Ash Wednesday.

Today is the start of lent and it is time to give things up that we are attached to and to give alms to those less fortunate than ourselves.

In our family we will be having two  nights a week that are computer and television free.

My own penance will be to have no sugar in my coffee and to go without soft drinks. I am also going to work on making my prayer times more consistent since consistency is my word for the year.

As a family, we will have a prayer basket on the table. In the basket we will put family and friends names. Each night before the family meal, we will draw out the names of friends and say a special prayer for them then. This is an idea I got from  Alison at Totus Tuus.

I guess since we had the announcement of the Pope's resignation the church will be going without a Pope for lent. Well at least for some of it. I was saddened and shocked when I first heard the news but I know that the Holy Father is following the leading of the Holy Spirit and that the Holy Spirit will guide the church to her new leader. I really hope we have a new Pope by Holy Week.

I hope you all have a blessed and holy lent.

Therese.

Shrove Tuesday and the start of Lent.

Today after mass, Christopher, Joseph and I stayed for pancakes with our parish priests and parishioners. We also had pancakes for afternoon tea since some Tom and Amelia had some friends over after school.

For lent, I am giving up sugar in my coffee. Daniel said I should give up coffee instead of sugar in it. I don't think he would be suggesting that if he lived here. I may try and have a few coffee free days. Will see how it goes.

What are your plans for lent?

Therese.

Holy week

I have decided to get off the internet for Holy Week. I will keep all my followers in my prayers. I hope you all have a holy and blessed Holy Week.

Therese.

The start of lent.

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday. We have been preparing for lent for a few weeks now and have a list of things that we will give up.

The children and I (that do home school) have 10 different things that are small sacrifices. Each day we will pull one out of a box. That day we will offer that small sacrifice.

On the list is:

1) drink water only for a day.

2) Eat plain rice for lunch.

3) go without TV for a day.

4) Go without internet for a day.

5) go without a treat at snack time.

6) Say some extra prayers.

7) write a nice note to a member of the family that will make them feel good.

8) Write about your prayer and who/what you have been praying for.

9) Read about a saint.

10) Have no meat for a day.

Because there are 10 things and lent goes for 40 days we will do each thing 4 times. Each day when one is pulled out of the box, it will go into another box until we have pulled all ten.

For my own Lenten sacrifice, I have a list of things I must do each day before I get on computer. Hardly a day goes by that I miss getting on computer. There are some things that I really should do each day and neglect to because I spend too much time on here. If I put them before computer they will get done or I won't get on computer. I am not going to write here what the 4 things are but they are all things I should give priority too.

For some other Lenten sacrifices ideas,

Chez Ouiz has a really good one for the whole family.

Catholic Icing has a Lenten link up with 45 different links for different activities.

Catholic Icing also has the Lenten Calendar which I have saved for our computer.

Coleen is concentrating on prayer, fasting and alms giving.