Filled with Joy

Simple St. Valentine's Day

Yesterday, our homeschool group had a St. Valentine's party that we couldn't attend because our suburban is dead. It was the first time in ten years of homeschooling that we missed a St. Valentine's exchange.

 Instead, we had our own little Valentine's exchange with what we had available.

Each child made a heart-shaped mailbox to collect their cards just like they would for a party with our homeschool group.  Then we made cards to exchange and I put a few treats to put in their "mailboxes".

It was soooooo last minute (very much me) but you'd never know it by the fun we had.

Nathan's Turtle Card

 ~~ You make me come out of my shell ~~

 

Olivia's Ladybug Card

~~ You make me buggy ~~

 

Nicholas' Construction Worker & Caution Sign Cards

~~ Caution!  You are Loved ~~

 

 

Teresa's version of Heart Butterfly Valentine's Card

 

 

Daddy brought home a Heart-shaped Pizza

 

 

My boys enjoying their treats and cards....my girls took off with their loot to another room.

We even had some dessert
 

Heart-shaped brownies, cracked sugar cookies, and fresh strawberries 

 

It was simple, yet still a special St. Valentine's Day.

Hope you and your family had a great day!

St. Jerome Emiliani

Feast Day:  February 8

patron saint of orphans and abandoned children

St. Jerome Emiliani was a commander in charge of a fortress in Venice, Italy.  He was captured and put into chains in a dark dungeon.  He didn't care much about God because he didn't think he needed Him.  While in that dungeon, however, Jerome decided to get rid of the chains that bound him.  He let go of his worldly attachments and embraced God.

When he finally was able to escape, he hung his metal chains in the nearby church of Treviso -- in gratitude not only for being freed from physical prison but from his spiritual dungeon as well.

 Jerome cared for the children who had no one.  He cared so much that he became their family, and used his own money to rent a house for the orphans.  He made sure they ate, were clothed, and educated them. He opened orphanages and hospitals.

~ Activity ~

Make paper chains. 

 

 Explain spiritual chains can keep us prisoners in sin and away from a relationship with God.

Break free from the chains that bind you!

 
~~Prayer~~

Saint Jerome Emiliani, watch over all children who are abandoned or unloved. Give us the courage to show them God's love through our care. Help us to lose the chains that keep us from living the life God intended for us.

 Amen

St. Valentine's suncatchers

My girls could probably spend their entire days doing crafts.

 

Hopefully, we will be able to create something every day.    It's probably the first year that Teresa can complete simple crafts without much help.

 

For something so simple, we were all happy with the results.


 

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual.  A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.  A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, visit Soulemama to leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

 

Fun with Pink Salt Dough

Making salt dough isn't just for Christmas ornaments or our annual Crown of Thorns for Lent. It's fun and versitile for any time of the year.  It's especially useful as a boredom buster ocold or rainy days when getting outside for long periods is not happening. 

The idea was to focus on love. 

I set out a few supplies....heart cookie cutters, skewers, and mosaic rocks.

 Creativity took over and they had a lot of fun.

 

Put 2 cups of flour and 1 cup of salt into a bowl

 

Add red food coloring to 1 cup of water

 
Pour water into the flour and salt mixture

 

Knead dough

 

 

Place on cookie sheet to air dry for 2-3 days or bake in oven at 200'F until hard