Getting ready for Lent

We're getting ready for Lent here.

All the hearts and garlands and twinkle lights are put up. Surfaces are dusted. The last of the ice cream is being consumed. We've begun to discuss, as a family, what we will do for Lent - the sacrifices and the extra works. There's burlap on our mantle because it looks like sackcloth (maybe? I have no idea what sackcloth looks like) and because I need something up there to cover those unsightly wires.

We've got some plans. Personally I plan to read The Life of Christ. And by "read" I mean start it and keep reading well into Ordinary Time. Let's be real here. I'm also looking forward to using the Blessed Is She Lenten devotional To the End. Having skimmed through it already I think it will be really good.

Usually the kids do our standard Lenten calendar from Catholic Icing. We might just do one this year instead of everyone getting their own, but we need at least one so I don't have to answer multiple times every day for 40 days "how many days until Easter?" Seriously.

I've been building this Lenten Spotify playlist and hope to add to it as I stumble upon more songs - so do tell me if I'm missing something.  In the past we've only allowed religious or PBS Kids shows and Christian music during Lent. I don't think we'll do that this year, but we'll see.

Since we usually do not eat meat on all Fridays of the year I like to add meatless Wednesdays to the Lenten meal plan. Those few extra dollars I save each week are then donated to Catholic Charities or our local parish at the end of Lent. In the past we've encouraged our kids to forgo different treats and purchases during Lent to add to that collection and that's worked really well.

We also usually incorporate the Stations of the Cross into our night time prayer. We tend to do it a couple times a week, using the Stations of the Cross Box I made years ago. The kids love it and I know that it's done a lot to make the actual Stations more meaningful. The kids pray the Stations every Friday after the School Mass and we attend our parish or Cathedral's Stations as a family at least once each Lent. This small catechesis, done sitting on the floor with my kids digging through a box, has been a great way to teach even my youngest kids the responses while also helping them to understand the story of Christ's Passion and feel sorrow and compassion for Him. I explained how we do the Box here, but I first heard about it from Kate Wicker and I'm so glad she shared it.

But you know what, you guys? I'll be 38 in a few months. I have seven kids age ten and under. I'm 30 weeks pregnant. I'M TIRED. If that rickety old grapevine wreath and a couple meatless meals each week is all I do I'm good with that. I have a feeling that God wants this Lent to be more interior this year than exterior.

Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling
Calling for you and for me...

Come home, come home
Ye who are weary come home
Earnestly, tenderly Jesus is calling
Calling, O sinner, come home...

When the Spirit has something to say

You guys, this post contains affiliate links. Ye be warned.


As a writer for Blessed Is She I am given my devotion assignments two at a time. So in November I was given my December and January dates and I sat down to begin my work. I prayed to the Holy Spirit for guidance, read the Mass readings for my December date, and prayed through them again, listening for the Lord to speak. There were two parts of the Gospel that stood out to me and I didn't know which to write on - the need for friends or Jesus' question, "Why are you thinking such things in your heart?" I decided to set it aside and move on to January's readings. And when I got there it was the same Gospel.

So in December I wrote about the need for "people who will believe so hard and love so big that they will break down walls for you." (You can read the rest of that one here.)

And for today I wrote about what I learned when Jesus asked me, "Why are you thinking such things in your heart?" (You can read that one here.)

So how 'bout that?

And in other Blessed Is She news, the Lent Journal is available now. It's called She Who Believed and is written by Laura Kelly Fanucci, the same author of the Advent Journal. She is such a powerful writer and this book promises to be just as beautiful and the Advent Journal was.

In Laura's words, She Who Believed, "dives into the stories of women in Scripture to learn what they teach us about prayer." Each week the book looks at four women - two from the Old Testament and two from the New - and challenges us to grow our prayer life while deepening our knowledge of Scripture. Flipping through my copy I am really impressed with what lies ahead and I invite you to get a copy yourself.  The book will discuss how real women wrestled with God while helping us prepare for Easter.

As usual, there is a limited number of Lenten journals and they *will* sell out. Once they are all sold an e-version will be available. Also, if you have a Blessed Is She Membership yours will be auto-shipped to you! To purchase a copy of She Who Believed or even the Catholic Journaling Bible please go here. God bless, sisters.

The Best and Easiest Dairy and Egg Free Cinnamon Rolls

My mom makes amazing cinnamon rolls. She got the recipe from her friend, who got the recipe from a cook in her high school's cafeteria. It's amazing to me that once upon a time high school cafeterias were serving fresh, made-from-scratch cinnamon rolls, but I digress. Her cinnamon roll recipe makes three dozen, freezes well, tastes amazing, and takes all day to make. It also calls for milk and eggs, two items which are no-go's in our food-allergy-filled home.

I wanted to have cinnamon rolls to feed my kids on Easter and Christmas mornings, just like my mom always did, but I wanted them to be easier to make and be egg and dairy free. Easy peasy!  (That last bit was sarcasm.)

But I finally figured out the perfect solution for my family. The recipe I use is actually the white bread recipe that came with my bread machine, very slightly modified. Because I am able to make these in the bread machine it is so super easy, but if you don't have a machine you can still use a good, ole fashioned bowl and spoon.

Ingredients:
Dough
1 1/3 C water
4 Tbsp vegetable oil
4 heaping Tbsp sugar
2 tsp salt
4 C flour + more for kneading
1 1/2 tsp yeast

Filling
Butter or dairy-free butter-like spread such as Earth Balance, approximately 2 Tbsp
1/3 C sugar + 2 Tbsp cinnamon, mixed together

Icing
2 C powdered sugar
2 dashes of salt
1 Tbsp water (or more depending on desired consistency)

*Honestly, for the filling and the icing I have never measured anything so these are approximate. If you like your rolls more or less cinnamon-y then adjust accordingly. Likewise, if you like more or less icing on your rolls - you guessed it! - adjust accordingly.


**I use this recipe for dinner rolls, soup bowls, bread to serve with stew, Santa Lucia buns, and more. I've found a vegan bread recipe that tastes great and I make it work for whatever I need. For non sweet breads I use 3 Tbsp sugar instead of 4 heaping Tbsp. For the Santa Lucia buns I add saffron. I have found that all you have to do is change the shape, maybe the ingredients, and possibly the baking time and this recipe can become a lot of things.

Bread Machine Directions: Add all ingredients to bread machine in order they are listed. Choose Dough setting, start, walk away.

Bowl and Spoon Directions: Mix yeast and one cup of flour. Add warm water and set aside to let yeast activate. Once yeast mixture is bubbly and has grown a bit (5-10 minutes) add oil then other dry ingredients. Combine until sticky; if using a mixer allow dough hook to knead the dough for 5-10 minutes. If using spoon, turn out onto lightly floured surface and knead dough for 5-10 minutes. Dough should have a good stretch and be velvety with just a touch of stickiness.

Place dough in a large, lightly greased, oven-proof bowl and cover. Keep in a warm place until dough has doubled, about 60 minutes. (I like to pre-heat my oven to its lowest setting, then turn off, and allow my dough to rise there.)

Risen dough in bread machine should be 

popping  up over the top of the basket. 

Next Step for Both Methods:
Once Bread Machine is done or dough in bowl has doubled turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and with a lightly floured rolling pin roll out into a 9x13 rectangle.

Cover dough with butter or Earth Balance Spread and then sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mixture.

Roll the dough up so you have a thick, long rope, seam-side down.

Cut off the uneven ends and discard (or, you know, eat). Cut the rolled dough in half, then cut each half in half. Cut each quarter section into thirds so you have twelve slices.

Arrange slices in an greased 9"x 13" dish and place in a warm place until rolls have doubled, usually 45-60 minutes.

Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Allow rolls to cool before icing.

King Cake Method:
If you want to turn the cinnamon rolls into King Cake you line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and arrange the sliced rolls in a circle. Rise, bake, and ice as directed above. Sprinkle with green, yellow, and purple decorating sugar.

Some prefer their King Cake with a cream cheese filling and to do so I just substitute cream cheese in place of the butter. Tofutti makes a good dairy-free "cream cheese."

You can use this at Epiphany or Mardi Gras - both are appropriate times to feast on King Cake. If you have a little plastic baby Jesus you can tuck him in the underside of one of the rolls once they have baked. Then the person who finds the baby Jesus is King for the Day - which can mean whatever you want in your home.

A couple of thoughts heading into Holy Week.

Here we are on Palm Sunday and I don't know about you, but we made it! 

Ben turned his palm frond into a fishing rod and pretended to catch fish... until his father caught him. 

JF kept making his into a circle and sticking his face through it... until his father took his away and placed it next to Ben's.

Resa acted like hers was a broom... until I took hers and put it next to the boys'. 

JP just shook his in the air, like a little boy in Jerusalem. 

(And L spent the night at her grandma's so hopefully she is behaving wonderfully.)

"I will sing of your mercy that leads me through valleys of sorry to rivers of joy."

Jars of Clay, The Valley Song

One of the things I love so much about this week is how solemn and beautiful it is. The liturgies with their silence and darkness and candlelight, the readings from Scripture - Isaiah's Suffering Servant and the psalmist calling out "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"especially, the music asking us "Were you there when they crucified my Lord?" and it's something about that "oh-oh-oh-oh" that is so haunting and always makes me cry... all of it works together to prepare us for the gifts we recieve on Holy Thursday of the priesthood and the Eucharist, the sorrow and shame (our shame) that comes on Good Friday, the loneliness of Holy Saturday, the magnificence of Easter Vigil, and the JOY of Easter morning. 

I love Holy Week.

I have a special love for converts, reverts, and fallen away Catholics. There is nothing I love more than my God and His Church and I want nothing more than for everyone to feel the same. I want you to be Catholic so you can experience all the gifts it offers: the Sacraments, the saints, the feasting and the fasting, the redemptive suffering, the respect for life, the answers to all the questions which are all steeped in charity and clarity and reverence for God. 

I love that in Holy Week new Catholics are welcomed into the Church and old Catholics return. If you are a convert or a revert please know that I am SO HAPPY for you!!! I am praying for you and I hope that my silly little blog and I can help you live our your faith joyfully and in a community. 

Thanks for being here, guys. God bless you. 

Oh Lent

Oh Lent.

You always start off with a bang and then so quickly you trickle off.

"I will pray more and eat less. I will trust in God and not feed my fears and worries."

For one day. Yeeeeah, I'll do that for one day and then just ease up a bit. mmm'kay?

Oh Lent, I am so tired of being half-hearted.

Yesterday in my mom's group I confessed to my friends that I often think, "I need to be merciful because 'the measure with which I measure will be measured out to me' and that is a horrible reason to be merciful."

So Lent, let's work on that. I have looked at what I want and who I want to be and I'm trying, again, to be that person. I think I often look like I'm doing a good job but really I want to actually be doing a good job. The kind that gets a "well done, good and faithful servant" in the end and responds with complete humility and gratitude to God.

Lent, we can do this. There's some things I need to do. Not too much, but not too little either.

How is it, Lent, that you always show me how little I think of myself and how much I think of myself all at the same time.

So my real goals, Lent, have been reset. You asked, "How will you pray more?" And I have answered. 

Midday Prayer and/or Night Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours.

At least one Stations of the Cross

At least two holy hours.

Confession at least twice.

You have asked, "How will you eat less?" And I have answered.

No desserts through the week. 

All Fridays will be fasting days.

But I will also exercise for just 10 measly minutes every day.

And you want to know how I will trust God more? 

By responding to my kids and household duties foremost, trusting that my vocation should come first and that the other good things you have brought into my life can wait a bit, because that is how you want it.

I'm sure, Lent, that I will have to recommit myself to these goals again and again - and not only during Lent as many of them I want to make a part of my day. But in the meantime, let's celebrate that at least I got my house decorated. 

7QT - these are never quick

1 -Happy Valentine's Day!


2 - I'm going to start by introducing you to Chris, a man with whom I attended high school. Then, we both ended up studying English lit and writing at the same small liberal arts college. Chris has moved from a very non denom / evangelical background to Anglicanism and often writes about American culture, music, and faith at his blog Post Consumer Reports. Also, he made himself into a meme.

Okay, is that super funny to me just because I know him or is it just super funny?

Anyways, Chris just wrote a couple of posts about True Love Waits and the whole abstinence until marriage culture that exists in evangelical circles and was widely discussed on the internet a few months back. Perhaps what I appreciate most is that he didn't jump in on all the yelling back then but has thought about it a lot, gathered insights from his female peers, and then wrote of what he knows - not on the whole of the movement. Anyways, I thought I'd share his post because it gave me an excuse to share his meme and because I thought it was well done.

True Love Waits: What my youth pastor did right


2 - Back to Catholic-y things.

Matthew Kelly and the folks at Dynamic Catholic want to make sure you have the Best Lent Ever.  It looks really fabulous and I'm excited to do it this Lent. Check out the website and consider signing up.

And if that doesn't sound like your thing, maybe you'll like the Blessed Is She Lenten journal. It's another great resource to help you get in Scripture and and spending time in prayer. The journals have all sold out but you can download and print one off for yourself. Lovely.

I was really happy to chat with my friends Christy and Haley for their latest Fountains of Carrots podcast. We chatted about lent and how we do it in our homes and I had a lot of fun. JP makes an appearance as well. Take a listen!


3 - Earlier this week I made some bagels and shared a picture on Instagram. If you're looking for a good bagel recipe I strongly recommend this one. Mary Kate shared it with me and she was right - it's delicious. In fact, my second batch is rising right now.


4 - Recently I noticed two unusual occurrences. The first is that on days when I wear pj's, don't brush my hair or teeth, and do not shower I get an incredible amount of work done. Cleaning the bathrooms, putting away the laundry, answering emails, sorting paperwork, mending clothing, even reading to the kids - all of this is done when I look rather gross. I think it's because when I get myself ready for the day I feel like I need to DO something, and that definitely does not mean scrubbing toilets.

The second thing is that if I am going to put away laundry then I cannot use a laundry basket. If I fold the clothes right out of the dryer, piling them on the top of the dryer, then they actually get folded. Then I gather them in my arms - not in a laundry basket! - and carry them throughout the house, putting them away. It gets the job done in minutes, rather than the clean clothes sitting rumpled for days or even weeks.


5 - Today was my first day on thyroid medication. I actually feel better already - is that even possible? I don't know, but this was one of my first steps towards health and I'm excited for what may happen.


6 - Here's some of my favorite links from the week:

Art is not weight-lifting: Why the Beck vs. Beyonce comparisons are unfair and wrong (and lazy!)
This Beck and Beyonce mash-up will cure your Grammy woes
Okay, Hozier, I'll take you to church
The Lady who followed me home
When repentence looks like a shower


7 - In honor of Valentine's Day here's one of my absolute favorite Fulton Sheen quotes.

you were caught LENT HANDED

This Lent don't get caught

LENT HANDED!

reaching for the caffeine and it's not Sunday?

you were caught

LENT HANDED

sneaking into the liquor cabinet?

you were caught

LENT HANDED

chocolate and it's not a feast day?

you were caught

LENT HANDED

snacking between meals?

you were caught

LENT HANDED

Because what else do you do when you accidentally get purple spray paint on your hands besides take a bunch of pictures with the sole purpose of turning them into memes?

7 Quick Takes

Thanks to our wonderful hostess Jen at Conversion Diary!


1 - You are loved.


2 - In case any of you guys missed Hafsa's conversion story to Catholicism from Islam I'm including the link right here. I am honored that she guest posted and shared her interesting story with us. There were a lot of profound comments she made but this was my favorite:

3 - Because we try to do meatless Fridays year long, I like to go meatless on Wednesdays during Advent and Lent. This year I'm excited to be incorporating the recipes from Catholic Relief Services' Rice Bowl into our meal plan. The recipes are from countries that benefit from the CRS aid and they are a great way to reiterate to myself and my kids that the money we are giving is going to help real families.


4 - And back to the shallow, though nerdy:
Isn't this scarf fantastic?! A map! Of Middle Earth! I love it!

It's by an Etsy shop called Nerd Alert Creations.


5 - Recently one of my very best friends was home visiting. She's a Sister of Life and so we don't get to see her as much as we'd like. My family was invited to dinner at her house (they're Lebanese - oh the grape leaves! the kibbeh! the cauliflower stew with the name I couldn't pronounce! oh the carrot cake! What? They're American too.) Anyways... Travis and I told the kids we were going to their home for supper and Ben said, "Can I take my shoes off there?" It's the little things that matter in life.


6 - Our house is for sale again. Anyone wanna buy a house that a miracle baby was born in?
To make it look even better than before we did a few little spruce ups around the house. We also tried to make it scream LENT a little less.

I bought a new lamp and clock for the dining room.

I like it.

I also thought it was finally time to repaint this hand-me-down end table. I wanted something bright and bold since most of the living room is shades of tan and brown. On an impulse I picked purple.

I'm not sure if I like it. L asked if I would repaint it after Lent, which made me laugh. I think I might though. I think I'm going to try teal next. But so much for making the house not too Lent-y.


7 - Resa mustache you a question:

Did you hear about the really cool thing happening at our house and in Rome right now?
If you didn't here's a whole list of interviews, news coverage, and blog posts that can update you.
Thank you to everyone for joining us in celebrating! Please continue to pray for the cause and let us all keep our focus on God. He healed my son and the only reason the Church lifts up saints for us is so we can know, love, and serve God better.

Getting ready for Lent - a New Knot Bad Video

In my newest Knot Bad Video I talk about how I get my home ready for Lent. There's two basic things I do to try to mark the Lenten season in my home. It's nothing too earth shattering, but it makes a big difference for us and hopefully my suggestions will inspire someone who is looking for a way to observe Lent.



Because people have asked, the image of Eve and Mary can be purchased here from the contemplative nuns at Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey. It's so beautiful!

For more resources on how to keep Lent and prepare you soul for Easter, check out these links:

Fantastic list of 66 things to give up or take up for Lent (in beginner, intermediate, and advanced) from Catholic All Year.
A round-up of links, recipes, and feast days that are coming up in March with Liturgical Living at a Glance at Carrots for Michaelmas.
Catholic Icing's fabulous printable Lenten Calendar for kids - it's the one we use every year and showed it in the video.
Sign up to get free daily Lenten reflections from Fr. Robert Barron.

My Stations of the Cross Box for Kids and King Cake recipe for Mardi Gras (to start Lent off right).
Here's even more ideas on my Easter and Lent Pinterest board - which I'll be adding to throughout the 40 days.

Stations of the Cross Box for kids

A few weeks ago I had some pictures of our Lenten decorations and included a shot of a little treasure box that holds our Stations of the Cross kit.  I got a few emails and comments asking about it so I thought I'd share with you what we do and how it looks. 

I keep our Stations kit on top of our computer desk so the kids can't easily get at it and lose everything.  The box itself is just a simple treasure chest type box we got for a couple of dollars at Hobby Lobby.

Inside is a Stations of the Cross booklet for children that I found at our local Catholic goods store.  There is also an object that represents each station.  

How we pray the Stations:

Depending on the kids' attention span we may read through everything but usually it goes like this:

I announce the next station and say, "We adore You, O Lord, and we praise You," and the kids and I all say, "because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world."  

After this I tell the kids what object they need to find in the box.  

Different people use different items, but our stations kit contains the following:

#1 a piece of rope, like what tied Jesus' hands together when he was sentenced to death.

#2 a cross for when Jesus picked up His cross

#3 a piece of felt with the number one and a band-aid to symbolize Jesus falling for the first time.

#4 a rosary for when He met His Mother.

#5 a helping hand for when Simon helped Jesus carry His cross.  The one pictured is L's traced on some cardstock from a few years ago.

#6 a piece of felt that I sketched Jesus' face on for when He met Veronica.

#7 a piece of felt with the number two and a band-aid for the second time Jesus fell.

#8 a tissue for when He meets the weeping women.

#9 a piece of felt with the number three and a band-aid for when He fell the third time.

#10 a strip of purple cloth for when Jesus is stripped of his clothes. (I'm actually going to borrow some doll clothes from L because they're too young to get the symbolism and need something more tangible right now.)

#11 a nail for when Christ is nailed to the cross.

#12 a crucifix for when Christ dies.

#13 an image of the Pieta for when Christ is brought down from the cross and placed in His mother's arms.

#14 a rock to symbolize the rock that is rolled in front of the tomb.  (not shown - remember what I said about the kids getting into it and scattering things about the house?) 

  

As they hold and pass around the object we discuss what's happening.

I point out the picture and briefly explain what's happening to Jesus.  

The booklet also talks about how what happened to Christ can help us to live better lives.  For instance, just like Simon of Cyrene helped Jesus carry His cross we can help people in need. 

We then end each station with the simple prayer that's included in the booklet.

At first I was disappointed that I couldn't find a more kid-friendly book with beautiful pictures but now, after using this book for several years with little kids I am very happy with it.  The color is bright and cheery and the lack of detail in the images seems to make it easier for my kids to take it all in.  Since we also have books with gorgeous paintings by Fra Angelico, Raphael, and so on, I can see the difference in how my kids respond.  (Perhaps it's because we listen to pop music and watch cartoons?)

Anyways, I highly recommend the booklet, which is why I included the publishing information in the image above.

After seeing this all you're probably thinking, "Hey!  We already do something like that!" and you probably do.  The contents of the kit are what many people use for "Resurrection Eggs" but I prefer this way, which I learned from Kate Wicker.  The reasons I like this more are: a) the carton would be smooshed in no time but the box is sturdier b) plastic eggs are one more thing for the kids to lose or break and me to keep track of c) putting everything back in the box, in no particular order, makes clean up much easier. d) the kids like digging around in the box.  If it's not broke I'm not going to fix it.

While we're well into Lent I don't think it's too late to make on of these kits.  If nothing else you can use it during Holy Week and the Triduum.  I must say, unlike the rosary, this is a prayer that I can do with the kids that doesn't leave me frustrated and angry.

If you decide to do this I wish you happy gathering and praying!