Wacky Wednesday - Don't question Senor Chang

Kind of like homeschooling...don't pigeon hole the teacher, don't stereotype.

Ya bit!

GoodFellas Academy

Day 2 of Mafia Homeschool with Bugsy, Mugsy and Thugsy.

Where a Goodfella learns about "the Life" and family honor.

A Capo, a Button and a Cugine.

Funny how? You mean I make you laugh, I'm here to amuse you? Tell me what"s so funny about me" - Goodfellas, Joe Pesci (severely edited)

And on a complete different note, there's Pookahantas... or as she likes to call herself, "Bow and Arrow girl."

Keepin' it real, folks. Imaginations allowed, even encouraged. What alter ego are you exploring?

Mafia Recess

They went so far as to put on ties...willingly.

Well...we have been talking about Al Capone and playing this song a lot. Remember it?!

Sacrifice

At the High Mass today, Father talked about the word SACRIFICE and what it means.

From the Latin, sacer (“'sacred, holy'”), + faciō (“'do, make'”). ... so, to make something holy...

To those who suffer and sacrifice, it is a holy thing you do.

As Divine Providence would have it, this was timely for me to hear. Recently, a blog friend of mine wrote about the doubt in the motherly sacrifice to homeschool.

There are hard days, days when you doubt you are giving your best. (Certainly teachers in institutions have the same doubts.) There are days when you can only think of the to-do list that is not seeing any progress. Finally, there's the lure of "me" time. Like my friend, all homeschooling moms, at some point I'm sure, succumb to this feeling of doubt or defeat.

That's why we need to know about SACRIFICE and what it means. I need to remind myself and capture here in this "journal" some of the thoughts that I wrote to her. As homeschooling is a sacrifice I believe God has called me to for my sanctification, may I remember ...

• Suffering is not a bad thing and as Catholics we know that it has value or Christ wouldn't have suffered for us. He is The Way, The Truth and The Life. That doesn't mean we want or like suffering! Sharing in the cross is meant to be difficult. Homeschooling on the scale of real suffering ranks pretty low.


• If my kids were "in school", ( and they used to be) I'd likely have a different set of doubts, worries and upset. It's what led me to homeschool.


• What saint didn't doubt or question their path to sanctity? If God has led you to it, He will lead you threw it. We are called to be saints. (Romans 1:7 )


• More important than a clean house and some arbitrary school schedule is the love we give/teach/share in service to our family. The beauty of homeschooling is that you can take that break in times of need to refocus.


• What would I do if my kids were in school? Paint my house to keep up with the Joneses? Organize and get things done? Not tasks that are "bad" in and of themselves but at the cost of time together with my children? Being together, strengthening the family is what it's all about.


• People always remind me of how quickly time passes. They are right and you can't get it back. It is a gift to be reminded to make our days about loving relationships even when we bicker. Bickering happens. We're not immune to it and we know to ask for grace and start over. Later, when the children are grown and gone, I'll have plenty of time to paint and organize and I'll wish I hadn't...I'll miss them, and this time.


• Christ went off to pray alone, yes...but did He give us some example to live our lives desiring "me" time? No. Our Lord came to serve, not be served. His service resulted in the ultimate sacrifice.

May we all be granted the grace to live out God's will for us, to know Him, to love Him and to serve Him....

The Last Rose of Summer

So delighted to have this bouquet from my garden. Yet, looking forward to the colors of Fall!

Autumn has always been a favorite time of year for me. I love the cooler weather and sensory explosion of the season...brightly colored trees...crunchy sounding leaves, kids giggling as they jump in and the geese noisly migrating...smells of bonfires and cider...the tastes of pumpkin pie, pumpkin pancakes..the feel of the cooler weather and wind.

It is also a month of Saints and feasts - St. Therese, The Holy Guardian Angels, St. Francis, St. Faustina, Our Lady of The Rosary, St. Brigid of Sweden, St. Teresa of Avila, St. Hedwig, St. Margaret mary Alacoque, St. Gerard Majella, St. Luke, St. Isaac Jogues, St. John Cantius, The flying St. John of Capistrano, St. Raphael the Archangel and more.

Dive into fall with this Prayer for Autumn Days

God of the seasons, there is a time for everything; there is a time for dying and a time for rising. We need courage to enter into the transformation process.

God of autumn, the trees are saying goodbye to their green, letting go of what has been. We, too, have our moments of surrender, with all their insecurity and risk. Help us to let go when we need to do so.

God of fallen leaves lying in colored patterns on the ground, our lives have their own patterns. As we see the patterns of our own growth, may we learn from them.

God of misty days and harvest moon nights, there is always the dimension of mystery and wonder in our lives. We always need to recognize your power-filled presence. May we gain strength from this.

God of harvest wagons and fields of ripened grain, many gifts of growth lie within the season of our surrender. We must wait for harvest in faith and hope. Grant us patience when we do not see the blessings.

God of geese going south for another season, your wisdom enables us to know what needs to be left behind and what needs to be carried into the future. We yearn for insight and vision.

God of flowers touched with frost and windows wearing white designs, may your love keep our hearts from growing cold in the empty seasons.

God of life, you believe in us, you enrich us, you entrust us with the freedom to choose life. For all this, we are grateful.
Amen.

Pray, Hope & Don't Worry was his motto

Today is the Feast of St. Padre Pio . He has always been a saint dear to our family. My oldest son was fascinated by him (bilocation, stigmata, seeing into souls) and did reports on him, even dressing like him for Halloween. Later, when we created our Saint Basket, Padre Pio "chose us" more than once!

from the book "Padre Pio's Words of Hope"

2 Corinthians 12:8-9 "Three times I appealed t the Lord about this [trial], that it would leave me, but he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.'

But I worry that God will abandon me because of my weaknesses.

Padre Pio's assurance: "Heavenly goodness permits weaknesses, not in order to abandon you, but to render you humble and more steadfast, more firm and more tightly attached to the hand of this divine mercy"

"Do not lose heart, but in your weakness, unite yourself more to Jesus who speaks to you through wise advisers. When the words of comfort and the voice of your wise director calm you after your anxiety, this is a sign that you are dear to Jesus."

"Take comfort in our most sweet Lord, as you should know that the soul's greatest misery is when it doesn't feel weak, but feels strong; when it
trusts in itself; when it is over-confident"

"Oh, if only al souls could experience such a holy weakness, we would not see so many souls fall at every instant. A soul who felt its weakness and
had recourse to God for help has never fallen."

Lord, I feel my weakness every moment of every day. Help me to always place my confidence in you, for in my weakness you are strong. Amen.

Field Trip to the Farm

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Sunday Silence

Our oldest son, serving at the altar, with his Father.

Homeschoolers can...

Homeschoolers can.... ...WEAR whatever they want their first day of Kindergarten! However wacky their style may be, their brothers won't tease.



... PLAY when inspiration hits them. They can have the freedom to create all sorts of physical fun for "recess" and P.E. and indulge in their ingenuity.

...STUDY Rome in such a way that it crosses over into all subjects and hobbies.

Year 4 has started here at Totus Tuus Academy...still feeling so blessed with the family life we share.

EDUCATING FOR ETERNITY....AMDG (all for the greater glory of God)

Final Summer birthday ~ Feast of St. John Chrysostom

My son, the golfer, enjoyed this cake idea of his sister's. She thought to put the golf ball atop his cake and we penned "Happy 8th Birthday" on it!

On Sunday, the feast of St. John Chrysostom, our youngest son enjoyed a golfer's birthday. He asked for and received a chipping net and new golf glove.

After swimming at my parent's house, we had his birthday dinner and each of us took a moment to remark on why we love him and how we have noticed that he has grown this year. The tributes were so touching between siblings.

On Monday, after his 1st day of school, his Dad took him out for 18 holes. We were also able to finally get him a medal of his Feast Saint and Doctor of the Church. For years, we've been searching the internet for this medal and a dear friend who owns our local Catholic store finally found a link. As a bonus, we were able to have it engraved! Great website and service, and what a keepsake!

St. John, "golden-mouthed", pray and intercede for our son.

Catholic Homeschooling Magazine Mater Et Magistra

The magazine just keeps getting better and better!

The last issue, with the college focus, was just superb! So helpful, I think I earmarked just about every page for some reason.

If homeschooling is your "business", your "work"...consider this a way to stay abreast of your field.

A TRADE magazine for Catholic homeschoolers!

This is not an ad, I just like the publication and for good things to continue, there must be support.

Remembering 9/11

I used to work in NYC.

At one point I had the most gorgeous view of Manhattan from my high-rise apartment. I was just about atop the Holland tunnel.

I LUVed that city.

Still do.

That connection to NYC and the Twin Towers began when I was still a child. My parents often took us in to the city for Radio City Music Hall events, and shows and museums, always followed by a dinner at Windows on the World. This glass restaurant, pictured above, was atop a Twin Tower with chilling, panoramic views of the city. If you sat by the window, you could get vertigo!

When my husband and I were dating, I remember taking him to that restaurant for one of our anniversaries. Sharing a part of my life with him, he too made memories of the city and towers.

This is a painful day of remembrance. I still tear-up for all those who perished, who suffer, who still suffer...

In 2001, I was overdue with my 3rd son. His due date was Labor day that year, September 1st. I wasn't too worried as I delivered my other 2 sons 6 days late. But there we were now 10 days late...

I was blissfully ignorant of the events of the morning with the first plane and the Pentagon. My eldest was in 2nd grade at a local, Catholic elementary school. My 2nd son was playing in the playroom and then my post-partum doula called. She made small talk wondering when she could "come to work" as she had expected to be with me already. We've been close since my second son was born and she came to "mother the mother."

I kept hearing the call waiting sound and then my cell phone going off. I told her that someone seems to be trying hard to reach me. And she said, "...probably for the same reason I am calling you, sweetie...something is happening. I wanted to make sure you weren't upset." She told me to call my husband.

It was my husband who had been trying to reach me. He told me about the first plane. I turned on the TV and soon thereafter I WATCHED the moment the 2nd plane crashed in to the 2nd tower! I watched, live, as one by one the towers came down. (I watched for days.....)

INCOMPREHENSIBLE!

What a deeply sickening feeling to know the U. S. was officially under attack. To know that so many were dead or dying. (Knowing the buildings, the area, I feared so many more...perhaps tens of thousands... were gone.) Then, to hear the report that the airline was *praying* for the plane they could not reach...where was it...where was it going? Footage of DCers running out of the Capital... O, the bravery of that flight to do what they did....

Of course, I did get upset. I wanted my husband and son to be home. I went to get my son from his school and he and I and his little brother went to church to pray. (I wonder how many had a seed planted for homeschooling during that time, to have your children close. How meaningful that is to me today.)
Admist all that sadness, a bright spot emerged. Our darling 3rd son was born on 9/13.

LIFE, affirmed.

I remember his Daddy with the front page of the newspaper showing a smokey, eery fragment of metal beams amongst ruble....what was left standing at ground zero. (I have not been able to return...someday...) He filmed that front page newspaper, that date, and whispered while panning up to his newest babe, "You are our bright spot, son."

From our son's scrapbook

I also remember, vividly, a resident doctor that visited the next day. This tall, dark, foreign looking man with his head wrapped in a turban. I worried for him. How would people greet him, respond to him? What timing....

The weight of the sadness is still familiar. But I will also remember and mark this time by the gift from God of my baby boy.

Our Merciful Father in Heaven brings beauty, light and hope out of every darkness.

(If the Catholic Church believed in reincarnation, it would be easy for all to agree that this 3rd son could be a reincarnated Brooklyn firefighter. He has the accent... from a family with no discernable accent. Go figure.)

Goodbye to Summer

My talented and beloved God-daughter captured this precious moment.

We have said our goodbyes and are moving on to new adventures...

...Like Highschool!

Say a prayer for our school year and I'll say a prayer for yours....

God Bless!

Where are the real investigative journalists?

I'm fascinated with Bill Whittle of PajamaTV and his videos. I suggest THIS ONE on Off the Narrative and Political Correctness. It highlights how news is spun, especially at MSNBC. What he exposes about them should be news itself! Shocking distortion!

With an administration that is often telling other nations that the US is smug and rude, I appreciated the facts on American EXCEPTIONALISM in THIS VIDEO.

We'll be home soon

And so, we end our three weeks at the shore. It was beautiful! Great weather, great waves and family fun...

Below, pics from weeks 2 and 3 and on Sunday, we return to our beloved TLM! Can't wait!