A Slice of Smith Life

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

O Antiphons Lapbook and 12 Days of Christmas Books!

8:42 AM | Posted by asliceofsmithlife | Edit Post

This post contains affiliate links.

O Antiphons

Did you know that December 17-23 are the final days of Advent and they are called the O Antiphons, which are prayers recited or sung and they are various titles for our Messiah?

"According to Professor Robert Greenberg of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, the Benedictine monks arranged these antiphons with a definite purpose. If one starts with the last title and takes the first letter of each one — Emmanuel, Rex, Oriens, Clavis, Radix, Adonai, Sapientia — the Latin words ero cras are formed, meaning, “Tomorrow, I will come.” Therefore, the Lord Jesus, whose coming we have prepared for in Advent and whom we have addressed in these seven Messianic titles, now speaks to us, “Tomorrow, I will come.” So the “O Antiphons” not only bring intensity to our Advent preparation, but bring it to a joyful conclusion. (Fr. William Saunders)" -CatholicCulture

It was only a few years ago that I started learning more about the O Antiphons and our family is still learning about this ancient tradition. I think it's one of the many treasures of our Catholic Church and it's richness in both tradition and beauty brings out the truth, beauty and goodness of Catholicism.

A few years ago I researched more about the O Antiphons and I pulled various resources together and we created O Antiphon lapbooks as a tool to learn more about them and to use the lapbooks as a prayer guide in the last days of Advent. You can read more details about our lapbooks.

The Octave before Christmas, the Golden Nights, is when we pray the O Antiphons at Vespers and at daily Mass. To hear all the O Antiphons sung, be sure to visit Celebrating the Golden Nights. They are just so beautiful and it's like imagining what Heaven will be like surrounded by angelic song and praise.

This past weekend our family made our annual gingerbread house which corresponded nicely with the O Antiphon, O Adonai (O House of Israel) . And here is O Adonai being chanted. So beautiful!

12 Days of Christmas

Everyone has heard of the "12 Days of Christmas" song, but what days make up these 12 days? Is it 12 days before Christmas Day or 12 days after Christmas? Since we are actually still in the Advent season before Christmas Day and the Christmas season, the 12 days make up the days following Christmas Day to the Epiphany. I wrote a blog post What are the 12 Days of Christmas? that explains this further.

I thought I would share a great book series to help your family and friends "travel" through the 12 days of Christmas. The series of books start with "The Twelve Days of Christmas in ______". Fill in the blank with a US state (see list below) and you have a book that is fun, engaging, and educational too!

I first came across the series when I gave The Twelve Days of Christmas in North Carolina to Patty at Reasons for Chocolate for a baby shower gift during Christmas time which was few years ago! Patty does not live in NC so I thought I would give her a book from my home state as a way to share NC facts and fun with her and her growing family. I also thought it was cool to see that one of the cities highlighted was the city where I was born! :)

Here's a little peek into the The Twelve Days of Christmas in North Carolina book that I am giving my nieces (one lives in New York and my other niece lives in Australia) and my nephew and Godson from Pennsylvania got a book too!

Each book highlights the state with the popular landmarks and cities in the particular state. The map labels what each of the 12 days throughout the book are about. I really like that this teaches geography in a fun way!

Each of the 12 days is written in a letter format from a girl named Abby who is visiting her cousin, Mike, in NC. Abby is writing back home to her Mom and Dad and telling about all her NC adventures with Mike. Here on the 8th day of Christmas Mike gave Abby 8 kites a-flying so Abby writes in her letter all about Kill Devil Hills, where they flew their kites. Kill Devil Hills is noted on the map above on the East Coast of NC. She then tells her parents that they were pretending to be like the Wright brothers and goes on to give facts about the first NC flight. Each page is full of color and fun facts like this.

I have enjoyed reading our copy to my family and these books make great gifts! Don't they Patty? ;)

But what if you don't live in North Carolina and I have peeked your interest enough that you want to look for a book in another state? :)

I've got the perfect suggestion! :) Here is a list of these books about other states (in alphabetical order) in case you are looking for a last minute gift idea that is fun and educational too!

The Twelve Days of Christmas in....

Arizona

California

Colorado

Florida

Georgia

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Louisiana

Michigan

Minnesota

New Jersey

New York City

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

South Carolina

Texas

Virginia

Washington

Washington, DC

Wisconsin

Don't see a particular state? I have searched Amazon for quite some time trying to find as many states as I could, but I might have missed a few along the way. Maybe if you search Amazon other states will pop up?

Another great book that would be a wonderful addition to your 12 days of Christmas themed books is a beautiful one I recently received to review titled The 12 Joys of Christmas. It is written in a similar format as the popular song, "The 12 Days of Christmas". It begins with "Raise the spirit of Christmas....One freshly cut tree" and builds upon each joy of Christmas ending with "Fill the table of Christmas....Twelve Christmas cookies."

Author Thomas Seibold and Illustrator Sheri McCulley Seibold are the creative husband and wife team behind The 12Joys of Christmas. Sheri is the founder and principal of Sheri McCulley Studio, a Kansas City-based design practice that develops original characters, patterns, and product concepts for a variety of manufacturers in numerous product categories. Thomas is a technology marketing specialist and manager of Sheri McCulley Studio. Each was inspired to create The 12 Joys of Christmas by their own fond and vivid childhood memories of the holiday season.

Learn more about The 12 Joys of Christmas and Sheri McCulley’s designs at Sheri McCulley Studio.

Recently my 3 year old was fussy and crying and I pulled out this beautifully illustrated book and she immediately became engaged and loved looking at all the great pictures. She enjoyed pointing to all the classical pictures and we played a "seek and find" game as I asked her to find different illustrations on each page. This book is so fun to read and helps you take in all the joys of Christmas and savor the Christmas season long after Christmas Day. The book is simple and sweet and if it can quiet my 3 year old I know it's a good book. :) The illustrations reminded me of those in The Snow Day by Ezra Jack Keats. Simple, yet full of fun and meaning.

Amazon's summary of the book: "Long after the gifts are opened, the wrapping paper discarded, the toys forgotten, it is our memories of Christmas that remain. The 12 Joys of Christmas celebrates the timeless sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and feelings of a holiday that brings families and friends together in a season of shared ideals, traditions, and lasting joys. This paperback version contains the same quality printing and just as much Christmas magic as the hardcover, in a more economical format that will be no less loved by all who receive it."

I highly recommend adding The 12 Joys of Christmas to your Advent/Christmas book collection and it can be given and read after the hustle and bustle of Christmas preparations and Christmas Day celebrations are over! You can purchase it at Amazon or at Shelly McCulley Studios Online Bookstore.

As we continue to wait for the birthday of our Savior, Jesus Christ, our mangers in our nativity sets are still missing Baby Jesus. It will be soon on Christmas Day when I will put all the Baby Jesus figures back into each manger. Our church has a large nativity set up symbolizing the anticipation of the Christ Child being born into the world soon.

My 3 year old enjoyed staring at the nativity and I love how she is reaching for Jesus' manger, a beautiful reminder of how all of us deep down long to know Truth. We are to reach out to Jesus to be in union with Him and His will here on earth so that we can be with Him for eternity in Heaven.

And one more thing...Since Christmas is so close, maybe you are thinking of doing some baking for family and friends? Be sure to check out my guest post on Heather's blog at Life of a Homeschool Mom where I wrote my post Yummy {and quick} Christmas Treats for the Letter "Y" in the 4th Annual ABCs of Homeschooling Through the Holidays series.....

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih0VOYjZ77HUhmGTQi-4z9ulZtjELD9qVq2_bSIMf82f-wIyb4tkUdunk-8If8-Jt40zJyXJ3Nd9rBjFF9-rq4KmNhG8G8-q7Y5Nvy3ElV8tjEwjNJM0UDWI1hDzr0hkuIOiKTLmm56D8/s640/PicMonkey+CollageYummyTreatsA.jpg

Labels:12 days of Christmas,book reviews,O Antiphons | 2 comments

Monday, December 19, 2016

Advent Feast Days: Dec. 13: Feast of Saint Lucy

8:24 AM | Posted by asliceofsmithlife | Edit Post

To celebrate this feast day we read the book Lucia Saint of Light and made a wreath out of cinnamon rolls from the can.

Our oldest daughter served sweet rolls as she dressed in a white gown (symbolize St. Lucy as a bride of Christ), red ribbon (symbolize martyrdom) and wearing a crown of candles. St. Lucy was born in Sicily, but in Sweden she is loved and honored with traditions because she helped to save Sweden from a terrible famine. She was blinded by her persecutors, but her sight was miraculously restored. They then tried to burn her, but no flame touched her. Finally she died when soldiers drove a sword through her throat. All because she was a Christian. She died in 304.

We also hung our St. Lucia ornament on our Advent tree.

Prayer to Saint Lucy

O God, our Creator and

Redeemer, mercifully hear our prayers that as we venerate your servant, Saint Lucy, for the light of faith you bestowed upon her, you would increase and preserve this same light in our souls that we may be able to avoid evil, to do good, and to abhor nothing so much as the blindness and the darkness of evil and of sin. Relying on your goodness, O God, we humbly ask you, by the intercessory prayers of your servant, Saint Lucy, that you would give perfect vision to our eyes, that they may serve for your greater honor and glory and for the salvation of our souls in this world, that we may come to the enjoyment of your unfailing light of the Lamb of God in paradise. Saint Lucy, virgin and martyr, hear our prayers and obtain our petitions. Amen.

Labels:feast day,Saint Lucy | 0 comments

Advent Feast Days: Dec. 12: Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

7:40 AM | Posted by asliceofsmithlife | Edit Post

The peasant man who received the miraculous image of Our Lady of Guadalupe on his tilma is named St. Juan Diego and his feast day is celebrated on December 9. More about him and St. Juan Diego resources on my post from the archives. We enjoy watching the CCC of America video, Juan Diego-Messenger of Guadalupe. Below is a summary from CCC of America about this video and Juan Diego's true story.

JUAN DIEGO - MESSENGER OF GUADALUPE
In 1531 Juan Diego found himself between two worlds…that of the Spanish conquerors and that of his own Aztec heritage. Because of his love for his people and his strong faith, Juan Diego turned to Jesus and His Mother, Mary for help in uniting his people. The answer to Juan Diego’s prayers has become one of the greatest events in the history of the Americas.
JUAN DIEGO, MESSENGER OF GUADALUPE is the true story of how the Blessed Mother chose a hero for a key role in a beautiful miracle that would united diverse peoples and change the course of history.
In the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City the miracle of the tilma of Juan Diego may still be seen, just as it was seen by the bishop in 1531.

To learn more about this miraculous event that happened in December 1531, there are many resources to use. One DVD that I discovered last year is Guadalupe: The Miracle and the Message DVD . Watching this DVD is a great way to start learning more about Our Lady of Guadalupe. Be sure to check out my review that I posted about the film.

This poster is a brief summary of a long list of miracles about the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe that appeared on St. Juan Diego's tilma.

From the Catholic Company's post they list some of the many facts about the Our Lady of Guadalupe image itself:

* The image is proven to not be painted by human hands.

* The image and fabric have miraculously lasted in its original condition for nearly 500 years.

* The weak cactus fiber, of which the tilma was made, should have decomposed several years later.

* No natural or animal mineral colorings, or paint, are found on the image.

* The image itself is iridescent, which cannot be produced by hand.

* Mary stands on a crescent moon, the same crescent moon in the sky on the day of her apparition.

* Mary’s mantel is a constellation map, the same constellations in the sky as on the day of her apparition.

* These constellations tell the story of the Gospel with the arrangements of Leo in the womb of Virgo.

* On her rose garment is a topographic map of the geographic location of her apparition.

* On Mary’s neck is a small black cross, identifying her with the Catholic missionary priests.

* Over her womb on her dress is a four-petal flower, the Aztec symbol of life and deity.

* In the image Mary is “clothed with the sun” with “the moon at her feet” as described in Revelation 12:1.

* A doctor once heard a heartbeat coming from the image through a stethoscope over the womb.

* The eyes of the image have the refractory characteristics of human eyes.

* The eyes, when examined through a microscope, reflect the images of the witnesses present at its unveiling, including Juan Diego and the bishop.

In the morning on Our Lady of Guadalupe's feast day, I decorated our kitchen table as a way to celebrate this special and festive feast day.

Green, white and red cloth to represent the Mexican flag

Some years we watch:
Guadalupe: The Miracle and the Message DVD
Juan Diego-Messenger of Guadalupe DVD

We also read:
Our Lady of Guadalupe
The Lady of Guadalupe
On my wish list is a new book titled Guadalupe Mysteries: Deciphering the Code

Our "Wandering Wisemen" from our Playmobil Nativity set rested from traveling to see Baby Jesus eventually to admire the miraculous image.

I lit 2 of our Our Lady of Guadalupe candles.

We also love our Our Lady of Guadalupe Shining Light Doll

I also placed the star from the Star from Afar set on our table next to a vase of a dozen red roses as the star travels also to guide the Wise Men to meet Baby Jesus.

On our Advent tree we place the Our Lady of Guadalupe ball ornament and the ornament I made from Catholic Inspired.

Our church along with so many churches around our nation and world are decorated so beautifully for this feast day in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe. We went to morning Mass this year at 8:30 AM as a way to celebrate this feast day and to admire all the roses that filled the altar. Each year there is also a 5:00 AM celebration called Mananitas. One year I hope to make it to this very early and lively celebration!

In the evening we ate a Mexican meal, tacos, at home!
It was a blessed day and I just love learning more about Our Lady of Guadalupe!

And one more thing...Since Christmas is so close, maybe you are thinking of doing some baking for family and friends? Be sure to check out my guest post on Heather's blog at Life of a Homeschool Mom where I wrote my post Yummy {and quick} Christmas Treats for the Letter "Y" in the 4th Annual ABCs of Homeschooling Through the Holidays series.....

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Advent Feast Days: Dec. 8: Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

12:56 AM | Posted by asliceofsmithlife | Edit Post

This post contains affiliate links.

This Advent season I haven't been updating my blog as much as I'd like, but I've been updating my blog's Facebook page, Instagram and Twitter accounts with all the activities we have been doing during Advent. We are continuing to read our Advent read-aloud books by unwrapping one Christmas book each evening under our Advent tree. We are also enjoying the Advent storybook as a family, Ishtar's Odyssey.

There are many wonderful feast days in the Catholic Church that we celebrate as a family leading up to the celebration of our Savior's birth. On December 8 each year we celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. Do you know how solemnities, feasts and memorials differ?

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is NOT when Jesus was conceived in Mary's womb by the Holy Spirit (Jesus' miraculous conception is celebrated each year on March 25, the Annunciation, which is 9 months before the celebration of His birth on December 25, Christmas Day.) Rather, this solemnity celebrates when Mary was preserved from Original Sin from the moment of her natural conception in Saint Anne's womb. Woah! Heavy stuff, but oh so amazing theology and wonder too!

On our Advent tree we hung up the ornament of Mary inside St. Anne's womb that we made a few years ago from Catholic Icing. We also hung up our Immaculate Conception Advent ornament that I made a few years ago using Catholic Inspired printables.

I set up Our Lady of Lourdes Shining Light Doll in the middle of our Advent wreath since it was Our Lady of Lourdes that appeared to St. Bernadette in Lourdes, France in 1858 and our Blessed Mother told young Bernadette, "I am the Immaculate Conception."

As in years past, we celebrated Mary's immaculate conception, her purity, with a "white dinner" and used our fancy china (that happens to be white) that we got when we got married because Solemnities are a big deal! We had chicken alfredo (from Costco) with salad and Ranch dressing. We drank sparkling cider and for dessert we had vanilla ice cream.

Since my 9 year old daughter has a baptism anniversary on Dec. 9, we also celebrated her baptism during our dinner and she ate off of the "You are Special Today" plate that comes out (when I remember) when our children celebrate their birthdays, Name Days, and baptism anniversaries.

We also watched a favorite CCC of America DVD called Bernadette-The Princess of Lourdes.
See below for an explanation from the CCC of America website about the graces this beautiful young girl received from God and our Blessed Mother in 1858...

BERNADETTE - THE PRINCESS OF LOURDES
It’s February 11, 1858. Three girls from Lourdes, France, gather firewood in front of a grotto. Suddenly one of them, Bernadette Soubirous, 14, drops to her knees, gazes ecstatically at something beautiful only she can see, and starts to pray. Soon the town buzzes: Has Bernadette, poor, sickly, and always behind in school, really seen a Lady from Heaven? The police chief is angry, the pastor busy, and the crowd amused, but Bernadette is calm and brave. Then a spring bubbles up from nowhere and withered arms and sightless eyes are cured. At last, the Lady tells Bernadette her name: “I am The Immaculate Conception.”
BERNADETTE, THE PRINCESS OF LOURDES, is the exciting true story of a visit by the Queen of Heaven that left all the world a source of health for body and soul.

It was a blessed day!