Daytimer Prayer

This Lent I have promised myself to pray more often, more deliberately, more consistently and more thoughtfully.  I know that I have tried many approaches to prayer throughout my life with varied diligence and consistency!  As I look back, there where times when my prayerlife was stronger...but I didn't necessarily know it at the time!  I know that I have felt happier and more peaceful when I'm praying each day...and preferably using a prayer journal to write my prayer, reflect on Scripture, ask the Lord questions and try to listen to what He is telling me.  

I have filled up quite a few prayer journals...but there are some times when I have strayed and fought to get back on track...and I think that this is one of those times.

Sometimes I have resorted to Lenten resolutions or gimmicks to get myself back on track. (More about prayer gimmicks to come in future posts!) 

With a particularly bumpy start...it looks like this Lent is going to be one of those times.

Inspired by the 3 times I have been on the Lightweigh, I recognize the importance of checking in everyday and keeping myself accountable to my commitments...even if I have to resort to a checklist to keep track.

Somehow a checklist motivates me...I'm not sure why.  

Does anyone else understand that?

Before Lent started this year, I was already trying something new.  I picked up a spiral-bound daytimer calendar at the dollar store.  I like it because there are only about 2 days per page, with lines to write on and even little check-circles to check.  The calendar is not specific to any year...it has the months and the dates, but not the day of the week.  I'm using it to keep track of how I meet my goals each day:

• prayer-time
• exercise
• portions
• no 2nds (do vegetables count?)
• no snacking 
• who I'm praying for
• ...and what I'm sacrificing (for those intentions) 

This is a big list for me (and notice how THREE of them have to do with food?)  As much as I'd like to simplify...the whole list of options keeps me hopeful that somehow I'll be able to check off at least a couple each day! 

I'm also trying to write ...even a little snippet about the Scripture or spiritual reading that got my attention that day. These days...that would be either from Scripture, particularly John's Letters,  Surrender by Fr Larry Richards OR A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms by Lisa Hendey

Maybe the small amount of space in the daytimer works for me too...not as intimidating as a big blank page...and just enough motivation to not skip a day!


Does this make sense to anyone else?

castle and catapult craft!

Here's a great craft for Leap Year Day!

I have posted about this craft before and have used it at TWO medieval birthday parties...usually this time of year!  It's a lot of fun to make and play with! 

All you need to make the castle is:
corrugated cardboard
foam pipe insulation
craft foam sheets or construction paper for trim
popsicle sticks
craft foam sheets,
glue,
scissors and a craft knife

Ammunition:  mini-marshmallows
*if you can't play outside...lay down some plastic table clothes to catch flying mini-marshmallows...otherwise you (or your toddler!) will be finding them for months to come!

Check out the Castle and Catapult step-by-step instructions

Don't panic if you don't have plumbing pipe insulation on hand! You can use a skinny pool noodle or 4 empty toilet paper rolls or paper towel rolls for the towers of the castle.  You can even make your own rolls of construction paper:  the thicker and tighter the "wall" of the roll, the stronger it will be.

Check out how we revisited this craft for another Medieval Birthday Party last year
with 10 year old boys

All you need to make the catapult is:
a glue gun
a popsicle stick
a wooden clothes peg
2 corks
a bottle cap
a lid or some cardboard for the base.   


I'm confident that you can substitute alot of other things for just about any of these items, except for maybe the clothes peg....check out the pictures from our Medieval Party last year!

do you need a Lifelong Confession?

Lent begins tomorrow! Kicked off with a day of prayer and fasting on Ash Wednesday, it's a good opportunity to renew our commitment to the spiritual life as well as a prayer-and-sacrifice focus for the family over the next 40 days, not including Sundays. (I didn't make that up!)
Participating in the first ever Catholic Blog Day, I wrote a special post.  With a little hesitation, I posted it at I blog Jesus.  Encouraged by comments like this one...
"Super. Don't be afraid to post this. The world needs it. Just imagine all the black clouds that would be gone. <poof!>"
...I have assumed the courage to mention it here on Equipping Catholic Families. 

...I can still feel how incredibly, awesomely relieved I felt after that confession.  I understood the Mercy of God and the power of confession monumentally, unbelievably, giant-steps bigger in the absolution of that confession, than I had ever felt or understood before.  It really took.

My confession was one of the most powerful experiences of God's Love that I've ever had. 

It almost made my heart stop to do it, but I wouldn't have changed a thing...

I hope that you check out the full post at I blog Jesus: 
Do you need lifelong confession?

 

Linking up to Catholic Blog Day on AshWednesday!

Just opened the Arma Dei Shoppe!

Equipping Catholic families has never been easier

now that our new Arma Dei Shoppe is open!

Our Catholic Family Apostolate is called Arma Dei,

latin for Armor of God,

referring to our favorite Scripture Ephesians 6:13-17.

We have created books, paper craft kits and quizzing cards

to help teach and celebrate the Catholic Faith through Feastdays, Seasons and Sacraments!

Six of our favorite Cathletics Craft Kits are now available by PDF

for you to download, print and copy for your family or a whole class!

Check out the new Arma Dei Shoppe...or look for us at Lift Jesus Higher Rally (Toronto, ON Canada),

 the Mid-Atlantic Congress (Baltimore, MD), NCEA (Boston, MA) or IHM (Fredericksburg, VA) 

NOW AVAILABLE at the Arma Dei Craft Kit Printables Online Store!

Color Me Catholic: New Roman Missal Edition 
(printed version: $16 + shipping)  printable version: $14

Catholic Lingo Bingo (English)
(printed version: $12 + shipping)  printable version: $10

Catholic Lingo Bingo (En Espanol)
(printed version: currently not available) printable version: $14

Catholic Family Calendar
(printed version: currently not available) printable version: $14

Journey with Jesus: Sacraments (all 7) 
(printed version: $16 + shipping)  printable version: $14

Journey with Jesus: Reconciliation & Holy Communion
(printed version: $16 + shipping)  printable version: $14

Journey with Jesus through Baptism, Reconciliation and Holy Communion

Celebrate your child's Journey of Faith!

Journey with Jesus through

(Baptism) Reconciliation & Holy Communion

NOW AVAILABLE by PDF PRINTABLE!

This is our Journey with Jesus through Reconciliation and Holy Communion Craft Kit.
It includes 18 already researched, illustrated and formatted templates of prompting catechism and reflection questions.  As all our Cathletics Craft Kits, it comes with permission to photocopy for a whole class for one term or for all the kids in your family (who live with you) as they celebrate their First Sacraments!

There are suggestions for making your own scrapbook or using a store-bought scrapbook.  There are also instructions to create an Accordian Book.   In either case, there are plenty of catechism based questions, adorable cartoons drawn by 12 year old Kelly and prompting reflections about your child's experience of the Sacraments, their prayerlife and their growing relationship with Jesus!

Work on a page a day, recording and reflecting about Baptism, the Rosary, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, Reconciliation, the Commandments, Sin, Holy Communion, the Mass, the Domestic Church, Qualities in my Family and Friends, all about Jesus, Mary and the Saints and reflections about Jesus and me and my prayerlife.

Journey with Jesus through

(Baptism) Reconciliation & Holy Communion

NOW AVAILABLE by PDF PRINTABLE!

 

For more information about our

Cathletics Craft Kits available by PDF Printable,

check out our Printable Store!

Journey with Jesus through the Sacraments!

Journey with Jesus through the Sacraments

NOW AVAILABLE by PDF PRINTABLE!

This kit offers layouts of catechism questions (with answer keys!) and reflection questions to help teach and celebrate the Sacraments, including material based on  the Commandments,

Sin, the Domestic Church and the Stations of the Cross.

This kit teaches and celebrates all 7 Sacraments...

not just the ones your child has received, helping them to reflect on

Marriage (what weddings have I been to? 

who married my parents?)

Holy Orders (name the priest who gave me my First Sacraments,

who is my pastor? my bishop? our Pope?)

and the Anointing of the Sick (who are we praying for? 

when have our loved ones passed away?)

As with all of our Cathletics Craft Kits,

each kit comes with permission

to photocopy for one full class for one term

or for all the kids living in your house!

The square templates can be cut to fit into an

 8"x8" constructed or store-bough scrapbook

or folded according to the enclosed instructions

 for an ACCORDIAN BOOK.

Coloring and scrapbooking techniques are recommended

to embellish the layouts.

Journey with Jesus through

(Baptism) Reconciliation & Holy Communion

ALSO AVAILABLE by PDF PRINTABLE!

 

For more information about our

Cathletics Craft Kits available by PDF Printable,

check out our Printable Store!

Catholic Bloggers Colossal Share-a-thon & Giveaway

Opening Monday February 13, 2012

at Catholic Bloggers Network!

Check out the First Ever Catholic Bloggers Share-A-Thon!

These are the prizes that I have contributed to the giant give-away...

but there are PLENTY more awesome prizes to win

...all donated by our own Catholic Bloggers!

4 Chances to Win Arma Dei products!

1. A Treasure Chest of Traditions for Catholic Families (book)

By Monica McConkey

Value: $24+shipping = $32+

2. Color Me Catholic: New Roman Missal Edition (PDF printable)

Cathletics Craft Kit by Arma Dei

Value: $14

3. Catholic Family Perpetual Calendar  (PDF printable)

Cathletics Craft Kit by Arma Dei

Value: $14

4. Catholic Lingo Bingo: English OR Spanish (PDF printable)

Cathletics Craft Kit by Arma Dei

Value: $10

 

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HAPPY SAINT valentines

When Victor from Happy Saints graciously gave me permission to use his awesome saint pictures in a craft, I was so excited!  I just love this company and their adorable saint pictures!

Immediately, I wanted to make a cuter version of my Top Trumps: Saints edition or my Dream Team of Saints with frozen juice lids.  These would make an awesome matching game to help my 5 year old learn more about the saints...(she has already started playing with them!) ...and the circle format is perfect with my 2.5" hole punch! 

With Valentine's Day coming up,
I thought what better way of  
converting 2 Catholic Valentine Cards!

I formatted the pictures and printed them myself and used a 2.5" hole punch to cut out the circular images.

I printed "HAPPY SAINTS Valentine Day!" on red paper and we're thinking about embellishing the little cards with hearts made with my little heart hole punch.

Instead of Happy St. Valentine...how about HAPPY SAINTS Valentine Day!  These are WAY cooler and Catholic than Barbie or Buzz Lightyear!  My daughter can give these away...and I know that the kids will love them!  Maybe just one little card will entice a child to learn more about the Communion of Saints!  

Happy Saints has a wonderful collection of these adorable saints, identifying each saint in the illustration and offering a favorite quote.  Check out their awesome printables available...both e-books and greeting cards that will make you HAPPY!  Thank-you to Victor for letting me use these adorable pictures!  How about "liking" the Happy Saints Facebook page...or subscribing to Happy Saints?  You'll be among the first to know when new Saint pictures are released!

I'm linking up to Converted 2 Catholic and  

CeleLINKY thru the SAINTS and
Catholic Icing's First Friday Link-up.  

Check them out and add your Catholic crafts too!