{PHFR}:: Confirmation and stuff

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

Every Thursday, here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!

{Pretty}

Lucy was confirmed in her faith this past Friday.  The Sacrament of Confirmation was especially important for her.  Not that her baptism or First Holy Communion weren't, but she views this sacrament as the 'next' step in her faith.  As she sees it, her journey with and towards Jesus was sealed, significantly, with her saying yes to Him and to what ever He wills for her.

I wish I had her courage and piety.

The week before her sacrament I found this piece of material.

As a 'surprise' gift I cut out a new veil for her.

It was a light, white, flowery piece.

Very pretty.

And very Lucy.

Cutting around the edges of the roses was a bit unnerving.  

But, it did look lovely on her.

More, importantly she really liked it.

{Happy}

I was a happy camera clicking Momma the evening of her sacrament.
More pictures to come...

Thankfully, she was okay and 'happy' about the camera in her face every few seconds.

At least, I was happy.  The Lineman and I are realizing quickly that our first daughter is young lady now.  She is growing up faster than my heart, or mind, want to admit.

 {sigh}

{Funny}

There she blows!!

Way back in November, when we moved into our new home, I had bought The Lineman a blower for the yard work.  It has sat in it's box, next to our bed since I bought it.  That was SIX MONTHS AGO.

You see the box made for a very nice nightstand; of course after putting a sheet on top of it. 

And, we really needed a nightstand.

We finally took it out of the bedroom this past Monday.  

Now, it's become Cecilia's very own hair and body dryer!

Just kidding.

It'll be used for the yard work, promise.

Though, now we really need a table for our books and alarm clock.

{Real}

A fun group of friends;

all celebrating our kids' Sacrament of Confirmation.

Each teen sporting a cool new Holy Spirit T-Shirt.

And the girls standing together in faith.

Don't mess with these girls

They are 'On Fire'!

Another {real} moment occurred 

when these yummy cupcake were devoured 

within minutes of being set up.

Crumbs! Crumbs were the only thing left for us adults.  

Thanks for checking our our little moments!

Finally, a science textbook

Awesome news!

  Just fabulous!!

  Homeschoolers, there is a GIFT for U!!  

Many moons ago a great friend of ours began to venture into the teaching and writing world of science.  She had always been a scientist at heart; 

her mind just worked in the way of botany, biology, and organisms.  

This friend had an idea; that idea has been gifted to the home educating world.

Discovering Intelligent Design

by

Gary Kemper, Hallie Kemper and Casey Luskin

available here

Yes this is a TOTAL PLUG, absoluetely!  

Why?

Because, I took her course, I was one of many guinea piggies homeschooling parents that was asked to teach and study this book, and finally because this is a factual, evidence packed, science book that has inspired our kids to ask real questions about the science behind Darwin, evolution, and through investigation come to their own conclusions, that "life is complicated".

Our kids took this course in the 8th and 9th grades.  Which was, I think, a great starter point before they hit biology and chemistry classes.  They are there now and I can tell you by my own Lucy's experience, this book and course totally prepared her for those heavier classes.  

 "Discovering Intelligent Design is a comprehensive curriculum that presents both the biological and cosmological evidence in support of the theory of intelligent design. It equips young people and adults to critically analyze the arguments in the debate over evolution and intelligent design, and it encourages them to follow the evidence wherever it may lead."

From chapter 10

"... the biggest head-scratcher in evolutionary biology would have to be the origin of the holometabolous insect larva"

Why?  There is such a large jump in complexity for an organism to survive and complete metamorphosis that the theories explained in Darwinian evolution just don't cut it.  The book explains whys in laymen terms.

By the way,

There is also a workbook!

Also available here

*DISCLAIMER::

Yes, I personally know two of the authors.  Though, I was gifted the textbook and workbook I am not affiliated with the publishers and am NOT getting a single cent from this plug. 

 Honest!  

♥ May is for Mary ♥ (UPDATE)

UPDATE:
Boy, when I say that my head is split in a zillion ways I MEAN it!  

Kimberlee in NOT hosting an ATC swap this May.  When I went to Kimberlee's blog to check if she was hosting the Marian ATC swap; I didn't look closely at the dates.  Sorry folks, my apologies for those who saw my blunder.  

Still, I'll leave this up for the pictures of the girls.  And, have it too provide a good laugh at myself when my head gets too big.  {{insert BLUSH here}}.

I hosted our Little Flowers group last Friday; at the end of a very busy week.

Hasn't this word, busy, become a theme of this blog.  Any who...

So, since it was busy, I was less then ready eagerly prepared for the girls to show up.  Luckily, Jessica's idea for her own girls gave me an added project (and lift) to have for my young flock.

~ Cheerfulness ~

We started with a prayer and a discussion of this month's virtue; we also did a recap of all the virtues we've worked on this year.  On a side note; there is something quite wonderful when little girls tell you how each virtue has effected them.  All of the girls had a least one virtue that has been a little cross for her to bear.  They shared how in these months after our meetings they've tried their hardest to do better and sought out examples among the saints to help them.  How sweet these little girls!

~ Crafts ~

Now, what I had wanted to do with our extended Catholic home school co-op in the past, is join the Marian ATC Swap; hosted by Kimberly of Pondered in my Heart.  

What is an ATC swap?  Art trading cards that can be traded among each artist who joins the swap.  This is a whole family affair that is awesome.  Each card is an individual expression of our love and devotion to Our Blessed Momma!  And the kids get 'down' in their mini masterpieces.

We've joined in her Saints ATC Swap a couple of times (here and here) as a family.  But, the timing with the other families never quite seemed to come together in the past.  May is the (here's that word again) busiest time of the year for the co-op.

So!!! What a cool treat it was for our LF girls to join this time.  I didn't even know if Kimberly was hosting a swap this year, luckily for us... she IS!

This is a little peek into what our little ladies began working on last Friday...

I'm always excited to see what Rose comes up with.  

She is the 'artist' of the family.

 Our Cecilia fretted a bit about how to draw Momma Mary's eyes, 

but she got it together to produce a lovely card.

My niece's creation was equally as charming and she took care in creating her piece.

In addition to the ATC cards the girls completed their little gifts they started last month.  Little painted flower pots for their mommies this Mother's Day.  A gift of patience practiced by each girl.

I also made prayer cards for each girl to have and use this entire month of May.  I used the image of the Most Holy Name of Mary that Charolotte used on this post on her blog.

On the back of each card I printed the following prayer that Jessica mentioned and used from the Mondays With Mary A Celebration of Marian Feasts Throughout the Year:

“My Queen, My Mother, I give myself entirely to Thee, and to show my devotion to Thee, I consecrate to thee this day my eyes, my ears, my mouth, my heart, my entire self, without reserve. Wherefore, good Mother, as I am Thine own, keep me, defend me as Thy property and possession. Amen.”

Our families have been through the preparation prayer using the Total Consecration to Mary by Fr. Louis-Marie De Montfort.  It was a blessed 33 days of devotion and self giving.  But how much of that stays with a young child?  Rose and Cecilia didn't really go through the preparation like Lucy and myself did; the focus was really for Lucy.  

So using this beautiful prayer of consecration, shared by Jessica, was perfect!  The younger girls can totally use this short prayer.  And it's easy enough for them to get the meaning of what they are saying to Our Blessed Mother. 

"I give myself entirely to Thee"

I've asked them to pray this each morning for the entire month of May.  When we gather together again, in June, we hope to talk a bit on what differences they saw in giving themselves to Momma Mary each and every day.

We hope a big difference was noticed by both the girls and their families.  I'm personally hoping to see many fruits from their efforts :-)

You may use the document I made by clicking onto this site

(Download Consecration Prayer Card HERE)