This Friday is St. Patrick's Day. St. Patrick was a real person with a beautiful conversion story. He was abducted from his home as a young boy and forced into slavery. God gave him a vision that helped him escape slavery and return to his home. He committed his life to serve the Lord and felt a powerful call to return to the people who enslaved him and share the gospel with them. His story of redemption and forgiveness is so powerful. I loved sharing it with my children. And one of my favorite ways to share his story with them was to read books about him. There are so many books on St. Patrick, but many avoid the powerful story of his how God moved in his life. Here are some of my favorites that do such a good job of telling the real story of St. Patrick. St. Patrick the Forgiver: The History and Legends of Ireland's Bishop by Ned Bustard I love Ned Bustard's books! First of all, his linocut illustrations are so unique and beautiful. Secondly, I love how the book tells all about who St. Patrick really was and emphasizes his remarkable story of love and forgiveness. Your kids will love this book! Patrick: Patron Saint of Ireland by Tomie dePaola If you have seen any of my other book recommendations, then you know that I love anything that Tomie dePaola writes. Like Bustard, his illustrations are so unique and whimsical and he always gives a faithful Christian account of the saint. In this book, dePaola recounts the life of St. Patrick from his noble birth in Britain to his captivity in Ireland, to the visions which led him to return and found the first Christian church in Ireland. It's a perfect introduction to St. Patrick and his conversion. Patrick and the Fire: A Legend About Sai by Cornelia Bilinsky This is an unusual telling of St. Patrick in that it is told from the perspective of a young goatherd named Bevan. Bevan is excited about the annual festival bonfire celebrating the god of light. But when a stranger named Patrick appears, Bevan learns about one God in three persons instead. It's a great book emphasizing the work that Patrick did in spreading the gospel to the Irish.

Palm Sunday is coming! Throughout Lent, we have been on a journey with Jesus as he makes his way to Jerusalem and to his eventual death. On Palm Sunday, we remember Jesus’ triumphal entry into the holy city of Jerusalem. Like the people in the Bible, we wave palm branches and shout “Hosannas”, proclaiming Jesus to be the “King of Kings”. We remember his ultimate victory over death and pray that we who bear these palm branches will “ever hail him as our King and follow him in the way that leads to eternal life”. (The Book of Common Prayer) Palm Sunday is a significant day in the year of the church. It is the first day of Holy Week, the holiest week of the church year. On Palm Sunday, we also hear the reading of the Passion of Christ (the time from his arrest to his death). The Passion of Christ reading reminds us of Jesus’ agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, his betrayal by one of his best friends, his trial, his beatings, and his crucifixion. Palm Sunday is a somber day because although we begin the day with joy, hailing Jesus as “the One who comes in the name of the Lord”, we are painfully aware that everyone will be shouting, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” by the end of the week. Ways to Celebrate Read Matthew 21:1-11. Questions to ponder: Why would Jesus go to Jerusalem even though he knew it would lead to his death? Why were the people so excited about Jesus? Why do you think Jesus rode on a donkey instead of a horse? How do you think Jesus felt? Make Pax Cakes. These shortbread cookies are absolutely delicious and so easy to make! Pax means "peace" in Latin. Click the link to read about the funny reason why they were handed out by the priests at church + the recipe! Make a Palm Sunday Wreath Celebrate this day in your home with a simple wreath made of palm branches and red ribbon. We switch from purple to red on this day because red symbolizes the passion or suffering of Christ. Don't worry if you don't have palms! Palms are only available in very specific geographic zones and I just happen to live in one! Just use any branches of greenery that you can get from your yard. Make a Palm Sunday Mobile With Your Kids Decorate your home with this sweet Palm Sunday Mobile that you can easily make with your children. All you need are simple supplies that you already have in your home and yard. Download My Palm Sunday Paper Doll Set I created the set to help your children imagine and meditate on the moment when Jesus rode into Jerusalem for the last time. They can move Jesus and the donkey closer to Jerusalem each day and then on Palm Sunday, they can lay the cloaks and palms out for Jesus and the donkey to walk over. May you and your family have a blessed Palm Sunday!

It’s Tuesday of Holy Week! After Jesus cleanses the temple, he moves to the Mount of Olives where he speaks about the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the age. Holy Monday and Holy Tuesday of Holy Week are set aside for spring cleaning so keep cleaning and preparing for Easter. Traditionally, Monday and Tuesday of Holy Week have been used for accomplishing the bulk of the work for Easter day. Easter Sunday is the most important feast day and is a time for joyous celebration so as little work as possible was supposed to be done on that special day. Monday and Tuesday of Holy Week were set aside to get the bulk of the work out of the way. The cleaning, cooking, and ironing were done by Wednesday so that the rest of Holy Week and Easter could be enjoyed with no distractions. Ways to celebrate: Read Matthew Matthew 24-25 as a family. Who is Jesus speaking to? Why do you think he is telling them these things? Like Holy Monday, it's time to spring clean! Assign chores to each family member, put on some good worship music, and clean your house! If you have some things that you can make in advance for Easter, go ahead and make them. I make casseroles during these days and put them in the freezer. I set them out to thaw on Holy Saturday and simply pop them in the oven to make on Easter Day.

Today is Holy Saturday. Jesus, the hope of so many people, had been brutally murdered and buried on Good Friday. The anguish his followers must have felt. The shock. The devastation. The man that had radically changed their lives, that they believed was their Savior was gone. The disbelief and utter horror they must have felt on Holy Saturday. Yet we know now, through holy scripture, that this is the day Jesus descended to the land of the dead where the Gospel message was preached. Jesus’ saving works continued and the world had no idea. This is why on Holy Saturday we are suspended between two worlds - the world of darkness, sin and death and the new world of light and resurrection. We remember the anguish the followers of Jesus felt on this day but it is hard to contain our excitement because we know what tomorrow holds - the most glorious day of all - the day that Our Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead and defeated death forever! Ways to celebrate:

Today is Maundy Thursday Maundy Thursday marks the beginning of the holiest days in the life of the church - the Triduum. The Triduum begins at sundown on Maundy Thursday and ends at sundown on Easter Sunday. During these last three days, we walk with Jesus to his death and then to his glorious resurrection. Starting with Maundy Thursday, we remember Jesus’ words, “Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends”. Because of his great love for us, Jesus laid down his life so that we might live with him forever. Like the old gospel song says: “What a friend we have in Jesus!” Beginning at sundown on Maundy Thursday, the church remembers how Jesus observed the Passover with his disciples. The Passover meal was pivotal in the lives of the Jewish people. It celebrated their deliverance from slavery in Egypt and how God acted mightily on their behalf. At the Passover, God established the Old Covenant with the Jewish people and promised to be their God. After Jesus celebrated the Passover meal, he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the New Covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” In the midst of the celebration of the Old Covenant, Christ announces the beginning of the New Covenant which is sealed by his own blood. Through Christ’s death, ALL people who believe in him are made part of God’s family. Maundy Thursday is actually a solemn feast day because it celebrates the beginning of Holy Communion and the New Covenant. We also remember how, after the institution of the New Covenant, Jesus washed his disciples' feet and told them to follow his example by serving others. Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this, all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” This new commandment is where Maundy Thursday gets its name. “Maundy” is from the Latin mandatum which means “commandment”. Finally, on Maundy Thursday, we remember Jesus’ agony in the garden of Gethsemane, his betrayal by Judas, his desertion by the disciples, his trial, and how he was mocked and beaten.

Today is Spy Wednesday. It is the day that we remember when Judas agreed to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Read Matthew 26:14-25 What must it have been like for Jesus to be betrayed by one of his closest friends? Lord God, your Son, our Savior, was betrayed by one of his closest friends and gave himself up to be whipped and spit upon: Help us to joyfully accept the hard things in our lives because we are confident of the glory that will be revealed; through Jesus Christ your Son. Amen.

Easter is this Sunday! It is the biggest day of celebration in our Christian year. Since feast days are a time for joyous celebration, no work is supposed to be done at all. How are we supposed to rest on Easter Sunday? That seems impossible with all of the ironing and Easter basket filling and cooking that needs to be done! Well, traditionally, Monday and Tuesday of Holy Week were set aside for getting as much as possible done. All of the cleaning, cooking and ironing were all done by Wednesday so that the rest of Holy Week and Easter could be enjoyed with no distractions. I love this tradition, especially for us moms, where it seems like Easter brings more work and stress than normal. Years ago, I started doing this and it really changed my life. We don't get everything done but we get enough done that we are able to more fully participate in Holy Week.

Happy first day of February! This month is filled with so many special days in the liturgical year! We start with Candlemas where we celebrate the presentation of Jesus in the temple and we end the month with the beginning of Lent which is my favorite season of the Church Year. Follow along as I share the history, recipes and traditions for these special days in the life of the church.

Palm Sunday is almost here! It is the day when we, as Christians, remember Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, riding on a donkey. When the people heard that Jesus was coming, they spread their cloaks on the road and palm branches that they had cut in the field. They waved their branches and shouted, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!" To celebrate this special day, decorate your home with this sweet Palm Sunday Mobile that you can easily make with your children. All you need are simple supplies that you already have in your home and yard. Set aside some time, read Matthew 21:1-11, put on some worship music, and make the Palm Sunday Mobile. Before you go to bed on Saturday night, let your children help you choose a place to hang the mobile. These tangible reminders of the special day we are celebrating add so much depth and beauty to our lives. I hope this Palm Sunday Mobile is a blessing to you and your family! Palm Sunday Mobile Green construction paper Glue Twine Hole punch Red ribbon Stick Scissors Starting on the narrow side of the paper, fold an entire sheet of green construction paper accordion style. When you are finished, fold it in half. About 3/4 of the way up the stack, cut in a curve to the tip of the other side. Unfold the stack and punch a hole where you see the crease in the paper. Take a 12-18 inch piece of twine and tie one end through the hole and knot. Glue the interior strips together. Make as many palms as you want. Place your stick down and tie the palms at varying lengths along the stick. Take a long piece of twine and tie each end to the ends of your stick. Hang on a nail in the wall. Tie the red ribbon in a simple knot and hang it on the nail.

For Christians, Easter is the most important celebration of our faith. It marks the resurrection of Jesus and his triumph over sin and death. Easter Eggs have become a popular symbol associated with the holiday. But what is the significance of Easter eggs for Christians? An Egg-cellent History Early on in the history of the church, the egg became a powerful symbol for the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Just as a chick hatches from its egg and emerges into new life, Christians believe that Jesus emerged from his tomb on Easter Sunday, having conquered death and bringing new life to all who believe in him. In many Christian traditions, eggs are also associated with Lent, the 40-day period of fasting and reflection leading up to Easter. During Lent, Christians give up certain foods, including meat and dairy products. Eggs were traditionally included in this group of foods to avoid since they were seen as a rich and luxurious food that should be set aside in favor of more modest fare. However, while eggs were not being consumed during Lent, chickens were still laying eggs. To keep from wasting the eggs, people would hard boil them and keep them until Easter Day. On Easter Day, they would bring their eggs, along with all of the other foods that would be used for their Easter feast to be blessed by the priest. They would bring all of their food in a basket, where we get the tradition of the Easter basket. Having your Easter foods blessed was a way of expressing gratitude for the abundance of God’s blessings and also served as a way to sanctify and consecrate the foods that were to be eaten on Easter Sunday. There was even a special prayer prayed over the eggs: Lord, let the grace of your blessing come upon these eggs, that they be healthful food for your faithful who eat them in thanksgiving for the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you forever and ever. Amen. Since eggs were a powerful symbol to Christians of the resurrection of Jesus and since they were finally able to eat their eggs on Easter Day, eggs were a central food in the Easter feast. Many traditions were created around eggs: food made with eggs, decorating eggs, egg hunts, and chocolate desserts shaped like eggs to name just a few. Easter Eggs to Dye For Decorating Easter eggs is a long-standing tradition in many Christian cultures around the world. Depending on the country, Christians decorate eggs in a variety of ways, including painting, dyeing, and embellishing them with various designs and materials. One popular way to decorate eggs is to dye them. Depending on the country, specific colors have different symbolic meanings. For example, in the Orthodox Christian tradition, eggs are dyed red to represent the blood of Christ shed for our sins. In other countries, spring colors are used such as green, yellow, and light blue to represent new life. Eggs can also be painted with intricate designs and patterns often with religious symbols such as crosses. In some cultures, such as in Ukraine, eggs are dipped in beeswax and then etched to create intricate designs before dyeing them. They can also be decorated by carving intricate designs or using a technique called etching. This involves creating a design by removing the shell’s outer layer using acid or a sharp tool. These eggs can be kept for family Easter baskets but are often given as gifts and are highly valued for their beauty and symbolism. Overall, the practice of decorating eggs for Easter is a way for Christians to celebrate the joy and renewal of the Easter season. The many different colors and techniques used to decorate eggs reflect the long-standing history and rich diversity of Christian cultures around the world. I still have such good memories of buying PAAS Easter egg-dying kits at the grocery store and then setting up an egg-dyeing station on the kitchen counter. We’d line all of the dyes up and dip our eggs repeatedly until we had the depth of color or the design we were hoping for. That night, my mom would take the dried Easter eggs and place them in our Easter baskets filled with Easter grass and assorted Easter candies. It was always such a joy to wake up and find my Easter basket waiting for me! If you’d like to incorporate the tradition of decorating eggs in your home, why not try decorating your eggs naturally? You can use vegetable discards or spices to achieve the most beautiful colors! Your children will love being able to make the dyes themselves and you can also try making red eggs which boxed dye kits usually don’t have the dye for. Recipe for Natural Easter Egg Dyes Note: The color of the dyes will depend on how concentrated the dye is, what color egg you use, and how many times the eggs are immersed in the dye. You can dye about 4 eggs per cup of dye. Ingredients: Boiled and cooled white eggs. (You can use any color of eggs but it will change the outcome). Olive oil Vinegar salt Per cup of water use the following: 1 cup chopped purple cabbage for blue eggs 1 cup red onion skins for red eggs 1 cup yellow onion skins for orange eggs 2 tablespoons ground turmeric for yellow eggs 1 bag Red Zinger tea for lavender eggs Combine the water and whatever ingredient you are using in a saucepan. Add 1 teaspoon of salt and raise heat to a boil. Turn down heat to medium-low and simmer for 10 minutes. Allow liquid to cool. Once the liquid has cooled, strain. Add one tablespoon of white vinegar to every cup of strained dye liquid. Dip your cooled, boiled eggs into the dye as many times as you want to get the desired color. Brush or rub the dyed eggs with olive oil to get a nice sheen.

Today is St. Joseph’s Day, the day that we remember the foster father of Jesus. St. Joseph is such an important role model for Christians all over the world. Just like Mary, he was specially chosen by God, and just like Mary, he listened to God and obeyed. St. Joseph is only mentioned in the first few chapters of the gospels of Matthew and Luke. It is really interesting to go back through those chapters with your focus on Joseph. What must it have been like for him? As I read through the chapters, I was struck by how much St. Joseph was guided by an angel of the Lord. I am very aware of the angel of the Lord appearing to Mary but I had never noticed how much the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph. So, today, in honor of St. Joseph, read through the first chapters of Matthew and Luke, really thinking about it all through Joseph’s eyes. Notice all that the gospel writers say about him and notice all of the times the angel of the Lord appears to him and what the angel says. Other ways to celebrate: Read Matthew 1:18-24. Discuss what it must have been like to be Joseph. Do you think he was scared or confused? Did Joseph obey the angel? Discuss how Joseph's obedience to the Lord protected Mary and the unborn baby Jesus. St. Joseph was a carpenter. Let your kids hammer nails into scraps of wood. Talk about the craft of carpentry and how Joseph taught Jesus how to be a carpenter. Make something with figs. In Italy, figs, especially fig cookies are associated with St. Joseph. We made a wonderful fig cookie filled with figs, chocolate, and orange marmalade BUT if you don’t feel like baking, simply pick up a package of fig newtons or fig preserves from your grocery store. St. Joseph’s Day Fig Cookies INGREDIENTS 1 1/4 lb. whole dried figs Zest of 1 orange 1 c. blanched almonds 1/2 c. orange marmalade 1/2 c. mini semisweet chocolate chips 3/4 c. granulated sugar 1 tsp. Dutch-processed cocoa powder 1/4 tsp. ground cloves 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon 3 c. all-purpose flour 3/4 tsp. baking powder 1 c. solid vegetable shortening 1 tbsp. red decorating sugar 1 tbsp. green decorating sugar DIRECTIONS Place figs and orange zest in a food processor and chop, about 1 minute. Transfer mixture to a large bowl. Add almonds, marmalade, chocolate chips, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, cocoa powder, cloves, and cinnamon to mixture; combine. Add warm water, 1 teaspoon at a time (up to 2 teaspoons), until mixture reaches consistency of a thick paste. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with paddle attachment, combine flour, remaining granulated sugar, and baking powder on low speed. With mixer still on low, add shortening, 1 tablespoon at a time (up to 1 cup), and mix until resembling coarse crumbs. Then add water, 1 teaspoon at a time (up to 1 cup), until dough begins to ball around paddle. Transfer dough to a lightly floured work surface and knead until smooth, 2 to 3 minutes. Place in a bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and refrigerate until chilled, about 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Divide dough into 4 equal pieces. Using damp hands, shape each piece into a 10-inch-long log, 1 inch thick. Cut each log into 10 coins. (Keep any dough you're not using covered with a damp cloth.) Using a rolling pin, roll out each coin to a 3-inch round, about 1/8-inch thickness. Place 1 heaping teaspoon fig filling in center of each round of dough. Using your fingers, bring 2 sides of the round up and pinch them over the filling, sealing edges of dough. Turn cookie over so seam is on bottom; then shape cookie into an almond shape. Repeat with remaining dough. Transfer cookies to parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing 1 inch apart. With a sharp paring knife, score several vents on top of each cookie (as shown in photo). Sprinkle cookies with decorating sugar. Bake cookies until lightly golden, 16 to 20 minutes, rotating baking sheets halfway through. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Tomorrow is St Patrick’s Day! One of our favorite foods that we eat on St. Patrick’s day is this amazing Irish Soda Bread. It’s fun, easy to make, and absolutely delicious with its crispy crust, currants, and orange zest. Enjoy! Easy and Delicious Irish Soda Bread 4 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for currants or raisins 4 tablespoons sugar 1 teaspoon baking soda 1½ teaspoons kosher salt 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into ½-inch diced 1¾ cups cold buttermilk, shaken 1 extra-large egg, lightly beaten 3 teaspoons grated orange zest 1 cup dried currants or raisins Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add the butter and mix on low speed until the butter is mixed with the flour. With a fork, lightly beat the buttermilk, egg, and orange zest together in a measuring cup. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture. Combine the currants or raisins with 1 tablespoon of flour and mix into the dough. It will be very wet. Dump the dough onto a well-floured board and knead it a few times into a round loaf. Place the loaf on the prepared sheet pan and lightly cut an X into the top of the bread with a serrated knife. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean. When you tap the loaf, it will have a hollow sound. Cool on a baking rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.