Yesterday, I took my little CCE class on a field trip.  Our story was Tio Fernando and was about how the Day of the Dead (November 2, All Souls for us) is celebrated in Mexico.  I took the kids on a special field trip for this one.  I told my friend and she got the kids to my house without letting on.  I took the kids to a perfect spot to read our story and talk about All Souls Day..........to our local cemetary!  At dusk!   The girls had never been to one (that they could remember) and Cameron had never been to this particular one (that he could remember....actually he was about 2 when my stepdad's father passed away).  On the way there we talked about proper cemetary ettiquitte.  Unfortunately we had to take the 2 year old with us as hubby was tied up in traffic so he modeled all the improper behavior for us.  We parked the burban by the big Masoleum where there is a quiet reflection pool (which brought up the topic of baptism and how we die to ourselves and our old sinful life to be resurrected in Christ and life eternal).  We sat and prayed a decade of the rosary for all the faithful departed and then read our book.  I provided sweets to munch on and we talked about how the Day of the Dead is celebrated.  We talked about remembering those loved ones who have gone before us and how it is our responsiblilty to love, honor and pray for them.  We talked about different types of cemetaries and how here in the cemetary like we were in where someone is paid to take care of the graves, it is easy to forget our loved ones and our duties to them.  In Mexico, the families are the caretakers of the gravesites (in most cases) so remember is VERY important. 

Then we did some looking and found my stepdad's father's gravesite (I knew where it was so I made sure we parked close).  We prayed a little more.  Then we went and looked at different types of headstones and how they tell a lot about the people buried there.   There were big tombstones, little ones, markers and crypts. 

Did I mention we did this at dusk?  Ok, so by this time it was getting quite dark.....there are no lights in the cemetary (except for the front of the masoleum). So we loaded back up.  Said one more quick prayer.  Headed back to my house where we made construction paper tombstones with the Eternal Rest prayer on them and added the names of those loved ones who had passed before us.  We also looked at different Mass cards and remembrances from funerals.  My own father passed away 16 years ago so Cameron never knew him so we looked at a picture of him.  We talked about how important pictures were to help us remember.

All in all it was a great field trip.  The kids want to go out there again.....isn't that great!

Ahh yes, the moon.  The moon has a special place in my heart.  Moon is my mother's maiden name.  I prefer moonlit nights to sunny days.  This week Isaac is learning about the moon so we read some "moon" books before bedtime.  He loves to read and as he fell asleep talking about the moon I knew I was so blessed to have him in my life.  He, too, loves the moon and stars!