Lenten giveaway WINNER

The winner of my Lenten giveaway, according to a random online number generator is my friend ANGIE!!  Congrats, Angie!  I believe I have your new address so I will be sending a copy of Welcome Risen Jesus your way soon.  I really liked Angie's Lenten tradition, so much so that she inspired me to go out and get some items to make our own Lenten centerpiece with our Liturgical candle and some nice purple floral pieces, ribbon and holy cards.  I'll have to post a pic!  Anyways, here's what Angie had to say.

"We have a "Lenterpiece" (that's what I call it) that I made with 6 purple votive candles and we light them at dinner adding one each week in Lent. Think Advent Wreath only Lent. It has been a good reminder of the season and of our sacrifices and commitments we've made for Lent. I am looking to reading more ideas! Thanks Mon!"

Thanks to all who entered, and blessings as we all prepare for the Lenten season.

Lenten GIVEAWAY (with a small catch)

Leading up to Advent, I gave away a copy of the children's book "Welcome Baby Jesus" on my blog.  I was surfing Amazon around Christmas-time, and a book entitled Welcome Risen Jesus popped up in my recommendations.  We really enjoyed Welcome Baby Jesus at our house as part of our daily prayers and I was excited to see a Lenten book by the same author.  It is essentially the same format as Welcome Baby Jesus, just for the 40 Days of Lent and the Octave of Easter.  Each day has an "Act", "Fast" and "Pray" section along with a daily Scripture verse and meditation.  Just as in Welcome Baby Jesus, these are very child-appropriate.  Some of the activities are definitely above a preschooler (especially the fasting ones in my opinion) but this will definitely be a book that our family can grow with over the years.

So here's the giveaway part...leave a comment about your favorite family Lenten tradition, and I will randomly draw a winner to be announced on the blog first thing Wednesday, February 8 (two weeks before Ash Wednesday...can you believe how soon Lent is?!!).  The catch?  When I received the copy I bought on Amazon, some of the Bible verses were cut off the sides of the page in a small section in the middle of the book.  I contacted Ligouri and they kindly offered to send me another copy but I couldn't bear to throw the other one away, so I'll jot words in for the verses that were cut off and give that copy away.  Also, just as an FYI, I recently saw this book at the local Catholic store on the west side of town for $1.25!!  So if you're interested and don't win...

And here's a Lenten tradition we enjoyed last year.  I got this from my friend Geri/the book Guiding Your Catholic Preschooler.  For each day in lent we have a Pray, Fast and Give activity (this year I made some charts in Excel to hang on the fridge).  For PRAY: we have a special intention that we say a family prayer for each day.  I'm looking forward to using our Prayer Cube for this.  For FAST: we choose an item from our own things/things we've purchased to donate to the food pantry or pro-life charity, fast from something simple like music in the car, or give up some playtime to say a special prayer, etc.  For GIVE: we count something in the house each day (doors, lights, pillows, windows, etc.) and Gemma and Kolbe get to put that number of coins in our Alms jar that will also be given to the pro-life charity.

Now it's YOUR turn.  I can't wait to read about others' Lenten traditions, and am very excited to share a copy of Welcome Risen Jesus with one of my readers!!  And don't hesitate to enter even if you live out of town.  This book is small and I am more than happy to mail it if need be.  Contest closes Tuesday evening, February 7 at 8PM!!!

And the winner is...

ELIZABETH!!!  As determined by an online number generator.  Elizabeth's comment was:

We have an Advent calendar that you build the manger scene with, and our girls get so excited to get a new piece out each day, so I'd have to say that is my favorite tradition. Last year was the first year Claire got to help with it, and both girls did such a good job taking turns on opening the little doors to get out the newest piece. I really hope they maintain that great attitude this year!

Thank you everyone for entering my contest!  If you haven't read all the comments, take a moment and do so.  There are some great ones!  And I have to agree, the Advent Wreath is a family favorite at our house as well.  Thanks for all the great ideas everyone.  A blessed Advent season to one and all!

GIVEAWAY - "Welcome Baby Jesus"

Can you believe that Advent is literally right around the corner?!  I have been spending some time lately planning our family Advent activities and recently purchased the book "Welcome Baby Jesus: Advent and Christmas Reflections for Families" by Sarah A. Reinhard (Liguori Publications) at our local Catholic bookstore (for a mere $1.99) to aid in the celebration of Advent in our home.  What a neat little book!  Each day has a "Think", "Pray" and "Act" section with meditations, prayers and Advent actions literally geared towards the whole family.  Plus, not only does it go through the Advent season, but it has meditations, prayers and actions for the Octave of Christmas and the Epiphany as well.  One of the things that has me most excited about this book is the fact that the meditations are written at a level that I think even Gemma (almost 4) will mostly understand and benefit from.  But they definitely seem appropriate for grade-schoolers or even high-schoolers as well I'd think.  Mom and dad, too!!  It really is written for the whole family. 

I was so excited about this book - and about its great price - that I decided to purchase an extra one to give away here on the blog!!  SO, please leave a comment telling me about your favorite Advent activity or tradition, and this Thursday (after 12 noon) I will randomly select a winner to be announced here on the blog first thing Friday morning!!

I'll start by sharing a tradition we enjoyed last year and are looking forward to again this year and that is our paper chain to count down to Christmas.  The colors coordinate with the candles on the Advent Wreath (purple for weeks 1, 2 and 4, rose for week 3 and white for Christmas day), and each link has something special for Gemma/our family to do for the day.  This year I intend to mainly use the "Act" section from Welcome Baby Jesus on our links.

Now it's your turn!!!  Leave me a comment sharing a favorite Advent tradition in your home, and enter to win your own copy of Welcome Baby Jesus!!!

I received nothing in return for this review.  I wrote it because I thought it was a good book, and purchased my copy and the extra copy to give away myself.