7 Quick Takes ::: around the world & School!

--- 1 ---

Did you hear that our Papa is calling for us Catholics to make a mess in Rio?  What exactly does he mean for us to do?  How about what Fr. McDonald stated on his blog post (here):

"So to go with our Orthodox Catholic Faith into the streets means uncircling the wagons and going in a straight line to dialogue and evangelize with our Catholic Faith, which will make a mess of things in a world that wants to isolate us Catholics to our church buildings. This is what the world, including secular governments, wants to do to us! So the pope is, in a veiled and not so veiled sort of way, telling youth not to let the world, meaning secular governments, do this to us!"

His comments are worth your click.

--- 2---

The more I read about Fr. Thomas V. Woude the more I love!  I read an article about Fr. Woude's past that just put me in awe.  It was shared via facebook and I stated there how amazed I was at God's perfect plan in our lives.  Fr. Woude is the son of a hero.  His father lost his life saving his youngest son from a freak accident, Fr. Woude brother Joseph.  This son was a 20-year old man with Down Syndrome.  The article can be read (here).  I bounced out of my seat after reading this because I totally remember Elizabeth Foss writing about this very tragedy years ago on her blog.  I remember praying for this man and his family, thinking what an amazing act that was.

"His father died so that his special needs son would live"

--- 3 ---

 or

Every now and then I get to listen to Huge Hewitt on our local radio station.  He's a conservative radio talk show host, I think he is Catholic or at the very least loves the Church and defends her openly on his show.  On Tuesday's show Mr. Hewitt played an audio of Archbishop Chaput's address.  It was fabulous and thought provoking.  

"In his great work, The City of God, St. Augustine created a portrait of the world divided into two cities — the City of God with its eyes set on heaven, and the City of Man rooted in pride and sin. Life consists in choosing one or the other. It’s a choice we can’t avoid. And each of us faces that choice right here, today, now. The wisdom which the Church offers the world is for the humble, not the proud, and it’s the only wisdom that counts: the path to salvation."

The same day that I heard Archbishop Chaput's words was a day that the media world was focusing on the immoral behaviors of one man.  Yet, ignored the examples of humility and love of another, Pope Francis.  They made a choice to focus on the bad and the ugly.  So telling of where their hearts are, God have mercy.

And thank God for bad reception and NO T.V...

  

--- 4 ---

We survived the week without two of our girls.  Another year of girl's camp is behind us and there are some pretty great memories left behind.

Now, boys camp.

--- 5 ---

I am in the middle of planning our school year.  Something I'm not prepared to face; is it me or are these summer days becoming shorter? 

--- 6 ---

Speaking of planning curriculum, I had previously posted about what worked and what didn't work for our kids this past year (here).  I'm stumped on two areas and need some feedback.  Oh please, please I like to get your take on this.

We use RC History and supplement with lapbooks, videos, field trips, and lots of books for history.  We are finally on Vol 3 which goes into medieval through the renaissance.  Perfect study for my 7th grader but, my heart is tugging to recreate our American Studies from a few years ago for my 4th grader.  I especially wanted to gear this year towards more field trips and studies of our state (California) plans that I already began to draw out.  Since we learn history as a group I don't want to do one era for the child A and the another for child B.  So...

What to do?

1. Keep our pace and go through history in a chronological order?
2. Venture into American/California history?
3. Or do both? (we've done that b4 and at crazy as it seems it actually worked okay.  I just don't want to overdo this year with planning out more work than we can chew and enjoy.

--- 7 ---

I am stumped on one other area -- math!  But, it's no biggie.  We're just thinking of changing the Singapore math we use for Rose (4th grade) to something else.  

Math-U-See, Saxon, Aleks... thinking, thinking

Hop on over to Jenn's site @ 

Conversion Diary for more

Quick Takes

Quick Takes :: the good, the bad, the UGH!

--1--

 Fourth of July! It was hot dogs, kids, pool, carne asada, and some kind of vodka-lemonade beverage that the kiddos kept getting shooed away from; poor little things.  The day could not have been better.  My mama was in town along with two of the five siblings; plus their families.  A couple of my cousins even made it out here to our home.  It was to be a day by the pool and then a quick drive to the park.  Our city has one of the best firework displays around.  A free show at the end of an all day event of fry bread and games.  A real American kind of day at the park.  Did I mention that it's also FREE!  Sadly, this year the show ended quite badly.  Instead of this...

We got this... 

People were hurt.  It wasn't fun or funny.

--2--

Did you hear about this one, "Priest's plea to adopt baby with Down Syndrome slated for abortion"?  It first came to us via an email from a local friend.  Then, I hear Huge Hewitt talking about this precious baby, still within the comfort and safety of his mother's womb, asking for help.  They needed an adoptive family; someone who would raise and love this child.  Since then the story has been picked up by the oddest of networks; ABC, The Huffington Post!  Crazy!   I like the news bit from LifeSiteNews.com.  I'm just partial to them and their real news on life issues.  But, that's just me ;-) 

--3--

The mother-social worker in me began to think about all those beautiful creations that God made.  Specifically those babies with Down Syndrome; the many that aren't given the chance to change hearts .In my probing I heard a man talk about The National Down Syndrome Adoption Network.   Take a click over there and check them out.  

--4--

In a few days I'll be saying a short goodbye to one of my babies {sigh}!  Rose is off to the Sacred Heart Girls Camp, hosted by the Sister of the Society Devoted to the Sacred Heart.  Lucy has been  attending this week long camp since she was 8.  Now, Rose finally gets to join her; along with quite a few friends and family too.  The Sisters have a wonderful week with the girls.  I've personally seen amazing changes and gifts of grace upon some of these girls.  To be 8, among the pines of the mountains, surrounded by friends, the Sisters, and Christ!  

--5--

Computer time!  Alright, I know that I'm not the only one that sits for too long in front of this screen.  I have a 20 minute limit on the blog time; though lately I'm lucky if I get 5 minutes.  If in 20 minutes I have a blank screen or my fingers go elsewhere on the net; the time is up.  Frankily, my brain is dry.  All I can think about is 'the yard', the laundry, that book I'm trying to finish, etc etc.  My real issue with computer time has more to do with us as a family.  Elizabeth Foss wrote a nice little bit on it here and called it "Screen Rules".  My kids are still off cell phones, facebook, & twitter but the screen rules still apply.  It sparked some good discussion between the oldest kids and I.

--6--

Speaking of my fingers going around the web.  I blame my lack of blogging to these sites.  

Among Lovely Things

In The Heart of my Home

Shower of Roses

Minnesota Mom

Yes, I go visit there and then my time is up.  So, it's their fault for being so darn cute and lovely to read...

--7--

Yes!  We are confirmed for surgery!!  But, as it is with 'government agencies' we do NOT have a date. UGH!!  

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

7 Quick Takes :: SCHOOL IS OUT!

7 quick takes

(my very first)

-- 1 --

Well, kind of.  

Officially the kids are done.  No more assigned work in form of a schedule.  Our last ES meeting was this past Tuesday.  Per the charter school two of my kids are enrolled in, summer vacation is here.  That said, we still have some math to finish.  In fact, the kids will be plugging through more fun math, some historical reading, and music lessons.  

-- 2 --

A summer break with an ease of mind is desperately needed.  The kids are use to working through some subjects over the summer.  But, believe me this isn't going to be a summer school curriculum.  The fact is, we have a child who really needs to keep going over the break.  For this child, two and half months of NO MATH will mean hours of grueling reviews in September.  Did and done that! 

 It was horrible for me and horrible for the kid.

My SIL just shared a cool, and FREE, multiplication lapbook she found online.  It was super cute and looks like fun to do while we kick it by the pool.

See, fun math...

really!

(free lapbook is from homeschool share, love this site)

-- 3 --

My last week of school looked quite different than the kids'.  

As they were slowing down and having fun, I was gearing up for the fall.  

WHAT?!? Am I already planning for the next school year?  

Yep, I sure am.

All the shipping deals are happening right now.

There are tons of inexpensive, previously used items popping up at Cathswap.

The Southern Cali Catholic Education conference is just few weeks away.

My stuff needs to be sold and used.

So, I need to plan.  Have too.  Absolutely.

Plus, I enjoy the charts and notes I make.

And who doesn't like the postguy delivering new items for the school year?

It's great.

-- 4 --

Part of the end of the year excitement goes to planning and going to our

Co-op's last Mass and party.  A friend and I joined forces this time around.  We were in charge of the decorations for the dinner held after Mass.  Our theme this year was "fiesta"!  

How perfect, then, would banners of papel picado and Mexican tissue flowers be?

This one was my favorite.  

Now, If only the other pictures would download...

It all came out nicely.

-- 5--

Jen's #5 got me thinking about my own "About me" profile.  I remember agonizing over what to write.  I'm not a writer and I don't think I'm witty enough to come up with something catchy, quick, and descriptive.  In school (both high school and college) it would take my paragraphs to describe something.  I was, and still am, so long winded.  My goodness!  Just look at the quick takes on this post.  

I like witty.

I like...

Dwija

Margaret

Sarah's

There are more, I'm sure.  But, this is supposed to be quick take #5.

So, let's move on...

--6--

Got mulch?

Oh yea, 

we have lots of mulch.  Guess what we'll be doing on our first weekend of summer vacaaay?

-- 7 --

Sending my prayers for Dwija!

All my prayers and intentions!

Okay,

That was my quickie post

Jen has more for you over at

Conversion Diary.