Little Flowers Girls' Club ~ The Gift of Knowledge

This past Thursday we had our 3rd Little Flowers Girls' Club meeting for Wreath IV.   I was very happy that all eight of the girls were able to make it this month, even though I wasn't able to put too much effort into preparing...  Thankfully I did most of that a couple months ago, so there wasn't much that needed to be done prior to the meeting.

Amy also came a little early, bringing along Lily to help!

This meeting focused on the gift of Knowledge and St. Gertrude the Great, whose feast day is celebrated on November 16th!  Here are some pictures and highlights from this month's meeting:

~ Coloring Pages ~

St. Gertrude the Great from Catholic Artworks Faith Keepers CD

Other Coloring Page Options:
Sister from St. Anne's Helper

IHS Coloring Page Option 1 and IHS Coloring Page Option 2
Most Holy Name of Jesus (IHS) from Waltzing Matilda

Sacred Heart of Jesus Coloring Pages from That Resource Site

~ Wreath IV Lap Book ~

We had a short lesson on the gift of Knowledge and St. Gertrude, and then continued our lesson by reviewing our Lap Book mini-books from last month, and then working on the new additions for the gift of Knowledge.

Here is an overview of what was completed (*some are taken home to complete):

• Continue working on the cover, if necessary
• Review last month's gift and add Mini Books that were completed at home
• Add Definition and Motto for the Gift of Knowledge
• Add the correct Jewel to the Treasure Box
• Complete the Saint Profile*
• Complete the Convert Profile*
• Choose and write down your favorite "Quote from the Psalm 139 on Knowledge" to share at the next meeting*

Additional Resources:

The Promises of the Sacred Heart

Movie Suggestion from Member's Guide: 

The Story of Alexander Graham Bell

~ Notebook Pages ~

For the notebook pages, I used the motto for knowledge, a prayer which Our Lord told St.  Gertrude would release 1,000 souls from Purgatory every time it is said, an image of St. Gertrude, a definition on the gift of Knowledge from My Catholic Faith, and acrylic gemstones in topaz.  You can download my document here.

Here is a picture of the sample page I created:

Here are a the girls' completed notebook pages:

~ Craft ~

Incorporating the IHS symbol, which is part of the symbol for St. Gertrude, we will be decorating candles for our 3rd Meeting for Wreath IV of our Little Flowers Girls' Club.   This meeting focuses on the Gift of Knowledge, St. Gertrude, the gemstone Topaz, as well as the symbol of "Fire" making this a perfect craft for this meeting!

Directions can be found here: IHS Candle Craft

~ Snack Time ~

Saintly Symbols Cupcakes :: St. Gertrude

Chocolate Cupcakes (baked in Heart Shaped Silicone Cups), topped with White Frosting, yellow sprinkles, yellow gel rays, and a red Candy Heart (made with the Wilton Hearts Candy Mold). 

Since our meetings are now held in the late afternoon/evening, one of the moms volunteered to bring pizza, and we will rotate turns for the remaining 4 meetings.  

~ Group Photo ~ 

A few of the girls had to leave early for a Veteran's Day Presentation at their school, but for those that were able to stay, Lily had prepared a fun little lesson on St. Gertrude, Knowledge, and ended with a fun game of Trivia!  I was very grateful for all of her help! 

Be sure to check the Shower of Roses Little Flowers Girls' Club link-up during the next few weeks, as all of the girls that are "joining" our group online/at home share pictures from their meetings for this year!

*Please Note:  Rather than posting separate link-ups each month, to simplify things for myself and all those participating, I have combined them all into one post!   You can find the Little Flower Link-ups here and the Blue Knight Link-ups here, or just click on either of the Buttons in the right sidebar.  

Grant me the Spirit of Knowledge that I may know God and know myself and grow in the science of the Saints.

St. Gertrude, pray for us! 

Little Flowers Girls' Club ~ The Gift of Understanding

This past Thursday we had our 2nd Little Flowers Girls' Club meeting for Wreath IV.   We ended up having a small group of girls, due to a bit of miscommunication on the meeting date (I had rescheduled to this coming Thursday, and then needed to move it back, scheduling it around an upcoming trip), but even though it was small and we missed the other girls, we still had a wonderful meeting. 

In addition to baking cupcakes, and all the other last minute preparations for the meeting, I somehow managed to find the time to iron on all of the girls' patches that they have earned over the few years,  in addition to the crown patch that their gemstones will be attached to this year, to their new (slightly larger) sashes!  They were outgrowing the small sashes that I originally purchased for them, and so I purchased these lovely deluxe sashes for this year.

As I was working on this "little" project, it made me realize just how much we have accomplished in the past few years of Little Flowers!  I still need to go back and secure/sew them to the sash, since the iron-on fabric that I used doesn't seem to be holding too well, but at least it is a start and the girls were so excited!

Bonus picture of my latest favorite Little Flowers Apron, though I do have the beautiful new "Living the Little Way" design on my ever growing "wish list!"  Aren't the Catholic Aprons great?! 

Here are some more pictures and highlights from this month's meeting:

~ Coloring Pages ~

St. Catherine of Alexandria from Catholic Artworks Faith Keepers CD

(If any one knows of any other sources for St. Catherine of Alexandria Coloring Pages, please let me know!) 

by Twinkle Toes and Chiquita

Father Damien of Molokai from Waltzing Matilda

 (Sent home to be used as an alternative for one of the member's guide assignment for the younger girls, instead of watching the movie Damien)

by Twinkle Toes and Chiquita

~ Wreath IV Lap Book ~

We had a short lesson on the gift of Understanding and St. Catherine of Alexandria, and then continued our lesson by reviewing our Lap Book mini-books from last month, and adding some for the gift of Understanding.

The girls had all completed the mini-books for their "Favorite Quote from the Book of Wisdom"  (I posted the ones my girls choose here), St. Teresa of Avila, and Malcolm Muggeridge.   They all enjoyed sharing what they wrote in the mini-books with each other, and then adding them to their lap books.

We then continued with the mini-books for this meeting. Here is an overview of what was completed (*some are taken home to complete):

• Continue working on the cover, if necessary
• Review last month's gift and add Mini Books that were completed at home
• Add Definition and Motto for the Gift of Understanding
• Add the correct Jewel to the Treasure Box
• Complete the Saint Profile*
• Complete the Convert Profile*
• Choose and write down your favorite "Quote from the Book of Proverbs on Understanding" to memorize and share at the next meeting*

So far I have been very happy with this new addition this year, and the girls seem to like it as well!

Additional Resources:

A Story of St. Catherine of Alexandria

~ Notebook Pages ~

For the notebook pages, I used the motto for understanding,  various quotes on understanding, an image of St. Catherine, a definition on the gift of Understanding from My Catholic Faith, a prayer to St. Catherine, and acrylic gemstones and sequins in emerald green. You can download my document here.

Here is a picture of the sample page I created:

Here are a few of the girls completed notebook pages:

~ Craft ~

Since the Member's Guide lists the symbol for this meeting as being "Water," I decided to have the girls make Holy Water Fonts.

We also made them "Heart" shape, recalling an old custom that originated in France, that on St. Catherine's Day, heart-shaped cakes are given to young women who have reached the age of twenty-five and are still single.  Not that any of the girls need to worry about that! ;)

Directions can be found here:  St. Catherine of Alexandria Holy Water Fonts

~ Snack Time ~

Saintly Symbols Cupcakes :: St. Catherine of Alexandria

Pumpkin Cupcakes baked in Heart Shaped Silicone Cups, topped with Cream Cheese Frosting, sprinkles, and a Candy Crown - a symbol of St. Catherine of Alexandria. 

Last month, when I was making a trial cupcake for each month, I used pink/red sprinkles and a brown chocolate crown.   For our actual meeting I used gold sprinkles and a yellow/gold candy crown.  I'm not sure which one I like better. . . 

~ Group Photo ~ 

Be sure to check the Shower of Roses Little Flowers Girls' Club link-up during the next few weeks, as all of the girls that are "joining" our group online/at home share pictures from their second meetings for this year!  

Grant me the Spirit of Understanding to enlighten my mind with the light of Thy divine truth.

St. Catherine of Alexandria, 
pray for us! 

Preparing for Little Flowers

Yesterday afternoon, as I was baking more cupcakes for our 2nd Little Flowers Meeting, the girls were preparing as well.   They looked so cute sitting at the counter searching through the bible for their "Favorite Quote from the Book of Wisdom" to be added to their Wreath IV Lap Books.

"Wisdom rescued from troubles 

those who served her." ~ Wisdom 10:9

"Let us crown ourselves with rosebuds 

before they wither." ~ Wisdom 2:8

The first was chosen by Chiquita, and the second by Twinkle Toes.

The Lap Books have been a wonderful addition this year!   I will be back sometime soon with pictures from our meeting, and a link-up, but today we are headed to town for a field trip today, and then to the pumpkin patch sometime this weekend, so it may be a day or two.  

I am also still working on finalizing the pen-pal lists for our Online Groups.   I never imagined that I would have so much interest (over 80 children have signed up!!) so it is taking me a little longer than I thought it would to sort through all the emails and make the assignments.  Thank you all for your patience! 

Little Flowers Girls' Club ~ The Gift of Wisdom

I can't believe that we are already beginning the 4th, and final, YEAR of the Little Flowers Girls' Club!  It seems like just yesterday that my girls were just 3 and 5, and I was preparing for our very first meeting...   As always, they were very excited!

Thankfully, this year, I had a chance to prepare over the summer.   Since Wreath IV was created with older Little Flowers in mind, I had quite a bit of modifying that needed to be done for the younger girls in my group - mainly when it came to them being able to complete the monthly assignments to earn their patches.   This resulted in the creation of a Wreath IV Lap Book - allowing them to simply (or with lots of detail, depending on their age and ability) fulfill some of the assignments from the Member's Guides.

Like I have done in the past, our meetings this year will consist of Prayer, Coloring Pages, a Lesson on the virtue (or rather Gift of the Holy Spirit, since Wreath IV is all about the 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit), Notebook Pages, the new addition of the Lap Book Mini Books, Snacks, and sometimes Games (when time allows).   It is going to be another great year!

The meeting just flew by, with all the fun plans I had made that kept us pretty busy, that I kept forgetting to take pictures.   Thankfully I did take a some before the meeting started, and a couple during, so I do have a few to share with you all today!

~ Coloring Pages ~

St. Teresa of Avila from Waltzing Matilda (used for our craft!)

St. Teresa of Avila from Catholic Artworks Faith Keepers CD

St. Teresa of Avila Coloring Book

~ Lesson on the Gift of Wisdom ~

Wisdom: The Pearl of Great Price

I had asked this wonderful priest to come and give a talk to the girls on Wisdom, but unfortunately he was transfered, after just two months of being in our area, before we were able to have our first meeting, so I had my girls watch this homily in preparation for the meeting.  During our meeting,while going over the mini books, we talked about the gift of Wisdom and St. Teresa of Avila.

Wisdom is similar to knowledge and comprehension yet is it different. Wisdom offers us guidance and understanding of the really important things in life. Wisdom helps us to make good choices. It is like a compass within us. Conscience is a part of wisdom. We are born with wisdom but we learn how to listen and use it better as we grow and age. Sometimes we gain a deeper appreciation of wisdom and use it better as a result of making mistakes and learning from them.

Additional Resources:

Teresa of Avila: Joyful in the Lord

The Young People's Book of Saints

A Holy Card Prayer Book -Volume I and II: A Compilation of Saints and Holy People

~ Wreath IV Lap Book Mini Books~

I started by introducing the girls to the concept of Lap Booking, this will be the first Lap Book for most of them, and showed them the sample Lap Book I created over the summer.    I loved how excited they were to see the project!

Prior to the meeting I printed out all the supplies we would need for the whole year.  I also thought that I would pre-make the actual Lap Book, but decided to have the girls do this during the meeting, so that they could see how it is done.    I asked each of the girls to share something from the "My Catholic Faith" mini-books (which I had emailed to the moms for the girls to complete before the first meeting).

It was fun to see all the variety, stickers, artwork, and pictures that the girls included as they completed the pages for their Birth, Baptism, 1st Holy Communion, Patron Saints, etc.

We then went on to get started with assembling the Lap Books and adding the mini-books for this meeting:

• Color the Cover and add to Lap Book
• Add Definition and Motto for the Gift of Wisdom
• Complete the Saint Profile
• Complete the Convert Profile
• Add the correct Jewel to the Treasure Box
• Choose and write down your favorite "Quote from the Book of Wisdom" to share at the next meeting

We didn't have nearly enough time to finish everything, but with all the extras necessary to get started, I figured we would run out of time.   The girls went home with some unfinished mini-books to continue working on at home between now and our next meeting in a couple weeks.

~ Notebook Pages ~

For the notebook pages, I used the motto for Wisdom, A Love Song by St. Teresa of Avila, an image of St. Teresa of Avila, a definition on the gift of Wisdom from the wonderful book My Catholic Faith, a prayer to St. Teresa of Avila, and acrylic gemstones. You can download my document here.

Here is a picture of the sample page I created:

Here are the girls completed notebook pages:

~ Craft ~

Since one of the symbols for St. Teresa of Avila is a "Book," I came up with a "Wisdom of the Saints" Journal for the girls to make as our craft, in which they can record their favorite quotes from the saints! 

Directions can be found here:  "Wisdom of the Saints" Journal

~ Snack Time ~

Saintly Symbols Cupcakes :: St. Teresa of Avila

White Cupcakes baked in Jasper Colored Cupcake Holders, topped with Buttercream Frosting and a chocolate Book (a symbol of St. Teresa of Avila) and a white candy Dove (for the St. Teresa of Avila quote below). 

Served with Apple Juice  - our meeting was on Michaelmas after all! 

"Then I saw over my head a dove, very different from those we usually see, for it had not the same plumage, but wings formed of small shells shining brightly. It was larger than an ordinary dove; I thought I heard the rustling of its wings. It hovered above me during the space of an Ave Maria. But such was the state of my soul, that in losing itself it lost also the sight of the dove. My spirit grew calm with such a guest; and yet, as I think, a grace so wonderful might have disturbed and frightened it; and as it began to rejoice in the vision, it was delivered from all fear, and with the joy came peace, my soul continuing entranced. The joy of this rapture was exceedingly great; and for the rest of that festal time I was so amazed and bewildered that I did not know what I was doing, nor how I could have received so great a grace. I neither heard nor saw anything, so to speak, because of my great inward joy. From that day forth I perceived in myself a very great progress in the highest love of God, together with a great increase in the strength of my virtues. May He be blessed and praised for ever! Amen.

On another occasion I saw that very dove above the head of one of the Dominican fathers; but it seemed to me that the rays and brightness of the wings were far greater. I understood by this that he was to draw souls unto God."  - The Life, Chapter XX.

~ Group Photo ~ 

Be sure to check the Shower of Roses Little Flowers Girls' Club link-up during the next few weeks, as all of the girls that are "joining" our group online/at home share pictures from their first meetings for this year!  

Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom that I may despise the perishable things of this world and aspire only after the things that are eternal. 

St. Teresa of Avila, 
pray for us!