Rebekah as “St. Elizabeth of Hungry” This cute costume was created with a princess costume from a local department store. We added a basket with some roses and fake bread. NOTE: This information and the images are meant to inspire you to make your own costume. I’m sorry, these costumes are not for sale.

~Jennifer’s Thoughts: Faith, What is faith? The dictionary defines faith as “a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny”. Faith is also an English word which is thought to date from 1200BC–50BC. It comes from the Latin word fidem or fides, meaning “trust”, derived from the verb fidere, to trust. So then the word meaning “trust” is actually the same word that describes a belief in God. If the two are really one, then our “Belief in God” should truly be our “Trust in God”. But do we as humans really trust God? Most of us don’t. There are countless stories in the Bible that tell of the faith/trust that God’s people had. Abraham certainly did when he was willing to leave his family and his home to travel across the desert to an unknown land. And again he had faith/trust in that same God as he was about to sacrifice his only son on God’s command. On the other hand there are also stories in the Bible of the times when God’s people didn’t put all their faith/trust in Him. Such as the Israelites and their straying from God whenever they were afraid of starving or when Moses took too long to come down from the mountain. They foolishly did not have faith/trust in God, who had already freed them from Egypt and brought them safely to that point. We in our society today are more like the Israelites than Abraham. They were happy to do what God asked but only when it looked as though it was going to help them. Equally with us, if the situation looks rough or unpleasant then we stray from God and ask why isn’t he helping! The famous poem of “Foot Prints in the Sand” is a wonderful example of how we as people don’t even notice God in our lives. The man in the poem didn’t even realize that God was really carrying him though those tough times. He pessimistically only noticed the lack of the extra footprints. But are we that same way? If we have faith/trust in God and follow his examples at all times, even when the path seems unfriendly, it will bring us to a greater point in our lives. But will we keep that faith/trust in God as we live even the hard times of life? To have true faith/trust in God we need to work at it and that’s where most of us go wrong. When having a bad day at work do we optimistically say “Your will be done, God.” or do we grumble (like the Israelites) and say “God, I’m a good person, why are you doing this to me?!” Jesus is the “Good Shepherd” so why would he let me get hurt? The symbol of the “Good Shepherd” has more depth than most people know. In the times of Jesus, shepherds would break a leg of a sheep that had repeatedly strayed away from the flock. This way the sheep could not stray and it would be fully depended on the shepherd for food, water and to carry it from place to place. This created a closer relationship between the sheep and the shepherd, so when the sheep was healed it would not want to leave the shepherd. Like the shepherd, God allows bad things to happen to us so we can grow closer to him. We need to have faith/trust that sometimes God is allowing bad things to happen so we can grow closer to Him and so we can grow stronger as a person. But we must try to remember everyday that bad things are God’s way of bringing us to a greater point of faith and trust in our lives.

~Jennifer’s Thoughts: Extreme individualism has weakened our family structure over the last 5 decades. Busy families, which are too active in different directions to spend quality time with one another, uninterested fathers and/or mothers who get absorbed in on-line games, instead of reading or talking to their children or spouse, has contributed to an epidemic of broken families. More than 50 years ago, families did not have the distractions that families do today. Imagine no televisions, computers, game systems, Ipods, cell phones, no bi-weekly baseball practices coupled with dance, piano, and karate practices! These older families spent most of their extra time together, talking, singing, and just making their own fun. But after generations of families with a self-interested agenda, the problem of unhappy, stressed families has only become more rampant and the idea of a broken family is becoming the norm. Should we have our family chase after those things that the world thinks is good and fun? If all the family members become more family/God focused and less worldly focused, they will become happier and less stressed. The first step toward this happy less stressed filled life is prayer! Often, each day, pray together as a family, Mom, Dad and kids. And yes, both parents need to be included whenever possible! Kids need to see that praying is something important enough to draw the attention of both parents. The next step is to drop the extra needless stuff that your lives are centered around. It may be hard to discern if an activity is necessary and have the strength to choose to drop it. For example, you can make a decision to only check personal e-mails once a day, only carry a cell phone for true emergencies, limit the television and games systems to an hour a day, limit the family to one extra curricular activity (preferably, one you can do together), eat your meals together, and turn off the music/computer when your kids are around and talk to them. Another thing that can be a wonderful step to helping the family is to trash, trash, trash, and organize, organize, organize!!! Get rid of all that extra stuff that is all over the house. If you haven’t used it in the past year it’s not necessary. Trash it! Then, organize so you can find everything you need when you need it. Then do it all over again, it’s a never ending process. The less clutter in your life, the more you can focus on family and God. This entire process of simplifying your activities and house as well as praying will be a fight in the beginning but it’s worth it. In the end your entire family will be happier for it. The process is much easier for everyone if both parents can decide that it’s what they need to do to make their lives better. Isn’t your family worth it?

May, the month of Mary, is on its way! Here is a fun art project for the kids so they can honor Our Blessed Mother during the gorgeous spring months. Supplies: Sheet of Paper A Flower catalog Picture of Blessed Mother Scissors Glue Instructions: Have the kids cut out their favorite pictures of flowers from the catalogs and glue them on a sheet of paper. The pictures should overlap so the paper underneath is not seen. You may also add a few pictures of bunnies, butterflies, and birds, etc. In the center of the flowering collage add a picture of the Blessed Mother. This can be taken from a prayer card, printed from the Internet, or cut out of a religious catalog. My daughter Rachel, who came up with this wonderful idea, helped Elizabeth make this example:   Simply Gorgeous! Just be sure to save all those flower catalogs you’ve been getting in the mail! If you’re like me you get at least one a week during the spring months!! Mother Mary, pray for us! ~Jen-Marie

Since we have so many little ones running around the house it has been hard to display projects that the older kids make. The little ones often get into things and disturb them or break them. However, I discovered that an old fish tank can serve as a perfect solution to the display problem. It works very well! The tank is just the right height so all the kids can see what’s in it, and they can tell each other and anyone who comes to the house about the things they found or made without fear of it being destroyed. Plus, the light makes it nice to see the items and the glass makes dust less of an issue. Only one problem: I can’t fit the really big stuff in the tank, but most of the things the kids make or find are small, so that’s not often a problem.

This is a project to decorate a blooming tree for the month of May. Because the month of May is the month of the Blessed Virgin Mary, decorating a flowering tree with images of Our Lady’s life and apparitions is certainly appropriate! Our kids had a grand time decorating the flowers for the tree! The tree turned out so lovely, but the my photos just don’t do it justice! Each flower has a center with an image of  Mother Mary, Mary portrayed in different nationalities, moments in her life, and her apparitions. The little ones loved learning more about Mary as we talked about each of the pictures. To make this tree you will need: small images of Mary  Flower shapes A tree to decorate ideas for a tree: indoor artificial or live tree, dead tree branches arranged in a flower pot or vase, tree shape cut out of colored paper and taped to a wall or bulletin board. Artificial flowers and leaves to decorate tree. (optional) Construction paper ~ purple, blue, pink, yellow, and orange for flowers (optional) Construction paper ~ Green for leaves (optional) Crayons, glitter glue, craft gems, and other craft items for decorating the flowers (optional) glue scissors thread needle Instructions: Once you have the tree to decorate and have added artificial flowers and leaves, if desired, decorate both sides of the flowers that have been cut out of construction paper using crayons, glitter glue, craft gems, etc. as desired. Then, glue a Marian image on both sides of the flowers. Use a needle and thread to make a looped hanger for each and hang the flower/picture on the tree. It so nice I’m not going to want to take it down after May!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ God Bless. ~Jen-Marie

Elizabeth as “Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha”

Abigail as “A Princess Angel” I’m not sure what that is!?!? But she insisted!

Hannah as “The Angel Gabriel”

This is a popular game at our All Saint's Day parties! This simple game was made using 2 liter bottles with Satan pictures and a soft ball. You should never let Satan try to get you to do something bad. The kids rolled the ball and knocked the 3 evil demons down!

This game is fun for young and old!! The game players search through the beads in the container to find items, but they are not allowed to open the container!! It was addicting fun for everyone! I made this using a large clear container, melting craft beads, and items to find. You might be able to use a soda bottle, but a large jar with a wide mouth works best. The larger opening allows you to put larger items in. A large peanut butter jar might be good. I filled the container half full of beads and I added items to find. I wrote down what the items were as I put them in the container.  I used things like charms and jewelry pins, fancy buttons, stationary supplies, craft supplies, sea shell, etc. Once you have everything in, seal the jar shut with tape or glue.  I added about 60 items, some larger, some small.  I made a check list of the items so the kids could see if they found everything. This was a hit among the older kids!

I remember the days when Jon and I only had the two oldest girls. I was so stressed and overwhelmed. I understand how people feel when they ask “How do you do it?” It’s amazing how God gives you what you need. As I had each baby God gave me more patience and understanding. I’m not perfect and I’m still learning, but I’m less stressed with 8, going on 9, kids than I was with two!! Praise be to God for His wonderful ways!!

I made using a wooden sectioned crate (you could use separate boxes or buckets), plastic play fruit and veggies, and a basket. In this game the kids organized the produce by putting red produce in the box labeled red, yellow produce in the box labeled yellow…etc. Younger kids could take the basket of produce to the wooden crate and sorted them. Older kids tossed the produce into the correct box.

Naomi as “St. Helena of the True Cross” She is such a ham!!

Making a floral crown for a Marian statue Often, we like to make a crown of flowers for our statues of The Blessed Mother during the month of May. Making a crown can be a bit tricky, but this is the easiest way I found to make one…. You will need: variety of artificial flowers – appropriately sized for the statue you are crowning cloth ribbon – enough to tie around the statue’s head the statue you would like to wear the crown hot glue scissors Instructions: Tie the ribbon around the statue’s head and knot it in the back. Cut off the extra ribbon.  Hot glue the flowers onto the ribbon,  start from the back sides and work to the front of the crown. You may use a bottle or bowl of similar size (instead of the statue) to hold the ribbon while you glue on the flowers. This will help you avoid getting glue on the statue. Place the ribbon back on the statue’s head occasionally as you add the flowers just to check how it’s fitting and looking.  Mother Mary, Pray for us! God bless, ~Jen-Marie

Here are lots of ideas for you to help you celebrate Our Blessed Mother’s Birthday (Sept 8) Family At The Foot Of The Cross:  Blue praying arms pretzels The Careless Catholic:  Nice list of books and more Ten kids and a Dog: Nice cake and coloring activity Sugar and Spice and All Things Nice:  Beautiful cake for Mary Ten kids and a Dog:  Made Cards for Our Blessed  Mother’s Birthday Slightly Crunchy Catholic: Another Beautiful cake for Our Blessed Mother\’s birthday! Training Happy Hearts:  Fun day 2010 Fun day 2011 An Abundance of Rainbows:  Queen Mary’s Children Party fun! Three-Sided Wheel Fun books and ideas Family at the Foot of the Cross Beautiful post and party St. Anne and Baby Mary Felt Doll / Statues Felt Doll / Statues or Mary’s Nativity

As I was sitting at my dining room table making my Advent seasonal plans and I came up with this idea for my girls to make for St. Lucy’s day. After creating one, to test my idea, I thought, “Duh!! I feel sooo silly…This is a nice easy activity for the kids to make their own Advent wreath.” — You see I’ve had a destructive, yet cute, baby in the house for the past 14 Christmases and I have never had a real Advent wreath to sit on our dining room table. So this paper wreath is as close as we have ever gotten to having one! Sounds silly I’m sure, but that’s just how it’s been! I just never thought to much about it till this year!  This Advent wreath is super easy, all you need is colored paper, scissors, glue, and tape or staples. Because I originally planned to make this a St. Lucy’s  wreath, the colors are different in the pictures than they are for the Advent wreath.  Cut out two strips of green paper. We cut ours in a zig-zag type pattern, to give it more of a wreath look.  Staple/tape the two strips together at the ends to create a circle. Cut 3 tall rectangles out of purple paper and one tall rectangle out of pink. (or, as pictured, cut 4 white for St. Lucy) Staple/tape them to the wreath. They are the candles. Now draw four teardrop shapes on yellow paper and add a little orange to the bottom to make it look like a flame. After cutting them out we drew orange flames to the other side, too. Staple/tape one flame to the top of the correct colored candle throughout the weeks of Advent. Cut out circles from red paper to make berries. Use glue to add them to the wreath. We used the berries to cover our staples. It worked well! My little “test subject” was so excited about the cute little wreath-hat! She didn’t want to wait till the 13th (St Lucy’s day) to make them and that was okay, because she was just as happy to make one for the start of Advent as an Advent Wreath! I’m sure my girls will have just as much fun making them again to wear on the 13th, too! Cheers to happy kids! 😉 God Bless. ~JenMarie

Our home is all decorated for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe! We made Mexican flowers from tissue paper and added an image of Our Lady to the center of each. These flowers proved to be very versatile decorations! You will need: 2 to 3 colors of tissue paper 2 to 3 twist-ties tape a small image of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Download below) scissors Download Image and Instructions Here: Cut the tissue paper into different sized squares. We made the largest about 12″ by 12″ and the next was about 8″ by 8″ and the third 4″ by 4″. Fold each square like a fan. Use a twist-tie to tie the middle together. Unfurl the fanned sides and tape the edges together to form a circle. Do this for all your colors. Layer the three tissue paper circles together, by sticking the twist-tie of one through the center of the one larger. Twist all the ties together in the back. It will look layered like this: Now cut out your Our Lady of Guadalupe image, as shown, and tape it to the center of the flower. Note: My older kids (ages 8 and up) could make these with ease. But my younger kids needed more help particularly with the twist-ties and opening the fan. How did we use them? My girls wore them in their hair! Or on a hat! They look great around our statue! And on our bulletin board! Blessings to you and your family on Our Lady’s Feast day! ~JenMarie

Happy St. Lucia’s (Lucy) Feast Day! Here are a few easy last minute ideas to make the day a little more interesting! St. Lucy Bundt Cake: Here is the recipe  we used; the only thing I changed was that I added green food coloring to the icing. I also added red sprinkles and a few white candles. St. Lucy Paper Crowns Click Here St. Lucia Paper Dolls from https://www.thebleudoor.com/1972decbetsy.htm St. Lucia Scissors Practice https://www.makinglearningfun.com/themepages/StLuciaScissorPractice.htm Have a blessed day!! ~Jen-Marie

I know this is a bit late for St. Stephen’s feast day, but kids don’t care if you are a little late (or early)! So feel free to celebrate his feast day this week! St. Stephen was a great preacher who spoke strong words for Jesus. His words angered many people, and so they drug him out of the city and stoned him to death. St. Stephen’s was the very first martyr and so he was blessed to have his feast day on the day after Christmas. (Dec. 26) You can read his story is in the Bible in the Book of Acts 6 – 7. So look it up and have a read! Or click here to see it on-line. For St. Stephen’s feast day we made rock candy.Why rock candy? The stones that killed St. Stephen were hard, sharp, and painful, but they brought St. Stephen to a sweet life in heaven!  Our rock candy is hard and sharp, but it’s also sweet. Many saints have shown us that a life lived for Jesus is a hard life, but it’s a sweet end, and this candy is much the same! So remember that through hardship and pain we can reach the sweet life in heaven! Quick and Easy Rock Candy Recipe  Ingredients: 4 cups of sugar 1 cup of water 1/2 tbsp. of vanilla extract (for better taste) red food coloring Instructions: Mix the sugar and water together in a sauce pan. Heat it on high until the sugar dissolves and begins to boil. After it has come to a boil, continue to let it boil for about 3 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and mix in the vanilla extract and food coloring. Poor it onto a large foiled jellyroll pan and let it sit until it crystallize.  In will take about 10 minutes to start to become solid. Once it’s to a point where it will keep its shape, scoop it out of the pan and place the chunks into another pan to finish cooling. (It’s easier to break it up when it’s still a little soft than to wait till it’s totally cool.) This rock candy can be used for other Saints feast day’s as well – Barnabas and Philip were also stoned to death. Enjoy! 🙂 Blessings, ~Jen-Marie