Lent starts this week, on Ash Wednesday. I find myself counting down the days until this season begins, which is new for me. I have always found great graces during Lent, but this year I get to actually choose penance, fasting, abstinence, and prayer (as opposed to being pregnant or postpartum when it’s sort of chosen for you).

Mark is currently very excited as his birthday falls on Fat Tuesday this year. Usually he gets a Lenten birthday, and occasionally an Ash Wednesday one. He’s looking forward to lots of paczki from the local bakery.

I know I’ve shared some of what we’re looking forward to during Lent, but I wanted to share my kids favorite Lent activity. Each year, a couple of days before Lent, Gianna, William, and I sit and make a list of 40 people they want to pray for. It is surprisingly easy to come up with 40 names, and honestly, Mark’s family is so big, we usually end up doing couples together instead of as individuals. The first names they come up with are always family- grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

But once they’ve named their family, I’m always touched by seeing who they want to intercede for. Last year William made sure to add Mr. Jim to our list, our neighbor from across the street. Mr. Jim would always sit on his front porch, ringing a giant cow bell (that G gave him) to all passers-by. When my kids would hear the bell ring, they would beg to go over and visit. And so we would sit with Jim and talk. Mr. Jim has since passed away, but Will still remembers him regularly in his prayers, and I’m sure he’ll make the list again this year.

After they’ve made their list, I sit down and cut strips of purple construction paper with my handy paper cutter (perks of being a former teacher, you have all those fancy teacher tools), and write names on them with a sharpie. I put ours in a little vase.

Each day of Lent we pull a strip and pray for that person or event throughout the day. Once we’ve pulled the strip out, we tape it and make a paper chain. As Lent goes on, the paper chain gets longer. Then at Easter, we use the chain as part of our decorations.

I’ve also seen people do this the opposite way- where they start with a paper chain, and take one strip off each day. My kids like using tape a lot, so I decided to switch it up.

If you’re looking for more fabulous Lenten resources, the Catholic Mom Lent 2020 Bundle goes live on February 10th and is on sale until the 14th. Over $300 worth of resources for only $25, each carefully created by a mom, just like you, designed to help you and your family grow closer to the Lord and each other this Lent.