(Holy Week)...streaming

The end of Lent...I don't know about you but I don't feel like Lent was very fruitful this year.

Some years I feel I have made great strides, and then others...

“God doesn't require us to succeed, he only requires that you try.”
― Mother Teresa

Or as my dad used to say, "Sometimes you get the bear, and sometimes the bear gets you." I think the bear got me this year, but then we have one week left to make a big push.

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Yesterday I made the house ready for Holy Week. Faith kept asking about the bunnies (I have a lot of bunnies in boxes down there...I have a bunny thing), and I kept saying "Next Saturday, that's next Saturday."

This week we keep it clean and simple. The statues and crucifixes are covered...

So they took up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple. In 8:59

I purchased these Holy Week ornaments before Lent began. They are beautiful (well worth the money), and they came with a book of scripture verses and meditation for each day of Holy Week. Last night at dinner, I read the first verse and meditation. I decided to put all the ornaments on at once instead of one by one because otherwise there is a fuss over who gets to do it, during dinner no less.

I recycled my sand for the vase and found a broken branch hanging from one of the trees. I would like to substitute it for a branch with leaves for Easter morning, but I don't know if I will cut one just for decoration's sake.

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I have some art activities planned for Faith this week (you can click around from my Pinterest Easter page).

We also need to make crosses from twigs for our Resurrection Garden. On Easter morning there will be a little sign saying "He is not here. He has risen." And the "stone" will be moved. I think my grass needs a little cut before the big day, what do you think? This project has been a good one and one I think we will do each year. Of all the gauges that we have used of Lent passing (paper chains, etc.), this one was good and simple, more subliminal than intentional.

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This week will hopefully be a quiet one. I have simple meals planned, and no activities. I plan to go to Mass several mornings and possibly attend Maundy Thursday Mass and Good Friday adoration.

I have no plans at home except to pray, and keep the kitchen completely clean. That is my Holy Week penance. I have a tendency to let dirty dishes soak in the sink, and clean dishes sit in the drainer, but this week I am going to keep up and make sure the kitchen is clean all the time. It will be quite a penance for me, but I think, of all places in the house, a clean kitchen promotes peace.

I hope that you, my friend, have a peaceful week. I don't know that I will be back before Easter. If not, I'll see you next week. God bless.