Ash Wedensday

     Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent.  We have mass at 6:15 pm, and I hope to see my religious education students there tonight.  We are getting hit with a snow storm right now, and should get a couple inches of accumulation. Hopefully that doesn't deter people from going to church. I really have had enough of winter and I hope that this is the last snow we get.
     I ordered religious education textbooks for the girls yesterday.  I have been teaching them at home as opposed to them going to class at church on Wednesday night.  I am a teacher, so I figured that I could just teach them at home.  It is actually cheaper for me to by the books than it is for me to send both of them to classes.  I have to admit it is hard to keep a consistently scheduled time to have our classes, but I believe that the way we live is as much of a lesson as going to class.  The kids should be learning at least that much at home anyway.  We are focusing on the classes during the summer.  The girls have so much going on during the school year.  We do have good discussions sometimes after mass, and the girls do ask good questions.  Sometimes they surprise me with what they have picked up.
     We have decided to pray a few Rosaries together as a family throughout Lent.  Our church also prays the Stations of the Cross with a Communion service to follow every Tuesday in Lent.  We will be attending those as well.
     There is a lot of talk about what should be given up for Lent.  I always have a hard time trying to pick something.  My daughters are giving up sweets for Lent, I don't eat a whole lot of sweets to begin with.  My husband is going on a diet, trying to cut back on everything.  We are supposed to be fasting, so I guess he's on the right track.  I quit smoking and drinking, and I'm not giving up my one or two diet cokes a day. Maybe I could give up that silly game on my phone that I waste so much time and battery on.  Okay, I can do that.  Imagine all the other stuff I can get done.  Maybe I'll say a Hail Mary every time I think about playing that game, then I'd get some extra prayers in too.