Happy Mardi Gras!

Lent starts tomorrow! I’ve been spending a few spare moments contemplating how to practice penance this Lent, and I have set my personal Lenten spiritual exercises or intentions. You know, beyond being very pregnant and very big and waiting patiently for this little guy to arrive. Sometimes God gifts us a little extra practice is self-giving sacrifice, and all in perfect timing!

As I’m not able right now to keep up with the usual feast day celebration posts, I thought I’d at least come on and share some ideas for living Lent as a family with littles, or bigs, or both. Spoiler alert: it looks very similar to Advent.

Atmosphere

Ever notice how there’s not as many decorations around when it comes to Lent and Easter as there are for Advent and Christmas? I wonder why that is. There’s not the nativity to set up or the Advent calendar to open. Although, there are a few printable calendars out there that are fun for young ones to keep track of the time. Like this one from Catholic Icicng (check out her other ideas for activities, too!) or this one from Shower of Roses. Both blogs have some amazing resources for anyone who wants to do a little extra as a family or with the children this Lent.

When I converted in 2006, the Hubsters (then fiance), gifted me a set of Stations of the Cross prints that he framed. They are by the artist Sieger Koder. They’ve graced the bookshelf during Lent ever since. I put tea lights in front of each one, with the intention that we’ll pray the stations together as a family, snuffing out a candle as we finish each station. That doesn’t happen very often at all, but the images are still a good visual reminder of the season.

Our home shrine looks a little different, too. A purple cloth for a runner, the Lenten Cross with candles, and the owie crown take up their six week residency and become the focal points of our family prayer time.

Family Devotions

The Lenten cross was made from branches several years ago. Kind of like the Advent wreath, pink and purple candles sit on the tree and each week a new one is either lit or extinguished (depending on what you like!) to mark the passing of time until Good Friday. Ours came with a prayer book that offers a prayer for Ash Wednesday and each Sunday of Lent to accompany the lighting/extinguishing of each candle.

Then at Easter, I like to replace all the pink and purple candles with one tall white one in the center, and add some paper flowers to the other holes. We keep that as our Easter home shrine addition.

The “owie crown” began when Little Miss was 2 years old. We wanted a way to begin to practice making sacrifices with our then toddler. I’d intended to purchase a crown of thorns to place on the home shrine an add paper flowers to the thorns, but realized this would be a hazard for little hands. So, my talented husband made a paper “owie crown” and we’ve used it ever since!

We punch out purple and pink flowers with a paper punch and each day the children add flowers to the thorns using a glue stick or tape. By the end Lent the crown of thorns is transformed into a crown of Easter Flowers by our sacrifices and kinds deeds. The flowers ease the pain, soothe the wounds. And they children see something tangibly change by their love and sacrifices.

You can download the .pdf of the Owie Crown for personal use. Print it out one ledger paper (or legal if that’s what you can swing) for the best size. Cut into two strips and tape or glue together.

crown-of-thorns

Fasting and Abstinence

We’ll be observing the usual fasting and abstinence rules as a family this year. And this year we’ve asked the big kids for the first time what they’d like to “give up” for Lent. I was surprised at how readily and boldly the almost 8 and 6 year olds offered to give up sweets and screen time. I’m not sure yet they know how much sacrifice that might entail. It will be good to watch them learn and grow.

And that’s Lent here! I’d love to see what your family is up to! Do share in the comments here or on instagram with #hdahlent

I’m fasting from facebook this Lent, so I’ll see you on instagram occasionally, and, God willing, here on the blog. Number 4 is due Divine Mercy Sunday! Lent is our countdown to baby times!