School Days...

As we come to our last month or so of "official school" (I think we'll reach 180 days by mid-May), I am reflecting on what we did and whether it was enough.

#1 child has progressed through her 2nd grade books and, in some cases, moved on to start the next year. #2 child hasn't been much into the books at all, but has still managed to demonstrate some sort of forward progression (I am so thankful I don't have to track him this year!)

Ultimately, my goal of having all five together to bond and play and learn to work out things amongst themselves has been the greatest success of all. It is such a gift to watch them play and argue and refocus and try again. I hope that these days will aid them in creating stronger bonds that will carry them throughout their lives when DH and I are eternally resting.

Some random shots from our latest lessons:

These people are all about art class!

 

#s 3&4 dropping nap time has necessitated that some schooling must happen in the morning. It's been working OK...most of the time.

Little man is schooling right beside us - practicing that pesky "moving into an upright position"

The little ones got bored so they had a tea party

and made some bead necklaces

Lunchtime! - covering fractions, minerals and the reaction that happens with yeast, water and sugar

Pretzel time :0)

Well, that was quick.

Last night before falling asleep I said to DH, "well, if they're all following the Holy Spirit, why would it take a long time?" My prayer is that they did, so it didn't. We shall see, I suppose.

I have to admit, first off, that I have a bias against Jesuits. Having spend some time in Jesuit academe, I can list more than a handful of priests and nuns (who are not Jesuit but were teaching there) who would gladly do all they could to "catch the Church up" to current social norms :0P. I look forward to this new pope shattering all of my preconceived notions of said Jesuit order.

From Rocco Palmo:

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

De Argentina a Roma – Bergoglio Elected Pope Francis I

The College of Cardinals have elected Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the 76 year-old Jesuit archbishop of Buenos Aires, as Pope Francis I.

By choosing the name of the founder of his community's traditional rivals, the 266th Roman pontiff – the first from the American continent, home to more than half of the 1.2 billion-member church – has signaled three things: his desire to be a force of unity in a polarized fold, a heart for the poor, and his intent to "repair God's house, which has fallen into ruin"... that is, to rebuild the church.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh my...I so hope that is true.

 

So, let us watch on, good and faithful friends. There's a new pope in the house! Our excitement here is palpable.

 

Finally, I am forever grateful that I happen to be homeschooling at this moment in time. Having my little ones around me as we waited, discussed, and finally cheered! our new Papa is a blessing I will not forget.

 

May God bless Pope Francis and keep him strong in his faith as he works to rebuild the Church.