Momma Love; How Kids Made Mother's Day Special

               

              Yes, we all make a big deal about Mother's Day- a special day for moms and appreciate the blessings and joy of Motherhood. We can celebrate it in any way we want but I love to celebrate it with a fine Mother's Day brunch with the family.  Since Drury Lane's Mother's Day brunch for twelve people is out of the question, I thought I'll celebrate a nice fancy Mother's Day brunch at home.

               Days before Mother's Day, I already asked the kids what they wanted to prepare so we had the things ready. All the kids pitched in their talents in baking and cooking. It was fun to watched how they got busy in the kitchen.   

 1. Maria, did the jello parfait.

  2. Anna prepared the crepes while Joseph, Johnpaul  and Rafael did the fillings.

3. I baked the ham quiche.

 4. Anna baked her favorite cupcake recipe - Malt Cupcake with whipped malt frosting.

5. We had dipped chocolate strawberries.

 6. I had the fruitpunch in a nice decanter.

7. And a fruit tray.

             The children did their best to make it look beautiful. It was wonderful to see how everything looked nice and taste delicious without being costly. They placed their gifts on my side.

           In the months of May, it's a tradition in our family to honor Mary the Blessed Mother by  making pilgrimages, visiting Marian shrines and crowning her with flowers as she is truly the Queen of heaven and earth. On Mother's Day, I prepared the two crowns of flowers made of baby's breath and roses.  Maria crowned the statue in the front of the house while Elisa crowned the statue of the Blessed Mother at our backyard.

                 Then comes the opening of Mother's Day presents! Rafael did at class a nice basket of all beans mosaic, it looks so pretty.  Maria's card had pulled steamed  flowers in a pot with chores while Elisa did her best to doddle a card. 

         Anna bought a nice recipe book from York High's book sale, everybody signed the front page. I can honestly say that I was happy how the children made me feel special. Truly it was a wonderful and memorable Mother's Day celebration.

MOMMA LOVE

Easy Sweet Sixteen Celebration

     On the Feast of the Queenship of Mary, Anna our 2nd daughter celebrated her 16th birthday. And like all mothers, I wanted to give her a special party without being extravagant. Anna, on her part also wanted to celebrate a simple fun party with her friends.
   
     To make it look festive, we hanged streamers of her favorite color blue with purple and white. I did the window and she did the ceiling.

   I placed two old frames as backdrop for the party favors.

       On both corners of the living room she hanged some old photos from her album and prepared a notebook for her friends to sign.

                 She spray painted a wood cut out letter "A" that we bought from Hobby Lobby, http://www.hobbylobby.com for friends to sign. 

                  We set up a long table in the backyard and covered it with white table cloth.

                                  The party started with pictorials.

Followed with dinner. 

Then the girls had campfire and smores. 

                                                          Then the birthday cake.

                                  

The opening of birthday gifts!

 

                               Everything was simply beautiful.

              A Sweet 16 Celebration!

Come Away For Awhile

                      In late May, I went to Wyncliff for my annual retreat. I heard so much about this place which is a privately owned property near Cleveland, Wisconsin. The women's silent retreat was run by Opus Dei. 

                     When the disciples came back from their apostolic journey Jesus said, "Come away for awhile by yourselves to a lonely place."  See how solicitous Jesus was for His disciples and how fitting it was to come away for awhile to rest with our Lord. That was exactly how I feel when I went for my retreat, exhausted from the apostolic task of the home.                    

                     When I got to Wyncliff, I was impressed with the serenity of the place. I was assigned to the Cottage House and my room overlooks Lake Michigan and I can see the Shrine on the far left of my window.

                          The retreat starts with an Introductory Talk  explaining how to go about with the retreat and we followed the schedules that was prepared for the entire weekend.  A Director and an Assistant Director helped in the retreat, all of the Talks and Classes were in the living room.

    
                          The morning starts with Meditation lead by an Opus Dei priest and  followed by Mass. The property has it's own chapel behind the Barn House. It's interior reflects it's simplicity and elegance.

                        After Mass was breakfast at the Barn House, this house was originally a barn which was converted into a huge dinning hall.  Oh my...I was more than impressed with the wonderful and delicious meals prepared by the chef. The table arrangements were elegant. Now I don't think the disciples had this kind of rest! 

                                 In one of our free times, I did my rosary going to the lake which was accessible through an uneven steps on the bluff. 

                        I  made a pilgrimage to the shrine of the Blessed Virgin bringing my intentions for the Year of the Family.

                          These photos were taken from my free morning and afternoon walks.

             So come away for awhile and rest with our Lord!