This post exactly captures what has been on my mind lately.  Lent feels SO late!  Because of that, I have spent several days thinking about what to give up, what to read, what extra prayers to say.

I also associate the beginning of spring with Lent - with fasting and extra prayer.  So when I see the first hints of Spring, I feel compelled to do Lenten things, like listen to Catholic/Christian music, pray the rosary, etc., even though Lent isn’t here yet!  It is probably a good thing though… there are many times I say “I should be _____ (praying, eating less candy, being more patient, whatever)” and then I think “Well, I’ll start during Lent!” and really, they are things I should be doing all the time anyway, not just saving for Lent!  The other day I felt the warm sun on my face, saw some flowers popping through the dirt, and felt compelled to start the rosary.  Then I thought, “Oh wait, it isn’t Lent yet, I don’t have to be so prayerful yet!”  And then I realized I don’t have to wait for Lent to pray - I can start today!  So in that respect it is good for me!

It is funny to see how used to the liturgical calendar we get, without realizing it!

I agree. But, Im trying to use it as a time to make this Lent better. I am trying some new activities during Lent like the paper nun and I really want to do a better job with meal planning. I’m a convert so I have a hard time preparing good meals during this time. (I tried to convince my husband that eatting the bad meals I prepare is part of the sacrifice but hes not buying it;D) So I need to find a good Lenten recipe site. Anyone got any ideas?

I’m afraid my reasons for liking a late lent are not so lofty. I like it when I can buy half price valentine’s day chocolate and enjoy it throughout February. Also,a late lent means a late Easter, so all the more chance of Easter day here in the chilly northeast having appropriately lovely spring weather. Nothing worse than snow or freezing rain on Easter morning, and that happens regularly when Easter is in March or early April.
But I will agree that I’ll have less excuse than ever for not thoughtfully planning lenten penances and practices.

It seems like Lent has been a big struggle for me for years, perhaps since I got married? (to a protestant, sigh..)  Fasting and abstaining from meat are huge struggles for me - and I don’t even like meat that much!  It also seems that Ash Wednesday usually lines up with significant PMS, and combined with hunger (and winter blahs) means that when my hubs jokes about the “bruise” on my head in the evening (EVERY YEAR), I want to hack him into tiny pieces so no one will ever find his body.  Not the best start to such a holy time, eh?  I would love suggestions on how to have a better, more spiritual experience during Lent.  Funny, I was thinking earlier today that I need to post that question on a coffee talk and see if I can get some advice…

Maybe part of your Lenten sacrifice could be praying for his conversion.  You may be doing that already.  Don’t tell him, though-you’ll freak him out.  My husband was Presbyterian and then one random day he told me he was going to start RCIA.  I had no idea-he and I had always had heated Catholic-Protestant discussions.  But I guess all the praying I put in behind the scenes helped-at least I like to think so.  Now he’s a Mass-freak.  This weekend he’s taking a van load of Catholic friends to a high mass in another city.  You never know…