Jesus Tree

If you're anything like me, you completely freaked out last week when you flipped to the February calendar page and realized how quickly Ash Wednesday is upon us. I feel like I just packed away the last of the Christmas decorations. I've been in a Googling frenzy ever since trying to come up with some ideas for a family Lent devotional. Good thing I didn't bury the Jesse Tree stuff too deep in the attic..

The branch I used for our Jesse Tree Advent devotional is about to become a Jesus Tree. I found these paper ornaments from St. Brigid's Academy. Each ornament has a picture, description, and Bible verse to look up. We will add an ornament each day of Lent (excluding Sundays) and will discuss what the Bible verse has to do with the themes of Lent: repentance, forgiveness, self-denial, discipline, prayer, charity, simplicity, and spiritual growth. The girls enjoyed our Jesse Tree, so it is my hope that they'll be similarly invested in our 40 days of Lent study.

Here are some other family-friendly Lenten resources I found:

Printable Lent countdown calendar:
http://catholicicing.com/2011/02/printable-lenten-calendar-for-kids/

Intentionally celebrating Lent as a family:
http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2012/02/intentionally-celebrating-lent-easter-as-a-family.html

Making a Jesus Tree (from the same author of the Jesse Tree devotional):
http://www.aholyexperience.com/2012/02/what-lent-really-means-free-easter-devotional-book-to-make-a-jesus-easter-tree/

What are you and your family doing to celebrate Lent?