8+ Simple Ways to Celebrate St. Francis

Sometimes, I go all out learning about and celebrating saints with my children.  At other times, we go for simplicity.  We did the latter today, incorporating eight simple ways to celebrate St. Francis into our day.

(1) St. Francis Honey-Almond Cakes

St. Francis was said to have loved almond cookies.  So, for breakfast, we enjoyed sliced apples and pears along with a gluten-free adaptation of a recipe I found years ago.

To make our version:

Preheat oven with baking stones in it to 350 degrees F.

Stir 2 egg whites vigorously.

Mix in:

• 1/2 cup of raw local wild  flower honey
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla
• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon.

Add:

• 2 cups of almond meal flour or 1 cup of almond meal flour and 1 cup finely chopped almonds

Drop by teaspoonful onto baking stones and bake for about 15-25 minutes.  Start checking at 15 minutes for light browning. 

Catholic Cuisine has other recipes, too.

(Note:  Some of the links which follow are affiliate ones.  Should you click through them to make a purchase, we may receive a small percentage of the sale at no extra cost to you.)
 
(2) St. Francis Prayers

 
This year, we simply read the prayer from the St. Francis page in the Picture Book of Saints.  In past years, we have used a variety of prayers.  The National Shrine of Saint Francis of Assisi has a useful collection to draw from.

(3) St. Francis Readings

There are so any fabulous picture books and saint book excerpts about Saint Francis that we've read over the years. Included in our St. Francis day readings have been:

• Dragon Slayers: The Essential Training Guide for Young Dragon Fighters
• Loyola Kids Book of Saints
• Brother Sun, Sister Moon 
• Saint Francis of Assisi: A Life of Joy 
• Francis: The Poor Man of Assisi 
• Francis: The Poor Man of Assisi (The Life of a Saint) 
• Saint Francis and the Wolf 
• Brother Wolf of Gubbio: A Saint Francis LegendHandprint Books 
• The Song of Francis

(4) Video Time

We so love our CCC of America collection of kids videos.  A favorite from them, The Knight of Assisi, was our post-breakfast viewing this year.

(5) Church Building - Physical

Ever since we played the Build a Church like St. Francis game that I created for an All Saints Day party several years back, it's become a tradition for us to talk about how St Francis first thought he was to rebuild a physical church, but then realized it was a spiritual church he was called to rebuild. We give the kids blocks, Legos, toothpicks and marshmallows, or whatever and have handy and challenge them to design and build a church structure. Then, we think of ways we can make the spiritual church strong, such as... (Read the next numbered idea.) 

(6) Church Building - Spiritual

This year, the children opted to give to the poor as St. Francis did at the beginning of the the CCC of America video we watched.  They were so eager to place food donations into the food pantry basket at our church's entry that they ran to the door.

(7) Singing

St. Francis wrote canticles.  Cat Chat wrote a catchy tune about St. Francis.  So catchy, in fact, that my kids were singing it as they built with blocks this morning, so we had to dig out our Amazing Angels and Super Saints CD after Mass to listen to Go Francis.  Love that song and the CD it comes from.

(8) Visit St. Francis

These days, we may not be able to visit with St. Francis in person, but we can certainly go to chapels or churches named after him, spend time meditating on his life and works,  pray for his intercession, and, as my kiddoes did, find a statue of him to go say hello to.

Of course, there are many, many other ways to celebrate St. Francis' feast day, too.  Nature walks.  Zoos.  Blessings of the animals.  Works of Mercy.  Adoration.  Mission work.  Arts and crafts.  The list goes on...
 

Praying you had a wonderful St. Francis Feast Day.  I'd love to hear how you celebrate!

Are You Ready to Weed Wheat Our of Your Diet?

Okay, these Christmas cookies may not look as pretty as the ones I grew up indulging on, but they were just as fun to make with my children and – better still –they work with our children's diet, which is gluten-free, casein-free, dye-free and, also, mostly white sugar-, additive- and preservative-free. 

In essence, these cookies are symbolic of a journey towards better eating that our family has been on for several years now – not always pretty, but increasingly easy to digest and, at times, a delightful treat.

If you are considering a similar journey for your family, I would like to suggest a book I had the pleasure of reading a a part of the Bow of Bronze Launch Team:

Luke and Trisha Gilkerson's Weeding Out Wheat!

When I was offered a chance to review Weeding Our Wheat in exchange for an honest review, my curiosity was peaked.  Whereas I had done a significant amount of reading about why my family might want to go wheat-free and felt fairly secure in the science behind our choice, I had not given much thought to any potential faith-based pros and cons to a wheat-free diet beyond the fact that it did seem a bit odd that I was asking my children to eschew typical breads even when our frequent Bible story readings evidenced ample consumption of such foods.  And, so it was that when I received my e-copy of the Weeding Out Wheat, I dove right into it.

And, I do mean dove!  For, after opening the book on my computer, I did anything but browse it.  Instead, I found myself reading it all in one sitting and typing out six pages of notes and quotes as I did.  (Trust me, this is a rarity for me!  I almost never have time to red a book all in one sitting, much less to do so with enough concentration that I can take a few notes, much less pages of notes, on it.  So, I would say that Weeding Out Wheat, is an easily digestible read!)

What Weeding Out Wheat Offers

In Weeding Out Wheat you'll find nearly 100 pages of well-researched, well-thought and easy-to-understand text that explains:

• why modern wheat is causing mayhem to so many people's bodies
• what a wheat-free diet has to do with faith
• and, what in the world you can eat if you go wheat-free

You'll also find that authors Luke and Trisha have stayed true to the book's subtitle, for Weeding Out Wheat is indeed "simple", "scientific" and "faith-based".

As I already mentioned, I read the book in one sitting.  That stands as testimony to the fact that it is written in a conversational tone that can be understood despite momma-bleariness.  In fact, as I read the book, I was impressed with how well Luke ad Trisha did cutting technical terms down to bite-size pieces that any layperson can digest and explaining the findings of their own research without being confusing or boring.

An an example, I found it real and refreshing they way they dealt with explaining "phytates":

Phytates cause minerals to be “bio-unavailable.” That means, when phytates are around, it makes it much more difficult for your body to utilize the vitamins and minerals that are present.

Phytates do this in two ways:

1) they bind up minerals and
2) they prevent minerals from being properly absorbed.

They’re sneaky little suckers...

Now, I’m not going to tell you that phytates are all doom and gloom... (page 32)

Likewise, I was wowed with how thorough Luke and Trisha's research was.  For while Weeding Out Wheat's style is easy-to-read, the research that went into writing the book was obviously intense.  In fact, ten pages of End Notes are included so that anyone wishing to corroborate facts like this one that struck me can.

Modern wheat has been so modified by humans, these strains are unable to grow in the wild anymore because they depend on pest control and nitrate fertilization. (page 9)

And the faith-part?  I found it interesting, logical, and, for me, comforting, as examples from the Bible and the authors' argument boiled down to the idea that the Bible does not mandate any specific diet, but that our faith does tell us to take care of our bodies.  As Luke and Trisha eloquently put things:

Just as we should never make an idol of food or any specific diet, neither should we ignore our diet...We should love taking care of our bodies, because our bodies are a gift from God—an eternal gift. (pages 74-75)

Some Take Aways

As I closed my e-copy of Weeding Out Wheat, I found myself sending links to the book to several friends whose recent complaints and ailments came to mind, for the book reminded me about just how many modern diseases seem to be connected to modern wheat.

I also found myself planning to take further steps in my family's journey to cleaner eating.  For while my children have been gluten-, casein, plus other-things- free for some time and my husband and I have been limited, we all too often replace the wheat, gluten and other things we used to eat with nutritionally deficient foods eating healthier junk food than others might at times, but junk food nonetheless.

Adding more and more nutrient-dense foods to our diet is in order!  (So is Mom finally taking the total gluten-free plunge for herself.  Wish me luck!)

But enough about me and mine.  How about you and yours?  Are you ready to weed wheat out of your diet?  or at least ready to learn more about why you might want to?  Then, I highly suggest reading Luke and Trisha's Weeding Out Wheat as a way to enlighten yourself and invest yourself in the journey.  And, then, as they say, just doing it.

To find out if you have a problem with wheat:

Give it up. Give wheat up for a minimum of 2 months with strict adherence. Some people can tell a difference within days, but it can take months for gluten and other wheat toxins to clear out of your system. Months. Sometimes longer than 2 months. (page 43)

Good luck if you do!  And don't be afraid to ask for help.  You can even join others in the Weeding Out Wheat Encouragement and Support Group on Facebook.

To Purchase Weeding Out Wheat

You can find Luke and Trisha's book as:

• Amazon for your kindle – Regularly $9.95, but now only $1.99 for a limited time (December 30th through January 1st!)

• At Luke and Trisha's website as a pdf – $9.95

• Paperback at Creatspace – Regularly $14.95, but now only $9.95 for a limited time (December 30th through January 1st!)

• Paperback coming soon to Amazon.

Want More Information?

• Pop on over to Bow of Bronze to read what others are saying about Weeding Out Wheat: A Simple, Scientific, Faith-Based Guide.

• Read more about the book, and see what other products author's Luke and Trisha offer, at their site Intoxicated on Life.

•  Think about things as you watch this short video:

 

• Join the Facebook Launch party for the book, where you can win great prizes, too!

Thank You!

This post includes affiliate links to Amazon and Intoxicated on Life.  Should you choose to purchase anything by clicking through one of these, it won't cost you any extra, but it will bless our family with a portion of your purchase price.  We appreciate that!

Last Minute Ideas for a GFCF Epiphany Feast Day Tea

Happy “Little Christmas!” I hope you have been enjoying a wonderful Christmas season and will savor this special day, too.

Later this morning, we will be enjoying a liturgical breakfast tea in celebration of Epiphany.  I thought I would share a quick collection of ideas for it in case you’d like to throw together some feast day fun for your family, too.

Decoration

2010 Liturgical Table for Epiphany - Where Our Traditional Crown Making Began

• We have yet to put the pieces for the three kings up with our nativity scene, so the kings will adorn the table and, then, make their way to the nativity.

• We will also set out a candle (star) behind a nativity snow globe that we have .

Tea Time Fare 

2011 Epiphany Tea

• Star Juice:  Orange juice, or any juice for that matter, is a treat in our home.  Nina requested that we purchase some for the feast day because it is the color of stars.

• Wise Men Tea:  In some of the picture books that we have been reading, it mentions that the kings were healers and used herbs.

• GFCF Cinnamon Donut Stable:  Frozen GFCF donuts are also a treat at our home.  Nina decided we could pile them to make a wonderful stable cave.  So, we’ll try doing that and putting a Baby Jesus figurine inside.

• GFCF Gingerbread Wise Men:  Nina spied gingerbread men on sale in the GFCF section of the store last night and thought they’d make great king figures to walk up to the donut stable.

• Blueberry Sky with Pineapple Star:  No tea is complete, in my opinion, without some raw, whole foods to balance all the treats.

• Various Star Shaped Foods, such as the ones we made for Christ the King day or the star-shaped pancakes that we put above baby Jesus figurines a couple years ago.

Prayer

2010 Home Blessing

• Home Blessing:  We have not done it every year, but I think the Home Blessing might be fun and meaningful again this year.

• Chalk Blessing:  If we do the Home Blessing, we will need to do the chalk blessing, too.

Activities

 

We also have The Story of the Three Wise Kings and Caspar and the Star, plus many of the Nativity story books from our Advent Alphabet book baskets. 

•  Stars: We may make paper stars like the ones we made several years ago, inspired by those in Tomie de Paolo’s The Story of the Three Wise Kings, or perhaps we will make play-dough ones with the yellow glitter play-dough we made the other day.

•  Paper Crowns:  We will likely make some again this year, and then, again do some dramatic play.

• Coloring:  Any Google search will bring up a gazillion Epiphany coloring pages.  We’ll let the kids pick their own.

• Read Alouds:  We have a big basket of Epiphany picture books out from the library, so we will read some of these, especially our favorite, The Story of the Three Wise Kings.

•  Traditional Songs:  Of course, we'll sing or listen to some traditional songs, such as We Three Kings.

Do you have favorite foods, activities or traditions for sharing Epiphany with little ones?  Please share.

 

(If you receive this post via email and cannot see the linky, be sure to actually click over to the blog to read browse the rich catalog of ideas there.)

 
Please note: Links to Amazon within this post and others are affiliate ones. Should you choose to click through one to make an Amazon purchase, we may receive a small percentage of the sale. This does not cost you anything, but is a choice we thank you for making. Anything we earn from Amazon goes straight back into training up our children and to much of what we share with you here. Thank you for supporting us in this way or through a PayPal donation if you feel so moved.  (See "Donation" button in the right column.)
 

Our GFCF Our Lady of Guadalupe Liturgical Tea

Ready for Our GFCF Our Lady of Guadalupe Tea

Last Wednesday, we enjoyed a liturgical tea honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe.  Unlike last year, when we celebrated the feast day all throughout the entire day by enjoying sensory activities and a meager, but meaningful tea, this year, we saved most of our observances for the late afternoon and evening, which meant fewer activities, but more feasting.

That is not say we neglected the feast day until dusk.  Rather, we began the day by reading and discussing The Lady of Guadalupe.  Then, as we continued with our day's activities, we recalled parts of this story, as well as details from the Holy Heroes Saint Juan Diego Glory Story, which we had listened to this past Monday, and the Talking Eagle and the Lady of Roses book, which we had read on the Feast of St. Juan Diego, too.  We connected and applied ideas from these stories to our lives:  Patience.  Obedience.  Trust.  Faith.  Miracles.  Beauty.  They are all there.  And with them, so were some opportunities for prayer, connection and learning. 

In the late afternoon on Wednesday, the children colored pictures that I had printed out from the links on our Advent Alphabet plan.  Then, we decorated the table simply with a table cloth, the kids' coloring, a blue candle and two read alouds.

St. Juan Diego's Tilma: GFCF Tortiallas and Ham Roses

After that, Jack and Nina helped me roll nitrate/nitrite-free ham into roses with thanks to an idea shared by Alice at Cottage Blessing, I prepared the rest of the meal, we prayed and dug in.  On the menu were:

A Mushroom "Cloud" Radiating with Sweet Potato Fries "Light", in Honor of How The Lady Is Depicted as First Appearing to St. Juan Diego in The Lady of Guadalupe

 

A Chopped Avocado "Tepeyac Mountain" with a GFCF Mayo "Cloud" radiating with Egg Piece "Light"

A Spinach and Arugula Mt. Tepeyac with Dried Cranberry Roses

A Colored Image of Our Lady with Egg "Radiating Light" as the Image on St. Juan's Tilma

We also had bowls with the rest of the egg and tortilla bits.

The children loved the menu this year, admittedly as much for playing with as for eating.

Luke added stars to his tilma before eating it.

Nina made a dress for Our Lady.

And so it was, we enjoyed another Saints Day Liturgical Tea while honoring faith, family and our family food goals.  (Okay, maybe not the "economic" part of our food goals, since the nitrate/nitrate-free ham and the special GFCF tortillas are not the least expensive things one could eat!)  Not only that, but I now have another way to make stars...  Our Advent Alphabet "S" day and Feast of Epiphany Day could be filled with egg stars, summer squash stars, pineapple ring stars and, if I am feeling up to the mess, GFCF sugar cookie stars.

How do you combine faith, family and food to celebrate the Liturgical Year with your little ones?

 

(If you receive this post via email and cannot see the linky, be sure to actually click over to the blog to read browse the rich catalog of ideas there.)

 

Please note: Links to Amazon within this post and others are affiliate ones. Should you choose to click through one to make an Amazon purchase, we may receive a small percentage of the sale. This does not cost you anything, but is a choice we thank you for making. Anything we earn from Amazon goes straight back into training up our children and to much of what we share with you here. Thank you for supporting us in this way or through a PayPal donation if you feel so moved.  (See "Donation" button in the right column.)