Happy Ash Wednesday

March 9, 2011

2011-03-09_213 (1024×680), originally uploaded by sara_boster.

What preparations have gone into this centerpiece and how very happy I am with its simplicity. Nate crafted the base using some old scrap wood which was then sanded and painted. The rock Anna chose from the rock pile in the backyard. The cards were designed after several conversations with the kids, printed, and cut and then a trip to Hobby Lobby scored the perfect size and color bowl for only $1.29. The candle was a gift to Nate on the occasion of learning we were pregnant with Katie. The crown is probably the most near and dear to my heart as mom and I wove it many, many years ago from a tree we found on Friend Grano’s farm. It’s irreplaceable now that the farm is no longer in the family. Thankfully, by some small miracle it has survived more than 16 years and has graced our Lenten table I think since we’ve been married. The rosary sit there now as we used them to pray our Divine Mercy Chaplet…today’s family lenten offering.

The kids crafted their personal crown of thorns as a way of concretely and visually offering their own sacrifices and gestures to Christ this Lent. It’s a tradition we’ve done for several years now and always serves as such a great reminder of the significance of this season. With each good deed or sacrifice, the kids will remove a thorn from Jesus’ crown.

Recipe: Mix 4 cups flour & 1 cup salt. Add enough water to make a stiff clay. Knead on a floured surface to remove any air bubbles. Divide to make your braided crown. Insert toothpicks. Bake at 350F for 50-60 minutes or until it is dry and light brown. Recipe makes 3 individual crowns.
The Lenten offering boxes are a gift from the kids’ Parish School of Religion (PSR) classes. They will add a portion of their chore money to the box and return it at the end of Lent as a monetary offering of almsgiving. Both will sit on our kitchen table as that constant reminder.

Ashes were received by all at noon Mass today…despite the torrential downpour starting and continuing for the 12 hours before. We were a bit wet entering and leaving Mass. Lent has begun!

Nate just passed along a really great website for a daily meditation. Looking to add some prayer into your Lenten journey, I am looking forward to taking some morning meditation lights from the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises blog. Check it out HERE. Gotta love this form of prayer and meditation. LOVE IT!
I also had almost forgotten about our Lenten book. I love looking back at this book created several years ago and can’t wait to “explain” more of it’s meaning to the kids this year. They are one year older and one year wiser when it comes to the faith. (Shameless plug…message me if you are interested in making your own. I can help!)