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Martha
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| Posted: Jan 31 2006 at 3:46pm | IP Logged
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I need to plan head or plan on it not happening, so here I am...
What do you do special for Lent and/or Easter? Or even just certain things within there?
I've got Stations of the Cross on Fridays, when/if we can make it with the older kids.
We tried the Jesse tree thing and it just didn't go over.
Not into the special calendars at all. We don't even bother with them at christmas.
I'm a convret, so I guess were just tryiing on different traditions to see what fits and sticks, if anyone understand what I mean?? 
Suggestions? My dh isn't catholic, but IS very supportive, so I'd like simple, yet meaningful things to do rather than big productions or complicated meanings that would turn him off participation.
Thanks!
Martha
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Martha
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Yes, they're all ours!
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momwise
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| Posted: Jan 31 2006 at 5:51pm | IP Logged
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Martha,
My dh isn't Catholic either and by far one of his favorite activities of the liturgical year is the Holy Thursday Catholic Seder meal published by domestic-church.com
The ceremony can be found in Peter and Catherine's bookLent and Easter in the Domestic Church.
You could also do a daily decade of the Sorrowful Mysteries using a Scriptural Rosary. Another think we've done is institute an Examination of Conscience wit the kids during night prayers in Lent.
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Gwen...wife for 30 years, mom of 7, grandma of 3.....
"If you want equal justice for all and true freedom and lasting peace, then America, defend life." JPII
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JennGM
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| Posted: Feb 02 2006 at 10:42am | IP Logged
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Martha,
I've been thinking about this post. If you PM me your email address, I can send some .htm files of some old Lenten pamphlets that might give you some ideas.
But generally for me, Lent is a mini-retreat. It's a time to bring the spiritual in the forefront, and to work on faults, learn to sacrifice, and doing extra good deeds. One thing that was very effective when growing up was a sticker chart, so the children could mark down in the different categories, Example here. I wrote up this Personal Program for Lent a few years back that might give some ideas.
Nothing has to be elaborate or drastic. We go to daily Mass during Lent...maybe just a few days in the week. A rosary or decade said, like Gwen mentioned. Some spiritual reading during the day...just a little thought. If you have a bulletin board, just have some visual reminders, like a purple background, a crucifix, some biblical quotes. Maybe post a little reading or bible quote every few days. Or this could be at the table...purple placemats or tablecloth. We used to read aloud at dinner small excerpts from our "Lenten family book". One year it was Life of Christ by Bishop Sheen. Yours are little, so probably something less intense, but if you do tea time, this would be perfect to do, especially if dh doesn't want to be a part of some of the Lenten activities.
A "fun" activities is to force bloom some bulbs or branches to be blooming around Easter. Read the packages of amaryllis, narcissus, hyacinth...I'm not sure the time frame. You could also plant grass or cut branches off cherry trees or something to force bloom...your science project for Lent.  I've got some bulbs I'm trying to do this year.
Below are a few links from the pamphlets I referred to. You can also find loads of ideas searching just "Lent" on
Lenten Scrapbook
Lenten Seed Sowing
The NOW Cross
NOW Cross
Lenten Alms Jar
Lenten Sacrifice Beans.
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to  & ds1  '03 & ds2  '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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Martha
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| Posted: Feb 02 2006 at 11:25am | IP Logged
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well...
here's what I'm thinking on so far..
I'm going to buy Thy Will be Done by de Sales for me. I enjoy his Introduction to the Devout Life, so have high hopes for this one and the title sounds perfect for Lent/Easter.
For my oldest son, just turned 11 yrs., I'm going to buy The Young Man's Guide by Lasance.
We already do daily rosary.
Daily Mass is not an option with our single car status and gas expenses, but I'm hoping to make Stations of the Cross with the older children each Friday evening after he gets off work.
We really have very little to "give up", so I'm contemplating "taking up" instead. I just can't think of anything to take up yet!
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Martha
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momwise
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| Posted: Feb 03 2006 at 6:09pm | IP Logged
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Most of your kids are a little young for this yet but we really like to follow the Operation Rice Bowl resources for CRS projects around the world. If you click on the "Fast" link to the right, you'll get recipes from the same countries you can use on Fri. The Lesson Plans page has plans for grades 1-3, and at the bottom of each lesson are ideas for "If you only have 10 minutes." This would make these lessons perfect if you wanted to limit them to the whole family at dinnertime.
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Gwen...wife for 30 years, mom of 7, grandma of 3.....
"If you want equal justice for all and true freedom and lasting peace, then America, defend life." JPII
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Loren
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| Posted: Feb 03 2006 at 10:50pm | IP Logged
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I'm not very good about getting this stuff done, either.
Two years ago, when I was teaching 3rd grade CCD, I was introduced to Ressurection Rolls. Our class made them on Palm Sunday.
Dip large marshmallows in melted bi=utter and then roll them in cinnamon-sugar. Wrap them in refrigerated crescent rolls, being very careful to seal the seams. Bake according to package directions.
The marshmallow is Jesus, the butter and sugar are the spices and cloths, and the dough is the tomb. When they come out of the oven, the tomb is empty...and tasty.
I have another recipe somewhere for Easter cookies. That one takes the children through the entire Passion story with Scripture readings that correspond to each step of making the cookies. Then you leave the cookies in the oven overnight and come back in the morning to find out that a "miracle" has happened in your own kitchen.
But I haven't ever had all the ingredients at the right time to do this one, so I don't know how well they turn out.
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momwise
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| Posted: Feb 04 2006 at 8:36am | IP Logged
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Loren wrote:
| But I haven't ever had all the ingredients at the right time to do this one, so I don't know how well they turn out. |
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They turn out great! Here's a link
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Gwen...wife for 30 years, mom of 7, grandma of 3.....
"If you want equal justice for all and true freedom and lasting peace, then America, defend life." JPII
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4Real Forums : Domestic Church
Topic: Lent and Easter traditions
