In Honor of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Well, summer is drawing to a close, and yesterday was our last:

Summer with the Saints

The month of August is dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and so was this week's Summer with the Saints.


"Since the 16th century Catholic piety has assigned entire months to special devotions. The month of August is traditionally dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The physical heart of Mary is venerated (and not adored as the Sacred Heart of Jesus is) because it is united to her person: and as the seat of her love (especially for her divine Son), virtue, and inner life. Such devotion is an incentive to a similar love and virtue."  (Catholic Culture)



Here is an overview of our afternoon:

The Children started with some beautiful coloring pages of the Immaculate Heart of Mary:

I must say that Marci is a very creative and resourceful craft planner. For this week she came up with a way for the children to make the Immaculate Heart of Mary using only a piece of red construction paper, scissors, glue and some crepe streamers in pink, red and orange.

 

Didn't they turn out great?!? To make them, all you have to do is fold your paper in half to cut out a heart. Spread glue over the heart. Tear some orange strips of crepe paper for the flames and add to the top middle of the heart. Make little balls out of the red crepe paper and cover the heart. Make little balls out of the pink paper to add around the middle for the ring of flowers.

As they were making them, Rascal said, "This is the easiest craft ever! It is so much fun!" Need I say more . . .

Next my boys (Rascal decided not to be left out this week) got busy creating there Summer with the Saints Sidewalk Art based on the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

The Immaculate Heart of Mary

Left picture by Captain; Right picture by Rascal

Then it was playtime for the children while the snacks were prepared.

I just love how you can so clearly see the difference between boys and girls in this last picture! My daughter is peacefully jumping next to a three boy pileup! :)

For today's snack, the kids enjoyed the cutest little ice cream sandwiches shaped like hearts.

Before we left, we got another group photo. It was a small group once again this week. But oh so much fun, just the same. 

OH! I almost forgot. . . We didn't have time to stay and make Holy Cards this week, since we had to get to the children's last swimming lesson of the week, aka Graduation Day. Nevertheless, we brought home the printed images so we could make them later.


We are most definitely going to miss the weekly Summer with the Saints.
It was so much fun!

Sweet heart of Mary, be my salvation!

Celebrating the Feast of St. Maximilian Kolbe

Yesterday, after the children's swimming lessons, we attended this weeks:

Summer with the Saints

August 14th is the feast of St. Maximilian Kolbe, so he was, most appropriately, the featured saint this week!

We began the afternoon at Marci's in her air conditioned home (since it hit 108 degrees!!) listening to The Knight and Our Lady: The Story of Saint Maximilian Kolbe.

(I just LOVE all of the Glory Stories Cd's. They are all WONDERFUL!)

Like usual, the children colored pictures, made holy cards, put together a craft, and had lots of yummy snacks!

Here are a few pictures from the day...

Coloring Pictures

Making Holy Cards

Making St. Maximilian Crown's

"That night, I asked the Mother of God what was to become of me. Then she came to me holding two crowns, one white, the other red. She asked me if I was willing to accept either of these crowns. The white one meant that I should persevere in purity, and the red that I should become a martyr. I said that I would accept them both." ~ St. Maximilian Kolbe

I must say that I think this craft was very creative!! Marci came up with it all on her own. She used red visors from the craft store, cut them to look like crowns (if worn upside down) and let the children decorate them. She had some white felt cut ready and backed with sticky paper so it was easy to adhere to the crown, and the children added glitter glue and beads to finish them off. Didn't they turn out cute?

After crafts, the kids all played together. My children just love the tree swing and the trampoline... (And the castle... and the sand box... and the sidewalk chalk... and everything!) They had a blast, like usual!

Playing in the Yard

Sidewalk Art by Captain

For snack time, Marci made a delicious White and Red Cake.


Next year I am hoping to try out a couple of the recipes that were posted over at Catholic Cuisine! Ruth shared some ideas for a Polish dinner, and suggested making two cakes one red and one white for dessert... I think it would be awesome to make those two cakes shaped like crowns. Don't you? Also, Charlotte (aka Waltzing Matilda) shared a delicious looking recipe for some Polish Candy along with a neat craft!

Despite the ridiculous heat, we had an absolutely perfect day! I hope you all did as well!

St. Maximilian Kolbe ~ Pray for Us!

Roses for St. Thérèse

One of our favorite things this past month has been the weekly

Summer with the Saints

Marci has done an amazing job coordinating and hosting this get together each week! I feel so totally spoiled. Each week, I just show up with my children and they get to learn about the Saints, make Holy Cards, do a fun craft, eat symbolic snacks, and have a total blast. And as if that wasn't enough, this week Marci even featured my favorite saint. Yep, Sara was right, it was in honor of St. Thérèse of Lisieux!

My kids (and I) were all so excited when we pulled up and saw the sign.

Captain said, "Yeah! I just knew it was going to be St. Thérèse!" Twinkle Toes said, "I love St. Thérèse!!!" I said, "Me too!" ;)

I snapped a quick picture of the kiddos squinting in the sun next to the sign and headed around to the backyard once again.

Right away, they all got busy coloring pictures of St. Thérèse. My children love to color!!

Next Marci served the cutest little rose cupcakes for a snack. Thank goodness that we were the only family attending this week, since my children practically ate all the cupcakes. I guess swimming makes my little ones extra hungry... I do feed them!


I didn't get a very good picture of the cupcakes, but you can see them (along with lots of other cute photos) over at Marci's blog.

Marci even made some delicious dairy/gluten free cupcakes. They were SO good!!! I am going to definitely pick up some of that mix. Yum!!!


Next they all moved onto making their St. Thérèse holy cards...

(They now have quite a nice collection!)

...followed by lots of playtime.

Then it was time to make paper roses! Even though they were a tinsy-winsy bit hard to make, with a little bit of folding...

...and a little bit of love...


...they all turned out beautifully!

I am sure St. Thérèse was smiling!

Marci even sent us home with a big box of hand-me-downs from my favorite children's store! Thank you once again Marci, we had a wonderful time!

Novena to St. Thérèse

O Little Thérèse of the Child Jesus, please pick for me a rose from the heavenly gardens and send it to me as a message of love. O Little Flower of Jesus, ask God today to grant the favors I now place with confidence in your hands …(Mention specific requests)... St. Thérèse, help me to always believe as you did, in God’s great love for me, so that I might imitate your “Little Way” each day. Amen.

St. Thérèse ~ Pray for Us!