"Stations of the Cross" Box

The above photo is our family's "Stations of the Cross" box. Due to Casinodad's work schedules the past couple of years & having young children who have trouble sitting still for long periods of time, making it to our church's Stations of the Cross during Lent was difficult. I came across this idea somewhere online a few years ago & adapted it to our family. This box gave us the opportunity to participate in this wonderful prayerful devotion within our own home.

I took a plain box & covered the lid w/ red metallic wrapping paper & an prayer card of Christ carrying the Cross. Inside I placed all of the items needed for each station & two copies of The Way of the Cross for Children by Rev. John Harfmann, S.S. J. & Miss Deborah Holly. It's a great hands-on activity for the munchkins. We take turns reading about each station & pulling the individual items out of the box.

Stations 1-5
Station 1: Pilate Condemns Jesus: a red string because Jesus' hands were bound
Station 2: Jesus Carries His Cross: a cross made of popsicle sticks
Station 3: Jesus Falls the First Time: a bandage to remind us of how much Jesus was hurting when He fell
Station 4: Jesus Meets His Mother: A rosary to remind us of Our Blessed Mother, the pain she endured watching Her Son suffer, & that She remains close to Him even now, bringing our prayers, joys, & sorrows to Him
Station 5: Simon Helps Jesus Carry the Cross: a small piece of white felt w/ the letter "H" drawn on it, a reminder that we should always seek to help others

Stations 6-10
Station 6: Veronica Wipes Jesus' Face: a cloth w/ a drawing of Jesus' face on it, reminding us to reach out to others & see Jesus in all things
Station 7: Jesus Falls a Second Time: another bandage
Station 8: Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem: a tissue to remind us that Jesus is always here to comfort us & wipe our tears away
Station 9: Jesus Falls for the Third Time: cutouts of the munchkins' hands which serve as a reminder for us to lend a helping hand to those who fall since we could not be there to lift Jesus up when He stumbled.
Station 10: Jesus is Stripped: a piece of purple felt representing Jesus' gaments (purple is the color of royalty & the liturgical color for repentance & preparation; Lent is a time to prepare for the joy of the resurrection)

Stations 11-15
(sorry for the rotated photo, not sure how that happened)
Station 11: Jesus is Nailed to the Cross: a nail
Station 12: Jesus Dies: a small crucifix or a picture of Christ on the cross
Station 13: Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross: a picture of Michelangelo's Pieta or a picture of Mary holding Jesus
Station 14: Jesus is Buried: a stone to remind us of the sealed tomb that enclosed Jesus' body
Station 15: Christ Rises from the Dead: a picture of our Risen Lord - Victory over death!

A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings - Holy Week Edition

Judy over at A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings, hosts this meme every Wednesday. Simply list five things (or a prayer or any thoughts) for which you are truly thankful this week. Voicing my thanks helps put my life in perspective & realize that, no matter how bad things might be, there is still MUCH good surrounding me.

During this most Holy of weeks, I am most thankful for the huge sacrifice Jesus made for me...a sinner. At any time, He easily could have asked God to relieve Him & take the burden away. During the Agony in the Garden, He prayed, "Father, if You are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not My will but Yours be done." But, He knew the tremendous effect His sacrifice would have on the whole world. He knew that by dying on the cross, He was saving all of us from our sins.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for opening the gates of Heaven for me. May I always remember this sacrifice of Yours.

Small Successes

"It’s important for moms to recognize that all the small successes in our days can add up to one big triumph. So on Thursday of each week, we do exactly that."

Oops! Missed this last week, too! So, why am I having so much trouble thinking of my successes. I should have two weeks worth, right?

1) I've been doing well this Lent in keeping away from Facebook & constantly checking blogs that I read.

2) I cleaned our master bathroom sink, counter, mirror, & toilet. 'Nuff said!!!

3) Other than Tuesdays when Lost is on, Casinodad & I haven't been turning the TV on in the evenings. We try to spend that extra time talking, reading, or just sitting together.

Your turn! Share your successes at Faith and Family Live. While you're there, check out others' successes.

The Gospel Spoke to Me (Part Two)

A few weeks ago I posted about a Gospel reading that spoke to me (see here). I'm still trying to figure it all out, but like I said, I may never completely get it. I do have some more thoughts that I will post soon, but for now...

He's not giving up!

Yesterday, in my morning Bible time, I read Matthew 25:14-30, the one where the man hands his funds over to three servants while he goes away. The first two take their shares & invest them, doubling the amounts for the man's return. The third, however, buries his share & in turn, had it taken away when the man returned.

I've read & heard this passage many times in my life, but never really understood it. It didn't take me long to "hear" what God was trying to tell me in this parable this time around. God is the man going away for a time, I am one of the servants, & my children are the "funds" entrusted to my care. Which servant am I? I would love to say that I am one of the first two, investing everything to make sure their faith & love for God multiplies over time. However, I'm not sure God would see it that way. I get selfish & lazy at times. I get wrapped up in my own activities & don't want to be "bothered." I KNOW it's wrong & try to do better.

One of my focuses this Lent has been to reduce my internet time. This has been a tremendous effort on my part & I think I have done quite well. It's enabled me to spend more time w/ the munchkins. I've also tried to stop yelling at them...another tremendous effort. There have been many opportunities & while I haven't been perfect, I've really reduced the volume of my voice. I am trying to be more present in their lives instead of observing from the sideline. Many of the problems we encounter come from my attitude & actions. I've made many mistakes in the past, but am desperately trying to rectify them & change MY ways.

Through much prayer, reflection, & personal choice, I CAN & WILL be one of those first two servants!

Lent 2010

Lent is now upon us. For me, it has not gotten off to a great start. I was so excited to start practicing the things I planned, but it has not gone well so far.

Ash Wednesday we went to my parents' church for their 9am Mass. Our parish had Mass at 8am & I knew we'd never get everyone ready in time, even w/out all the snow we had. My dad was preaching the homily, which is always a treat for us. I've always LOVED his homilies.

Before Mass began, the organist came over asked if I would cantor if the music director didn't show up. It had been a long time since I'd done it, but I said I could. (Before the munchkins, I was very involved in the music program - this was the church I grew up in.) Thankfully I knew all the music. I did end up leading the first song & she arrived toward the end of it, late because of the snow. Now that I think back on this, I see that this is a partial answer to a prayer. I have been wanting to get back into music ministry at church, but right now, w/ the munchkins still being so young, it is not a good time.

For some reason, I was very irritable the rest of the day. To me, it seemed like the ashes I received had the opposite effect on my personality. I wanted to stop yelling this Lent, but I found myself yelling even more than usual. Plus, the munchkins we very misbehaved throughout the day - disobeying, fighting w/ each other, bouncing off walls, etc. Thankfully, they were good during Mass.

Yesterday, I was still irritable. Why? I do not know. I decided to add another part to my Lenten ideas...for each time I yell at the munchkins, I will put a quarter into our rice bowl for Catholic Relief Services. So far, today has been much better. I've only had to put in one quarter!

Simplicity is the word I am trying to focus on for this season. Following is a list of the other practices I am doing for this Lenten season:
- reading a Lenten reflection booklet at night
- reducing my blog reading time to Thursdays & Sundays
- no Facebook (Maybe by the time Lent is over, FB will have gone back to its old way...I DO NOT like the new changes!)

- add a quarter to our Operation Rice Bowl for each time I yell at the munchkins (Based on the start of this Lenten season, Catholic Relief Services may benefit quite a bit from me!)
- RECONCILIATION (it has been WAY TOO LONG for me)

These are some of our family practices:
- Friday Stations of the Cross (either at church or using the Stations of the Cross box I made last year)
- Sundays for family time only (Other than a few previous commitments, if we go anywhere, it has to be together.)
- using a Lenten family devotion booklet in the evenings
- 40 Bags in 40 Days (I may not get rid of 1 bag each day, but I WILL get rid of at least 40 bags by Easter!)

Overall, I think this is doable for our family. I pray that you & your families have a beautiful, prayerful Lenten season. You are all in my prayers!

Small Successes

1) Several times this week, I've stopped whatever I was doing (reading, watching TV, cleaning, etc.) to cuddle &/or play w/ the munchkins. Sometimes I get so wrapped up in what I'm doing that I don't take that extra time. Don't get me wrong-they're not neglected. This was just lots of extra cuddle time.

2) Since I gave up reading blogs & spending extra time online this Lent, I've felt more peaceful. When something goes wrong, I seem to be a lot calmer in dealing w/ the situation instead of getting upset quickly. I'm still a work in progress, but I can definitely feel the change. To my daily prayers, I've added asking God to help me increase this sense of peace in my life.

3) I read 3 more books - the next 2 in the Sr. Agatha series & Danielle Bean's Mom to Mom, Day to Day. (A great book, Danielle! I love the prayers at the end of each section.) Please don't think I've spent all my time reading - I just have much more available since I'm not on the computer all day. Plus, the munchkins have been going outside a lot lately & The Saint has been sick this week. Nursing is one of the few things that comforts him, so I read during those times.

For more Small Successes & to share yours, go to http://www.faithandfamilylive.com/.

Fifth Sunday of Lent

Here's my bulletin reflection for today, the 5th Sunday of Lent

Readings - Jeremiah 31:31-34 / Hebrews 5:7-9 / John 12:20-33

For a seed to grow & produce, it needs to be planted, watered, & cared for, otherwise it will not do its job. Jesus was “planted” on Earth to grow for our sakes. He became the seed & at the same time, the gardener. Everything He did was for us. He grew to save us from our sins. He tended to our needs, & still does. He’s harvesting our souls for eternal life in Heaven.

“And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.”

The next time you plant a seed, make a conscious effort to pray for that plant and thank God for the gift of His Son.

In the garden that is your life, where do you need the most pruning? Ask Jesus to help you.

Fourth Sunday of Lent Reflection

Readings for the 4th Sunday of Lent

2 Chronicles 36:14-16, 19-23 / Ephesians 2:4-10 / John 3:14-21

“…Whoever believes in Him may have eternal life.” Wow! It sounds so simple, but we humans just love to make things complicated, don’t we? God has given us the gift of freewill. We make choices every day – keep walking or stop to help, watch TV or spend time with the kids, sleep in or go to church. Each choice we make has a consequence – some good, some bad.

The Christian band Casting Crowns has a song called Slow Fade in which they sing about choices people make. “Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid when you give yourself away. People never crumble in a day. It’s a slow fade.” The more we expose ourselves to bad choices, the further we get from God & the light within us fades to darkness. Look towards the light that is Jesus. Believe in Him. He will lead us to the eternal light of Heaven.

What makes it difficult for you to follow Jesus?

Think about a choice you made that led you towards darkness. How did you find the light?

Third Sunday of Lent

Bulletin Reflection for the 3rd Sunday of Lent

Exodus 20:1-17 / 1 Corinthians 1:22-25 / John 2:13-25

It’s hard to picture an angry Jesus. I’ve always thought of Him as kind & loving. How can He be angry? How can He overturn tables & lash out?

Because He was human.

God came to earth in human form with a purpose. People were not following the 10 Commandments. There was a multitude of sin – killing, idolatry, stealing, coveting, etc. They needed someone to turn them around. Jesus was the answer. He was, & is, our Savior.

So, when the Jews were conducting business in the temple, Jesus had a right to be angry. They were disrespecting sacred property. He got angry. He yelled. He took out His frustration. He was human.

What makes it hard for me to see Jesus as human?

How have I shown disrespect in a sacred place?

Second Sunday of Lent

Continuing my bulletin reflections, here is the one for today...

Second Sunday of Lent Readings

Genesis 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18 / Romans 8:31b-34 / Mark 9:2-10

“Are you listening to me?” “Did you hear what I said?” As a parent, I find myself uttering these & similar phrases quite frequently. I can imagine God asking these same questions. I wonder if He ever gets frustrated with our listening skills (or lack thereof).
God specifically told Peter, James, & John that Jesus was His Son & they were to listen to Him. Did they listen? Not always. James abandoned Jesus along with other disciples, but was later executed for witnessing about Jesus. Peter denied Christ three times, yet went on to become our first Pope.
We are not that different. We are God’s beloved children who stumble & fall. We make bad choices. We don’t listen, yet that love is unconditional. All we need to do is stop & open our ears to God.

What are the external & internal noises that keep you from listening to God?

How can you silence the world around you to focus on what God is trying to say?

First Sunday of Lent Reflection

As I mentioned in several previous Small Successes posts, I wrote the reflections that will be going into our church bulletins for March. Since today is the first Sunday in March, my first reflection went in. I thought I would post them here also.

Readings for Sunday March 1: First Sunday of Lent 2009
Genesis 9:8-15 / 1 Peter 3:18-22 / Mark 1:12-15

The 3 "R's" - Relationship, Repair, Reconcile
In the first reading, God establishes His covenant with Noah - never again will He flood the earth. This covenant strengthens their relationship and in turn, strengthens ours. But, we were born sinners. Paul, in the second reading, talks about cleansing or repairing our relationship with God. Through Jesus' death & resurrection (and only through Jesus) we are cleansed of our sin. Jesus suffered for us to lead us to God. The Gospel talks of our reconciliation with God. We must repent of our sins and ask God to always be with us to help fight temptation.

As we begin this season of Lent, how do you feel about your relationship with God? What can you do to repair your relationship?

What does Jesus' suffering mean to you?

Lenten Ideas

Ash Wednesday is almost upon us - are you ready? I've been thinking a lot lately about what I would like to do during this very special liturgical season. My energy levels have been very low, so a lot of what I plan in my head does not get implimented into our daily lives. (BTW - My doctor's office did call the other day w/ my Vitamin D test results. Yes, it is low so he wants me to take some extra Vit. D supplements for a month & see if it helps.)

Back to Lenten ideas: Every year, we participate in Operation Rice Bowl through our church. We set the bowl on the table or island & throw in any extra change. The munchkins really look forward to doing this. As soon as we bring the bowl home from church & put it together, they run to get their banks. 75% of the donations go to help Catholic Relief Services in their worldwide efforts & 25% goes to our local diocese.

For the past two years, I've taken The Prophet to our church's Stations of the Cross. He looks forward to this each year. Afterwards, we stop at Wendy's for fries & a frosty to spend some time together. I've not taken The Archangel & The Princess because I knew they wouldn't sit still long enough. Last year was extra special for The Prophet. My dad, the deacon at our church, didn't have any servers show up so he asked The Prophet (a first-grader) to assist. (In our parish, servers have to be in fifth grade.) He carried the crucifix to each station as it was prayed. It brought tears to my eyes to see him participating in such a mature manner. He's hoping Grandpa will ask him to help out again this year!

Last year, I found a recipe for Resurrection Rolls. Basically, it's taking a large marshmellow, wrapping it up in a crescent roll & baking it. The marshmallow disappears into the roll as it is baked, signifying the empty tomb of Jesus. They taste really good too!

One of the mothers in my homeschool group asked for some ideas & some of the other mothers gave some great suggestions. Some I'd like to do are:

1) Place a grapevine wreath in the center of the table w/ toothpicks sticking out of it to signify the crown of thorns. On Easter Sunday, replace the toothpicks w/ flowers.

2) Give each person a twisted pretzel at dinner each night. It shows the form of arms crossed in prayer to remind us that Lent is a time of prayer. More details can be found at www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/activities.

3) I also signed us up for Holy Heroes Lenten Adventure. They email activities to do throughout Lent w/ you children.

As to what I'm giving up for Lent this year, I've been reflecting on the things that take me away from my family & the computer is the first one that comes to mind. I spend far too much time reading blogs. Even though the ones I read have been a great inspiration to me, I'm going to give them up for Lent, including my own. I will still post my Small Successes each week because they really help me to focus on the things I'm doing good in my life (& I really need that reassurance.) Basically, I'm going to avoid the computer except for those few things I need to do - checking my email (but only a couple times a day as opposed to anytime I sit at the computer), preparing our church bulletin, & ebay stuff.

I'm also going to try to get up earlier & be better at starting my day w/ prayer & reflection. This has been a big struggle for me since The Saint has been waking up more often to nurse throughout the night. Growth spurt or teething? I'm not sure, but regardless, I've been losing a lot of sleep.

Well, the munchkins are getting restless - a sure sign that I've been on here too long already this morning! Have a very blessed Lenten season! My prayers are w/ you all, that God may grant your every need.

Peace & blessings,
Munchesmom