5 After 5, Things to Do for Lent

Mardi Gras and Fat Tuesday are just around the corner.

Do you do anything to celebrate, or scurry to find new fish recipes to feed your family this year?

I didn't give up anything for Lent growing up, but I'm kicking around a few ideas for things to do this year...

Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. This means if you click on a link and purchase something, I'll receive a small affiliate commission at no cost to you. Thanks so much for supporting my efforts with this blog!


It's time for another round of 5 After 5!  In case you missed it, last week's list was favorite U.S. Presidents and if you're new to this series, you can read more about it here - then catch up on all the old editions here.

Today I've got my list of 5 to share, as well as next week's topic for you to stew about over the upcoming days.

And this series is a link party, so be sure to scroll down and join in all the fun with us this week!

List 5 things to do for Lent

Even though I didn't grow up with the tradition of Lent, I like the idea of setting apart time during the year to reflect and renew ourselves in Christ.

I still don't know exactly how this year's Lenten season will look, but here are five traditions I'm thinking about starting:

1. 40 Days of Kindness 

I had great plans to create a whole random acts of kindness project, a la Shepherd-on-the-Search's-Journey, for this idea this year, but it just never got past the to-do list stage.

Maybe I'll get around to trying something out these next few weeks and then I can have everything ready to go for next year?

2.  Participate in a photo challenge

Because I still have a dumb phone, I probably won't be joining in on Busted Halo's InstaLent Photo Challenge, but I like the idea of taking a photo each day to focus my thoughts on the important stuff.

G and I used to sometimes come home from church on Sundays and create a piece of art based on the day's message, so maybe I'll work that idea in, as well.

There are really several directions you could take, but I like that someone has come up with a list of themes already for each day.

3.  Keep up with daily readings (Liturgy of the Hours)

G and I used to do much better with this practice, but then Gv came along and our schedules got all wonky and...

We've just gotten out of the habit.

Oh, we did pretty well during Advent this past year (it helped that Gv is old enough now to pester us about doing it each night!), but since that time ended, we-ell, um, no.

So this is the one goal I think we can be (mostly) successful with this year.

4.  Hold a family brainstorming session

To be honest, this idea is kind of connected to #1, because I'm sure I'll end up using a bunch of these ideas for that project, but my thought is to come up with a list of ideas all together as a family and then try to do at least a few of them this year.

This list could include special service projects, RAK ideas, special things to do with our money during this time, ways to fast and just basically how we want this time of year to look for our family.

5.  Pray

This is automatically going to happen from doing #3, but I plan to add a little extra focus to the time Gv and I usually spend with Bible learning and prayers each day during our Latticed Learning time.

I found this list of things to pray about each day as well as this one on things to give up and I'm thinking of writing them on chain links so that we can also count down the days until Easter.

For next week:

List 5 of your favorite meals as a child

Just thinking about this list has me craving my absolute favorite, so I might just be hanging out in the kitchen after next week's list!

And now, here's this week's link party!  Another fabulous blogger has teamed up with me to create a list of five each week and we hope that you'll join us, too!

That's right, every post will be read, pinned and tweeted!  

Every Saturday, just stop by one of our blogs to add your own list of five, then pop over and read as many other posts as you're able to each week - treat it like a true party and really mix it up and mingle with our fun little community!

The rules are simple:  just write your own list following the prompt each week (feel free to interpret it loosely - or in a unique way!), follow both of the hosts on the social media channel of your choice, and then get into the spirit of the party by grabbing your favorite beverage or snack and reading the lists of the other party-goers.

Your Hosts:

Lisa, at Syncopated Mama: Facebook // Twitter // Pinterest // Google+ // Bloglovin'

Samantha, at Motivated Days: Twitter // Pinterest // Google+ 

What's your list?  I'd love to hear!  Either leave a comment below or email me at lisahealy (at) outlook (dot) com.

Also, if you don't want to miss a single minute of fun around here, be sure to sign up for free updates and then look forward to having each post delivered right to your inbox!

Linked up with: Favorite Things, Over the Moon, Share the Wealth Sunday, Dishing it & Digging it, What's for Dinner?, Family Joy Blog Link-Up,  Literacy Musings Monday, Practical Mondays, Homeschool Nook Link Up, Happiness is Homemade, Merry Monday, Motivation Monday, What'd You Do This Weekend, Meet Up Monday, Totally Terrific Tuesday, Together on Tuesdays, Show Me Yours Linky, Tasty Tuesdays, Little Learning Link Up, Two Uses Tuesday, Hip Homeschool Hop, Lou Lou Girls Fabulous Party  Tuesday Talk, Wonderful Wednesday, A Little Bird Told Me, Everything Early Childhood, Creative Muster, Party in Your PJs,What to Read,I Am Pinnable, Christian Bloggers Link Up, This Is How We Roll, Creative Ways, Hearts for Home, Creative Exchange,  100 Happy Days, Try It Like It, No Rules Weekend Blog Party, Booknificent Thursdays, Thursday Favorite Things, I'm Lovin' It, Inspiration Spotlight, Home Matters, Pretty Pintastic Party, Weekend Potluck, Awesome Life Friday, Creative Collection, The Beautifully Creative Inspired , Bloggers Pit Stop, Weekend Traffic Jam, Pin Me Party,  From the Archives, Family Fun Friday, Friday Frivolity, Bloggers Spotlight, Make My Saturday Sweet, Weekend Wind-Down Party,Friday Features Linky, Funtastic Friday , Best of the Weekend, Sweet Inspiration Link Party, Small Victories Sunday, You're Invited