Prayer request for our Max

About a month ago, Max started wearing glasses to help correct some eye crossing.  He developed his crossed eyes almost overnight a month before we took him in to get glasses.  I was very nervous because all the other people in my family (myself, my brother, my niece, my nephew) who have crossed eyes were born with them.  It was just worrisome to me that our Max never had crossed eyes at birth and the onset was very sudden.  When I called the pediatrician about it, he said the first step is always to try glasses and referred me to an eye doctor.  So, that's why he started wearing glasses in the first place.  It was a very light prescription, and was the first attempt to correct the crossing.  That was a month ago.  Here's a picture of him now....

The crossing has became drastically worse.  So, we went back to eye doctor this week.  He said to stop wearing the glasses - the prescription was very low anyways, and it was only given as an attempt to stop the crossing.  He said that his crossing jumped from a 10 degree to a 25 degree in a matter of a month, and we need to see if there is another cause.  So...  he ordered an MRI with contrast for this coming Monday to rule out a CNS lesion.  This was actually my first worry at the very beginning of why his eyes seemed to cross overnight....  Obviously, God is watching over Max and has a plan, regardless of what is found Monday.  We are hoping nothing is found and then just continue with a simple eye surgery to correct the crossing.  But, we know and trust God has a plan in this all.  We will update as soon as we have information.  Until then, can we count on Max being covered in prayer by all of you?? 

There's always a first when it comes to painting Easter eggs!!

My sister is seven months pregnant and I jokingly suggested we paint a gigantic Easter egg on her belly this year.  She called me the next day and asked where to go buy paint and what kind to use.  Hee, hee!!  I was just tickled to death - she is such a trooper!  Anyways, since we homeschool, we have a TON of paint, so we invited my whole side of the family over for a fun belly painting project.  Throw in some food, snacks, kids, toys, a new trampoline, and it's bound to be a night of FUN! 

Here's pictures from our night of fun on Holy Saturday....

What belly should we paint?  My pregnant sister's or my dad's??

The soon-to-be-daddy of 3 boys gets the first brush stroke!

Their youngest at 2 years old is wondering what is going on....

And, then he decided it's HIS turn! 

Now with the brush! 

our big sister's turn

our Mom's turn

our Dad's turn

Goofey Dad had to poke the belly button!

our Mom snuck on a flower

our sweet niece's turn

the biggest brother is now somewhat interested - in watching ONLY!

Viola! 

The lovely family!

So, the BIG question is...  when will the egg hatch?  
It is due to hatch around June 16th.  

Good Friday - 2012

 Behold the wood of the Cross,

on which hung the salvation of the world.

Good Friday is pretty much a down day at our place - very quiet, no tv, no video games/wii, etc....  All this to encourage that quiet, reflective time for the Spirit to really speak to us on what the day means. 

I started my day by working on a multi-step recipe that takes many hours to prepare - Hot Cross Buns!!  It is so worth the work and wait to enjoy a little something sweet at the end of the day.  I use the Pioneer Woman's website a lot because of the visuals she provides - I am such a visual learner!  Here's the recipe that we used of hers.  The only things we changed were....  1% milk instead of whole and left out the raisins.

At 3pm, we had our Good Friday service - the Celebration of the Passion of the Lord.  It's always very touching and moving, and I'm almost always on the verge of tears.  How blessed we are to have a Lord to completely give His life for us. 

Like yesterday, we had another "Liturgical Tea" to bring more meaning into what we celebrate at Church back into our own homes.  Here's a look at what we served and what everything symbolized....

 **The Water Bowl**

"Pilate took water and washed his hands before the crowd saying, "I am innocent of this righteous man's blood." 

(Matthew 27: 24)

**The King's Crown**

(Bean dip made from:  re-fried beans, cream cheese, Rotel tomatoes & green chiles, cheddar cheese, and garnished with tortilla chips in the shape of a crown)

"And Pilate asked Him, 'Are you the King of the Jews?' And He answered him, 'You have said so.'" 

(Mark 15: 2)

**Out of Envy**

(anything green - we chose homemade guacamole)

"[H]e perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered Him up." 

(Mark 15: 10)

**Purple Cloak**

(anything purple - we chose berry applesauce)

 "And they clothed Him in a purple cloak . . . ." 

(Mark 15: 17)

**The Crown of Thorns**

(Ritz crackers, spreadable cream cheese, pretzels)

". . . and, plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on him." 

(Mark 15: 17)

**The Seamless Garment**

(tortillas cut out in the shape of a garment and then cubed cheese for the die)

"But the tunic was without seam, woven from top to bottom; so they said to one another, 'Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.'" 

(John 19: 23-24)

 **The Two Robbers**

(Alice suggests using basil since "According to The Herb Society of America, legend has it that the Basil plant grew around the site of Christ's crucifixion. The Victorian Language of Flowers lists Basil as symbolic of both hatred and best wishes. The taunting thief and the good thief come to mind."  We didn't have any fresh basil, so like last year, we used spinach.)

And with Him they crucified two robbers, one on His right and one on His left." 

(Mark 15: 27)

**Vinegar to Drink**

(croutons dipped in red wine vinegar)

"And one ran and, filling a sponge full of vinegar, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying 'Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take Him down.'" 

(Mark 15: 36)

**The Temple Curtain**

 "And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom." 

(Mark 15: 38)

**Roman Centurion**

(A Centurion in the Roman Army would have command over 100 men, so we quartered the cherry tomatoes and counted until we reached 100 to represent the Centurion present at the crucifixion)

"And when the centurion, who stood facing Him, saw that He thus breathed His last, he said, 'Truly this man was the Son of God.'" 

(Mark 15: 39)

 **Laid in the Tomb**

(we used apple cinnamon muffins with strawberry jam inside)

"And he brought a linen shroud, and taking Him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud, and laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb." 

(Mark 15:46)

Again, I am always inspired and grateful for Alice and Jessica creating and sharing their liturgical teas.  It was yet another yummy, meaningful meal to top off our Good Friday experience.

We hope and pray all of you had a wonderful, blessed Good Friday!! 

Wordless Wednesday - A Scavenger Hunt....

Holy Thursday - 2012

 Taste and see how good the Lord is

come, let us adore!

(Psalm 34:9)

Holy Thursday Mass is one of my favorite Masses of the whole year, even though I was out in the gathering area by the front doors with two goofey little boys most of the time tonight.  I love it all...  the incense, the washing of the feet, the presentation of the chrism, decorating the altar, best of all - the Sacrifice and Sacrament of Christ, stripping the altar, and the transfer of the Blessed Sacrament to prepare for the Good Friday.  Fone and Mario served and did a fantastic job.  I think that is one reason I'm at peace with my cRaZy goofey boys in the back, because I now know there are phases and someday they will be up on the altar serving our Lord.

After Mass, we came home to celebrate a special family meal, where all of the food that we ate symbolized some part of tonight's celebrations at Mass. Thanks to Alice and Jessica who are wonderful inspirations and share their ideas for bringing home what we celebrate in the Church.  This was our first year doing the Holy Thursday meal, and it was definitely a hit.  We our looking forward to our 2nd Good Friday dinner tomorrow!  Here are some pictures of our food items and what they symbolized....

**Costly Oil** 

(extra virgin olive oil -  we sprinkled Parmesan on the oil and dipped our "unleavened bread" in it)

 And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.

(Mk. 14: 9)

 **Thirty Pieces of Silver**

(we used cheese flavored rice crackers)

Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, 'What will you give me if I deliver him to you?' And they paid him thirty pieces of silver.

(Matthew  25: 14-15)

**Unleavened Bread**

(we used skinny bread that we split apart)

And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the passover lamb, his disciples said to Him, 'Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the passover?'

(Mark 14: 12)

**Mount of Olives**

(black and green olives)

And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

(Mark  14: 26)

**Cock Crows Twice**

(we used Chicken wraps with cream cheese, salsa and chopped chicken and our favorite Chicken Wild Rice Soup)

 And Jesus said to him, 'Truly, I say to you, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.'

(Mark  14: 30)

**Gethsemane Figs**

(Fig Newtons)

 And they went to a place which was called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, 'Sit here, while I pray.' 

(Mark  14: 32)


**Judas' Kiss**

(green Hershey's kisses - Holy Thursday is also known as Green Thursday, so we had to work the green in!)

And when he came, he went up to him at once, and said, 'Master!' And he kissed him.
(Mark  14: 45)


**Clouds of Heaven**

(Redi-Whip to top off the Fig Newtons)

 And Jesus said, 'I am; and you will see the Son of man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.'
(Mark  14: 62)

 
**Peter's Tears**

(Altoids mints - poor Pookey was seriously almost in tears after eating it!)

And immediately the cock crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, 'Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.' And he broke down and wept.
(Mark  14: 72)

What a fun, meaningful meal it was.  It was extra special since we were able to celebrate with one of our favorite priests on his feast day, the Institution of the Priesthood.  We are certainly looking forward to tomorrow night's Good Friday dinner.  Here are a couple other pictures from the night....