40 Trash Bag Challenge — Day 3

February 27, 2009March 3, 2009 darceeLeave a comment

40trashbags

Today is Friday, February 27, 2008

This is the second day of the 2008 40 trash bag challenge. The challenge is an opportunity to remove the excess clutter and “stuff” from our lives. The excess can be given away, sold, donated or trashed. The first goal is to let go; the second goal is to bless others.

Today’s bag of stuff for our family will come from the closets. We are going through our shoes and coats and collecting a bag (or two) for charity.

We are talking about shoes.

Today’s Scripture Reading

Quote for the day: “The bread which you use is the bread of the hungry; the garment hanging in your wardrobe is the garment of him who is naked; the shoes you do not wear are the shoes of the one who is barefoot; the acts of charity that you do not perform are so many injustices that you commit.” – Saint Basil

Read we are reading “Master Pfriem” and our Saint story of Basil the Great.

Craft: We are making pretzels.

Lap book page: Trace each child’s feet and cut them out. Decorate the “shoe” on the top and the back list (or draw) the things our feet do.

Other great ideas: (if you stumble on something that should be linked here please comment or send me the link)

Jesus Tree

A Meaningful Lent

My world

Happy blogiversary to me

February 26, 2009 darcee2 Comments

Well, today is the second aniversary of Simply Catholic. Yes, I started writting here on February 26, 2007 and have been with it more or less for two years now.

It has been a very enjoyable two years. I have made some new friends and I have learned a great deal. Thank you to all those who have been reading here. I really do appreaciate you all.

40 bags of stuff. · Lent

40 Trash Bag Challenge — Day 2

February 26, 2009February 27, 2009 darcee1 Comment

40trashbags

Today is Wednesday, February 26, 2008

Today’s bag of stuff for our family will come from the kitchen. We are going through our cupboards and letting go of those items we rarely or never use. This can be baking pans, small appliances, dishes, or anything stored in the kitchen. I am also going to hit the dreaded “junk” drawer. Anything that I don’t have a home or use for I am letting go of. I am also using a box instead of a bag for the big things like pans or plates.

We are talking about spring.

Today’s Scripture Reading

Quote for the day: “Totus tuus” – the apostolic motto of Pope John Paul II (totally yours)

See and do activity: Take a nature walk and notice the early bulbs, leaves and new green growth. Talk about how God blesses use, how all things ultimately belong to Him.

Read we are reading “A seed is sleepy”.

Craft: We are planting small containers of flower seeds to watch them grow.

Lap book page: Draw and color some of the new growth we saw today.

Other great ideas: (if you stumble on something that should be linked here please comment or send me the link)

Jesus Tree

A Meaningful Lent

Blogs I Know

Works for me Wednesday – I will pray for you

February 25, 2009 darcee1 Comment

Prayer requests are sometimes a daunting thing to keep up with. My homeschool email list, friends, family, blog-friends all frequently have requests or intentions that I want to pray for. Unfortunately I am crippled with a memory somewhat resembling swiss cheese so I would promise to pray for someone’s intention and then forget. This caused me some distress, I didn’t intent to forget, but I would then I would feel badly for not remembering. I found two little things helped me quite a bit.

What works for me:
I always have loved the line in the confession ” For these and for all my sins, known and unknown, I am truly sorry”. It is such a reflection of our broken humanity. There are things I just slip and forget, but I am none the less intensely sorry for my sins no matter if I can instantly call them to mind or not.

I bagan to slip something similar into my prayers “and for all those intentions that I have promised to pray for”. But it seems like such a cop-out in a way — but it is far far better than not.

The better solution:
A couple years ago I was listening to a talk on the radio where the speaker (who I can’t remember for the life of me… back to the swiss chess thing) urged his audience to take a notebook to mass an write down one thing. Just one thing, the most important thing to them for a year. I purchased a small leather-bound book that fits neatly in my purse. It has come to serve two purposes. First it serves as a place to write down those important thoughts from mass, but it also serves as a great place to jot down those intention which I want to pray for. It is a sort of prayer journal. Something I can look at and refer to not just for my current prayer intentions, but also to see the glory of God working in the answers to those things for which I am praying.

You can see more of the Works for me Wednesday ideas at We Are THAT Family
wfmwbannerkristen

40 bags of stuff. · Lent

40 Trash Bag Challenge — Day 1

February 25, 2009February 25, 2009 darceeLeave a comment

40trashbags

Today is Wednesday, February 25, 2008 — Ash Wednesday

This is the first day of the 2008 40 trash bag challenge. The challenge is an opportunity to remove the excess clutter and “stuff” from our lives. The excess can be given away, sold, donated or trashed. The first goal is to let go; the second goal is to bless others.

The first bag of stuff for our family will come from the kitchen. I am going through an tossing anything that is expired, out of date, junk food (chips, cookies, etc.) that we are avoiding during Lent. In the fridge anything out of date or “gone bad” is getting bagged. The freezer and deep freeze are losing anything freezer-burned or expired. From the pantry we are taking any boxed or canned goods which are unopened but which we won’t use down to the food pantry.

We are talking about “fasting and alms-giving”.

Today’s Scripture Reading

Quote for the day: “We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.” – Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta

See and do activity: Take an empty glass and drop a single drop of water into it. Talk to the children about the quote of Mother Teresa and how sometimes it feels like our offerings are very small. Ask the children how long they think it might take to fill the glass one drop at a time. Set the sink to drip into the glass, check it throughout the day to see how long it takes. (it usually takes surprisingly little time)

Read the story of the Widow’s Mite. Select a charity to collect “pennies” for. You might try “Operation Rice bowl” , Aid to the Church in Need or a local charity.

Craft: Salt-bread dough wreath of thorns: This is a fun activity for even the preschoolers.

Lap book page: Draw or print out a picture of a face. Use charcoal to mark the cross on the forehead. Talk about the Ash Wednesday ashes and what the mean.

Other great ideas:

Jesus Tree

A Meaningful Lent

40 bags of stuff.

40 days

February 24, 2009 darcee3 Comments

40 bags

40trashbags

this Lent I am riviving my project from last spring the “40 trash bag challenge”.

There are a few changes from last spring. We are looking to give away more this year. Each week we want to have a least one bag specifically for charity. This year we are doing themed days, for instance tomorrow is Ash Wednesday and we will be hitting the kitchen to get rid of “junk food”. Many of the days will have scriptures or Saint stories associated with them. The children will be putting together a “lap book” for Lent that will include these stories and of course I will be blogging our progress here. I have also set up a Facebook group for the 40 trash bag challenge.

Good luck to those who are going to give this a go. Tomorrow is our first day.

Simple Woman's Daybook

The Simple Woman’s Daybook – February 23, 2009

February 23, 2009 darcee3 Comments

The Simple Woman’s Daybook
is hosted by Peggy at the Simple Woman.
Thank you Peggy.

FOR TODAY : February 23, 2008
I am afraid this is going to be an insanely busy week. Ash Wednesday is this week and with comes Lent.

Outside my Window – So far today it is gray and somewhat chilly and it has started to rain.

I am thinking – My mind is rushing. I can’t keep one thought centered long enough because all those needy other thoughts are pushing forward vying for attention.

From the learning rooms – Alexander the Great, the letters M and S and seeds and sprouts.

I am thankful for- Spring being on its way.

From the kitchen – Crock-pot night.

I am reading – I finally finished On Basilisk Station. I have no idea what I am going to read next.

I am hoping – Would you believe that I got lost on my way to my brother-in-law’s house last week? I think I am too stressed out at the moment to hope for much of anything. Maybe I can hope that things won’t be as dreadfully crazy as I fear they will be?

I am creating – Hannah’s first communion dress. This is the big project for the next few weeks.

I am hearing – Josh is yawning. He is the first one up today. Very unusual for him.

Around the house – A million things to do.

One of my favorite things – hugs.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week – Bookkeeping, a little gardening, some sewing and hopefully a little peace.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you –

Catholic homemaking · Homemaking

Culling the clothing

February 20, 2009 darceeLeave a comment

Every six months or so I walk into the children’s rooms to put away laundry, open the door and realise that I can’t fit everything in there. I don’t think the children’s clothing actually breeds in the laundry, but it sure seems like it sometimes. We start the season with the “right” amount of clothing and then through gifts, hand-me-downs and bringing things up from storage as the children grow into a new size we end up stuffed to the gills again. Now if I was smart I would pull clothing equal to the gifts/hand-me-downs and I wouldn’t let a storage box open before I had sorted out the smaller size but most times I am just not that smart or diligent.

So the clothing multiplies and before many months go by there is just too much in the drawers again, so I have to cut back. I have written before about my clothing inventory and clothing checklist here. This system works really well for me.

So the time has come to go through the clothing again.

I pulled out the lists for the girls:

Hannah’s list

Sarah’s list

I am culling back to the list level, then I will be able to see what I need to get.

In the News

Half dressed women viewed as objects by men.

February 16, 2009February 21, 2009 darcee2 Comments

A study reported in the British news today (Telegraph, Guardian) shows that men’s perceptions of woman change when they view pictures of scantily dressed females .

Shocked?

Me either.

Hercules Between Virtue And Vice - Emmanuel Benner

I can’t help but wonder if a similar result could be seen if you looked at actual women. Does one woman in skimpy dress in the mall affect the way the men who see her view other women? Because if so it adds yet another argument to the reasons women should seriously consider the affect their apparel has on everyone around them.

Simple Woman's Daybook

The Simple Woman’s Daybook – February 16, 2009

February 16, 2009February 16, 2009 darcee2 Comments

The Simple Woman’s Daybook
is hosted by Peggy at the Simple Woman.
Thank you Peggy.

FOR TODAY : February 16, 2008
Sarah turned three yesterday. Today is cold and somewhat cloudy. It is also President’s day so Ashley is home.

Outside my Window – The wind is blowing and they sky is mostly gray. I need to finish pruning the roses this week .

I am thinking – It is sort of sad to not have a baby in the house.

From the learning rooms – We are making more solid plans for Lent.

I am thankful for- Kyle being home again. Lord I miss him when he is gone.

From the kitchen – I really, really need to grocery shop.

I am reading – On Basilisk Station — I am almost done with it.

I am hoping – That I don’t get lost driving up to Vancouver today. Actually I am sure I can find Vancouver… my brother-in-law’s house — not so much.

I am creating – Hannah’s first communion dress. I am using my wedding dress and you can see the progress so far. I will be posting more on this soon. Yes, I did find my camera.

I am hearing – The children’s lunch conversation.

Around the house – I have to go grocery shopping, drive to Vancouver and then make dinner. At least there is no CCD tonight. Also, the ugly-used-to-be-white carpet is about 1/3 gone.

One of my favorite things – Hardwood floors. Yes, I know they are cold, loud, whatever… but they are so, so much better than ugly-used-to-be-white carpet.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week – More sewing, a little gardening. The Portland Garden show is this weekend, I would like to go.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you –

M	T	W	T	F	S	S
						1
2	3	4	5	6	7	8
9	10	11	12	13	14	15
16	17	18	19	20	21	22
23	24	25	26	27	28