Next Liturgical Gathering 5/10/12??

Hi ladies, I am not sure when the next gathering is, but I do know that Lisa has a good idea to have it be about the Blessed Mother Mary.  I have a craft idea to have the kids make some homemade garden art with Mother Mary as an inspiration.  What we need for each child is:
1. a  wire coat hanger than is capable of being bent by hand (this will be the stake that goes into the ground)
2.  a mason jar lid for each child (the kind that is for a small mouthed quart jar, a flat piece and a rim piece  or a single pieced lid for a small mouthed mason quart jar.  ) This is what the kids will put their drawings on (with modge podge....do we have that at your house Stacy?)  If not, we need more.  I have about 8 oz.  It may not be enough.  I am not good at figuring that out.
3.  12-14 guage wire (2.5 ft per child) I have enough for about 6 kids.  Doesn't matter what color it is.  We will bend it to make flower petals around the lids, then adhere it to the stakes by wrapping it together.
4.  Beads....I HAVE ENOUGH FOR ALL.  They will go on the wire petals for color.
5.  White paper to draw on and cut out pic for the center of their flower/jar lid center.

I hope this is not too confusing.

Also, can we have the kids brainstorm virtues that are inspired by Mother Mary after the reading?  Maybe we can then ask them ways that they could practice one of those virtues at home and have them plan on doing that and coming together again on ascension day with sharing what they did to practice one of the virtues that came up for them at home or in their community.  Caroline had this good idea and I think its great.  What do you all think, and if you like it, is there someone who wants to spearhead the discussion/sharing of virtue ideas after Lisa does the reading?  

Liturgical Gathering This Thursday 4/12/12

Lisa will be reading a story of Easter that will tie into our craft of egg shell seed plantings.

WE NEED: flower seeds for the kids to plant, 1/2 egg shells to plant in for each child(4 per child or 2 egg shells halved), egg cartons cut into thirds (to hold the 4 half egg shell seedlings) and snacks to munch on. I will bring a bag of dirt to plant the seedlings in. If the weather cooperates, we can do it all outside at Stacy's from 1-3 pm.

Prayers please

Allison,

Thanks for sharing your friends email. It is beautiful and timely. I can only hope I would possess 1/2 has much grace and faith in similar circumstances.

Please everyone, pray for my friend Meghan who is have 3 brain aneurysms operated on 4/12.

I ask that you pray for her complete recovery, peace and comfort for her soul and her children, and that she comes back to the Church in it's fullness and accepts all that God wants for her.

Spelling Bee

What list will we "bee" working from? I'm eager to do nothing but Spelling Bee work from here on out. Anyone with me? (Stacy?) I'm so ready to move onto the other half of my year as grower and be done with formal schooling! Is May 11th just the Bee or is it trivia, too?

From a friend

This email from a friend in Oregon was so inspiring to me.  Her faithfulness, peace, and ability to cling to her faith through it all are great examples of how we all can live every moment with Jesus!  Angela is the mother of 5, her husband contracts in Afganistan, and she homeschools.  She is in her early 50's, though her children are quite young--13-ish down to 5 I think.  Please pray for her if you think of it.

First and utmost...BLESSED BE GOD!  BLESSED BE GOD!  BLESSED BE GOD!

Before going to bed Saturday night, Stephen says I told him I was having pain in the back of my head and I showed him where, "just in case." At three in the morning I woke up with the pain in the back and on the top right side.  I had the thought I could have a stroke, and got up to change my pajama top and put on my Pope John Paul t-shirt which reads, "NEVER LOOSE HOPE." I took two aspirins and laid back down to pray the rosary, afraid most of all what would happen to the children if I did not wake up.  In the morning, I got up and made breakfast and afterwards, I was scolding Stephen right before going to Mass, because he and Anthony went out to play in the mud....suddenly my words were jumbled as if I had marbles in my mouth.  I immediately yelled out.."Oh my God, I'm having a stroke, and ran to my bathroom to look at myself in the mirror as I smiled....I couldn't smile...or rather, I looked like the Joker's twin sister. I called Michael immediately and he had me call 911. I was taken to St. Vincent's by ambulance.

Surely after arriving in the ER a priest came to hear my confession, give me Communion and give me the Anointing of the Sick.  All I could do was cry at the joy of being able to receive Him!  My soul was fed....my body...well.....the left side of my face is paralyzed.  My right eye won't close. My right cheek droops and my smile... like I said, I look like the Joker's twin sister. The Cat Scan did not show signs of a stroke, but it does not if it was mild.  The only way to determine if it was a stroke, is for me to have an MRI in a week to see if there is scar tissue.  The doctor said I DO NOT have the classic signs of Bells Palsy, but is treating me for that anyways. No way of knowing how long the paralysis will remain.

In the ambulance I felt so blessed and I was at peace.  I felt so grateful to God that it wasn't worse!  I didn't loose consciousness. I didn't die. My husband was there with me at home through the whole thing (GOD BLESS THE INVENTOR OF SKYPE!) Annette Salame was with me at the hospital. Jennifer and Jose Salame had taken care of my kids and Paula Foster was at my house later on and had dinner for the kids and dare I mention took care of my undone dishes.....  How blessed I am!

I confess as I write this at 4:30 a.m.. I'm having moments of being scared.  I've never seen my husband so worried either. He's on his way back home, he just left two weeks ago.  I know God works all things for good, and so I am trying to remember to TRUST IN GOD and ENTRUST MYSELF to our Blessed Mother.   I thus, also place myself in your hearts and iny our prayers...again...our Lord IS THE BREAD OF LIFE, but YOUR LOVE AND PRAYERS are the GRAIN from which that Bread that I am fed is made!

I thank you with all my heart and want you to know, that as I do each and every day, I am offering this up for YOU and your intentions!

God bless you ever so,

angela maria