The Big Sleep Over

We survived the big sleep over!!!  What a great time.  This is the second year that we have done this and the girls are already planning for next year.

The evening started at 5:30 pm on Friday night.  Siblings were invited to come along if dad didn't get off of work on time.  We ate at 6:00 pm.  Dinner was easy.  We had pizza, a veggie tray, chips and pretzels.  For dessert, the girls got to make fruit pizzas which were a real hit.  They were seriously delicious.  I used the frosting recipe from here and the cookie recipe was the same one from our cookie sale.

We also had a table set up with the scrapbook pages that I had made a few weeks ago.  It was a good reminder for all of us about all the hard work that we had done this year. 

After dinner, we went into the church to pray and spend some time with Jesus.  The most precious thing happened.  Oh how I wish I had my camera with me!!!  The girls had gone up ahead of all the moms.  When we got in there, the girls were all kneeling in front of the Blessed Mother and were praying!!!  It made me realize that all the time I spend on Little Flowers is soooo worth it.  They have learned a lot this year and their love for Jesus has grown.

It was then time for games!!  Jessica was in charge of the games.  She had the girls playing some Minute To Win It Games.  They had a blast.  Lots of laughing.  It was hilarious to watch the expressions and poses that they made.  It was great.  Maybe next year, we should get the moms involved!!!  Although it was sort of nice to sit back and just visit while the girls played.

At 9 PM, we popped popcorn and watched My Catholic Family - St. Edith Stein.  It's only 30 minutes long so its the perfect amount of time yet the girls thought it was so fun to get to watch tv.  For some reason, I thought the girls would sort of calm down after the movie.  If they did, it was short lived!!!

Our plan was to get the girls washed up and ready for bed after the movie, read a bedtime story and then let them have a little quiet time after lights out.  They did wash up and get their beds all ready.  I got them to settle down and listen to a story.  I read from First Communion Days which is a great little book and then it was lights out.  I figured it would take a half hour or so for them to really calm down and sleep.

Part of the problem is that the moms were sitting next door in the kitchen doing some tea party planning.  Of course, the girls took this to mean that they could have a pillow fight and all that other good stuff.  They certainly were not ready to go to sleep.  Finally around 11:00 PM, I decided it was time to just go to bed to get them to sleep.  It took a little firmness with my daughter and then all was quiet.

Everyone was up bright and early the next morning.  A good thing to remember for next year.  Let them know what time they are allowed to get up.  This year, they were making noise at around 5:45 AM.  I told them all to go back to sleep for another 45 minutes.  I'm thinking next year, around 7:00 AM would be nice, at least in my dreams.

Breakfast was kept simple.  Everyone signed up to bring something and there was lots of fruit, bagels, and muffins.  I think the moms appreciated it after a rough night on the floor.  The mess was kept to a minimum and not too much to clean up.

After breakfast, we got dressed and went over to the church to say the rosary.  I found this wonderful idea for praying the rosary here.  I had wanted the girls to be able to decorate the felt hearts with glitter glue but after trying it at home, I realized that it was going to take longer than 12 hours to dry.  It was still a beautiful visual.  While I led it, Jessica passed out the hearts for the girls to lay down.  We sat up near the Blessed Mother's statue and when we were done, gave Mary all of our hearts.

Unfortunately, it started pouring the minute our sleep over started and never let up enough for us to spend much time outdoors.  It would have helped the girls to burn off some of their energy if they had been able to run around but they still did great.  We had two crafts planned and had been hoping that the weather would improve enough to do the one outside.  It never happened.  No big deal, we laid down a couple of disposable tablecloths and had the girls make their Mary Gardens right inside.

Before the gardens, they got to make necklaces.  I was able to get the bottle caps from Etsy, and the little medals came from Madonna Catholic Supply Company.  Jessica did the wording for the necklaces.  While this activity didn't take very long, it will make a nice keepsake for them to remember their year.

Our last activity was their Mary Gardens.  Jessica is quite the gardener so she was in charge of getting all the plants.  We got the pots at the Dollar Store and I made the grottoes.  The little Mary statues came from Autom.  Before the girls started their planting, Jessica shared the meaning of each flower that was going in the garden.  It was really interesting to us all.  All the moms helped their daughters with their gardens and so the mess wasn't too bad.  My daughter's garden is looking a little wild in this picture, but they all turned out so beautiful!

Whew!!  This was quite the post!!  It was a fantastic sleep over, and I would say the girls and moms all feel a lot closer now.  We are so fortunate that we are allowed to use our church's social hall.  I wish I could say that it's time for a break, but it's now time to get ready for a tea!!!

Courage - Wreath II

It is so great having different moms run the meeting.  Each one brings their own special talents.  I think it's good for the girls to get to be proud of their moms too.

This month, Shannon led the meeting.  It became evident right away that Shannon is a teacher!!  Wow, I got some great ideas from her.  After our opening prayers and handing out the badges from the month before, she had the girls sit on a big, comfy looking quilt.  She asked the girls what courage meant.  There were lots of hands going up to answer.

She then read the book, The Story of Ruby Bridges.  This was an excellent example of courage and faith.  I had never heard of Ruby Bridges before.  Just briefly, Ruby Bridges was a 6 year old, African American girl during the 1960 who attended a New Orleans school after court-ordered desegregation.  The book talks about the mobs of angry people that Ruby had to walk through each day.  Wow, talk about needing courage.  It also told of her praying for the people.  The girls all seemed to enjoy the book.

After the story, Shannon handed out little smiley faces on popsicle sticks.  On one side, the face was smiling with the word, courageous.  The other side was a frowny face with the word, foolish.  Shannon read several situations that they might encounter and the girls had to decide whether it was courageous or foolish.  One of the examples was about peer pressure.  Since I know some of our Little Flowers have been experiencing peer pressure lately, it was great having the idea of being courageous and doing the right thing reinforced.

It was then time for a craft.  Shannon shared a bracelet that she was wearing that she had made.  She said that it helped to remind her to be courageous.  The girls then got to all pick out beads and make their own courageous bracelets.  Before the girls got to work, Shannon hung a large list of ideas up of what they could do after they were done with their work.  She had brought a bunch of books that they could read on courage.  She also included some of the badge activities.  It was nice to get a couple of the activities done before we even got home from the meeting.

This is my daughter's bracelet.  She was so funny.  It took her forever as she searched for all the animal beads and one flower. The girls definitely liked making the bracelets.  Both of my daughters wore them to school this morning.

The meeting ended and the girls were able to play outside a little while.  It's great when they can get outside and just have some free time to play.  I think it really helps them to bond.  Now it's on to getting everything ready for our big sleepover on Friday!!

Justice - Wreath II

Wow, I would say of all the virtues this year, Justice has to have been the hardest to come up with a lesson or craft. Thankfully, I didn't have to do it, hence the smiling ruler.  I couldn't even come up with a picture let alone a whole lesson.   Jessica had signed up for this month's virtue and luckily she is so well organized that her whole lesson was written out.  Rather than trying to describe it, I am going to just copy and paste the whole thing right here.

Thank You Jessica for the great job!



Justice

ASK- What is Justice? The strong and firm will to give each his due. - Thomas Aquinas.

• It’s a moral virtue that helps us work diligently to give God and others their due. This does not imply that exactly the same is due to each person. Giving everyone the same opportunity.

• Give examples – example a candy scramble….everyone starts out with the same opportunities and they all end up with different amounts of candy. It would be right that to point out that is one child ended up not getting any or just 1 piece, to put yourself in their shoes and treat them the way you would want..maybe share some with them.

• Justice is a virtue that deals with individuals and a society as a whole. It is within Justice that we can fulfill Christ's command to "love your neighbor as yourself". We can't truly love someone we do not know but we can give them justice...and in that justice there is love. Love is putting someone else first in your life; taking care of what they need before taking care of your needs. The golden rule is love in action; treating others well, because others are as important as you are. Jesus said that Christians' love and caring for each other would be how the world identified us.

ASK- what is the Golden Rule? In the bible ( Matthew 7:12) "Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets."

• One of the first moral lessons taught to you as children is to treat each other as you want to be treated. Example- sharing a swing at the playground, sharing toy with a sibling. Remembering the moral law of “Do Good, Avoid Evil” we see that justice is necessary for natural human perfection.

ASK- Invite girls to “Imagine what the world would be like if every person on the planet lived according to the Golden Rule.”

• God has always given His people guidance on how they should treat one another. We tend to be selfish, unless trained otherwise. But God wants us to be considerate of others. He said that we should treat others they way we would like to be treated.

ASK - How do you like to be treated? With respect, listened to, not interrupted, loved, share things with, treated fairly, honest with, follow through on promises. If we like these things from others, it is only natural that others would like us to treat them the same.

3 types of Justice.

1. Commutative – form of justice that we owe our family and neighbors. ( fair standard of giving and receiving. This is the one we will concentrate on most) - it would include using the golden rule.

2. Distributive - city protecting a citizen. (If you call the fire dept. they are going to come and help you. It doesn’t matter who you are, or if they even like you or not, how much $ you have,they are going to come and help you..because it is the right thing to do.)

3. Legal - need to follow rules. (What is a car comes to a stop sign and doesn’t feel like stopping? What if nobody felt like stopping at a stop sign? If even if there isn’t a policeman around you still gotta stop because you don’t want to crash your car or hurt someone.)

You don’t follow rules because you don’t want to get punished, you do it because it is the right
thing to do.

Another dimension of the virtue of Justice is the virtue of Religion. While is might seem
unusual to view religion as a virtue, it needs to be seen as the worship that is due to God
as the first principle in all things. This is the most important virtue that is derived from
justice.

ASK- girls- How many gave things up or did extra special things during Lent?

• Devotions, sacrifices, presence at mass- It is not out of mere habit that we should do these things, but rather because it is JUST to do them. It’s God’s right to expect them from us.

Blessed Mary of the Incarnation

Jessica got information about Blessed Mary of the Incarnation from here.



The girls were then paired up and did some skits to practice being just.

SKITS –

I hear “It’s not Fair” around my house all the time….Something might not seem fair to you or I. BUT, sometimes when we look beyond ourselves at the bigger picture, what seems unfair can actually be the right decision because it is just. Remember… This does not mean that exactly the same is given to each person.


SKIT 1

Incorrect Way:

Parent: Why did you eat that? I just said we were having dinner.

Child: I was hungry and you already said it would be a minute and it has been a lot longer.

Parent: (yelling) Why do you never listen??!? I don’t know what to do with you. That’s it! You can’t go anywhere for the 4 months!

Is the parent being just? What should the parent maybe do to be just? People need to be corrected, there needs to be consequences to help people learn and make the world a better place, but some punishments are too harsh and not justly given.

Correct Way:

Parent: Why did you eat that? I just said we were having dinner.

Child: I was hungry and you already said it would be a minute and it has been a lot longer.

Parent: (in a calm voice) I know it is hard to be patient sometimes, but dinner is taking me a little longer than I thought. Maybe you can try to be a little more patient next time. Please help me be faster by setting the table….and after dinner help me clean up the dishes since you didn’t listen.


SKIT 2

Incorrect Way:

Child 1: Hey, Angie was really mean to me today….she took my jump rope.

Child 2: Really? Why?

Child 1: I don’t know, but I don’t like her…she’s mean. I think I am going to go take her candy when she is not looking.

(Child 1 takes candy from behind Angie’s back while she is talking to someone else.)

Did child 1 treat Angie justly? What do you think she should have done?
It is important to let someone know that you were unhappy with them if they weren’t being nice to you. But….even though Angie was mean to her, she still should have treated her justly….
Treat others the way that you want to be treated, even if they are meant to you.

Correct Way:

Child 1: Hey, Angie was really mean to me today….she took my jump rope.

Child 2: Really? Why?

Child 1: I don’t know, but I guess I should go talk to her about it….it’s really bothering me.
(Child 1 does not take the candy. She goes to talk to Angie.)

SKIT 3

Incorrect Way:

Big Sister: I can’t wait to eat this cake…I’ve been looking forward to this all day!

Little Sister: Me too…It’s my favorite kind!

Big Sister: There is only 1 piece left…let me cut it.

(Big Sister cuts the cake into 1 really large piece and 1 really small piece and gives Little Sister the really small piece)

Big Sister: Here you go, little sister….enjoy your cake.

Did the Big Sister treat her Little Sister with justice? What do you think she should have done?
Be just…even to your siblings! Yes….the same siblings that may get on your nerves. God calls us to be just….. all the time….. to everyone!

Correct Way:

Big Sister: I can’t wait to eat this cake…I’ve been looking forward to this all day!

Little Sister: Me too…It’s my favorite kind!

Big Sister: There is only 1 piece left… Why don’t I cut it and you can choose which piece you would like first?

Little Sister: ok.(she chooses which to eat) thanks!

Big Sister: yummmmmm!

Little Sister: yummmmmm!

SKIT 4

Incorrect Way:

Girl: I don’t want to give things up for Lent. I don’t want to say extra prayers tonight. I’m not going to do that.

Mom: Why?

Girl: Because I don’t feel like it.

Mom: Well, think of all the things you are thankful for….God gave you them. God wants us to follow his rules, because he wants to be close to us, and his first rule is to keep Him first. By saying more prayers and giving things up we are showing him respect and treating him with justice, which he is due. Jesus showed us the golden rule- treat others as you would want them to treat you.
Is the girl treating God with justice? What do you think she should have done?

-Point out – in church Father says Let Us Give Thanks to the Lord our God. What do we answer? It is Right and Just.

We should want to do it because it is the right thing to do, not because we don’t want to get in trouble.

Correct Way:

Girl: Why do we say extra prayers and give things up for Lent?

Mom: Well, think of all the things you are thankful for….God gave you them. God wants us to follow his rules, because he wants to be close to us, and his first rule is to keep Him first. By saying more prayers and giving things up we are showing him respect and treating him with justice, which he is due. Jesus showed us the golden rule- treat others as you would want them to treat you.

Girl: Oh, I remember we were talking about that in Little Flowers lately. Thanks mom! I really do want to do what is right and show God just how much I love him! He made me and I want to thank him and show Him how much I love Him.


I am so glad that I started this blog because I know in 4 years from now when I am stuck doing Justice, I'll be able to just pull this up and print it out.  I will certainly be thanking Jessica again then!!

Generosity - Wreath II

I got to take a break this evening from leading the meeting.  It felt so good to sit back and just enjoy the group. I think it's important that moms take turns with the meetings.  We all have such different styles and talents.  It's great for the girls.  It's also great because then I get a break!!

Our mom started the meeting by reading a wonderful story about St. Katharine Drexel.  Living in Pennsylvania, we have definitely heard the name Drexel.  We have Drexel University in Philadelphia.   It's good for the girls to know about the family who founded it.  She shared how generous St. Katharine was with not only her money but with her time.

After sharing about the saint of the month, the girls learned about generosity.  The mom read about the boy who shared his two fish and five loaves of bread with Jesus and his followers.  She read  the story  from here.   After that, she also shared the story of Kelsey from the same page.  I like how it was about a girl just like them.


For their craft, the girls made a great card with this month's scripture verse.  On the front is the two fish and five loaves of bread and inside is the verse.  They can set it by their bed to read each evening.  It's a great way for them to learn their verse. 

 As a special treat, they get to go undercover and be generous when they go home.  They received manila envelopes marked Top Secret and had their names on it.  Inside, they found sunglasses, fun little moustaches and instructions on doing random acts of kindness without being found out.  We got the idea from here.  They really loved this idea. 

Joy/Mirthfulness - Wreath II

My goodness, I knew that the girls would love balloons, but I don't think I realized how much!!  I led the meeting this month and our virtue was Joy.  I wanted to show them how when we try to use stuff to make us happy, we have to keep "feeding" ourselves to keep that feeling going.  We used a regular latex balloon and the girls got to play "keep the balloon in the air".  Every time they hit the balloon in the air, they had to name something that they thought would make them happy.  I let them play for about 5 minutes until it seemed like it was becoming work to them.  I then brought out the helium balloons.  The oohs and ahhs were great!!  They represented the joy that God can bring.  Sure, helium balloons can start to deflate, they can be filled back up.  Our joy can be restored when we spend time with God.  It's not hard work.  I'm not sure if they heard the lesson as they were so excited about the balloons.


I shared a wonderful story about what happened to me today.  I attend Mass this morning and prayed the rosary afterwards.  Then I went to the Adoration Chapel to spend some time with Jesus.  I admitted that even adults can struggle with believing that Jesus is present in the Eucharist.  After kneeling and praying for a while, I sat back just to take it all in.  I had the most overwhelming feeling that Jesus was there.  I started to cry as I felt so unworthy to be in His Presence.  Then I was filled with incredible joy.  It was the most amazing feeling as I realized that Jesus was there!!!   It was a great lesson, if not for the kids, us moms.

This was the perfect example of adoring the Blessed Sacrament which is something Saint Clare of Assisi, our saint this month, certainly did.  I read them a short story of her life which I got over at Holy Spirit Interactive Kids Zone.

We did a short craft to end our meeting.  We made monstrances out of cardstock.  It is a craft which I got over at Catholic Inspired.  I cut them out of gold cardstock and glued them on white paper before the meeting to help save time.  The girls got to decorate them with glitter glue.  I found big bottles at the dollar store.  They all turned out so beautiful.  In the middle of the monstrance, there was a picture of Jesus.  I had them glue a host over top of Jesus to demonstrate that Jesus is still present even when we don't see him.

The girls got to have a few minutes at the end to play with the balloons again and they all got to take a helium balloon home.