Our 2017 Advent Book Basket and Printable Labels {Plus Christmas Mosaic & Advent Giveaway!}

by | Nov 13, 2017 | , , , , | 0 Comments

Advent begins three weeks from today! Advent varies in length from 22-28 days, beginning with the Sunday nearest to the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle (November 30th) and embracing four Sundays. The first day of Advent can fall as early as November 27th or as late as December 3rd. With the first Sunday of Advent falling on December 3rd, we are going to have the shortest Advent possible… This year the Fourth Sunday of Advent is also Christmas Eve! 

This past week — as my cute little one allowed — I spent a little time sorting through our Christmas books to fill this year’s Advent Book Basket. 
 
My little gnome ❤️ She keeps trying to catch the butterflies that are flying around on her tights 🍄
Years ago, when we didn’t have enough Christmas themed picture books to wrap one for each day of Advent, I would check some Christmas books out from the library just before Advent began, using Christmas Mosaic as a guide. We have added many books to our home library since then, giving one Christmas themed book to each of our children on the feast of St. Nicholas, and our collection has definitely grown…  
In the past I have filled our basket with Christmas Mosaic titles and our children’s 35 Favorite Christmas Picture Books. One year I picked twenty-six of MY favorites to wrap up and last year I left the choosing up to my husband and our oldest daughter. 
This year I used a mix of some of my favorites and some that tie in nicely to the various feasts and activities I hope to incorporate throughout Advent and got started wrapping them up… 
A few years ago I switched to brown paper, instead of the purple and pink wrapping paper, along with purple and pink ribbon (which I save to reuse each year) and homemade labels for each day. 

If you’d like to use my little labels too, you can download my Advent Book Basket Labels for 2017 over at Dropbox.
As always, we’ll unwrap and read one book each night during Advent, following our family rosary. The rest of the books will be placed in additional baskets for the kids to read whenever they’d like during the seasons of Advent and Christmas. 

Here are the 22 picture books that I am wrapping up for our 2017 Advent Book Basket:
December 3 – 1st Sunday of Advent: St. Francis and the Christmas Donkey *Catholic Mosaic -discussion questions and modify the activity… Hoping to make an “Advent Calendar” path for St. Joseph, Mary and the Donkey (pictured above)! 
December 4: Shoemaker Martin *Christmas Mosaic – modify/use discussion questions for The Shoemaker’s Dream, discuss corporal works of mercy, plan gifts for others
December 5: St. Nicholas and the Nine Gold Coins – write letters to Christ Child/Saint Nicholas, bake Speculaas or St. Nicholas Cookies, and decorate St. Nicholas Chocolate Coins to give to others
December 6 – St. Nicholas: Santa’s Favorite Story *Christmas Mosaic -Discussion Questions
December 7 – St. Ambrose: The Christmas Candle – *Christmas Mosaic -Discussion Questions, bake Honeycomb Cake, decorate Christmas Candles
December 8 – Immaculate Conception: The Donkey’s Dream *Catholic Mosaic – pray Litany of Mary from which the names of Mary used in this book were taken 
December 9: The Nutcracker – take the kids to see the Nutcracker performance this weekend
December 10 – 2nd Sunday of Advent: Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree – pick out a Christmas Tree
December 12 – Our Lady of Guadalupe: Our Lady of Guadalupe (also love this awesome pop-up) 
December 13 – Santa Lucia Day: Lucia: Saint of Light
December 15 – Rose’s Birthday: The Christmas Cat
December 16 – Las Posadas: Nine Days to Christmas (republished this year!)
December 17 – 3rd Sunday of Advent/Gaudete Sunday – O Sapientia: Bambinelli Sunday
December 18 – O Adonai: The Miraculous Child
December 19 – O Radix Jesse – Bud’s Birthday: My Wonderful Christmas Tree
December 20 – O Clavis David: The Little Shepherd’s Christmas
December 21 – O Oriens: Christmas in the Trenches
December 22 – O Rex Gentium: The Christmas Horse and the Three Wise Men
December 23 – O Emmanuel: The Miracle of St. Nicholas
December 24 – 4th Sunday of Advent / Vigil of Christmas: Bethlehem (Catholic edition)
* = Study Guide Available in Christmas Mosaic or Catholic Mosaic
.: GIVEAWAY :.

I’m hosting giveaways every weekend of November this year, leading up to the first Sunday of Advent. This weekend I have four Advent themed prizes to give away!

sponsored by The Deo Gratias Co. (value $26.98)
Bonus! Each winner will also recieve: 
2017 Advent Activity Pack
sponsored by Saong Jai (value $5.00 each)

Enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter box below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 There is still time to enter the St. Nicholas Giveaway if you haven’t already! 

 For additional Christmas book suggestions you can find some of our lists in the archives: 

For More Details About Christmas Mosaic:
Christmas Mosaic :: A Review & Featured Book List

Celebrating Martinmas

by | Nov 12, 2017 | , | 11 Comments

“Martin, so comfortable on his horse and cozy within his beautiful thick coat, took the coat from his shoulders, cut it with his sword and draped the largest part on the man. Something spoke inside his heart and said it was the right thing to do.”

Our little guy pulled out one of the gifts he received last Christmas to play with this afternoon… Perfect for today’s feast!

We also enjoyed reading Snow on Martinmas…

… decorating our St. Martin Cookies with marshmallow fondant… 
(I forgot to take a picture once they were finished! They are long gone now.) 

… our Martinmas Lantern Walk and roasting marshmallows over the bonfire… 
… and goose chicken pot pies for dinner!
{Even I got to enjoy a homemade grain-free, dairy-free AIP pot pie! Heavenly!}

O God, Who seest that we exist by no power of our own, mercifully grant that, by the intercession of blessed Martin, Thy confessor and bishop, we be strengthened against all adversities. 

St. Martin of Tours, Pray for us!

Letter Board Updates for All Saints and All Souls

by | Nov 10, 2017 | , | 5 Comments

I love that our twelve year old often finds quotes and updates the letter board for various feasts and holidays. This is what she chose for All Saints’ Day this year. The girls also dressed up all their dolls as saints again too!
The month of November is dedicated to the Holy Souls in Purgatory…with the latest quote, our daughter is making sure we don’t forget to pray+
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the masses said throughout the world today, for all the holy souls in purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen.

New Christmas Books for the Feast of St. Nicholas {and a St. Nicholas Giveaway!}

by | Nov 5, 2017 | , , , , | 0 Comments

The feast of St. Nicholas is just a month away! On December 6th our children wake up to find that the letters they wrote to the Holy Child and/or St. Nicholas have been taken and their (sometimes new/replaced) slippers have been filled with little treats, oranges, chocolate gold coins, candy canes, and often times a note from St. Nicholas.

Our children have also always received a new Christmas book which has helped us build an amazing collection over the years! I’m still waiting for a few more to arrive, but I just started wrapping most of the books for this year and wanted to share them with you all.

Note: I haven’t planned out our Advent Book Basket and O Antiphons for this year yet, and I also haven’t visited any of the local bookstores to check out their new books for this year, so there is a chance that I may end up switching up a few things in this post… Either way, the following books are making it into our home this Advent! 

You are welcome to download my St. Nicholas labels over at Dropbox with either Black or Green text. 


Here is the list of books my husband and I picked out for our children this year:

For Captain:

Fifteen year old Matt Bergin is staying in Glastonbury for Christmas with his cousins, Luke and Annie Martin. Matt feels drawn to Glastonbury Tor, and St Michael’s Tower, which crowns its summit. The cousins learn the secret of Glaston Tor and find themselves propelled back in time to 1940s France and the Second World War. They are given a mission by an enigmatic stranger, who asks them to help a young German couple and their son escape from wartime France. But the fearsome Gestapo are on their trail. Matt and his cousins will discover that their destinies are intimately linked to this family, and to a mysterious young stranger who will stop at nothing to learn their secret. With a compelling plot, captivating characters, suspense, excitement and ever-present danger, The Secret of Glaston Tor will take you on an incredible journey into the past, present, and future – and into the never-ending battle between good and evil . . . This book is particularly meant for 11-14 year olds, but can also be read to older young people, or by adults.

 Our oldest son loves reading books about WWII. I think he will enjoy this one as well! If so, there is a second book in the series that I may include in his Stack of Books for Christmas/Epiphany too.
For Ranger: 

“Since he was in the first grade, fourteen-year-old Nicholas Gilroy has felt that God might be calling him to be a Catholic priest. To determine whether he has a vocation, he applies and is accepted as a freshman at Saint Peter’s High School Seminary. Nicholas, who has been homeschooled, is overwhelmed by the size of the building. He is also intimidated by the vice rector, Father Stephen Reynolds, who, from Nicholas’s perspective, should be in the marines and not in a seminary. The young man soon develops a friendship with Jose and Luke, two other freshman boys, which helps him to achieve success on the football team and to enjoy his new life at Saint Peter’s. But when Nicholas signs up for an after-school program to help tutor children in the inner city, he finds himself thrown into an adventure that puts his life at risk and changes him forever. In this novel, a teenage boy enrolled in a seminary participates in an after-school tutoring program in the inner city and comes face-to-face with life-changing danger.”

 A book about a Catholic boy named Nicholas? I think that will work for St. Nicholas Day! It looks like one that my boys would enjoy. 
For Twinkle Toes: 

“Katy sets out in the snow to visit the new baby born in the innkeeper’s stable. She is bringing gifts: a loaf of bread, her cat Sasha and, most importantly, her favourite toy — a wooden bird whistle. But Sasha doesn’t want to play in the cold snow, and the animals of the forest eat the bread. Soon Katy’s carefully chosen gifts are gone — except the most special one of all. As the snow gets deeper and she gets colder, Katy wonders whether she’ll ever have the chance to give her gift to the baby? Katy’s Christmas Gift is a heart-warming and original version of the Christmas story for young children. Bernadette Watt’s lively illustrations are full of colour, light, joy and festive feeling.”

Note: This is a newer renamed edition, with the same beautiful illustrations inside, 
For Chiquita:

“Traces the life of Christ from birth to Pentecost, 
discussing the church calendar and its annual cycle of dates.”

I can’t believe we haven’t had these next two books before now! They are amazing! I ordered them from Sacred Heart Books and Gifts last summer and can’t wait to read them with our children.

For Snuggles: 

“Retells the events surrounding the first Christmas, 
from the Annunciation to the Presentation of the Infant Jesus at the temple.”

Another excellent book! I love that there are a couple pages dedicated to St. Nicholas and St. Lucy… 

… and a couple more for the Saints of the Christmas Season including St. John and St. Thomas Becket – aka patron namedays in our home!

For Rose: 

’Twas the evening of Christmas, when all through the town,
Every inn was so crowded, no room could be found.
Tired Mary and Joseph, who went door to door,
At last found a place on a small stable floor.

“For over 200 years, families have gathered on Christmas Eve to hear the much loved words of Dr. Clement C. Moore’s ’Twas the Night Before Christmas. This year, families can gather together to share the real Christmas story––the story of Jesus’ birth. ’Twas the Evening of Christmas echoes the familiar language and rhythm of Dr. Clements’ poetry, but instead of focusing on Santa, it focuses on the baby Jesus, who is, after all, the true hero of Christmas. All families will delight in this simple retelling of the most famous story ever told. With a cover that comes alive with foil and sculpted embossing, this book is sure to become a Christmas classic”

There is a chance I may save this book to use as our final book in our annual Advent Book Basket or as an O Antiphon gift for O Emmanuel, but I know Rose would love receiving it too! 

For Bud: 

“Seek and find characters from the popular holiday book A Chrismtas Carol on each page and follow them throughout the story. Each page contains beautifully illustrated characters to find and details to spot, accompanied by abridged text. This seek-and-find book is the perfect way to introduce younger children to the world of Charles Dickens.”

 Our soon-to-be-six year old has ALWAYS been a huge fan of seek and find themed books.
I think he’s going to love this one too.
They also have a Pride & Prejudice version that I might need to get for the girls! 


For Grace: 

“Meet Saint Anastasia, one of the greatest Christmas saints and the Patroness of Martyrs. Take her hand and let her lead you to the Crib! When people think of saints that remind them of Christmas, Saint Anastasia is almost always forgotten. For centuries, this humble and unassuming martyr has remained hidden in the shadows of the stable. Yet of all the saints in Heaven, she is the only one whose feast day falls on Christmas itself! It’s about time she stepped forward and made some new friends! Join Saint Anastasia and her best friend, Saint Theodota, as they bravely prove their love for God and neighbor, even unto the sacrifice of their own lives. With charming full-color illustrations and easy-to-read text, this third book in Susan Peek’s new series for children (companion to her series for teens, “God’s Forgotten Friends: Lives of Little-known Saints”) is sure not only to capture the hearts of Catholic children everywhere, but to inspire and inflame them with a greater love for their Holy Faith and the saints who lived and died for it.”

 I almost bought this book for our little grace last year… I was convinced she was a girl, but we didn’t officially find out until Christmas Eve so I decided to wait. It will be the perfect book to start her collection of Christmas themed picture books this year.

For additional Christmas book suggestions you can find some of our lists in the archives: 

Our 2015 Advent Book Basket and Printable Labels 

Our 2016 Advent Book Basket and Printable Labels {I’m planning to share our 2017 Basket and Labels next weekend!}

New Christmas Books for the Feast of St. Nicholas: 
2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016

Stacks of Books on Christmas Morning or Epiphany: 
2013, 2014, 2015, 2016

.: Giveaway :. 

I’m hosting giveaways every weekend of November this year, leading up to the first Sunday of Advent on December 3rd. This week I have six prizes to give away, all perfect for Advent, the feast of St. Nicholas, and Christmas gift giving from some of my sponsors here at Shower of Roses!

Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter box below:

Prize #1 – 8GB Saint Nicholas Flash Drive and 16 GB Our Lady of Guadalupe Flash Drive
sponsored by The Deo Gratias Company (combined value $32.98)
Congratulations, Amy! 

Prize #2 – MISSION:CHRISTIAN December-January
and The Children’s Little Advent Book
sponsored by Peanut Butter & Grace (combined value $25.00)
Congratulations, Gabrielle! 

Prize #3 – Saint Nicholas, Eden and House of Gold Nail Polish 
sponsored by Lisieux (value $24.00)
Congratulations, Sarah J!

Prize #4 – Set of 4 BROTHER FRANCIS: THE STORY OF ST. NICHOLAS COLORING BOOKS and O Holy Night DVD
sponsored by Catholic Child (combined value $20.75)
Congratulations, Karen!

Prize #5 – St. Nicholas DVD
sponsored by Shower of Roses (value $14.99)
Congratulations, Alicia!

Prize #6 – The Forgotten Christmas Saint: Saint Anastasia
sponsored by author Susan Peek (value $12.95)
Congratulations, Sarah!

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sponsor Love :: Quarterly Update & Current Specials {scroll to the bottom for a feast day giveaway!}

by | Nov 4, 2017 | | 0 Comments

It’s time for another quarterly update on all my amazing sponsors here at Shower of Roses. I have so many great updates, coupon codes, and new sponsors to introduce to you this quarter! We have some awesome giveaways planned for the next four weekends, in preparation for Christmas next month. Be sure to keep all these wonderful Catholic businesses in mind as you prepare for Christmas and any gift giving this year and scroll to the bottom of this post for a chance to win your choice of two lovely picture books perfect for upcoming feast days!

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Exciting Changes at Catholic Child!

Ever since our oldest children were toddlers our family has loved the products we have purchased from Catholic Child.  They have inspired many beautiful traditions in our home – the Domestic Church. Catholic Child was also one of my very first sponsors here at Shower of Roses when I started offering advertising space a number of years ago and they have sponsored many giveaways over the years. Please join me in thanking Joseph and Leane Ambrosio for everything they have done for Catholic families over the years… May God reward you both! Welcome to the new owners, Michael and Laurel MacKinnon! We look forward to continuing to support and promote Catholic Child!

Catholic Child founders Joseph and Leane Ambrosio write:

Dearest Customers, 

It has been our deepest pleasure to work with you the past 21 years. In that time we’ve cherished the relationships as we provided Catholic resources and gifts to grow the faith of your loved ones.

As seasons change, we too are changing and passing the company to a younger Catholic family. This goodbye is hard. But on the other side of that is joy that Catholic Child will continue. We look forward to watching new owners Michael and Laurel MacKinnon nurture and grow Catholic Child, and we encourage your commitment to them as they work to improve Catholic Child’s ability to serve Catholic children and families everywhere.

With gratitude,
Joseph and Leane, and the Ambrosio Family

Inventory & operations are in transit to the new location! 
Shipping may be delayed for up to two weeks. 
We recognize this inconvenience and are extending 
FREE STANDARD SHIPPING
to all orders placed Nov. 2nd – Nov.15th.

Be sure to follow Catholic Child over on Facebook for updates!
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Please welcome my new sponsors:

Our Lady of Fatima Graphic Novel

In this 100th-Year Anniversary of Our Lady of Fatima, we are honored to release the Graphic Novel based on the Apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima.

We are currently taking pre-orders with an expected ship date between November 15 and December 1, 2017 – in plenty of time for Christmas! Hurry to get the FREE companion coloring book, offered only to our Pre-Order customers.

Our Lady of Fatima Graphic Novel is packed with attractive full color pages of the miraculous events. The reader will take a trip back in time with Jacinta, Francisco and Lucia to re-discover the events that took place when Our Lady appeared to them in Fatima, Portugal in 1917.

This commemorative, hardbound book helps the reader to not only visualize the heavenly apparitions, but challenges them to apply the messages of Our Lady in this day in age. Let us take to heart the call of Our Lady to repentance and reparation, for we know that the message of Fatima is “relevant now more than ever” (Pope St. John Paul II, May 13, 1982).

For a Limited Time The Deo Gratias Company is offering a FREE COLORING BOOK with the purchase of their brand new Our Lady of Fatima: The Graphic Novel
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Lisieux
Lisieux Nail Polish is a young Catholic company with a passion for sacred scripture, church traditions and the New Evangelization. We love our Catholic faith and decided to bottle some of it up so women could always have a holy reminder with them and a new and fun way to share the Catholic faith with others. We chose nail polish because it is the only cosmetic you can enjoy without looking in a mirror. All of our nail polishes are named after Biblical events, saints or Catholic traditions. We also really enjoy celebrating the liturgical year and feast days so, in addition to our regularly stocked polishes, try to have special edition polishes around popular feast days.

Our polish is 5 Free, Vegan and Cruelty Free. 

In addition to the website, you can also follow Lisieux on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest for updates!
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I am a homeschooling mommy of 6. I have created, used, and enjoyed all of my units with my own children at home. With our boxes you can have an entire unit shipped to your house ready to go. Our boxes are designed for elementary age children; however, they are perfect for families. Younger children can use our boxes for their entire unit study. Older siblings will find our activities a fun supplemental to what they are already studying! I personally love it when all my kids can study the same thing at the same time! Basic reading skills are strongly encouraged to get the most out of our boxes. The fun isn’t just for homeschoolers though! Our boxes are also the perfect gift for your little animal lovers. They are packed with fun worksheets, hands on crafts, and activities. Your children will be learning without even realizing it. Everyone loves to see a package in the mail…. make it fun and educational.  READ MORE HERE…

Right now during the Grand Opening Sale you can FREE SHIPPING through the rest of the year! You can also SAVE 5%through November with coupon code: ROSES
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Welcome back to past sponsors:

“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.”

Be sure to subscribe for emails or follow on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google+, and Instagram for sales and updates.

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“Welcome to Sleightholm Folk Art, formerly known as Audrey Eclectic, a unique collection of American folk art created in the heart of the Oklahoma prairie. My inspiration comes from faith, folk lore, family and good books.”

I have my eyes on the lovely Christmas Cards that are currently listed. My girls would love these! 

In addition to the Etsy Shop you can also find Sleightholm Folk Art on Facebook and Instagram!
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Saints are an amazing part of the Catholic faith; they show us what it means to live the life of Christ no matter who you are, what time in history it is, or where in the world you live. They are our role models!

All Marian apparitions featured in our award winning board book now available!

 

All TEN of the new dolls are now available on Amazon!

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My girls love their collection of beautiful little habits, saints and accessories from The Little Habit! Once again this year they dressed up all their dolls for the feast of All Saints and our annual All Hallows’ Eve Party!
Pictured below is Ruthie dressed up as St. Katharine Drexel and Molly dressed up as St. Elizabeth of Hungary in “costumes” from The Little Habit!

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A special THANK YOU 
to all my continuing sponsors! 

Owners Joseph and Leane Ambrosio enter a new season as they pass their 21 year-old, family-owned business Catholic Child to its new owners, Laurel and Michael MacKinnon. They are excited for the opportunity this brings to focus on expanding their line of original Prayer Pillowcases. 

Be sure to check in at PrayerPillowcases.com to see the new designs headed your way just in time for Christmas gift-giving!

Saint Martin de Porres – Feast Day: November 3rd

Get FREE PERSONALIZATION at Prayer Pillowcases through the month of November with coupon code: NovName 
Great for early Christmas shopping!
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The Culture of Life Studies Program has partnered with the esteemed Institute for Excellence in Writing on a pro-life essay contest! Please encourage your children to enter! Contest ends on December 2 and is open to all students 18 and under. It’s a great opportunity for students to practice their writing skills, articulate their pro-life beliefs and, of course, win some great prizes!

Visit http://prolifeessay.com/ for all the details.

Peruse our offerings here and don’t forget, Shower of Roses readers can always save 20% off their entire order using the code: ROSES20
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Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring: Christmas with The Dominican Sisters of Mary

2017 marks the 20th anniversary of the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist! On February 9, 1997, the first seed of the community was established as their four foundresses made their vows. On October 13, 2017 the Sisters topped off their 20th Anniversary celebratory year with a glorious new Christmas album Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring: Christmas with the Dominican Sisters of Mary. Recorded at the Ann Arbor Motherhouse chapel, Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring: Christmas with the Dominican Sisters of Mary is meant to share some of the Sisters’ favorite carols. The selection ranges from the fun and festive Carol of the Bells to the sublime Christmas Proclamation and the harmonious Wake, Awake, For Night is Flying. As well on this special offering- are original compositions such as Snowflakes, which until now- have been heard only in the chapel each year at Christmas.

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Gail’s Designs

Gail’s Designs has been creating unique, elegant jewelry and cherished rosaries since 2009. Gail has been an artist for most of her life and is grateful for her faith and being able to make elegant jewelry and cherished rosaries for people of the Catholic faith.

In addition to the website, you can also follow Gail’s Designs on Facebook and Instagram for updates and new designs!

Right now you can get FREE SHIPPING on all order over $20 with coupon code NATIVITY17
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Behold Publications, LLC

“Behold Publications, LLC is more than just a publisher! Family owned and operated since its founding in 1999, we have developed great Catholic clubs like the Little Flowers Girls’ Club and Blue Knights Catholic Boys’ Clubs for Catholic girls and boys ages 5 and up.”

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Peanut Butter & Grace
The mission of Peanut Butter & Grace is to help Catholic parents raise children who know and love Christ and his Church. We do this by providing digital and print resources that assist parents in forming their children in the faith within the daily life of their family. All of our products are made for Catholic parents—either to use themselves, or to hand to their kids.

Gracewatch Media is putting out lots of great new products! Be sure to check out Mission Christian: December-January and Lectio Divina for Teens: Reading God’s Messages to You

Offering free shipping on orders of $10 or more, 
a 45-day return policy, and secure payment via Amazon, 
credit card, Paypal, or check.
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Kolbe Academy 
All three of our high schoolers are currently enrolled with Kolbe Academy and working towards the Magna Cum Laude Diploma. In addition to all the benefits of enrolling, I really love the flexibility that Kolbe offers and that we can continue tailoring our curriculum to our family’s preferences and our children’s needs.

In addition to visiting Kolbe Academy’s website, you can also check out their online courses and follow them over at Facebook or Twitter for updates and specials! 
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Specializing in high quality veils and mantillas for ladies and girls. Robin is a Catholic mother of 15 ( 7 with Our Lord ) who spends her days serving, loving, praying, and sewing. Robin started making veils for her daughters and wanted to share with others. She truly loves creating veils to serve Our Lord!

Right now you can SAVE 15% off your order with coupon code: IVEIL2017
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Almond Rod Toys

Almond Rod 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!

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“Et Corde means “open heart”. I create rosaries, bracelets and necklaces using the hand wire wrap technique with beautiful antique reproduction medals. I hope that my pieces can be an heirloom that can be passed down in your family.” 

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Catholic Cuisine Aprons
All of our aprons are embroidered, not screen printed, giving them a rich, elegant, look! Our durable 100% cotton-twill aprons, with soil-release finish for added stain protection, provide ultimate full length cover and comfort.

 We have a couple new designs available, including a beautiful St. Therese Apron! 

 

Visit the Catholic Cuisine Apron page to order! 
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.: GIVEAWAY :.

I just finished updating our book basket and portable book cart with saint books for the month of November! A couple months ago I ordered a copy of the brand new Snow on Martinmas to add to our collection. I would love to send a new book to one of my visitors here at Shower of Roses.

The winner of the giveaway will receive their choice of either 

Enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter Box below: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you are interested in advertising at Shower of Roses

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to all of my sponsors and visitors for your support! May God bless you all! 

Saint-O-Lanterns

by | Nov 4, 2017 | | 7 Comments

.: Our 2017 Saint-O-Lanterns :.


Our Lady of Fatima
by Ranger

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St. Elizabeth of Hungary’s Rose
by Twinkle Toes
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Holy Innocents
by Chiquita
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Immaculate Heart of Mary
by Rose and Chiquita


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St. Andrew’s Fish
by Captain and Bud

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IHS
by Snuggles & Chiquita


or scroll through all our past Saint-O-Lanterns in the archives.

Carving Our 2017 Saint-O-Lanterns

by | Nov 4, 2017 | | 2 Comments

This year, following a field trip to the working farm and pumpkin patch, we ended up with lots of tiny pumpkins to carve. The kids went back to the farm last Sunday afternoon to go through their giant corn maze and brought back one more, much larger, pumpkin to carve too. They were all completely on their own this year, but the teens helped their younger siblings and they all did such a great job!

     

Inspired by the image on Chiquita’s Miracle of the Sun T-Shirt, our 15 year old carved the large pumpkin with an image of Our Lady of Fatima, Sister Lucia, and Saints Francisco and Jacinta to commemorate this year’s 100th Anniversary of the Apparitions.

      
or scroll through all our past Saint-O-Lanterns in the archives.

All Souls’ Day Mass at the Cemetery

by | Nov 2, 2017 | , , , | 5 Comments

This morning we visited the cemetery for our 12th annual All Souls’ Day Mass offered for the Holy Souls in Purgatory, particularly those of our departed family and friends. ♥
The Catholic Child and the Souls in Purgatory

My dear Child: The Holy Souls in Purgatory need your help. You can do so much for them; they can do nothing for themselves. 
  
 
Their time of merit is past; they have saved their souls; they are the friends of God; but they must suffer until they are fit to be admitted to the presence of God. 
Perhaps your own relatives are waiting there, hoping that they will soon be released. 
How you should pity them! How fervently you should pray for them. When they reach heaven, they will not forget you. 

A Prayer for the Holy Souls

O DEAR Jesus! have mercy on the Souls in Purgatory. Have pity on them, dear Lord, and do not keep them long in their pain. Let them come to Thee in heaven to be happy with Thee forever. Amen. 

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord! And let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen. 

Excerpt from Jesus, Make Me Worthy – A reprint of the original can be found here
A plenary indulgence, applicable only to the Poor Souls in Purgatory during the Octave of All Saints’ Day (November 1st though November 8th) is granted to those who visit a cemetery and pray even if only mentally for the departed.

Celebrating the Saints :: Our 2017 Costumes

by | Nov 1, 2017 | , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Augustine, St. Francisco Marto, Our Lady of Fatima, St. Jacinta Marto, Sister Lucia Santos, St. Maximilian Kolbe and St. Francis Xavier – All Saints in Heaven, Pray for us! 
.: St. Maximilian Kolbe & St. Augustine :.

Like last year, the boys decided to wear “saintly” t-shirts representing their confirmation saints! Captain (17) is wearing his St. Maximilian t-shirt that he received at the beginning of this school year and Ranger (15) is wearing his brand new St. Augustine t-shirt that arrived in the most recent box from Catholic T-Shirt Club last week! Perfect timing!!

.: Our Lady of Fatima :. 
Sister Lucia and Saints Jacinta & Francisco
Twinkle Toes (14) as Our Lady of Fatima, Bud (age 5) as St. Francisco, Chiquita (age 12) as Sister Lucia, and Rose (age 7) as St. Jacinta
Three of the girls convinced their youngest brother to dress up as St. Francisco to go along with their costumes. They were inspired by the 100th Anniversary of the Apparitions and the canonizations of Francisco and Jacinta earlier this year! 
.: St. Francis Xavier :. 
Snuggles (age 10) as St. Francis Xavier
.: Our Lady of Guadalupe :.
Grace (4 months) as Our Lady of Guadalupe
This favorite costume – made by her Grandma for one of her older sisters over 10 years ago – was a little big on her, but I’m pretty sure it will be too small next year so we made it work!

Happy Feast of All Saints! 

All Saints Guessing Jars {Trader Joe’s Edition}

by | Oct 29, 2017 | | 3 Comments

The All Saints Guessing Jars are always a hit at our annual All Hallows’ Eve Parties.  Each year the kids and I have so much fun looking for ways to connect yummy treats to saints and their symbols. Last year I had just found out that I was expecting our newest little one and I was super sick… I wasn’t able to host our annual party, but I still pulled together some games and activities for our family party including everyone’s favorite All Saints Guessing Jars using treats from Trader Joe’s!

Here’s a picture of what we used including: Cinnamon Schoolbook Cookies, Fleur de Sel Caramels, Animal Crackers, Chocolatey Cats Cookies, Pinks & Whites Flower Shaped Cookies, Coffee Rio, and Scandinavian Swimmers.

(I was just at Trader Joe’s a couple days ago and picked up some of their Petite Pumpkin Spice Cookies for one of this year’s jars. I think we’ll use them for St. Fiacre, patron of vegetable gardens! I’m also using Sun Drops for an Our Lady of Fatima themed jar!)  

Here are some pictures of last year’s jars all filled and ready for the party. Each year I use Wide Mouth Mason Jars with White Storage Lids for each jar.   

St. Joan of Arc, Patron of France ::  Fleur de Sel Caramels

Together with his holy wife, this watchmaker nurtured the sanctity of all their
children, but especially their youngest, a Carmelite Saint known to us as the Little
Flower who wrote “God gave me a father and a mother more worthy of heaven
than o
f earth
.
“

St. Therese of Lisieux, The Little Flower :: Pink & Whites (Flower Cookies)

St. Jerome and the Lion :: Chocolatey Cats Cookies

St. Madeline Sophie Barat, Patron of School Girls :: Schoolbook Cookies

 

St. Drogo, Patron of Coffee Shop Owners :: Coffee Rio Caramels

St. Brendan the Navigator, Patron of Seafarers :: Scandinavian Swimmers

Here is the links to the free printable document: 

… And here are the links to some of our past All Saints Guessing Jars:

Celebrating Martinmas

Celebrating Martinmas

by | Nov 12, 2017 | , | 11 Comments

"Martin, so comfortable on his horse and cozy within his beautiful thick coat, took the coat from his shoulders, cut it with his sword and draped the largest part on the man. Something spoke inside his heart and said it was the right thing to do."- Snow on...

Saint-O-Lanterns

Saint-O-Lanterns

by | Nov 4, 2017 | | 7 Comments

.: Our 2017 Saint-O-Lanterns :.Our Lady of Fatimaby Ranger + + + + + + +St. Elizabeth of Hungary's Roseby Twinkle Toes+ + + + + + +Holy Innocentsby Chiquita+ + + + + + + Immaculate Heart of Maryby Rose and Chiquita+ + + + + + +St. Andrew's Fishby Captain and Bud+ + +...

Carving Our 2017 Saint-O-Lanterns

Carving Our 2017 Saint-O-Lanterns

by | Nov 4, 2017 | | 2 Comments

This year, following a field trip to the working farm and pumpkin patch, we ended up with lots of tiny pumpkins to carve. The kids went back to the farm last Sunday afternoon to go through their giant corn maze and brought back one more, much larger, pumpkin to carve...

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-24, Twinkle Toes-22, Chiquita-21, Snuggles-18, Rose-16, Bud-14, 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.

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