On several occasions during today’s Ash Wednesday Mass, Beatrix loudly asked me for a piece of chocolate. She has discovered that I frequently have a bar of dark chocolate in my purse, you know, for chocolate emergencies. Yesterday I caught her raiding my stash. This afternoon, the site of my purse on the floor beneath the pew must have reminded her of the chocolate. Of all the days of the year for her to loudly request sweets during Mass, it would be the first day of Lent.
This year my cross wasn’t quite as intense as last year’s. I suppose I am starting a tradition, collecting photos of them.
After Mass we stopped by my friend’s house to feed his cats. The girls helped.
Lark and Bea like for me to curl their hair. I explained to Larkspur that we only “make curls” for special and important things, like going to Mass. Larkspur asked me, “What’s the second most important thing? Confession?”
“Yes, Larkspur. You must always curl your hair for confession.” No, of course I didn’t say that. I was laughing too hard.
I’ve added our brief Lenten reading list in the sidebar. I recently began following this plan to read through the Catechism alongside my Bible in a year. I think Lent is a great time to start. For the past two years, we have read A Family Journey with Jesus Through Lent to our children, and I recommend it. On the recommendation of a friend I purchased this book, and it has inspired something new for this year. We are planning to read the scriptures associated with the Lenten Cross and will hopefully create a simple Lenten Cross as we go. I am thinking that it could be really lovely with small embroidered symbols, but for this year we will have to keep it simple, especially as I am reminded of the mere handful of needle felted Jesse Tree ornaments that I have made over the past two years.
