AWESOME Bible Coloring Sheets

With Holy Week coming up, you will want to check out the "Jesus, the Christ" section of this website for great coloring sheets! Then look through all of the other wonderful Bible coloring sheets they offer as well. They are great even for older children because there is a lot of detail. Beautiful pictures! Thank you Catholic Icing for sharing this link! http://http://www.tne.net.au/~abdaacts/cbible.html If you like what you see on my blog, please follow me :o) Blessings, Ladybug

Feast of the Annunciation

March 25 (tomorrow) is the Solemnity of the Annunciation, when the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and asked her to be the Mother of Jesus. Mary's "yes" changed history and salvation! Since the Annunciation is a Solemnity, we do not have to abstain from meat tomorrow...of course an extra sacrifice never hurts :o) But we are supposed to celebrate Solemnities! Pray the 1st Joyful Mystery together. Bake a blue cake (wouldn't this be great for any feast of Mary???) http://http//www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/royal-blue-velvet-cake/bce7c4e4-8c6a-49cd-ac3f-9fe629722d9c. An angel food cake would also be appropriate, frost with light blue frosting. Make an angel craft. Draw the word "YES" with bubble letters and let your children decorate inside the letters. Pray the Angelus. Play a game of Mary Memory. Tell Mary "thank you" for saying yes...and practice saying "yes" to what God asks of you..."let it be done to me." God bless you!

One Thing I Am Doing for Lent!

I have decided that the girls & I are each going to 'get rid of' 40 things during Lent this year. I know some people do 40 bags, but that thought alone is overwhelming to me...especially since I am working full time outside the home right now. So I think we will concentrate on 40 things. I am starting tomorrow by donating some pictures and office supplies that I no longer use/need to Mary's Choice http://www.maryschoice.org/. So I will be ahead of the game by at least 4 things :o)

I think we will also start praying 5 decades of the Rosary each night. We have been pretty consistent about 2 or 3 decades per night, so it's time to step it up!

Blessed Lent to you!

Lenten Recipes

Believe it or not...I am still alive :o) Oh, to have more time to blog! Another believe it or not...Lent starts in 2 weeks! Here are some of our favorite recipes for those meatless Fridays:

CHEESE ENCHILADAS
1 8 oz pkg cream cheese
1 8 oz pkg cheddar cheese
1/4 c sliced green onions (optional)
6 large flour tortillas
1 8 oz jar salsa or enchilada sauce
chives (optional)

Blend cream cheese till smooth; add 1 c cheddar cheese and onions or chives. Spread 1/4 c cheese mixture down center of each tortilla. Roll up and place seam side down in 9x13 pan. Pour salsa or enchilada sauce over tortillas. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Cover and bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake 5 minutes longer.

CREAMY POTATO SOUP
6 large potatoes, diced
diced carrots
1/2 c butter
onion and/or garlic
2 T flour
4 c milk
cream soup...any flavor without meat :o) (celery is good)
1/2 c shredded cheese
spices as desired, I usually add pepper

Cook potatoes and carrots in large kettle, drain & set aside. Saute onion and/or garlic in butter till tender. Stir in flour till blended, then gradually add milk. Bring to boil; cook & stir till thickened. Add cream soup, cheese, potatoes, carrots, and spices. Mix well. Stir till cheese is melted and soup is heated through.

FISH PARMESAN
(this recipe is from my friend Michelle's mom)
3/4 c dried breadcrumbs
3 T parmesan cheese
2 tsp dried parsley
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp paprika
1/8 tsp each pepper, oregano, basil
6 pollack fillets
1/2 c melted butter

In shallow bowl, combine crumbs, cheese, parsley, and seasonings. Dip fish in butter, then in crumb mixture. Arrange in 9x13 pan. Bake uncovered at 375 for 20-25 minutes.

TUNA & CRAB HOTDISH
(my Grandma made this for us every Good Friday when we went to visit them in Denver)

***Must be made the night before.

8 slices bread, cubed
1 can crab meat, drained
1 c celery, diced (optional)
1 green pepper, diced (optional)
4 eggs
3 c milk
2 cans tuna, drained
1/2 c mayo
1 onion, diced (optional)

1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 c milk

Butter 9x13 pan, put 1/2 bread in bottom. Saute onion, celery & pepper in butter. Combine with mayo; add tuna and crab, spread over bread; put rest of bread on top. Beat eggs & milk, pour over top. Cover and put in frig overnight. Bake 15 minutes at 325. Combine 1 can cream of mushroom soup & 1/2 c milk. Pour on top of casserole. Top with grated cheese. Bake for 1 hour.

SALMON PATTIES
Stir together 1 can salmon with juice, onion to taste, and 2 eggs. Add 16-18 crushed saltine crackers. Make small patties and fry in butter in frying pan set at 250. Turn over when brown. Add more butter for each batch.

ENJOY :o)

July - Month of the Precious Blood of Jesus

July is the Month of the Precious Blood of Jesus. Each month has a dedication & I will try to post some activities for each month. My files are all at school, so in the summer those activities will usually be limited to what's in my head (not much! LOL) and what I have found online. I have always been a little jealous of the people who have a rich heritage & hold onto it & have traditions they still practice...and one day I realized I DO have that heritage...my Catholic faith! One way we can pass that faith on to our children and make them LOVE it is to celebrate the liturgical seasons of the Church year. You can find out more about the Liturgical Seasons here: http://www.wf-f.org/LiturgicalCalendar-info.html and here: http://thankevann.com/homeschoolgoodies/?page_id=48

And now on to the Month of the Precious Blood...

The picture is one I took of the heart my niece made using a heart mold to make a heart out of Jello and then added drops of blood, also with Jello. You could also make finger jello & cut out hearts with a cookie cutter or knife and use the leftover pieces in the pan to make drops of blood.

Learn to draw a chalice and grapes:

http://www.chcweb.com/catalog/files/htdpb.pdf

Sacred Heart Color Sheet:

http://www.sjtbre.org/docs/Sacred%20Heart.pdf

Here is a beautiful prayer, as you can see they put it on a drop-shaped piece of red cardstock:

http://starrymantle.blogspot.com/2008/07/july-month-of-precious-blood.html

Have fun!