Family in Feast and Feria

Check out the Blueberry Bash at the The Virtual Kitchen Today for some yummy blueberry recipes.

And Sarah is hosting the Loveliness of Summer Reading.

Reading and desserts...can't think of a better combination.

Fill up your tea or coffee mug and enjoy!

I'm very remiss to not mention before Jennifer's lovely Loveliness Fair of Taking Meals Outdoors. The ideas are just wonderful, pictures so wonderful. As I'm just struggling to just Taking a Meal, I didn't enter. But bravo, the Fair is just inspiring. Don't miss it!

I've been very remiss in not providing links to these terrific carnivals and fairs. Mea Culpa!

As an aside, I just LOVE web dictionaries. When sitting down to write, words pop in my mind, and I start to think, "What is the exact definition of that word? Am I using it properly?" So I do a Google search for "Definition ____" and secure that word in my mind. It's a little vocabulary exercise for me.

Anyway, I missed the Early Spring Field Day, Loveliness of Toddlers Fair, and the Loveliness of Spring Fair....and now missed the Carnival of Finding Joy. I'm on a roll (or is it a downward spiral?)! But don't you miss them. There are some wonderful posts to read and absorb and enjoy, and they are hosted by some very wonderful (and capable and reliable) ladies!

I have found a little joy this week. After discovering our hot water heater was leaking on Saturday (what a blessing all 50 gallons wasn't all over the basement), it was repaired on Monday. Having clean clothes, clean dishes, and a warm shower is such a blessing, relief, and yes, joyful. But I shall not going into detail about the other problem which happened as soon as the repairmen left...our A/C konked out.

As far as spring is concerned, it's just absolutely thrilling. We've spent a lot of our time out of doors, windows are flung open (for dual purposes). It is frustrating that when the good weather comes, instead of being able to relax and enjoy it, it signals the need for work. Yard work, gardening, weeding...and countless other jobs of cleaning, painting, repairing.

So, I'm taking a little blog break. I'm off to do my little spring work, but ALSO I'm taking some time to smell the roses.

My apologies. Yesterday I forgot to post the link to the Carnival of Joy: Week 1 at Three Plus Two. There are some wonderful entries, and so perfect for the week when so many hearts are heavy with the tragedy at Virginia Tech.

And even during the heaviness, God sends little graces. I'm feeling called to pray to St. Gianna. After posting Finding Joy this week, a sweet reader wrote to me her own personal struggle of secondary infertility. Twelve years later after praying to St. Gianna, she was able to bear a child. My suffering is so little compared to that!

I was so touched by this reader reaching out to me, and thought that maybe I should start praying to this mother-saint of our age. That thought seems confirmed when I read Kristen's post today on a Novena to St. Gianna. The novena starts today, ending on her feast, April 28.

My heart seems pulled in this direction. Perhaps God will not grant another child for us. I'm asking for that blessing, but my main intention is peace and guidance for me and my family as we walk this path. The difficult decisions and sufferings St. Gianna endured in her life indicates she might be the one to intercede for us.

Novena To Obtain Graces Through Saint Gianna Beretta Molla

God, our Father, you have granted to your church the gift of Gianna Beretta Molla. In her youth she lovingly sought you and drew other young people to you, involving them, through apostolic witness and Catholic Action, in the care of the sick and aged, to help and comfort them.

We thank you for the gift of this young women, so deeply committed to you. Through her example grant us the grace to consecrate our life to your service, for the joy of our brothers and sisters.

Glory be …

Jesus, Redeemer of mankind, you called Saint Gianna to exercise the medical profession as a mission for the comfort of bodies and souls. In her suffering fellowmen and in the little ones, deprived of all support, she saw you.

We thank you for having revealed yourself to this servant as “one who serves” and who soothes the sufferings of men. Treasuring her example may we become generous Christians at the service of our brothers and sisters, especially those with whom you deign to share your Cross.

Glory be…

God, Sanctifying Spirit, who love the Church as your Bride, you poured into the heart of Saint Gianna a share of your Love so that she could radiate it in her family, and thus cooperate with you in the wonderful plan of creation, and give life to new children who could not know and love you.

We thank you for this model wife and, through her encouraging witness, we beg you to grant to our families the serene and Christian presence of mothers committed to transform them into cenacles of faith and love, rich with generous activity and sanctifying service.

Glory be…

O God, Creator and lover of mankind, you were close to Saint Gianna when, affected by illness, she was in the painful dilemma of choosing between her own life and the life of the child whom she was carrying in herself, a gift long-awaited. Trusting you alone, and aware of your Commandment to respect human life, Gianna found the courage to do her duty as a mother and to say “yes” to the new life of her baby, generously sacrificing her own. Through the intercession of Mary, Mother of Jesus, and after the example of Gianna, inspire all mothers to welcome with love the sparkle of new life. Grant us the grace we are praying for …………. and the joy to find in Saint Gianna who, as a model spouse and mother, after the example of Christ, gave up her life for the life of others.

Hail Mary…

Angela at Three Plus Two is hosting a regular Wednesday fair through May (through Easter season) on Finding Joy.

The timing couldn't be better. Old Man Winter doesn't seem to want to give up, we keep coming down with various viruses...plenty enough to make us stir crazy. Being sick and housebound sometimes gives a skewed look on things.

So even before Jennifer's idea I've been thinking and praying along these lines.

• First of all, the Easter joy. That has been incredible. For the octave of Easter we've been saying with the Liturgy:
  
  

  This is the day the Lord has made!
  Let us rejoice and be glad in it, Alleluia, Alleluia!

  
  
  Christ is risen! We are not looking backwards to a past historical moment. Jesus Christ is risen today, now, in the present. To keep that reminder in my heart helps buoy my spirits.
  
  I love the custom from various Eastern rites that greet each other during the Easter season with some form of:
  
  

  "Christ is risen, Alleluia!"
  "He is risen indeed, Alleluia!" is the response

  
  This is a great practice to keep the reality of the resurrection in the present moment.



• Along the same lines, it fills my heart with joy seeing sharing our Faith together as a family. First of all, it is a true blessing to have my husband who is such a good man, who loves his Catholic Faith, and we pray and talk and share our Faith together. It is such a blessing to be united in raising our son, teaching him the Faith and seeing our son enjoy and grow in the love of God. Ds truly enjoyed celebrating the Triduum, and we are much richer seeing the Paschal Mysteries through his eyes.



• A great joy in my life is that my son's food allergies are less serious. We still avoid his allergens (eggs, dairy, and wheat) in eating, but he's now able to touch some of the offenders without reactions. I had such happiness seeing his color and dye eggs hard-boiled eggs, to be able to hunt for real eggs this year, without worrying of the contact allergy. He also can play with Playdoh without hives. Praise God for the little things!



• I've mentioned before my struggle with secondary infertility. Daily my prayer has been "Fiat", so I can embrace God's will for me. It is a daily struggle. I never thought I would be raising an "only child." Having come from a large family, surrounded by cousins, other friends with large families, it's a new adventure. So often I find myself thinking "If only we could have one more....it would be easier. I'd be happier."
  
  Divine Mercy Sunday at Mass came the gentle reminder that joy comes from my daily duty. I will be much happier in embracing His Will for me. I'm reaching out for things that *I* think will make me feel better. But really, true joy is recognizing God's hand in my daily life. I need to stop the procrastination and excuses and accept the moment.
  
  I know it doesn't seem like a joyful message, but a weight was truly lifted off my heart and I was at peace. The Lord has truly blessed me. I can find joy at the present, and not at the "what ifs" and "if only".

Thank you, Angela for hosting. I look forward to the other entries.

Christ is risen, Alleluia!
He is risen indeed, Alleluia!"

Kathryn at The Bookworm is hosting the Loveliness of Preparation Fair. If you looked around my house, you'd see I'm in no way ready for Christmas. This has been an Advent of errands, interruptions, and appointments that sap time away from home. Plus a week on the couch due to a minor foot injury at the beginning of Advent and I'm way behind. Everything is in process, or halfway done. I have Christmas cards, stamps, addresses, waiting for the pictures. The Christmas tree only has lights. The presents aren't wrapped, and some aren't even bought. I'm not despairing or lamenting. I recognize it as a work in progress, and chipping away slowly.

I'm enjoying seeing our Advent saints and feasts filling up our house giving visible signs that Christmas is nearing. First it was the Advent Wreath and Advent Calendars, then St. Barbara's candle. St. Nicholas added ornaments and statues and cookies, and our Juan Diego and Our Lady of Guadalupe candles are on display. And our Mary Candle is on the mantle since the feast of the Immaculate Conception. Tonight it was the Lucia Crown and Swedish Candle Chimes.

But there is one part of our preparation that is done, and that is thanks to my husband. Well, even that needs one little touch, but it's minor. I had an informal poll at 4Real if anyone had Christmas tree platforms. Only a few people who responded knew what they were, but there were happy memories attached to those who knew of it. I'm beginning to think it's commonly found in areas that had railroading, or families who were big train people.

My husband grew up in Western Pennsylvania, in Altoona (big train area), and always had a Christmas tree platform. In fact, they had two platforms. One was on the floor (this one was used all-year round for his brother's Lionel train), and the other was raised off the ground. My mil still uses hers. It is about 4 x 6 feet, with a hole cut out in the middle for the tree and the light cords. It is covered in the green paper for train displays, with detachable legs to make it either on the ground or about 18 inches high, with the brick corrugated paper around to disguise the bottom. The top displays a village, a nativity, and a train.

Dh decided that this year we would make a platform part of our family tradition. For those with handyman husbands who already have a home workshop, this means nothing. But this was momentous for us. Dh had to purchase some power tools and this was his first real woodworking project. It's a beautiful job, and I'm really proud of him. And our son just loves it. And that's what it's about -- making happy family memories.











Our Thomas wooden railway has already made its arrival on the platform. Dh also built a little box to stand the tree higher, so that's what you see under the platform. I still have to add the faux brick corrugated paper (called Corobuff) around the edges to hide the bottom, but it's wonderful as it is right now. I'm happy to embrace my husband's family tradition for our home. I'm looking forward to struggling over the decision of what kind of train, shall we do a village, and if so what kind, shall we just set a manger with Jesus or a whole nativity scene or both--and what kind? Planning is so much fun!

ETA: Here are the final pictures. We decided against an elaborate train set for awhile, as our son is so young and hands-on. We thought it would be better to incorporate the Wooden Railway. We did buy the battery operated Christmas set, and it works so nicely with the rest of the trains, but I don't have to worry about ds touching and breaking things. And he's enjoying it so much, although I couldn't catch a smile on the film, there have been plenty!

Advent begins this year on December 3. I always look forward to this season--the anticipation of the newborn Babe on Christmas, the cooler weather (at least in this hemisphere) which makes the house glow with warmth and hospitality, and the promise of new beginnings. After all, it's a new Liturgical Year...I can renew myself spiritually, make resolutions, and start from scratch.

In this season we prepare for Christ's coming in 3 ways:
1) Remembering the past in which Christ was born in the stable of Bethlehem on Christmas,
2) Meditating on His present coming in grace and in the Eucharist and
3) And making ready our souls for the future as Christ comes as the Judge at the end of time.

Advent is the Church's season that the liturgy easily unfolds for tangible customs, ideas, and traditions that incorporate all our senses that can help prepare our families spiritually for the birth of Christ. A short tour of the wonderful entries for this Advent Fair of Loveliness will also inspire you to also Prepare for Christmas....

....With Food for Thought
Kira at Showered With Grace provides a wonderful meditation on Advent in Preparing Our Hearts. She quotes from Caryll Houselander on the Living Bread that came down from heaven to Bethlehem (which means "House of Bread"), and preparing our hearts to receive that wondrous gift.

Elizabeth at Real Learning with her new wee one understands well the coming of a baby at Christmas, and provides much food for thought at the significance of the season. Stockings Hung with Care emphasizes the Loveliness of it all. A Breath of Heaven at Christmastime and Entertaining Angels: a look at genuine hospitality both give reminders that we must give of ourselves for others. It's not about "Decking the Halls" but taking time to savor the moment and giving of self to really provide hospitality.

...By Organizing and Prioritizing
This year I'm realizing that the key to Advent is to start preparing in October and November...the preparation turns off the panic and pressure prevalent in December. Mary Ellen created a whole blog dedicated to celebrating Christmas with that point in mind. O Night Divine is filled with all sorts of ideas and tips for organizing, plus loads more to enhance the season, with many guest writers who share their wisdom.

Margaret at Minnesota Mom realizes in "Pardon me, Sir, but have you seen my Advent?" that she has to shake the negative feelings for the over-commercialized season and reveals her plans on how to refocus on the preparation for Christmas. But no cream in the coffee? That might be too much for me!

Cay at her Cajun Cottage has found that organizing her Advent season was one of the best ideas. She shares a few of her plans for the season, including her reading and goodie bags, and a picture of her beautiful Advent table in 'Tis the Season to Get Ready.

Ruth at Just Another Day in Paradise is also prepared, and shares How Our Family Celebrates Advent, which includes Gifts for Baby Jesus, O Antiphon Activities, The Advent Wreath, The Nativity Scene, The Christ Candle and The Jesse Tree.

And Genevieve at The Good Within shows her beautiful Christmas notebook and some of her Advent traditions at Christmas At Home.

Cheryl at My Thoughtful Spot is PREPAREd. See how the Loveliness of Advent is illustrated in her home. I love the idea of the wrapped books for counting down the days.

...By Counting the Days
The Advent Calendar is one of the older beloved Advent traditions, with such a variety of presentations.

Leonie at Living Without School gives us a peek at all the Advent activities in their family in Loveliness of Advent including a sneak peek at what goes inside those pockets in her Advent calendar. It's a wonderful list of activities, but all quite doable and practical. No apologies for the premade gingerbread kit--I think it's a grand idea!

...By Focusing on the Roots
Another form of countdown is the Jesse Tree. This tradition helps us understand the prophecies, covenant, foretelling, and genealogy of the Messiah.

Alice's Cottage Blessings shared her brilliant idea for her Jesse Tree with Advent Cubes.

Mary G at St. Athanasius Academy did Variations on a Theme: Alice's Advent Blocks .... . She uses Alice's suggestions for the wooden blocks, but then takes the craft on her own and decorates a box to store the Advent memories.

Katherine shares her version of the Jesse Tree and here is Ruth's version.

...By Praying with the Ancient Liturgy of the Church
One of my favorite parts of Advent is the O Antiphon Days, seven antiphons that date back to the seventh or eighth century.

Alice's Advent Cubes included the "O Antiphons", and Katherine at A Living Education adapted the idea for her O Antiphon Houses, Part 1 and Part Two.

Marjorie at Lettres de mon Moulin realizes Advent is the time to "fling open every door" and prepare our hearts for our King's Christmas arrival. Opening every door is her family's theme this year. She found a fun craft using Altoid tins for the "O Antiphons" in Fling Open Every Door - An Altoid Advent.

Helen at Castle of the Immaculate has another twist to Alice and Katherine's O Antiphons. O Antiphon Activities.

....By Preparing the Manger
Straws in the Manger is beloved tradition especially for young children. My family did this tradition for many years.

Rebecca at A Gypsy Caravan shares her version of The Christ Child and the Manger. We have the same statue in our house, and I love the gesture of Baby Jesus' arms just reaching up and out to us.

...By Lighting the Darkness
Rebecca's Advent Log is a wonderful way of anticipating the Light of the World coming on Christmas.

Alice has a variation on the Advent Log with her A Christmas Caravan, put together by her handy husband.

And Dawn at By Sun and Candlelight creates her Advent Log from her birch branch, showing another unique Advent Wreath.

Jennifer S/V Mari Hal-O-Jen provides a nautical theme to her Advent Wreath. See the added ocean elements to the light at Loveliness of Advent.

...By Praying with the Communion of Saints
There are many feasts of saints during Advent, and invoking these saints to help us along our path will help us in our preparation for Christmas.

St. Nicholas is one of the more well-known feast days. I have some ideas on this saint Saint Nicholas: Part One Reading Materials and Part Two: Feastday Celebrations.

Katherine incorporates many saints with her Advent Trees and Feast Day Ornaments, another variation on a theme...I love this innovative use of my favorite Christmas tree ornaments.

And finally, long awaited by me, MaryM's new blog Our Domestic Church shares her Advent and Jesse Tree in Advent in Our Domestic Church. It's marvellous...and I can't wait for more!


Whew! I think that's all. Thank you for all the wonderful submissions! This was so wonderful to see how Advent is celebrated in your homes. What really inspires me is the uniqueness of each entry...even if it's the same tradition, each person puts their unique "stamp" in their Domestic Church. May you all have a blessed Advent!

Just a simple thankfulness list this week, to include in the Thankful Thursdays roundup. I'm grateful for:

1. A week of potential discouragement turned into a week of tiny accomplishments.

2. Dh picked out 4 movies and we shared several movie nights together. All his choices were wonderful, and it was lovely to spend time relaxed and together. And while I watched I got a few things accomplished, such as some badly needed mending.

3. My house is clean and presentable and laundry caught up (for now).

4. Dh stayed home so I could run errands yesterday. I was able to buy some shoes for me, get my hair cut and grocery shop.

5. I organized my son's toys. He's responded well to having a place for everything. And I feel so much better!

6. Ds has such enthusiasm for helping. Today I got a child-size rake and he helped me rake leaves.

7. I just discovered Ritter Dark Chocolate with Hazelnuts. I'm thankful, but maybe I should be saying "Get behind me, Satan!"?

8. I'm thankful for the 4RealLearning Forums which has brought me a wonderful friend. I spent Sunday afternoon at her house and came away so inspired.

9. I know I said it last week, but I have to say it again. My mother-in-law called me yesterday to coordinate the Thanksgiving meal for foods that will be safe for my son. How wonderful and thoughtful...and makes my job so much easier. It's not easy for her to change routine or recipes, so this is a huge gift for me.

10. I'm grateful to God for His gift of peace of soul he has given me in sorrowful times.

11. I'm grateful for the gift of family and Faith as we will celebrate the 1st anniversary of my grandmother's death on Thursday. My family will go to Mass and pray for her together. What a blessing to be consoled by God and by family.

I'm a bit late for Dawn's Loveliness Fair, but I just wanted to share this little craft that I've been doing for years that makes a perfect gift. It requires medium skill, as it can be somewhat challenging to fold and glue just right...and a bit messy in the glitter department.

I'm talking about old Christmas cards recycled into Christmas ornaments. My eighth grade teacher taught us how to make these. She made them when she first married and had no money to decorate her tree. She covered her tree with these and they have been her favorite ornaments. I've been making them ever since that art class...that was 1982. Imagine my surprise when this book from Martha Stewart came out and I saw my ornaments...but lacking the glitter. I found instructions online here, so I won't try to reinvent the wheel. But a few tips from years in making....

Supplies needed: Christmas cards--front with picture, and cards with a solid colored back like gold or silver, blue, red, green.
Circle and triangle templates --The site above gives an example, but you can make them bigger, which will make the entire ornament bigger. Just make sure the triangle stays in proportion to the circle.
Glue Tacky glue, or something that dries fast, doesn't run, and holds well. I haven't tried all the new glues to know if a better one than Tacky glue would work.
Scissors
Thread or string--to suspend ornament
Glitter--

If you don't save your cards, it's not hard to get people to give you their old ones. I've got a whole large box full, and always get more. People now know that I make these, and always are donating. I've also been successful from Freecycle, friends that tell their friends, etc. My sister's in-laws are antique dealers and come across old cards that aren't valuable...and pass them my way.

Since I have a large supply, I sort them by types of pictures. I like to have my baby Jesus, Holy Family, Wise Men, Shepherds, Christmas tree, Santa, etc. all separated. I use large envelopes to keep them separated. I trace the circles and cut out, then I divvy up the ornaments. I try to match color themes, so things don't clash. I use 15 picture and 5 solid colored circles for each ornament. Fold the circles on the triangle.

When you make the first "row", before you put the 5th circle, cut a length of crochet thread, knot it in a circle (make a large knot) and then glue it inside the first row, to come out through the top. Be generous with the glue...this will suspend the ornament, and when this breaks off, it's harder to find a way to hang the ornament. Add the 5th circle and then continue with the next row, which will be 10 circle, but alternating with a picture and a solid color. Then complete the 5th row, creating the globe ornament.

Since I use glitter, the edges don't have to be perfectly lined up. The glitter will cover up a lot of faults. Using glitter glue or tacky glue, make a line of glue along each edge and sprinkle with glitter. I do the glitter in stages, letting parts dry so I can hold onto the ornament while glittering the rest.

Here are the photos on Flickr...and the badge below.

www.flickr.com

Although simple and inexpensive, they really are beautiful and make wonderful gifts.

The ever-creative Dawn is appropriately hosting The Loveliness of Handmade Gifts today. Drop by and be inspired.

In two weeks I will be hosting "The Loveliness of Advent". I'm moving the date from Monday to Wednesday, November 29. Please share any reflections or crafts or pictures or anything to do with Advent. If you don't have a blog, please email me and I'll post your ideas or reflections here.

Speaking of Advent, the ever-crafty Alice has a wonderfully simple but beautiful Advent craft at O Night Divine.