Happy Easter everyone!

I’ve spent the past few days pondering this article.  I want to have a more meaningful Lent.  I find that every year I make big plans but I’m not so good with actually following through.   I have been praying that I might make this Lent special, and I’m already a step ahead in that I actually planned ahead instead of scrambled around at the last minute.

So, as I said, I’ve been pondering that article and making up what my Lenten Program will be.  I like the idea of creating a program rather than just choosing something to give up.   The program should contain 3 things–prayers, fasting and abstinence and almsgiving.   

Prayer 

• Morning and Evening prayer every day
• Prayers at all meals
• Pray the Rosary daily (focus on the Sorrowful Mysteries)

Education and Reading

• Something for the mind : We Pray-Living in God’s Presence by Oscar Lukefahr; C.M. 
• Something for the Soul : Dark Night of the Soul – St. John of the Cross
• Something for the Heart : A Mother’s Rule of Life – Holly Pierlot
• Daily Scripture reading focusing on the Gospels

Fasting and Abstinence

• Give up all internet access on M/W/F
• Refrain from complaining, grumbling and losing my temper 

Almsgiving and Good Works

• Keep a change jar — donate all money saved during Lent to charity
• Declutter clothes, toys and books and donate what we don’t need.
• Spend my time wisely.
• Be cheerful and find ways to show love to my family.
• Work on writing and implementing my Rule.

And I’ve spent most of my week working on my plans for Lent.  See, most years it sneaks up on me and I’m left unprepared and scrambling at last minute ideas and then nothing gets done.  But not this year!  I’m determined to make the most of Lent this year.  

So here are my many ideas I’ve been jotting down in my notebook:

Make a crown of thorns we did this a few years ago and we had issues with the toothpicks getting stuck.  I’m thinking of maybe getting a grapevine wreath or something similar to use instead.

If I can get to the store (and remember what I needed there) I’m going to tie purple ribbon around all our religious art.   I like the gentle reminder of the season all around the house.  

I want to make some sort of Lenten calendar.  The kids love advent calendars, and any kind of countdown really.  So I think this would be meaningful for them.  I’ve seen many different styles.  I’m leaning towards simple, lol.  I’ll post pictures when I figure out what we’re doing.

I saw the idea at Castle of the Immaculate to have a bowl of sacrifices.  I LOVE this idea.  My kids were really struggling with the idea of having to sacrifice something for the entire 40 days of Lent.  I love the idea of choosing something different for each day.   

I would like to do the stations of the cross on Fridays with the kids.  I’ll be using this fabulous idea as well as these coloring pages.  I’m thinking I’ll put them up on the wall in my hallway going up the stairs.

And of course, I can’t forget books. Like anything else, we’ll be doing lots of reading during the Lenten season.