Holiday Hiatus

This post could also be titled: "I had a baby and probably should take a break".
I just love blogging so much that I haven't been able to pry The Lily Field from my fingers.
But alas, Christmas seems like the perfect place to PAUSE.

I was at a conference with Shauna Niequist awhile back and someone asked her:
"What should we do to find inspiration for writing?"

She told us to step away from the "world" and go live our lives -- that the stories,
the memories, the moments created are what good writing is made of.
If you haven't lived, it's hard to share.

So here is to a few weeks of just BEING -- tuned in to Jesus, my husband (who is also
on vacation! PRAISE. the. LORD!), children, and all the family and friends we will be celebrating
with! Hopefully I'll be back with some good stories and happy memories to share!!!

Wishing you all a holy and blessed Christmas!!!
BRB

In the meantime, enjoy our "we need a Christmas card" attempt...

A Thrill of Hope | A Family Advent

Boughs of greenery carefully laced, strategically stapled, to a 4 foot wide circle of wood; an
Advent wreath. I remember going out to the carriage house with my dad and four younger siblings,
dressed in coveralls, clinging to mugs of hot cocoa, as we brushed off the chill and began our
work on a yearly tradition.

We argued over the hum of the heater, the flicker of fluorescent light, about whose turn
it was to hold the stapler, the hot glue gun. "More branches over here!" "Leave room for
the candles!" Working with our hands to create a symbol of hope, of promise - one we would
gather around for the weeks leading up to Christmas as we pray, wait. It was magic.
The stuff that starry sky over Bethlehem was made of.

It was always hung in the center of our family room. A massive display, gesture of remembrance,
that our world was once dark, but was made bright by a tiny babe born that first Christmas night.
As children, we would lay on the floor and look up through the center; noticing with each
passing evening of prayer, the room was getting brighter. He's coming - nearer, closer.
Anticipation. I remember the wreath would slowly begin to spin as more candles were lit -
casting the most beautiful star-shaped shadow on the ceiling, the walls.
Etching illuminated memories on our hearts.



This is what Advent is for. A time of waiting, preparation of our hearts and homes to
welcome again and again and again, year after year, the coming of the Savior. The mystery
of it all is endless; the wonder incapable of being contained. And we gather around the
green, light candles, purples and pink, unfold the readings for the Jesse Tree, devour the
goodness of the history of salvation, and once again we grasp at the beauty of Christmas.
Deeper this time. Take me deeper this time.

"Advent is concerned with that very connection between memory and hope which

is so necessary to man. Advent's intention is to awake the most profound and basic

emotional memory within us, namely, the memory of the God who became child.

This is a healing memory; it brings HOPE."- Pope Benedict XVI
___________________________

Here's a peek into what our family is up to this Advent season.
Sunday, November 30th, 2014 - it all begins!!!

Advent Wreath //

It doesn't have to be fancy. Simple greens + 4 candles to light as each week passes.
You light the first candle on the first Sunday of Advent, then light two candles on the
second week - so on and so forth. The pink candle is for the third week - GAUDETE SUNDAY!
Joy Sunday. A different color - a color of JOY - Christmas is getting closer!

We light the appointed candle(s) each night for family prayer time.


Jesse Tree // Bible readings + free printable ornaments

I keep the ornaments and reading prompts tucked inside envelopes for the kids to open.
Reading through the history of salvation, the cast of characters, the golden thread of
connection - never grows old for me or my family.

Nathan and I are also going to be doing the daily reading from Ann Voskamp's new book,
The Greatest Gift. She has amazing words to share each day that go along with the Jesse Tree.



4 Weeks of Waiting //

Growing up we didn't listen to Christmas music or put up our tree until after Mass
ON Christmas Eve. The build-up to that moment was so exciting, thrilling for us!
Since my own kids are still so little, and the idea of putting up a tree right before
Christmas is not exactly realistic for us -- we have been spacing out the celebration
for the past couple of years:

1st Sunday of Advent: Make Advent Wreath

2nd Sunday of Advent: Set out, arrange, discuss the Nativity scene

3rd Sunday of Advent: Buy and decorate a real Christmas tree

4th Sunday of Advent: Hang stockings and wrap presents

___________________________

Wishing you all a blessed and holy season of anticipation - of Advent!

Would love to hear ideas on how you bring this part
of the liturgical year to life in YOUR home!

"The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;

on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned." - Isaiah 9:2

Holy Week + Easter

Happy Easter from our hearts to yours!

An Easter Morning Tradition

It's tradition around these parts to bake something that RISES on Easter morning!
How about you? Any special traditions for the Triduum?

It is really just a simple, but delicious, visual of what RISING to NEW LIFE
looks like for kids. Mix, pour, place in dark oven - which in the wild imagination is really
a tomb - and wait for it... the GLORY of risen baked goods!!!

If you're in the market for some gluten-free happiness coming out of your "tomb"
this Easter morning here are some of our favorite recipes that rise...

CINNAMON ROLLS

CHOCOLATE CHIP BANANA BREAD

BLUEBERRY MUFFINS

APPLE CIDER DOUGHNUTS

PUMPKIN SPICE BREAD

Don't miss the $50 GIVEAWAY to Matilda Jane Clothing!!!

Catholics knock on doors too...

When I was 17 years old I went on a "Holy Week" mission trip down to Atlanta, GA.
I had recruited a bunch of people to go, but wasn't particularly thrilled to be going myself.
It honestly had been years since I spent Easter with my actual family, and the idea of waking
up on Sunday morning to a basket full of Reese's peanut butter eggs sounded more appealing than
sleeping on the floor and leading a group of girls in "door-to-door" missions.

Yes, believe it or not, Catholics are in to that kind of evangelization too.
"No we are not Jehovah's Witness. Nope, not Mormon either. Your local priest sent us out..."
I wish we could have recorded the looks on some of the faces!

I will never forget one house visit we made that year in particular. The Church we had been
working at all week had a list of "desperate cases" (could be anything from a homebound person
to someone who used to attend Mass, but hadn't been seen in months - maybe years). I chose a
"case" randomly and loaded my team in the van. We drove close to an hour for one visit...

for one man named Tom.

Before we approached the door, I felt this overwhelming urgency to stop and pray before we knocked.
There we were - standing shoulder to shoulder, in a circle of prayer - calling down the Spirit in
that driveway - when the front door rattled and a very irritated gentleman stormed out onto the lawn
demanding to know what we were doing.

I quickly introduced myself, my team, and told him we were there to invite him to come to Easter Mass.

Tears filled his big, round, grandpa eyes and he couldn't speak.

"Tom, can we pray for you right now?" I gently asked.

He just nodded his head, and I began talking to God about that day His Son died on the cross.
I remember talking to God in particular about the soldier that pierced His side - that soldier
who was covered by the "blood and water" in a very real, healing way.

When we were done, Tom finally was able to choke out that he hadn't been to church in years.
He told us that he left the Catholic Church thinking that no one cared. Not even God.

"You standing here on my driveway today - are my sign."

One year later the mission organization got a letter from that particular parish concerning
that man named Tom. It read that Tom had come back into the arms of Mother Church and had become
a regular, active member of the Body of Christ once again.

And I wanted to stay home and eat Reese's peanut butter eggs.

It is moments like these that have shaped my life so profoundly. Reminding me that we have NO IDEA
what God is working out behind the scenes or what role He has for us to play. This is one of the
many reasons why it is so important for me to bring to LIFE the ebb and flow of the Church, of
the liturgical year, in my home. I don't want my kids to ever doubt for one moment that nobody
cares about their hearts and souls. Or worse, that God doesn't care.

He loves us more than we know.


I went on my last Holy Week mission trip 7 years ago. I was 19 years old, and sang the joyful
hymns of Easter (in my poor, pathetic Spanish) with all my heart - standing in the great Basillica
of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, Mexico.

My Holy Weeks are not nearly as *exciting* these days. But even as I type that I feel
Jesus nudging my heart, reminding me that I have NO IDEA how GREAT is the MISSION of raising
His children in the faith. Sigh. "Ok, Jesus... even if it's just "coloring" and not
actually "praying" the Stations of the Cross?!"

A Christian Seder Meal is one tradition that we've managed to pull off every Holy Thursday
without fail for the past 5 years. I'm in shock myself. I don't know what your "mission" looks
like this year, but if you are interested, HERE is where you can find all the details + script for a special night of remembrance.

You don't have to travel to Atlanta or Mexico City to make a difference.
You can begin right in your own home.

Would You Take Your Child to Calvary?

A body beaten and bruised - stained and re-stained - with blood flowing forth
from a heart - beating, steady then failing, but winning the battle for YOUR soul.

With every movement - He cries in pain under the weight of the cross He's bearing -pressing, pushing deeper into the gaping wounds - those lashes. And that crown of thornsdriving further into His skull - as visions of YOU living in His great love comebefore His tear-filled eyes. Wiping away the crimson sweat, blinking faster, breathing harder,determined to accomplish the mystery - to beat death with death so that life with YOU,with us all, could be so sweet in the bitterness of all the brokenness.Even hell could not see it coming.
And I want to be there.
I want to collect every pebble, every stone, before His bare feet fall under the weightof such sin. I want to be Simon of Cyrene - looking the Savior in the eye - incapable of fullyunderstanding, but still somehow sharing a glimpse into the crushing beauty of redeeming love.I want to be there consoling Mama Mary - who knew she bore the Son of God so that He could die.She knew. She knows. I fear I would have no words and she would be the one consoling me.Roman crucifixion, a humiliating - suffocating death for criminals. I want to bethe "good thief" on the cross hearing saving words in the moment...

the moment He wins.
"Jesus answered him,'Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.'" - Luke 23:43
I want to be there crying out that I do believe.I love you, Jesus.Thank you, Jesus.

And this Lent, with Good Friday approaching, I find myself yearning to be there atthe original Good Friday. To let Him know that I am here trying so desperately tosatiate His deep thirst for souls by giving my whole life... throwing it all in - as measlyas the widow's mite - as ugly and broken as the next sinner - as needy to be healedas the hemorrhaging woman, the blind man, the centurion's servant...
I wonder, if I could go, would I take my children? Would I take them to Calvaryto be there as the God of all creation breathes His last breath - a painful, horrifying tragedyof holiness - to save us all? Would Jesus want them there?
Like many Christian parents, I find myself wondering, praying through the heart of our faith -discerning, waiting, pouring out the richness of such mystery into the tiny souls of my children...
in time. When it's time.

I just want them to know the magnitude of that sacrifice.I want them to know, I want to know, how much He really does love us.Because He does.

Would you take your child to Calvary?

I'm Failing this Lent

If you opened this post expecting to find oodles and oodles of "super fun" Lenten ideas
and projects, links out the wazoo, or what-not for little ones and families...

you best just close this window now. Move on. Not much, not much at all, to see here.

Try the next "Catholic" mom blog and see what she's got cooking - because y'all it's pretty dry
and arid over here. Like "rice" every day. I mean we don't even have a "countdown to Easter" calendar,
one that you can print right off the Internet, anywhere in our house. Nada. Nil. None.


Bless me friends, for you won't believe this... Ash Wednesday rolled around and yes,
I drug my little Catholic family to mass for some traditional ash shmearing and remembering
of the "dust" we are, but I didn't even know what I wanted to "give up" - let alone
how I wanted to share the meaning, significance of Lent and Easter with my children
this year. I mean it's just the epitome of our faith... #Catholicparentfail

Truth is, my house still had a mixture of Christmas and Valentine's Day decorations looped and
strewn from room to room. I'm used to creating a barren space, a clean-surfaced "dessert", for
me and my family to prepare our hearts for Easter. But you know what? Instead of shades of "repentance"
purple around here, it's a little too cluttered for my liking and there are STILL blue Christmas lights
hanging on the window in the boys' room. Blue is symbolic for something, right? Like water. Baptism.
A sort of death into new life in Christ... which is pretty much Easter!?!?! I'm trying here!

The first week of Lent rolled by and I seriously wanted to throw in the towel. Facebook and all my
friends were reminding me, not on purpose of course, that since I didn't have a salt dough crown of
thorns and a plan of action for the Stations of the Cross I might as well give up and wait til next
Lent to redeem myself. I don't know. I get in weird funks. Like everyone else, right? You better get
in funks too or our friendship is OVER. I'm kidding. But really.

And then there was a rainbow in the middle of my "I'm failing Lent" storm and the angels broke
through the clouds holding the letters of my name sewn together perfectly on a chambray and leather
banner beckoning for me to "come and not give up"! ...as my two year old jumped in my lap
making me spill my Tension Tamer tea all over the place. Oh heaven! Oh reality!

That's when I decided to SEIZE LENT and just take it one week at a time...

for Jesus came for the "falling apart" right? He came and died on the cross for all of us who are
far from running the "perfect show." It seems silly now that I just wanted to forget it all and just
blitz through this season without at least trying to be mindful - all because I didn't have a "plan"
together right out of the gates. Oh you didn't know I'm an "all or nothing" kind of girl? It's a
blessing and a curse. There have been many a tragic outcome due to this fun fact.


LENTEN ACTIVITY + EASTER PREPARATION

I'm recycling my approach to Advent for Lent.
And that's to do one activity in remembrance of this season of preparation, repentance, and
longing for a Savior and one activity to prepare our home, hearts for Easter.


Salt dough crown of thorns // where we pull out "thorns" when we do acts of love, service, or
repentance to help "ease" the sufferings of our Lord. My boys are particularly thrilled with this
activity and on their own started whispering, "I love you, Jesus" every time they pull out a
toothpick. I am humbled to be their student.

Easter egg garland // we put up the Easter egg garland and talked about the joy we have each year
hunting for candy-filled eggs. I want to create this sense of excitement as this major holiday draws
near! There is much suffering - but there is also much celebrating!


I honestly don't have a plan for next week, but I'm trusting that those angels with the chambray,
leather banner are going to come back and hit me over the head with some powerful stuff! I do feel like
I'm failing, at least a little, this Lent...

but it's good for me.

It feels good to remember that Jesus doesn't want me to be "perfect" - even though I want myself to be
perfect. He just wants me to show up, ask for forgiveness, and pick up our relationship where we left off.

This year I'm going to Calvary in beautiful disarray.
I hope you're coming too.

Catholics and "Organized Fasting"... those hypocrites?!

Do you know what one of my most favorite things in the whole wide world is?!
Scripture taken out of context.

Quickly followed by...
private interpretation and proclamation of such confusion.

I just love that there are roughly 41,000 "Christian" denominations in the world today.
And I should probably stop with the sarcasm before someone thinks I am serious.

When Nathan and I first became friends, he was loaded with all kinds of questions for the "Catholic girl."
Top of the list, right out of the gate, "Do you worship Mary?" Negative, Ghost Rider.

"Why do you confess your sins to a priest?" "Does the Catholic Church really teach against ALL forms of
birth control?" I quickly became the apologist that I never wanted to be. Drove me to take up Theology
as a second major in college. Catholic girl's got a hobby now.

Throughout the years I've been challenged by all sorts of people.

So why do Catholics do "ORGANIZED FASTING" - as it seems like it should be offered to God
"in secret" as a true and unnoticed (by the world) sacrifice. I can see where this is coming from.

Ash Wednesday rolls around and Catholics everywhere parade around the world with black ashes strewn
across their foreheads. If that's not obvious enough, how about the lines at every "fish and chips" joint
from here to kingdom come?! "Woe are we."

"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show
others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full."
- Matthew 6:16

I don't see any rules against "organized fasting"..... just some encouragement to not be
GLUM about it. The Lord loves Him a cheerful giver. Don't we all?

I suppose you could read Matthew 6:1, which is clearly talking about ALMSGIVING,
and go applying it to verses on fasting...

"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them.
If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven."

Jesus fasted. 40 days in the dessert, complete with His own personal tormentor. Mark 1:12-13

For most Catholics, "organized fasting" throughout Lent and on other noted days, is an act of
penance, self-denial for the sake of cleansing the heart, mind, and soul for God... following
in the very footsteps of His Son, Jesus Christ. These days most often come before MAJOR Christian
celebrations; Easter, Christmas, no big deal.

The beauty of "organized fasting" - days like Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, Fridays in general
(in holy remembrance of our Lord's passion and death)- is that the BODY OF CHRIST, as Christians
(not just Catholics!) around the world, can come together and unite all the sacrifice as ONE to the Father.


Solidarity, my friends. We all love it.

We get people to pray together. Why is fasting together such a strange idea to some?

"But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting,
except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you."
- Matthew 6:17-18

SO THAT YOU MAY NOT APPEAR TO BE FASTING...

Let's put our hearts in the right place this Lent. Let's put aside the "sack cloth" and "ashes" -
the attitude of the hypocrites - and JOYFULLY enter into sacrifice, whatever that looks like for you,
for the sake of emptying our hearts and souls so that they can be filled again with the graces
of the ULTIMATE SACRIFICE: Good Friday and that Man on a cross who saved us all.

All Hallows' Eve || The Party

At the end of the night, I sat in my dining room with a glass of wine
and bowl of olives and cheese as I surveyed the wondrous mess.

People were here. Life was lived out. We kindled the flame of community
and the afterglow I was experiencing: B E A U T I F U L.

I didn't want to pick-up or remove the traces of such a grace.
I whispered to Nathan, "My heart is so full."

$10 dozen roses // greens & leaves from the yard + recycled glass jars

Our All Hallows' Eve party was too much fun. ((( planning details HERE )))
A supper club style dinner and evening of prayer and fellowship does the heart good.

We ate and drank until the blanket of contentment covered the room.
We shared and prayed by name for loved ones who have passed and those who are
still suffering here on earth. We sang songs of worship.
We laughed. We talked. We hugged. We did life together.

I think my favorite part of the night was walking into my bedroom to find
6 boys jumping on our bed trying to reach the canopy. PRICELESS.

DIY food labels // circle paper press + toothpicks

Our little space felt more like Buca di Beppo's that night.
Tables covered in cloth + chairs (all borrowed - so thankful!) in every room -
with fresh flowers, candles, and music to woo the crowd.



We tried to make the most of every square foot...
so we set up the drink bar in the utility room.
Keeping it real.



There are no words to describe the richness.
I'm so glad that God has put the call to "do community now" on our hearts.
I think HE knew I was thirsting for this more than I knew myself.

Some myths were debunked for me that night:
You don't have to have a large space to cultivate community life,
and you don't have to have a lot of money to pull it off.
Lord, You were right. I was wrong. True story.

I told myself, before our guests even arrived, that if the night was a total
failure it was still MOST important that we give answer - that we show up -
that we pour out and serve away our hearts no matter what because
THIS... THIS is what God wants for our family right now.
And it is good.

All Hallows' Eve Party + DIY Owl Makeover

October 31st -

A night of tradition.
And when I say "tradition" I'm not talking about ghouls and ghosts or the
typically imagined pagan ideology (insert very evil ideas here).

All Hallows' Eve is one of my favorite feasts to celebrate!
I think it's because it is an "eve", and I am hopelessly in love with the magic of anticipation!
It is a vigil to be kept; a night of prayer and keeping watch for the Feast of All Saints!

Now I am not a liturgical professional by any means. In fact, I find that most of the
details (interesting article) surrounding how All Hallows' Eve as a night of Christian worship
came into practice very confusing. It is understood that this night was one of high pagan worship -
full of harvest festivals praising the false gods of a particular belief or region.

Beyond the middle ages it was a night when the poor would go door to door
begging for "soul cakes" - promising to pray for the beloved dead of anyone who
would share. Sounds a little like modern day trick-or-treating?

I love it that such dark days can be made holy by faithful Christians
who are willing to raise their voices in battle against the ones who still
embrace and live out this "feast" with full satanic flair (again, use your imagination).

Feeling called to community, we decided to throw open the doors to our 1,000 sq ft.
home and invite our friends in to celebrate All Hallows' Eve with us!

A supper club style dinner following a "Fall: Warm & Cozy" theme is underway!
It's going to be a night of food, friendship, and sitting on the floor, couches, or anywhere
you can find a seat to remember the reality of hell and to share and pray for our loved ones
who have passed away and the ones who are still suffering here on earth.

Here's the invite I worked up...
(celebrating on the 30th - it's what works for our community this year)


We will be using the "De Profundis",
which is a fancy name for Psalm 130, to help usher people into prayer....

"Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord;
O Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.

If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins,
O Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness;
therefore you are feared.

I wait for the Lord, my souls waits,
and in his word I put my hope.
My soul waits for the Lord
more than watchman wait for morning,
more than watchman wait for morning.

O Israel, put your hope in the Lord,
for with the Lord is unfailing love
and with him is full redemption.
He himself will redeem Israel
from all their sins."
I know I know. Super, trippy, Catholic and all. We might even throw around
a little holy water for good measure. I'm kidding.

Want to host something like this for your family and friends too?!
DO IT. You've still got time!!! Feel free to e-mail me if you need some motivation
or want to bounce around some ideas! lilyfieldmomma@yahoo.com

And P.S. this is NOT just for Catholics.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

In light of preparing our home for this gathering I was inspired to paint
my decorative owl WHITE. Why?! Because almost everything in my home is a shade
of brown and I wanted this little guy to POP!



Flat white spray paint. Hobby Lobby, I count you among my closest friends.
I just love how the littlest change, using a small amount of money, can make
you feel like you just got something NEW!

Ok - here's to a happy fall and blessed All Hallows' Eve!!!