Lenten Reminders

I was trying to find a new look for our site and found lots of cute templates. However, I decided that since Lent starts this Wednesday (my birthday!), I am going to strip the look down to the bare minimum...no fancy designs (although after Easter I can't wait to try some that I found)...and use the color purple as a constant reminder of the liturgical season we are in. Along with the regular season's obligations of fasting and abstaining, we are trying to think of the small and daily sacrifices of what we will give up. My (almost nightly) dessert favorite is ice cream, so I am thinking that might be a tough one for me. We already do not eat meat on Fridays, so since that isn't a new sacrifice for us we are trying to think of something additional on those days as well...maybe only drinking water or no snacks or something like that. Every Lent I also try to make a daily challenge or add something to my spiritual life as well....such as incorporating new daily prayer times, faith readings, etc...something that will strengthen and encourage my faith and hopefully continue past the Lenten season. I have been enjoying so many of my books I have gotten over the past year of incorporating and celebrating the liturgical year in our domestic church, our home. A lot of the activities are still a bit old for my two little ones, but I am getting lots of ideas and plans for the upcoming years (I will have to post these books later). There are so many good resources out there and online as well. So I will have to let you know what some of our Lenten activities are once I figure them out....any ideas anyone?? Please pass on!! Back to planning....more to come!