A Catholic Mom trying to grow in faith, strength, and love as I do my best to raise heavenly saints with the help of Our Mother of Perpetual Help. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/fabfive/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Thu, 8 Oct 2009 12:55:00 -0500 Thu, 8 Oct 2009 12:55:00 -0500 I can not even believe that it has been 6 months since I have blogged.  In some ways I have missed it, and in other ways I have felt relieved.  I am hoping to get back to it, but definitely will not be making it a daily habit.  My life has become much too busy.  In the past six months, my oldest ds has traveled through Europe, gone to the Air Force Academy in Colorado for a summer program, and gone on church retreats.  He has had his first girlfriend and gone through all the ups and downs brought on by that relationship.  He is now a senior and going throught the process to get into the AFA. My second oldest ds worked his first job (a life guard at our pool), made some new, non-church, friends, spent ALL his money, gone on many church retreats, and is now in his first year of confirmation classes (with a retreat this weekend). My oldest dd participated in swim team over the summer and really enjoyed that.  It was a long commitment, but she wants to do it again next year.  She got to go on her first youth group retreat over the summer, a week long,  as well as a week long Challenge retreat.  She is in her second year of Challenge (a Catholic girls apostolic program) this year.  She is in 6th grade and is making many new friends through our homeschool group and her first year in youth group at church.  My third ds didn't do a whole lot over the summer escept play with his friends.  I think he got to do that more than ever before.  He participated in a boys weapons camp (that I held) where he made bow and arrows, rubberband guns, catapults, and swords.  He really enjoyed it (But it was the longest week of MY life)  He is in the 4th grade.  He has not expressed an interest in playing any sport yet.  Although my dh tried to get him to do martial arts and he decided not to.  Not sure what will be his desire.  And of course, my baby, who is no longer a baby .  She turned 7 last month.  She learned to swim this summer and how to ride her bike alone.  She is truly joyful.  She has decided that she wants to do swim team next year, as well.  She is in a Little Flower Catholic Girls club with 4 other girls her age.  Hopefully that will make her feel like she has something of her own. My dh has not done much different.  He works out at the gym 4 nights a week and runs with a friend on two nights.  He went on a powerful men's retreat this summer, which I was surprised about.  Him not being a retreat kind of guy.  He has started what he calls a "jam' with the three younger children and their same age cousin.  About once a month, he takes them all out for their "jam", which may include going to the $ theater, getting ice cream, going to 1/2 price books, etc...  Whatever they do, it is just the 5 of them.  they all seem to really ecjoy it. As for me...oh where do I even start?!?  I have been as busy as ever.  Summer just flew by and it seemed like the kids were never here.  Someone was always coming or going to retreat.  Swim team lasted every day until the middle of June.  This summer, unlike the last few, we went to the pool EVERY day.  Because my ds was a lifeguard, the kids got to know the other life guards and they would often play with them in the pool when we went.  I held two summer camps, Cookking Camp for my 7 yod and Weapons Camp for my 9yos.  That pretty much took up our summer.  This fall I have taken on quite a full platter, not just a plate!  I am teaching two days of homeschool classes - Tuesdays with 9 students from 9-5:30 and Wednesdays with 6 students from 9-2:30.  I am really enjoying the Tuesday class.  The Wednesday class is quite challenging (they are K age)  Both classes take up ALOT of my time in preparation.  I am also helping to get our homeschool group's First Friday activities back on track.  I am in charge of the middle school group and the service projects each month.  I am also leading Social Justice night for the middle school youth group once a month.  I organized a Little Flower group for my youngest dd, but luckily the other moms want to lead, so i only have to lead every 5 weeks - YEAH!  I am also very involved in helping the youth group with whatever they need help with.  That includes their pancake breakfast every month.  That is alot of work and currently their are only 2 of us moms who help out with it. While most of you know that I began my vegetarian journey in January, I started on my vegan journey in June.  It hasn't been that difficult, just it takes more thought and prepartion.  I also kicked up my excersising routine this summer.  A friend and I were supposed to participate in a triathalon sprint in September, but the event did not take place.  We were also supposed to participate in a duathalon in November.  However, the duathalon got moved to October and she can't participate that day.  Soooo, I have been training by myself and will be competing THIS Sunday in the event.  I picked up my packet today, so it is all official, no backing out now!  I ahve been working really hard to get a good time, so I am jsut hoping to make a personal best time.  It seems that I have been so busy because the children always seem to have events on the same day.  If you think having toddlers is difficult and time consuming - wait until they get older.  The amount of running around required will make you feel liek a taxi driver.  And my children are not involved in anything besides school and church.  Imagine if they were in sports too! Well, I guess that is a good update to start off my renewed blogging commitment.  I will be back - much sooner this time http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/fabfive/734424/ Thu, 8 Oct 2009 12:55:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/fabfive/734424/ For Today…April 27, 2009 Outside my window…It's raining, it's pouring . . . I am thinking…about what I am going to do with co-op classes tomorrow. From the learning rooms…ds#3 is quietly reading his book club book. I am thankful for…a cozy, warm house on a cold, rainy night. From the kitchen…ds#2 is washing dishes. I am wearing…a denim skirt and black tshirt I am reading…Fitness for Eternal Life and a new book I started last night (can't remember the name of it) I am hoping…that it will not rain on the nights ds#2 has lifeguard training this week.  And my foot will heal quickly so I can resume my exercise. I am creating…a new feel in my home. I am hearing…the kids saying "we need food" Around the house…it is nice and neat and organized. One of my favorite things…sleeping A few plans for the rest of the week…school, youth group, Challenge, Baseball, Mother-Daughter Tea, lifeguard training Here is a picture I thought of sharing with you: Appliances are a pain to shop for!! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/fabfive/683518/ Mon, 27 Apr 2009 19:39:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/fabfive/683518/ I have been wanting to take the time to do this exercise, but haven't.  Today is a good day as I am nursing a migraine and can't do much. For Today…April 23, 2009 Outside my window…It is sunny and the trees are swaying in the wind I am thinking…I wish my migraine would go away and I want to go to sleep From the learning rooms…the kids are done for the day I am thankful for…the comforts of my home and my health From the kitchen…the kids are making an assortment of snacks - whatever they can find on this last day before payday I am wearing…my pajamas I am reading…two books, Country of Origin and Fitness for Eternal Life I am hoping…that my migraine will be gone by tomorrow I am creating…a weaving I am hearing…the kids saying "we need food" Around the house…there are dishes waiting to be washed, laundry to be folded, a box of school stuff I took off the wall that needs to be put away One of my favorite things…reading (in the hammock) A few plans for the rest of the week…go grocery shopping, go to our small faith group, attend my son's baseball game, drive kids to church for service projects, finish my touch-up painting Here is a picture I thought of sharing with you: Visual image of the trash be produce divided into kinds and amounts.  Paper being the most at37%. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/fabfive/682114/ Thu, 23 Apr 2009 15:03:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/fabfive/682114/ Earth Day Yesterday was Earth Day - for those of you that didn't know.  Of course it would be hard not to know given the marketing and advertising that goes into it.  For the past two years I have hosted an Earth Day celebration for our small homeschool group.  This year we went to a local park for it.  While the turnout was small, the kids had a great time and soaked up the information.  One of the boys is excited to go home and build a compost pile.  They also asked a lot of questions about recycling and we talked a lot about reducing and making wise choices at the store.  I introduced them to many items that are good choices such as 100% recycled aluminum foil, 100% recycled paper clips, 100% organic cotton t-shirts, and reusable grocery bags made from used sheets and upholstery scraps. Our service for the day was to clean up trash at the park.  We collected six kitchen garbage bags full of trash.  They had a blast, especially when they found things like - a pair of pants, a huge smashed plastic cone, a baseball and football (which they kept), and lots of other "cool" things.  We talked about what they found and felt while doing the pick-up.  They mostly were very unhappy about litterbugs and felt that there should be a law against it.  They were surprised to learn that there is a law AND fine against it.  They also were saddened by people's lack of care for the earth.  We have decided that we are adopting that park and we will meet once a month to clean up trash there.  They were very excited about that. While on our trash pick-up we also found an almost dead snake.  That of course made everyone's day. It is an Eastern Yellow Bellied Racer We made suncatchers out of old CD's to hang in their windows.  They had fun doing that too.  To top it off they all got to win prized by answering some trivia about the environment and what we can do to help take care of it.  They all left with a reusable shopping bag and an earth friendly prize. We talked alot about recycling also.  We talked about what our trash is made up of.  I made a pizza pie chart to give them a visual of what part of the trash is made up of what materials.  It was surprising to see that plastic made up a smaller portion than we thought and that paper was the most abundant trash.  I showed them that almost everything can be recycled if you do your homework and find programs to take the items.  I recently found a program to recycle empty elmers glue bottles and glue sticks.  We will be participating in this program and I will alos be trying to get our church preschool to participate.  You can find out more about it here.  You can also recyle and get paid for things like juice pouches, 100 calorie snack packs, yogurt containers, etc at this location.  Recycle all those old, broken crayons at this site.  Or use them to color your homemade candles. Whether you believe in global warming or not, is your choice.  But, caring for the earth that God gave is is not a choice.  It is an obligation we have because God gave us dominion over the earth and all the creatures in it.  We can not ignore that fact.  That obligation calls us to be good stewards of the earth, its resources, and our financial resources as well. Whatever your position, I hope you take a moment to think about the information here and make a resolution to change something in your life that will make a positive impact on our environment.  It doesn't have to be big, just something doable.  Be the change you wish to see in the world. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/fabfive/682050/ Thu, 23 Apr 2009 11:08:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/fabfive/682050/ 42nd ANNUAL TIMED RUN                 LP RUN RUN FOR 33 1/3 MINUTES (33:20)     That is the LP race I ran tonight.  A friend and I signed up to run an LP race. That means that we ran for 3 1/3 minutes - just like the speed of an LP.  We ran laps on a track and the person who ran the most laps in the time frame, won.  Unfortunately, I had a number of excellent runners in my age group, so I did not place.  But, It was a good event to get my feet wet with.  Well, I had been a bit nervous today.  Not because I was neccesarily concerned about how I was going to do, but just nervous about the whole race scene.  I haven't been in that arena since HIGH SCHOOL!  But, I went in with a goal, knew the pace I could run, and stuck to that.  I am very happy with my success.  There were lots of VERY good runners there.  I kept to my pace and completed the number of laps I had set out to.  I am very proud of myself that I actually competed. My friend and I are planning a few more events for the year.  We are going to try a triathalon in June and one in September.  I am happy that i have someone to work with towards these goals.  Although we do not work out on the same level, we are able to still work towards the same goal "together". I will keep you up to date on my race progress.  Now go out there and get some exercise http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/fabfive/681913/ Wed, 22 Apr 2009 21:52:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/fabfive/681913/ You might find this post title a little strange.  Exercise for God?  What does God have to do with exercising?  Well, to most of us, very little.  It is probably a connection we have never made.  But there is a connection - and a very strong one at that. I have been reading a book my ds got for Easter this weekend and it has opened my eyes completely to the TRUE relationship between God and exercise.  It is called Fit for Eternal Life by Kevin Vost, for those of you interested in reading it.  The Bible, strangely enough has many, many references to our physical bodies and the state that we are called to keep them in.  "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God?  You are not your own; you were bought with a price.  So glorify God in your body."  1 Cor 6:19 How can we glorify God with our bodies if we do not strive to perfect them? Most notably it talks many times about strength and the perfection we are to attain.  "You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heaveny Father is perfect."  Mat 5:48 Now that does not mean that we will ever be perfect, but it means that we will be perfect within our limitations.  There is also a distinction between working toward obtaining a perfecct body for the glory of God, than for the eyes of society.  We will talk about this in more depth later on. St. Thomas Aquinas, the great doctor of the church, writes much on the physical body, in addition to the spiritual soul.  Remember, they are interconnected.  Our soul will continue on for eternity, but our bodies too shall be raised in a glorified state.  St. Thomas writes that "those who through exercise have the body more adapted to obey the moving sprit, labor less in being moved"  In otherwords, those who are of greater physical capabilities labor less strenously and more fluidly in acting on the desires of the spitrt which are service to others.   Our muscles and endurance are the tools by which we make charitable works physically possible.  There is greater harmony achieved between the soul and the body when both are thoroughly in shape.  Like the soul, the great virtues of our faith are the true path to physical perfection.  St. Thomas writes, "But if a man uses exercise, food, and drink in moderation, he will become physically strong and his health will be improved and preserved.  It is the same with virtues of the soul - for instance, fortitude, temperance, and the other virtues."  We will look at these virtues and how they can help us on our path to a more perfect union of our soul and body in coming posts.  In the mean time, I hope that I have given you something to ponder.  Try to think about your body as, not just a place for your soul to temporarily occupy, but as a TEMPLE of the HOLY SPIRIT.  Would God want his temple to be overweight, plagued with illness, slow to react, and too tired to work charitably?  How can we carry out God's work here on earth if we are physically in such a state as this?  I leave you with another quote from St. Thomas Aquinas, "Virtue, inasmuch as it is a suitable disposition of the soul, is like health and beauty, which are suitable dispositions of the body." http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/fabfive/679108/ Tue, 14 Apr 2009 12:19:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/fabfive/679108/ I am so proud of my oldest ds.  AGAIN.  Today he got notification that he has been accepted to the Archdiocesan Youth Council.  In addition, he got selected for the Leadership Council!  I am so happy for him.  This will be great leadership experience for him.  I also discovered, by looking at the diocesan calendar, that there is a week long leadership retreat that the diocese offers for high schoolers.  I am going to try to fit that into his already very busy summer.  i am so happy that he is geting these wonderful opportunities.  Especially since they are a result of what others see in him spiritually.  That is greater than any accomplishment academically. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/fabfive/677339/ Wed, 8 Apr 2009 21:16:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/fabfive/677339/ Today I signed up as an affiliate of a company that sells lots of homeschool curriculum and resources as well as some great science kits and other fun, educational materials at a discount.  They are called Learning Things.  As an affiliate, my job is to send as much traffic to them as possible through the use of my blog or other online sites.  By clicking on the link, either in this email or on the sidebar, I am sending them potential customers.  In return, I get a small percentage of the sales generated through my links.  They have alot of good stuff, so check them out and see if there is anything you need for the upcoming school year.  They also have lots of clearance stuff ALL the time.  Happy shopping! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/fabfive/676666/ Mon, 6 Apr 2009 21:57:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/fabfive/676666/ Today my dd and I were fortunate to be in the right place at the right time.  During my dd's Challenge meeting we found out that a replica of the Our Lady of Guadalupe's tilma was going to be arriving at the church we were meeting at.  The older group of girls decided to use part of their meeting to go pray in front of it.  So we joined them.  It was so beautiful.  We prayed before it and touched it.  I also got to see a dear friend who I haven't seen in months and talk for a while.  She told met that this tilma replica has cried tears of oil before and been seen holding the Eucharist.  Wow!  That is amazing.  I am so glad that we got to see this replica.  It travels around the country, so you are very fortunate if it comes to your church.  We we lucky tonight.  You can find some amazing miraculous pictures taken of the image at the following site. Our Lady of Guadalupe Devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe has been around for quite a while. It started in 1531, in Mexico. Bishop Zumarraga had seen that a revolt was likely, and prayed for Our Lady to intervene. Between the local folks, who had been practicing human sacrifice, and the Spanish conquerors, who were now making their lives miserable, it looked like a miracle was needed. On December 9 of that year, Juan Diego, a recent convert, saw Our Lady. She told him that she wanted a church for her built on the barren hill of Tepeyac, and that he should ask the bishop to start building it. After Juan Diego made the request, the bishop, reasonably, wanted some sort of sign that Juan Diego wasn't making this up. He told Juan Diego to ask Our Lady for a sign. On December 12, Bishop Zumarraga got his sign. Our Lady appeared to Juan Diego on Tepeyac Hill. Roses appeared, miraculously. She told him to pick the roses and bring them to the Bishop. This would be the sign for him to believe that her request was genuine. Juan gathered the roses, carrying them in his tilma, a garment similar to a poncho. When he came to the bishop, he let go of the tilma and Mary's out-of-season roses spilled out. The Bishop and other witnesses also saw a picture of Our Lady on the cactus-cloth tilma. Our Lady's church was built on Tepeyac Hill, as specified. Juan Diego became Saint Juan Diego. Nine million local folks gave up their old beliefs and the practice of human sacrifice, converted and were baptized in the nine years after Our Lady appeared. The tilma, which should have rotted away in less than a person's lifetime, didn't. It is now in her church there in Mexico. The picture on St. Juan Diego's tilma isn't a painting. Scientific investigation has shown that there are no brush strokes, and that there is no undersizing or pigment on the garment. In 1921, someone set off a bomb right under it. The tilma wasn't hurt. In 1999, Pope John Paul II came to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. He declared Our Lady of Guadalupe as Queen and Mother of America, and made December 12 a feast day throughout the American continent. Pope John Paul II has proclaimed Our Lady of Guadalupe as the Mother of all America, and these visitations are part of a program to give actions to the Pope's direction, "to lead the people of God in America to cross the threshold of the third millennium with renewed hope." When he looked at the image of Our lady of Guadalupe, the Pope said, "Our Lady is brilliantly seen in the mestizo countenance of this Image of Mary of Guadalupe who appeared at the beginning of the evangelization of the Americas. ... I ask her to 'visit. as a 'pilgrim of faith - each and every diocese, parish and family in America, repeating to her children what she said at Cana, 'Do whatever He tells you. (Jn 2:5) http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/fabfive/673015/ Thu, 26 Mar 2009 21:16:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/fabfive/673015/ I am not a good gardener.   Never mind garden, I can kill just about any plant.  And usually do! Especially since I have no sun in my yard.  But I have a son who LOVES nature and growing things.  So, one day he asked if we could plant some of the pumpkin seeds I was cleaning out of the pumpkins.  Sure, why not.  So he threw a handful into the flower bed.  I was not surprised when they came up, but I am surprised that they are still blooming.  Now whether they will pollinate or not, that remains to be seen.  But in the meantime, we have some beautiful yellow flowers to brighten our yard.  And it makes us feel like we are gardeners! We also have some potatoes growing nicely in a pot.  They have grown about 3 inches since this picture was taken.  We planted 5 in each pot and now have 3 in one and 2 in the other.  Hopefully they will actually give us some potatoes this year.  I have inherited some great pots from a neighbor's trash, and am hoping to plant herbs in some of them and strawberries in one.  We will see how well those do. But we are having fun at least.  And they look nice for the time being.  Wish me luck. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/fabfive/672506/ Wed, 25 Mar 2009 14:42:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/fabfive/672506/