A little of this and a little of that....

So much to write about...so little time.....

My Little Flowers group and I finished up our fourth wreath and our fourth year of meeting together this week.  I have been so privileged to watch 6 very beautiful little girls grow in their faith and in their understanding of virtue.  They have each touched me and taught me over the years and I can't help but be a little sad that we are all finished with the program now.  The girls still seem very interested in continuing to meet together and learn together, so hopefully we will find a new direction to go in next year.  Maybe the Little Women Hospitality group or the Catholic Daughters of America Junior Court.....

It was "take your sons and daughters to work" day yesterday.  I have mixed feelings about this relatively new tradition in America because I suspect it has its roots in the feminist movement, but Tim's office was participating.  Our three oldest children were old enough to go and be part of the well planned programs the company had put together, so off they went to work with Daddy.  They had a great time learning about what Tim does all day and the little ones and I enjoyed  a quiet day of visiting the park and reading stories together (as well as getting some things done around the house).

My birthday was this past week.  Another year is gone.  I am another year older.  I'm not sure how I feel about the mounting number attached to this milestone but I do so enjoy being spoiled by my family and friends.  I am very, very blessed to have so much love in my life and my birthday is always a beautiful reminder of that.

Tomorrow my youngest son makes his First Holy Communion.  He is SO excited.  I am too.  I love the enthusiasm of his youthful yet devout faith.  His is definitely a great example of the faith of little children and the idea of allowing the little ones to lead us.  My son is full of joy and faith and innocence.  There is something indescribably special about experiencing the Sacraments of Initiation through our children's eyes and watching them grow closer to Christ.....  how can we not be led closer ourselves?

We are busy, busy, busy but God is SO, SO, SO good working in it all......  

A Marian Craft

I started with this, my initial sketch and basic idea:

Then I gathered some supplies:

Felt- in cream color, light blue, dark blue, and black

Felt glue, puffy paints, ribbon, also (not pictured) brown yarn, scrapbooking "brads", and permanent markers

Did a little prep work:

Made a template

Traced the pieces onto the felt (with a little help from my daughters)

Printed out the Magnificat

Then we were ready for crafting:

And our finished projects turned out beautifully!

Ironically this was NOT my answer to the great Rosary craft search disaster.  This was our craft for the first Little Flowers meeting on Mary.  It was a more simple craft, for our second meeting of the month, that prompted the aforementioned search and subsequent upset, but I decided to share this craft because I now see the need to flood the internet with beautiful holy references to Our Blessed Mother to counteract the more negative things out there.  And because I thought others might be on the look out for crafts to celebrate Marian feast days.  And because it is almost May, the month that we dedicate to honoring Mary.  And because "my" girls did such a beautiful job I wanted to show their banners off!