The Snail and the King

The Snail and the King by Fr Peregrine

Have you seen the brand new picture book from the author and illustrator of My Name is Philomena? The Snail and the King will be released tomorrow, March 19th, just in time for Easter!

Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of The Snail and the King, where Fr. Peregrine Fletcher’s captivating narrative and stunning illustrations convey profound truths about faith, perseverance, and the boundless love of our Heavenly Father. This heartwarming tale is destined to become a cherished favorite among both young readers and those young at heart, inspiring a deeper longing for heaven and a joyful surrender to God’s divine plan.

A Reflection From the Author

“I first wrote the story eleven years ago. The story’s concept—a snail on long and difficult journey—came to mind came to mind while I was on a retreat discerning my vocation. Needless to say, I was feeling pretty slow, being twenty-five years old at the time and with little sense of clarity about my future. Yet in the midst of this struggle, I remember being struck by the confidence which the Scriptures and the saints place in our weakness. As God told St. Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor 12:9). In this same spirit, St. Therese wrote the following about God to her sister Marie:

What pleases Him is that He sees me loving my littleness and my poverty, the blind hope that I
have in His mercy… understand that to love Jesus, to be His victim of love, the weaker one
is…the more suited one is for the workings of this consuming and transforming love.


I had read verses and writings like this many times before, but now it was time to really live them out. However slow, God would lead me along His path and would continue to do so—through all of the twists, turns, and trials along the way. And with this is mind, I started feverishly drawing in a sketchbook, scribbling many ideas and images, until suddenly this story was born. For more than a decade it remained patiently in a sketchbook, and now I am pleased to be able to share the story with you.”

Read more here!

The Story

When all of the creatures of the wild are invited to King’s castle, a little snail sets out on his journey to the ship that will take him there. And with only three days until the ship sets sail, there isn’t a moment to lose! In this parable, join the snail on his exciting adventure through the wild and discover how he’s able to overcome many trials in order to meet the King.

Order a Copy or Enter Giveaway!

I’m eagerly looking forward to reading The Snail and the King to my children! One of them will discover it in their Easter Basket this year. Purchase a copy directly from Joannes Press or over at Amazon here.

Enter the giveaway I am hosting over at Instagram for a chance to win a signed copy!

Baskets of Books for Easter {and a Giveaway!}

As Easter approaches once again, our family tradition of filling our children’s Easter baskets with books continues. As a family with nine children spanning from preschool to young adults, finding the right books for each age group can be a daunting task but one I look forward to each Christmas and Easter!

Once again, our children’s Easter baskets are set to overflow with an abundance of books, ready to captivate and inspire them throughout the spring season. I have always loved searching through local bookstores and watching for publisher sales year-round. (Quick tip: TAN Books offers fantastic $5 deals every month!) Additionally, I’m fortunate to receive review copies of new releases from generous authors and publishers, allowing me to handpick the perfect additions to our family library. I am always requesting extra copies when possible to share the joy with some of you! Be sure to scroll to the bottom of this post for a chance to win one a set of new releases from both Sophia Institute Press and Emmaus Road Publishing!

Note: Before I share the book list, I do want to mention that I haven’t read all of these books. I make my decisions based on recommendations, reviews, publishers, and the past work of some of the authors/illustrators. 

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please purchase directly from publishers when possible! 

P.S. I can’t even begin to tell you how hard this post was to get photographs for on one leg… Definitely a workout! 😉

Captain – 23

Ranger – 22

Twinkle Toes – 20

Chiquita – 18

Scout – 16

Rose – 14

Bud – 12

Grace – 6

Joy – 4

Baskets of Books for Easter Giveaway

Enter using the Rafflecopter Box below for a chance to win one of the following two prizes!

Prize #1 – Sponsored by Sophia Institute Press

Includes: Our Lady of Sorrows: Devotion to Mary’s Seven Sorrows for Children (see my review here), The Story of the First Easter Bunny, and Goodnight Jesus: A Children’s Bedtime Story ($53.85 value)

Prize #2 – Sponsored by Emmaus Road Publishing

Includes: We Have A Pope and The Supper of the Lamb ($35.90 value)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway concludes at 11:59 PM PST on March 23, 2024.

Winners will be announced on Palm Sunday.

Having issues with Rafflecopter? Feel free to reach out via email or message with your name and email address, and I’ll manually add you.

You can find links to all my other book lists here and our past Easter posts in the archives including our 2013201420152016,  201720182019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 Baskets of Books for Easter.

One of these years I’ll make an updated gift guide… In the meantime:

100+ Easter Basket Stuffers & Catholic Gift Ideas

Easter Symbols Gift Ideas :: More Easter Basket Stuffers & Catholic Gift Ideas

Easter Baskets on Easter Sunday (2018)

Scroll through all past Easter Baskets here

A Celtic Cross Cake on St. Patrick’s Day

On March 17, 2021 I made a Celtic Cross Cake on St. Patrick’s Day for my brother-in-law Fr. Terrence Gordon’s 50th birthday! He shared a birthday with his dad, my father-in-law, and today would have been his 53rd birthday. Would you please say a prayer for the souls of James Patrick Gordon, Jr and Fr. Terrence Patrick Gerard Gordon today? We miss them both so very much!

I never got around to sharing any of these pictures. We were too busy enjoying the couple weeks we were so blessed to spend with him that March! Looking back I am even more grateful for that time we had with him here.

When I asked him what type of cake he wanted he first joked about some crazy theme ideas… They all love to challenge me! Ultimately he said to surprise him. I ended up making a Celtic Cross out of candy melts for the top of his Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake!

Celtic Cross Candy

Celtic Cross Cake

My ganache was way too thick but still delicious.

Saint Patrick's Day

Annual Shamrock Cinnamon Rolls ☘️

Leave it to your loving sister-in-law to squeeze 50 candles on a 6-inch cake! 😉

O God, Thou didst raise Thy servant Fr. Terrence Patrick Gerard Gordon, FSSP to the sacred priesthood of Jesus Christ, according to the Order of Melchisedech, giving him the sublime power to offer the Eternal Sacrifice, to bring the Body and Blood of Thy Son Jesus Christ down upon the altar, and to absolve the sins of men in Thine own Holy Name.

We beseech Thee to reward his faithfulness and to forget his faults, admitting him speedily into Thy Holy Presence, there to enjoy forever the recompense of his labors. This we ask through Jesus Christ Thy Son, our Lord. Amen.

St. Patrick, pray for us!

Our Lady of Sorrows: Devotion to Mary’s Seven Sorrows for Children

Our Lady of Sorrows Picture Book

Our Lady of Sorrows: Devotion to Mary’s Seven Sorrows for Children

Many years ago I was encouraged by the priest in the confessional to begin a personal devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows. She so deeply understands our own maternal sufferings and became a source of hope during my own trials, filling my heart with renewed faith in her beloved Son. A few years later my mom gifted me with a beautiful Seven Sorrows of Mary Chaplet for my birthday. Praying each bead while meditating on Our Lady’s sorrows is always a comforting reminder of her enduring strength and compassion. It has been such a treasure!

Another treasure is the brand new picture book written by Patrick O’Hearn and illustrated by Adalee Hude. Every family should have a copy of this beautiful book on their shelves! Even though it is written for children, as a mother with a devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows, I found it to be a great addition to my own personal prayer life! The way in which Our Blessed Mother’s sorrows are presented is both poignant and moving, emphasizing the depth of her love and suffering. The writing is captivating and the illustrations bring it to life.

O Blessed Mother, Our Lady of Sorrows, you knew the prophecies from the moment your Son was born – that you Son would offer His life for souls – help me to bear my crosses. Help me to have the courage to face the future with faith, hope and courage, not doubt, negativity, and discouragement. I ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

Our Lady's Third Sorrow
Seven Sorrows Chaplet
Our Lady's Fourth Sorrow

Marian Flowers and Prayers for Children

I love that the illustrator included Marian Flowers for each of Our Blessed Mother’s sorrows. They include Mary’s Heart (Begonia), Mary’s Sword of Sorrow (Iris), Mary’s Eyes (Forget-Me-Not), Mary’s Thorn (Dog Rose), Mary’s Tears (Lily of the Valley), Mary’s Bitter Sorrow (Dandelion), and Mary’s Heart (Bleeding Heart).

I also really love the “Other Daily Prayers” written for children by Fr. Chad Ripperger included in the back.

Such a beautiful book!

Our Lady of Sorrows: Devotion to Mary’s Seven Sorrows for Children is also available on Amazon here. Click over to Instagram for a giveaway!

Order it directly from Sophia Institute Press!

(SAVE 30% ON ORDERS $25+ WITH PROMO CODE EASTER2024 – EXPIRES 3/18 at 11:59PM EST)

Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us!

Leap Day Time Capsule {Free Printable}

Leap Day is quickly approaching! Despite my Intention to share this year’s Leap Day Time Capsule weeks ago, an unexpected surgery delayed my plans. However, I’ve now completed the updates for 2024 and uploaded the files uploaded to share with you all!

This year marks the fourth time our family has created Leap Day Time Capsules. We started the tradition back in 2012 when our oldest was just 11 years old. Since then, we’ve revisited our capsules in 2016 and 2020, each time marveling at all the changes life has brought. It’s astonishing how quickly time flies and how profoundly it shapes our lives.

I’m looking forward to once again pulling out our children’s time capsules and continuing this tradition with the younger ones who are home. ♥

I’m excited to share this year’s free printable with you all once again and just uploaded the PDFs to Dropbox! Whether you are new to using our printable or continuing the tradition, this activity is such a fun way to capture future memories. Click the links below to access the download and enjoy. Feel free to spread the word and share this resource with others. Here are the links:

2024 Leap Day Time Capsule (Green)

2024 Leap Day Time Capsule (Purple)

Christmas Cookies

Christmas Cookies

Merry Christmas Eve! 🎄

Mom tip: Teach your little kids to bake! Your future self will thank you! 😍

Our girls baked our annual Christmas cookies all on their own this year and did such an amazing job! (I didn’t have plans to bake and very grateful for Catherine taking the initiative and for all of their help this year as I am still dealing with nerve pain and extra fatigue after having shingles and covid. Recovery has been slow with my added autoimmune challenges.) Anyway, they made nearly all of our family’s favorites, have a few more in the works, mailed some to their older brother at the academy, and plan to gift some to local friends too! 🎁

Oreo Truffles

Some of our family’s favorite Christmas Cookies:

✨Hot Cocoa Cookies

Chocolate Covered Rice Krispie Peanut Butter Balls

✨Oreo Truffles

✨Peanut Butter Blossoms

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

St. Nicholas Purse Cookies

✨Chocolate Chip Cookies (Dad’s fave)

✨Thumbprint Cookies (Mom’s fave- they made a small batch with coconut sugar for Mom!)

✨Lemon Cookies

Christmas Cookies

Still to bake:

✨Persimmon Drop Cookies (also Mom’s fave)

✨Biscochitos

The Best Rolled Sugar Cookies (to decorate

Baking Christmas Cookies

What is your favorite kind of Christmas cookies?

Santa Lucia Day

Instagram post late on the feast of Santa Lucia Day 2023:

This morning I woke up to “Mommy, where is the bread?!” ❤️

With our ‘Lucia’ off at college this year, mom down in bed for days recovering from shingles + virus, and the other older girls focusing on our OLG feast…. Well, no one stayed up late baking and there were some disappointed little girls… (They know all too well when favorite feasts days are thanks to a certain calendar I need to remember to take down the next time I am sick! Just kidding, sort of 😅) 

I seemed to have finally turned a corner (thank you for the prayers!) and was able to do a little baking tonight. So grateful for a bit of regained energy and looking forward to the joy that the Santa Lucia Braided Bread will bring my little girls when they wake up in the morning! 🕯️✨

Hope you all had a lovely Santa Lucia Day! ❤️

… and the next morning:

“Mommy, where are the small breads?! . . . I can’t carry the big one!”

She had a point and I guess her older sister had been baking Lussekatter (Lucia Buns) for years now while I baked Saint Lucia’s Braided Bread. I told her not to worry, we could just cut pieces and she could deliver slices to her dad and brothers. 🙂

Meanwhile “Rose” decided she wanted to try her older sister’s crown this year too. So much fun! And no fire alarms were set off this year, which was the reason we ended up with all those beautiful snow pictures last year! 😉

(Video here.)

Santa Lucia, ora pro nobis!

The Great O Antiphons, The Golden Nights

The Great O Antiphons, The Golden Nights

Ever since our oldest children were very little, we have been implementing an old monastic custom in our home by providing special treats, representing each of the “O Antiphons” on the days leading up to Christmas. The O Antiphon prayers begin on December 17th and end on the 23rd, which is the last Vespers of Advent, since the evening prayer on the 24th is the Vigil of Christmas.

The Benedictine monks arranged these antiphons with a definite purpose. If one starts with the last title and takes the first letter of each one – Emmanuel, Rex, Oriens, Clavis, Radix, Adonai, Sapientia – the Latin words ero cras are formed, meaning, “Tomorrow, I will come.” Therefore, the Lord Jesus, whose coming we have prepared for in Advent and whom we have addressed in these seven Messianic titles, now speaks to us, “Tomorrow, I will come.” So the “O Antiphons” not only bring intensity to our Advent preparation, but bring it to a joyful conclusion.

Each night, following our family rosary, we pray the O Antiphon for the day, sing O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, which was inspired by this ancient tradition, and then give the children a special treat.

(Picture from a past Advent Season) 

The “treats” have varied from year to year. Some years it has been little gifts or activities for the family, some years it is all food related, and some years it is a mix of both, depending on our schedule and budget. It doesn’t need to cost much or even anything at all! Be creative!

Sometimes the treats are a bit of a stretch, but my goal is try and find gifts that will either help increase our faith (Catechism books, holy family, saints, prayer, etc) or encourage family time (games, puzzles, going to look at Christmas lights, etc). You can find some of our past O Antiphon treats by scrolling through the archives and visiting Catholic Cuisine.

Our family loves this tradition. It is such a fun way to teach the children about these beautiful prayers of the church and also increase their excitement as Christmas gets closer.

Here are more details on our O Antiphon House and Blocks

In case you are looking for some inspiration, I’ve listed some of the treats I’ve given my family over the years (along with my picks for this year)… Special food ideas, activities and gifts (or you can simply decorate chocolate coins!) for each of the O Antiphons can be found below.

Once again I am hosting an O ANTIPHON GIVEAWAY! Seven lucky visitors here at Shower of Roses will receive gifts this year!  Be sure to scroll to the bottom of this post for the details and to enter.

O Sapientia (O Wisdom) – December 17th

Since the symbol for wisdom is a book, I usually choose a new Catholic book for our family. This year it’s going to be a copy of the brand new The Golden Key. (Currently out of stock until early 2024.) We are also hosting another big Murder Mystery party on December 17th. (This will be our 4th over the past few years… So much fun!) Let’s see who is wise enough to crack the case! 🙂

O Wisdom Ideas from Over the Years:

O Wisdom that comest out of the mouth of the Most High, that reachest from one end to another, and orderest all things mightily and sweetly, come to teach us the way of prudence!

December 18th – O Adonai (O Lord)

“Burning bush…” or maybe a bonfire!  Perfect evening to pray the family rosary around the bonfire and maybe roast some marshmallows afterwards! 

In the past we would always emphasize the word “house” in this Antiphon, and have made our Gingerbread Houses or Gingerbread Cookies on this night.  Now that we have two birthdays this week (and two birthday cakes to bake and decorate!) we usually wait until Christmas or New Year’s Eve, or sometime during the 12 Days of Christmas to decorated Gingerbread Houses. 

O Adonai Ideas from Over the Years:

O Adonai, and Ruler of the house of Israel, Who didst appear unto Moses in the burning bush, and gavest him the law in Sinai, come to redeem us with an outstretched arm!

December 19th – O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse)

Our 2023 Family Ornament will be wrapped up for the 19th!

O Root of Jesse Ideas from Over the Years:

O Root of Jesse, which standest for an ensign of the people, at Whom the kings shall shut their mouths, Whom the Gentiles shall seek, come to deliver us, do not tarry.

December 20th – O Clavis David (O Key of David)

As St. Padre Pio, said: “Prayer is the best weapon we have. It is a key opening God’s Heart.”  

Once again we are planning to take our children to Mass or Adoration and then pick up a Key Lime Pie from Birdie’s Pie Shop to enjoy after dinner with some Sparkling Cider! And for me? Hoping to try out this AIP compliant recipe for No-Bake Key Lime Bars! Maybe we’ll also play Escape from Colditz and “liberate the prisoner from the prison”. Our children love this game and have such special memories of playing it with their uncle, Father Terrence Gordon during his last visits to our home. ❤️

O Key of David Ideas from Over the Years:

O Key of David, and Sceptre of the house of Israel, that openeth and no man shutteth, and shutteth and no man openeth, come to liberate the prisoner from the prison, and them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death.

December 21st – O Oriens (O Dayspring)

We’ll once again make hot cocoa and pile in the car to go look at Christmas lights downtown weather permitting!

O Dayspring Ideas from Over the Years:

O Dayspring, Brightness of the everlasting light, Son of justice, come to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death!

December 22nd – O Rex Gentium (O King of the Gentiles)

I’m still deciding on this one… Our children might receive the new Deluxe Christmas Nativity Wooden Playset from Shining Lights Dolls for this particular O Antiphon this year… I was sent two, one to keep and one to giveaway!

O King Ideas from Over the Years: (many are perfect for Epiphany too)

O King of the Gentiles, yea, and desire thereof!  O Corner-stone, that makest of two one, come to save man, whom Thou hast made out of the dust of the earth!

December 23rd – O Emmanuel (O With Us is God)

Once again we’ll bake our Christmas Cookies, fill a box/basket to take to Carmel, and I’ve give the family a new Christmas puzzle to start! The little girls will discover a new book (The First Christmas for Our Dear Little Ones) in our Advent Book Basket along with this Christmas Nativity Wooden Cube Puzzle.

O Emmanuel Ideas from Over the Years:

O Emmanuel, our King and our Law-giver, Longing of the Gentiles, yea, and salvation thereof, come to save us, O Lord our God!

Scroll through all the past “O Antiphon” posts here.

If you are looking for gift ideas, you can find my lists of Christmas Gift Ideas & Stocking Stuffers here (2015)here (2016)here (2017)here (2018)here (2019)here (2020), and here (2022).

O Antiphons Giveaway

And finally here is the 4th and final of my blog giveaways for this year!

Prize #1 – Set of Cookie Stamps

Win a Set of 7 Cookie Stamps with recipe booklet to go along with each of the O Antiphons: Wisdom: #460 – Triune God, House: #214 – Home Sweet Home, Root of Jesse: #520 – Willow Tree, Key of David: #543 – Key to My Heart, Dayspring: #291 – Moravian Star, King: #448 – Norwegian Wedding Crown, and Emmanuel: #368 – Nativity sponsored by Rycraft Cookie Stamps ($90.93 Value)

Congratulations, Anna!

Prize #2 – Deluxe Christmas Nativity Wooden Playset

Includes: Deluxe Christmas Nativity Wooden Playset sponsored by Shining Light Dolls ($84.99 Value)

Congratulations, Diana R!

Prize #3 – St. Florian’s Soap – Rose Scented Gift Package

Luxurious Natural Bath and Body Products made by a fellow parishioner of ours here in North Idaho! Go check out all the lovely scents she has available! (Not all items pictured are included in prize.) Includes: 8 oz Rose Cream ($19), Rose Soap ($10) and Rose Perfume ($22) sponsored by St. Florian’s Soap ($51.00 Value)

Congratulations, Kaycee

Prize #4 – A Year With The Popes

Includes: A Year With The Popes sponsored by TAN Books (value $44.95)

Congratulations, Philomena!

Prize #5 – The Golden Key and Other Fairy Tales

Includes: The Golden Key and Other Fairy Tales sponsored by Word on Fire Spark ($24.95 Value)

Congratulations, Leane A!

Prize # 6 – Three Kings, Ten Mysteries: The Secrets of Christmas and Epiphany

Includes: Three Kings, Ten Mysteries: The Secrets of Christmas and Epiphany sponsored by Ignatius Press ($21.95 Value)

Congratulations, Elizabeth!

Prize #7 – Seven Clues: A Catholic Treasure Hunt

Includes: Seven Clues: A Catholic Treasure Hunt by Scott Hahn and Maura Roan McKeegan ($19.99 Value)

Congratulations, Katherine M!

Enter the Giveaway using the Rafflecopter Box below: 

Once again, send me an email if it doesn’t work for you and I’ll add you manually! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read more about our family’s traditions here:

The Advent Season In Our Catholic Home

Wooden Advent Wreath for Children

Wooden Advent Wreath for Children

Looking for a wooden advent wreath for children? Check out the beautiful Double-sided Advent to Christmas Wooden Wreath Set and Our Lady of Guadalupe Candle from Shining Light Dolls (Save an additional 10% with coupon code SHOWEROFROSESBLOG)

I mentioned the Wooden Advent Wreath for children (and the Wooden Our Lady of Guadalupe Candle) in the “New Finds for Advent and Christmas” sections of the 2023 Shower of Roses Annual Gift Guide. St. Nicholas ended up leaving them as gifts for the girls on his feast day! I loved how our four year old immediately put the Our Lady of Guadalupe candle inside the wreath – just like the advent wreath on our dining room table. Here are some more pictures from December 6th.

Saint Nicholas Day
Wooden Advent Wreath for Children

This Advent/Christmas wreath is full of traditional symbolism which you can learn all about on the back of the box. The pieces can also be alternated (Advent side and Christmas side) to create a garland.

Advent Wreath Symbolism

I love that it includes white candles for the Christmas season too!

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mystical Rose, make intercession for the Holy Church, protect the Holy Father, help all those who invoke you in their needs. Since you are the ever Virgin Mary, and Mother of the True God, obtain for us from your most holy Son Jesus the grace of keeping our faith, sweet hope in the midst of the difficulties of life, burning charity, and the precious gift of final perseverance. Amen.

Double-sided Advent to Christmas Wooden Wreath Set

Our Lady of Guadalupe Candle

“It is the beautiful task of Advent to awaken in all of us memories of goodness and thus to open doors of hope.” — Pope Benedict XVI

St. Nicholas Day in the Morning

-Pictures from St. Nicholas Day in the Morning 2023-

Holy Bishop St. Nicholas lived faraway
Near the Aegean Sea is where Turkey did lay.
Travel back with us now to a time long ago.
We will visit his country, his life we will know.

Ostheimer Figures from our Collection

We remember this saint, such a holy, good man.
Be like him in charity, do all that you can.
Many miracles Nicholas hastened to do,
Helping people in need with gifts that were new.

This year’s New Christmas Books for the Feast of St. Nicholas

Bishop Nicholas traveled to Nicea town,
Where the Creed would be written, to us handed down.
During church every Sunday, we stand for the Creed.
Thank you Bishop St. Nicholas, for doing this deed.

Sailors tossed in the wind and the storms of the sea,
Saw a vision of Nicholas who guided them free.
Now patron of sailing, they remember him yet.
Many icons and pictures with fisherman’s net.

Drinking with Saint Nick, Winter Ale and Dr. Squatch SoapThe Christmas Rocket and new Hey Dudes

Giving money to poor girls, so marry could they,
Made our Nicholas famous, remembered today.
With dowry in hand, soon they were wed.
“God bless you and keep you,” St. Nicholas said.

A Christmas Carol The Graphic Novel and Dr. Squatch The Soap Star Wars Collection • The Lion in the Box and new shoes

Kid’s patron in Germany, Netherlands, too.
Asks that presents be given to children like you.
Their customs are different: they put out their shoes—
Filling them with toys, his coming’s good news!

‘Twas the Day Before Christmas in Bethlehem Town and Wooden Advent WreathSilent Night and OLG Wooden Candle

Here stockings are hung by the chimney with care,
In hope that St. Nicholas soon will come there.
Dressed as bishop or Santa, he’s one and the same—
Jolly, friendly, good man, we’re glad that he came.

St. Nicholas left a letter with details and tickets for a Journey to the North Pole Cruise that evening!

Call him “Santa” or “Saint,” they both mean the same,
For his nickname is Claus, short for Nicholas’ name.
Giving gifts was his custom—we still do today.
Deeds done in Jesus’ name forever will stay.

From this year’s Advent Book Basket Saint Nicholas: Patron Saint of ChildrenBook Review Here

Bishop Nicholas still is a hero to all.
Christmas Day, and all others we follow his call,
Bringing gifts and some joy to children in need.
Follow Nicholas today—do a good deed.

– Author Unknown

Older kids had to get to work and online classes so breakfast was Scrambled Eggs, Sausages and Cinnamon Rolls this year.We decided to save our usual Cherry Cheese Coffee Cake for Christmas!

On the Eve of St. Nicholas Day 2023 Pictures Here

The Snail and the King

The Snail and the King

Have you seen the brand new picture book from the author and illustrator of My Name is Philomena? The Snail and the King will be released tomorrow, March 19th, just in time for Easter! Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of The Snail and the King, where Fr....

Leap Day Time Capsule {Free Printable}

Leap Day Time Capsule {Free Printable}

Leap Day is quickly approaching! Despite my Intention to share this year's Leap Day Time Capsule weeks ago, an unexpected surgery delayed my plans. However, I've now completed the updates for 2024 and uploaded the files uploaded to share with you all! This year marks...

Christmas Cookies

Christmas Cookies

Merry Christmas Eve! 🎄 Mom tip: Teach your little kids to bake! Your future self will thank you! 😍 Our girls baked our annual Christmas cookies all on their own this year and did such an amazing job! (I didn’t have plans to bake and very grateful for Catherine taking...

Santa Lucia Day

Santa Lucia Day

Instagram post late on the feast of Santa Lucia Day 2023: This morning I woke up to “Mommy, where is the bread?!” ❤️ With our ‘Lucia’ off at college this year, mom down in bed for days recovering from shingles + virus, and the other older girls focusing on our OLG...

St. Nicholas Day in the Morning

St. Nicholas Day in the Morning

-Pictures from St. Nicholas Day in the Morning 2023- Holy Bishop St. Nicholas lived farawayNear the Aegean Sea is where Turkey did lay.Travel back with us now to a time long ago.We will visit his country, his life we will know. Ostheimer Figures from our...

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-23, Ranger-21, Twinkle Toes-20, Chiquita-18, Snuggles-16, Rose-14, Bud-12, Grace-6 and Joy-4 (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.

My Other Blog: Catholic Cuisine

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Shower of Roses Alphabet of Saints

A Papal Unit Study & Lap Book

Our Lent and Easter Books

Shower of Roses Easter Gift Guides



All Saints Party Printables

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