Merrily We Roll Along....

If you homeschool and have several children, you've certainly been asked about your wee ones....infants, babies, toddlers, pre-schoolers......What DO you do with them while you are schooling the older children?! Are they running amuck, causing havoc....taking all the books off the shelves, building towers with the videos, spilling the softsoap down the drain.......? Why yes! Yes, they are! :) Ah, this is why today, the "cart" came out. Yessiree.....we've used "the cart" with the previous children in order to keep them busy and "doing school" also. The cart is like a Montesorri preschool on wheels. In this case, literally a rolling cart. We use a Sterilite brand that has two big - deep pull out drawers, and two smaller ones. These drawers are clear to be able to see the contents easily. It is restocked with some updated items; for the most part it generally contains fun educational items, several books, magnetic alphabets, small Mega-blocks, Leap-Pad w/books/cartridges, both wooden and 24 piece puzzles in boxes, an occasional video or DVD, some preschool workbooks, stuffed animals that somehow connect with the child using the items - in our 3 year old Mark's case, he loves Tigers, Elephants, and Bears, and we have these in cute Beanie Baby brand. There's also Blue Puppy and Elmo; and some hand puppets. Oh, and some small snacks.

The cart goes where it needs to be. The beauty of it! Primarily it is moved into the livingroom, off the diningroom area where mom can still spy the young'un playing. And it's only available during school's most desperate hours - that would be the first few hours of the day where Maths, Latin, Grammar and Religion courses are being done with the oldest children. Otherwise, it is put away so it will remain a special item to be looked forward to each day.

Merrily we roll along......

The Feast of Candlemas: Feb. 2nd

Feast of the Purification
Candlemas

Loveliness of Candlemas Fair




Canticle of Simeon

Now dismiss Thy servant, O Lord,
In peace, according to Thy word:
For mine own eyes hath seen Thy salvation,
Which Thou hast prepared in the sight of all the peoples,
A light to reveal Thee to the nations
And the glory of Thy people Israel.

Latin Version: Nunc Dimittis
Nunc dimittis servum tuum, Domine
Secundum verbum tuum in pace:
Quia viderunt oculi mei salutare tuum
Quod parasti ante faciem omnium populorum:
Lumen ad revelationem gentium,
Et gloriam plebis tuae Israel.

Which Classic Heroine are You?

How fun. My friends all over blogdom are doing this. After taking the quiz, my classic heroine is below. Follow the link below to discover yours.

Elizabeth Bennet

Often called Lizzy, Elizabeth is the heroine of Pride and Prejudice. The second eldest of five sisters, she is witty and intelligent, though her prejudice prevents her from recognizing her true love when he appears. However, Mr. Darcy, though he appears proud, wins her love and respect, but not before she believes she's lost him forever.

Which Classic Heroine are You?

Catholic Culture Meme

My friend Esther has tagged me with this nifty meme!

Name a Catholic book that you want to share so much that you keep giving away copies:
"The Privilege of Being a Woman" Dr. Alice von Hildebrand. Wonderful book for both men and women.

Name a work of religious art you'd like to live with:
Probably "Madonna of the Rosary" by Giovanni Battista Salvi da Sassoferrato

Name your favorite Catholic artist:
Giovanni Battista Salvi da Sassoferrato (surprise! :)

Name a work of Catholic fiction which has penetrated your real life:
If I said "The Da Vinci Code", would you laugh?! Really, I haven't even read it (although I feel like I have!) and it's penetrated my real life!

Name your favorite Catholic Musicians - male & female:
Contemporary: Still Waters; Classical: Vivaldi

Name your favorite musical:
The Music Man! ..."the Wells Fargo Wagon is a comin' down the street...."

Name a punch line that always makes you laugh:
"I don't know, but it's on your left shoulder!"

I tag the following people:

Johnny-Nobody

Praying For Grace

Life is Beauty

We had this beautiful ornament "Baby Innocence" by Yolanda Bello, at our pro-life display this weekend at church. This picture does not do this justice - it is absolutely beautiful - the little baby within this suspended globe is perfectly perfect and precious, by dollmaker Yolanda Bello. This is from the Blessed is Life ornament series. I hope you'll have a chance to see one up close.

Please note: you can use the above link to go to the pro-life provider; once there type in Baby Innocence and then in the search mode, click on the "fetal models" grouping and hit search - it should then bring up this beautiful item.

Catholic Homeschooling Connections

Looking for a Catholic Homeschooling support group in your area? Catholic Homeschooling Support provides you with the information you need.

If you'd like to take a peek into the life of homeschooling, check out the Catholic Homeschooling Blog Directory.

Make Love Your Aim

"Make love your aim", Saint Paul exhorts us. [1 Cor 13:8-13] It is Christ's greatest gift and his principal commandment. It will be the mark by which men will know that we are disciples of Christ. It is a virtue, which for better or worse, we put to the test at every moment. At any time we can relieve necessity, say something pleasant, avoid gossip, give a word of encouragement, let somebody pass before us, intercede with God for someone in special need, give good advice, smile, help to create a more agreeable atmosphere amongst members of our family or at work; forgive someone, form a more favourable judgement, etc. We can do good or fail to do good; we can even do positive harm to others and that not only through omission. Charity urges us to show our love by performing works of service, by prayer and also by penance.

When we grow in charity all our virtues are enriched and strengthened. None of them is a true virtue unless it is permeated with charity. You have as much virtue as you have love, no more.[F. de Osuna, A Spiritual Alphabet, 16,4]

From In Conversation with God, Vol. Three
Beautiful image, masterpiece of Giovanni Battista Salvi da Sassoferrato: Madonna of the Rosary with Saint Dominic and Saint Catherine

From last January.....

UPDATE: I've corrected the LINK to the article below on this one. Thanks Esther, for pointing out it wasn't working.

Recently our Catholic homeschool support group was discussing the mid-winter slump we homeschoolers tend to experience at the half-way point. I was sent this encouraging article through a friend, by Mary Kochan: Surviving the Homeschool Panic.

"Have patience with all things, but first of all, with yourself."
~St. Francis de Sales~

Laudetur Jesus Christus!

A friend of ours, a Deacon who is to be ordained a priest this year, has a wonderful little blogspot of his homilies and local radio spots that aire on Catholic radio. I particularly appreciated his radio spot on the readings for Friday January 12. Using words such as "Faith", "Trust", and "Integrity" regarding conduct and relationships, spoke to me. Without getting into too much detail, it is my prayer that my trust will be healed and restored, due to relationships and events that occured this last couple years that rather shook me very deeply. I know God in His great providence has a plan (and yes, you may pray for me! :)...I direct your attention to Laudetur Jesus Christus! blog, and to this short post that spoke to me: Friday, 12 January 2007

God bless!

Scrupulous Anonymous? ....Absolutely

Hat Tip: to my friend Esther, who has a great article at her blog on scrupulosity. I found it very enlightening; truly informative and helpful. Just click on this link title: Being Scrupulous

Legendary Spring of Everlasting Life

Oswald Sobrino at Catholic Analysis has made me think about Ponce de Leon this morning: "the fountain of youth", which I haven't thought about in quite some time. [article at: Secret of Youth]. My children have studied this explorer in their history studies. So interesting that he sought the legendary spring of eternal life. Of course, as Christians we know Who brings eternal life. But, this has also made me think about the great story: Tuck Everlasting; being the romantic I am it tugs at your heartstrings; another living forever story. You can find it in both novel and movie form at Amazon. Follow the LINKS to the movie and book.

Loving Enough

When I first read the title of this daily meditational message I receive from Opus Dei, I was disheartened:..."you will never love enough..." But, as I read on, I realized more of what this message intended. In the end, it truly is about loving...loving over and beyond and unselfishly. Love covers a multitude of sins. It is all about love.


“You will never love enough”

No matter how much you may love, you will never love enough. The human heart is endowed with an enormous coefficient of expansion. When it loves, it opens out in a crescendo of affection that overcomes all barriers. If you love Our Lord, there will not be a single creature that does not find a place in your heart. (Way of the Cross, 8th Station, 5 [St. Josemaria Escriva])

Let us now consider the Master and his disciples gathered together in the intimacy of the Upper Room. The time of his Passion is drawing close and he is surrounded by those he loves. The fire in the Heart of Christ bursts into flame in a way no words can express and he confides in them, ‘I give you a new commandment that you love one another, just as I have loved you, you also must love one another. By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.’

Lord, why do you call it a new commandment? As we have just heard, it was already laid down in the Old Testament that we should love our neighbour. You will remember also that, when Jesus had scarcely begun his public life, he broadened the scope of this law with divine generosity: ‘You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy. But I tell you, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, pray for those who persecute and slander you.’

But, Lord, please allow us to insist. Why do you still call this precept new? That night, just a few hours before offering yourself in sacrifice on the Cross, during your intimate conversation with the men who — in spite of being weak and wretched, like ourselves — accompanied you to Jerusalem, you revealed to us the standard for our charity, one we could never have suspected: ‘as I have loved you’. How well the apostles must have understood you, having witnessed for themselves your unbounded love.

If we profess the same faith and are really eager to follow in the clear footprints left by Christ when he walked on this earth, we cannot be content merely with avoiding doing unto others the evil that we would not have them do unto us. That is a lot, but it is still very little when we consider that our love is to be measured in terms of Jesus’ own conduct. Besides, he does not give us this standard as a distant target, as a crowning point of a whole lifetime of struggle. It is — it ought to be, I repeat so that you may turn it into specific resolutions — the starting point, for Our Lord presents it as a sign of Christianity: ‘By this shall all men know that you are my disciples.’ (Friends of God, 222-223)

Courtesy of Opus Dei Daily Message

Photo courtesy of LINK

Poetry Friday

The Lake Isle Of Innisfree
by William Butler Yeats









I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made:
Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honeybee,
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.
And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight's all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet's wings.
I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,
I hear it in the deep heart's core.


I will never forget when our now nearly sixteen year old son, memorized this poem in fifth grade and recited it at a homeschool open house. He did a great job and this poem became one of my favorites.


Painting courtesy of: Brenda Phillips

Catholic Homeschooling Carnival

The Catholic Homeschooling Carnival is now in progress. Just follow the LINK to some great articles.

Following Sweetness and Light

My friend Meredith over at: Sweetness and Light has blogged an insightful piece for homeschooling moms, referring to another blogged piece at our friend Lissa's site, titled: Rule of Six. Follow this LINK to be enlightened :) Good going gals. You have lightened and brightened my homeschooling thoughts and day!

Catholic Alphabet Meme

My friend Esther has tagged me for this special and clever Meme.

Catholic Alphabet Meme


[A is for apparitions - your favorite]: Our Lady of Guadalupe

[B is for Bible - the one you read most often]: Ignatius, Revised Standard (mine is signed by Kimberly Hahn :)

[C is for Charism - the one you would most like to have]: Understanding, and lots of it!

[D is for Doctor of the Church - your favorite]:St. Therese the Little Flower (same as Esther - great Catholic mom-minds think alike :)

[E is for Essential Prayer - What's yours?]: My night prayer w/examination of conscience

[F is for Favorite Hymn]: Hail Holy Queen (Salve! Salve! Salve Regina!)

[G is for Gospel - your favorite author?]: Mark

[H is for Holy Communion - How would you describe it, using one word?]: Heavenly

[I is for Inspiration - When do you feel most inspired by God?]: Eucharistic Adoration, like those answering before me - indeed, Adoration does a lot for immersing one in the inspiration (and Presence) of God.

[J is for Jesus - When did you first meet Him?]: I would also say in Baptism as an infant, but in memory - when I made my First Holy Communion at age 8 - and I truly remember that!

[K is for Kindness - Which saint or person has most inspired you by their kindness?] St. Vincent de Paul

[L is for liturgical year - your favorite time in the liturgical cycle?]: Actually, I've always enjoyed and grown a lot through this time of "ordinary" time as in: right now!

[M is for Mary, the Mother of God - Your favorite term of endearment for her]: Mary Most Holy

[N is for New Testament - Your favorite passage]: Romans 12:12

[O is for Old Testament - Your favorite Book here]: Esther (not kidding, Esther G!)

[P is for Psalms - your favorite]: "Be still and know that I am God", Ps 46:10

[Q is for quote - saint quote]: "There are more tears shed over answered prayers than over unanswered prayers." St. Teresa of Avila

[R is for rosary - your favorite mysteries]: Mysteries of Light

[S is for Saint - the one you turn to in time of need - not including the Blessed Virgin Mary]: St. Teresa of Avila

[T is for Tradition - your favorite Catholic tradition]: Ash Wednesday

[U is for university - Which Catholic University have you attended or are currently attending?]: Do Presbyterian colleges count?! :) In that case, Westminster College (Utah).

[V is for Virtue - the one you wish you had]: Patience also.

[W is for Way of the Cross - Which station can you most relate to?]:
Eighth Station: Jesus meets the weeping women.

[X is for Xaverian Brothers - Do you know who they are?]: No, actually I don't.

[Y is for your favorite Catholic musician]: Dana (does "singer" count)?

[Z is for Zeal for the faith]: Zeal! I wish whoever is reading this, lots of it!

I tag: anyone who'd like to do this meme! (Let me know so I can read yours too).

Peculiar Aristocratic Title

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Lady Denise the Ineffable of Westley Waterless Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

As Fr. Martin Fox would say: Biretta tip....(in this case) back to Fr. Martin.

I know this probably isn't the greatest picture, mostly because this range is black, but this is my new range! Yea! It will be delivered next Tuesday. I'm ready to cook ;) This LINK will take you to more details.

We had a lovely break for Christmas and although we wish not to interrupt this octave as we approach Epiphany this weekend, I'm afraid we must get back to school, and so we begin again today. But it will be a light day as we re-group. We look forward to our church's Epiphany dinner to end (and begin again) this wonderful season of Christ's birth.

Keep Shining like the Sun

It was last January 2nd that my first post appeared on this blog and I got this forum up and running for public view. I began this blog really just as an outlet - my "holy play" so to speak. And it's been such a blessing to meet so many wonderful internet friends with common interests and faith-pursuits along the way. Who knew?! And so once again, I blog the original test post that began it all back on Jan. 2nd 2006. I still find it enlightening and hope you will too. Best wishes and blessings to all my friends and visitors and may you too, like the Saints, shine like the sun!

What we find ravishing in a small child is his transparency. He attracts us without our focusing on ourselves. In some way, he makes an infinite presence tangible to us and binds us again to the divine Source like a sacrament of light. For how many fathers were the tears welling up in their eyes in the presence of their grace-filled child the divine dew that made prayer rise in their heart.

At certain times, the child, in truth, enlightens and purifies us by making us permeable to this mysterious flux which invades the being in a state of openness. Works of art, in their own way, produce a similar effect, like everything that is truly transparent here below.

The proud hurt us because they are opaque. They lock up everything within themselves and imprison us within their own limitations.

Saints free us by allowing a divine light to shine within themselves. In each one of us there is a mystical vocation, most of the time unaware of itself. Our personal self crushes us and we need to be “healed” of ourselves. We are truly happy only when we lose sight of ourselves and disappear into what is beyond ourselves. We would like to have our bondage point in someone else. We are obscurely worked upon by this aspiration which drives saints to identify themselves with God by placing their true self in Him: “And now, it is no longer I who live, God is the one who lives in me.” That is, basically the motto for all of them and it is also ours inasmuch as we discover again this childlike quality of the soul beatified in the Gospel.


Father Maurice Zundel
(+1975) Swiss mystic, poet, philosopher, liturgist and author
http://www.annesigier.qc.ca/zundel/biographie.html

Updated: It's Showtime! Movie Meme

I see I've been tagged with the first Meme (for me anyway) of the new year by my friend Esther. I will get to that as soon as I'm able. Stay tuned....tee hee :)

Update: Ok, here we go.

Your Favorite Film?
Hmm, I don't know that I could pick just one, but if I must, it would probably be Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark. But I also adore those authentic old movies, like My Man Godfrey (William Powell, Carole Lombard) and all the fun Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire ones. A more modern romance....I choose Everafter with Drew Barrymore and Dougray Scott.


Your Favorite Film with a Religious theme?
The old Song of Bernadette plus, the recently done Hallmark presentation of "Moses" with Dougray Scott in the lead role. Very realistic.


Your Favorite Film Priest?
It's off the wall, but in the Wallace & Gromit movie: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, (yes, I actually watched it), I thought the priest was very funny. Then, if I must be serious (er ahem), just like Esther, I also like Montgomery Clift (I Confess).


Your Favorite Film Nun?
I liked the nun(s) in The Sound of Music; particularly the Mother Superior to Maria who seems so wise and understanding.

Solemnity: The Mother of God

Hail! holy Queen enthroned above, O Maria!
Hail! Mother of Mercy and of love, O Maria!


Solemnity of the Mother of God, follow this LINK