Crown of thorns project

I saw this idea on Pinterest last week while looking for Lent Sunday school lessons and thought, "Yeah, I can do that."

You know those Advent projects where children add yarn/hay/construction paper strips to a cardboard/play doh manger to prepare for Jesus' birth?  This is like that in reverse.  Throughout Lent, we will try to remove "thorns" from Jesus' crown of thorns by doing good deeds.

Here's what you'll need:

- A grapevine wreath (Lots of sizes to choose from, but I got a 14 in. one at Hobby Lobby for $3.99)

- Burlap ribbon (I used a 40% off coupon)

- Toothpicks

First, I trimmed some of the longer grapevine strands.  Then I started wrapping the burlap ribbon.  I just tucked an end into the wreath and started wrapping.  When I was finished wrapping I stapled the ends together.  Because I'm fancy.

Then I grabbed some toothpicks.  I settled on 50.  You know, 40 days of Lent x 2 kids = Gee, I hope these kids can collectively do 50 nice things in 40 days.  

Then I stuck 5 toothpicks in each ribbon section at different angles. Done. Easy peasy.  

We'll keep the wreath on the kitchen table. Each time I catch the girls doing something nice, they can remove a "thorn".  Let's hope they don't then use said "thorn" as a weapon against each other or drop it on the floor for me to step on in the dark.

But seriously, this project is a simple visual illustration for kids to see how our kindness to others brings us closer to Jesus.  

What Lenten projects are happening at your house?

Do more/do less

Lent is upon us. This season is like a new New Year. It's a time to start fresh and examine the heart. My goal- and list-oriented self gets giddy at the thought of a chance to troubleshoot and problem solve my life.

But I'm not going to lie--Baby Harper has sapped a lot of the energy I usually reserve for goal setting and list making.  This is a GOOD thing, as I am learning to adjust my expectations of what can reasonably be accomplished in a day. I'm choosing instead to focus on my relationships with my husband and children instead of stressing about housework and errands. It's a beautiful mess.  

And so it is fitting that Lent, a season that calls us to come closer in our relationship with Jesus, is here. The age-old Christian traditions of fasting, abstinence, and alms giving serve as a guide of how to serve and see Jesus all around us. 

Growing up in a Catholic household, my choice for a Lenten sacrifice was not taken lightly.  My parents emphasized doing something extra as well. I usually gave up soda, and as a family we said the rosary together on Sunday afternoons. In this same spirit, my family is choosing to do more and do less as a Lenten discipline this year.   

That's sounds confusing.  Let me explain.  Each of us can do something to enhance our relationship with Jesus. That's the "do more" part.  Doing more might be following a Lenten devotional, or choosing a special time each day to pray, or saving all the loose change from the laundry to give to the poor.  Lots of options here. I thrive on doing, so this part is not usually a challenge for me.

The "do less" part goes against my very nature. Doing less in Lent might mean less complaining, less swearing, less sugar, or less caffeine.  This sleep-deprived nursing mama needs her chocolate and coffee to put one foot in front of the other these days, so food restrictions are off the table this year.  But wow, could I stand to do less whining, or comparing, or yelling. This one will be tougher, but more meaningful.

All 4 of us (Harper is, of course, exempt) are thinking about what we are going to do more and less of in the coming 40 days and nights. Our choices will be written down on the family chalkboard in the kitchen so that we can keep each other accountable.  

I'll be back on the blog next week with a quick, easy, and meaningful Lenten centerpiece project.  

Have a fun Fat Tuesday and a meaningful Ash Wednesday!

*UPDATE: Here's what we settled on:

Today

So, it's been a while since I've blogged. All is well, but so very busy.  Three kids is a lot of kids. And since the 15 week-old wants to be held all day, well, you could say I literally have my hands full.  

But I woke up today with a desire to write. Nothing too profound will be found below, only an attempt to commit some words to the page. Baby steps. If I'm lucky, maybe I can make this a weekly thing.  

Today I am...

Praying: About how to be a better wife.  

Looking forward to: Meeting up with my sister in law and her kiddos this week.

Reading: The Artist's Daughter by Alexandra Kuykendall.

Preparing: The newsletter for my monthly MOPS meeting next week.

Watching: The Daily Show episodes DVR'd from last week.

Eating: Leftover chicken from Verucchi's.

Wishing: I was back in Florida.

Enjoying: The smell of coffee coming from the kitchen.

Listening to: The spin cycle of the washer.

Blessed by: Some freezer meals from a friend.

Thankful for: The smiley, babbling baby on my lap.

Waiting for: News about Todd's possible reappointment in July.

Thinking about: How I'm a pretty good mom but how I struggle with my role as a wife.

Avoiding: Folding laundry

Cooking: Biscuits and gravy for dinner.

Finishing: Repottinng some plants that outgrew their containers.

Wanting: Just everything from the Hanna Andersson catalog.

Reviewing: The awesome pictures from our DisneyWorld vacation last week.

Happy New Year

It's a new year.  And since I can never resist the urge to make a list, the girls and I decided to complete our third annual New Year's goal setting sheets. You can find them at the links below.

Printables from thirtyhandmadedays.com:

Kids: http://www.thirtyhandmadedays.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/newyearsresolutionkids2013.pdf

Adults: http://www.thirtyhandmadedays.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/newyearsresolutionadult2014.pdf

It's so fun to look back at last year's sheets and see how far we've come. And it's easy to see what areas still need improvement.  

My one word this year will be BREATHE. 

This word has a dual meaning for me: inhaling and exhaling.  I need to start focusing on my "in breath": my family, my friends, things that bring me joy, and start letting go of my "out breath": stress, busyness, addiction to technology, sharp words, and apathy.  

What will your word be this year?

26 Acts

The tragedy at Newtown was one year ago today.  Our country remains fractured around gun issues.  The families of the precious children lost that day are fractured, too.  So much hurt multiplied because one person's hurt turned to violence.

But we can multiply good, too.  Love is stronger than hate.  And it can start with me and my family.  

The Krosts will be completing 26 acts of kindness in the next two weeks until Christmas.  This time we are dividing the acts among our family members--the girls will each complete 4 acts of their choosing, Todd and I will complete the remaining 18.  

I've been so focused on shopping-wrapping-card addressing-elf moving-baking-decorating this month that I fear I've lost the Christmas spirit.  I'm taking this opportunity to fill my heart (and schedule) with something else, making room for Jesus.  

Here's what's on our list:

Maddie will complete:

1. Make Rainbow Loom bracelets and give away randomly

2. Make cards for nursing home residents 

3. Donate toys to local charity

4. Bake cookies and pass out to members of our congregation

Ava will complete:

5. Make holiday ornaments and give away randomly

6. Make cards for nursing home residents 

7. Donate toys to local charity

8. Leave quarters on gumball machines 

Todd will complete:

9. Donate items to a local food pantry 

10. Bring coffee/donuts to the construction workers across the street

11. Invite Ava's classmate, who's parents both work, on a play date

12. Go caroling to shut in members on the congregation 

13. Clean off a stranger's snowy car

14. Bring a treat to the lady at the post office

15. Send an encouraging note to a seminary student

16. Hide encouraging notes in books at the seminary library

17. Donate old towels to our local animal shelter

Christina will complete:

18. Buy a candy bar for the cashier @ Walmart

19. Hide kind notes in library books

20. Pay for a coffee for the person behind me at the coffee shop

21. Bring goodies to the fire station

22. Write encouraging notes to women at local domestic violence shelter

23. Send cards to service men/women

24. Let someone go ahead of me in the checkout line

25. Send an encouraging note to the girls' teachers and support staff

26. Leave treats for our garbage collectors

We will include these tags with our acts of kindness.  Who knows?  Maybe others will be inspired to join us in completing random acts of kindness.  Will you?

http://www.milkandcookiesblog.com/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2012/12/26-Acts.pdf

Tags taken from www.milkandcookiesblog.com