Year Five ~ Jigger
Faith and Life 5
My Path to Heaven by Geoffrey Bliss
Our Lady's Book by Lauren Ford
Stories of the Child Jesus from Many Lands by A. Fowler Lutz
CHC's Saint Comprehension Book
Exploring the Mass from Catholic Heritage Curricula (CHC)
Life of Fred: Fractions by Dr. Stanley Schmidt
Calculadder 2
What's Your Angle, Pythagoras? by Julie Ellis and Phyllis Hornung
The Harp and Laurel Wreath by Laura M. Berquist
My Catholic Speller: Level D, by Catholic Heritage Curricula
Language of God: Level D, by Catholic Heritage Curricula
CHC Handwriting Book
Tales from Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb
The Tale of Troy by Roger Lancelyn Green
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate Dicamillo and Timothy Basil Ering
Story of the World I by Susan Wise Bauer
Kingfisher History Encyclopedia
Augustus Caesar's World by Genevieve Foster
Of Courage Undaunted by James Daugherty
Catholic Geography Bee by Catholic Heritage Curricula
Map Skills: Level D, by Catholic Heritage Curricula
Latina Christiana I by Cheryl Lowe
Rummy Roots
English from the Roots Up
Le Francais Facile (The Easy French) by Marie Fillon
Art Through Faith
A Catholic Garden of Puzzles by Catholic Heritage Curricula
Black Holes and Uncle Albert by Russell Stannard
The Universe in my Hands by Catholic Heritage Curricula
Pilgrim's of the Holy Family by Catholic Heritage Curricula
Year Nine ~ Piper
Introduction to Catholicism: A Complete Course (the Didache Series) by James Socias
Beginning Apologetics 1: How to Explain and Defend the Catholic Faith by Frank Chacon and Jim Burnham
The Meaning of Vocation by Pope John Paul II
Life of Fred: Advanced Algebra by Dr. Stanley Schmidt
Calculadder 6
Mindbenders
Typing Instructor CD-ROM
The Harp and Laurel Wreath by Laura M. Berquist
Assorted Classical Literature Selections (one per week)
Warriner's Grammar, Third Course
Vocabulary
Christ and the Americas, from Catholic Heritage Curricula
History of the Ancient World by Susan Wise Bauer
Catholic Geography Bee by Catholic Heritage Curricula
Rummy Roots
English from the Roots Up
Henle Latin, Year One by Fr. Henle
Le Francais Facile (The Easy French) by Marie Fillon
Edible Wild Plants
Fur Trapping in North America
Ecology and Field Biology (text)
Assorted library and internet resources
National Geographic Magazine
Popular Mechanics Magazine
Smithosonian Magazine
Our dear friend and fellow home educating mother, Chrissy (a.k.a. mamasmurf), went home to be with our Lord last night. Chrissy had been battling an illness that developed into pneumonia, but because of the terminal cancer that had weakened her body over the last 10 years, she just couldn't fight back.
Chrissy leaves behind her loving husband, Rob, and son, Deiniol. Please pray that her family feels our Lord's loving arms around them especially tight right now.
For a more complete article, please go visit the UK blog.
An Irish Blessing for the Journey
May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
And the rain fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.
Seven years ago today, our world was changed forever. As Americans, we had been lulled into that comfort zone of thought that everything horrible and evil happened 'over there.' Seven years ago today, we were proven wrong. Horribly wrong.
It's not right that we were stripped of the images that burned themselves into our memories. It's not right that something so unspeakable became unspoken. It's not right that avenging the tragic loss of life and love became a debate bandied about in a presidential campaign.
What is right is that we remember. And mourn. And trust in God that all happens for a reason. Because He has faith in us, so should we trust in Him. And we have done far less than He to be worthy of such trust.
We each remember in our own way. Maybe you say a prayer for the victims and their families on the morning of September 11th. Maybe you attend a special Mass or worship service to commemorate the day. Maybe you sit down and cry. Whatever you do, it matters.
My family attended a 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony last Saturday evening at the Irish Cultural Center in Phoenix. My dad is a retired Fire Chief, and ceremonies like this, though more frequent for us than most, never get to be routine. Piper was part of the volunteer Pipe and Drum Corps that played throughout the ceremony. As always, we were touched to our souls. Here is a little piece of that day. The solo bagpiper is Pipe Major for the Phoenix Pipe Band, and Piper's instructor.
The truth of CFL's has been bothering me for quite some time, but I didn't quite know how to voice it until I watched this. Watch, be enlightened (pun unintended), and wonder at what else we don't know.
'Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. For this, I will give you a life span of twenty years.'
The dog said: 'That's a long time to be barking. How about only ten years and I'll give you back the other ten?'
So God agreed.
On the second day, God created the monkey and said:
'Entertain people, do tricks, and make them laugh. For this, I'll give you a twenty-year life span.'
The monkey said: 'Monkey tricks for twenty years? That's a pretty long time to perform. How about I give you back ten like the Dog did?'
And God agreed.
On the third day, God created the cow and said:
'You must go into the field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer's family. For this, I will give you a life span of sixty years.'
The cow said: 'That's kind of a tough life you want me to live for sixty years. How about twenty and I'll give back the other forty?' And God agreed again.
On the fourth day, God created man and said:
'Eat, sleep, play, marry and enjoy your life. For this, I'll give you twenty years.'
But man said: 'Only twenty years? Could you possibly give me my twenty, the forty the cow gave back, the ten the monkey gave back, and the ten
the dog gave back; that makes eighty, okay?'
'Okay,' said God, 'You asked for it.'
So that is why for our first twenty years we eat, sleep, play and enjoy ourselves. For the next forty years we slave in the sun to support our family. For the next ten years we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren. And for the last ten years we sit on the front porch and bark at everyone.
Life has now been explained to you.
There is no need to thank me for this valuable information. I'm doing it as a public service.
A little girl asked her mother one day, "How did the human race appear?" Her mother answered, "God made Adam and Eve and they had children, and so was all mankind made."
Two days later the little girl asked her father the same question. He replied, "Many years ago there were monkeys from which the human race evolved."
Confused, the little girl returned to her mother and said, "How is it possible that you told me the human race was created by God, and Daddy said we developed from monkeys?"
Her mother answered, "Well, dear, it's very simple. I told you about my side of the family, and your father told you about his."
It's officially been six months since my last post. I know, because Bethany over at 40winkzzz told me so. I have shamefully neglected my blog, and in doing so, have horribly neglected you, my friends. I apologize profusely. Due to personal issues, I haven't even kept up with you all. I don't even know what's going on with any of you. Well, little dribs and drabs here and there. Because lately, I've been getting nosy, and missing you all. So, I've been poking around. Taking it easy. Not really even sure if I was going to blog again, but missing you all. And then, I got such a genuinely sweet note from Kate, and she gently encouraged me to post. Anything. So I thought to myself, it's time. Et voila, here I am. Happy to see you, and hopefully happy being seen. Because after six months, who am I kidding? You all have far more consistent friends to visit.
I will say that one reason I stepped away was because I was overwhelmed with comments. Now, I know, every blogger wants comments, and wants to feel the love. I'm no different. But taking the time away from home and hearth to read dozens of blogs on a regular basis so that I can return-comment took it's toll. And, instead of just coming up with a solution, I took an unscheduled break. Well, I have found a solution, and would encourage everyone to use it if they so desire. When comments are made, I will lovingly respond on the same post on my blog. Any comments I make bopping around to visit you all will be independent of your comments, and made purely for the joy of making them. I expect no return-comment from you; to do so puts pressure where none should exist. I simply enjoying catching up with you all when I can, and that's all I want from you: to just enjoy the friendship.
So, now that I'm back, and I've gotten the difficult "first post" out of the way, I promise to try to do better. Be more consistent. Catch up with you all (Congratulations, Alyssa, on your expected blessing!!!). And enjoy renewing the friendships I probably didn't value enough.
Your husband/boyfriend is like Edward Ferrars of Sense & Sensibility. He is quietly impulsive, with an understated hint of romance. But once you get to know him, he's very affectionate, caring, and faithful. The two of you enjoy a calm, joyful life.
All right. Brace yourself. What I'm about to tell you will astound and amaze you. And I learned it from my new blogging friend ddmcnair.
You can pull your friends' most recent posts up by typing in your blog address, and adding friends to the end!!! (i.e. homeschoolblogger.com/celticmom/friends) I'm not kidding! No more bouncing from site to site... they all pull up... on *your* home page design!! Is that wild or what? Now, it's not all of them, only the most recent XX amount, but *still*!! Talk about the time saved!! Talk about the convenience!! Talk about the...
It's me, honest! I've changed the name, sure, changed the look, yes, but it's still just little ole me. I wanted my blog to reflect the major changes I've been through, in my spirit, and while it's still a work-in-progress, it's better reflective of the 'new' me.
Welcome to our home! Within you will find an assortment of ramblings having to do with home educating, books, homemaking, being a wife and mother, crafts, Catholicism ~ in general, our life at home, where our hearts truly lie.
Happy at Home
Mo Chroi~ Wonderful Husband who makes me laugh and is crazy about me and our kids
Me (Celtic Mom)~ Happily married to My Heart, mother of two wonderful sons, and passionate about many things, among them being teaching, making our house a home, and exploring my Creative Well
Piper~ Eldest son who loves being home educated and playing the bagpipes with the local Scottish Pipe Band
Jigger~ Youngest son who loves keeping up with his brother, and going further with his Irish Step Dancing
The Tea Shop Mysteries by Laura Childs
For the Love of Literature by Maureen Whittmann
The Well Trained Mind by Susan Wise Bauer
Endangered Minds: Why Children Don't Think and What We Can do About It by Jane Healy
Catholic Homeschooling Companion by Maureen Whittmann and Rachel Mackson
Surprised by Truth by Patrick Madrid
Please Don't Drink the Holy Water! by Susie Lloyd
