Lent!

Can you believe we are nearly half way through Lent?!

 

This year we are doing our usual vine and branches project.  It's a 7 foot tall vine cut out of brown paper with branches for each member of the family. 

 We cut out tons of leaves and grapes and put them in a basket. Whenever anyone sees someone doing something good (bearing fruit), they put a leaf or fruit on that person's branch. 

On the central vine we have a few relevant scripture quotes from John 15, verses 1, 5, and 12.

 

We have out Lenten altar with our sacrifice bean jar.  One bean for each sacrifice or good work, and on Easter they are replaced with jelly beans to show that Jesus' sacrifice makes our sacrifices sweet

 I had thought this was the year my kids were too old for the Walking with Jesus poster, but it turned out they meant that they just wanted a smaller roadmap for our Lent. 

And maybe something a bit different.  I think at this stage of the pandemic, we all want something a little different!

So instead of footsteps, we have different references to the week's Sunday Gospel.

This year the kids are all doing special things of their own for Lent. Personally, I made my phone grayscale (only black and white) which has been a particularly constant reminder of Lent.

We are also doing pretzels in the cookie jar (at this point, nothing says Lent to me like pretzels in the cookie jar!), more daily Mass, and, of course, Gospel Desserts on Sundays.

Lastly, Choclo and Oob will be confirmed shortly after Easter, so we are doing the My Path to Heaven children's Ignation retreat.