April Instagram Recap
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| April 10th |
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| April 12th |
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| April 13th |
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| April 15th |
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| April 16th |
You can also watch a short 15 second video here.
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| April 18th |
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| April 20th |
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| April 21st |
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| April 22nd |
Sponsor Love :: Quarterly Update & Current Specials
I have a few new sponsors to introduce you to this quarter including the brand new release from De Montfort Music, a lovely Etsy shop specializing in lace and ribbon, and a sweet friend and Catholic blogger who also has a little Etsy shop. Regina Martyrum Productions is back again this quarter, along with many additional returning advertisers. Be sure to check below for updates and specials!
Please welcome my new sponsors:
The Monks of Norcia
BENEDICTA: Marian Chant from Norcia is the latest release from De Montfort Music!
“Inspiring, beautiful music of Chant at it’s very best – from Italy by The Monks of Norcia. BENEDICTA: Marian Chant from Norcia is the title for this new recording of 33 tracks of Gregorian chant, including favorite Marian antiphons such as “Regina Caeli” and “Ave Regina Caelorum” but also previously unrecorded chant versions of responsories and a piece originally composed by the monks ( Nos Qui Christi Iugum, ) Some pieces are sung by the entire group, some by smaller ensembles of monks and others by soloists, imbuing ‘BENEDICTA’ with a variety of sound. Recorded on location at the monastery in Norcia, Italy, the album was produced by 11-time Grammy Award-winning producer Christopher Alder and engineered by Grammy-Award winning engineer Jonathan Stokes.”
Romantic Trims & Specialty Ribbons
“Primrose Lace & Ribbon is your one stop shop for romantic trims and specialty ribbons sold by the yard that will surely embellish any creative project. I strive to provide you with a well-chosen selection of lace and ribbon that will help you achieve a timeless and charming style. My focus is on trims that are delicate, soft, and elegant in design. I also carry exquisite appliques and sewing embellishments that are perfect to compliment your special projects.
Some common craft ideas in which you can use my trims include: doll clothes, costumes, masks, handkerchiefs, heirloom projects, Christening dresses, bridal gowns and veils, cake tops, wedding favors, floral arrangements, prom dresses, corsages, hair accessories, jewelry, scrapbooking projects, card making, home décor projects, crafted gifts, altered media, and fashion apparel.
Also, I offer free combined shipping for multiple items: Pay shipping charges for the first item, each additional item ships for free.”
Regina Martyrum Productions
“Regina Martyrum Productions produces the finest works of Catholic audio theatre. With emphasis on the lives of the Saints, these products are edifying, and entertaining.
Stories hold our attention, teach us morals, and can teach a moral lesson while entertaining. We all love stories. Here at Regina Martyrum Productions, we provide high-quality, fully-dramatized Catholic stories. From Old Testament scenes to New Testament saints, we provide the best, timeless stories for today’s Catholic audiences. Engaging the power of your imagination while listening, you and your children will walk through the pages of the Church’s history. These are not your run of the mill “books on tape!” Every production is packed with full cast, great music, and realistic sound effects! They are great in the car, at story time, or at anytime!”
Veils and Vocations
Prayer Pillowcases are more than just a pretty place to lay your head! They’re a unique way to bring Catholic art and prayer into your home. And a practical way to share the Faith with your family and friends. Our distinctive line combines original art and favorite Catholic prayers that appeal to all ages and transform pillows from the ordinary to the divine! Honor a special occasion or make any occasion special with the gift of a joyful, lasting (and personalizable) Prayer Pillowcase. We’re always working on new designs and hope you’ll visit again soon to see even more ways to help your
loved ones begin and each day with a prayerful heart.
Catholic Child
is the perfect place to find inspiring gifts for Catholic youth – from toddlers to teens. They offer many beautiful Marian gifts for the month of May, along with inspiring gifts for First Holy Communions and Confirmations!
Jesse Tree Treasures
creates beautiful handcrafted gifts for the liturgical seasons including Advent, Lent and Other Seasons.
Gail Giron Designs
has been restocking her shop with all sorts of beautiful creations that would make great Easter, First Communion, and Mother’s Day gifts! Custom orders are accepted so be sure to look through her past sales for ideas!
Audrey Eclectic
“A unique collection of American folk art created in the heart of the Oklahoma prairie. My inspiration comes from literary classics, spooky tales from the past, the pioneering spirit, my home town, Scandinavia and other lands far away.” You can also follow Audrey Eclectic on Facebook and Instagram!
Catholic Folk Toys
Visit Catholic Folk Toys for beautiful hand painted wooden saint dolls and more! Custom orders are welcome!
Linda at Sacred Heart Books & Gifts asked me to share that Memoria Press now has curriculum for special needs! She said that it looks so very nice and that many of the books are also used in other programs. You can order Memoria Press titles at a discount from Sacred Heart Books & Gifts!
Almond Rod Toys
AlmondRod Toys makes Saint Blocks that are just the right size for little hands and can be used for imaginative play, building, stacking or collecting. The front has a print of original watercolor artwork. The back has a quote or a prayer chosen to inspire little ones and the one that cleans up behind them. The saint’s name, feast day and patronage are also listed; just enough to be a reminder and an inspiration for further learning. Visit Almond Roy Toys at Etsy and follow the Facebook page!
“JMJ – I am Carrie, a Catholic home educating mother of 7. I have always liked holy cards and have quite a collection. A friend of mine had some lovely cards personalized for her daughter’s First Holy Communion many years ago and I remember thinking how lovely and unique they were. I wanted to have the same for my own children. All these years later and with the help of some friends, it became a hobby of mine to personalize these special Keepsakes and offer them to you. If there is an image you are looking for but don’t see it here in my Etsy shop, please contact me. Oftentimes I have them in-stock but haven’t listed them yet. I will happily do bulk orders. Please contact me for pricing. I look forward to creating a unique, lovely, long-lasting Keepsake for your special occasion.” Visit Keepsakes by Carrie at Etsy and follow the Facebook page!
New Additions to Our May Book Basket
Our days have been incredibly fun and FULL, from early start to late finish, this week as we work on completing some to the 500 tasks for the National Pro-Life T-Shirt Week contest! We are getting ready to head out the door again this morning, but first I wanted to share a couple new additions to our May Book Basket for this year. Happy Feast of St. Joseph the Workman!
This first book was included in our family Easter basket this year. I splurged on the hardcover edition, but it’s also available in paperback. It is absolutely lovely and is at the top of my list of newly released favorites! I haven’t seen another children’s book like it and it is such a welcome addition to our collection. I’ve enjoyed reading it just as much as the children.
The End of the Fiery Sword: Adam & Eve and Jesus & Mary
What do Adam and Jesus have in common? What do Eve and Mary have in common? More than you think! With full color illustrations, Maura Roan McKeegan has brought to life biblical typology for children. Taking familiar biblical stories from the Old and New Testaments and placing them side by side, children can see biblical typology jump off the page. Biblical typology is when a person or an event in the Old Testament foreshadows a person or an event in the New Testament. The Bible is full of these fascinating “types.” Children can now discover similarities of types without any difficulty, and easily understand at an early age what St. Augustine meant when he said that the New Testament lies hidden in the Old and the Old Testament is revealed in the New.
This next book was sent to me as a review sample by author Christine Henderson. It’s a lovely book filled with Rosary Meditations for Children for the fifteen traditional mysteries of the rosary. The images chosen for each mystery, along with the meditations, are beautiful and inspiring. It will make a nice addition to our May (and October!) Book Basket!
Rosary Meditations for Children
Praying the family rosary is very important. However, it can be challenging to keep a child focused during the rosary. Our imagination is a wonderful thing and may be used to help make the family rosary a time of spiritual growth and enjoyment. In this book, I have written different thoughts for the fifteen traditional mysteries of the rosary. Before beginning each decade, read aloud a thought that is written. Encourage your child(ren) to think about it while praying. There is also a picture for each decade included in this book to further help enhance your child’s focus and imagination.
(Note: Author Christine Henderson has just started a new blog/directory for Catholic home-based businesses! You can find it here.)
Good Shepherd Sunday
The gifts the children received for Easter this year, in our family Easter basket, included a Little Lambs Cupcake Kit and a Good Shepherd Blessing Block. After Mass we decided to bake and decorate the Little Lambs today to continue celebrating Good Shepherd Sunday!
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| Rose’s completed cupcake. She says you can see the lamb’s smile right below it’s eyes. 🙂 |
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| “I didn’t mean to make him cross-eyed!” says the 14 year old… |
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| The kit only included enough mini marshmallows for 5 cupcakes (?) so we improvised by cutting up some large marshmallows that happened to be in the cupboard. |
Here is a short excerpt from Fr. Eric Andersen’s beautiful and inspiring Sermon for Sunday, April 26, 2015:
Let us also remember to pray every day for vocations to the priesthood, especially in our own families and parishes. There are many young Catholic men discerning vocations to the priesthood including this young man who is asking for prayers and support.
Happy Birthday, Kit! :: Chocolate Roll Cake
“You are so lucky, Kit,” sighed Ruthie. “This is a wonderful party.” The sun had set. The yard was lit with lanterns Aunt Millie had saved from a trash pile and repaired. The lanterns had candles inside them, and they swayed in the soft evening breeze so that their light danced across the grass. Kit, Ruthie, and Sterling were sitting together eating the chocolate roll cake Aunt Millie had made…” ~ Happy Birthday, Kit!
Ingredients:
- 1-1/2 boxes (12 cakes per box) Swiss Rolls, unwrapped
- 2-3/4 cups Milk, cold
- 2 packages (3.9 ounces each) Instant Chocolate Fudge Pudding Mix
- 2 cups Cool Whip (I used one 8 ounce container)
- Fresh Strawberries, optional
Directions:
Cut each cake roll into six slices; set aside any chocolate coating that separates from rolls for garnish.
Line a 9-in. springform pan with cake slices, completely covering the bottom and sides.
In a small bowl, whisk milk and pudding mixes for 2 minutes (mixture will be thick).
Pour over cake.
Spread with spatula.
Top pudding with Cool Whip, or other whipped topping.
Sprinkle with any reserved chocolate coating.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before removing from the springform pan and serving.
Garnish or serve with strawberries, if desired.
I’ll be back with pictures from the rest of the party sometime soon. In the meantime you can find additional cake recipes at the bottom of this page. You can also check out some of our past American Girl Unit Studies and Birthday Parties here:
Saint George and the Dragon
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| Saint George and the Dragon by Jim Forest |
While devouring this year’s Saint George and the Dragon Veggie Platter, my husband read the following short and inspiring story from Saints for Young People for Every Day of the Year (1963 Edition):
April 23St. GeorgePictures of St. George usually show him killing a dragon to rescue a beautiful lady. The dragon stands for wickedness. The lady stands for God’s holy truth. St. George was a brave martyr who was victorious over the devil.
He was a soldier in the army of the Roman Emperor Diocletian, and he was one of the Emperor’s favorite solders. Now Diocletian was a pagan and a bitter enemy of the Christians. He put to death every Christian he could find. George was a brave Christian, a real soldier of Christ. Without fear, he went to the Emperor and sternly scolded him for being so cruel. Then he gave up his position in the Roman army. For this he was tortured in many terrible ways and finally beheaded.
So boldly daring and so cheerful was St. George in declaring his Faith and in dying for it that Christians felt courage when they heard about it. Many songs and poems were written about this martyr. Soldiers, especially, have always been devoted to him.
We all have some “dragon” we have to conquer. It might be pride or anger or laziness or greediness or something else. Let us make sure we fight against these “dragons,” with God’s help. Then we can call ourselves real soldiers of Christ.
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| Comparing the images of St. George found in some of our books. You can find a list with links here. |
Getting Ready for National Pro-Life T-Shirt Week
Chiquita (who just turned 10 on Monday and had her braces taken off yesterday!!) wasn’t about to let her older siblings spray her with the hose, but she sure looked cute wearing a pro-life t-shirt (that is way too big on her!) while riding a tire swing.
There are still opportunities to win t-shirts during the 5-Days of Give-A-Ways over on the National Pro-Life T-Shirt Week Facebook Page and you can register for the Photo Contest on their website.
If you don’t have any luck winning a t-shirt during the 5-Days of Give-A-Ways, you can also order official 2015 National Pro-Life T-Shirt Week T-shirts from American Life League.
Celebrating the Saints :: St. Magnus of Orkney
The Easter Story {LEGO Edition}
Ever since 2009 when our oldest two boys were just seven and eight years old (they are now thirteen and fourteen!) they have put together a Playmobil Way of the Cross during Holy Week. Last year, instead of pulling out the Playmobil, the boys created LEGO scenes for Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday. This year they expanded their original creations and came up with additional scenes for Palm Sunday and the rest of Holy Week as well. I took lots of pictures to share! Everything is made with LEGO from their collection, including the “purple robe” (from this minifigure) and the “INRI” letters on the cross!
John 19:17
Jesus, I Trust in You
In 1931 St. Faustina, received an apparition of Our Lord with rays radiating from His heart. He instructed her to paint an image of His tender mercy toward all humanity with the signature “Jesus, I Trust in You.” The Lord explained the meaning of the rays in the image:
The two rays denote Blood and Water. The pale ray stands for the Water which makes souls righteous. The red ray stands for the Blood which is the life of souls. These two rays issued forth from the depths of My tender mercy when My agonized Heart was opened by a lance on the Cross. Happy is the one who will dwell in their shelter, for the just hand of God shall not lay hold of him (299). By means of this image I shall grant many graces to souls. It is to be a reminder of the demands of My mercy, because even the strongest faith is of no avail without works (742).
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