Thursday, October 27, 2016

Boys Scouts: Centennial Family Campout

This year my family made the jump into Scouting. Little Man is a Cub Scout, a Webelow to be exact, and Goalie is a Lion Scout, which is a new program that is being piloted this year for Kindergarten aged boys. This new adventure has already made my kids so happy and I am so glad we decided to give the Boy Scouts a try. The first BIG event we participated in was the Centennial Family Campout.


When we first arrived to the Campout location, all the troops present participated in an absolutely beautiful Flag Presentation complete with horse calvary. Both of the boys stood and watched the Presentation with such reverence and stood with a Scout Salute during the Pledge of Allegiance. I can tell you that seeing that I am raising my children with a love of God and Country has become one of those things that can bring this mommy to tears.


I love that the Scouts offer uniforms for the children that participate in their programs. I was raised in a military family and learning to have respect for the meaning behind a uniform is something that has ben instilled in me and I hope that I pass that along to my children. I am absolutely IN LOVE with the morals that the Scouts teach to the children.

The Boy Scout Oath is as follows:

On my honor, I will do my best 
To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; 
To help other people at all times; 
To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.


To start off the day we made our very own paracord bracelets! The boys actually have several of these because they like the look and they are aware that in emergencies that the cords can be used to help you survive.



In addition to learning important things when you are out in the wilderness, the Boy Scouts brought the wilderness with them to show the kids and teach them about animals and their habitats!



Two big events that happen when you are a Scouting family is the Soap Box Derby and the Pine Wood Derby. Both events involve creating a vehicle to compete with in a race. Well, at the Centennial Campout we were able to make potato cars! We made cars from potatoes and raced them down a ramp. I think the boys learned that peeling potatoes takes a lot of work!



Have you ever attended a Lowe's event called Build & Grow? I think all kids' should have the chance to build something with their hands and this program is a great way to do it! There was a Build & Grow station inside one of the vendor buildings and the boys had such a great time building their very own boats! What made it so much more fun was that they had to rely on the instructions because there were so many people attempting to complete these boats that the attendants were very busy! The boys had so much pride in their hard work and it really was heart warming to see them work together to complete their boats.



As an adult, I have NEVER seen rope be made. I was able to experience that for the first time and watch my boys make it! Their favorite part was playing tug-of-war after all the hard work of creating the rope was completed.



In addition to the crafts, vendors and displays, there were several survival areas that allowed the children to learn survival skills. One such skill was how to light a fire. Unfortunately, the boys only created sparks and never actually got a fire going but they are so ready to give it another try. They have been begging to go out and start a fire so we can roast marshmallows for s'mores and cook some hotdogs. 


Archery was a tough task to master but both boys were super excited to give it a try for the first time. Neither got a bullseye but they have been asking when they can have another chance to practice.


To end our time at the Centennial Celebration we had to end on a high note. What's better than BB guns to children? Nothing! My boys were crawling out of their skin while waiting in line to tryout the BB guns. They had a briefing on "Range Safety". I loved that they even had the boys request permission to enter and leave the range. 

I do not think we could have had a better experience out at the Boys Scout Centennial Family Campout and i can guarantee you that we will be participating in the Boys Scouts upcoming events. I have never had any contact with the Boy Scouts prior to my children wanting to be involved but I think that these group of men and boys will really be a great influence on my boys and teach them lifelong skills. If you have been thinking about finding something to have fun with the entire family, Scouting is the way to go!

{JEI}: All Saints' Day

Welcome to the weekly link-up recently turned Blog-Hop Just Enough Info: JEI for short. This lovely Blog-Hop is hosted by The Zelie Group and we would love for you to join us! This week we are discussing All Saints' Day! Let's get started with this week's questions:




1. How do you celebrate the All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day feasts? 

Where to begin?! There are so many things that I like to do to celebrate All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. I have already shared some of these activities through my Seven Ways to a Have a Very Catholic Halloween. In preparation for All Saints' Day we celebrate Halloween. We dress up and do the whole "trick-or-treat" thing and we spend time together as a family watching movies and discussing what the TRUE meaning behind Halloween and All Saints' Day. 

On All Saints' Day we dress up as our favorite Saints and decorate our home altar and home accordingly. There are prayer cards, saint pictures and metals hanging from all sorts of places on this special feast day. Little Man ALWAYS dresses as Saint Dominic de Guzman. Goalie has been Saint Michael the Archangel several times but I think he wants to be Saint Joseph this year. We spend our day praying for those who gave us treats on Halloween and for the Saints' intercessions. We also enjoy some foods that we make during Liturgical celebrations in honor of our favorite Saints!


All Souls' Day is very similar. We pray for those in our families that have passed away and I am in the process of creating a "Book of the Dead" that has old family photos and other family information inside that can be brought out on this day to pray that our family members have all made it through the gates of Heaven. I began working on this several months ago but I did not complete just yet so it may not be unveiled until next year.

2. What was your favorite costume as a kid growing up? 

Honestly, I have never been a huge fan of dressing up until I became a Mommy! When I was little I was your typical princess or other dressed up little girl and I think i remember dressing up as a baby one year! Yeah that's right... I dressed up like a baby. Thinking back, I just did the bare minimum to achieve my trick-or-treat candy. 

Now is a completely different story! My boys really like me to dress up with them or face paint or something so I always try my best to impress them. I love to see those adorable smiles and hear those sweet little laughs.


3. What candy are you most likely to “test for safety” from the kiddo’s loot?

We have lived in a VERY small town for a VERY long time so we never really had to check the kids candy. We literally knew everyone handing it out and it was never a huge concern. Now we live in an area where we don't know many people and I am sure that this year will be completely different. I will be throwing out any candy that does not look tightly wrapped or that is a brand I have never heard of... just to be extra safe. I try my best to always to assume the best of people but my little boys' safety is something I do not mess around with!


Thank you for joining me for another week of Just Enough Info!

You have all week to answer this week's questions about All Saints' Day:

1. How do you celebrate the All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day feasts? 
2. What was your favorite costume as a kid growing up? 
3. What candy are you most likely to “test for safety” from the kiddo’s loot?

Next week we will be discussing Sports and Exercise:

1. What sports do your kids play?
2. What do you do for exercise? 
3. In the Mom Olympics, what would your event be?


The Zelie Group has some fun questions coming up in the next few weeks so make sure to follow us on Facebook and we would love to hear what you are interested in! What are you looking to learn about? Do you have questions about the Faith? Questions about the Liturgical Year? We want to help and learn and grow with you and your families!

Also stop by the new Page I created on my blog for new information concerning The Zelie Group. It is a work in progress but it has a good start!

#WorthRevisit: Saint Bernadette

The feast of All Saints Day is right around the corner so I thought it would be a great time to share about my Confirmation Saint! Here is my #WorthRevisit with Theology is a Verb and Reconciled to You:

Monday, April 16, 2012

A Special Birthday and Feast Day

First of all let me start by saying...


PRAYERS FOR BENEDICT XVI:
V. Let us pray for Benedict, our Pope.

R. May the Lord preserve him, and give him life, and make him blessed upon the earth, and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies. [Ps 40:3]

Our Father, Hail Mary.

O God, Shepherd and Ruler of all Thy faithful people, look mercifully upon Thy servant Benedict, whom Thou hast chosen as shepherd to preside over Thy Church. Grant him, we beseech Thee, that by his word and example, he may edify those over whom he hath charge, so that together with the flock committed to him, may he attain everlasting life. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

— Excerpted from the Roman Missal. A partial indulgence is attached to the versicle and response.~ Catholic Culture

In honor of the Pope's Birthday I discussed his Coat of Arms with the boys. I printed this coloring page but we didn't have time to color them today. We will continue celebrating the Pope's Birthday tomorrow with some cupcakes and coloring pages. Another great way to make today feel special is to bring yellow roses into your home. I wish I knew where to find some near my home but I am thinking about planting some maybe next year?

In addition to Pope Benedict's Birthday it is also the Feast day of Saint Bernadette Soubirous(My Confirmation Patron Saint) Today is a very special day for our family! There are actual several feast days that commemorate Saint Bernadette but we celebrate them all. Who doesn't love a reason to have a celebration with friends and family? Saint Bernadette has always had a special place in my heart and in my faith as I grew as a young adult. I admired the strength of heart that she possessed although her health and body were weak. I hope that one day every person can feel the love of Jesus and Mary, our blessed Mother the way Bernadette could. I am striving to be more like Saint Bernadette, to offer my sufferings as reparations for my sins and those of the whole world, to love God in such a way that it emits from me and my family and have patience and understandings that this world is not our real home.

You can place your petitions at the Grotto of Lourdes through this website here. The Grotto is where Bernadette dug into the mud and created a spring that is a special place of pilgrimage in Lourdes, France. It is a place that many miracles of healing has occurred.

Some of my most favorite quotes from Saint Bernadette are...

"O Jesus and Mary, let my entire consolation in this world be to love you and to suffer for sinners."

"O Jesus, I would rather die a thousand deaths than be unfaithful to you!"

"I must die to myself continually and accept trials without complaining. I work, I suffer and I love with no other witness than his heart. Anyone who is not prepared to suffer all for the Beloved and to do his will in all things is not worthy of the sweet name of Friend, for here below, Love without suffering does not exist."
"I shall spend every moment loving. One who loves does not notice her trials; or perhaps more accurately, she is able to love them."

"O my Mother, to you I sacrifice all other attachments so that my heart may belong entirely to you and to my Jesus."

"I shall do everything for Heaven, my true home. There I shall find my Mother in all the splendor of her glory. I shall delight with her in the joy of Jesus himself in perfect safety."

"From this moment on, anything concerning me is no longer of any interest to me. I must belong entirely to God and God alone. Never to myself."

"Love overcomes, love delights"

"Those who love the Sacred Heart rejoice."

"Jesus, my God, I love you above all things."

If you are interested in learning more about this special woman you can read A Holy Life: The Writings of St. Bernadette of Lourdes. I have never been able to finish this book but I hope to read it fully very soon. I will be watching The Song of Bernadette tonight with my boys. My husband will even be home in time to join in the showing. We will be praying a Rosary together as a family and hopefully get back into the routine of reciting it together as a family each night. Today was definitely fun and spiritually strengthening!

Our Lady of Lourdes, Pray for us!
Saint Bernadette, Pray for us!

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Menu Plan Monday: October 24- October 30


This will be our first week with NO sports activities! I am kind of in shock and still looking at my planner double and triple checking I haven't missed something. This is also the last week of October and the chilly air is getting a bit chillier so I am looking forward to some hearty soups and crockpot meals! This week's menu is very simple. We still have some activities that were planned for this week and I am working a little extra with the holidays coming up so quickly. I'll be sharing more recipes again soon, hopefully starting this week! Here is my Menu Plan Monday post for this week's linkup:

Monday:
Leftovers

Tuesday:
Chicken Noodle Soup

Wednesday:
Dinner with the Football Parents

Thursday:
Butternut Squash Soup

Friday:
No Meat Chili

Saturday:
Halloween Party

Sunday:
Grilled Chicken with Veggies and Rice

Monday, October 24, 2016

Seven Best Animated Halloween Movies for Your Family

Last week I shared Seven Ways to Have a Very Catholic Halloween and I am still feeling inspired by the Autumn crisp air to share my seven favorite Halloween movies to watch every year with my family for this week's Seven Quick Takes. This list is not the only list of Halloween movies we get into each year but I figured the animated movies might be the most family friendly.

***This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase something through the links, I may receive a small commission. This does not change the price of the product for you but would help support the advancement of this blog and my family. Thank you in advance!***

{ONE}


The Halloween Tree is a movie from my childhood. I would watch this movie with my brother and sister every year during the Halloween season and a few times throughout the year. I think what I like most about this animated movie is that it explains the origins of certain Halloween ideas. Witches, skeletons, monsters and mummies are all used as decorations and costume ideas during Halloween but why? This movie explains the history in a kid friendly and eye captivating story. If you enjoy the movie, you should even take a chance on the The Halloween Tree book! There are a few variations from the movie to the book but both are favorites in my house. 

{TWO}


Is there anyone who hasn't seen this amazingly classic movie?! I am absolutely in LOVE with all the Charlie Brown tales but this one is my second favorite (A Charlie Brown Christmas is my ultimate favorite!) This was the first year my children were able to watch this movie with me and they fell in love with it too. At the pumpkin patch Goalie kept searching for "the Great Pumpkin" and even after choosing a pumpkin to carve wanted to stay in the pumpkin patch. Adorable! 

{THREE}


Honestly, I get a little afraid of some of the Tim Burton films but this one I really enjoy. This has been a family tradition to watch this movie around Halloween for the past several years because while we lived in Florida, we spent the Halloween season with a family that LOVED Tim Burton films and they watched them year round but especially during the month of October because their son couldn't get enough of the intriguing tales. My boys followed suit and always request this classic movie.

{FOUR}

Dr. Seuss had an amazing gift of connecting to children through the adorable and catchy stories he shared with the world. Halloween is Grinch Night is normally run as a Halloween special on PBS or other kid-friendly TV stations. It is included in the Holiday collection of Dr. Seuss and Green Eggs and Ham and Other Stories. I remember watching this cartoon as a child and I still enjoy watching it to this day. Dr. Seuss will always be a part of my families life because he was just an amazing writer and knew how to share a good story. 

{FIVE}


Disney has always been a pot lock of extraordinary movies to share with your family. The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad is no different! I was lucky enough to get this movie to share with my boys for another first Halloween movie screening this year. It is always so entertaining to watch your children go from moving a mile a minute to being completely enthralled into a movie. I remember watching this film and being afraid of the headless horseman. Apparently my children are way more brave than me because they weren't afraid at all and watched this movie twice in one night!

{SIX}


This is a more recent film and I love that they just came out with Hotel Transylvania 2. I really enjoy the perception in the film that the monsters are afraid of humans. The backward twist I think makes the scary things of Halloween to become no scare at all. This is a catchy movie so be ready to hear the kids singing songs and dancing while watching this film. 

{SEVEN}
Goalie is addicted to anything Curious George and we have probably watched this movie daily since September! The music, the animation and the beautifully written story are perfect for a family movie night! Little Man likes to pretend he doesn't like to watch this movie but he will even ask his younger brother if he wants to watch this film constantly. Check out the story of No-Noggin the Scarecrow and watch how Curious George enjoys the season of Halloween in the country with the Man in the Yellow Hat. You won't be disappointed!

I created a Colorado Autumn Bucket List several months ago and I had to include Halloween movies. This is just a small list of the movies we have enjoyed as a family this year and I hope that you are able to enjoy these and many more with your families while there is that crisp chill in the air so you can snuggle in some blankets, enjoy some hot cider and buttery tasting popcorn!

God Bless!

Sunday, October 23, 2016

Autumn Hometown Hunt: Diana's Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze


Our family has thoroughly enjoyed the variety of family fun activities that are available to us in this amazing place we call home. It just wouldn't be Autumn without a trip to a Pumpkin Patch! Living in a state that has many farms, there were a lot of locations to chose from. Originally, when I created the Colorado Autumn Bucket List we thought Anderson's Farms would be a great location but I did not look to see how far of a drive it was at first. We picked a farm that was not necessarily closer but allowed us to avoid tons of traffic. Diana's Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze did not disappoint!

Once we arrived, we had to take your typical family picture together. I sometimes forget how hard it is to get a good picture of us all together, smiling and looking at the camera at the same time! I really like how cute this picture turned out. 


I don't know if you can really see that we are all wearing matching shirts but we are! I am "that mom" and I love dressing my family alike and having my boys were similar and/or matching outfits during special events. I honestly don't know why seeing us dressed accordingly brings me so much joy but it truly does and thank goodness my boys have accepted it and don't put up to much of a fight when I set out the outfits.


I LOVED that Diana's Pumpkin patch offered this adorable photo opportunity with their "How Tall this Fall" sign. It is crazy to me that these two boys were once so little they were inside my belly! Look at them! Both over 4 feet tall! I think the backdrop of the corn stalks made this even better because you can see how tall those amazing things get too.



We are Florida natives and we are accustomed to playing in the white sand beaches often. This wondrous corn bin was more exciting than any sand pit my boys have ever played in before. Little Man and Goalie both took turns burying each other and making corn angels as Goalie called it.  


My husband is a big kid at heart and thought that the corn bin looked like too much fun for him to not join in! He took his boots off and jumped into the corn bin and the boys instantly started to bury him. I am so glad that everyone enjoyed themselves. Plus the nice shade from the covering was a welcomed break from the sun. 





When we decided to purchase a few drinks to calm every one's thirst I noticed a sign for Boy Scout patches. We just recently joined the Boy Scouts as a family this past year and we have had a blast so far! I couldn't pass up the chance to but these for my boys. It took us about an hour to complete the corn maze This small patch will be something that will remind my boys of the awesome time we had together as a family and make them just a little bit more proud to be a Scout!

Here's a few more pictures of our experience on the farm at Diana's Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze:


Rubber Duckie Race


My Little Pumpkin Patch! 


One of the best things about Diana's Pumpkin Patch is that the price of admission includes all the great activities AND a pumpkin! We walked through the Corn Maze, took a Hay Ride, played in the corn bin and tried out the other play areas throughout the farm. 


Here are our perfect pumpkins! My boys watched The Great Pumpkin for the first time and that is all the boy's spoke about while we were searching through the patch for our pumpkins. You have to have the perfect pumpkin to carve a great Jack O' Lantern. 


This last picture is what I live for! My sweet boys had such a blast at the pumpkin patch and devoured their caramel apples so fast that they just passed out in the Jeep! Remember your children won't stay small forever so give them an extra hug and kiss while you can. I know mine are getting tons! I hope that you and your family are enjoying Autumn and making memories. If you are in Colorado, I highly suggest taking the drive to Diana's Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze!

God Bless!

Thursday, October 20, 2016

{JEI}:Time Spent with Cats is Never Wasted

Welcome to the weekly link-up recently turned Blog-Hop Just Enough Info: JEI for short. This lovely Blog-Hop is hosted by The Zelie Group and we would love for you to join us! This week we are discussing Pets! Those adorable little creatures that steal our hearts and make us more human. The quote in my title is a quote taken from Sigmund Freud and think it suits this week's topic! Let's get started with this week's questions:


1. Did you have a favorite pet when you were younger? 

Yes, I did have a favorite pet when I was younger. When I was 16 my parent's got me a kitten for my birthday. My first pet to take care of myself. She was the runt of the littler and was a Calico Bobtail meaning she had a mixture of beautiful colors in her fur and a little nubby for a tail. I named her Scooter but always called her Ms. Kitty because she always acted so "fancy". She would eat her food one piece at a time and shake her paws after exiting the litter box and had the tiniest little meow you have ever heard. She had tummy issues from being born early and remaining little but I loved her so much and my heart still aches from when I had to give her away. 

I had Ms. Kitty until I was 24. That is when I left the abusive relationship I was in and I took my cat and my kids from a very bad situation. At the time I was struggling to pay my bills, provide for my kids and we were essentially homeless. My sister took care of Ms. Kitty for me for a while but I couldn't afford her food, cat litter or other necessities. I'll never forget the day I asked my sister to help me find someone that would love Ms. Kitty the way that I did. We were lucky enough to find an older woman who needed a cat for her barn to help capture mice. I didn't have the heart to take Ms. Kitty to the farm so I said my good byes at my sister's house and a piece of my heart was taken away. 

There is a quote by Anatole France that says,“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened.” I believe this to be a completely accurate statement. I became more human from the love that I shared with Ms. Kitty. 

2. Do you have pets now? If so, what? 



Yes! Obviously I am a cat person but I also love dogs and other animals as well. Right now we have three cats: Lemon, Cloudy and Shadow. My husband bought me Lemon a few years ago because he knew about the story with Ms. Kitty. Although Lemon is not Ms. Kitty, she has really made me so happy. All three of our cats are little lovers that love to be pet and are constantly playing and purring. It's amazing how something so small can bring so much happiness.

I really struggle with depression and anxiety from a lot of things but I have also been diagnosed with PTSD due to the abuse I endured. This means I have a lot of sleepless nights, I am constantly tired and I would rather do nothing some days. My therapist had suggested getting a cat could help ease some anxiety symptoms because she said it was a great therapy to have pets. Cats are nocturnal and since I don't sleep well they are a great option for me. She was so right! When I am going through a bad spell, all of my kitties will sit in bed with me and let me pet them and when they purr it really does calm me. If you are on the fence about whether you want a pet, I suggest going to a local shelter. Cloudy and Shadow we got at a shelter for free because they were older (6 and 10) but they are just as rambunctious and loving as Lemon who is 2!


3. Have your kids eaten dog or cat food (either at your house or someone else’s)?

This question made me laugh so hard! Little Man ate some of those dog treats that look like "bacon" when he was a couple years old at my parent's house and he cried so hard when I caught him and took them away. Now Goalie is a whole other story! This kid put anything and everything in his month for years and still does it today! I have caught him eating dog food at my friend's and families' houses, he has stolen food from our cats and picked up random treats he has found at dog parks when we would go with friends and family. I think Goalie has eaten just as much dog and cat food as any other animal which is funny and sad at the same time! 

Thank you for joining me for another week of Just Enough Info!

You have all week to answer this week's questions about pets:

1. Did you have a favorite pet when you were younger? 
2. Do you have pets now? If so, what? 
3. Have your kids eaten dog or cat food (either at your house or someone else’s)?
 Next week we will be discussing All Saint's Day:

1. How do you celebrate the All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day feasts? 
2. What was your favorite costume as a kid growing up? 
3.What candy are you most likely to “test for safety” from the kiddo’s loot?

The Zelie Group
 has some fun questions coming up in the next few weeks so make sure to follow us on Facebook and we would love to hear what you are interested in! What are you looking to learn about? Do you have questions about the Faith? Questions about the Liturgical Year? We want to help and learn and grow with you and your families!

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Feast of Saint Luke: Patron of Beer


Saint Luke the Evangelist is celebrated every year on October 18th. He is one of four writers that wrote the Gospels. He is the patron saint of physicians, butchers and brewers! So as you can see, he's not really the patron saint of beer but I am sure that enjoying a nice cold one in honor of Saint Luke would make him proud. As I was researching the interesting link between Saint Luke and beer I came to find that it is possible that this connection was made because in his time, beer was safer to drink than the water available to most people and so it was not uncommon for medicines, herbs and other remedies to be mixed with beer. If you really think about it, beer was considered a type of medication in times before modern medicine made huge advancements so it is possible that Saint Luke, among four other saints, were using beer as a way to medicate with the healing drink. Yep you read that right, there are four other saints that are also patrons of beer (in some sort of fashion): St. Arnulf of Metz, St. Augustine, St. Wenceslaus and Saint Nicholas of Myra. Make sure to come back and read all about these saints as their feast days approach!


Please ignore the Broncos glass though, we received these glasses as a gift and although we currently reside in Colorado we are Kansas City Chiefs fans!

As you can guess I did not waste this opportunity to enjoy a nice seasonal blend beer in honor of Saint Luke. Drinking some season brewed beers was already on my Autumn Bucket List and because it honored Saint Luke, it was a must for the evening festivities. Your children can always join the celebration with a small brew Cream soda or Root beer too! My boys personally enjoy a nice root beer float. If you thought this feast day couldn't get much better, do a beer blessing before you enjoy your libations!

Beer Blessing:

V. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
R. Who made heaven and earth.
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

Bless, O Lord, this creature beer, which thou hast deigned to produce from the fat of grain: that it may be a salutary remedy to the human race, and grant through the invocation of thy holy name; that, whoever shall drink it, may gain health in body and peace in soul. Through Christ our Lord. 
Amen.

In addition to enjoying some deliciously brewed beer, we were going to enjoy a nice apple onion pork roast for dinner. Well, this week is Goalie's birthday and he made the special request that we enjoy the roast for his dinner Thursday because he said it was his favorite. So I will share some photos of our roast Thursday. Goalie insisted that Saint Luke would like us to enjoy some chicken nuggets shaped like dinosaurs because Saint Luke really liked dinosaurs. I don't know how much Saint Luke liked dinosaurs, but who am I to deny such a sweet request like that? Especially to the birthday boy! Any dinner with a nice cut of meat would be a great way to celebrate Saint Luke because he is also the patron saint of butchers. If you wanted to combine your dinner and beer, I would suggest cooking some beer marinated Brats in the crock pot or on the grill!

Prayer to Saint Luke:

Almighty God, you inspired Your servant St. Luke the Evangelist and Physician to set forth in the gospel the love and the healing power of your Son. In faithfully detailing the humanity of Jesus, he also showed the divinity of Jesus and His genuine compassion for all human beings.

May St. Luke intercede for us that we may deepen our understanding of the gospel and grow in compassion of Jesus. May his intercession enable our new parish to follow Your way and plan for us.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. 

Amen.

Saint Luke, pray for us!

#WorthRevisit: Walpurgis Night

All Hallow's Eve is fast approaching and I honestly feel like this fun holiday get's a lot of bad press! All Hallow's Eve is a day and night to prepare for All Saint's Day. You honestly can't have one celebration without the other! For my post for the great #WorthRevisit linkup with Theology is a Verb and Reconciled to You, I chose another feast day that often gets some bad connotations: Walpurgis Night. Walpurgis night was also a former pagan holiday, just as many other holidays before it. It is now known for a day to prepare for the rebirth of the Earth, also known as Spring. Halloween is to All Saint's Day as Walpurgis Night is to May Day. Check out my post earlier this week about Seven Ways to Have a Very Catholic Halloween.
I hope you enjoy:


Thursday, May 5, 2016


Walpurgis Night


First... I am so sorry it took this long to get this post completed. I actually had this almost done and just forgot to post it! Oops! Mommy brain strikes again!

Saint Walpurga's feast day is May 1st but it is more celebrated on it's Eve on April 30th. She is the patron saint against storms, plagues and famine. Walpurgis Night is celebrated mostly in Europe in Germany. We celebrated with a fire inside since we are still getting snow... but it is a tradition to have a bonfire. I have to be completely honest here, I COMPLETELY mom failed our feast day plans. Originally, I wanted to roast some hotdogs and s'mores but I didn't think to double check to make sure we had all the ingredients. We have been on a clean eating menu so we have not been keeping hotdogs, chocolate or other sweet or processed foods in the household. Thankfully, my boys were so forgiving and didn't hold it against me what I had to break the news. I ended up having to make chicken strips and hot chocolate.

May Wine is a traditional drink served on this night or in celebration of May Day as well. If you click the link it will take you to a website that describes May Wine and gives you a pretty basic recipe if you are interested in trying something new this springtime! I personally haven't had the pleasure of trying this drink out yet but I certainly intend to this Mother's Day! Walpurgis Night is the beginning of all the May Day celebrations and often leads to May Crownings or other spring time celebrations.

I actually tried doing some research on this fun feast day and had a hard time finding information. I did find that Walpurgis Night was connected to a pagan celebration involving witches but obviously that is not what I want my children to associate this amazing saint with so if any of you know anything more about customs or traditions about this feast day I would love to hear about them!

Here is a great prayer asking for her intercession:

O holy St. Walburga, you most pure bride of Christ, from your very childhood your innocent heart was dedicated to God, and you did endeavor by fervent prayer and constant watchfulness to keep yourself pure and undefiled. Do you help me to keep the bright example of your innocence ever before my mind. You are now in heaven, in the company those virgins who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. Pray for me, O holy virgin, that I may esteem chastity above all else, that I may rather lose all things than commit a grievous sin against the holy virtue. Protect me in every danger. Grant that under your patronage and the protection of my heavenly mother Mary and my holy Guardian Angel, I may courageously overcome very temptation, and may preserve the wedding garment of innocence, pure and undefiled, and may see and enjoy God eternally with you and all pure souls. Amen

Saint Walpurga, pray for us!

Monday, October 17, 2016

Feast of Saint Ignatius of Antioch


Antioch was the first place that the disciples of Jesus were called Christians. I personally have a nostalgia for Antioch because when I was in high school, I was active in a youth group that hosted a weekend retreat called Antioch. I have such wonderful memories of this particular weekend retreat and made life long friends through this youth group. I wish there was a way for me to describe the feelings that I would leave having on my heart from this weekend. Honestly, there have been several times in my life when I have felt extremely close to God and these weekend retreats always was one of those times.

Saint Ignatius was from Antioch and is most known for the seven letters addressed to Christians and the way that he was martyred by being eaten by two lions in a gladiator stadium. The time right before his death he stated, “I am the wheat of the Lord. I must be ground by the teeth of these beasts to be made the pure bread of Christ.” Saint Ignatius is the patron  saint against throat diseases, Church in eastern Mediterranean; Church in North Africa.

Sending some letters out to family and friends would be a great way to honor this great writer. All Hallow's Eve is right around the corner so you could grab some cute Autumn themed cards to pop into the mailbox! I'm hoping to pick some up later in the week since my schedule has been a little skewed lately. If you aren't big on writing letters, taking another jab at your prayer journal  or some prayerful time working on your planner would be a good idea too.


In honor of Saint Ignatius, we decided to make some Nacho Mac and cheese. As I am sure you have noticed through several other posts, I really enjoy puns and play on words. Children baptized with the name Ignatius in Spanish families are actually called Nacho for short. I would have loved to make some Nachos for dinner but we don't keep chips in the house so Nacho Mac and Cheese was the next best thing. Its super quick and easy and exactly what we needed on this crazy Monday night.


Nacho Mac and Cheese:

1 Box Velveeta 
1 Can Black Beans (Drained)
1 Can Rotel (Drained)
Cilantro and Black pepper to taste

Bring a pot of water to boil and add the uncooked noodles and black beans. Allow the noodles to cook to al dente and strain in a colander. Mix the cheese sauce with the black beans and pasta well before adding the Rotel and seasoning. Mix everything together and serve!

Because Saint Ignatius is often depicted by lions, a lion cake or cupcake would be a great treat for your family to end your feast of Ignatius. I would have loved to mix up a little treat tonight but we are going to be eating a lot of sweets this week because Goalie's birthday is fast approaching so i thought it would be better to wait. Maybe I'll just end my evening with a hot cup of tea to warm the throat on these chilly Autumn nights especially since he is also the patron of throat diseases. I have plenty of Pumpkin Chai!

Prayer to Saint Ignatius of Antioch:

Almighty ever-living God, who adorn the sacred body of your Church with the confessions of holy Martyrs, grant, we pray, that, just as the glorious passion of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, which we celebrate today, brought him eternal splendor, so it may be for us unending protection. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen

Saint Ignatius of Antioch, pray for us!
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