Easter Peacock

by | Apr 19, 2018 | , | 2 Comments

Christians have used peacocks as a symbol of immortality. This came from an ancient legend that the flesh of the peacock never corrupts, and so the peacock is also associated with the resurrection of Christ. The peacock is often depicted in Christian art such as in Fra Angelico’s Adoration of the Magi and other Nativity scenes as well as in the catacombs. You can even spot one in the Last Supper by Domenico Ghirlandaio which is used as the header over at Catholic Cuisine

Hape Lacing Peacock from our 2016 Easter Baskets and pulled out again for this Easter season
We’ve made Peacock Cupcakes, Peacock Candy, Peacock Chocolates and Peacock Pizzas in the past but this year we’ll have to try a Peacock Fruit Platter! 

New Additions to Our Book Baskets + Giveaway

by | Apr 18, 2018 | , , , , , | 0 Comments

As we continue celebrating the Easter season, I have some really great giveaways to host, both here on the blog and over on Instagram, starting with this one sponsored by St. Augustine Academy Press.

I get excited about each and every book that St. Augustine Academy Press republishes and am very happy to be able to share the latest three releases with you all. I don’t have them in my hands yet, but they will be coming soon and the the publisher has generously offered to send a set of the three new books to one of you too!

Updated with a couple of my own photos now that our copies arrived. The books are even lovelier in person than I had expected!


Here’s a peek at the new covers and the original pages: 

The Rhymed Life of St. Patrick

“…in lively recitative ballad verse, Katharine Tynan tells the entire story of St. Patrick, without missing a single incident of any significance or importance. The book consists of thirty-two large folio pages, where ‘a rivulet’ of large, opulent type ‘meanders through a meadow of margin,’ set off by artistic illustrations. If Blessed Patrick and sweet St. Bride only respond to the prayer of the Envoy, and ‘Bless this book and scatter it wide,’ old and young may easily acquire and retain a comprehensive, if not complete, knowledge of all that is to be known of Ireland’s patron saint.”

–from a review in The Catholic World, December 1907

I’ve never seen this book before and can’t wait to read it with our children! 

+   +   +

A Child’s Rule of Life
“It is not every one that can keep his childhood. Father Benson has, and speaks to children bout the great, big eternal things in a child’s way. The little ones will be delighted to learn these verses by heart, and thus almost unconsciously gain a deep knowledge of Christian doctrine, and a love and habit of Catholic practice.

 The Rule takes the little child from the moment it awakes…through his morning prayers; going to church; hearing Mass; saying grace; reciting lessons; practicing obedience; confessing his sins; receiving Holy Communion; evening prayers, and bed. Round them all Father Benson has put the fragrance of verse that will make them sweet and delightful to the child mind.”

–from a review in The Catholic World, May 1913

We have an out of print copy of the Neumann Press edition and I’m so happy to see this back in print again! 

+   +   +

Old Testament Rhymes

“A book intended to give to children a general idea of the course of Old Testament history from the Fall to the Redemption, especially of those incidents and personages that point to Christ. The rhymes are designedly simple and colloquial, as the book is meant for smaller children only, and the narrative may be thought very sketchy; but it is hoped that the book will form a kind of “thread,” easily discernible, on which the child may learn to connect his more explicit and detailed lessons.”

(taken from an advertisement for the book by its original publisher in 1913, Longmans, Green & Co.)

We have an out of print copy of the Neumann Press edition and I’m so happy to see this back in print again! 

.: Giveaway :. 
The publisher has generously offered to send a set of all three books – The Rhymed Life of St. Patrick, A Child’s Rule of Life and Old Testament Rhymes – to one of my visitors!
(Giveaway closes on April 24th. Winner will be announced in this post on April 25, 2018)

Click here to visit St. Augustine Academy Press 

I’m also giving away a set over on Instagram so make sure and enter over there too! 

Happy Easter

by | Apr 5, 2018 | | 9 Comments

Wishing you all a Blessed and Joyous Easter Season! 

After spending most of Holy Saturday preparing for an unexpected road trip and trying to quickly finish up our tax returns, we somehow managed to fill all the Easter baskets, get an hour and a half of sleep, and finally get a family picture of all ten of us while at my parents home for brunch after the early morning Easter Sunday Mass! We are currently on the road, but when we get home again I’ll try and share a few more pictures from Easter. I’m so glad that Easter is a season!

Good Friday

by | Mar 31, 2018 | | 1 Comment

Picture Books on the drive to Church 🙏🏻  Into the Sea, Out of the Tomb

O my dying Jesus, I kiss devoutly the cross on which Thou didst die for love of me. I have merited by my sins to die a miserable death, but Thy death is my hope. Ah, by the merits of Thy death, give me grace to die, embracing Thy feet and burning with love for Thee. I commit my soul into Thy hands. I love Thee with my whole heart; I repent of ever having offended Thee. Never permit me to offend Thee again. Grant that I may love Thee always, and then do with me what Thou wilt. – Jesus, Make Me Worthy
Good Friday Stations of the Cross ❤️ {I had to take her out a couple times, but she did love watching Father from the back of the church}
Good Friday 2018 🙏🏻💙 #afterstations #distractedmama #shessocutethough
Hot Cross Buns from a Local Bakery 
One last picture that I have to share from yesterday of our tiny baby girl 💙 
Could I ask you all to pray for one more special intention?
My mother-in-law is back in the hospital for the second time this month and has received last rites with apostolic blessing. Would you please offer a prayer for her? We are currently trying to figure out our options for getting down there to see her as soon as possible.

Update: She is recovering and home again. Deo Gratias! 

Holy Thursday Lenten Dinner

by | Mar 30, 2018 | , | 6 Comments

We missed our annual Lenten Dinners the last two years, due to a road trip over Holy Week/Easter the year before last and then trying to survive Hyperemesis Gravidarum last year, and honestly I came very close to skipping it all together again this year. This has been a difficult lent (the whole past year feels a bit like one long lent…) and I just haven’t had the energy to do much extra at home on a regular basis. However, when it was time to start making dinner tonight, the girls and I decided to try and pull it together. I’m so glad we did! We had to make a few substitutions, but over all it came together nicely and ended up being mostly AIP/Paleo too. We took a few pictures while we were preparing everything, but completely forgot to take a family picture after everyone else was back from Mass. 
~ Palm on the Road ~

Baked Hearts of Palm
I sliced up a jar of Hearts of Palm from Trader Joes, dipped them in a gelatin “egg” substitute, and then in some Cassava flour, before baking at 375 degrees for 20 minutes. Yum! 

“And many spread their garments on the road, and others spread leafy branches which they had cut from the fields.” Mk. 11:8
~ Costly Oil ~

I love love love my oils from Bozzano Olive Ranch. I get a shipment every few months. 

“And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.” Mk. 14:9

~ Thirty Pieces of Silver ~

Finally found shiny Silver Chocolate Coins this year! I actually picked them up just after Christmas on clearance. 70% Dark Chocolate Coins from Divine. Not all the kids are fans of Dark Chocolate… Specifically a certain 6 year old, but he loved using the wrappers to create armor for himself! 

Sacred Art Series – The Holy Gospels of St. Luke and St. John
“Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What will you give me if I deliver him to you?’ And they paid him thirty pieces of silver.” Mt. 25: 14-15
~ Unleavened Bread ~

This year’s “Unleavened Bread” was my pizza crust recipe from The Healing Kitchen.  It’s definitely one of my AIP favorites and I make it at least once a week, but it’s usually covered with toppings! 

“And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the passover lamb, his disciples said to Him, ‘Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the passover?'” Mk. 14:12
~ The Mount of Olives ~

This year’s Mount of Olives was a couple cans of Black Olives.

“And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.” Mk. 14:26
~ The Cock Crows Twice ~

Teriyaki Chicken (AIP/Paleo) also from The Healing Kitchen. We didn’t have enough Coconut Aminos so the sauce was thinner than usual, but still yummy.  

“And Jesus said to him, ‘Truly, I say to you, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.'” Mk. 14:30

~ Gethsemane Figs ~

Mmmm… Instead of Fig Newtons, one of the girls made a batch of the Lemon-Ginger Energy Balls from The Healing Kitchen since they are made with Figs. I usually keep a container of these in the fridge for on-the-go snacks. So good! 

“And they went to a place which was called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, ‘Sit here, while I pray.'” Mk. 14:32
~ Sleepy Apostles ~ 
Sleepytime Tea after dinner

“And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep?  Could you not watch one hour?” Mk. 14:37
~ Judas’ Kiss ~

Skipped the Hershey’s Kisses this year… Didn’t have them and couldn’t think up a substitute, but we read the bible versus just the same. 

“And when he came, he went up to him at once, and said, ‘Master!’ And he kissed him.” Mk. 14:45

~ The Clouds of Heaven ~

I think the children preferred the whipped cream we’ve had in the past, but the Riced Cauliflower was really good and went perfectly with our Teriyaki Chicken 🙂 

“And Jesus said, ‘I am; and you will see the Son of man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.'” Mk. 14:62

~ Peter’s Tears ~

Salted Almonds for Peter’s Tears

“And immediately the cock crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, ‘Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.’ And he broke down and wept.” Mk. 14:72

During dinner we read through the corresponding passages in the Gospel of Mark. 
I used the little card stock signs from the last time we had this dinner – Palm Sunday 2015
Wishing you all a Blessed Triduum!

National Pro-Life T-Shirt Day 2018

by | Mar 28, 2018 | | 3 Comments

Isn’t this the cutest little onesie?! I can’t wait to try it on our baby girl next month. 
On April 20, 2018, witness to the dignity of ALL human beings by wearing a pro-life T-shirt. Share photos using #NPLTD18.
We are ready! Our children will all receive the office 2018 NPLTD shirts in this year’s Easter Baskets.
(The cute little lamb will be tucked in our baby’s basket too!) 
To help us all get in the spirit of NPLTD, American Life League is hosting a special contest. Click over to NPLTDay.com to enter!

The Easter Book & Religion In Life Curriculum Teacher’s Manuals {Giveaway}

by | Mar 26, 2018 | , | 0 Comments

The Easter Book by Rev. Francis X. Weiser

I love my out-of-print copy of The Easter Book by Father Weiser and am so happy to see that it has just been reprinted by St. Augustine Academy Press!

“If you enjoyed learning about holiday traditions in The Christmas Book, you are sure to love its sequel, The Easter Book. Father Weiser has here applied his winning formula to an explanation of the fasts and feasts of the Lenten and Easter seasons with equally fascinating results.”
Chapters Include: Introduction/The First Easter, Man and Nature, Farewell to Alleluia, Pre-Lent and Carnival, Sackcloth and Ashes, The Great Fast, Customs of Lent, Passiontide, Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, The Feast of Feasts, Easter Sunday, Easter Hymns and Music, Easter Symbols and Foods, and The Easter Season. 

* * * 

Another BRAND NEW release from St. Augustine Academy Press is the Religion in Life Curriculum to go along with The Highway to Heaven series which I’ve blogged about in the past here. At this point we only own a copy of Practical Problems in Religion, but I am looking forward to adding the rest of these books to our home library.

“Developed in the 1930s by the Marquette Institute of Catechetical Research, the Religion in Life Curriculum is more than just a Teacher’s Manual for use with its accompanying textbook series, The Highway to Heaven. It lays out an entire Religion Curriculum that includes music, art, reading and classroom activities.”

Here is a peek at what we are studying this week: The Crucifixion in Highway to God Book 7/8 and my 7th Grader and I are reviewing the answers to the “Problem Questions” found in Practical Problems in Religion.

.: Giveaway :. 
The publisher has generously offered to send a copy of The Easter Book along with the whole set of Religion in Life Curriculum Teacher’s Manuals to one of my visitors here at Shower of Roses! 
(Giveaway closes on April 3rd. Winner will be announced in this post on April 4, 2018)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Click here to visit St. Augustine Academy Press 

I’m also giving away a couple copies of The Easter Book over on Instagram so make sure and enter over there too! 

Nine Months

by | Mar 24, 2018 | | 14 Comments

Our little ball of fire is nine months old already! We all love her “Most Ardently” even though we have never had such a challenging baby and she still doesn’t let me sleep for much more than an hour at a time, for the 4 hours I manage to average each night/day. 
As of her doctor’s appointment this week (9 1/2 months) she dropped off the bottom of the chart and is weighing in at just 14 lbs 14.8 oz. We tend to have small children, but I’ll be taking her in for another weight check next month just to keep an eye on it and make sure she continues to gain.
#fattenthatbabyup #wemakesmallbabies #iwanttheirmetabolism
When she is not crying, she loves playing peek-a-boo, flipping through the pages of her board books, playing with her stacking blocks, practicing walking (she is up to about six or seven steps), splitting an avocado with me each afternoon, eating just about anything except for baby food (at least when I am feeding her), and of course bath time. Her smiles and giggles are my favorite and absolutely worth the exhaustion and all the sleepless nights. ❤

Love is watchful. Sleeping, it does not slumber. Wearied, it is not tired. Pressed, it is not straitened. Alarmed, it is not confused, but like a living flame, a burning torch, it forces its way upward and passes unharmed through every obstacle. — Imitation of Christ

Love our Lady. And she will obtain abundant grace to help you conquer in your daily struggle. — St. Josemaria Escriva

Love can accomplish all things. Things that are most impossible become easy where love is at work. — St. Therese

Prayers for the Murphy Family

by | Mar 21, 2018 | , | 29 Comments

🎶 Can the human heart refrain from partaking in her pain, In that Mother’s pain untold? 🎶 
{We are praying for a special intention tonight 💔 sometimes the crosses given to those dear to us seem so heavy. I would be grateful if, in your charity, you would offer a prayer too} 
#thirdstation #jesusfallsthefirsttime #fourthstation #jesusmeetshisafflictedmother #fifthstation #simonhelpsjesuscarryhiscross #jesusitrustinyou #motherofsorrows #oropronobis
 Today I shared an update and wanted to post here on the blog too: 

Thank you for praying for the special intention I mentioned on Friday night. At that time I had no idea just how heavy the cross was going to be for my brother Brian and his family, and how scary and heart wrenching for all of us. 💔

This past Saturday, Brian and his wife Meagan were at the hospital preparing to deliver and say goodbye to their sweet baby girl, she was due to arrive next month but her precious heart stopped beating… Her sweet smiling face had already captured all of our hearts and she will be missed dearly. Millie Frances was born asleep Sunday morning. It was such an honor and blessing to be there when she arrived, hold her tiny little body, and kiss her beautiful forehead.🌹 
 
Meanwhile their three year old daughter, my niece Evie, was really sick too due to the flu combined with her bleeding disorder that left her with a nose bleed that just would not stop. My sister Mary and I called her doctor’s office and Brian left the hospital to meet Evie and I there Saturday afternoon. (At this point it had been bleeding for 24 hours.) The doctor sent her home following her labs, but by the middle of the night it had gotten even scarier and Mom (who had taken over watching the girls for the night) called Brian to come back and take her to the ER. Sunday morning, just after Evie had been given her first transfusion, stabilized, and admitted to the Pediatric NICU, I messaged my brother to hurry back to labor and delivery, Millie was about to be born. Evie had another scary day on Monday and needed another transfusion, but as of yesterday she is much better and is finally HOME! Thanks be to God! ❤️ 
Please, please, pray for healing, comfort, and peace for my brother Brian and his family. 
They have been through so much. 🙏🏻

Another New Addition to Our March Book Basket {Runaway Bunny Edition}

by | Mar 6, 2018 | , , , | 7 Comments

I can’t believe that our little baby is going to be 9 months old the day after tomorrow… 
Her first year is flying by! She’s been crawling for a few months now, and I’ve been told that she was standing on her own the day before yesterday without holding on to anything and tried taking a step, but so far she isn’t walking. She can sure climb though! 
A Few Links:
Runaway Bunny Board Book
(Not new… It’s a well loved book from our collection, but the kids pulled it out to match her outfit.) 
Runaway Bunny Onesie 
(Today through Mar 8th, they are having a buy one get one free over at Out of Print!)
(We love all the Grimm’s Wooden Blocks. This rainbow, along with the Ostheimer Unicorn, was a Christmas gift for our 8 year old. I’d love to eventually add the small pastel rainbow to our collection.) 
(I am running behind on updating our baskets and book carts!) 
Easter Peacock

Easter Peacock

by | Apr 19, 2018 | , | 2 Comments

Christians have used peacocks as a symbol of immortality. This came from an ancient legend that the flesh of the peacock never corrupts, and so the peacock is also associated with the resurrection of Christ. The peacock is often depicted in Christian art...

Happy Easter

Happy Easter

by | Apr 5, 2018 | | 9 Comments

Wishing you all a Blessed and Joyous Easter Season! After spending most of Holy Saturday preparing for an unexpected road trip and trying to quickly finish up our tax returns, we somehow managed to fill all the Easter baskets, get an hour and a half of sleep, and...

Good Friday

Good Friday

by | Mar 31, 2018 | | 1 Comment

Picture Books on the drive to Church 🙏🏻  Into the Sea, Out of the TombO my dying Jesus, I kiss devoutly the cross on which Thou didst die for love of me. I have merited by my sins to die a miserable death, but Thy death is my hope. Ah, by the merits of Thy death,...

Holy Thursday Lenten Dinner

Holy Thursday Lenten Dinner

by | Mar 30, 2018 | , | 6 Comments

We missed our annual Lenten Dinners the last two years, due to a road trip over Holy Week/Easter the year before last and then trying to survive Hyperemesis Gravidarum last year, and honestly I came very close to skipping it all together again this year. This has been...

National Pro-Life T-Shirt Day 2018

National Pro-Life T-Shirt Day 2018

by | Mar 28, 2018 | | 3 Comments

Isn't this the cutest little onesie?! I can't wait to try it on our baby girl next month. On April 20, 2018, witness to the dignity of ALL human beings by wearing a pro-life T-shirt. Share photos using #NPLTD18.We are ready! Our children will all receive the...

Nine Months

Nine Months

by | Mar 24, 2018 | | 14 Comments

Our little ball of fire is nine months old already! We all love her "Most Ardently" even though we have never had such a challenging baby and she still doesn't let me sleep for much more than an hour at a time, for the 4 hours I manage to average each...

Prayers for the Murphy Family

Prayers for the Murphy Family

by | Mar 21, 2018 | , | 29 Comments

🎶 Can the human heart refrain from partaking in her pain, In that Mother’s pain untold? 🎶 On Friday night I posted over on Instagram: {We are praying for a special intention tonight 💔 sometimes the crosses given to those dear to us seem so heavy. I...

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.


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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.

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