Mazel Tov! Activities to Celebrate Purim

Mazel Tov! February 24-25, 2013 celebrates Jewish Purim. That's 14 Adar in the Hebrew calendar. Hebrews celebrate Queen Esther and her cousin Mordechai for defending their people from decimation in Persia. The story is read in the Torah Megillah (the book of Esther in the Bible). It tells about King Ahasuerus and his wicked advisor Haman and how faith triumphed. Here are resources for Jews and gentiles to explore Purim and embrace the holiday more deeply. Kids will love making paper graggers. Mazel Tov! Activities to Celebrate Queen Esther and Purim

New Orleans Super Bowl 2013 Recipes Cajun Courtbouillon, Gumbo, Jambalaya, Etouffee

Our daughter moved to Lafayette, Louisiana from Michigan. Prior to that, we'd never traveled in the southern U.S. It was a treat to visit and sample local Cajun and New Orleans creole dishes. Many became family favorites. I recreated our Louisiana experience for my husband's birthday. Here's a northerner's version of catfish courtbouillon, jambalaya, gumbo and crawfish etouffee.  Louisiana Cajun Menu--Courtbouillon, Gumbo, Jambalaya, Etouffee 

Costumes, Not Booze Are the Best Part of Mardi Gras

 What's the best part about Mardi Gras in New Orleans? According to the Huffington Post, most people prefer the booze cruises. I disagree. For me, Mardi Gras is all about the parades, music and best of all the wonderful costumes. Would Mardi Gras be as fun without the alcohol? Absolutely; teetotalers get to enjoy all the color and flavor without the hangover or the unpleasant after-taste. I actually have more fun because I didn't miss everything in a drunken fugue. Costumes, Not Booze or Food, Are the Best Part of Mardi Gras

Free Printable Lent Activities for Catholics, Protestant Christians, Orthodox, Copts

The Catholic observances of lent begins each year with the Imposition of the Ashes on Ash Wednesday, which in the western calendar for 2013 will begin on February 13. Other Christians observe Lent including Orthodox, Copts and some protestants. Lent begins a 40 day journey of fasting, acts of mercy and spiritual pilgrimage. We try to live, in our poor humble human way, in solidarity with Our Lord as he fasted in the desert for 40 days and made his final pilgrimage to Jerusalem. A Roman cross, torture and crucifixion awaited Him. But so did the glory of Easter, the Resurrection. Lent is a season for intense and deep personal and spiritual reflection. Looking for free printable activities to teach kids about lent and Christian Easter? Read more Lent Printables and Catholic Activities

"Jerusalem: A Cookbook" Celebrates Diversity, Shares Passions

I love to cook, and it particular to experiment with different ethnic foods. I like to recreate the dishes we sample from different cuisines. I try to tie in not just the ingredients and cooking styles themselves, but the entire milieu in which they developed. As a Catholic homeschool parent, I made every experience a learning one. There's no better place than the kitchen to teach life lessons about faith and family, and no better place than the dining room table to build healthy relationships and   "Jerusalem: A Cookbook" Celebrates Diversity, Shares Passions 

Free Printable Samhain Crafts, Wiccan, Fairies, Witches Coloring Craft Activities

Along with Halloween, the Wiccan (pagan) holiday of Samhain is celebrated on Oct. 31, too. Samhain activities include bonfires, incantations and magic of all kinds. Here are free printable Wiccan, fairy and pagan coloring pages and crafts. These would fit in with Halloween celebrations, as well as literature studies involving witchcraft and magic-themed fiction. Weave these crafts and activities into lessons on Harry Potter. There are also crafts for other pagan celebrations in order of the wiccan year: Yule, Imbolc, Ostara, Beltaine Litha, Lughnasdha, Mabon and back to Samhain. Read on...Free Printable Wiccan, Fairies, Witches Coloring Craft Activities

Feast of St. Francis 'Blessing of the Animals' Continues Long Tradition

Oct. 4. is the Feast of St.Francis of Assisi, in the Catholic church. He was a gentle, humble man who taught us to love our earth. St. Francis is best known in his role as patron saint of animals. Francis was also a poet. His "Canticle of the Sun" is also called "Brother Sun, Sister Moon." Many churches celebrate the feast of St. Francis with a blessing of pets. The blessing of the pets is one of my most cherished mom-Catholic convert. Here's more on that.  Feast of St. Francis 'Blessing of the Animals' Continues Long Tradition