Have you been missing Family Friday? I have. I was so excited just a few weeks back when we cancelled movie night and the kids got along great. We're back at that point and I have to say, I'm not excited.
We're going through a patch of tough love here in the Awesomeness House. Again, it doesn't feel so awesome, so it's harder for me to blog about how to be Awesome.
Yes, the reality is, everyday, I struggle with being Awesome. My kids are "normal" kids in that they aren't perfect. In fact, some days, I'm convinced they really are trying to make me insane. Do you ever have that feeling?
I thought it best to focus on how I'm raising myself up in order to keep my head just above the Awesome line, while my arms are grabbing at the kids trying to keep their heads closer to the surface of Awesome. That's really it... part of being a family is not only spending time together doing meaningful things, it's also about bringing each other up towards God.
For my family, we're heading towards the Lenten season... it's less than a week away. Lent is a great time to raise yourself up above the Awesomeness line and focus on God. In fact, those 40 days and 40 nights... that's what they all about. It's a time of extra reflection on Jesus' sacrifice. So as we get ready to pack up our "Alleluia," I'm reflecting on some things we can do as a family to move closer together and closer to God.
The first thing I need to "dig" up is my 40 Ways for 40 Days book. I used it last year for something inspirational to do during Lent and ended up adopting a Catechumen (someone who is going through the process of becoming a Catholic). I'm happy to say, I supported my adoptee's Faith during the final few weeks before her baptism/Eucharist/confirmation and I was inspired to finally move forward towards my Confirmation. [I'll be Confirmed at the Easter Vigil Mass this year-- yes, now would be a good time to pray for my strength of Faith.] This year, I want to do something different.
The second thing I'm doing is, I've joined the Lenten Adventure at the Holy Heros website. It's free... and I'm hoping it will be fun. Despite the fact that one of my children is not supposed to be having any electronic media for the next week, I'm definitely going to be "indulging" him with Faith education. [And no, you don't have to be Catholic to join in... so if you're a Christian, you may want to look into doing this with us. You may just find some deep inspiration for your own faith.]
A third thing I'm considering is implementing a Family Rosary time. I haven't quite worked out how I want to do it. Do I want to do a full rosary each day? A weekly rosary focusing on one mystery? A decade a day each week focusing on one mystery a week (this is what the kids do in school)? Does anyone have their two cents they want to post in the comments or on the FB page? Please do! As Awesome as I am, I still need a little guidance. I know that if I announce we're going to do a Family Rosary, my son will groan, my husband will give me a skeptical look and my daughter will remind me every day and ask if it's time to say the rosary yet. As part of this, I am going to put Rosary: Mysteries, Meditations, and the Telling of the Beads, by Kevin Orlin Johnson as the next book in my reading list (right after I finish the last hundred pages of a book about Abraham) and jump over a few others I was planning to read.
Lastly, I think we're going to take some time on Mardi Gras, next Tuesday, or on Ash Wednesday next week and all put together our Lenten sacrifice goal. I think I may make up a poster this weekend that we can all decorate together as part of our family time. After all, with no TV, computer, gaming system privileges for one child, we all have to find something else to do.
How do you plan to implement or continue Lenten traditions in your home?
** UPDATE**
I forgot to share some Lenten Reading suggestions for the Catholic Publication, Our Sunday Visitor. The Lenten Reading List has some great suggestions (I even own a few already and my local Catholic Shoppe carries several of the options!)
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