And so we begin again...

Wow, I just realized it's the beginning of our FIFTH year of schooling our kids at home. That was a pretty quick half-decade! #1 began in 2nd grade and she is now in middle school. Time flies!

Awww...our first "school" picture !

As always, we began the year with daily Mass. It was extra special with two deacons and a priest on the altar (along with #s 1&2 serving). Then, out to Blessed Mother for this year's pictures :0)

Everyone looked good...a nice start. Then, of course, there is the troublesome one...

goofball

clearly it was too early for him...clearly he'll begin his schooling right around 2nd grade...lucky he's cute

Blondie headed out for "Grammy school" tea parties and cookies...I wish my 1st grade was that sweet; and the rest got down to work. I do love their enthusiasm during these first weeks.

Until our schedule book catches up (August) we're using hourly schedules...they seem to do well with ordering the day.

probably also helped that there was an art project first thing

 

and music

Ahh, online English. I'm enjoying the summer semester when I don't have to fight about writing paragraphs.

If you're wondering, I have no idea. When we began, everyone decided that #1 would return to school in fifth grade. Clearly we sailed right by that and when I asked her last week, she said, "maybe I can go back in ninth grade." It really is a year-by-year decision and I am so grateful to have the ability to be teacher to this wild bunch. It has been a quick five years, full of trial and joy, and I join them in their excitement for the new experiences that await us. There will be trials and bad days, for sure, but it is wonderful to know that I will be there, working through the ups and downs with them. Teaching is a pretty amazing profession...almost as amazing as motherhood.

St. John Bosco, Pray for Us!

St. Gemma Galgani, Pray for Us!

St. Benedict, Pray for Us!
St. Thomas Aquinas, Pray for Us!

St. Isidore of Seville, Pray for Us!

St. Madeleine Sophie Barat, Pray for Us!

We are blessed.

Today we celebrated the "last week of school" by attending daily Mass together. Tuesday is the day the two older kids always serve and this particular Tuesday is the feast of Our Lady of Good Counsel.

I'll spare you the entire story but suffice it to say that Our Lady under this name has been with me for a very long time. When I began the Catholic Mom's Group in 2008, it was this image that I chose for the group. After passing that torch on, I knew she would be the one to guide us as we entered the realm of home education for our kids.

From Fr. Lovasik, S.V.D

Our Lady of Good Counsel, I beg you to teach me true heavenly wisdom which was the source of every good deed you performed. Keep me humble that I may be able to receive your counsel. How often am I confused in the problems of life. How often I do not know where to turn. Advise me what to do. Give me your good counsel, so that following it humbly I may ever please God, find true happiness on this earth and eternal life in the world to come.

Mary, Mother of God, Our Lady of Good Counsel, I appeal to you for advice and guidance. Teach me to desire ardently all that is pleasing to God, to seek after it prudently, to accept it truthfully and to do it perfectly, for the praise and glory of God. I beg you to pray for me that by the light of the Holy Spirit and your direction, I may see my duty, and by God's grace and your help I may fulfill it. 

You can find the background of the painting HERE

I am so grateful for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. In all honesty, I only briefly knew the background of Our Lady of Good Counsel and yet was always drawn to her. Praying over it, learning more about it, I can fully attest that the guidance was Divine. Let's see...Augustinian? Check. Prudence, Wisdom? Yes, please. Pope Leo XIII? Yes! (story for another time).

Our Lady is such a wonderful part of the life of a Catholic and I, along with DH, think it is right and good to ask her intersession to her Son for the grace, wisdom and prudence (see?) needed as we raise our children in the faith.

On this special feast of our co-patroness (along with St. John Bosco) we were blessed to hear a wonderful homily as well. Our parochial vicar spoke about the account in the Acts of the Apostles when Paul was stoned to death but brought back to life. Paul, he said, was reinvigorated by the presence of  the disciples around him...he was strengthened by his assurance that he was not isolated. Father spoke about living in society today and how, when speaking the truth (like God's word or even natural law), we can be persecuted and feel (or actually become) isolated. What a wonderful reminder to a homeschool family during a celebration of our Lady's prudence. Mary, let us not lose hope but bear all things and quietly ponder them in our hearts!

Since we don't wear them much outside of nationwide trips (so lost children may be more easily identified) today was a good day to break out our Academy shirts (complete with Our Lady of Good Counsel ;0) ). When we are clothed in this manner, something usually comes up...positive or negative...but we rarely just fade into the background. We call attention to ourselves and our faith. When I put it on this morning, I felt as close as I could to a priest donning his clerics. You can't deny your devotion or motivation.

Is this prideful? I don't know. I don't think so. If someone asks, I usually reply that Our Lady is my constant companion as I face my days of motherhood and the quote on the back from St. John Bosco is something we hope to instill through our home education...knowledge and morals. Thinking of myself even twenty years ago, I know it is only the Holy Spirit who could have gotten me to this place. God pierced my heart so that I might open my mind to Him. How blessed I have been by all the joys and trials since!

So after that rambling diatribe, a few shots of the (almost...Thursday is the actual last day) new graduates. I smiled when #3 said "I can't wait for second grade!" How blessed we are by the guidance of our Lady and her example of obedience to the Father. How grateful I am to be an instrument in His call to our children. How much I pray that the Blessed Mother, St. John Bosco and all the Holy Men and Women will beseech God on our behalf to aid us in our struggle against the isolation as we resist the lure of current societal teaching.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid - John 14

Even the principal was there! lol

It stopped raining after Mass so we even had an outdoor shot.

Giving thanks to Him from whom all blessings flow. How grateful we are to have this time to share with our children and witness the miracle that is human growth and learning. Happy Summer!

We are blessed.

Ordinary Time

It's kind of another ingenious stroke of God to organize the happenings of Christ's life to allow us some "down" time between the major events (perfect, as always). Some of us call that "Ordinary Time" and while it's never ordinary to live in this world as a Christian, it usually means we're not in major preparation for Easter or Christmas...still, life being life, there are always "extra"ordinary moments.

Things break...

Our house is over 100 years old and, yes, there are always things needing to be fixed. It is a solid house, though, so it's usually something that can wait...not so with modern conveniences. Around Christmas, our dishwasher developed a crack in the basin, turning our kitchen into a small lake each time we ran it. (it made me laugh a bit because we seemed to have the same problem growing up...my mom claimed it was good because she got to mop the floor and wash the dishes at the same time...I need to work on that kind of positive attitude!).

We were able, after a few weeks, to have a new dishwasher appear and fix that problem. Truthfully, I didn't mind it all that much because DH and I spent 30+ minutes every evening over the dishes, talking about our day. Perhaps that was the point.

Next up, the oven. Thankfully, it was only the coil that cracked and not something more dire but it was dramatic when the coil broke and burst into flames for a few moments. Fast forward another two weeks and that, too is fixed. In the meantime, I was reacquainted with the joys of crock-pot and on-the-stove-top cooking...lots of good things to be had there!

Crock-pot ham with mustard/brown sugar glaze. Yum.

Chicken Soup was perfect for the snow on Saturday!

 Taking a break...

We are, thankfully, in a hiatus from Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. I'm not thankful for missing the classes because all the kids love it and I have 90 minutes of prep time each week(!) but I don't miss the 40 minute drive in the dark/cold...it's nice to be a homebody for four weeks. During the hiatus they offer family Masses each Wednesday night. It's a great activity because during the homily, Father comes down in front of the altar and talks about the Gospel on kid-level. Our little people love that special time and attention from the priest. This year, the two older kids even have the honor of serving one of the Masses! We had fun during practice on Monday night.

I love the old-time cassocks!

I don't think he's quite ready to be cross bearer

Double-time recessional...time for dinner!

But not from everything...

Friday is a busy day this week. #1 will be competing in her second Geographic Bee and is excited and nervous for the opportunity. They will be home for a quick lunch and we're headed back to Latrobe for the first day of Step Up! It's hard to overstate how much we all enjoy our Fridays during the semester. Yes, the drive is long and yes, the day is longer but it is so much fun to gather with other homeschoolers on a college campus and learn new and exciting things. This semester we're leaning heavily on math and art...sounds good to me!

The end of Fall semester...stay tuned for the new photo!

Getting back to our usual routine will be just perfect because next week is Catholic Schools Week! Yes, I know, we're only an academy ;0) but we're most definitely Catholic so we will spend a good part of our week talking about, reading about, and living out all of the wonderful things that are a part of being a Catholic student (come to think of it, we should all be celebrating Catholic schools week...we're always learning more about our faith, yes?). Stay tuned...I'm sure it will be fun.

Today is a wonderful day to begin discussions on this, in fact, as St. Angela Merici  served as the inspiration of the Ursulines, the first teaching order of women. Perfect! (ahem)

St. Angela Merici, Pray for Us! We are blessed. 

ps - tomorrow's feast is St. Thomas Aquinas, patron of Catholic school children so, there you go. :0)

St. Thomas Aquinas, Pray for Us! 

Children, Indulgences and other major life issues.

Last night we went to the preschool/kindergarten meeting for our Catholic school. It was so wonderful to see some of the teachers/staff who were there from four years ago when our older two attended the school. It brought back all the wonderful memories of the teachers' dedication to educating faith-filled kids.

Just to be clear, it was never the teachers that drove us out. We left because, having been called for some time to homeschool, it was the proper moment and, to a lesser degree, because it was clear that a reasonable number of the parents often had different expectations than we.

Let's skip ahead, ok? Yesterday I felt strongly called to head down to Mass after picking the girls up from Little Flowers so that we could attend Mass today. When we arrived it was a nice plus that one of our favorite priests was presiding. When I heard the homily, it was clear why I had been called.

Today's first reading was 1 Sm 8:4-7, 10-22  and the Gospel was Mark 2:1-12. Father's homily addressed the first beautifully, saying that Israel wished to have a king "like everyone else" and when they said that, God told Samuel they were rejecting Him, not Samuel. Father went on to say that, if we are living correctly, we won't be like most everyone else (in society). He said, "if you live your faith, you'll be different...get comfortable."

The Gospel was about the paralytic who is brought to Jesus for healing by his four friends. Father pointed out that he was cured because of his friends' faith and that we need to also surround ourselves with like-minded friends. It is difficult, he said, to live in our society. We need friends, or groups, with whom we can connect to walk in our faith.

The Mass was lovely, as is anytime we get to share in Christ's sacrifice, and I couldn't imagine our good fortune when I heard "I'll be in the back for Confession after Mass". So, in addition to all the other graces, there is this...

To experience and obtain the Indulgence, the faithful are called to make a brief pilgrimage to the Holy Door, open in every Cathedral or in the churches designated by the Diocesan Bishop, and in the four Papal Basilicas in Rome, as a sign of the deep desire for true conversion. Likewise, I dispose that the Indulgence may be obtained in the Shrines in which the Door of Mercy is open and in the churches which traditionally are identified as Jubilee Churches. It is important that this moment be linked, first and foremost, to the Sacrament of Reconciliation and to the celebration of the Holy Eucharist with a reflection on mercy. It will be necessary to accompany these celebrations with the profession of faith and with prayer for me and for the intentions that I bear in my heart for the good of the Church and of the entire world. - Pope Francis

In the car, on the way to Mass, we prayed the rosary and for the pope's intentions...

then we walked through the Holy Door at the Cathedral; went to Mass; finally Confession. I love it when a plan comes together (ahem...)

So, I digress (just as an example of how easy, peasy  it is to gain an Indulgence if you are so disposed).

It's not really a digression, though. As I sat and listened to the testimonials last night and as I spoke to some of the teachers that were new to me, I wondered how many of them would understand or even try to appreciate the life we have chosen. If I told this day's travels to them, would I get a look similar to the one that comes with "oh, you homeschool." I already know how it is having the discussion about someone's trip to Disney and ours to the EWTN studios (not yet, stay tuned!!!). Ours is not the only way to live according to God's laws and Jesus's teachings. I think it is one way, though, when we are strong enough to say "yes" to God's call. I do think, even with all of our failings, that we are on the right track.

I feel like the preschool discussion has become a bit more clear to me from our travels today. If nothing else, I know I have been given a strong confirmation of our choice to home school the older people. Father's message to "get comfortable" and "find like-minded people" has helped me to focus a bit more clearly (I have been feeling pushed, as opposed to called, lately and it's been a bit unsettling). We shall see what ultimately happens.

There is something else on my heart from what I heard last night but I'll save that for another time. If you would like, you may reread THIS as preparation. Until we meet again.

We are blessed!

Don't forget to pray for Opal ;0)

Mercy and Correction

I took the older two with me to a funeral today. It was the father of a close acquaintance at our parish and it was nearby so we thought it would be a good thing to do. On the drive over, after finishing our rosary, I resisted turning on the radio/video and instead posed a challenge.

Since it's the Year of Mercy, I asked them to review the 14 (7 corporal/7 spiritual) works and see how many they are doing, how many they could do, and how many about which they had no clue. This was a good exercise because we found that, although we have the corporal close in memory and action, the middle spiritual works are easily forgotten...mostly because they are sometimes hard to practice.

I brought this up because I had been thinking about it, feeling called to it and last night found a nice group of activities from the Jesuits that show different ways we can live the works of mercy...this year and always.

When I feel "called" to something I always wait for the other shoe to drop. Sometimes it's a soft, fuzzy slipper that feels cozy and right. Often, it's more like a brand new leather shoe. Lovely to look at but hard to break in. The lesson I ultimately learn from the call usually involves more than a little bit of struggle. Our good deacon used a Flannery O'Connor quote in his sermon yesterday...it kind of fits here

“I think there is no suffering greater than what is caused by the doubts of those who want to believe. I know what torment this is, but I can only see it, in myself anyway, as the process by which faith is deepened. A faith that just accepts is a child’s faith and all right for children, but eventually you have to grow religiously as every other way, though some never do. What people don’t realize is how much religion costs. They think faith is a big electric blanket, when of course it is the cross. It is much harder to believe than not to believe. If you feel you can’t believe, you must at least do this: keep an open mind. Keep it open toward faith, keep wanting it, keep asking for it, and leave the rest to God.”

― Flannery O'Connor, The Habit of Being: Letters of Flannery O'Connor

So, on we went. We agreed we were helping to Bury the Dead by attending the funeral and we had, just then, prayed a rosary for the living and the dead (I always start at the end of the list, don't you? ;0) ) Then there was our monthly visit to count as Visit the Imprisoned and Feed the Hungry. As a mom, it seems that and Giving Drink to the Thirsty and Clothing the Naked never really ends.

After a short discussion, we agreed that everyone in our home could work harder to Bear Wrongs Patiently and Forgive Offenses. Comfort the Afflicted also comes to mind as something that can be practiced often in our family unit. Instructing the Ignorant brought ideas such as teaching the younger ones about the faith and life in general...how to be a good person and how to follow God.

Admonishing the Sinner took the longest to discuss. (I can feel a big penny loafer sitting just above my head) They didn't understand "admonish" so we looked it up.

ad·mon·ish

ədˈmäniSH

verb

1. warn or reprimand someone firmly.

"she admonished me for appearing at breakfast unshaven"

take to task, read the riot act to, rake/haul over the coals;

     2. advise or urge (someone) earnestly.

"she admonished him to drink no more than one glass of wine"

I suggested that, perhaps, the Spiritual Works are referring more to #2. It is unfortunate that many people jump to #1 and that's probably why we're all kind of hesitant about the whole situation (me included, thus the penny loafer). I think if more people believed they were supposed to earnestly advise someone, they would respond more favorably (on both sides) than if there were to "read someone the riot act". I'm pretty sure Jesus wasn't shy about #2 while almost always avoiding #1 (you know, He did turn over a table or two).

The funeral was lovely and it was extra special for my daughter and me because of the presider. This lovely priest is old and slow and deliberate. He takes time to discuss important matters and likes to talk about anything and everything to anyone who will stop to listen. It's such an easy thing to become impatient when he is saying Mass. Today I was given the grace (because Grammy had the little ones) to just sit and listen and walk slowly with him through the beauty of the funeral liturgy. I even chuckled to myself when I closed my eyes as he said "Thrones and Dominations" (he says it every Mass) because I could just envision the Dominions smiling at that.

The "Dominions" (Eph. 1:21; Col. 1:16) (lat. dominatio, plural dominationes, also translated from the Greek term kyriotētes, pl. of kyriotēs, as "Lordships") or "Dominations" are presented as the hierarchy of celestial beings "Lordships" in some English translations of the De Coelesti Hierarchia. The Dominions regulate the duties of lower angels. It is only with extreme rarity that the angelic lords make themselves physically known to humans.

The Dominions are believed to look like divinely beautiful humans with a pair of feathered wings, much like the common representation of angels, but they may be distinguished from other groups by wielding orbs of light fastened to the heads of their scepters or on the pommel of their swords

Is what the priest said incorrect? Of course. Can people get themselves all worked up because he said the wrong word? Yes. Still, this is an old man who has dedicated himself to bringing the Body and Blood of our Savior to people through the Mass every.single.day. Really. I think the angels can appreciate that a little more than the fact that he gets stuck on one word. They're like that. Being angels, in heaven, they're full of joy and don't tend to nit-pick everything.

So, in this Year of Mercy I'm going to try to be more like the angels in heaven. Close to God and not nit-picky (you know that phrase refers to picking lice nits out of someone's hair? don't be like that!).

If someone is taking the Eucharist to a home bound parishioner and decides to stop and talk to everyone on their way out, I'm just going to tell Jesus I love Him and ask His healing for the recipient. If I attend a wedding and the vows sound more like they came off a reality show than the norms for a Catholic wedding, I'm just going to ask the Blessed Mother to wrap the bride up in her mantle and lead her to the truth of being a wife in a sacramental marriage. If someone is sitting in church and speaking badly about someone or something...especially if they're doing it in direct sight of the Tabernacle? I'm walking away. Perhaps my flight will speak volumes and perhaps it won't. Hopefully the prayers I invoke while leaving, that God may open their eyes to the truth of their behavior, will help change the situation.

Ultimately, I'm not God. I sin nearly every hour of every day. There are sooooo many things that I do wrong. That doesn't mean, for even one moment, that I can't instruct someone who doesn't know what is correct in a certain situation or even "admonish" someone who is hurting themselves or someone else. I say that specifically because I don't want anyone to stop their loving correction and instruction of me because they are also a sinner. If you see me (or my children) doing wrong, it's the correct thing to point it out. If you find yourself unable to point it out in a loving and merciful way (this is why I walk away and pray sometimes) please at least ask God to open my eyes to the situation. I would like to believe that, as a community, we want what is best for one another. As I told my kids this morning, we tell them when they do something wrong because we want them to know that it's wrong and because, ultimately, we want to be with them in heaven. That takes a whole lot of correction and instruction (on both parts...just after that, my son reminded me I was speeding...in a loving and merciful manner).

Thanks for listening. I passed up a chance to do a Spiritual Work of Mercy today and it's been troubling me. It helps to write it down. I will be praying that we can all be more merciful and earnest so that we might lovingly correct others when it's clearly needed. I think that would please God greatly...if we start helping one another grow closer to Him.

“All human nature vigorously resists grace because grace changes us and the change is painful.”
― Flannery O'Connor, The Habit of Being: Letters of Flannery O'Connor 

We are blessed.

Remembering, praying, helping

At breakfast this morning, we talked to the kids about what happened 14 years ago today. I'm not sure why I felt this year was appropriate but I was surprised at how interested they were. Interested and unbelieving. I read from a book about the attack on the World Trade Center, I talked about that day in my life (I was packing to move to Philly and their father, not yet my husband, was in Chicago on a trip...watching the Sears Tower out a window and wondering what would happen next). It didn't seem to sink in, though, until I showed them this.

It is difficult to process, even for me, but they understood. Then came the "why do people hate us?" questions. I can't answer that sufficiently so we talked a bit and then moved on to the larger discussion of God in our life and His protection even on the worst day you can imagine. We also talked about some of the people who died that day, not just because they were doing their job and ended up in a bad situation, but because their job requires them to risk their lives every day...including days of national tragedy. The police and firemen, even a Franciscan priest.

We headed out to Mass a little bit later, to join some home school friends. It was nice sharing the time surrounded by other families. I think when it's been so long, a lot of the world has forgotten about 9/11 and the lessons we learned. I'm thankful we are keeping it in memory so that we can pray for those lost, the families, and the world.

We also prayed a rosary beside the tomb of the unborn child. I'm waiting (it didn't happen today) for the kids to put those two things together. The sad day of September 11 when we lost nearly 3,000 souls and the last 40+ years when we've lost millions. I don't push it because there is more uncertainty and confusion surrounding those who abort than the pure evil hatred of the extremists. Still, there is a large dose of dehumanization all around.

As a society, not just those who are involved in abortions, we have lost sight of the face of Christ in our neighbor. Try reading the latest from my dear alma mater  Did the people who flew the planes have a moniker (like "carrier") for the people they intended to kill? Did they make fun of the Americans and how wrong they were (or how simple...like "just being excited to board a plane"). I'm not beyond this by any means. When I am not actively working to help, pray for, or otherwise love others, I am so easily lured into the easy condemnation that swirls through our world.

After our prayers, we made our becoming-a-monthly-routine to Washington City Mission (sometimes St. Vincent De Paul) to drop off toys and clothes that we no longer need. The shop sells the goods and the money goes to help people who need assistance. It is so important that our kids see this. They have to realize that the whole world is not as blessed as they and, rather than pitying or looking down on those who aren't equally blessed, they need to use some of their good to help make a difference. I pray that our frequent trips and discussions will make some crack in their conscience that, even if it's not used now, will return when they are more able to use the information.

The world is confusing a lot of the time. The self is even more difficult. By turning away from self, we can often find something that is needed in the world and by helping to fill that need, we can make some small difference. Most days I feel like I am completely rudderless except for the works of mercy. We will start there, try to make our witness quiet but visible, and pray we might inspire others to do the same. The Year of Mercy in the Catholic church begins in a few months...why don't you pick a few and try it out in your house?

We are blessed.

Educate the Ignorant

I'm not on FB but if you are, please pass these along to your "pro-Planned Parenthood" friends who claim, without PP, women will have no health care. It's important to be educated on the subject and there are so many who are without a clue. The second photo is just a good reminder.

Time to stop being afraid and speak out. We were just chatting in the car about the fact that God is loving and merciful but like any good parent, He can get angry when we are doing the wrong thing without remorse (and others are allowed to do the wrong thing without being educated).

God bless.

Every state looks very similar