Little Flowers February- Obedience

Julia had her Little Flowers group over today. We had a nice time learning all about St. Joan of Arc and the virtue of obedience. Our flower was the carnation.
We began with the girls coloring a beautiful picture of St. Joan of Arc that came from Fenestrae Fidei.



As they colored I paraphrased this book as we looked at the illustrations-


We talked about obedience and how St. Joan of Arc was obedient to God even when it meant her death. To obey she had to first listen to God. We talked about the people who God wants us to obey and how we can listen to them and obey them with a cheerful spirit. We talked about how St. Joan of Arc's obedience was a blessing to the whole country of France and many other Chrstians through the centuries and how her disobdience could have led to more suffering.

We talked about how even Christ, who was God Himself, obeyed his earthly parents and learned our memory verse- Luke 5:21-


Then it was time to work on our "obedience" notebook pages-








Then for snack we had Fleur-de-lis cookies! We talked about how Joan of Arc carried a white banner that showed God blessing the French royal emblem, the fleur-de-lis, when she led French troops to victory over the English in support of the Dauphin, Charles VII, in his quest for the French throne. The Roman Catholic Church ascribed the lily as the special emblem of the Virgin Mary, and due to its three "petals," the fleur-de-lis has also been used to represent the Holy Trinity.





A superfun day with these supersweet little flowers-

Out on the farm

Why am I slowing the blogging? Because all weekend we moved BB and Poppy into their NEW house! It's a little farm on a lake with a little fishing pier and a big red barn with horse stalls. A perfect little getaway for the kids and I and it's 30 minutes from our house.

I'm sore all over from the unpacking- I feel like I ran a marathon! And if I feel so tired imagine how BB and Poppy feel! We are so happy they are here- it's surreal to think I have no reason to go "home" to Mobile anymore. THANK YOU BB and POPPY!

In other news that I don't want to forget- I took the kids to see "The Little Engine that Could" at the children's theatre three weeks ago. The next week Marc took Marky to see "Sacagawea" at the main stage theater. This past Friday we took a field trip to the Southern Museum of Flight- it was so worth it to get the tour. They asked questions and Marky knews lots of answers- like "how long was the first flight?" Marky: 12 seconds. "What industry were the Wright brothers in before planes?" Marky: bicycles "What do you call a plane with two wings on each side?" Marky: a biplane.

I just looked at him in wonder (like I do most days) and said, "how in the world do you know all of that?" And he said, "I read it somewhere." And that is that I guess. If only I could remember all the things I read somewhere. :)

Lent Begins

Everyone in the house has crosses of ash on their forheads- we know Lent is here. I REALLY long to make this one count. Really, really change for the better- spring cleaning for the soul. We got our stuff done today that we do every year- Marky insisted on me making him his road map to Easter-



I tried to make two road maps, but Julia really wanted her lamb like the last two years- so here's her little lamb calendar-


And we have our crown of thorns out- we will take out a thorn and lay it at the foot of the cross for every sacrifice made for Jesus these next 40 days-



I loved today's first reading at mass from Joel 2:12-14-

12 Yet even now, says the LORD, return to Me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; 13 Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the LORD, your God. For gracious and merciful is He, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment. 14 Perhaps He will again relent and leave behind Him a blessing...

As the priest put the ashes on my forehead today he said, "Turn from your sin and believe the Gospel."

Amen and amen.

Ash Wednesday

O Sacred Head, surrounded by crown of piercing thorn!
O bleeding Head, so wounded,reviled and put to scorn!
Our sins have marred the glory of Thy most Holy Face,
yet angel hosts adore Thee and tremble as they gaze.

I see Thy strength and vigor all fading in the strife,
and death with cruel rigor, bereaving Thee of life;
O agony and dying! O love to sinners free!
Jesus, all grace supplying,O turn Thy face on me.

In this Thy bitter passion,Good Shepherd, think of me
with Thy most sweet compassion,unworthy though I be:
beneath Thy cross abiding for ever would I rest,
in Thy dear love confiding,and with Thy presence blest.

But death too is my ending; In that dread hour of need,
My friendless cause befriending, Lord, to my rescue speed:
Thyself, O Jesus, trace me,Right passage to the grave,
And from Thy cross embrace me,With arms outstretched to save.

From text written by St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1091-1153), translated by Henry Williams Baker in 1861.

Baby Sissybug

We've been saving our pics from our old computer to our new one, and I've SO ENJOYED remembering sweet Juliabug's baby years- she was such a precious dollbaby with the biggest, roundest, happiest sunshine face!

Ha!

Extra Cuddles

We all are happy to have BB living here- especially little Charliehorse who gets double the hugs and kisses everyday!