Look what I found in my inbox!

Judy, from A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings, has given me the True Heart Award! I am so honored and humbled! This is what she said:

"Those who receive this award are of the sweetest nature. They are kind, friendly, funny, loving, eager to share their love for Jesus with others, and brave in their efforts to reflect Him to this darkened world. They are the kind of folks you're blessed to know, even if it's only in the bloggy-sphere."

I believe (since this is my first award and I am not sure) I am supposed to pass this award on to others. These are the ladies I have chosen:

Elizabeth at In the Heart of My Home

Marilyn at Enjoy the Journey

Kristen at Small Treasures

Katherine at evlogia

Jessica at Shower of Roses

Marisa at And Now for Seven

Thank you, Judy, and the ladies I have listed above, for your inspiration. You have brought joy to the blogosphere and to me.

Small Successes

1.
Saw the bottom of my laundry hamper...for a couple of hours. My boys cleaned up their room and, voila!...full hamper again. That, plus some beach towels means Mt. Neverrest is living in my laundry room again. But I was caught up for a short time. Also, cleaned little girl's room and the boys' room. These successes tend to be like the laundry...fleeting. But a fleeting success is still a success, right?


2.
Had some success overcoming procrastination. I made some phone calls and did some paperwork as soon as I became aware they needed to be done--instead of waiting for a "better" time, which never seems to come. In fact, in one case, hubby called and told me we needed a letter from the bank. I was on my way out anyway, so I stopped at the bank (with three children in tow) and half an hour later, I had the letter in hand, which I then immediately delivered to the person who needed it. It was a bit exhilarating to text hubby and tell him it was all taken care of--within an hour of his requesting it!

3.
Got the results of the standardized testing the boys took a couple of weeks ago. They did great!! This is their success, but I like to think I had a little to do with it;) Now, I need to copy them, and mail them to the school district with my letter of intent to homeschool next year...no procrastinating!!

It’s important for us moms to recognize that all the small successes in our days can add up to one big triumph.Go to Faith and Family Live to view more successes.

7 Quick Takes

Since it has been crazy here, I thought it might be easier if I condensed several blog posts into one "Quick takes" post. (Visit other Quick Takes here.) Here goes:

1.

This weekend marks the Solemnities of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Friday) and the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Saturday). Friday is also the beginning of the Year of the Priest instituted by Pope Benedict XVI. What a great Pope we have! Please note the prayer for priests on my sidebar. I know they can use all the prayer we can offer up for them! Since I love this icon so much, I am going to use it here and on my sidebar:)2.

College girl was surprised at seeing a group of fellow Franciscan University Students gathered in the Subway shop where she works -- in New Hampshire!!! Turns out they were here to attend a mutual friend's wedding this weekend. She was able to speak to the brother of a good friend of hers. Unexpected meetings can be so much fun.

3.

Isaac received the Offensive Award at his baseball banquet this week. No, he wasn't being rude...he had the best batting average on the team (.407 !!) He also made 2nd team All State! Way to go, Isaac!

4.

Annemarie had her very first dentist appointment today. It was soooo cute. Despite her brothers telling her how awful the dentist is, she was excited and quite a trooper. She got to wear sunglasses to protect her eyes from the light and she got to hold the "vacuum cleaner." She giggled all through the polishing of the upper teeth near the roof of her mouth...it tickled! She had us in stitches and perhaps she served as a good example for her brothers;)

5.

My sister-in-law and I managed to finalize plans for our children's First Holy Communion Notebooks for next year. We also hashed out rough plans for our 2nd graders' science curriculum - Magic School Bus Science! It looks like fun...and I REALLY don't like science (at least the way I learned it) I will post the science plans when they are complete.

6.

We will be really busy this weekend: two soccer practices, 2 graduation parties and a soccer game on Saturday; Holy Mass, another soccer game and another graduation party on Sunday! Unfortunately, we will need to split up on Sunday, meaning we won't all get to spend the day telling Daddy how great he is and how much we love him. I must admit that I am disappointed about that. We will have to make it up to him.

7.

Last, but certainly NOT least...Saturday, June 20, 2009 will be our 22nd wedding anniversary. Since we were 22 years old when we got married (I was 2 weeks shy of 22), we have now been married half our lives!! If you have read #6 above, you will see that there is not a lot of room for celebrating this weekend, but, we will. I think we both feel the depth of our love and commitment as a tangible, palpable entity. Love is never stagnant..if it is, it dies. Love does not get old. It keeps growing and changing, but, after 22 years, it grows and changes differently. There is a solidity that grounds, yet inspires the changing. There is history between us now, and we have touched the future. The very fact that we have joined together in marriage, produced children (two already in Heaven), baptized, catechized and educated them, means we have impacted the future. This is a very sobering thought. Marriage is serious business. Serious, difficult, frustrating, exhilarating, exhausting, joyful, sorrowful, luminous and glorious!! And soooo worth fighting for. It is worth working your way through the ridiculous fights and the serious misunderstandings. It is worth biting your tongue when you pick up yet another dirty sock from the floor. In fact, it is worth NOT biting your tongue, but offering up thanksgiving to God for the man who left that dirty sock on the floor in his rush to get to work to support the family you have created together. Christian marriage is worth the sacrifice and we feel so very blessed to have been partners in Christian Marriage for 22 years. Happy Anniversary, my dear, with all my love.

Forever, I do.

First bit of curriculum planning

My sister-in-law and I hashed out our plans for two of our children who will be making their First Holy Communions next spring. I'd like to thank some online friends who shared their ideas with me. We are really excited to do this "main lesson book" style. I think the children will enjoy it and their notebooks will be a keepsake to look back on. Since I feel like I always "glean"(read: 'swipe') so much from other blogs, I would like to be able to give a little bit back. So, for what it is worth, I have shared our plans below:

First Holy Communion Notebook 2009-2010

1. Ultrasound picture w/bible verse, Psalm 139:13,14 copywork
2. Name Acrostic
3. Patron saints – color pictures and narration (Samuel and Peter)
4. Baptismal certificate and picture of Baptism
5. Seven Sacraments – cut construction paper, glue as ladder, see First Communion Baltimore Catechism pg. 35.
6. First Penance – 10 Commandments – cut out construction paper ‘tablets’, blue into notebook. Glue pre-cut strips of commandments in order on the tablets.
7. First Penance – Steps of Good Confession pg. 41 BC (glue strips in order) Color and glue Gentle Examen for Children (CHC) on opposite page
8. Act of Contrition – illustrate and glue into notebook; make bookmark (see Catholic Heritage Curricula second grade lesson plans)
************** Save page for pix of First Penance**************
TAKE PICTURES OF MASS KIT OBJECTS for next three lessons
9. Mass kit presentation – Set up altar and credence table, take pix of objects, have kids cut, paste and label
10. Mass kit presentation – Consecration I from Home Catechesis Manual, label and glue
11. Mass kit presentation – Consecration II from Home Catechesis Manual, label and glue
12.The Weight of a Mass read and narrate, place illustrated narration in book
****Take home Precious Life books and read this week****
13. Precious Life books – draw Chalice and Host picture (narrate child’s understanding of the True Presence depicted in the picture)
14. Passover and Last Supper(This lesson may take 2 sessions)—read stories from a children’s bible and have child narrate back. Point out symbolism and comparisons between:
a. Blood of the Lamb & Blood of the Lamb of God (saved its people)
b. Bread of Freedom becomes Body of Christ (Jesus used unleavened bread at the Last Supper/Passover meal)
c. Freedom from Slavery & Freedom from Slavery of Sin
15. John Paul II’s For the Children – picture of John Paul II holy communion with quote (cut and paste)
16. Anima Christi (prayer after Communion) illustrated
17. Pictures of First Holy Communion with child’s impressions of day

We will be reading the St. Joseph First Communion Baltimore Catechism, Little Nellie of Holy God, and perhaps Bl. Imelda Lambertini (a Windeatt book) to round out the curriculum. What a great way to prepare for the Sacrament!

Our Visitor

A curious visitor

A face only a mother could love

Watch out, honey! We discovered it was a snapping turtle!

High-tailing it outta here!

moving so fast, the picture blurred :)

The Highlight Reel

The boys asked me to take pictures of them as they attempted bicycle kicks. It was pretty fun to watch, but a little painful for them, I would guess. Enjoy

Here's MY homeschooling success story

Haggard-looking teen son upon returning from taking his SATs:

"Well, I will probably be able to get into clown school."