St. Valentine's Card

by Lyle (age 8)

A Gift of Gracias

A Gift of Gracias: The Legend of Altagracia, by Julia Alvarez, illustrated by Beatriz Vidal, Knopf Books for Young Readers.
Julia Alvarez tells a beautiful story of a young Spanish girl who helps to save her family's farm with the help of Our Lady of Altagracia. A Gift of Gracias is available in many libraries, however, my family recommends purchasing this picture book. The feast of Our Lady of Altagracia is January 21.

Mary: The Mother of Jesus

Mary: The Mother of Jesus,  by Tomie de Paola, Holiday House

Mary: The Mother of Jesus is my favorite book by Tomie de Paola. De Paola chronicles Mary's life from before her conception to her becoming Queen of Heaven. He uses quotes from the antiphons and the Bible to tell this beautiful story. In doing so, he brings greater glory to God the Son ("to Jesus through Mary"). My three and five year old sit in rapt attention, looking at the pictures, each time I read the book.

All Saints Party 2005

St. John Chrysostom

St. Peregrine

Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha

St. Helen

St. Alice

St. Cecilia

St. Clare

King St. Louis IX

St. Padre Pio

Little Flowers Mother Daughter Luncheon

Lunch



Lunch



Sharing what they know about the saints and virtues



Badge Presentation

Mother and Daughter

Badge Presentation

Badge Presentation

Little Flower

Group Photo

Meal Planning

Step One - Gather a variety of recipes that have few ingredients, less than an hour preparation time, and wide approval of your family.

Step Two - Make up some 3 x 5 index cards that say

Week # 1 (or 2 or 3...)

-Monday

-Tuesday

-Wednesday

-Thursday

-Friday

(I leave off weekends because there are always plenty of leftovers to cover them.)

Step Three - Choose and place which recipe to make on each of three or four or twelve weeks, however many recipes you have. I try to alternate beef, chicken, ham, pork and fish throughout the week. And, of course each Friday is a meatless dish.

Step Four - Place in a ziploc sandwich storage bag for each week, an index card and all the recipes you will need for that week.

Step Five - Divide a piece of notebook paper into four quarters. On each quarter, label week # and any grocery items you might need to make the recipes for that week that you wouldn't necessarily always have on hand, i.e. green pepper, sour cream...

Do this for as many weeks as you have. Be sure to include anything you MIGHT not have. You can always cross items off that you don't need when that week comes. You don't want to find yourself missing some ingredient.

Step Six - Photocopy grocery lists. I make 3 or 4 copies of each page. Cut the copies into quarters and place the appropriate lists in each ziploc bag with the recipes it will supply.

Keep the master copies of the grocery lists in a gallon size ziploc bag in a kitchen drawer.

Every week, simply take one copy of the grocery list from that week's baggie. Post the 3 x 5 index card on the refrigerator so everyone can see what's for dinner all week. It also helps that you see it often to keep in mind what you'll be doing each night. (Sometimes I have to switch Monday's dinner for Thursday's because of time constraints, company, illness or whatever).

Happy meal planning!

Shared by Marty W.

The Weight of a Mass: A Tale of Faith

The Weight of a Mass: A Tale of Faith
by Josephine Nobisso, Gingerbread House

This is a story about a kingdom whose inhabitants had grown cold in their faith. One day an old woman entered the bakery and asked for a crust of bread. In exchange she would offer a Mass for the baker. He mocked her, wrote the words, "One Mass" on a delicate piece of tissue paper and dropped it on his scale. On the other side he placed a piece of bread. The whole town was amazed at what happened next!

Shared by Marty W.