient little people....exhausting!

Managing snow stuff is serious business.

On snow days, it's a full time job.

"Mom, I can't find my hat!"   

 

 "Has anyone seen my gloves?"

"I'm missing a boot!"

There is always something in the process of drying.

Rotation for fair heat access is important.

This week we took action.

A couple of bags were given to charity.

Extra, wrong size items were carried to storage.



Labels!!!



Let it snow!

Come visit with us at Like Mother, Like Daughter.

 



Holy Heroes Lenten Adventure

Making plans for Lent here.

We have enjoyed this in the past.

It's free and you can sign up now!

 

 

Seven Sillies



Siblings sharing a silly moment!


 

Perfect Play Dough

Confession:  He's been patiently asking for a new batch.

This recipe never fails!

Preschool Play Dough

(Thank you Tish)

Place ALL ingredients in 2 quart saucepan:

2 cups flour

1 cup salt

4 teaspoons cream of tartar

2 cups water

2 tablespoons oil

food coloring

scent (vanilla, peppermint, almond, etc)

Whisk to blend until smooth.

Stir with wooden spoon over medium heat until consistency of play dough.

Hint: When you can't stir any more, your dough is ready!

Roll into one soft, warm ball.

Divide amongst the littles and hand out the tools!

It stores well sealed at room temperature for a LONG time.

Hearts, Glitter & Glue

We made it through January!

It's been a flurry of Valentine making here.

 Happy February!