Take note of the lives of the incorruptibles

I often think about the fascinating incorrupt saints. God must astonish us with them as a way to say, "This is a life worth noting!"

On the feast of the Miraculous Medal, from the visions of St. Catherine Laboure pictured above, I will pray...O Mary concieved without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee...

Wear the Miraculous Medal! More on St. Catherine Laboure and more on incorrupt saints

Thanksgiving Memories

I "elfed" 'em!

Check out my ELVES. They're hating me right now, but I can't stop laughing!

"Socializing" my homeschoolers

You've heard it...maybe you've even said it...it's the greatest misconception about homeschooling......But What About Socialization?"

Apparently, the problem with homeschooling is the socialization of children. In the Kolbe Little Home Journal (Fall 2005), there is a brief item called "Homeschooling Family Finds Ways to Adapt to a Public School 'Socialization' Program." Here it is:

"When my wife and I mention we are strongly considering homeschooling our children, we are without fail asked, 'But what about socialization?' Fortunately, we found a way our kids can receive the same socialization that government schools provide. On Mondays and Wednesdays, I will personally corner my son in the bathroom, give him a wedgie and take his lunch money. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, my wife will make sure to tease our children for not being in the 'in' crowd, taking special care to poke fun at any physical abnormalities. Fridays will be 'Fad and Peer Pressure Day.' We will all compete to see who has the coolest toys, the most expensive clothes, and the loudest, fastest, and most dangerous car. Every day, my wife and I will adhere to a routine of cursing and swearing in the hall and mentioning our weekend exploits with alcohol and immorality.... And we have asked them to report us to the authorities in the event we mention faith, religion, or try to bring up morals and values."

How is it "normal" to be in a room with 32 other 12 year olds? Never in your life will that be the case..."the real world" is about mixed ages working together.

But enough of this...I really must go...It's Wednesday (hurray) and so I have a reason to give my son a wedgie and drop the F-bomb! :)

Spirit of Christmas Award Recipient! Thanks!

Thank you sweet Kimberely for nominating me! You make me smile daily too!

THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS AWARD is described at the award site as...."for those who talk about and show the spirit of Christmas in their blogs. What is the Spirit of Christmas you ask? Quite simply it is those that have a generous and giving nature. Those who care about others. Those who have a kind word to say or a broad shoulder to lean on in the times that others need that. Those who display the "Spirit of Christmas".

Well, I have talked about Christmas and I have many kind words for Kimberely at Catholic Family Vignettes, she's an inspiration to me. ..daily!

It is my pleasure to "nominate" these blogs for their inspiration, their generous spirit...

1. Elena, who blogs with gentility and is generous in her support. Check out her recent posts of Holiday etiquette on her Tea at Trianon.

2. Helen must be nominated for her Castle of the Immaculate. She has such a beautiful spirit and much to read about Advent and Christmas.

3. I like to read soulful Kristen everyday at Small Treasures. She always has something inspiring or touching to say including a post today on keeping the holidays in perspective.

4. My pal, Dessi at Life With Small Blessings has been writing so many heartfelt posts lately. She always gets me thinking! There is much love for our faith at her blog.

5. Last but not least, Kelly from Catholic Mama: Keeper of the Monkey House who has recently journeyed through hardship and come through to the other side, Praise God. Her witness is sooo powerful and through it all she thought of others! Kelly and her family are committed to providing "everything for a family with nothing." This dear family is perhaps the essence of The Spirit of Christmas!

And may the baby Jesus and his patient, faithful Mother Mary and guardian St. Joseph be our guides as we approach this Holy time....

ARTFULLY TEACHING THE FAITH & other educational diversions

With Thanksgiving looming, we've decided to go "off planner" this week. We'll catch up on some stuff we don't normally get to. We call a week like this WACKY WEEK.

This is our homeschool plan for THANKSGIVING week-

WRITING - a thank you letter to someone who made us grateful this year - a poem on what we are grateful for

READING - books on nature and science topics - scripture study on thankfulness - PACE stories on Perseverance - reading comprehension in Wordly Wise - ongoing assigned novels

A bit of HANDWRITING practice, TYPING practice, some MATH pages and a Catholic Board Game from here thrown in for fun.

For RELIGION we'll be working on our Friendly Defender flashcards and our Learning to Serve responses.

We'll be doing a lot of ART too. We have a Pomander project from PACE and ideas from our Catholic how-to-draw book but we've also been reading our Seton Art for Young Catholics and our Art Detective books. But, I really want to make a point to note a book called ARTFULLY TEACHING THE FAITH by Steven Kellmeyer. Today we studied Michaelangelo's, The Creation of Adam. Kellmeyer discusses as God's hand reaches toward Adam he is not quiet capable of touching God...something, someone is missing - Eve. God is holding Eve. God is in a pink cloud shaped like a brain, as He "holds in His mind all that exists." Adam is naked and God is clothed depicting that man is revealed before God but God is not revealed to man... until the Incarnation. Ahhh...and there's so much more that I enjoyed discovering right along with the kids. It didn't take long but we'll really meditate on what we learned today.

Of course, in recognition for all we have, we'll be of SERVICE to someone less fortunate - we will collect a van full of donations to drop off to the needy.

Praying you have a blessed Thanksgiving!

The Christmas Pledge

Today I read on a blog that we are 39 days away from Christmas! It reminded me to put up this Christmas Pledge on my fridge. I put it there as a much-needed reminder every year since I read UNPLUG THE CHRISTMAS MACHINE.

THE CHRISTMAS PLEDGE:

Believing in the true spirit of Christmas, I commit myself to:

* Remember those people who TRULY need my gifts

* Express my love in more direct ways than gifts

* Examine my holiday activities in the light of my deepest values

* Be a peacemaker within my circle of family and friends

* Rededicate myself to my spiritual growth

'Cause nothin' lasts forever...Even cold November rain

We're a little addicted to this lately....



Sometimes my 80's come back to rock me....

A less-than-ordinary day in the life

Today we had a lot of running around to do. Usually, after breakfast, we are found at or near our big round school table doing our daily OLVS assignments 4 days a week. (One day a week is spent doing something with our local group of 35 Catholic homeschooling families. But instead, today 9:15am found us at the Orthodontist as son #2 had braces put on! It took an hour and a half to wire him up with mouth metal and thankfully I thought to bring our schoolwork to do in the waiting room.

When at last I was invited back into the torture chamber to collect him, he smiled an anticipatory smile...an orange and black smile. He had requested his bands to be alternated in those two colors in honor of his FLYERS hockey obsession! Of course, I loved it!


Knowing how painful the first few days are with braces, we are stocked with mushy food, orajel pain reliever, wax, tylenol and a new water pix. Lunch was a delicious fruit and yogurt smoothy for sore mouth. Then all of us were off to the Pediatrician for flushots and examination of a potentially broken finger.

Son #3 who had the most needle fear and almost wouldn't get out of bed today, was very courageous! After seeing the lightening fast skills of our nurse and the non-plussed expressions from his brothers, he too bit the bullet so well that even our little 3 year old girl followed in his footsteps, never crying. They've decided they always want their shots from this guy!

Thankfully, the imaging center was just downstairs and after our 3rd waiting room of schoolwork we were given what turned out to be an educational tour of the Xray room and machine. After looking at photo images of number #3 son's bones, his finger may not be broken, but it does look just awful!

Back home after 3:30pm, I let them party with their halloween candy. They were so well-behaved and exhibited amazing patience all day! I asked them to each complete a math page and then sent them into the glorious sunshine. But not before we recieved a fascinating package from QVC....our Christmas dinner. (It was sooooo wonderful and easy last year.) The cartons were filled with dry ice and, after reading the safety instructions, we had some experimental fun dripping water on it and blowing the fog around the kitchen....very cool.

All in all...even a less than normal homeschooling day provided us with many opportunities to learn, explore, engage with others in our community and even be physically challenged!

There ya have it, a less-than-ordinary day in the life. (Of course, I run the risk here that the day isn't over yet...stay tuned !)

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

Shopping for hockey pucks and what's at the front of the store? A Christmas Tree! Your Christmas is Most Like: A Charlie Brown Christmas

Each year, you really get into the spirit of Christmas.Which is much more important to you than nifty presents.

What Movie Is Your Christmas Most Like?

But it's Thanksgiving that's right around the corner...

You Are The Stuffing

You're complicated and complex, yet all your pieces fit together.People miss you if you're gone - but they're not sure why.

What Part of Thanksgiving Are You?

And how are you preparing for the holidays?

Go forth and Blog, Father

I truly appreciate any time a Priest can find to share his thoughts on our Catholic Faith. That's why blogging Priests are such a treat! What a great avenue for evangelization, and for those of us hungry for Priestly insight.

There's Father Z and his celebrated blog, WHAT DOES THE PRAYER REALLY SAY.

There's Father V of ADAM'S ALE with a recent post on Vatican II.

(Perhaps if I google search I'd find a Father W, X and Y?)

Today, on my daily visit to Elena's TEA AT TRIANON, I found a new Priest who blogs under the title, ORTHOMETER. Wow! Did he lay out the whole issue in relation to the Fr. Francis of EWTN situation....

Cardinal Ruini was quoted recently as encouraging our Fathers to blog...and I am once again grateful for the time they take to "talk" to me.

THANK YOU BLOGGING FATHERS!

Who are your favorites?

Found in the backyard

Some beautiful Fall color and....

The kids seem to have finally found my brain!

You are a GENIUS!

According to my site meter at the bottom of this page .... for the 2000+ of you who read my blog, congratulations! You've acheived genius status (if you can read my convoluted mish-mash!)

Surprised by the depth of my sadness

For a long time now I have felt a pulling on my heartstrings to pray for Priests. They are the prime targets to bring down as they bring us Christ. With the INcomprehensible news about Father Francis Mary Stone of EWTN, my heart is even heavier! Such sadness and deep sighs surround me as I ponder if this could happen to such a Priest how can the rest of us keep from temptation?

Terry Nelson (Abbey-Roads2) says on his blog, "Temptation. My first temptation is to think, “What’s the use? Why try to be holy?” If a priest can leave his vocation behind, why do I feel so guilty about some stupid every-day failure in virtue? I quickly recover my senses and realize we are all human, we all make mistakes, we are all weak, we all fall - I know all of that. But I still feel like I got the wind knocked out of me. I still feel as if I’ve been cheated out of a priest, or worse, his vocation was somehow just a sham. And once again, my better judgement kicks in and I realize something just went wrong - that’s all. Stuff happens.
It is like a divorce - although not nearly as common. Divorce harms a family though. Even amicable divorces do harm, causing mistrust, insecurities, disruption of values and lifestyle, and so on. In a way, a priest who abandons his vocation seems like a dad leaving his wife and kids. It hurts the family. "

Fathers are Fathers to us. It HURTS to think of losing a Father. This Father has seemed so wise, how did he get to this place? What he knows of the Saint's struggles, the evil one and the 10 years of his vocation... did they not all strengthen and prepare him for this? Can you just become another person, so completely different than you were before? Weren't those hands made to consecrate? My Chalice of Strength prayer booklet for Priests will be my refuge. We must ALL pray...often....for our Priests! These words from St. Therese seem to point to the heart of the matter.

Prayer to the Eternal High Priest
O Jesus, Eternal Priest, keep your priests within the shelter of your Most Sacred Heart, where none can touch them. Keep unstained their anointed hands, which daily touch your Sacred Body. Keep unsullied their lips daily tinged with your Precious Blood. Keep pure and unworldly their hearts, sealed with the sublime mark of the priesthood. Let your Holy Love surround and protect them from the world’s contagion. Bless their labors with abundant fruit, and may the souls to whom they minister be their joy and consolation here, and their everlasting crown in the hereafter. Amen.
-St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus

Dearly departed

A day to remember our dead and pray for them....

For my Grandmother Vera who painted this picture, she loved her Catholic faith. Nana would tell us stories made up about us and we were always the heroes standing for goodness.

For my Grandfather, Salvador who lived charity to others. Just one of the stories that illuminate his goodness was how he'd wake up early Christmas morning and deliver heating oil to the poor, filling up their tanks for free.

For my Grandmother-in-law, Ester who quietly suffered and served her family with devotion.

For my Uncle Ed who told of a vision he had of The Virgin Mary and whose smile shone the light of Christ.

For my friend Tony, who died of AIDS but came back to the Catholic Church.

For my Aunty Vera who told of her rosary turning gold who was also an image of faith to me.

For so many that I did not know and those I did, all of whom I pray for....

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and may the souls of the faithfully departed, through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.