Decisions, Decisions

Decisions, decisions. Should I stay or should I go? When you don’t fit a particular blogging niche sometimes you’re your worst enemy. Where do I fit? What shall I write about? Who is my audience? These are just a few of the questions I ask myself as I sit and stare at that blinking cursor.

Sometimes I’m a reporter with a conscience - like my posts about the collaboration between Girl Scouts and Planned Parenthood. Or the time I exposed the ties between the Salvation Army and abortion.

Other times I challenge my spiritual side and post about how Lenten growth doesn’t have to grow stale after Easter has come and gone.

Then there’s the creative side of me. I love photography – putting on paper what my mind’s eye sees. The little drip of drool on my 6 month old granddaughter’s pink lips. Her ocean blue eyes – so different from the chocolate drop eyes of the rest of our family.

I also love to craft, and draw and plant and nurture and cook and sew. These creative endeavors are a big part of me.

How did I become so diversified? What is my niche? Am I the pedantic who never met a rule she didn’t like or am a flitting butterfly, landing on every fragrant flower that comes into view?

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The dog barked (meaning the timer went off on my iPhone) STOP

Note: This is my first effort of linking to with Kate M for  5 Minute Fridays #fmf
What a fun idea! Next Friday set your timer on five minute, type until it goes off, and stop. That's all there is to it. You might find it as enjoyable as I did.

Necktie Onesie for Baby Boy

Who, among proud new mothers of baby boys is not frustrated by the lack of creativity when it comes to garment availability for baby's wardrobe? With baby girls, it's so simple. Glitz it up with over-the-top bows and ruffles - there's no limit to the colors and garments we can use to play 'dress-up' with our little girls.

What are we to do when we want our baby boy to have some fashion fun as well? Here's an idea to nourish the creative side of mamas of baby boys.

The Necktie Onesie

This is so cute and yet so very simple to do. This could even be done without sewing, but edging makes it survive the multiple washings after diaper blowouts and burps gone wrong.

Necktie Onesie Materials:

• Solid color onesie in baby's current size

• Small scrap of fabric in a fun print - I used a scrap piece from a Moby Wrap I made of a Monsters Inc. print knit

• Double-sided fabric fusion

• Matching thread

Doesn't he look handsome?

Necktie Onesie Construction:

• Fuse one side of fabric fusion to WRONG side of fabric, according to manufacturer's directions.

• Using the pattern, cut out the tie and knot pieces. Make adjustments in length to fit baby.

• Remove paper from other side of fabric fusion.

• Find center of onesie and lay knot piece in place.

• Place long, tie piece into desired position - taking care to center lengthwise. 

• Tuck long tie piece slightly under knot piece. Iron in desired position.

• Sew along all edges, using either a zigzag or straight stitch.

 Go crazy and make these in different themes - Thanksgiving, Christmas, or birthday. Make sure to create a matching tee for big brother too!

Lifting the Veil...

onto my head

Note: I'm sharing this post of veiling discernment for Wear the Veil Day 2014 - in honor of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. 

I have been contemplating wearing a chapel veil to Mass for a while now. At 54, I am just old enough to remember going to Catholic school and being instructed to cover my head by the religious sisters who taught us. My mother, sister and I also wore veils on Sundays. As with other traditions of our beautiful Catholic faith, this sign of reverence and humility was cast aside, however, when Vatican II was introduced to the people in the pew. While there were quite a number of good things that came from properly implementing this Church council, there were also some abuses from those who were attracted to the novelty of making changes for the sake of change. Some practices were mistakenly altered or eliminated while others were mistakenly (or blatantly) introduced. Examples of the former: some religious sisters stopped wearing their habits (and women their chapel veils) although there had been no official instruction to do so. Another was the total abandonment of abstaining from meat, without the substitution of another act of piety, on Fridays outside of the Lenten Season. The latter could be illustrated by 'feel good' homilies instead of firmly instructional ones and the introduction of holding hands during the Our Father - which is not in the Rubrics...ah, a topic for another time!

Similar to the calling I received from God before making the decision to homeschool, this latest whisper has been persistent even as it has been subtle. Little nudges in the form of blog posts, such as this one over at Catholic Sistas, brought that little niggling thought back to my consciousness time and time again. My adult daughter and I had casual conversations about veiling but still, I never felt strongly enough to commit. The final pull came from a very dear friend of mine with whom I had lost touch. We spent years together in the pro-life trenches. Poor health on her part forced a sort of 'retirement' from active duty. Her carefully researched and thought-out articles for newspapers and pro-life publications were treasure troves of information. Before Mary Lou says anything, she studiously pauses and makes sure only well thought out words come from her lips. I have tremendous respect for both her opinion and her research. When we ran into her at the 65th anniversary Mass of one of our priests, I commented about the chapel veil she was wearing. Her reply, simply stated, gave me the courage to strengthen my resolve.

Mary, the mother of God, covered her head as did many pious women throughout history. We are warned time and again by scripture about 1) prideful actions 2) blurring of lines between the genders 3) immodest attire and actions 4) submission to the Will of God. Armed with this re-enlightenment and after careful consideration, I gratefully accepted her offer of borrowing a veil from her and giving it a try. She told me that, once I began to veil, I would feel bare without it. My creative side won out, though, and so I found myself at the fabric store one day, purchasing lace and thread to make my own. On the ride home, my husband and I discussed the idea and challenged my reasoning. In the end, the decision was made. Along with my daughter and her two year old, I would begin to explore this tradition on Mother's Day.

Although I am still getting used to the practice, I find it unexpectedly calming. I feel more 'in tune' with what is happening at Mass. His presence is more vivid with this outward demonstration of my intent to 'let go and let God'. It will take a few more weeks for veiling to become a deeply entrenched habit but I am seeing the benefits. As for my little two-year old granddaughter, she is a natural. Quite an energetic and precocious little girl, it is surprising how she eagerly keeps her little veil in place. One Sunday, she actually resisted removing it after we left church. All in all, I am confident that the correct decision (for me) was made. I find veiling both humbling and comforting, each of which are welcome feelings. So from now on, I will lift the veil onto my head before I enter His house!

Stations of the Cross Craft and Devotional Tools for Kids

With Lent fast approaching, I've resurrected a couple of past Lenten crafts for kids from previous years. The EGG-straordinary Rosary Craft and Lenten Journey for Kids can be found in my most recent posts. This year I decided to create an easy to do (and use) Stations of the Cross craft for kids. There are several different ways you can use this craft, once it's completed. It could even be taken to church as a devotional tool for littles.

Stations of the Cross Craft Materials

• Stations of the Cross Stickers (mine came from Autum and were purchased from my local Catholic Goods Store). If you can't find them, you can print out the prayer sheet and cut from there.

• Mod Podge or other adhesive

• Rounded, flat bottomed glass 'jewels'

• Pen or pencil 

• Scissors

• Paint brush

• Prayer sheet - can be downloaded here.

Stations of the Cross Construction

• Trace outline of glass jewel onto each sticker and cut out.

• Using Mod Podge or spray adhesive and stick picture for each station onto bottom of a jewel.

• After they are dry, coat the bottom of each jewel with Mod Podge for a protective coating.

• Optional: use a hot glue gun to affix a magnet to the bottom of each Station.

• Print out the prayer sheet.

Using the Stations of the Cross Craft

• Give a brief explanation of the Stations of the Cross to your child(ren). 

• Begin with the Sign of the Cross. 

• As each Station is announced, say "Leader: We adore Thee, O Christ, and praise Thee. All: Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world". Genuflect when saying this prayer, if possible.

• Read the description next to each station as you come to it. 

• Instruct your child to place the corresponding jewel onto the appropriate square. In this way, the child will have a way to participate in 'traveling' the Way of the Cross with Jesus. 

• You might want to add a personalized comment to help your child(ren) understand how the trials of Jesus are relevant to your family and all people. You could come up with dialog for each one or some general ideas. E.g. See how mean they were to Jesus? How do you think He felt? How do you think we should treat others? If someone is mean to us, what should we do?

• Optional - laminate the prayer sheet.

• Optional - using Mod Podge or other adhesive, stick prayer sheet onto a metal cookie sheet and add magnets to the underside of the Stations of the Cross jewels. This would  allow this prayer tool to be a travel activity.

• Optional - adhere magnets to the underside of the jewels and place the prayer sheet on the refrigerator for an alternate magnetic version.

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Useful Links:


Some interesting history about the Stations of the Cross can be found here: http://credidimus.wordpress.com/2009/04/26/stations-of-the-cross/

A devotional aid for praying the Rosary with young children: http://designsbybirgit.blogspot.com/2014/02/egg-straordinary-rosary-project-for-lent.html

A booklet for your child - to encourage good Lenten practices: http://designsbybirgit.blogspot.com/2012/02/my-lenten-journey-for-kids.html

Print out the Stations of the Cross Craft Prayer Sheet 
http://tiny.cc/t9hybx

Designs by Birgit is a proud participant in the Keep Love in Lent linkup hosted by the following blogs. Please visit them for some awesome posts and an opportunity to link your own blog post.

Monica at Equipping Catholic Families

Equipping Catholic Families on Facebook

Chris at Campfires and Cleats

Campfires and Cleats on Facebook

Tina at Truly Rich Mom

Truly Rich Mom on Facebook

Tracy at A Slice of Smith Life  

A Slice of Smith Life on Facebook

Lisa at Home to 4 Kiddos

Home to 4 Kiddos on Facebook

EGG-straordinary Rosary Project for Lent

It's that time again - with Lent on the horizon - to reflect on how to observe this time of penance, alms giving, and prayer. As parents, grandparents, or godparents the little souls with whom we are entrusted come to mind. When I created this idea (a couple years ago), my babies were young (2 – 6). Now they are older but the ‘doing’ and ‘praying’ categories are still very relevant.

The resulting EGG-straordinary Rosary Project reinforces/teaches all of the prayers of the Rosary. Since most will know the basics (Sign of the Cross, Our Father and Hail Mary), even the very young will have a way to participate. Yet older children will be able to relate as well. Using the EGG-straordinary Rosary can be a transitional addition to their customary nighttime prayers – reciting a decade of the Rosary, while concentrating on a particular mystery each night.

This simple, inexpensive and effective craft combines reciting a nightly decade of the Rosary with some good actions and creativity thrown in for good measure:

EGG-straordinary Rosary Project Materials

• 
  
• 
  
• Colorful curling ribbon or pipe cleaners

• Paper and markers/crayons

• Tongue depressors or Popsicle sticks

• Glitter glue, puff paint, stickers or other embellishments

• Hot glue gun and glue sticks

EGG-straordinary Rosary Project  Construction

• Plastic Easter Eggs (1 larger egg for the Our Father and 10 smaller eggs for the Hail Mary) 

• Thread pre-cut sections of pipe cleaner or small strips of ribbon through the holes on both ends of the small plastic Easter eggs, until you have a chain of 10. Tie a knot in the ribbon or bend a ‘knot’ into the pipe cleaner and hot glue inside each egg to secure.

• Add one larger Easter egg to your chain for the Our Father to complete the decade.

• For the cross, shorten one of the tongue depressors and then form into a cross shape. Secure with hot glue and embellish with a sticker, if desired.

EGG-straordinary Rosary Project Use

Say one decade of the Rosary each evening using your Easter Egg Rosary and add your offerings (good deeds, petitions, or coins) for that day. This is a good time to discuss behavior, sharing and giving.

• Chose a petition, good dead, or prayer for each member of the family and write/draw on a piece of paper.

• You could also have your little ones earn pennies to share with the poor.

• Place these papers or coins inside a plastic Easter egg.

• On the weekend you may choose to draw or color pictures depicting the mysteries you have prayed during the week and make a booklet to go along with your newly completed Rosary.

At the end of a 5 day week you will have said all five of the respective mysteries and by the end of 4 full weeks you will have said all 4 sets of mysteries…and the COMPLETE Rosary. You should now have corresponding booklets with pictures of the all 20 mysteries.

You may now move on to coloring pages of the Stations of the Cross as your activity. Continue to use the Rosary you have made for praying a decade every evening as a family, as is now your practice. Last year, 3-year old Simon and 1-year old Rachel learned all of their rosary prayers this way. The family developed a nightly rosary ‘habit’.

On the evening before Easter Sunday, parents may wish to fill each egg with a treat or surprise and then hide the eggs for the traditional Easter egg hunt on Easter Sunday. Or you could keep them intact and still fill with treats. Your kids will have had a chance to count down the 40 days and reap a reward for their patience and efforts, seeing a tangible result! Hopefully you will also have enhanced your family prayer habits. God bless you…and may we all have a fruitful Lent.

Let us all pray for one another!

Here are some links to coloring pages for use with your EGG-straordinary Rosary Project for Lent:


Stations of the Cross coloring pages for all of the stations.


Catholic Rosary coloring pages to print. Includes Luminous Mysteries and much more!

Catholic Rosary Diagram page to color.
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Sign of the Cross diagram and coloring page.
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Our Father – prayer coloring sheet.
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Hail Mary – prayer coloring page.

You may also like My Lenten Journey project pictured here -->.

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*Note: you could also do the above project using a paper chain much like those that are made during Advent to adorn your Christmas tree. Each ‘link’ in the chain could be a Hail Mary and a larger ‘link’ could be added for the Our Father. You could write on the slips of paper before creating the links.

13 for 13: Favorite Snapshots from 2013

Thanks to Pam over at Everyday Snapshots for conceiving and setting up this linking opportunity. The gist is to choose 12 favorite photos - one for each month - plus a bonus photo, spotlighting a look back at 2013.

January: 'While women may not become priests, Archbishop Cordileone clarifies that women do not in any way occupy second place. Instead, he pinpoints why women should be shown the highest respect and says that chivalrous practices such as holding a door open for a woman ought to be the norm. “A woman should walk out, ahead of the man, because she is the life-giver and, in holding a door for a woman, the man is recognizing her special place as the one who gives life.” He says that mantillas, or chapel veils, are a way for a woman to veil their sacredness: “In Christian worship what is sacred is veiled, women are sacred because they are the life-givers.” ~Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone

February: Christ, be our Light!
The new pope knows that his task is to make the light of Christ shine before men and women of the world - not his own light, but that of Christ. ~Pope Benedict XVI

March: Too many children? That's like saying there are too many flowers!

April: Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.

May: “Blessed are you, Lord God, maker of all living creatures. You called forth fish in the sea, birds in the air and animals on the land. You inspired St. Francis to call all of them his brothers and sisters. We ask you to bless this pet. By the power of your love, enable it to live according to your plan. May we always praise you for all your beauty in creation. Blessed are you, Lord our God, in all your creatures! Amen.”

June: Nature in the garden, a constant source of fascination.

July: Each life is a unique creation of God. Picture the possibility of each one - they are endless!

August: The 'back 40' of our daylily garden in full summer splendor.

September: Mr. Oliver is kind enough to share his pony friends with us.

October: Keeping the Faith for All Hallows Eve - St. Michael the Archangel costume from things around the house. Make it for your child:

November: King, the Belgian, is being retrained to be a carriage horse. He has a bit of practice before the kids can come along for a ride.

December: Advent, an integral spiritual preparation—especially in prayer and fasting—for Christmas.

Bonus shot #13 - Fall fun in the leaves.

The Poor Need Your HELP: Kids Feeding Kids + a Link-Up!

This Advent and Christmas season my friend, Jennifer from Catholic Inspired, wanted to create a way for kids to help the poor. She contacted Cross Catholic Outreach and together they created an on-line art show, called The ART of Giving, to help empower kids to raise money for the poor while using their artistic talents!

Participation is as easy as 1 - 2 -3!

1.) Check out the BEAUTIFUL works of art the kids have created by going to Cross Catholic's web page or see their creations on Flickr.

2.) Choose a particular piece of art to sponsor or make a general donation on behalf of all the young artists by typing "all the young artists" in the comment box.

3.) Share this post or the link to Cross Catholic Outreach with your friends and family.

All donations go directly to Cross Catholic Outreach and 83% goes to help feed the poor in Honduras.

This is such a wonderful cause for Advent and Christmas alms giving - please

+ Donate Now +

to Cross Catholic Outreach on behalf of the young artists who cared enough to participate!?

Don't wait, you might forget!

+ Donate Now +

to Cross Catholic Outreach on behalf of the young artists who cared enough to participate!

This link-up is an opportunity to show your child's artwork for Cross Catholic's Art Show. It's open to everyone,   bloggers AND non-bloggers can link-up. You only need a URL address to a photo of your child's art. For example, you can upload the image onto Pinterest, Flikr, or DropBox and the URL can be added to the link-up. 

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"Keep Christ in Christmas" Link-up - Share Your Advent!

Want to launch your Advent, focused on JESUS?

Want to share your ideas for keeping Christ in CHRISTmas?

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Then join us for
Keep Christ in CHRISTmas !

Welcome! I'm really excited to be a part of this group effort to Keep Christ in CHRISTmas. It's an honor to be one of the eight hostesses - this is an awesome group of bloggers. I hope you'll visit each post - they all have a wonderful way with words!

Now let's get to the details of the Keep Christ in CHRISTmas Link-up:

What's the Keep Christ in CHRISTmas Blog Link-up?

A blog link-up is an opportunity to write a blog post, on the same theme as others, and exponentially increase readership for all involved. Participating this year is great way to spread the message of Keeping Christ in CHRISTmas!

Would you like to share what your family is doing for Advent this year? Then join us in the 2nd Annual Keep Christ in CHRISTmas Blog Link-Up 2013.

Optional: You'll also have the chance to sign up for the Follow Frenzy which will drive more traffic (and worthwhile comments) to your blog - as you do the same for others.

What's the Follow Frenzy?

If you choose to participate in this option, you'll commit to visiting and leaving meaningful comments on 20 different blog posts that are part of the Keep Christ in CHRISTmas Blog Link-Up 2013(and receiving 20 meaningful comments on your own blogpost in return!)

This link-up is open to all bloggers, particularly Catholics and Christians of all denominations who observe ADVENT. You may write about anything that pertains to the blog theme, e.g. share tips on how you and your family keep CHRIST in CHRISTmas; stories to encourage others to do so; books and activities (even recipes!) that help you focus on Jesus throughout Advent.

How Can  I Participate?

1. Register by filling out the registration form no later than Thursday, November 28, 2013 - Thanksgiving Day.

2. Write your blog post on the theme, "Keeping CHRIST in CHRISTmas" in the first week of ADVENT and publish the blog post on December 1 or 2, 2013. When you fill out the form we will send you with the direct URL link to your blog post, no later than December 2, 2013 at noon(EST).

3. You will receive the complete list of blog post links by 3pm on December 2, 2013 (EST) for you to add at the bottom of your post. Please make sure to do this in fairness to all of the other hard-working bloggers.

Add this button to your post.

4. Make sure that you include this button (created by Monica) at the beginning of your post...

AND the following introduction along with the hostesses' info:

"I’m participating in the KEEP CHRIST in CHRISTmas Blog Link-Up 2013, hosted by:

Monica at Equipping Catholic Families 

Erika at Raising Little Saints 

Tina at Truly Rich Mom 

Laura at Day by Day in Our World 

Sarah at On the Way Home 2 

Allison at Totus Tuus Family  

Chris at Campfires and Cleats 

Birgit at Designs by Birgit (that's me) 

We'll be sharing different ways, tips, stories and real-life experiences that will help us focus our Advent and Christmas on JESUS!

Please scroll down to the end of the post to see the list of link-up entries.”

Finally, friends - please bear in mind that the Keep Christ in CHRISTmas Blog Link-Up 2013 is much more impressive and easily promoted if we can coordinate all the posts going live around the same time. By launching this Keep Christ in CHRISTmas Link-up in the first week of Advent…we hope to help families focus their Advent and anticipation of Christmas…before the hectic craziness of Christmas takes over.

So Here's a Re-cap of Important Stuff

1. Use this REGISTRATION FORM to register your blog by November 28, 2013

2. Publish your blog post on December 1 or 2, 2013. (No later than December 2 at noon EST).

3. Send in the URL to your blog post for the link-up (by filling out the LINK FORM we will send you) as soon as you publish your blog post, no later than December 2 at noon EST.

4. You will receive a final list of link-up participants as soon as it is available on December 2nd. Add the list of link-up participants to the end of your blog post by December 2, 5pm.

OPTIONAL FOLLOW FRENZY:

5. Specify in the registration form that you intend to participate in the FOLLOW FRENZY.

6. You will receive your list of blogs to visit on December 2, 2013.

7. Visit, leave meaningful comments and hopefully subscribe or follow 20 newly discovered Blogs by December 9, 2013.

PLEASE NOTE: Kindly write about the theme provided. We do not moderate or screen posts but we do reserve the right to exclude your entry from the list of link-up participants should your post be offensive, irrelevant to the link-up theme, contain personal attacks, off-topic articles, articles that are anti-Christ or are articles aimed to market products or services.

Thank you very much for joining the carnival!!

Let's all help spread the word on Keeping CHRIST in CHRISTmas!

St. Michael the Archangel Costume for Catholic Boys

A shield, halo, and cross to be added.

Our two boys are always outnumbered by the girls and their flurry of 'princessy' dress-up clothes and accessories. Preparation for a faith-filled celebration of All Hallows Eve was the perfect opportunity to make this right. Five year old Simon decided to dress as St. Michael the Archangel. He has a real affinity for the warrior angel and often asks to say the prayer throughout the day. I looked around the house and found odds and ends - and the rest was trial and error along the way.

Fabric

If you sew at all - or really if you don't (a rough version would work as well) this is a fun project for you and your young man.

I searched in my fabric remnants and found some that had the weight and color for my vision. If you'll notice, some depictions of St. Michael are very colorful and some are monochromatic - the choice is yours. I actually used the 'wrong' side of some fabric I had handy, to get the desired color and texture.

Construction

Next, cut a piece of fabric double the desired length of the tunic- this will depend on the size of your child. Then, fold it in half and lay child's t-shirt onto it to make a rough pattern - including attached short sleeves. Allowing for seams, mark with chalk and cut out.

Sew together at the shoulder and along the sides. If you desire a more finished look, fold over the edges of the neck and sleeves for a small hem.

Measure 5" from bottom and draw a horizontal chalk line to mark the fringed edges. Starting at the center bottom, I used a 1" wide ruler with a rounded edge to mark my cutting line, using a fine sharpie, and then cut on the lines - leaving a bit more at each side.

Accessorizing and Painting Fun

• Chain Mail - Non-skid rug pad or rubberized shelf liner

• Belt or fabric for sash

• Sweats and long sleeved t-shirt

• Helmet or hat 

• Foam sword

• Wings - Fan blades, woven wicker fan decorations, or cardboard and natural coffee filters. Will also need elastic to create a suspender type harness.

• Cross - Glitter foam, washer, and chain.

Cut a hole out of the rug pad or shelf liner, to fit his head and rounded the corners. Viola! Chain mail for the warrior angel!

We used a belt and made a suspender-like system out of elastic to create a harness for wearing the wings.

Brown sweat pants and a neutral, long-sleeved t-shirt are a great choice for undergarments - he'll wear brown leather sandals when he goes out.

The helmet was from another time and was spray painted and then we glued a cross to the front. We made a halo with gold pipe cleaners and attached with a paper clip. The sword (made of foam) was purchased at Joanne's Fabrics and slightly spray painted at the hilt. There are also ways to make helmets out of cardboard on Pinterest.

The wings are actually blades from a broken decorative outdoor fan, but you could find woven fan decorations or use cardboard for wings as well. One of the ideas I saw on Pinterest was to use natural (brown) coffee filters stapled to cardboard wings. There are several ways to attach your St. Michael's wings. Use elastic, safety pins or wire coat hangers made into shoulder hooks - depending on the material.

The cross is cut out of yellow glitter foam, which can be purchased in sheets. We also made a cross for the sword and helmet. I hot glued a Popsicle stick to strengthen the cross and a washer to serve as a loop for the chain, onto the back of the cross. The chain can be purchased at hobby lobby.

You can also check out my Costumes and Dress-Up board on Pinterest for other inspirations.

That Burnished Look

I took the helmet, sword, tunic and chain mail outside and spray painted with a burnished bronze paint made to adhere to plastic. It was left over from painting children's plastic lawn chairs last summer - I hate those bright colors and this matches my patio furniture. Spraying an even coat isn't necessary because you want a worn look.

A Few Final Touches

The final costume is awesome!

I wanted to post this as soon as I could, so that it might be helpful to others who are looking for a St. Michael the Archangel costume. There will be some finishing touches added during the next few days. 

• Shield - will probably be made of cardboard and painted with the same paint.

• Halo - Simon insists he wants a halo, so I'll be making one with gold pipe cleaners, poking holes in his helmet and hot gluing it on.

• Cross - using a sheet of red glittery foam, I'll make a cross for either his shield or the tunic. There might also be some glow in the dark effects added with puff paint with those capabilities.

NOTE

I'll be adding photos of the completed costume as they happen - please stay tuned.

Follow me on Pinterest and Facebook for more Catholic, pro-LIFE, creativity.

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This post is featured on the

Approved for Diocesan Use - Pro-Life Display for Your Church

In a previous post I shared my quest to gain approval, for the 40 Days for Life display, from my diocese. Last night I presented the idea and won approval! It's been used in a diocese in Iowa for two years now. Below are just a few thoughts to help you get this life-saving display into your church, school or organization.

Now it's up to YOU to get this into as many churches, schools and organizations as possible! On your mark, get set, gooooo - Pro-LIFE!

Sample email to Send:

Dear Pro-Life Advocate,

Thank you for your commitment to Life! Attached you will find complete instructions on how to create a 40 Days for Life display for your church, school or organization. With these easy to follow instructions and about $30, you will able to become an active Pro-Life advocate - helping to save the lives of the unborn and encouraging others to do the same. 

Follow this link for the ProLIFE posters and suggested layout.

You can also read a detailed account of how to build this display by going to the Designs by Birgit blog.

In His name for Life, Birgit J

PS. This is how your completed display will look...

It's so simple to share a pro-life message!

Sample Bulletin Insert: 

**Are you being called to act on behalf of the unborn, but don't know exactly how?**Our parish has provided a way to do something simple, yet powerful during 40 Days for LIFE. Please take the time to check out the Pro-Life display at the rear of the church. In addition to the Pro-life posters, you will find a Pro-Life Fact Sheet as well as a Prayer Commitment form to fill out. Check out how easy it can be to do something tangible for the Unborn. Please also encourage others to participate, as a way to do your part. Thank you, on behalf of our littlest brothers and sisters!

A Trip to the Farm - At Home

We're not even quite into Summer yet, but it's already started...

"I'm bored! May we go outside?"

"I'm hot! May we go inside?"

"I'm bored"

Whether you home educate or your children are home for summer vacation, there will be challenges to keeping your (and their) sanity. Here's an idea for when hot weather hits and you think that you will completely melt if you participate in one more outdoor activity.

Think outside the box (or house) for some anti-boredom, melt-down relief. What kid doesn't like going on a field trip and picnic? Using the toys that have long ago become 'business as usual', create an outdoor environment - inside. Here's what we did:

Different Kids Like Different Things

So Rachel is a fan of My Little Pony and Simon can't get enough John Deere tractor play, so I combined the two. Covering the coffee table with a green throw, I created a 'pasture' for the ponies. I added a pony castle and Little People barn (yes, that's how we roll) and viola!, Rachel had an imaginary kingdom. Next I shoved an ottoman flush to the 'pasture' and added a doormat to represent 'hay'. Now both kids were playing out the own favorite scenarios, yet they were collaborating. Since Rachel's ponies kept getting into Simon's 'hay', a fence was built and with that bit of assistance, their imaginations did the rest.

But It's Lunchtime

OK, so we're playing in tandem kingdoms and the bellies start to rumble. What to do? Extending the outdoor, farm theme I simply created a picnic right next to the play area. Tablecloth, plastic tray and glasses provided the effect. Since I had cut some flowers from the garden a few days ago, these were employed to give a bit of 'nature' to the scene. Peanut butter sandwiches, apple slices, and mini Vanilla Wafers were the picnic fare. With a cool glass of lemonade, they were all set.

                                   Bless us, O Lord, and these Thy gifts, which we are 
                                   about to receive;  from Thy bounty through Christ 
                                   our Lord. Amen!

                                     

But It's Nap Time

For 'resting' time (we're too big for naps now), I created an 'outdoor' theater. One on the couch, the other on the love seat - each with a pillow, favorite snuggle creature (one pink, one blue Glow Bug) and a blanket thrown over the back and draped, tent-style, over little legs created a soothing environment for resting and perhaps - an accidental nap with sleep and all (hey, I can dream!). Meanwhile, I'm here at the computer sharing our day with orders to the farm crew that resting time becomes golden with a little bit of silence. 

This type of entertainment doesn't have to be elaborate and create a terrible mess - needing endless clean up and creating horrific clutter. I simply employ our 'one toy' rule. Each child is allowed one 'set' of toys at a time. They know where they go and how to put them away. Lunch is on a tray for easy transport back to the kitchen. Yet with a bit of a kick start to their imaginations, old playthings become brand new.

Ah, nothing like a little fresh air and farm livin' - even if you find it in your own livin' room! 

End Abortion: It's Simple, Yet Complicated

One of my pro-life efforts is creating memes that initiate thought, tug on the heart strings, or generally bring abortion into the light. As a rule, I go for the softer type of message - no bloody babies in trash bags or parts spelling out Planned Parenthood. The photos and messages are gleaned from where I am - my family, friends, favorite saints, popes, and such. Inspiration strikes me at the oddest times and sometimes the Holy Spirit will show me a wonderful photo and then - BAM! - a quote will appear in my Facebook wall feed that fits it perfectly. Other times, I will hang onto a quote or a series of photos and it will be months before something gels within this stubborn, creative mind of mine.

Yesterday, I finally had a thought pop into my head that fit 'perfectly' with a photo to which I have been
holding on for quite some time. I'm emotionally invested in this series of photos because the friend who shared them with me is a real life hero...she is living out the selflessness of putting her own life in danger for the good of this, her eleventh living child. With that in mind, I wanted to do my best for her. The thought that popped into my head was S I M P L I C I T Y. Often times, my memes require some thought, accompanying links, or a back story. This time the message was very basic - END abortion! The way I figured it, this would tug at heart strings, serve as one of those motivational posters, and get a simple message out there - you fill in the blanks of how to accomplish it. Plus, it had an element of humor - because the word 'end' is on the back end of the baby's diapered tushy.

So with the meme created, published, and shared with a pro-life group (one of many to which I belong) my mission was accomplished. Right?

W R O N G !

A member of the aforementioned group left a comment below my meme:

Who do you want to end it Birgit? It is a very complicated cycle we are in, very few understand what to do about it even if they agree with you. Most seem to see abortion as ok, so how to reach then is my question?

Good question and not too bad of a jumping off point either! My answer is this: it's a quandary. But the ultimate answer lies with each and every one of us. All of us need to be a part of ending it. If we cultivate a Culture of Life - each one to the best of our ability - there will eventually be a groundswell of love for all Life. It's not ours, it's not the government's, it's not the clergy's - it's everyone doing their part. The rest of it - and the timeline - belongs to God.

At the forefront of what we can do is education. Talk, live, breathe a Culture of Life - always bring it up and help it catch fire. Be the spark in your community and church. For our part, we must inform. We must pray. We must commit to give assistance to women, men, and babies who are affected by an untimely pregnancy - even after the child's life has been spared. In essence, we must live lives that respect all LIFE. It's up to each one of us - individually - to live a Culture of Life. God willing, our efforts, combined with those of others will eventually take us there. In the mean time, I get up every morning and do all that *I* can do for Life - that's my part! What's yours?


NOTE: My friend is scheduled for a planned C-Section on Wednesday. Please pray for good health for both mother and baby. You can find an update on the story at Catholic Sistas.

To see more of my Pro-LIFE memes go to the Designs by Birgit fan page.