Encouraging Confession

A few weeks ago, a friend asked me how we encourage our children to go to confession. I shared the following with her. I am sharing it here just in case it helps any other mothers. 

In my family, we make it a habit to go to confession on the First Friday/First Saturday of each month. If any of the children want to go before then, they can do so. Having your child review his conscience each night before bed is a good habit. We can help our children by focusing on the 10 Commandments with prompting questions (Did I always listen to my mommy and daddy?) and letting the child reflect on each one quietly in his head. We have been known to go over the 10 Commandments with questions on our way to Mass. Don't ever tell your child that he has sinned. Do gently help him see that he has done so by encouraging him to examine his conscience at the end of each day. 

Sound Advice for Parents

Happy Feast of St. John Bosco!

I'm sharing this link here so that I can have easy access to it. 

 

St. John Bosco, pray for us!

The Nature Center

We spent part of the day with some friends at a local nature center. My little boys were excited to see the ducks. I couldn't help but smile when I heard Kieran exclaim, "There's a duck. There's a duck."

 

We're looking forward to another field trip next week. 😊 

For Parents of Boys

I am planning on possibly sharing these lectures with my teenage son too. I was happy to hear Fr. Ripperger mention (among other things) boys, homeschooling, and moms.

I think that this list of "23 Behaviors of a Gentleman that Every Man Should Adopt" goes hand in hand with Fr. Ripperger's advice.

All Saints Day Ruminations

2003

When my older children were little, we were very active in our local Catholic homeschool group. Each year, we would have a wonderful All Saints' Potluck Party for all of the children, young and old. We would all eat and then the children would play various games. Towards the end of the evening the children would play "Guess the Saints". Each child would get on stage and give three clues as to who they were; the children in the audience would have great fun guessing. We would usually end the evening by processing around the exterior of the church singing songs.

2004

Padre Pio 2005

St. Alice 2005

St. Claire 2005

2006

In 2009, we were blessed to have an All Saints' party at our then "new" parish. This year, we will be having an All Saints Party at our new (old) parish. We can't wait. Hopefully, I will have all of the costumes made/altered in time. I like the teaching opportunity and enjoyment that comes with choosing costumes and learning about various saints. We also enjoy celebrating this wonderful feast day with friends.

Wyoming Catholic College Distance Learning

Wyoming Catholic College has started offering distance learning learning courses. My oldest daughter and I are currently taking the first course, Religious Liberty in America, which began today. More information about these free distance learning classes can be found here.

Founding of Maryland
by Tompkins Harrison Matteson

Daily Homeschool Schedule

As our family grew and I started homeschooling more and more of our children, I realized that we needed a schedule to keep both my children and me on track. Recently, a friend asked me what our daily homeschool schedule looked like. I told her, but I thought that a visual might be better. With this in mind, I am sharing a slightly modified version of our homeschool schedule below (no need to share when we are out and about). We use the schedule as a guide and allow for the fact that family life can be messy. In other words, the schedule is flexible.

This same friend also asked how I homeschool seven children with a toddler and baby in tow. I have already shared that I homeschool by the grace of God. What she wanted to know was what I do with my baby and toddler when I am working with my older children. So, I told her. Several years ago, at a local Catholic homeschooling conference, the same question was asked of another mother of nine children. She responded that when the little ones weren't with her, taking a nap, or occupied with an activity close by, she had her older children take turns watching the little ones. I knew when I heard Julie's response that I needed to follow her lead. Each day, when needed, my children are told to play with their youngest brothers for half an hour. I set the timer for half an hour and one of the children plays with the little ones. When that half hour is up, I set the timer again, and the next child plays with the little ones. This is done throughout the day as necessary. It's a win-win situation for everyone. My little boys are entertained, my older children get a relaxing break, and I can homeschool knowing that my little ones are being supervised. In a way, it's what we have always done.

Spruce Up Your Homeschooling Before Spring

My daughter's friend, who happened to finish high school a year or two early, shared some tips on how to "spruce up" your homeschooling before spring.

Please keep Anna in your prayers. She is trying to obtain a presidential scholarship from a certain Catholic college. If she does so, it will help her family enormously.

5 Ideas to Spruce Up Homeschooling Before Spring 

As springtime quickly approaches, many homeschooling high-schoolers start to get really burned out and long for the warm days of summer freedom. However, there are still two quarters of work to get through before the break can begin. Here are some... 

Seton Magazine

Board Books

Yesterday, I was inspired by Jen to place a few of our board books in a basket for my little ones. Kieran saw me doing so and he immediately started to help. He carried the basket out to the living room and proceeded to have me read to him. After I was finished reading, and sometimes rereading a story, he would happily return the book to the basket.

The books that Kieran helped me choose for his basket this week are:

Babies by Gyo Fujikawa
Baby Animals by Gyo Fujikawa
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss
1 Is One by Tasha Tudor

If you haven't already read it (and even if have), I highly recommend visiting Wildflowers and Marbles and reading about Board Book Delights and Good Book Habits.

Story-Killers

HSLDA recommended watching "Story-Killers: How the Common Core Destroys Minds and Souls" a few months ago. My pastor recommended doing so in our parish bulletin yesterday. It is well worth watching.

Goodbye Summer Daybook

Outside my window

The sun is shining and the leaves are starting to change color. At least, the sun was shining when I started this daybook. Now, the rain is pouring down and I am enjoying sipping on pumpkin spice hot cocoa. We double the cocoa and the milk when we make this.

We have had a beautiful summer!

I am wearing
a denim skirt and a navy blue t-shirt.

In the kitchen

I have been enjoying all of the barbecuing that Anthony has been doing this summer. I am so thankful to have a son who can barbecue. As I told my dad, Anthony barbecuing means that my husband can arrive home to dinner on the table.

Outside

My husband and some of the children cleaned our cars this week. The children always enjoy cleaning the cars with their dad.

I am thankful for

our new assistant pastor. He came for dinner a week ago and we had a great time visiting with him, playing Pictionary, and watching him play Mario Kart with three of our boys.

I am also thankful for Ben, a very kind man at our parish, who has been giving us heirloom tomatoes and Italian prunes. Growing up, we had a huge, old, bountiful Italian prune tree. As children, my siblings and I were always happy when the plums were ready. When I went to college, my mom sent me Italian prunes in a small box each year. Ben's Italian prunes are bringing back many fond memories.

I am hearing

the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles, singing on their Marian Hymns at Ephesus CD. I am also hearing Kilian squeal and laugh. Joan is playing with him, while Bernadette tries various hairstyles in my hair.

Our baby is growing so quickly. He is moving all over the place whenever he is on the floor. Since he was born, I have been amazed by how much he moves. I joke that he is perpetual motion, but I am not really joking.

I am continuing to pray for

Kim.

We are learning

all sorts of things. Cecilia was happy when she saw the bird stamps that I bought for her to mail the letters that she writes. She is a prolific letter writer and recently asked me if I could buy some pretty stamps for her to use. When I gave her these stamps, her face lit up.

Bernadette checked this book out from the library and has been experimenting with various hairstyles. I think that we might need to have a girls' hair-styling party one of these weekends.

I was happy to find these pens for around $7 on Amazon. I've always liked using colorful pens. These write well and are comfortable to use which is a bonus. The children like using them too. They are great for writing in cards, etc.

What am I reading?

I was reading The Glories Of Mary by St. Alphonsus Liguori until the book was ruined (I won't mention how). I will be buying another copy of this title when I am able. It is a great book.

I am continuing to read Legends and Stories of Italy by Amy Steedman to the children in the morning. I am finding that the faith-filled stories in this book lend themselves well to narration. After I finish reading, I ask, "What can you tell me about the story?" One of my children will respond by retelling the story that I read. If they leave anything out of their retelling, another child is happy to add a little more to the retelling. I highly recommend Legends and Stories of Italy.

During lunch, I am reading A Nest for Celeste by Henry Cole. Thanks go to Jen for recommending this book. Whenever I read A Nest for Celeste, my young children beg, "Please read another chapter." They are thoroughly enjoying listening to this story and I am enjoying reading it. 

I am listening to

Fraternal Correction Requires Charity and On Gossiping (Fraternal Correction, Continued)

I love my husband

He surprised me with flowers on Thursday night because he felt that I needed them. He was right. 

Aren't they cute?

Plans for this week

• Go to Mass
• Go to the beach Oops that was last week. Our summer beach days with friends, new and old, have come to an end. :( I am going to miss going to the beach with my children and friends.
• Garden - There is a lot to be done outside. My perennials have taken over since last year. I want to transplant some flowers and divide others. Eventually, I hope to be satisfied with how our garden in the front looks. When that happens, I want to work on the backyard.
• Clean up around the house. It's a never-ending task that I am happy to offer to God.
• Jump in with both feet. I needed to read Sarah's Do it Afraid because I think that this is the first time (to paraphrase Sarah) that I am just "jumping in with both feet" and "shoring up the details" as I go. Oh, I wanted this summer to last and last.
• Plan for a Lilla Rose Marian luncheon party.

I am pondering

"If you are feeling overwhelmed, then you are not spending enough time with God." I read these words somewhere and I have not been able to stop thinking about them. I know that I need to make more time for God in my life.

A prayer for Students

Ineffable Creator, Who out of the treasures of Thy wisdom has appointed three hierarchies of Angels and set them in admirable order high above the heavens and hast disposed the divers portions of the universe in such marvelous array, Thou Who art called the True Source of Light and supereminent Principle of Wisdom, be pleased to cast a beam of Thy radiance upon the darkness of my mind and dispel from me the double darkness of sin and ignorance in which I have been born.

Thou Who makest eloquent the tongues of little children, fashion my words and pour upon my lips the grace of Thy benediction. Grant me penetration to understand, capacity to retain, method and facility in study, subtlety in interpretation and abundant grace of expression. Order the beginning, direct the progress and perfect the achievement of my work, Thou Who art true God and true Man, Who livest and reignest for ever and ever. Amen.  

~ St. Thomas Aquinas

I hope that everyone has had a relaxing and enjoyable summer. We enjoyed spending time together as a family, and Wednesdays at the beach with friends, both new and old, this summer. May God bless our children as we begin another homeschool, charter school/school year!

Tantum Ergo

Recently, I realized that my younger children do not know the Tantum Ergo by heart, so I made this printout in order to help them learn it. I am posting it here, just in case anyone else can benefit from having a printed copy.

Download Tantum Ergo

Responding to Questions and Comments about Homeschooling

How do you do it?

I could never homeschool because I don’t have the patience. You must be so patient.

The above question and comment are ones that I have heard over and over again. I always give the same responses.

How do you do it? "I homeschool my children by the Grace of God because without Him, I couldn't do it." This means that I begin each day with a morning offering, followed by praying three Hail Marys for purity, holiness, and happiness (by happiness, I mean eternal happiness) for my husband, my children, and myself. I pray for my husband and each of my children by name. I pray that my husband and children become great saints and bring greater glory to God. I pray that God grants them final perseverance. Over the years, I have learned that prayer is essential to homeschooling. I homeschool by offering my whole day to God and asking Him to help my children and me.

You must be so patient. "Actually, I am learning to be patient." Several years ago, I told a friend, "You are always so full of joy." I think that I will always remember her response. Marty replied, "Thank you. I pray for the virtue of joy each day."  She taught me a very important lesson. If you are lacking in a virtue, pray that God grant you that virtue. Therefore, I try to remember to pray for patience. Recently, Fr. V. told me that patience is a fruit of the virtue of joy. Thanks to Fr. V., I am going to be joining Marty in praying for the virtue of joy.

"Teach children with joy. They will be attracted by joy to the Source of all joy, the heart of Jesus." 

~ St. Katharine Drexel ~

Learning through Osmosis

One of the things that I like about homeschooling is how the little ones take in what the older children are learning. A week or so ago, Kieran was sitting on my lap, as he usually does when I am teaching Elizabeth. I was working with Elizabeth on her religion lesson and asked her, "Who made you?" Before she could respond, Kieran piped up, "God made me." Those of us sitting around the dining room table were all very surprised to hear him respond so clearly and quickly. I hope that he always embraces the teachings of the Catholic Church. My most ardent prayer for my little boy and his siblings is that they become great saints and bring greater glory to God.

Fisher More College Needs Help

A couple of years ago, our pastor told my husband and me about Fisher More College. After he left, I got online to learn more about this great sounding school. I liked what I saw and read. Fisher More College is one of the few colleges to which I would consider sending my children. Fisher More College is currently experiencing financial difficulties. A major contributor to the school recently fell through. The students of the college have started a one-week online fundraising drive to try and save their school. If you are able, please consider making a donation to Fisher More College and help the students save their school. I would like to see this faithful Catholic College keep its doors open for a long time to come.

I know that it goes without saying, but please keep the college in your prayers. May Our Blessed Mother wrap her mantle around all of the students and faculty!

Donations can be made by visiting Save Fisher More.

Update: Fisher More College exceeded their fundraising goal. Praise God!

December 2013 Saints

December 2013 Saints

As usual, this month's pieces were made using the calendar published by the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter as a guide. If I have made any errors, please don't hesitate to let me know. The Fraternity's 2014 calendar is now available.

Saints for November Calendar

November 2013 Saints

As usual, this month's pieces were made using the calendar published by the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter as a guide. If I have made any errors, please don't hesitate to let me know. Their 2014 calendar is now available.

Saints for October Calendar

Update (10/7): Yesterday, a friend let me know that there was an error on page 3 (October 29) of this calendar. I have corrected the error and apologize for the inconvenience. Thank you, Kathleen, for catching the mistake and letting me know about it. Happy Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.

October Saints

As usual, this month's pieces were made using the calendar published by the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter as a guide. If I have made any errors, please don't hesitate to let me know.

Saints for September Calendar

September Saints

As usual, this month's pieces were made using the calendar published by the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter as a guide. If I have made any errors, please don't hesitate to let me know.

Saints for August Calendar

Download Saints for August Calendar

As usual, this month's pieces were made using the calendar published by the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter as a guide. If I have made any errors, please don't hesitate to let me know.

I apologize for posting this so late, but I have been preoccupied.