Posted in Faith and Formation
 Teens Encounter Christ (TEC) is a celebration of the Paschal Mystery of Jesus Christ. The celebration takes place in a setting which is informal, safe and comfortable for youth. Activities, discussions, music, sharing, food, fun, fellowship, recreation and worship are all part of the TEC experience, all designed to enhance the faith life of young Christians.  My daughter with her new TEC friends |
Posted in Family
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Last year I had a wall built to enclose an alcove in our walkout Lower Level. It was the thrown-together guest room filled with hand-me-down furniture. Recently I was inspired to give it a little face lift. Before and After:  Before  I made an upholstered headboard Sewed up some lined curtains and pillows Before And updated the window treatments and bedding |
Posted in Faith and Formation
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I have written about our ministry work at Mission Outreach in the past. We love going there several times a year to sort through medical supplies/equipment, package it, weigh it, and catalog it. These items are sent to missions throughout the world. I've also written about assigning a leadership project to the kids as a requirement of their homeschooling. Over the last year, my boys have partnered in a two-fold project related to their Mission Outreach ministry. The 13yo attended a parish Ministry Fair and "advertised" his project to collect used prescription medicine bottles. He explained to each inquiree they would be washed and stripped of labels, then sent to missions around the world. via Mission Outreach Every week for 6 months he collected the bottles donated in the church vestibule. The 14yo coordinated the same bottle collection at a couple other churches in town through a liaison in each parish. He then hosted a service project day at our parish hall for assemby line-style washing, stripping of STICKY labels, and drying.  13yo son scraping labels off 15yo son training one of the helpers Cooperation = Success All ages pitched in on this project! Helpers were served milk and cookies. Today, we delivered the "booty" which totaled 70 lbs of clean prescription bottles! |
Posted in Homeschool
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Warm, sunny winter vacations are awesome, but February calls us back to our studies. The kids use Jay Wile's Apologia science series. Having completed General Science and Physical Science, we are now studying Biology. In addition to the textbook, we have participated in online lectures and labs through the Virtual Homeschool Group. This has added a fun and social aspect to their studies, sitting in on real-time classes with 15-20 other homeschooled kids throughout the country. On Fridays they also participate in a Biology Lab class through our homeschool co-op. Last semester microscopes were used to identify paramecium, euglena, volvox, fungi, mold spores and various structures in botany. This semester they are dissecting earthworms, crayfish, perch and frogs. Unfortunately, I've only remembered to bring my camera once so far.  14yo....looks like a crayfish surgeon! 13yo identifying internal organs 16yo deciding not to be a science major, but toughing out the labs! 13yo's crayfish diagram for his lab report 16yo's earthworm diagram for lab reportAs we draw near to the end of our biology studies, we will be reading, discussing, and writing about Darwin's Black Box and Humani Generis.
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Posted in Travel
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January 1st - January 20th....we're playing hookie from school.
Researching retirement is a tough job! The kids are absorbing Vitamin D, playing basketball and water volleyball everyday. I think that counts for Phys Ed and Health? We're enjoying loads of discretionary reading time. I'm not letting them skip their online classes each day, so they're not completely off the hook! I'm re-evaluating our goals....both their high school goals and my retirement goals. Somewhere in between I plan a job! Yes dear, a job that pays instead of the 15 years of volunteer work I've been enjoying!
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Marco Island
Gulf view
Watching sunsets from the lanai
My reading gazebo after too much sun.Posted in Family
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Painted by my brother-in-law, Posted in Recipes
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FIRST LAYER
SECOND LAYER
THIRD LAYER
In 400° oven, bake first layer in a 9x13x2-inch pan. Bake 8 minutes. Remove to cool.
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Posted in Recipes
 Clam-stuffed Mushrooms
Remove stems from mushrooms, and chop stems. Cook chopped stems and garlic in 1/4 cup butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat until all of the liquid evaporates. Drain clams, reserving 2 tablespoons liquid. Add clams and reserved liquid to cooked mushroom stems. Add breadcrumbs and remaining ingredients; stir. Brush remaining butter on mushroom caps; place mushrooms, stemside up, on a lightly greased baking sheet or jellyroll pan. Spoon stuffing evenly into mushrooms. Broil stuffed mushrooms 5 inches from heat 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Makes about 20 mushrooms. |
Posted in Recipes
 a Christmas Eve tradition
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Posted in Family
   The Christmas tree decorating fairy arrived this week while I was at a meeting!My 15yo daughter looked pretty proud....thanks, Honey! |
Posted in Homeschool
 Two of our kids sang in 4 performances of Vespers 2008...over 7200 in attendance! This is dress rehearsal with the current director of Vespers and the original founder who was honored in this year's 50th anniversary of Vespers.  The Millikin Children's Choir was invited by the Millikin University choirs because this year's theme was "Generation to Generation," honoring the past, present and future. |
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