Candlemas Day, Fair and Bright

O Blessed Mother, the sword is already in your heart. You foreknow the future of the Fruit of your womb. May our fidelity in following Him through the coming mysteries of His public life bring some alleviations to the sorrows of your maternal heart.

Traditionally called Candlemas, candles are blessed at Mass on this day to help us remember the words of holy Simeon who called the babe in his arms, "A light to lighten the gentiles and the glory of your people, Israel." Luke 2: 32.

We also decorate cookies! I actually wasn't home this afternoon and evening (a few of us ended up going to Ranger's last out of town basketball game of the season) but that didn't stop the kids from making our Candlemas Cookies with Drip Plates.

I left the supplies (and my camera!) on the counter and our oldest daughter took care of the rest. I loved looking through the pictures she took when we got back home.

Happy Candlemas!

Brigid and the Butter

Brigid and the Butter: A Legend about St. Brigid of Ireland

Long ago in deep-green Ireland lived a bright-eyed slave girl named Brigid...

Last Easter one of the girls received this darling new picture book in her Easter Basket. It is such a sweet addition to our February Book Basket and perfect for today's feast of St. Brigid of Ireland. 

Ostheimer Black & White Cow, Calf Drinking and Lamb Standing • St. Brigid from Catholic Folk Toys

Feast Day Activity: 

Make homemade butter by pouring a pint of heavy cream or whipping cream into a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Have the children take turns shaking the jar until the butter has solidified. Pour off the buttermilk and use it to bake Traditional Irish Soda Bread!

Prayer to Saint Brigid

- from Brigid and the Butter

St. Brigid, you gave food to someone who was hungry although your stomach was also empty. I want to be generous, too. Pray for me so that, like you, I may do what I can to help others. Help me to care for people in need, even when it isn't easy. Amen. 

You can find more feast day books and activities for celebrating the feast of St. Brigid in the archives and recipes over at Catholic Cuisine.

Stacks of Books on Epiphany {Little Christmas}

For a number of years now we've been giving our children Stacks of Books for Christmas or Epiphany. As our home library (and family size!) continues to grow the stacks for each child have started shrinking. Last year there were four books in each stack and this year we decided on three for each of our children, saving any extras for Easter which is going to come up so quick this year.

I always love sharing the books we've picked out so here is the list for this year: 

Captain (age 17) received Battlefield Chaplains, John Flanagan's newest release The Caldera from the Brotherband Series, and Peanuts Mad Libs.

Ranger (age 15) received The Hobbit Movie Trilogy: Heroes & Villains Coloring Book, A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War: How J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis Rediscovered Faith, Friendship, and Heroism in the Cataclysm of 1914-191, and The Perfect Blindside.

Twinkle Toes (age 14) received Emily of New Moon, Emily Climbs, and Emily's Quest.

Chiquita (age 12) received The Chronicles of Narnia Pop Up, National Geographic Guide to the Night Sky: A Stargazer's Companion, and the (new and improved!) Spiritual Journal from Holy Heroes.

I had actually purchased The Chronicles of Narnia Pop Up (from Ebay I think) last spring for her 12th birthday to go along with the Chronicles of Narnia themed party but completely forgot to give it to her. Such a neat book!

Snuggles (age 10) received Picture That: Knights & Castles (Exploring History through Art), John Ronald's Dragons: The Story of J.R.R. Tolkien, and On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness.

I've been catching this little guy wide awake in the middle of the night as he reads through The Lord of the Rings series... He is currently reading (and loving!) The Two Towers. (Hard to believe I was ever worried about his reading just a couple years ago!) He was so excited when he unwrapped this picture book about J.R.R. Tolkien and immediately read the whole thing, ignoring all the chaos around him.

Rose (age 8) received Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty, and Pride and Prejudice Seek and Find.

Still searching through the pictures! 

Bud (age 6) received Winter is the Warmest Season, Mr. Ferris and His Wheel, and The Seven Silly Eaters. He loved all three, but Mr. Ferris and His Wheel (the story and all the gorgeous illustrations) was definitely the favorite.

Grace (7 months) received Jonah and the Big Fish, All Creatures Great and Small, and Love Is Patient, Love Is Kind.

You can find all our past book lists in the archives.

Celebrating Epiphany

Out of the Orient they came ariding

Three noble kings, of humble heart and mild;

They came to see the Blessed Lord of Heaven

Descend to earth, to be a little child. 

Precious gifts of gold and myrrh and incense,

Bringing God the gifts which God had made;

Low the kings in homage bowing,

At the feet of Mary laid.

-  The Kings, The Christmas Book

January 6th:  I haven’t been baking much this Christmas, at least not since recommitting to 100% AIP on the 1st, but there will be a crown shaped king’s cake for Epiphany! #thanksforthehelpgirls

Happy Epiphany! 👑✨ {we are saving the cake for after Mass tomorrow since one of the boys had a high school basketball game over at the coast and didn’t get home until really late tonight - but we still had plenty of Christmas treats and a family movie night}

 

 

Stacks of gifts from the Wise Men - also saved for after Mass

 

 

You can find the Epiphany home blessing in the archives.