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by | Dec 29, 2022

Bible Stories for Baby Hands

Mar 2, 2021 | , , , , , , | 63 Comments


This past week I had an unexpected package arrive from St. Augustine Academy Press and was absolutely delighted when I opened it up and discovered this gorgeous brand new set of Bible Stories for Baby Hands. These board books will make a perfect addition to our little ones Easter Baskets next month and I wanted to share them with you all right away so you can order them for your family too. Filled with traditional religious art, these beautiful board books will truly inspire our children! 
 



Each book is available separately for just $7.95 each, or save 15% by purchasing the whole set! 


“The color lithographs on each page are based on engravings by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld for his 1860 Bible in Pictures. Each one is meant to dramatically encapsulate the story it represents, so that by simply pointing to elements in the picture, an adult can easily tell the story to the child. Therefore, for the youngest children, the pictures alone suffice.

However, we have not neglected to add text. Beneath each illustration is a quote from scripture that pertains to the story that is depicted above. Then, as the child gets older, the full story behind each picture is provided.”




“For the Old Testament books, the original scripture passages were usually far too long, so we did our best to write them in language that fit with the others; however, we tried to include quotes and phraseology from scripture where possible. Many of these Old Testament stories include prefigurements of Christ, so we wove this into the text, mentioning how these characters tell us something about Jesus.”


“For the New Testament books, we chose to take the text directly from scripture. Sometimes this required paraphrasing portions in order to fit the full story. We smoothed the vocabulary and syntax in a few places, only where necessary to make it understandable for younger ears; otherwise we allowed the power of the original text to shine through.”




Click over to St. Augustine Academy Press to see more and to order a set of your own! 


.: Giveaway :. 


St. Augustine Academy Press has generously offered a few sets for me to give away, one to a commenter on this blog post, another over on Instagram (be sure to keep an eye out for it), and one in my upcoming annual Baskets of Books for Easter post! To enter here on the blog for this first set, simply leave a comment on this post and claim your entry through the Rafflecopter box below. Share this post with a friend and/or on your social media account for a bonus entry. Thank you for helping spread the word about this new series! 

Summer 2020 :: Gettysburg

Feb 27, 2021 | , | 2 Comments

Gettysburg was our last outing before the ECSP (Experience Christendom Summer Program) and it was definitely an outing to remember. It’s so different going to the East where there have been so many significant historical events practically at every turn, whereas in the West, there are not very many.

Here is an example of the more than 1,328 monuments or markers across the Battlefield, this one commemorating the 8th New York Cavalry Brigade and placed there in 1889.

The 12th and 44th New York Infantry Monument. This monument is located on Little Round Top and you can see my cousin and brother on top of it. 

More detail explains this historical marker.

The monument was able to give us a heightened view of the Devil’s Den and the Valley of Death.  Here my cousins are ready to relive the action.

The view from Little Round Top was amazing!!
By the Monument, written on rocks, were names and dates of soldiers who died at that spot. 

There were so many cannons everywhere! … 630 of them to be exact!
No turning back now boys!

The reenactments that my brother did with our cousins were priceless. 

 
Here are more monuments. Our uncle, Fr. Terrence Gordon wasn’t able to join us, like he did when my older brothers visited, but he did give us a tour over the phone! 
We were able to reenact “Picket’s Charge” at the location in which the actual charge had taken place over 150 years ago. 

There were many “casualties,” but we eventually made it!!!
Not going to lie, the running definitely wore us out for a bit!

We found this rock on the wall by where Picket’s Charge took place. It had the name “Philip Lockett 14 VA Inf.” written on it. Curious that this name might have been written during Picket’s Charge, we asked a Ranger about it. She did some researching and found that Captain Philip Lockett did, in fact, participate in Picket’s Charge. However, she pointed out that the rock looked like a new rock (meaning it placed there after it had become a historical site) so we concluded that someone must’ve written the name of one of their ancestors on the rock. It was still a fun adventure to learn more about him and be able to do some research on it! 
 

It was an amazing day which I will never forget! It was such a blessing to be able to visit historical sites and be able to get to know my cousins more! 

You can find the previous posts shared by Twinkle Toes here: 

Lent Calendars

Feb 24, 2021 | , | 1 Comment

On Ash Wednesday we pulled out our annual Lenten Calendar for our little ones… 
We’ve been using variations of this calendar for the past 18 years! 
You can find the free printable documents for our current version in the archives: 
Another annual favorite is the lovely printable calendar from Kimberly’s daughter Lydia. These two requested it before I had a chance to even look for the download this year! It can be found here.

Ever since their gorgeous Easter Calendar last year we have also really loved incorporating the illustrated calendars from Liturgy of the Home! 
I printed out the first part of the Illustrated Lent Calendar and hung it on the bottom half of one of my pantry doors for our little ones to discover and study. 
 

It didn’t take our three year old long to spot St. Peter’s Chair, when I asked if she could find it after she woke up Monday morning, on the feast of the Chair of St Peter! Even my brother-in-law (our local pastor) was amazed at all the details included for each day when the children were showing it to him yesterday afternoon when he joined us for lunch.
 
You can read more about how our family has observed Lent in the past here:
Grant us Lord, the grace to begin the Christian’s war of defense with holy fasts: that, as we do battle with the spirts of evil, we may be protected by the help of self-denial.

Summer 2020 :: The National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton

Feb 20, 2021 | , | 5 Comments

During our visit to the East Coast last summer, my brother and I were able to visit the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first native-born United States citizen to be canonized a saint. 

The Stone House is one of the very first houses that St. Elizabeth Ann Seton lived in after arriving in Emmitsburg, Maryland.
 

Unfortunately, we arrived to the Stone House and White House after hours so they were locked but we were able to look in the windows to see the rooms in which St. Elizabeth Ann Seton taught, cooked, went to Mass, and (maybe) died.

 
Some of the pictures didn’t turn out as well as I had hoped but here is the chapel. 

We tried to figure out if this is the bed where St. Elizabeth Ann Seton died but there are also rooms upstairs in the White House so we weren’t sure. If any of you know which room she passed away in, let me know!


 

In the picture to the right, you may notice a small building in the cemetery. That’s the Mortuary Chapel where St. Elizabeth Ann Seton’s body was eventually placed. Her son, William Seton, was away at sea at the time of her death but when he returned six months later, he had this chapel built in honor of his mother. Her body was then transferred to the chapel’s vault until the time of her beatification. 

St. Elizabeth’s body is now inside the Shrine’s Basilica (we were also not able to enter due to after hours). It was such a blessing to be able to visit this shrine. Having written a paper on St. Elizabeth Ann Seton a few months before this trip, I was so excited to be able to see her home and learn more about her life in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

If you’d like to learn more you can Explore the Shrine and find many Resources on their website. 
Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Pray for us!

Summer 2020 :: Our First Flight & Washington DC

Feb 13, 2021 | , , , | 20 Comments

I’ve asked our eldest daughter to share some of her recent adventures here on the blog. She’ll be sharing one or two posts a week, as time allows. It’ll be a great opportunity for her to learn how to blog and share some of what we’ve been up to at the same time! Thank you, “Twinkle Toes!” 

 


Last summer I traveled back east for a college visit (I’ll share more about that soon) which provided the opportunity to visit cousins, go sightseeing, experience my first flight across the country with my younger brother, and more. 

 

         

It was so amazing to see the breathtaking views looking down from 30,000 feet up in the sky!
On the third day of our trip, my cousins, younger brother, and I explored Washington D.C. Most of the museums were closed due to covid but we were able to still see the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam Memorial, Second Division Memorial, the World War II Memorial, the White House, Washington Monument, and the United States Capital.  
While we were at the Vietnam Memorial, we had the privilege to meet the Archbishop of Washington D.C. You can spot him (in plain clothes) in the middle of the picture above. 

  

 

Snuggles, who is studying about World War I this year, was so excited to see the familiar names on the monument and explained what the flaming sword symbolizes to his cousins and me. 

   
  

Having grown up on the other side of the country from our cousins, it was wonderful to spend time with their family and get to know them a little better!


“When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.” – Leonardo da Vinci

Celebrating Candlemas

Feb 4, 2021 | , | 14 Comments

“Our lighted candles are a sign of the divine splendor of the one who came to expel the dark shadows of evil and to make the whole universe radiant with the brilliance of his eternal light. Our candles also show how bright our souls should be when we go to meet Christ.” 🕯

January was hard. I didn’t mean to disappear but it was one thing after the next and I’ve been too overwhelmed to spend time online… I think we can maybe see the light at the end of this round of challenges… I was finally able to make it to Mass last night for the first time in nearly a month, and then back for Mass again this afternoon which was followed by the blessing of throats! 



We arrived to the church 45 minutes early last night since our older girls are in the choir and had a pre-Mass practice… I loved overhearing our nine year old when he leaned over, while holding his Candlemas Candle with the drip plate, and whispered to his dad, “This looks just like the cookies we made this afternoon!”

Candlemas Cookies with Drip Plates

Traditionally called Candlemas, candles are blessed on this day (February 2nd) to help us remember the words of holy Simeon who called the babe in his arms, “A light to lighten the gentiles and the glory of your people, Israel.” Luke 2: 32. 

 These Candlemas Cookies with Drip Plates are a fun way to celebrate this feast with children!

 
 
“All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.” ~ St. Francis of Assisi

Another Hobbit Birthday Party!

Dec 21, 2020 | , , | 16 Comments

 

“In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hold, and that means comfort.”

We just celebrated a special little boy’s 9th birthday with a family party based on one of his very favorite books: The Hobbit! His birthday was the second of our two pre-Christmas birthdays. He was actually due on Christmas day, just like his older sister two years before, as well as the baby I miscarried a couple years later, but he arrived a little early. I never have hit my due date with any of our babies… Anyway, despite Christmas preparations and his sister’s birthday party a few days before (pictures hopefully coming soon), everything somehow fell into place at the last minute and he had such an amazing day! 
This isn’t the first time this theme has been used in our home. Looking back, I can’t believe how little everyone looks at our first Hobbit Birthday Party back in February of 2013… So much has changed in the past seven years – two more spunky little girls have joined our family and our move to a new home/state after living in our last home for over 18 years – and I can’t help but reflect on how many more changes the next seven years will bring. 
Following that first Hobbit Birthday, we also had A Long Expected Party (Lord of the Rings themed) back in 2013 as well, and then a Bilbo Baggins Birthday in 2018 which I still haven’t added to the blog. We reused the banner yet again in 2019 for a WWI Birthday too, incorporating a bit of Tolkien. Someday I sure hope to find the time to add the rest of our past birthday celebrations to the blog… In the meantime, in an effort to not fall even further behind, here are some of the pictures from our little guy’s “An Unexpected Party” Hobbit Birthday! 
While my teens created a tree and hung up the banner and silhouette I had printed out, I got started on baking and decorating a cake and a few other things for the party. 
The birthday boy was so excited when he woke up in the morning. He had a quick breakfast, headed off to church for daily Mass, then came home for “Second Breakfast” of scrambled eggs and donut Rings!
One of his birthday gifts was his own Sting Sword which was immediately taken into battle. 
“Then something Tookish woke up inside him, and he wished to go and see the great mountains, and hear the pine-trees and the waterfalls, and explore the caves, and wear a sword instead of a walking-stick.”

  
While the pot pies were baking we all headed outside for some target practice using one of his older sister’s bows.  (We’ve used the bow for a Chronicles of Narnia Birthday Party in the past too.. So fun!) 
I printed out an image of Smaug that I found online onto six pieces of card stock, pieced it together, and then Sean attached it to the front of the archery target. 
 
 
“There are no safe paths in this part of the world. 
Remember you are over the Edge of the Wild now, 
and in for all sorts of fun wherever you go.”

 
“My armor is like tenfold shields, my teeth are swords, 
my claws spears, the shock of my tail a thunderbolt, 
my wings a hurricane, and my breath death!”
“Never laugh at live dragons, Bilbo you fool!”
“I am looking for someone to share in an adventure that I am arranging, and it’s very difficult to find anyone.’  I should think so — in these parts! We are plain quiet folk and have no use for adventures. Nasty disturbing uncomfortable things! Make you late for dinner!”
These were some of my favorite pictures of the day. I love that our older children are all such good sports and will still willingly participate in family pictures with all their younger siblings! 
“But I don’t think I ought to leave my friends like this, after all we have gone through together.”
Next we headed back inside for the birthday feast! Our 13 year old helped me come up with the menu based on the food items requested at the “Unexpected Party” and incorporating some other book details.

“There is more in you of good than you know, child of the kindly West. Some courage and some wisdom, blended in measure. If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.”

“Is it nice, my preciousss? Is it juicy? Is it scrumptiously crunchable?”

“Gandalf, dwarves, and Mr. Baggins! We are met together in the house of our friend and fellow conspirator, this most excellent and audacious hobbit–may the hair on his toes never fall out! 
All praise to his wine and ale!”
 
 
I wanted to try and make something a little different than our original Hobbit Hole Cake so I did a google search and ended up using this cake as inspiration. The older boys pulled out some of their minifigures from their display case to use as decorations. It was pretty easy to pull together and the birthday boy had fun rearranging the mini-figures throughout the day! 
In addition to the Sting Sword, he also received a couple lego sets, the Playmobil Medieval Tailor Shop and Group of Outlaws, and a darling gift from his Godparents. 
 
“May the wind under your wings bear you where the sun sails and the moon walks.”

The Great O Antiphons, The Golden Nights

Dec 17, 2020 | , , | 62 Comments

Ever since our oldest children were very little, we have been implementing an old monastic custom in our home by providing special treats, representing each of the “O Antiphons” on the days leading up to Christmas. The O Antiphon prayers begin on December 17th and end on the 23rd, which is the last Vespers of Advent, since the evening prayer on the 24th is the Vigil of Christmas.

The Benedictine monks arranged these antiphons with a definite purpose. If one starts with the last title and takes the first letter of each one – Emmanuel, Rex, Oriens, Clavis, Radix, Adonai, Sapientia – the Latin words ero cras are formed, meaning, “Tomorrow, I will come.” Therefore, the Lord Jesus, whose coming we have prepared for in Advent and whom we have addressed in these seven Messianic titles, now speaks to us, “Tomorrow, I will come.” So the “O Antiphons” not only bring intensity to our Advent preparation, but bring it to a joyful conclusion.

Each night, following our family rosary, we pray the O Antiphon for the day, sing O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, which was inspired by this ancient tradition, and then give the children a special treat.

The “treats” have varied from year to year. Some years it has been little gifts or activities for the family, some years it is all food related, and some years it is a mix of both, depending on our schedule and budget. It doesn’t need to cost much or even anything at all! Be creative!

Sometimes the treats are a bit of a stretch, but my goal is try and find gifts that will either help increase our faith (Catechism books, holy family, saints, prayer, etc) or encourage family time (games, puzzles, going to look at Christmas lights, etc). You can find some of our past O Antiphon treats by scrolling through the archives and visiting Catholic Cuisine.

Our family loves this tradition. It is such a fun way to teach the children about these beautiful prayers of the church and also increase their excitement as Christmas gets closer.

In case you are looking for some inspiration, I’ve listed some of the treats I’ve given my family over the years (along with my picks for this year)… Special food ideas, activities and gifts (or you can simply decorate chocolate coins!) for each of the O Antiphons can be found below.

Once again I am hosting an O ANTIPHON GIVEAWAY! One lucky visitor here at Shower of Roses will receive a gift package including seven Cookie Stamps, one to represent each of the seven O Antiphons! I also have a sweet hand-painted nativity set to give away as well. Be sure to scroll to the bottom of this post for the details and to enter.

.: December 17th – O Sapientia (O Wisdom) :.
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!
Since the symbol for wisdom is a book, I usually choose a new Catholic book for our family. This year I went with a game focusing on the time period most of our children are currently studying. Looks fun!
A Few Ideas: 
 
.: December 18th – O Adonai (O Lord) :.
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!
In the past we would always emphasize the word “house” in this Antiphon, and have made our Gingerbread Houses or Gingerbread Cookies on this night.  Now that we have two birthdays this week (and two birthday cakes to bake and decorate!) we usually wait until Christmas Eve, or sometime during the 12 Days of Christmas to decorated Gingerbread Houses, but I have more of these delicious Gingerbread House Cookies (made with this cookie cutter) from the birthday party yesterday that are all ready to decorate along with some Pre-Built Tiny Homes!

A Few Ideas: 

.: December 19th – O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse) :.
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.
Our 2020 Family Ornament is wrapped up for the 19th.
Now to see if we can manage to get a family picture to add to it this year!
This year the birthday boy choose a Hobbit Theme Birthday! This gives me so many additional options, but it’s also Ember Saturday so that makes it challenging…  I’ll include meat at the main meal and probably keep treats to a minimum so it’s not too tempting for those of us who will be fasting. Roasted Root Veggies, Root Beer, and a small Hobbit Hole Birthday Cake are on the menu.
A Few Ideas:
.: December 20th – O Clavis David (O Key of David) :.
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.
Christmas Jingle Bells! I was gifted with a set of these from Pinecone Leather Co this year.
(I love the description over on Etsy sharing their family’s tradition.) 
I also have a Key Lime Pie and some Sparkling Ciders to pull out and enjoy after our Sunday dinner.
A Few Ideas:
.: December 21st – O Oriens (O Dayspring) :.
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!
I’ll give them all their new Christmas pj’s and make hot cocoa too. 
A Few Ideas:
.: December 22nd – O Rex Gentium (O King of the Gentiles) :.
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!
A Few Ideas:
.: December 23rd – O Emmanuel (O With Us is God) :.
O Emmanuel, our King and our Law-giver, Longing of the Gentiles, yea, and salvation thereof, come to save us, O Lord our God!
Nativity Icon from Clear Creek Abbey
A Few Ideas:

 
 
.: O ANTIPHONS GIVEAWAY :. 

Win a Set of Cookie Stamps

Here are the cookie stamps I picked out to go along with each of the O Antiphons.
The winner will receive one of each!

Wisdom: #460 – Triune God
House: #214 – Home Sweet Home
Root of Jesse: #520 – Willow Tree
Key of David: #543 – Key to My Heart
Dayspring: #291 – Moravian Star
King: #448 – Norwegian Wedding Crown
Emmanuel: #368 – Nativity

(7 cookie stamps with recipe booklet @ $12.99 ea = $90.93 value) 

Enter the Giveaway using the Rafflecopter Box below: 
Read more about our family’s traditions here:

Saintly Heart :: Franciscan Friends Lacing Set

Dec 14, 2020 | , , , | 2 Comments

I was recently given this sweet set of woodland creatures, along with St. Francis and St. Clare, from Saintly Heart! I ended up saving it to give to our little girls on the feast of St. Nicholas.
It was an instant hit and they have been having so much fun lacing together all the little animals.
Right now you can save 15% with coupon code Roses15

Our Family

Sean & Jessica, Captain-25, Ranger-23, Twinkle Toes-22, Chiquita-20, Snuggles-18, Rose-15, Bud-13, Grace-8 and Joy-6 (blog nicknames)

A Little About Me

Hi! I'm Jessica, a Roman Catholic wife and home educating mother to our nine children. I was home educated myself, along with my eleven younger siblings. I have a special devotion to St. Therese, through whom I have been given much help and many blessings--the beautiful "Shower of Roses" that she has sent my way! Here I will record a few of the blessings I treasure. Please remember that what you see here is just a little glimpse at our lives, so please say a prayer for us, as we continue to strive for holiness.

My Other Blog: Catholic Cuisine

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Prayer of Mothers

Father in heaven, grant me the grace to appreciate the dignity which you have conferred on me. Let me realize that not even the Angels have been blessed with such a privilege—to share in your creative miracle and bring new Saints to heaven. Make me a good mother to all my children after the example of Mary, the Mother of your Son. Through the intercession of Jesus and Mary I ask your continued blessings on my family. Let us all be dedicated to your service on earth and attain the eternal happiness of your kingdom in heaven. Amen.


Our Family

Sean & Jessica, Captain-25, Ranger-23, Twinkle Toes-22, Chiquita-20, Snuggles-18, Rose-15, Bud-13, Grace-8 and Joy-6 (blog nicknames)

A Little About Me

Hi! I'm Jessica, a Roman Catholic wife and home educating mother to our nine children. I was home educated myself, along with my eleven younger siblings. I have a special devotion to St. Therese, through whom I have been given much help and many blessings--the beautiful "Shower of Roses" that she has sent my way! Here I will record a few of the blessings I treasure. Please remember that what you see here is just a little glimpse at our lives, so please say a prayer for us, as we continue to strive for holiness.

My Other Blog: Catholic Cuisine

Please Visit My Sponsors…

This Week's Popular Posts

Shower of Roses Affiliate Links

All About Spelling
All About Reading
All About Reading Giveaways
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Our Advent & Christmas Books

Shower of Roses Gift Guides

Looking for Something?

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