How we observe Lent

Just thought I would share some of the ways our family observes the season on Lent. We belong to a church body that follows a liturgy - and I tend to carry this into my home in what I like to call "liturgical decoration". Here I blame my mother. By this (the decorating, not my mother) I mean that things are looking kinda bare around the house right now during Lent. It's kind of depressing because as seen by my previous pictures of Valentine's Day, that is not usually the case. It helps me to remember at home - when I get up and when I lie down - to reflect on Christ's passion and remember His love for me. I so easily forget - sad, huh?
Last year, I made my first Lenten Garden - definitely a tradition I plan on continuing. Sort of like a diorama of the passion story - scenes of the Garden of Gethsemane, Christ's tomb, a pool of water with a shell depicting His gift of baptism and I still have to add the cross - all in a basket!

Supplies - a basket fitted with layers of cellophane (from a nice lady at the local flower shop)
Moss - from same nice lady
potting soil
plants
tomb - made from clay from the dollarstore and shaped by dear son, complete with stone to roll away
empty plastic applesauce container filled with water and shell
stones from backyard 
cross made from branches tied into a cross

The great thing about this is that despite that fact that I have no green thumb whatsoever, I only have to get this to last 6 weeks. With God's help.
Special devotions and Lenten books that focus on the Passion deepen our appreciation for Christ's cross. I'm currently rereading - The Theology of the Cross, Reflections on His Cross and Ours by Daniel Deutschlander. I love this book and am attacking it with a highlighter this time around. In the past we've also read Up to Jerusalem by John Braun. This year we're really enjoying a new book titled He was Crucified - Reflections on the Passion of Christ by Gerard Joseph Stanley Sr., MD - written from the unique perspective of a medical doctor with focus on the mental and physical anguish of Christ accompanied by beautiful art from the masters and the lyrics of rich hymns. Wonderful!

Every Wednesday night throughout Lent we have a church service - this year focusing on different characters of the Passion story. These services are a bit different than the Sunday services that are all "mini Easters" and not included in the 40 days of Lent. 
What have I given up for Lent this year? Although not a requirement or even something I like to tell people (it's between me and the Lord) I've given up giving things up for Lent. He gave up everything for me! I used to give up wine because I really enjoy a glass of wine while I make dinner. This really backfired because to make up for this loss, I kept going to Dairy Queen (or rather, I'd send my husband). Not good. And I was REALLY excited for Easter to come ...... so I could have a glass of wine. NOT GOOD. Boy, self  really gets in the way doesn't it?!! If anything, I'm trying to give up complaining by writing down gifts. And not just the really fabulous gifts like trips to Mexico but little, almost invisible gifts if I'm not paying attention like little hands in mine, 10year old boy noises with spit flying, and the smell of freshly ground flour. I even try to be joyful for the gifts that are seemingly crummy but bring me back to Him like fights with my husband, rash on vacation, and a messy house. I deserve nothing - so EVERYTHING from Him is a gift. And I'll miss it if I'm not paying attention. As my favorite pastor preached on Sunday the gift is bigger than the curse. The ultimate gift of course being forgiveness and salvation - but also all the little gifts he gives me every day  that reminds me He loves me. Even the "crummy" gifts that make me miserable but lead me back to Him. OK, can you tell I've been reading Deutschlander?