O Lord and Master of my life! Take from me the spirit of sloth, faint-heartedness, lust of power, and idle talk. But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love to thy servant. Yea, O Lord and King! Grant me to see my own errors and not to judge my brother; For Thou art blessed unto ages of ages.



Amen



Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Consecration and Purity

A sister group to The Guardians of the Altar (our parish's altar serving boys group) is being formed.  Guardians of Purity is in the developing stages right now.  It is meant as a place of support and opportunity for growth in purity, modesty, spirit, and charity.  So far the core group involves my Lucy, her cousins, and a few very sweet and devoted young girls.  They, and their leader, will be in need of our prayers for perseverance. 

As with any new group the start is always busy and subject to attacks.  In preparation all the girls began preparation for the Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary this past Friday.

Please join us, their mothers, as we pray for these young girls.  When successful the Guardians of Purity will involve young girls, from First Communion age 8 until the age when they leave their homes.  But of course they will leave their homes always belonging :0].

Why prepare, why devote ourselves to Mary, why the consecration?
Take a listen here, True Devotion to Mary

Veni Creator Spiritus
Come, Holy Spirit, Creator blest,
and in our souls take up Thy rest;
come with Thy grace and heavenly aid
to fill the hearts which Thou hast made.

O comforter, to Thee we cry,
O heavenly gift of God Most High,
O fount of life and fire of love,
and sweet anointing from above.

Thou in Thy sevenfold gifts are known;
Thou, finger of God's hand we own;
Thou, promise of the Father,
Thou Who dost the tongue with power imbue.

Kindle our sense from above,
and make our hearts o'erflow with love;
with patience firm and virtue high
the weakness of our flesh supply.

Far from us drive the foe we dread,
and grant us Thy peace instead;
so shall we not, with Thee for guide,
turn from the path of life aside.

Oh, may Thy grace on us bestow
the Father and the Son to know;
and Thee, through endless times confessed,
of both the eternal Spirit blest.

Now to the Father and the Son,
Who rose from death, be glory given,
with Thou, O Holy Comforter,
henceforth by all in earth and heaven. Amen.

Ave Maris Stella
Hail, O Star of the ocean,
God's own Mother blest,
ever sinless Virgin,
gate of heav'nly rest.

Taking that sweet Ave,
which from Gabriel came,
peace confirm within us,
changing Eve's name.

Break the sinners' fetters,
make our blindness day,
Chase all evils from us,
for all blessings pray.

Show thyself a Mother,
may the Word divine
born for us thine Infant
hear our prayers through thine.

Virgin all excelling,
mildest of the mild,
free from guilt preserve us
meek and undefiled.

Keep our life all spotless,
make our way secure
till we find in Jesus,
joy for evermore.

Praise to God the Father,
honor to the Son,
in the Holy Spirit,
be the glory one. Amen.

Magnificat
My soul doth magnify the Lord.
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid; for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
Because he that is mighty, hath done great things to me; and holy is his name.
And his mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear him.
He hath shewed might in his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble.
He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He hath received Israel his servant, being mindful of his mercy:
As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed for ever.

Glory Be

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

{PHF}

{Pretty}
If it wasn't for the fact that she doesn't need glasses AND that they were a whopping $200; I may have just bought them.  Only so that I could have gazed at this cute face for hours.
But, seriously $200!

{Happy}
Camping! 
Even though we tented it this time around, camping is always fun!

{Funny}
Rose was up this tree for a good while.  Probably taking a little down time.  Perhaps she was contemplating her life or taking a nap.
A tree is a good place to be for either.

No {REAL} pictures this time around.  There is lots of real stuff happening, like the big pile of stuff around me in the school/learning room.  I thought I'd take a closer look at some of the lighter happenings of my life right now.

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~
Every Thursday, sharing with those at Like Mother, Like Daughter!

Cecilia Recapes

I've lost my tooth
and this is how it happened!

Thursday, July 5, 2012

7-4-12

 Fourth of July
good food
lovely company
and
an awesome fireworks show!

(too bad I don't know how to rotate the clip)

Friday, June 22, 2012

{P,H,F,R}

{Pretty}
Our 2012 veggie garden!
Yum and pretty to look at...

They just have to get planted.
That is where they
come in
:-)

{Happy}
Who doesn't have fun at the beach?

{Funny}
Poor Cecilia is battling a bug right now.  She's had a fever most of the week and now she's coughing up her lungs every few minutes. 
Should I tell you how I still took her to the beach with us? 
Well I guess I just did, but honestly the sun was good for her, and me.

This is what makes her feel better.
Wearing my shoes around the house!
She has a 'thing' for momma's shoes.

{Real}
There have been several mentions lately over how much Lucy has grown this past year.  She is a, nearly 15 year old, young lady.  I'm watching my first born grow, too quickly, into adult hood with a dash of saddness.  Just a dash though, because it is pretty awesome to witness the fruits she holds blossom!
~

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~
Every Thursday, here then sharing it with others at

Monday, June 18, 2012

Cookie Goodness

The month of May brought quite a few opportunities for baking
There have been batches of
cupcakes,
cakes,
pies,
&
cookies
all month long.
Luckily, I haven't indulged in the eating of these delights.
But, I have enjoyed the baking and decorating part.
Especially the decorating.
It has been so busy around here,
that I am just now able to sit down to write a post about it.

Here is a bit of what's been popping out of our kitchen

Rose's First Holy Communion
A Ladies Tea
A mother day cake
&
  for the HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION
of my niece!

Next month
I try my hand on creating a cello and viola....
wish me luck!

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

End of the year recap (interviews)

Following the likes of Sarah, Charlotte, and Jessica; we revamped our old-fashion-looking school folders.  Charlotte is right, Sarah just blew up the pincrest boards with her post.  Each of these ladies have done awesome covers and the directions on what to do are on Sarah's post here.  It's easy as pie!
Here are ours for 2012:

We are on SUMMER BREAK!!!
Cheers are roaring in the background...
Kids are running like mad...

No, just kidding.
We are on summer break but this is
CLEAN UP WEEK!
So there are NO cheers, yet.

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Kitchen Science

It's the last week of school (officially anyway).  The kids are excited over the relaxed days of summer fun.  I'm looking forward to getting to those 'undone' and 'need to start' projects laying around the house.  But, since we are a home educating family; school never really goes on break. 
We just tweak things a bit.
Yesterday, we had some kitchen science fun
It was chemistry,
but with taste!
Why does soda pop fizz?
After pouring the water into the test tube of
citric acid and baking soda
they watched the fizz grow.
And had their answer..
"It's the white stuff, it's the white stuff that make the bubbles", yelled out Cecilia.
But how does it taste?
They added some 'artifical' flavoring....
Max chose raspberry and wasn't impressed.
Rose liked her grape and drank it up.
Cecilia took one look at Max and ran out of the room.

Suits me just fine.
The kids don't drink soda anyway.
I think we're off to a good start on our 'summer break'
Next up,
Why do cupcakes rise?

13!

Many years ago, in the most unlikely of places,
two people met.
Neither of them were looking for what came that night. 
He was young, growing in the family business
and she was on the verge to move several 100s of miles away.
On a whim, she accepted an offer from friends to meet and check out a band.
It was on a Tuesday night.
Such a random night to go out to a bar.
But she went.
He, had been invited by the band, his relatives.
It was a heavy work day for him, but he went.
Dressed in sweatpants and a cap; it was a Tuesday, no need to "dress to impress".
In walks the girl.
She greets her friends, whom he knows as well.
(funny how they knew the same people but never had met b4)
He is already there, leaning against the bar talking to her friends.
They are introduced.
He smiles and greets her.
(That wonderful heart melting smile)
and she feels it!
Moments later he invites her to go outside to talk.
(loud bar music isn't conducive to a good conversion)
What they both thought initially, would be a short conversation,
lasted the rest of the night.
On that night,
he told her of his family, values, upbringing, future plans.
She spoke of her time in Mexico on her grandmother ranch,
the cows, the cheese making, being the eldest of six.
On that night they each had met their
soul mate.
Not knowing exactly what that meant for them.
But trusting that, what they felt was absolutely real.
It was fast, strong, and lovely!
on
May 29, 1999
they became
husband and wife
13 years later
they share a wonderful life
and it all started
on a Tuesday night
at a bar.
I love you, Lineman!

We thank you, O God, for the Love You have implanted in our hearts. May it always inspire us to be kind in our words, considerate of feeling, and concerned for each other's needs and wishes. Help us to be understanding and forgiving of human weaknesses and failings. Increase our faith and trust in You and may Your Prudence guide our life and love. Bless our Marriage O God, with Peace and Happiness, and make our love fruitful for Your glory and our Joy both here and in eternity.

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Come Holy Spirit, Come!

Give me grace O Holy Spirit,
Spirit of the Father and the Son to say to You always and everywhere,
"Speak Lord for Your servant heareth."
 Amen
Breathe into me Holy Spirit, That all my thoughts may be holy. Move in me, Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. Attract my heart, Holy Spirit, that I may love only what is holy. Strengthen me, Holy Spirit, that I may defend all that is holy. Protect me, Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy

Post to come later on our day, the art, and the novena!
Thank you Lacy for the inspiration.

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Southern California Catholic Home Educator's Conference


June 22-24
~
It's a homeschooling conference.
It's a curriculum fair.
It's a used book sale.
~
It's loads of fun.
It begins with Mass,
celebrated by an awesome priest!
~
and best of all....
It will be here
with the
 Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles!

{P, H, F, R}

{Pretty}
May Crowning
of our Blessed Mother
With our homeschool co-op.
And this year it was Rose's name chosen to crown
Our Lady.
Each May we gather with the Poor Clare Sisters.
They graciously open their doors and allow this group of many to roam around, pray, sing praise, hike the hills.  Bless these sisters! 
They are dear to us!

{Happy}
Our yearbook is done and off to print.
Lucy is so, so happy it's finally DONE!
And it looks pretty!
(this is the cover, created by my very talented niece/godchild)

{Funny}

One child's excitement over her first 'ever' solar eclipse,

was another child's anxiety.
Rose wasn't really anxious here,
she was being very cautious not to look at the sun.

{Real}
The school year is just about over, and already the books for next year have begun to arrive.
I love this home schooled life!

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~
Every Thursday, here then sharing it with

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