Baby Love and Joy

What a blessing Arwen is. She is so happy and content and loves to be outside with her brothers and sisters. Don't you love that big open mouth smile?

How I love being a Mother to such wonderful children.
I am Blessed!!!!!!

Blessings,

Poor Box Toys Inc - 2

Here are some updates on the items the children are making. Not as many at the moment as we have writers trying to meet the NaNoWriMo deadline.
Once that is finished and the other medical appointments are dealt with it will be "full steam ahead!"
Rogan's first Marionette, he has made about 3 now. I have to get new photos.
A plague of needle felted mice
Sausages and Eggs in felt food
Potato Crisps in a specially designed bag

That is all I have for now.

Blessings,

What Flower are You?

I am a Snapdragon What Flower Are You?

You Are a Snapdragon

"Mischief is your middle name, but your first is friend. You are quite the prankster that loves to make other people laugh."

Well perhaps. Dare I admit it, maybe! ☺

Blessings,

Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal

As today is actually Saxon's birthday ♥ (even though we will celebrate tomorrow with Vellvin for a joint birthday) and the fact I have to take Moran to Burnie for more Occupational Therapy Assessment and the boys have a summer job interview in which I need to drop them off to first (please pray for them) our celebration of this feast day will be extremely simple.
In fact all I think we will be able to manage ☺ will be a cake with the Miraculous Medal Design on the top and a colouring page. I think we will have to copy the image above and then make a colouring page ourselves as I cannot find one. ☺

We will also start the novena below, yes I know we should have done it before but I forgot so we will start today.
Here are some very interesting sites to look at information on The Miraculous Medal and Catherine Laboure

NOVENA OF THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL ~

O Immaculate Virgin Mary,
Mother of Our Lord Jesus and our Mother,
penetrated with the most lively confidence in your all-powerful and never-failing intercession, manifested so often through the Miraculous Medal,
we your loving and trustful children implore you to obtain for us the graces and favors we ask during this novena,
if they be beneficial to our immortal souls,
and the souls for whom we pray.
(Here form your petition)

You know, O Mary, how often our souls have been the sanctuaries of your Son who hates iniquity.
Obtain for us then a deep hatred of sin and that purity of heart which will attach us to God alone so that our every thought, word and deed may tend to His greater glory.
Obtain for us also a spirit of prayer and self-denial that we may recover by penance what we have lost by sin and at length attain to that blessed abode where you are the Queen of angels and of men.
Amen.

I pray once again your day has been one of loving service to our Lord.

Blessings,

Small Successes

It’s important for moms to recognize that all the small successes in our days can add up to one big triumph. So on Thursday of each week, we do exactly that.

1. We managed to get through the week not only without Stephen but also without Kynan. However having said this the other children, some more than others pulled extra weight. Thank you children.

2. We actually finished "E" week in one week. This is incredible for us. I perhaps should mention I had difficulty coming up with original ideas for this and we didn't have as many E books to read, plus the fact both girls already knew how to write and recognise E already.
Needless to say I haven't posted what we did on this yet OR "D" week either. I hope to get to it by the end of the week.

3. I have managed to post some of our Advent and Christmas traditions on the blog. This is probably a bigger task than I first. However I really want to have all my handwritten plans in one space to access as I want them

Bonus 4. I have all the items I need for Saxon's and Vellvin's joint birthday party on Saturday. Including the Movie tickets to A Christmas Carol. This is a huge success as we did not think anyone would be able to go and see this.

Extra Bonus: I finally realised that it is only Wednesday and not Thursday as I typed this up ☺ ♥ ♥

To enjoy some other wonderful Small Success visit Faith and Family this week.

Blessings

Craft Basket Wednesday -- well Thursday.

I have wanted to participate in this for some weeks.
Now finally I have remembered to do so.
Be sure to go to Amy Caroline's Blog and see her wonderful crafty ideas.

These are Marionettes I have been trying to get to for weeks as well. I am very excited about these and the stories I plan on telling the children using them. What makes them more special is I am working on them with Autumn.I love how looking at other people's crafts inspires us. Rogan has made some lovely Marionettes for our Poor Box Toys Inc. because he sees how we love doing crafts in our home.

Isn't it wonderful how we can all inspire each other to greater things using the gifts and talents God has given each of us?

Blessings,

Christmas Cooking 2

I am trying to add our favourite Christmas Cookies to our Christmas Preparation posts. Here is the next installments, Thank you to my good friend Marilyn for starting this ~
These two recipe's are 2 more of our all time favourites. ☺ ♥ ♥

We at least double the Sugar Cookies and 4X the Coffee Balls (these are very moreish)

Tasha Tudor's sugar cookies ♥ ♥
500g of butter
2 eggs
5 cups of plain flour
2 cups of sugar
a pinch of salt
1 tbs of baking soda dissolved in 3 tbs of milk

METHOD
Put all ingredients in a bowl and mix with hands until a smooth dough is formed. No amount of mixing seems to bother it.Form into a ball, dust with flour and chill thoroughly before using. Then break into conveniently sized pieces, probably adding a bit more flour to each bit of dough to make it easier to handle, and roll out. Roll out as thin as possible dust with granulated sugar and nutmeg and cut into shapes. Bake until light brown in 350-degree oven (about 12 minutes). The recipe makes 5-6 dozen cookies. Ground almonds or nuts of any sort may be added to all or part of dough. The Tudors always add ground almonds to one batch which they cut with a flower-shaped cutter and place half a candied cherry on each. They are very pretty (says Tasha Tudor). The others are decorated with chocolate bits, melted and forced through a paper cornucopia. Cookies can be can be made far in advance and wrapped in foil or kept in tin boxes in a cool place.

CHOCOLATE COFFEE BALLS ♥ ♥
3/4 cup of coconut
125 butter
1 3/4 cup of icing sugar
3/4 cup of rolled oats
1 dessertspoon of coffee (dissolved in small amount of of hot water)

METHOD

Cream butter and sugar add oats, coconut and coffee. Roll into balls and refrigerate (or freeze) on tray. Melt 180g chocolate dip in balls and freeze.

Blessings,

The Joy of Children

I mentioned the other day about a Poem I keep in my Prayer Journal that I found years ago about the Joy of Children.

This is it.
Everytime I read it, I read it as a prayer and everytime I read it I cry and it makes me want to be a better Mummy.
I pray it is an encouragment for you also.

Childhood Doesn't Wait

I was sitting on a bench
while in a nearby mall,
When I noticed a young mother
with two children who were small.

The youngest one was whining,
"Pick me up," I heard him beg
but the mother's face grew angry
as the child clung to her leg.

"Don't hang on to me," she shouted
as she pushed his hands away,
I wish I'd had the courage
to go up to her and say...

"The time will come too quickly
when those little arms that tug,
Won't ask for you to hold them
or won't freely give a hug.

"The day will sneak up subtly
just as it did with me,
When you can't recall the last time
that your child sat on your knee.

"Like those sacred, pre-dawn feedings
when we cherished time alone
Our babies grow and leave behind
those special times we've know.

"So when your child comes to you
with a book that you can share,
Or asks that you would tuck him in
and help him say his prayer...

"When he comes to sit and chat
or would like to take a walk,
Before you answer that you can't
`cause there's no time to talk

"Remember what all parents learn
so many times too late,
That years go by too quickly
and that childhood doesn't wait.

"Take every opportunity,
if one should slip away
Reach hard to get it back again,
don't wait another day."

I watched that mother walk away
her children followed near,
I hope she'll pick them up
before her chances disappear

by Kathie Davis

Blessings,

A White Christmas?????

glitter-graphics.com

Every Year I go through the same thought processes.
Why Can't I live in the northern Hemisphere?

I love the whole winter theme with Christmas, it just goes together for me.
But we have a summer Christmas!
At the moment we live in a relatively cool climate during summer, but for most of my life I have had hot, humid Christmas's.

Although I love Christmas and all the traditions of our family surrounding Christmas and even though we do so many wonderful things I still long for the perfect Winter, snow filled Christmas.
I am not ungrateful for our lives but have you ever seen a Summer Christmas as depicted as the typical, classical Christmas.

My dream wish that has nothing to do with my Faith or Family is to have a Northern Hemisphere Christmas with all the trappings. All the preparations. To spend Advent and the Christmas Season in a Winter Wonderland fantasy.

So when I see an image like the one above....well I just start wishing.

Blessings,

Advent Stocking Countdown

I have had some questions regarding our Stocking Advent Countdown tradition and the "Vouchers" contained within the stockings.
When I say vouchers it is just a way of describing the folded piece of purple advent paper placed within some of the stockings.
When setting up we use vouchers for this countdown is I did not want to add to the expense of this season by filling the stockings with lollies or gifts.

So we use activities and links to special days that we will already do, this however gives them that special touch.

We also have a 12 days of Christmas activity where we have presents to the whole family for the 12 days of Christmas and I know how much this can add up each year.

So the items and vouchers for the stockings are things we would already be doing or activities that we can tie into specific feast days etc, like St Nicholas Day etc.
I made these stockings from red and green felt and used contrasting embroidery thread to button hole stitch around them.
I then crocheted a long cord from red wool and shorter cords for each stocking.
I then threaded each short cord through the corner of each stocking and tied them along the length of the longer cord and we then just hung them over the banister tying them at each end.
After taking these photos last Christmas we re tied the long cord in the middle giving it a better look.
The next step is to simple fill each stocking with whatever you wish. As I explained ours are filled with ideas or activities or very small home made items.
Of course each child has a turn taking an item from the stocking as we work our way towards the wonderful day of Christmas

Here is a list of vouchers we had for last year:

1. Small home made notebooks in pocket.
2. Make Angels
3. Jesse Tree Tea Party
4. snowflakes in pocket
5. Make Specular Cookies
6. Build a chocolate tower for St Barbara Day
7. Presentation of the St Nicholas Play/puppet show
8. Candy canes for the St Nicholas Hot chocolate
9. Treasure map to the point where the supplies are to make a special Ornament for the Christmas Tree
10. Attend Hour of Grace, Read Take it to the Queen, light the Mary Candle and have special dinner.
11. Small candle in pocket with directions to make candles
12. cookie cutter in pocket to make cookies for St Lucy celebration
13. Make Poinsettia Angels
14. Have a Lady of Guadalupe Tea Party
15. St Lucy Celebration - Festival of Lights Ceremony in our Home,St Lucy Bread and Eyeball Custard.
16. String popcorn
17. Make Tasha Tudor Cookies for the Tree
18. Bells in pocket
19. small snowman in pocket and directions to make more
20. Watch a Christmas Carol
21. Invitation and Programme in pocket for our own Carols by Candlelight night
22. Make/decorate Gingerbread house
23. Do Christmas Play
24. Go look at Christmas lights (they are not, around prior to this)
25. Decorate the Christmas Tree
26. Tonight there will be a midnight Feast

27. Watch miracle on 24th Street
28. Watch the Nativity Movie
29. Christmas Elves in pocket
30. Make Christmas Cards
31. Decorate Christmas Paper

These are just a few ideas for the stockings and can change as we go through Advent depending on circumstances.

Blessings,

Hearts For Home ♥ ♥ 24th November

In today’s busy and aggressive society mothers at home are not given much encouragement to be committed to their role in being home.

In my weekly 'Hearts for Home' post I am encouraging myself and others to commit to thinking about what 4-6 things we can do each week to bring our thoughts, prayers and actions to keeping our 'Hearts for Home'.

I am praying that a spirit of gentleness, generosity in thoughts and time along with loveliness and grace would lead us to be all that God wants us to be.

I pray also that each person involved in 'Hearts for Home' would also pray for any others involved as well.

May you be blessed by this initiative. I pray it brings you and your family many blessings.

So each week list 4-6 things you will commit to that will keep your "Hearts for Home'.
Please leave a you name and a link to your blog (if you don't have one just leave your list in the comment box)and perhaps a comment so we can all see and encourage each other.

If you would like, add the 'Hearts for Home' logo to your side bar as a reminder of your goals.
God Bless you this week.

♥ Please leave a link to your Hearts for Home Edition on the Mister Linky at the end of the post, so we can all come and visit.
I would also appreciate you linking back here too.☺ ♥ ♥

I also have decided I need to print out my list so I can constantly refer to it and therefore keep it in my mind. I also need to have it put up where I can see it constantly.

My list for the 24th November is ♥ ♥

1. Focus on making presents with the children as part of our non-buying Christmas. Make sure we do some every day.

2. Work comprehensively on "F" week with the girls and continue organising our Advent plans.

3. To prepare Moran, Myself and the children for the two interviews she needs to have this week, OT and Cognitive Assessment.

4. As part of my own increased prayer life to: Pray for Stephen especially this week and for each of the other children and their own special and individual needs.

5. Be organised in what we want to achieve each day and to do it. DO NOT get side tracked.

6. To be patient and loving and gentle in all I do with the children.

Blessings,

A Simple Womans Daybook -

A Simple Woman's Daybook 23rd November~

Here is the link to Peggy's who is our Hostess for A Simple Womans Daybook. Hop on over and see what some others are doing this week.

Outside My Window ...
We have had a lot of rain again. This is good for the grass and plants to grow and for the bore water supply. It means though that children can't go outside and washing only dries between showers.
I do love rainy days, but I am a loner in this desire.
***
I am listening to...
There is only the sound of the stove as it makes it's banking down noises tonight. all are in bed and asleep....for the moment.
I am praying about.....
My dear devoted Husband who can't come home until just before Christmas.
that Kynan gets the job he interviewed for.
that Moran goes well for her two assessments this week.
About dear friends on their building project.
That we can make all the presents we need for Christmas in time.
For a miracle sale of our house.
That both boys get good results for the exams they just finished.
***
I am thinking about...
Plans for Christmas.
This consumes me at the moment
How I need to be a more loving, gentle, generous and focused mummy. Especially with our challenging children.

I am Reading...
The Out of Sync Child and The Skystone. This is the first non children's book I have read in a while and while the story is good, I wish they would leave the Adult themes out of it.
***
From the kitchen....
Breakfast ~ oats and cereal. Herb tea and coffee. Toast and spreads.
Lunch ~ a counter lunch or whatever you can grab.
Except the little ones who had a Francis lunch for "F" week
Dinner ~ Original Chicken Gravy Potato Pie,designed and made by Braedon along with beans, peas and corn and bread rolls
Morning Tea ~ Jacks Potato Crisps and Cadbury Chocolate. well a little of each as it doesn't go far divided among 10 people.
***
I am wearing...
Flannelet PJ bottoms and white t shirt and slippers. Dressing gown comes on and off depending on what I am doing.

Living the Liturgical Year....
All my focus is on preparing for Advent at the moment.
***
From the Learning Room....
Plans for Advent and Christmas.
Mostly we are following plans from here
We are working through"F" week for the The Alphabet Path
Making Christmas presents
***
I am Pondering these words...
"As for me and My House, we will serve the Lord" Joshua 24:15. and praying we do.
We have a beautiful plaque of this we have had almost from the time we had children

Around the house...
Get cleaning rosters back online. This is a bold statement, what I actually mean is get some cleaning actually done.
Really focus on Bedtime and prayer routines this week.
***
I will claim a moment for myself...
Continue making a knitted rabbit for Arwen along with the sewing the Advent Tree and the cross stitches I am working on.

My favourite thing at the moment...
Watching Arwen trying to move about without trying to crawl. She refuses to even look like getting into a crawling position.
Spending time making presents with our children
***
A few extra plans for the week...
Pick Kynan up form the Airport tomorrow
Take Moran to a healing mass tomorrow, I hope I remember tomorrow.
Take Moran to her appointments
***
A Goal for Myself...
To put on my happy face and sing to myself and out loud again more.

Picture thoughts I am sharing...
Just some random images this week due to the random thoughts I am having .


I pray your own week will be full of Blessings.Blessings,

Christ The King Celebration

Here is a glimpse of the celebration we had yesterday for Christ the King. We did nearly everything I wanted form the plans I had made.
I was pleased with the little things that we do try to do to bring the Church's Year into real life in our home. Always i think I would and should do more but then I just have to content that the things we do accomplish really do impact our children in the love of the Lord and their Faith.
The Crown cake decorate by Corbyn, Myffwyn and Moran after being made and iced (we use whipped cream) by Eden.
Decorating the Cake
Corbyn colouring the crowns
Moran and Myffwyn colouring the crowns - they loved the jewels
Table decorations of gold cardboard, a holy card laminated and the craft from Jen's blog.
The Holy card. I think this is my favourite picture of this feast day, It didn't photograph well so here is the image:
I love this soft colours of this so much.
Table all set ready for Chicken, noodles peas and corn, snakes (green beans) and little trees (broccoli)
Our Father Pine in white and gold vestments, crowns made from felt, the holy card and gold cardboard crowns and Jen's craft.

I pray you all had a joyous Feast Day ♥ ♥

Blessings,

Advent Planning - JesseTree and Prayer

As part of our Advent studies we spend a large amount of our focus on prayer and reading about the background of Jesus in our study of the Jesse Tree each year.
We have two variations of the Jessie Tree we follow each with slightly different readings.
Here is a list of daily readings and symbols from The Catholic Home

The World is Created – Globe – Genesis 1:24-28 Adam and Eve – Snake and Apples – Genesis 3:1-24 Noah and the Flood – Rainbow – Genesis 6:11-22; 86-12; 9:11-17 Abraham – Camel – Genesis 12:1-7:13:2-18; 18:1 Sarah – Baby – Genesis 18:1-15; 21:1-7 Isaac – Ram – Genesis 22:1-14 Jacob – Ladder – Genesis 27:41-28:22 Joseph – Multicolored Coat – Genesis 37:1-36 Moses – Burning Bush – Exodus 3:1-10 Miriam – Tambourine – Exodus 15:19-21 Samuel – Lamp – 1 Samuel 3:1-21 Jesse – Branch – Isaiah 11:1

David – Harp – 1 Samuel 16:14-23 Solomon – Crown – 1 Kings 3:3-28 Isaiah – Throne – Isaiah 6:1-8 Jeremiah – Tablets of Law – Jeremiah 31:31-34 Angels – Angel – Hebrews 1:1-14 Malachi – Trumpet – Malachi 3:1-4 Zechariah and Elizabeth – Baby - Luke 1:39-45 Mary – Angel – Luke 1:29-35 John the Baptist – River – Matthew 3:1-6 Joseph of Nazareth – Hammer/Saw – Matthew 1:18-25 Bethlehem – Star – Matthew 2:1-12 Birth of Christ – Crib – Luke 2:1-7

The above sites also has coloured images to print out and laminate if you are looking for a quick start to beginning a Jesse Tree.

Neither of these are the ones we use, but ours is an old printed out version I cannot find a link for. Although we do have this one we use also.
I don't think it matters which version you use just taking the time to do this is very beneficial to Advent preparations in my view.
Another part of our prayer life during Advent is the Novenas associated with Saint and Feast Days~

The first one is the St Andrew Novena said 15 times a day from 30th November throught till Christmas Eve

Hail, and blessed be the hour and moment
At which the Son of God was born
Of a most pure Virgin
At a stable at midnight in Bethlehem
In the piercing cold
At that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee,
To hear my prayers and grant my desires
(mention request here).

Through Jesus Christ and His most Blessed Mother.

Another is the Immaculate Conception Novena. This is said from29th November - 7th December. We also make a Novena Candle that we light as we say this Novena each night.
Here is another version as well.

O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, did prepare a worthy dwelling place for Your Son, we beseech You that, as by the foreseen death of this, Your Son, You did preserve Her from all stain, so too You would permit us, purified through Her intercession, to come unto You. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.

Day One

O most Holy Virgin, who was pleasing to the Lord and became His mother, immaculate in body and spirit, in faith and in love, look kindly on me as I implore your powerful intercession. O most Holy Mother, who by your blessed Immaculate Conception, from the first moment of your conception did crush the head of the enemy, receive our prayers as we implore you to present at the throne of God the favor we now request...
(State your intention here...)
O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Mother of Christ, you had influence with your Divine Son while upon this earth; you have the same influence now in heaven. Pray for us and obtain for us from him the granting of my petition if it be the Divine Will.
Amen.

Day Two

O Mary, ever blessed Virgin, Mother of God, Queen of angels and of saints, we salute you with the most profound veneration and filial devotion as we contemplate your holy Immaculate Conception, We thank you for your maternal protection and for the many blessings that we have received through your wondrous mercy and most powerful intercession. In all our necessities we have recourse to you with unbounded confidence. O Mother of Mercy, we beseech you now to hear our prayer and to obtain for us of your Divine Son the favor that we so earnestly request in this novena...
(State your intention here...)
O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Mother of Christ, you had influence with your Divine Son while upon this earth; you have the same influence now in heaven. Pray for us and obtain for us from him the granting of my petition if it be the Divine Will.
Amen.

Day Three

O Blessed Virgin Mary, glory of the Christian people, joy of the universal Church and Mother of Our Lord, speak for us to the Heart of Jesus, who is your Son and our brother. O Mary, who by your holy Immaculate Conception did enter the world free from stain, in your mercy obtain for us from Jesus the special favor which we now so earnestly seek...
(State your intention here...)
O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Mother of Christ, you had influence with your Divine Son while upon this earth; you have the same influence now in heaven. Pray for us and obtain for us from him the granting of my petition if it be the Divine Will.
Amen.

Day Four

O Mary, Mother of God, endowed in your glorious Immaculate Conception with the fullness of grace; unique among women in that you are both mother and virgin; Mother of Christ and Virgin of Christ, we ask you to look down with a tender heart from your throne and listen to our prayers as we earnestly ask that you obtain for us the favor for which we now plead...
(State your intention here...)
O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Mother of Christ, you had influence with your Divine Son while upon this earth; you have the same influence now in heaven. Pray for us and obtain for us from him the granting of my petition if it be the Divine Will. Amen.

Day Five

O Lord, who, by the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, did prepare a fitting dwelling for your Son, we beseech you that as by the foreseen death of your Son, you did preserve her from all stain of sin, grant that through her intercession, we may be favored with the granting of the grace that we seek for at this time...
(State your intention here...)
O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Mother of Christ, you had influence with your Divine Son while upon this earth; you have the same influence now in heaven. Pray for us and obtain for us from him the granting of my petition if it be the Divine Will. Amen.

Day Six

Glorious and immortal Queen of Heaven, we profess our firm belief in your Immaculate Conception preordained for you in the merits of your Divine Son. We rejoice with you in your Immaculate Conception. To the one ever-reigning God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, three in Person, one in nature, we offer thanks for your blessed Immaculate Conception. O Mother of the Word made Flesh, listen to our petition as we ask this special grace during this novena...
(State your intention here...)
O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Mother of Christ, you had influence with your Divine Son while upon this earth; you have the same influence now in heaven. Pray for us and obtain for us from him the granting of my petition if it be the Divine Will. Amen.

Day Seven

O Immaculate Virgin, Mother of God, and my mother, from the sublime heights of your dignity turn your merciful eyes upon me while I, full of confidence in your bounty and keeping in mind your Immaculate conception and fully conscious of your power, beg of you to come to our aid and ask your Divine Son to grant the favor we earnestly seek in this novena... if it be beneficial for our immortal souls and the souls for whom we pray.
(State your intention here...)
O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Mother of Christ, you had influence with your Divine Son while upon this earth; you have the same influence now in heaven. Pray for us and obtain for us from him the granting of my petition if it be the Divine Will.

Day Eight

O Most gracious Virgin Mary, beloved Mother of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, intercede with him for us that we be granted the favor which we petition for so earnestly in this novena...O Mother of the Word Incarnate, we feel animated with confidence that your prayers in our behalf will be graciously heard before the throne of God. O Glorious Mother of God, in memory of your joyous Immaculate Conception, hear our prayers and obtain for us our petitions.
(State your intention here...)
O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Mother of Christ, you had influence with your Divine Son while upon this earth; you have the same influence now in heaven. Pray for us and obtain for us from him the granting of my petition if it be the Divine Will.

Day Nine

O Mother of the King of the Universe, most perfect member of the human race, "our tainted nature’s solitary boast," we turn to you as mother, advocate, and mediatrix. O Holy Mary, assist us in our present necessity. By your Immaculate Conception, O Mary conceived without sin, we humbly beseech you from the bottom of our heart to intercede for us with your Divine Son and ask that we be granted the favor for which we now plead...
(State your intention here...)
O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Mother of Christ, you had influence with your Divine Son while upon this earth; you have the same influence now in heaven. Pray for us and obtain for us from him the granting of my petition if it be the Divine Will. Amen.


Recite the Litany of the Blessed Virgin.


Then we will do this special novena from December 4- 12
Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe ~

Our Lady of Guadalupe,
According to your message in Mexico
I venerate you as "the Virgin Mother
Of the true God for whom we live,
The Creator of all the world,
Maker of heaven and earth."
In spirit I kneel before your most holy Image
Which you miraculously imprinted
Upon the cloak of the Indian Juan Diego,
And with the faith
Of the countless numbers of pilgrims
Who visit your shrine,
I beg you for this favor:
To be a generous, self-sacrificing,
Faithful Marian Catechist all the days of my life.

Remember, O Immaculate Virgin,
The words you spoke to your devout client,
"I am a merciful Mother to you
And to all your people
Who love me and trust in me And invoke my help.
I listen to their lamentations and solace
All their sorrows and their sufferings."
I beg you to be a merciful Mother to me,
Because I sincerely love you and trust in you
And invoke your help.
I entreat you, Our Lady of Guadalupe,
To grant my request,
If this should be the Will of God,
In order that I may
"Bear witness to your love, your compassion,
Your help and protection."
Do not forsake me in my needs. Amen.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us.

Say the following prayers...

DAY ONE

Dearest Lady of Guadalupe,
fruitful Mother of holiness,
teach me your ways of gentleness and strength.
Hear my humble prayer offered with heartfelt confidence
to beg this favor...

State your request here...

Recite the following prayers...

Our Father...
Hail Mary...
Glory Be...

DAY TWO

O Mary, conceived without sin,
I come to your throne of grace
to share the fervent devotion
of your faithful Mexican children
who call to you under the glorious Aztec title of Guadalupe.
Obtain for me a lively faith to do your Son’s holy will always:
May His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

State your request here...

Recite the following prayers...

Our Father...
Hail Mary...
Glory Be...

DAY THREE

O Mary, whose Immaculate Heart was pierced
by seven swords of grief,
help me to walk valiantly
amid the sharp thorns strewn across my pathway.
Obtain for me the strength to be a true imitator of you.
This I ask you, my dear Mother.

State your request here...

Recite the following prayers...

Our Father...
Hail Mary...
Glory Be...

DAY FOUR

Dearest Mother of Guadalupe,
I beg you for a fortified will
to imitate your divine Son’s charity,
to always seek the good of others in need.
Grant me this, I humbly ask of you.

State your request here...

Recite the following prayers...

Our Father...
Hail Mary...
Glory Be...

DAY FIVE

O most holy Mother,
I beg you to obtain for me pardon of all my sins,
abundant graces to serve your Son more faithfully from now on,
and lastly, the grace to praise Him with you forever in heaven.

State your request here...

Recite the following prayers...

Our Father...
Hail Mary...
Glory Be...

DAY SIX

Mary, Mother of vocations,
multiply priestly vocations
and fill the earth with religious houses
which will be light and warmth for the world,
safety in stormy nights.
Beg your Son to send us many priests and religious.
This we ask of you, O Mother.

State your request here...

Recite the following prayers...

Our Father...
Hail Mary...
Glory Be...

DAY SEVEN

O Lady of Guadalupe,
we beg you that parents live a holy life
and educate their children in a Christian manner;
that children obey and follow the directions of their parents;
that all members of the family pray and worship together.
This we ask of you, O Mother.

State your request here...

Recite the following prayers...

Our Father...
Hail Mary...
Glory Be...

DAY EIGHT

With my heart full of the most sincere veneration,
I prostrate myself before you, O Mother,
to ask you to obtain for me the grace
to fulfill the duties of my state in life with faithfulness and constancy.
State your request here...

Recite the following prayers...

Our Father...
Hail Mary...
Glory Be...

DAY NINE

O God, You have been pleased
to bestow upon us unceasing favors
by having placed us under the special protection
of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary.
Grant us, your humble servants,
who rejoice in honoring her today upon earth,
the happiness of seeing her face to face in heaven.

State your request here...

Recite the following prayers...

Our Father...
Hail Mary...
Glory Be...

O St John Vianney,
Patron of Priests,
pray for us and for all priests!

Christmas Novena ~
We say this Novena beginning on 16 December and ending on 24 December. This Novena, though it starts one day earlier than the O Antiphons, correlates with the O Antiphons in the titles used to address Jesus between 17 and 24 December. Becasue of this we use it in conjunction with our O Antiphons.
We also sing O Com, O Come Emanuel before praying each day.
Adding a verse each day as these relate to the prayers

16 December:
O Shepherd that rulest Israel, Thou that leadest Joseph like a sheep, come to guide and comfort us.

Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory be.

17 December:
O Wisdom that comest out of the mouth of the Most High, that reachest from one end to another, and orderest all things mightily and sweetly, come to teach us the way of prudence!

Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory be.

18 December:
O Adonai, and Ruler of the house of Israel, Who didst appear unto Moses in the burning bush, and gavest him the law in Sinai, come to redeem us with an outstretched arm!

Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory be.

19 December:
O Root of Jesse, which standest for an ensign of the people, at Whom the kings shall shut their mouths, Whom the Gentiles shall seek, come to deliver us, do not tarry.

Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory be.

20 December:
O Key of David, and Sceptre of the house of Israel, that openeth and no man shutteth, and shutteth and no man openeth, come to liberate the prisoner from the prison, and them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death.

Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory be.

21 December:
O Dayspring, Brightness of the everlasting light, Son of justice, come to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death!

Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory be.

22 December:
O King of the Gentiles, yea, and desire thereof! O Corner-stone, that makest of two one, come to save man, whom Thou hast made out of the dust of the earth!

Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory be.

23 December:
O Emmanuel, our King and our Law-giver, Longing of the Gentiles, yea, and salvation thereof, come to save us, O Lord our God!

Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory be.

24 December:
O Thou that sittest upon the cherubim, God of hosts, come, show Thy face, and we shall be saved.

Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory be.


Novena to the Magi in anticipation of the Epiphany ~
We beginthis one on 28 December (the Feast of the Holy Innocents) and ending on 5 January (the Vigil of the Epiphany).

28 December:
O holy Magi! You were living in continual expectation of the rising of the Star of Jacob, which would announce the birth of the true Sun of justice; obtain for us an increase of faith and charity, and the grace to live in continual hope of beholding one day the light of heavenly glory and eternal joy. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.

29 December:
O holy Magi! who at the first appearance of the wondrous star left your native country to go and seek the newborn King of the Jews; obtain for us the grace of corresponding with alacrity to every divine inspiration. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.

30 December:
O holy Magi! who regarded neither the severity of the season, nor the inconveniences of the journey that you might find the newborn Messiah; obtain for us the grace not to allow ourselves to be discouraged by any of the difficulties which may meet us on the way of salvation. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.

31 December:
O holy Magi, who, when deserted by the star in the city of Jerusalem, sought humbly, and without human respect, from the rulers of the Church, the place where you might discover the object of your journey; obtain for us grace to have recourse, in faith and humility, in all our doubts and perplexities to the counsel of our superiors, who hold the place of God on earth. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.

1 January:
O holy Magi, who were gladdened by the reappearance of the star which led you to Bethlehem; obtain for us from God the grace, that, remaining always faithful to Him in afflictions, we may be consoled in time by His grace, and in eternity by His glory. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.

2 January:
O holy Magi, who, entering full of faith into the stable of Bethlehem, prostrated yourselves on the earth, to adore the newborn King of the Jews, though he was surrounded only by signs of poverty and weakness; obtain from the Lord for us a lively faith in the real presence of Jesus in the blessed Sacrament, the true spirit of poverty, and a Christ-like charity for the poor and suffering. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.

3 January:
O holy Magi, who offered to Jesus Christ gold, incense, and myrrh, thereby recognizing Him to be at once King, God, and Man; obtain from the Lord for us the grace never to present ourselves before Him with empty hands; but that we may continually offer to Him the gold of charity, the incense of prayer, and the myrrh of penance and mortification. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.

4 January:
O holy Magi, who, when warned by an angel not to return to Herd, traveled back to your country be another road; obtain for us from the Lord, the grace that, after having found Him in true repentance, we may avoid all danger of losing Him again. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.

5 January:
O holy Magi, who were first among the Gentiles called to the knowledge of Jesus Christ, and who persevered in the faith till your deaths, obtain for us of the Lord the grace of living always in conformity to our baptismal vows, ever leading to a life of faith; that like you we may attain to the beatific vision of that God Who now is the object of our faith. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end..

I pray that sharing how we use the Jesse Tree Readings and the various Novena's has been helpful to you in preparing for Advent. If not it has a least given me a place to put it all together in one spot.

Blessings,

Solemnity of Christ The King

The way to "enter" into God's Kingdom "does not permit shortcuts"; rather, "every person must freely welcome the truth of the love of God. He is Love and Truth and both love and truth never impose themselves: they knock at the door of the heart and mind and, wherever they may enter, they bring peace and joy. This is God's way of reigning; this is his project of salvation, a 'mystery' in the biblical sense of the word, which is a plan that is revealed little by little throughout history." — Pope Benedict XVI

The Feast of Christ the King was established by Pope Pius XI in 1925 as an antidote to secularism, a way of life which leaves God out of man's thinking and living and organizes his life as if God did not exist. The feast is intended to proclaim in a striking and effective manner Christ's royalty over individuals, families, society, governments, and nations.

Today's Mass establishes the titles for Christ's royalty over men: 1) Christ is God, the Creator of the universe and hence wields a supreme power over all things; "All things were created by Him"; 2) Christ is our Redeemer, He purchased us by His precious Blood, and made us His property and possession; 3) Christ is Head of the Church, "holding in all things the primacy"; 4) God bestowed upon Christ the nations of the world as his special possession and dominion.

Today's Mass also describes the qualities of Christ's kingdom. This kingdom is: 1) supreme, extending not only to all peoples but also to their princes and kings; 2) universal, extending to all nations and to all places; 3) eternal, for "The Lord shall sit a King forever"; 4) spiritual, Christ's "kingdom is not of this world".

— Rt. Rev. Msgr. Rudolph G. Bandas

Before the reform of the Roman Calendar in 1969, this feast was celebrated on the last Sunday of October. (from Catholic Culture)

TODAY IN OUR HOME WE WILL ~

Attend Mass --of course

We will do this wonderful craft from Jen's Blog

We will colour in these Crown pictures

We will make a crown cake using a Bunt tin and then decorating with jewel coloured lollies.

For the table decorations we will laminate a book mark image of Christ the King.

We will also make small crowns- in the past we have done these with Gold cardboard but maybe we will do them in felt, like the birthday crowns I make only in miniature.

The idea of Making Chicken Ala King is tempting but I think we will stick with simple baked Chicken and veges.

These are some other interesting sites with information on today's Feast.

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Christ the King as Represented in the Liturgy (From Catholic Culture)
The liturgy is an album in which every epoch of Church history immortalizes itself. Therein, accordingly, can be found the various pictures of Christ beloved during succeeding centuries. In its pages we see pictures of Jesus suffering and in agony; we see pictures of His Sacred Heart; yet these pictures are not proper to the nature of the liturgy as such; they resemble baroque altars in a gothic church. Classic liturgy knows but one Christ: the King, radiant, majestic, and divine.

With an ever-growing desire, all Advent awaits the "coming King"; in the chants of the breviary we find repeated again and again the two expressions "King" and "is coming." On Christmas the Church would greet, not the Child of Bethlehem, but the Rex Pacificus — "the King of peace gloriously reigning." Within a fortnight, there follows a feast which belongs to the greatest of the feasts of the Church year -- the Epiphany. As in ancient times oriental monarchs visited their principalities (theophany), so the divine King appears in His city, the Church; from its sacred precincts He casts His glance over all the world....On the final feast of the Christmas cycle, the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, holy Church meets her royal Bridegroom with virginal love: "Adorn your bridal chamber, O Sion, and receive Christ your King!" The burden of the Christmas cycle may be summed up in these words: Christ the King establishes His Kingdom of light upon earth!

If we now consider the Easter cycle, the luster of Christ's royal dignity is indeed somewhat veiled by His sufferings; nevertheless, it is not the suffering Jesus who is present to the eyes of the Church as much as Christ the royal Hero and Warrior who upon the battlefield of Golgotha struggles with the mighty and dies in triumph. Even during Lent and Passiontide the Church acclaims her King. The act of homage on Palm Sunday is intensely stirring; singing psalms in festal procession we accompany our Savior singing: Gloria, laus et honor tibi sit, Rex Christe, "Glory, praise and honor be to Thee, Christ, O King!" It is true that on Good Friday the Church meditates upon the Man of Sorrows in agony upon the Cross, but at the same time, and perhaps more so, she beholds Him as King upon a royal throne. The hymn Vexilla Regis, "The royal banners forward go," is the more perfect expression of the spirit from which the Good Friday liturgy has arisen. Also characteristic is the verse from Psalm 95, Dicite in gentibus quia Dominus regnavit, to which the early Christians always added, a ligno, "Proclaim among the Gentiles: the Lord reigns from upon the tree of the Cross!" During Paschal time the Church is so occupied with her glorified Savior and Conqueror that kingship references become rarer; nevertheless, toward the end of the season we celebrate our King's triumph after completing the work of redemption, His royal enthronement on Ascension Thursday.

Neither in the time after Pentecost is the picture of Christ as King wholly absent from the liturgy. Corpus Christi is a royal festival: "Christ the King who rules the nations, come, let us adore" (Invit.). In the Greek Church the feast of the Transfiguration is the principal solemnity in honor of Christ's kingship, Summum Regem gloriae Christum adoremus (Invit.). Finally at the sunset of the ecclesiastical year, the Church awaits with burning desire the return of the King of Majesty.

We will overlook further considerations in favor of a glance at the daily Offices. How often do we not begin Matins with an act of royal homage: "The King of apostles, of martyrs, of confessors, of virgins — come, let us adore" (Invit.). Lauds is often introduced with Dominus regnavit, "The Lord is King". Christ as King is also a first consideration at the threshold of each day; for morning after morning we renew our oath of fidelity at Prime: "To the King of ages be honor and glory." Every oration is concluded through our Mediator Christ Jesus "who lives and reigns forever." Yes, age-old liturgy beholds Christ reigning as King in His basilica (etym.: "the king's house"), upon the altar as His throne.

Excerpted from The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch

Things to Do:

• Traditionally there would be a procession for Christ the King on this feastday. The Blessed Sacrament would be carried and the procession would end with a prayer of consecration to Christ the King and Benediction. Try to participate if your parish has a Christ the King procession. If not, try having one at home (minus the Blessed Sacrament).
• Read Pope Pius XI's encyclical Quas primas (On the Feast of Christ the King) which shows that secularism is the direct denial of Christ's Kingship.
• Learn more about secularism - read the Annual Statement of the Bishops of the United States released on November 14, 1947.
• Being a relatively newer feast on the Liturgical calendar, there are no traditional foods for this day. Suggested ideas: a wonderful family Sunday dinner, and bake an Easter Cake or King Cake in honor of Christ the King..
• A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful, who piously recite the Act of Dedication of the Human Race to Jesus Christ King. A plenary indulgence is granted, if it is recite publicly on the feast of our Lord Jesus Christ King.
  
  
  Prayer To Christ The King ~
  
  Christ Jesus, I acknowledge You King of the universe.
  All that has been created has been made for You.
  Make full use of Your rights over me.
  
  I renew the promises I made in Baptism,
  when I renounced Satan and all his pomps and works,
  and I promise to live a good Christian life
  and to do all in my power
  to procure the triumph of the rights of God
  and Your Church.
  
  Divine Heart of Jesus,
  I offer you my efforts
  in order to obtain that all hearts
  may acknowledge your Sacred Royalty,
  and that thus the Kingdom of Your peace
  may be established throughout the universe.
  
  MAY THIS THE FEAST OF CHRIST THE KING BE A BLESSED ONE FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES
  
  Blessings,