Ash Wednesday & Lent

Even though it is not a Holy Day of Obligation, Ash Wednesday is one of my favorite days on the liturgical calendar.  There is something very moving about receiving the ashes and reflecting on the journey of Lent culminating in blessing of Easter.  I can remember tears as each of my children received their ashes for the first time as infants.  And each and every year, I say I'm going to take a picture of them with their ash crosses.  This year I finally did it.  

I also did something else for the first time this Ash Wednesday, I pulled the kids out of school to attend the Ash Service.  Since Ash Wednesday fell on Brian's birthday this year, I was trying to find a way to balance getting our ashes with celebrating Brian's birthday.  So, I kept Birdie home from preschool and picked up the big kids from school to attend church.  They were some of the only kids in the service and I had several of my friends tell me they wished they had done the same thing.  Due to the timing of the service, poor Daniel had to wolf down his sack lunch in the car on the short drive from the church back to school.   He survived.  

This year for Lent, it seems we are all doing something a little different.  Ashley & Daniel each chose to give up something.  Ashley gave up playing Wii and the computer; Daniel gave up chocolate; Brian gave up eating meat and drinking Diet Dr. Pepper.  For me, this year isn't so much about giving up as it is about prayer.  In addition to giving up evening tv and talking on my cell phone in the car, I am adding Friday mass & rosary and a few other personal devotions.  This should make for an interesting 40+ days.   Lots of giving up in our house.  

The kids have each chosen a new prayer to learn for Lent.  Ashley surprised me with the Hail, Holy Queen and Memorare.  Daniel has the Our Father and Act of Contrition on his mirror.  And Birdie is learning the Hail Mary and Glory Be.  The kids and I have also committed to praying the rosary together  once a week. So far, they have surprised with their attention.  

This is a wonderful time of year to turn our focus towards the cross and inward as we prepare to celebrate God's gift to mankind on Easter.  

And Happy Birthday Honey!