Holy Week Encouragment, Recipes, and a Song

I had full intention of carrying on with my last post. Sharing Linus' birthday party so that I could continue and share my sweet birthday weekend is something I still fully intend on doing, but after some thought, I'm going to hold off.

If I were to continue on the blog-track I set up for myself, then I'd be posting about birthdays for the next three or four posts. Understanding that that in itself isn't terrible, I feel better putting it off so I can focus on my family, myself, and my Lord the rest of Holy Week.

So, with that, I hope you stick with me! I fully intend on sharing my exciting news in the following week. It will be my little Easter celebratory session as I'm sure by then I'll not only have our birthdays to share but also some wonderful and beautiful moments that I hope to capture these next few days with family in town.

Till then, I'm going to share some sweet photos I took earlier this week, posts that I found beautiful and encouraging, and a song.

Fun chalk times.

I'm Not Afraid of the Crucifix Anymore. This post from Micaela over at California to Korea is beautiful. It's what my mama heart needed to read today as we enter into the Holy Tridduum. She wrote about the beauty of the hard truths and reality of the Love of our Savior and she shared her beautiful mama heart and love for her baby. Thank you for this post, Micaela!

So serious and so precious!

Restore Workshop: Lessons Learned (Vol. 3): Self Care & Prayer and a Day in the Life. Bobbi over at Revolutions of Love Blog has shared a Day in the Life that was so encouraging and beautiful. Her efforts are real and practical. Little things done with great love. They definitely have encouraged me to further explore the Liturgy of the Hours in my life and to try to schedule my prayer a little by using my trusty sidekick (*ahem* my phone). Bobbi, I love what you're doing and look forward to all else you share about your Restore Workshop! 

Smile! Love this sweet face!

Lent: Did you Bring it or Blow it? This post by Kathryn over at Team Whitaker is timely. A fellow Aggie posted this on her Facebook page recently, and I am grateful (since I've been terrible about keeping up with my blog feed since the move). Either way, this post is present to me. I feel like this Lent has been different than previous ones. Somehow, even though we entered Lent right when we were moving into our new home (In other words, entering into a whirlwind of crazy!) this Lent has had a sweet pace. Slow. It's been gentle and lovely. He has been present at every turn and it's been good. I guess when there's a whirlwind of crazy there's a whirlwind of lots of little things. And, like Kathryn said, it's the little things that make way for the bigger. The Little Way is such a good way. Bless, sweet St. Therese!

(Prayers for the rest of your pregnancy, Kathryn!)

Quack! Quack!

Martha, Martha. It's been you all along. This post by Lauren at The Loveliest Hour put into words what my heart has been trying to wrap itself around while reading the gospel this Lent. Beautiful, lovely, and filled with goodness, love, honesty, and humor. Loved it!

Brothers.

Suffering Love. This Lenten reflection by Father Robert Baron was beautiful. It touched my heart. Put some of my little day-to-day life in perspective. And, I'm grateful for it. 

Love these little feet!

Prayers for Beginners (the Book). This post by Britt over at The Fisk Files was a gift! Prayer is something that I am always needing a good swift kick in the rear about. I pray. I talk to Christ throughout the day, but typically on a need basis. I love how Britt shared some of her favorite quotes from such a seemingly wonderful read. The quotes are powerful, encouraging, and challenging. Thank you, Britt, for sharing this book! And, prayers for you and baby Sophie, too!

Sweetness.

Marshmallow Lamb Cookies. I love Catholic Cuisine! Food is always great for storytelling, crafts, and family tradition. I've enjoyed celebrating the saints by making little feasts and this Easter should be no different. I've been looking through their archives for Easter goodness and I will definitely be making these with the boys and I'm excited!
 
Resurection Rolls Recipe and Story. Speaking of lovely food fun blogs, I also heart Catholic Icing! These fun rolls are also on the to-do list for us. As well as pretzels. If you haven't read the story of the pretzel, please read this. It's kind of wonderful. I'll be trying to make these Super Soft Beer-Infused Garlic Butter Pretzels my husband found.

My pensive baby, growing and learning every day. 

Last, I'll leave with a song that has been on repeat in our home. In the mornings, before Mass, and any other time there is need for a beautiful prayer.

It's Matt Mahar and Audrey Assad singing Lord, I Need You. It's amazing. It's beautiful. And a prayer that I pray my heart sings all. day. long. Forever.

That's all, friends and family.We are onward to this beautiful time in our Church - the Holy Triduum. A time when our Lord meets us. He calls us to Him. To know Him more in suffering and love.

Pray these posts bless you as much as they have blessed me! And, prayers for a beautiful and blessed Holy Triduum!

“…Standing by the cross’ (Jn. 19:25), Mary shares in the gift which the Son makes of himself: she offers Jesus, gives him over, and begets him to the end for our sake. The ‘yes’ spoken on the day of the Annunciation reaches full maturity on the day of the cross, when the time comes for Mary to receive the beget as her children all those who become disciples, pouring out upon them the saving love of her Son: ‘When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple who he loved standing near, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold you son!’ (Jn 19:26). – Blessed John Paul II, Evangelium Vitae, 103

Mary, Mother of our Lord, pray for us.

Also, please share any encouraging Holy Week posts you've found!