Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Carnival of Homeschooling
Week 3: Fish
Amelia's first grade science has us learning about FISH this week! The first week was MAMMALS and last week was BIRDS.
I am really enjoying these themed science units. The curriculum gives us the theme and then leaves the rest up to us! Our routine has been to gather and read lots of books from the library and to do a craft. I also have her to some copy work.
For our MAMMAL unit, we did a collage. We kept it displayed for the week, but I've since taken it down so there is no picture. For our BIRD unit, we just made sure that our bird feeders were all filled up. We were going to do a home made feeder (pine cones, peanut butter & bird seed) but, there are very few pine cones on the ground right now. I did find a couple, but they were still immature. I could have gone to the craft store and bought some, but this just didn't seem like the right thing to do. We'll save this activity for another time.
This week, we made an "easy-peasy" paper plate craft:
What are you doing for science?
I am really enjoying these themed science units. The curriculum gives us the theme and then leaves the rest up to us! Our routine has been to gather and read lots of books from the library and to do a craft. I also have her to some copy work.
For our MAMMAL unit, we did a collage. We kept it displayed for the week, but I've since taken it down so there is no picture. For our BIRD unit, we just made sure that our bird feeders were all filled up. We were going to do a home made feeder (pine cones, peanut butter & bird seed) but, there are very few pine cones on the ground right now. I did find a couple, but they were still immature. I could have gone to the craft store and bought some, but this just didn't seem like the right thing to do. We'll save this activity for another time.
This week, we made an "easy-peasy" paper plate craft:
Frustration!
I have finally reached a breaking point with my blog design. Even with all the new templates that Blogger has added to the choices, I just can't find anything that I'm happy with. So, I have decided to have someone do a personalized blog design for me. In the next few months, Be Not Afraid will have a new look! I'm very excited. Until then, please bear with me as I try to find something I can live with!
Monday, August 30, 2010
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Saint Maria Goretti
We watched this movie last night. WOW! It was a good movie, if such subject matter can be deemed as "good". Thankfully, the girls had already gone to bed. Parts of it were definitely hard to watch. To think that her life came to such a violent end was almost more than I could stand. She had such a heart for God!
The attacker stabbed Maria (11 years old) several times. After enduring the attack, she also had to suffer through surgery without anesthesia. She forgave her attacker before she died even going so far as to say that she wanted him in heaven with her. At some point, he repented and he was in attendance at her canonization.
When Dan and I were in Rome for our anniversary in 2007, we were blessed to be able to visit Our Lady of Mercy in Nettuno where Maria's remains are interred. Below is a picture of the Church.
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Friday, August 27, 2010
This and That!
This week has been very busy! Between work, school and normal household duties, my time is stretched very thin. Funny thing is, I’m happy! I have found myself to be very joyful. There has been less arguing between the kids, less fussing by ME, less (much less) television. There has been more reading, more talking and more time just being together. Even Daddy has been less grumpy. I don’t know what’s going on here, but I like it!
Here are just a few things that have been going on:
1. Last week I was watching the Barefoot Contessa on the Food Network and she made Sausage and Shrimp Jambalaya. It looked so good, I had to try it! It was great! I spent almost an entire hour doing the chopping and preparing, but it was well worth the effort.
2. I’m currently listening to a book on CD, Laura Bush – Spoken from the Heart. I’m really enjoying the fact that Mrs. Bush did the recording herself. She has a very soft and reassuring voice. I miss her quiet and reserved demeanor. There is something to be said for professionalism, patriotism and sincerity – none of which you’ll find in the White House these days.
3. Next weekend, here in North Florida, we will celebrate the 445th birthday of the city of St. Augustine’s founding! On Saturday, September 4th, there will be a reenactment of the landing of St. Augustine’s founder, Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles, at the Mission of Nombre De Dios. This is the exact landing point where Spanish colonists came ashore and were greeted by the Timucua Indians in 1565. Following the reenactment, the director of Mission San Luis (Dr. Bonnie McEwan) will talk about the development of the first mission, Nombre de Dios. Then, Bishop Victor Galeone (Diocese of St. Augustine) will celebrate Mass at the Mission’s outdoor altar. Following the mass, there will be a procession led by authentic Spanish reenactors where the actual casket of Pedro Menendez de Aviles will be taken from the Mission’s Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche Chapel to it’s new home in the Mission Nombre de Dios Museum. I’m pretty sure that there will be some kind of blessing or ceremony. Sometime later that afternoon, there will be a “real” Thanksgiving cooking contest at the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park. Entries into the contest will use ONLY ingredients that either the native Timucuans had here or what the Spanish settlers brought with them! To me, this sounds like a load of fun! Right now the kids and I are reading a book about this area called, The Voices of St. Augustine and I think it will be really cool to see some of what we’ve been reading about.
4. Lastly, we have been planning for our “big trip” to Tennessee in September. Dan and I have been secretly planning a family vacation to the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area. A friend of ours owns a rental home up there and they have graciously allowed us to rent it for a week! The kids don’t know about it yet so shhhhhhhh! More details to come.
Well, that’s it for now. Have a wonderful weekend!
Here are just a few things that have been going on:
1. Last week I was watching the Barefoot Contessa on the Food Network and she made Sausage and Shrimp Jambalaya. It looked so good, I had to try it! It was great! I spent almost an entire hour doing the chopping and preparing, but it was well worth the effort.
2. I’m currently listening to a book on CD, Laura Bush – Spoken from the Heart. I’m really enjoying the fact that Mrs. Bush did the recording herself. She has a very soft and reassuring voice. I miss her quiet and reserved demeanor. There is something to be said for professionalism, patriotism and sincerity – none of which you’ll find in the White House these days.
3. Next weekend, here in North Florida, we will celebrate the 445th birthday of the city of St. Augustine’s founding! On Saturday, September 4th, there will be a reenactment of the landing of St. Augustine’s founder, Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles, at the Mission of Nombre De Dios. This is the exact landing point where Spanish colonists came ashore and were greeted by the Timucua Indians in 1565. Following the reenactment, the director of Mission San Luis (Dr. Bonnie McEwan) will talk about the development of the first mission, Nombre de Dios. Then, Bishop Victor Galeone (Diocese of St. Augustine) will celebrate Mass at the Mission’s outdoor altar. Following the mass, there will be a procession led by authentic Spanish reenactors where the actual casket of Pedro Menendez de Aviles will be taken from the Mission’s Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche Chapel to it’s new home in the Mission Nombre de Dios Museum. I’m pretty sure that there will be some kind of blessing or ceremony. Sometime later that afternoon, there will be a “real” Thanksgiving cooking contest at the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park. Entries into the contest will use ONLY ingredients that either the native Timucuans had here or what the Spanish settlers brought with them! To me, this sounds like a load of fun! Right now the kids and I are reading a book about this area called, The Voices of St. Augustine and I think it will be really cool to see some of what we’ve been reading about.
4. Lastly, we have been planning for our “big trip” to Tennessee in September. Dan and I have been secretly planning a family vacation to the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area. A friend of ours owns a rental home up there and they have graciously allowed us to rent it for a week! The kids don’t know about it yet so shhhhhhhh! More details to come.
Well, that’s it for now. Have a wonderful weekend!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Carnival of Homeschooling
Voting Day
We're delaying lessons this morning because it's primary day here in Florida! I'm taking all three kids to the voting booth with me. I figured that this is one of those advantages of homeshooling where we can be flexible and turn ordinary events of life into educational moments.
We also have a homeschooling event to attend at a local Barnes and Noble. This particular store is celebrating the opening of a new department called Barnes & Noble at School! They are featuring lots of products for teachers, parents, homeschoolers and students. They also plan to have a special back-to-school story time in their Children's Department.
We also have a homeschooling event to attend at a local Barnes and Noble. This particular store is celebrating the opening of a new department called Barnes & Noble at School! They are featuring lots of products for teachers, parents, homeschoolers and students. They also plan to have a special back-to-school story time in their Children's Department.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
The Providence of God
Meditation for August 19
God is the unchanging conductor as well as the unchanged creator of things that change. When He adds, abolishes, curtails, increases, or diminishes the rites of any age, He is ordering all events according to His providence.
This will hold good until the beauty of the completed course of time-whose parts are the dispensations suitable to each different period-shall have played itself out, like the great melody of some ineffable composer. --St. Augustine Letter 138, 1
Prayer: Instruct me, Lord, and command what you will. But first heal me and open my ears that I may hear Your words. --St. Augustine Soliloquies 1, 1
God is the unchanging conductor as well as the unchanged creator of things that change. When He adds, abolishes, curtails, increases, or diminishes the rites of any age, He is ordering all events according to His providence.
This will hold good until the beauty of the completed course of time-whose parts are the dispensations suitable to each different period-shall have played itself out, like the great melody of some ineffable composer. --St. Augustine Letter 138, 1
Prayer: Instruct me, Lord, and command what you will. But first heal me and open my ears that I may hear Your words. --St. Augustine Soliloquies 1, 1
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
We're all done!
Yes, you read that right! We're done with school for the week. We completed the bulk of our lessons on Monday and Tuesday (the days I'm home from work), Dan worked with them some today so tomorrow and Friday are open for play! Nathan still has one math lesson left, but that should take no time at all. This is definitely going to take some getting used to.
This has been a wonderful few days! I suppose when the honeymoon period wears off, I'll be singing a different tune, but for today, life is really good!
Here are some pictures of our first week....
On Sunday night, after everybody was in bed, I pulled out all of our brand new supplies and filled their supply caddies. These little turn table caddies were on the dollar aisle at Target! I liked the idea of the kids being able to take their stuff with them when they moved from place to place around the house to do their schoolwork. Everybody got the SAME STUFF, so there is no fighting! I did add a compass for Nathan as he will need it later on in the year.
Daddy left us a treat for breakfast since he had to leave early for work! Does it get any better than Dunkin' Donuts on the first day of school? I don't think so!
Here is our youngest student enjoying her breakfast of champions!
After our morning prayers and the Pledge, we had our first assignment....Vital Statistics! Everybody was weighed, measured and hand printed. We'll do this again at the end of the year to see how much we've all grown. Incidentally, mommy did NOT participate in the weigh in portion!
Everybody started out the day at the dining room table together, but as the day progressed, we spread out to different areas so we had our own space. Earlier, when I sent everybody to go get dressed so we could start, Amelia and Olivia both came back to me dressed in their school uniforms from last year! Isn't that hysterically funny! Even on Tuesday, they both insisted on wearing their school uniforms! And here I thought I was going to get out of having to wash school clothes as often! Silly me!
I've included a few more pictures of our schooling/storage areas. I think I mentioned before that I'm probably not using the space that I have available in the most efficient way, but so far, it's working for us.
I've had the above pictured plastic bins for several years. I like it because it's on rollers and I can put it where I need it with relative ease. Previously I had been using this to store their homework and other materials that accumulate during the school year.
We also brought in the matching coffee table. Dan and I really prefer the open space in the middle of the living room, but this has proved to be another work station for a certain Pre-Schooler to color and for a certain big sister to join her!
This wire rack was on sale at Staples and had just the right amount of slots!
And finally, yesterday I wanted to take a few minutes to take a shower as I didn't get one in the morning. I wanted to keep them busy so they wouldn't fight or get into something...so I improvised. I gave them a short scavenger hunt. I was almost out of the shower by the time the first one was finished! Perhaps I should have mentioned that it WASN'T a race!
This has been a wonderful few days! I suppose when the honeymoon period wears off, I'll be singing a different tune, but for today, life is really good!
Here are some pictures of our first week....
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| Supply Caddies |
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| Daddy's Treat |
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| Olivia |
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| Assignment #1 |
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| Hard at work! |
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| Dining room |
I've had the above pictured plastic bins for several years. I like it because it's on rollers and I can put it where I need it with relative ease. Previously I had been using this to store their homework and other materials that accumulate during the school year.
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| Supplies and Alphabet Tracing stamps....love these! |
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| Extra miscellaneous supplies |
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| Flash cards |
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| Stamps, stickers, extra erasers and math manipulative's |
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| More math manipulative's and my GLUE GUN!! I love my glue gun! |
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| Calendar |
I think this is my very favorite new item that I purchased for our homeschool! I bought all of the parts separately, had them laminated, cut them out and then placed Velcro on the backs of the numbers and on the calendar itself! Each month, we just rip off the numbers, change the month and start all over again!
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| Liturgical Wheel |
This has been a wonderful help for our family in celebrating the Liturgical Year! I recommend getting one of these if you don't have one. Now is the time to do it as the new year starts in Advent!
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| work station |
This was a piece of furniture that we brought in from the garage. It's an end table that I've had for at least 20 years! This came with me from California. In previous years, we've used it as a place to put our Christmas tree (to aid us in keeping toddler fingers and CATS from trying topple it over). It makes a perfect work station for a 1st Grader to do her school work.
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| My workstation |
This is MY workstation located in our bedroom. It's really just a folding table but it works just fine for times when I need to be away from everybody else to get some things done. My printer is here and this is also the place that I will store their completed non workbook stuff until evaluation time next June!
As I said, we survived our first week of homeschooling! We're all still alive, still functioning and still speaking to each other! This is good. Check back in with me, say around....January and I'll let you know if I still have hair!
Enjoy the rest of your week!
**For more information on homeschooling daily schedules...visit Heart of the Matter**
Carnival of Homeschooling: Back 2 Home 2010
This weeks Carnival of Homeschooling is hosted by Andrea at Notes from a Homeschooling Mom. For this edition, its all about "Back to School", or in this case, "Back to Home". Take a few minutes by clicking on the above icon, to visit some of these lovely blogs and enjoy what's going on in other homeschooling families. Enjoy!
You can also find the Charlotte Mason Blog Carnival-Nature Edition by clicking here, hosted by Epi Kardia.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Our Homeschool
Tomorrow will mark our first day on our new adventure into schooling at home! It is bittersweet in some ways. I will miss our kids being at the parish school, for all of the same reasons that we took them out! Still, I know this was the right decision for us at this time.
I've prepared myself and our home in the best way I can. I still have lots to learn and since I'm not a professional organizer, I'm quite sure that there was a better way for me to utilize our small space. I will just need to chalk it up to inexperience, learn from it and move on.
Our main space for homeschooling will be our dining room and our living room. Nathan has a desk in his room that he can use, but he's told me that he would rather be with his sisters. One of the reasons that I wanted to homeschool was so that we could be together more and in return, have the kids foster closer relationships with each other.
The first thing I did in preparing was to re-do their chore charts. Since we have to fit living, schooling and our chores all into the same space, I streamlined what they are responsible for and just focused on the basics.
I'm not sure if you can read what's on their lists, but basically, they are responsible for keeping their rooms presentable and taking care of very few other household jobs. What I did differently than in the past was to add CONSEQUENCES and PRIVILEGES. This way, they know exactly what to expect.
Next, we all sat down and came up with the "Widener Family Homeschool Rules". All of us made contributions to this list. I tried to word their suggestions in a general way so that they have a better chance of obeying them and not becoming too overwhelmed. Besides, I already have the role of mommy, maid, taxi driver, general problem solver, nurse and now teacher...I didn't particularly want to include being a policewoman too!
Recently, I cleaned out the entire entertainment center! I did this specifically so that I could use the right side to store all our school books. Originally they each had their own shelf, but it was necessary for me to take over the top shelf. So, I shifted everybody down one shelf. Amelia and Olivia are sharing a shelf as they don't have as many books.
My shelf consists mainly of teacher manuals and answer keys. I'm also keeping the Treasure Box Series on that shelf. Although I want the kids to have access to them, I do need to know WHERE they are as they correspond with specific lessons. I have also made a pocket folder for each of them. This will hold their weekly work that is not in a workbook (loose paper such as their math sheets). This really helped me to prepare for this first week. Nathan's shelf has all of his books/materials as well as a children's dictionary and encyclopedia. The girl's shelf has their books and to make them feel special, I've placed the miniature American Flag that we will be using for our daily pledge on their shelf as well (although in this picture...it's on Nathan's shelf).
On either side of our fireplace/mantle, we have wooden book shelves. I love these! Some of my friends think I shouldn't use these shelves for BOOKS, but I should use them for KNICK-KNACKS! You're kidding me, right? I am not a knick-knack person, at all! So, on these shelves I have various homeschooling books and materials (and all my cookbooks) as well as a set of encyclopedias. I cleaned these shelves out on the same day I cleaned out the entertainment center and I was able to get rid of many, many books and magazines that were no longer useful to our family. This has left me with a lot of space. The problem is that we also have two chairs sitting on either side of the fireplace and this makes getting to these shelves a little tricky.
In our hallway, I have a little cupboard with some shelves that used to belong to my mom. I've always kept games and puzzles in there. I straightened it up a bit. The top shelf has extra crayons, markers, colored pencils and construction paper. The next two shelves have mostly puzzles and the last shelf holds coloring books.
Recently, we've had to make some accommodations for our library books! We kept losing them and then ended up having to pay FEES! I decided to use a canvas bag that I've hung on the closet door right by the front door as our library book spot. Most of the time we come in and leave through this door so this was the most central place I could find. Yes, there are books in that bag right now, but they aren't due until August 31st!
I've also spruced up our home altar corner. The only thing I haven't done yet is to hang up our rosaries underneath the altar yet. Currently, our rosaries reside inside a Blessing Cup on our entertainment center (although there is a plastic one hanging by our holy water font). Ideally, I would like them to hang freely underneath the Blessed Mother where we can see them and then possibly be more aware of our need to ask for Our Lady's help. I am slightly concerned about the cats, though. They have a tendency to play with such things. The jury is still out on this one.
Well, that's a tour of our living room/school room. I will share pictures of our dining room/school room tomorrow. I thought I would wait until the kids were actually in there working! I'll let you know how our first day goes! Happy Schooling!
I've prepared myself and our home in the best way I can. I still have lots to learn and since I'm not a professional organizer, I'm quite sure that there was a better way for me to utilize our small space. I will just need to chalk it up to inexperience, learn from it and move on.
Our main space for homeschooling will be our dining room and our living room. Nathan has a desk in his room that he can use, but he's told me that he would rather be with his sisters. One of the reasons that I wanted to homeschool was so that we could be together more and in return, have the kids foster closer relationships with each other.
The first thing I did in preparing was to re-do their chore charts. Since we have to fit living, schooling and our chores all into the same space, I streamlined what they are responsible for and just focused on the basics.
I'm not sure if you can read what's on their lists, but basically, they are responsible for keeping their rooms presentable and taking care of very few other household jobs. What I did differently than in the past was to add CONSEQUENCES and PRIVILEGES. This way, they know exactly what to expect.
My shelf consists mainly of teacher manuals and answer keys. I'm also keeping the Treasure Box Series on that shelf. Although I want the kids to have access to them, I do need to know WHERE they are as they correspond with specific lessons. I have also made a pocket folder for each of them. This will hold their weekly work that is not in a workbook (loose paper such as their math sheets). This really helped me to prepare for this first week. Nathan's shelf has all of his books/materials as well as a children's dictionary and encyclopedia. The girl's shelf has their books and to make them feel special, I've placed the miniature American Flag that we will be using for our daily pledge on their shelf as well (although in this picture...it's on Nathan's shelf).
Recently, we've had to make some accommodations for our library books! We kept losing them and then ended up having to pay FEES! I decided to use a canvas bag that I've hung on the closet door right by the front door as our library book spot. Most of the time we come in and leave through this door so this was the most central place I could find. Yes, there are books in that bag right now, but they aren't due until August 31st!
Saturday, August 14, 2010
We're starting Monday!
Well, we've decided to start school on Monday instead of waiting until September! The kids are just getting too restless. It's time for some STRUCTURE! The parish school where they've been attending started on Wednesday of this week. All three of them looked at me with those puppy eyes that said "mom, can't WE start school too?"
Well, I'm not completely prepared to start on Monday....but I think we can do it. I've spent the last several weeks getting the house ready for school. I've cleaned out ALL of our bookshelves. I've given away a lot and I've also acquired some new and different books from a few friends. I went through ALL of our VHS/DVDs and was able to eliminate several...including about 21 that we had two copies of.
Here's my list of tasks COMPLETED:
1. Totally cleaned out and reorganized the entertainment center and large bookshelves
2. Individual curriculum shelves for each child
3. Plastic drawers reorganized and cleaned out
4. Activity shelves reorganized
5. School supplies purchased and separated in a supply caddy
6. New chore charts
7. Created the "Widener Family Homeschooling Rules"
8. Signed all three kids up for an art class on Thursdays (doesn't start until September)
9. Signed Amelia and Olivia up for Ballet/Tap class on Mondays (doesn't start until September)
Here's my list of tasks that STILL NEED TO BE DONE:
1. Library books needed for next week (Ouch...I totally forgot about this one)
2. Moving some furniture around (entails getting two pieces out of the garage...will do this on Monday)
3. Purchase new table cloth for dining room table (we'll be doing school there)
4. Plan a special breakfast for our first day
Over the years (and especially over the last two months) I have prayed about homeschooling, researched about homeschooling, read over tons of homeschooling curriculum, read several books on homeschooling, met some wonderful homeschooling families, followed lots of homeschooling blogs, dreamed about homeschooling, talked about homeschooling.....blah, blah, blah. NOW it's time to actually DO IT!
Please pray for us as we begin our journey! We will be praying for all of you, too!
Well, I'm not completely prepared to start on Monday....but I think we can do it. I've spent the last several weeks getting the house ready for school. I've cleaned out ALL of our bookshelves. I've given away a lot and I've also acquired some new and different books from a few friends. I went through ALL of our VHS/DVDs and was able to eliminate several...including about 21 that we had two copies of.
Here's my list of tasks COMPLETED:
1. Totally cleaned out and reorganized the entertainment center and large bookshelves
2. Individual curriculum shelves for each child
3. Plastic drawers reorganized and cleaned out
4. Activity shelves reorganized
5. School supplies purchased and separated in a supply caddy
6. New chore charts
7. Created the "Widener Family Homeschooling Rules"
8. Signed all three kids up for an art class on Thursdays (doesn't start until September)
9. Signed Amelia and Olivia up for Ballet/Tap class on Mondays (doesn't start until September)
Here's my list of tasks that STILL NEED TO BE DONE:
1. Library books needed for next week (Ouch...I totally forgot about this one)
2. Moving some furniture around (entails getting two pieces out of the garage...will do this on Monday)
3. Purchase new table cloth for dining room table (we'll be doing school there)
4. Plan a special breakfast for our first day
Over the years (and especially over the last two months) I have prayed about homeschooling, researched about homeschooling, read over tons of homeschooling curriculum, read several books on homeschooling, met some wonderful homeschooling families, followed lots of homeschooling blogs, dreamed about homeschooling, talked about homeschooling.....blah, blah, blah. NOW it's time to actually DO IT!
Please pray for us as we begin our journey! We will be praying for all of you, too!
Monday, August 9, 2010
There is a saying.
I've heard it said that "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it at all". Well, that's pretty much been my mantra lately. I can't tell you how discouraged I am by the things that are going on in the world.....everything from the confirmation of Kagan to the Supreme Court, the ruling in California over Proposition 8, and new taxes for a "climate" fund. Then, of course, there is poor Tiger Woods who has played his worst golf tournament of his entire career (doesn't your heart just bleed for him?), and in today's news...the Taliban claims responsibility for the murder of 6 American missionaries.
Personally, I am no longer surprised by the things that are happening. Instead of surprised, I'm just numb. It's sad really, to become so desensitized to this nonsense that you are indifferent toward it.
As Christians, we are called to be "in" the world, but not "of" it. Colossians 3:2 states, "Think of what is above, not what is on earth." This Scripture reminds me of a song by Christian music artist Margaret Becker. The song is called "Keep My Mind". The chorus is:
Keep my mind on higher things
Keep my mind on truth
Keep my mind on the anchor of love
That I have found in You
Sometimes it can be really hard to keep my mind on the things of God when all I want to do is to whack someone over the head for idiotic behavior/ideology (when in fact, it would be MY idiotic behavior that would deserve such a WHACK!). I mean, as a society, I think our moral conscience has been clouded. At times, I know my sense of sin has become somewhat distorted. Pope John Paul II once said, "When the conscience is weakened the sense of God is also obscured, and as a result, with the loss of this decisive inner point of reference, the sense of sin is lost." From Reconciliation and Penance, December 2, 1984.
Yesterday, while doing an examination of conscience for myhourly daily weekly monthly confession, I realized that my discouragement and despair at the state of the world is sinful. Did you know that things like indifference or ingratitude to God, not trusting God, giving into depression-self pity-or self deprecating thoughts, making rash judgements (uh oh) are all sins?
Soooo, I tell you all of this to let you know that I've turned over a new leaf! Starting TODAY, I'm going to focus on GOOD NEWS! I am no longer going to despair of the things that are going on in the world. I mean it! For instance....here is some GOOD NEWS for a change:
1. After WWII Rescue, Soldier Devotes Life to Helping His Saviors
2. Oscar the Cat Walks With Bionic Feet
3. Soldier Reunited With Dog Who Saved His Life
4. 11 Year Old Saves Family From Car Crash
5. Father's Day Heroes
Dear God, Please help me to remember to focus on the wonder of your creation. Help me to see the good in people, even when I have to look REALLY hard. Help me to recognize that my own loss of the sense of sin does not bring me closer to you but pushes us further apart. I know I have failed you. Please grant me the strength to go against the flow even when joining in with complaining and whining is easiest and familiar. Please give me the ears to hear YOUR VOICE and to respond in the way you would have me respond. Forgive me for offending you and for offending others. Thank you for giving me your Son so that I can be made clean and may one day, stand in your presence. Amen.
Personally, I am no longer surprised by the things that are happening. Instead of surprised, I'm just numb. It's sad really, to become so desensitized to this nonsense that you are indifferent toward it.
As Christians, we are called to be "in" the world, but not "of" it. Colossians 3:2 states, "Think of what is above, not what is on earth." This Scripture reminds me of a song by Christian music artist Margaret Becker. The song is called "Keep My Mind". The chorus is:
Keep my mind on higher things
Keep my mind on truth
Keep my mind on the anchor of love
That I have found in You
Sometimes it can be really hard to keep my mind on the things of God when all I want to do is to whack someone over the head for idiotic behavior/ideology (when in fact, it would be MY idiotic behavior that would deserve such a WHACK!). I mean, as a society, I think our moral conscience has been clouded. At times, I know my sense of sin has become somewhat distorted. Pope John Paul II once said, "When the conscience is weakened the sense of God is also obscured, and as a result, with the loss of this decisive inner point of reference, the sense of sin is lost." From Reconciliation and Penance, December 2, 1984.
Yesterday, while doing an examination of conscience for my
Soooo, I tell you all of this to let you know that I've turned over a new leaf! Starting TODAY, I'm going to focus on GOOD NEWS! I am no longer going to despair of the things that are going on in the world. I mean it! For instance....here is some GOOD NEWS for a change:
1. After WWII Rescue, Soldier Devotes Life to Helping His Saviors
2. Oscar the Cat Walks With Bionic Feet
3. Soldier Reunited With Dog Who Saved His Life
4. 11 Year Old Saves Family From Car Crash
5. Father's Day Heroes
Dear God, Please help me to remember to focus on the wonder of your creation. Help me to see the good in people, even when I have to look REALLY hard. Help me to recognize that my own loss of the sense of sin does not bring me closer to you but pushes us further apart. I know I have failed you. Please grant me the strength to go against the flow even when joining in with complaining and whining is easiest and familiar. Please give me the ears to hear YOUR VOICE and to respond in the way you would have me respond. Forgive me for offending you and for offending others. Thank you for giving me your Son so that I can be made clean and may one day, stand in your presence. Amen.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Book Giveaway!
As a Catholic mom, striving to live my faith and help my children get to heaven, I can use all the help I can get! Lisa includes topics like...Spirituality, Finances, Parenting and Women's Health. This is right up my alley.
I've entered this giveaway, and so should you! If you want to enter, click HERE for the entry form! Good luck!
Sunday, August 1, 2010
He's home!
Nathan is home from camp! I am so relieved! We were half way down to Ocala when I realized that we accidentally left the camera at home...so there are no pictures. Other than a bee sting, he came home happy and healthy and in different clothes than when we dropped him off!
He seemed to really enjoy himself. Right after the closing mass, Nathan asked Fr. Henry if he could go to confession before he left! How often does a 9 year old ask to go to confession...at summer camp? Fr. Henry didn't hesitate, even for a second! He said, "Absolutely! Let's go!"....and off they went.
At camp, the boys were in the habit of saying morning & evening prayers, the Rosary and the Angelus. This morning, when Nathan woke up, he asked me to say the Angeles with him! I LOVE the Angelus! This has been my favorite prayer since the 8th grade! Several times over the last few years, I've attempted to make saying this prayer a habit in our household. We've done well for a few weeks...and then it tapered off. My son has re-inspired me to start this devotion again!
Happy August!
He seemed to really enjoy himself. Right after the closing mass, Nathan asked Fr. Henry if he could go to confession before he left! How often does a 9 year old ask to go to confession...at summer camp? Fr. Henry didn't hesitate, even for a second! He said, "Absolutely! Let's go!"....and off they went.
At camp, the boys were in the habit of saying morning & evening prayers, the Rosary and the Angelus. This morning, when Nathan woke up, he asked me to say the Angeles with him! I LOVE the Angelus! This has been my favorite prayer since the 8th grade! Several times over the last few years, I've attempted to make saying this prayer a habit in our household. We've done well for a few weeks...and then it tapered off. My son has re-inspired me to start this devotion again!
Happy August!
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