Another Marian Swap

A few weeks ago, 15 other moms and I swapped Marian pegs that we had painted.  This was my second swap (see first swap here), and it was such a favorite that I wanted to offer it to my local mom painter friends as well.  I wasn't planning on taking part in the swap, but sometimes God makes it clear when your supposed to do something.  This was one of those times.  A sweet mom from our homeschool group had signed up to do this swap (many months in advance) because the last one had filled up.  So when the time rolled around for this Marian swap, she had to back out because it was going to take place right when her baby was to be born.  So, the words just came out of my mouth (or email rather - lol!) - "I"ll do the swap and give you all the duplicates that I already have."  When all was said and done, I think I gave her 9 Marian pegs.  And when I gave them to her, of course, I had to let her know these were in exchange for a meal (since I always try to make a meal when moms have new babies), but have been SO crazy busy with pegs, Little Flowers, school, fall activities starting, and just surviving my own pregnancy, I haven't had an opportunity to get that meal to her.  She was so sweet and understanding and these beautiful pegs will last her much longer than any meal anyways.

Enough jabbering (lol!), here are the beautiful Marian peg dolls.  I have included both a front view and a back view.

Our Lady of Lourdes, Mary Undoer of Knots, Our Lady of Good Success, Our Lady of Hope

Our Lady of China, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Stella Maris, Our Lady of Ransom/Mercy

 Our Lady of  Vailankanni, Our Lady of Knock, Our Lady of Czestochowa, Queen of Heaven

Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Our Lady of Siluva, Our Lady of Snows, Our Lady of LaSalette

Here are my two littlest getting out and setting up all our Marian pegs on the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary this week....

++Our Lady, pray for us!!++

Marian peg doll swap

Out of all our peg dolls, these are my favorite.  And, I'm sure you'll see why!  We love our Mother Mary, so having all these peg dolls to help us remember all her various titles, apparitions, and love for us are such a blessing!!!  I painted 25 of the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel pegs and swapped with 24 other moms.  (the other two I bought)

(Our Lady of the Assumption, Our Lady of Beauraing, Our Lady of Czestochowa)

Hail Mary, full of grace.

(Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Our Lady of the Rosary)

The Lord is with thee.

(Mary Mystical Rose, Our Lady of Kibeho, Our Lady of Guadalupe)

Blessed art thou among women!  

(Mother of Good Counsel, Our Lady of Lourdes, Mary Undoer of Knots)

And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.  

(Madonna of the Streets, Our Lady Queen of Peace, Immaculate Heart of Mary)

Holy Mary, Mother of God, 

(Our Lady of La Vang, Our Lady of Hope, Our Lady of Knock)

pray for us sinners, 

(Our Lady of Grace, Our Lady of Sorrows, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal)

now and at the hour of our death.  Amen.  

(Our Lady of Ngome, Our Lady of Good Help, Our Lady of Snows)

(Our Lady of the Americas, Mary Queen of Heaven, Our Lady of Snows)

A special visitor

We have been blessed with the presence of a traveling statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary for the next few weeks.  What a great honor and privilege it has been!!  We love our Mother's continual presence and prayers!!  

Hail Mary, full of grace,

The Lord is with you.

Blessed art thou among women,

And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus!

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners,

Now and at the hour of our death.  Amen.  

Our Marian Artist Trading Cards - 2014

I mailed out 30 trading cards on Saturday, all decorated in honor of Our Lady for the month of May and to take part in this ATC swap.  In a couple weeks, we'll get a special delivery of new cards from children the same age as mine who participated in the same swap from all around the US.  We had a great time doing this swap in 2011 and the kids were so happy with all the new cards they received!  We *had* to take part in it again!!

Three years later, we added another artist and all the other kids have grown in their art talents as well....

Pookey - age 4

(did all the coloring - momma drew the picture of the "Immaculate Heart" for him)

Max - age 6

Ariel - age 8

Melody - age 9

Mario - age 11

Fone - age 12

Hail Mary, full of grace!

The Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou among women,

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners, 

now and at the hour of our death.  

Amen.  

Marian Consecration Day

Tonight was the celebration and Mass for our Marian consecration, on the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.  I have been preparing myself the last 6 weeks using the 33 Days to Morning Glory study, digging into the wisdom of some amazing Marian spiritual giants...  St Loius de Montford, St Maximilian Kolbe, Blessed Mother Teresa, and Blessed John Paul II.  What a wonderful study and journey it has been!!  I have prayed to Mary and taken her into my heart and our little domestic church quite some time ago, but it was really nice to make my devotion to her and consecration "official".  I couldn't ask for a better person to bring me closer to Jesus - His own mother!! 

Three prayers I took to heart and will keep with me forever....

what is the arrow on my white board pointing to, you may ask?  a beautiful picture of Mary, of course....

How blessed I was to celebrate and consecrate myself to Mary with all of these wonderful people....

And a sweet, talented momma made these cakes - an Immaculate Heart of Mary cake and a Sacred Heart of Jesus cake.  Aren't they beautiful????

 (Thanks, Stephanie, for making these for us!  Super special!!  How sweet of you!)

++O Mary, conceived without sin, 

pray for us who have recourse to thee.++

Our Lady of Lourdes

Happy feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes!!!  

(my consecration day!!)

(This picture was taken a few years ago, at this beautiful shrine at their Lourdes grotto.)

++Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.++

My Daybook: January Edition

FOR TODAY:

Join me today to take a "little look into the day plans and thoughts of those who are focusing on simplicity...beauty of the everyday moments."

 

 

Outside my window...

It is sunny and cold right now, with a temperature of -1 and windchills around -20 and -30 degrees.  Brrrrrr!!

I am thinking...

a lot about Cursillo plans and menu's.  What a huge undertaking my sisters, mother and I have taken on, but a great blessing.  We love to be with each other, we love to cook together, and we love to serve God together - so chairing the kitchen for the next two years just seemed like our next calling together. 

I am thankful...

for "closed doors" and "newly opened windows" and how God always take care of us.  Two changes in our lives happening soon!  

In the kitchen...

wassail, of course!!!  Great warm drink on a chilly day!  And the smell is amazing!!  

 

I am wearing...

some cutsie slippers that one of my sisters gave me for Christmas, and you kind of see my reflection in the picture above (jeans and a pink thermal shirt!).  

 

 

I am creating...

my first ever "daybook" post (the post you are reading!!).  I've always admired and enjoyed reading others' daybook posts.  I have now joined the club.  

 

I don't ever want to forget...

*this cute chubby baby

*that I really was once taller than Fone, although for not much longer

*the cute way Pookey talks - soft voice and a growl-like sound sometimes at the end of his sentences (so hard to explain, but the cutest thing ever!) 

I am going...

to stay home ALL day where it's warm. 

I am wondering...

how to balance being a good wife, a good mom, and a good friend.  I am failing with at least one of these consistently....

I am reading...

The Mysterious Benedict Society as a read-a-loud to the kids (such a great series of books!!!) 

33 Days to Morning Glory  for myself, and also attending a weekly retreat meeting on this

....and countless other books that I have started and will someday finish.  In God's perfect timing, right?

I am hoping...

to continue to work on my New Years Resolutions to become the best version of myself.  Have been failing in many areas this past week, and need to step it up a notch. 

I am looking forward to...

going to Circa 21 Dinner Playhouse this weekend to celebrate the birthdays of two special ladies in my life - my mother-in-law and my sister-in-law.  They are not only wonderful relatives, but great friends!  How blessed I am to have them in my life!!  The current show is Buddy Holly, and I've heard rave reviews!  Super excited!!  

 

 I am learning...

how to turn to Mary more and trust her with my sacrifices, prayers, and acts of love.  She will present them to her Son in the best and most beautiful way possible.

Around the house...

Rose is walking all over the place and getting into everything. We need to do some more child-proofing - as she puts everything in her mouth. 

 

In the schoolroom....

Full day today at the Young Family Academy even though the public schools are cancelled all around us due to the dangerous wind chills.  This was the third week that our kids took part in a little extra learning outside the house - a sweet mom with 18 years of homeschooling experience is teaching them Latin, Creative Writing, and History once a week.  These were the subjects that I either am clueless on or have no passion for at all.  God provided though with this wonderful opportunity and I'm excited to see where it takes us!  

 

I am pondering...

the sacredness of life and all the little lives around me.  Yesterday was the March for Life, and always a good time to reflect and ponder on where we are in our society, how we got there, and what to do to improve.  Gosh - we definitely have a long way to go when it comes to the value of life.  How blessed I am to be a mom, and to have these little people to keep me focused on what is important - dying to self daily so that they/we can rise together. 

A favorite quote for today...

"My dear, dear brothers, our dear little, little mother, the Immaculate Mary, can do anything for us. We are her children. Turn to her. She will overcome everything."
~St. Maximilian Kolbe

One of my favorite things...

walking in and finding the kids playing so nicely with each other - will never tire of this!! Always such a grace-filled moment.  

 

A peek into my day...

Rose "filling and spilling" and Pookey "building a tree" and he let Rose "chop it down".....