A Beautiful Examination of Conscience

I wanted to share this beautiful meditation from today's The Word Among Us reflection.  These are always well done and this one is no exception.

This is an adaption of the examination of conscience that St. Ignatius Loyola recommended for daily use. This simple, five-part prayer helps reveal where God has worked in your life, as well as where you’ve fallen short. And having stud­ied these divine “footprints,” you’ll see more clearly where to walk in the future.

1. Begin by thanking God for his blessings, great and small. Let your mind recall events and experiences from the past year, and express your gratitude. “Bless his name,” as to­day’s psalm says (Psalm 96:2).

2. Ask for the grace to know your-self—especially to know your sins and be rid of them. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you see what should be brought to light and to know how greatly God cherishes you.

3. Now review the year in more detail, month by month. (If you kept a journal or marked events on a cal­endar, these could help jog your memory.) Consider the highs and lows, the victories and defeats. Ask: Where did I experience God’s presence and accept his invitation? Where did I turn away? Where could I have been more loving? More open? Where did I respond to the Spirit?

4. If you turned up some faults and failings (and who doesn’t!), ask God’s forgiveness. Plan to go to con­fession and, if need be, to make things right with anyone you’ve wronged.

5. Now it’s time for resolutions! Enlightened by your backward look, you can move forward to set good goals for 2012. Do it with confi­dence, for the God who poured out his grace in the past is with you to make this a year of grace upon grace.

“Lord, how can I thank you for your goodness to me? What return can I make for your love?”

The Twelve Days of Christmas Lapbook ~

The kids and I pulled out this lapbook  after we read The Twelve Days of Christmas.    I guess I never got around to sharing it last year. It was a good review for the whole family.  I ended up also pulling this off the shelf.

 I think I got the templates here although I'm not positive. 

*** Notice that I changed the third day to the Three Theological Virtues***

A Merry Christmas Basket pt. 2 ~

I just love having our Christmas book basket under the tree.  I've always felt the tree looked a little lonely during Christmastide with no presents and all, waiting to be enjoyed.  This is the first year for me to wrap a book to be discovered each day.  Several times the kids and even my honey have thanked me for doing so.  So thanks again to Charlotte and Jessica for the inspiration. 

(Note ~ My books weren't all wrapped before Advent began.  I did good having them ready a week at a time ;)

Homemade Christmas Cards

We spent the day making homemade Christmas cards.  The little ones were excited to walk into the kitchen and see the island ready for this art extravaganza!

I found the cutest hand print Christmas cards.

~Honeybee's Angel ~

~ Buck's Reindeer ~

I'm sure these will make loved ones smile when they open them!

I also wrote out the words 

 Christian and Christmas

showing them how both have the name

Christ in them. 

I had told them this before but,

Buck had a "light bulb" moment when he saw them actually written out.

I was wiped out by the end of the day but, I think it was well worth the effort :)

An O Antiphon Basket of Love ~

Brown paper packages tied up with string, these are a few of my favorite things!

This year we get a full fourth week of Advent to focus on sharing Love. 

These are the books wrapped and waiting to be opened after dinner each night this week.

12-17-11
The Candle in the Window



12-18-11

A Christmas Gift for Mama

12-19-11

The Clown of God

12-20-11

The Christmas Cobwebs

12-21-11

The Little Fir Tree

12-22-11
Mortimer's Christmas Manger

12-23-11

The Donkey's Dream

Christmas Eve
The Christmas Story

Light one candle for love,
One bright candle for love.
He brings Love to every heart,
He comes!  He comes!