Goodbye Dr Pepper and Chocolate~ Hello Tradition and Sacrificial Grace! 5 Amazing Lenten Posts #5faves

Journeying to the same destination.....entering the dark night of the soul. 

Same season, same "rules," same goals. 

Different approaches. 

Forty seven days of austere. Of sacrifice. Of forfeiture.

Heck, let's face it. Forty seven days of renouncing Dr Pepper? 

Now that's self denial....for me. For you? Maybe not so much.

 Lent isn't the season of How-To-Be-Perfect, 

but rather the season of

 How-To-Serve-the-Lord-as-Perfectly-As-I-Am-Able-in-This-Season-of-My-Life.
Sixteen years ago on Shrove Tuesday 1999, I miscarried our first child.
All there was for months, let alone the lenten season, was emptiness.
Darkness, tears, black, confused nothingness.
My mom told me I'd "suffered enough." Giving up chocolate, she asked....
Well, what's the point after you lose a child?
Isn't that ample sacrifice?
But really.......the choice to enter the desert.....
 to willingly give, offer, reject is our decision....or not.
And maybe that year, maybe any year,
  the path to do more or different is better than doing less.
Than denying oneself.

It may be hard to discern the gentle and the perfect-for-me through our desire to attempt The Best and The Most...you know?

Of course, you do.

So that being said, if you are looking for one or two, or even a

few  meaningful activities to add into your family's repertoire of 

liturgical year traditions this Lenten season, you've landed at  a treasure trove today!

I'm so so so happy to share my five favorite Lenten blog posts~

So let's get started with the fun, the inspiration and the wealth of tradition:

~ONE~

Tracy, of A Slice of Smith Life, shares in

 Feast Days and Lots of Lent Posts

absolutely everything you need from 

 magnetic stations of the cross

 to  lenten chains to Holy Week Happenings!

 Tracy, I think we'll all be over for your Good Friday lunch!! 

~ TWO ~ 

Birgit's Lenten Journey for Kids

Birgit also discusses her Eggstraordinary Rosary Project and 

 a fun Stations of the Cross activity....

Do. Not. Miss. This!!

~THREE~

Monica's Stations of the Cross Votive Candle Holders

is a  fun, easy  and  gorgeous way  for kids to make the 14 stations their own!

And friends, while I'm sharing Monica's ingenuity, 

 don't miss clicking over to her brand new 

Mystery of the Rosary Craft Kit!

Monica is the mastermind behind Equipping Catholic Families and

really, the creativity that bursts from her blog is unreal!

~FOUR~

If you're looking for inspiration, quotes, a peek at family liturgical culture,

Emily of Our Home, Under Mary's Mantle

shares a warm, welcoming round up of traditions and reflections

in For Love of Lent

When you read one of Em's blog posts, you're instantly rejuvenated, as if you've shared 

a cup of tea and a long chat.

That's how  casual, yet charming,  her style. 

~FIVE~

Last but not least, Jennifer of Catholic Inspired, has created a phenomenal 47 page

 ebook, "Journey with Jesus, Daily Bible Readings and Meditations," 

which contains a Bible reading for each day during Lent as well as beautiful artwork as we travel through Jesus's life.

Sounds amazing, right?

To make our walk through Jesus' life even more real, Jen is including her Jesus Tree printables and info, depicting scenes from the life of our Lord.

Look  how stunning Jen's family's tree is:

So this would technically make my post SIX faves, not five....

but I have to add in my mega Lent post from last year, which is a round up of so many activities that my kids have done throughout the years,.....

including  Lenten Wreaths, Crowns of Thorns, 

Mercy Crosses, Crucifixion Art, Books We Love ~~~~

           

The boys worked diligently on these projects

 and we actually keep them up year round as 

solid, tangible symbols  of our Faith....and of their childhoods...as they grow older!

Come back next week ( and for several weeks after ) for my five fave

 Doctor Who moments, season by season.

Hey, Doctor Pepper may be off limits, but  Whovian wit and epic,

wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey, well........... stuff ?

 I think we're good. And please click this link if you're in the dark.

That'll clear it all up. Sort of.

Much love  and peace to you all this lent~~!!

Thank you for spending some of your precious time today

here at my home on the web! 

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Until next time,

~Chris

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