May Crowning

We love belonging to our local Catholic homeschool group. Several of the families with young children have formed a sub-group which we call the Little Saints Club. We get together frequently to pray and play and learn and celebrate the liturgical year. These families have become our close friends. They are such a gift and treasure. The moms learn from and support one another. The children love playing together.

Yesterday we had a truly awesome blessed day together. We gathered at one family's home for a May Crowning celebration.

We gathered in their beautiful backyard to pray a decade of the Rosary.

This was not just a regular Rosary. It was an "M and M Rosary!" Each child had an egg carton. They placed a marshmallow in the first and last spots (for the "Our Father" and "Glory Be") and 10 M and M's in the remaining spots (for the "Hail Mary's"). The families took turns leading the prayers and after each prayer the children got to eat the candy! It was a big hit!

After the Rosary, we formed a procession from the back porch to the Mary statue. Each child carried a flower and we sang, "Immaculate Mary." It's a shame that Ray and his friend look so somber in this picture because they were actually thrilled to be the leaders. Ray waved his flower the whole way!

We placed our flowers in the vases in front of the Mary statue.

We honored Our Blessed Mother with a beautiful crown of roses. We gathered around and prayed another Hail Mary and sang, "Hail Holy Queen."

Then we took pictures of each Mother with her children next to the Mary statue. We attempted to get a group picture of all the children. We had seven families with a total of 22 children!

Next, we enjoyed a delicious lunch, including this cookie rosary!

After lunch, the children had a great time running around and playing in the yard. Each family took a turn making a Mary garden. We planted flower seeds in gold pots. We added beautiful pictures of Mary (laminated and affixed to paint sticks inserted in the soil) and blue and white ribbons.


At the end of the day we were all tired and hot and holy and happy.

Thank you God for your Blessed Mother, whom we love and imitate as we try to grow in holiness. Thank you for beautiful friends in faith with whom we share this journey. Amen.