What does a Bad day look like?

This blog post made me think of all of us....except I know no one else has bad days, right?  No, really.  Sometimes it does feel like a huge battle, and I'm loosing.  So why am I in this battle?  The above post is from a secular standpoint.  I do think we have a bit of an advantage as Catholics.  The why includes forming souls well. 

My own bad days include quite a bit of profanity.  I'll be doing a phonics lesson, and someone will start randomly yelling and screaming about a Lego creation that just got smashed on the floor, and something in my brain snaps and I become a turrets monster.  But more often, I try really hard to stay rational, as I hear myself ranting on and on and know the kids are hearing "Wah wah wah Wah wah WAH!"

I do this for my kids.  But I can see that it is for my own benefit.  I am being stretched much more, and asked to grow much more than I would have otherwise--if I were not homeschooling, not Catholic, not parenting, not parenting so many. 

And it all starts really coming back at you when your teens start challenging your behavior, or worse, repeating your own bad behavior.  I think this is why younger kids have such a different experience than older kids.  Not until I had teens did I really start making progress in the self-control department....cause they see you, and either call you a hypocrite, or see that you are trying.  But then, teenagers call everyone hypocrite--so we can't take it too seriously....

So what does your worst Day look like?

Play Rehearsal

We look forward to having "The first New England Christmas Tree" cast here tomorrow for
the first rehearsal.  Shall we say 1:30?

All Saints' Day celebration

Thank you to Stacy and Digby for hosting our feast day celebration!  It was a wonderful afternoon and we were blessed when the sun came out so that our saints could play outside instead of destroying the Veevers-Carter home.  This is my first attempt at posting pictures on the blog, so I hope it works!

Jesse Tree book ideas anyone/

Hi ladies,
do any of you have a good Jesse Tree/Advent book you might suggest?
thanks

Jesse Tree!!!

I think these are sculpy.

On Friday November 22 I am hosting a Jesse Tree ornament exchange.  Here's how it works.  There are 24, or 25 days in Advent this year.  If 8 people say they are coming to my exchange then I will assign 3 days each to each woman.  Then we all make 8 copies each of the 3 different days we are assigned (8 rainbows, 8 apples, 8 keys).  THEN we all go home with a complete set of homemade Jesse Tree ornaments for Advent!!  FUN!!!  The size should be not larger that 2".  Sculpy and felt seem like the mot popular mediums for the ornaments--but I have also seen decorated glass balls.  Go to pintrest and see what you can find.  Let me know by October 30 if you want to participate so I can Assign days!  See you all next Tuesday at Stacy's for our regular meeting!!!

More Prayer Please

Sorry to be a prayer hog, but they're desperately needed.

My brother-in-law only has 50% heart function and they say it wont get any better. They've also told him he will not be able to work and they gave him a 5-6 year life expectancy.

My sisters and I have just started this novena; maybe you could join us. The mood in my sister Lauren's house is heavy, obviously. They all need prayer - the biggest being conversion of Terry and trust in our Lord.  Their children are 10, 15, 17, 20. Two of them are my Godchildren. Thanks.

http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/novena/lourdes.htm

Halloween Party Plan

Hello Everyone,

We would like to invite you all to our Homeschool Halloween Party on Friday, October 25 at 1pm.
We will have a costume contest for kids (and moms, too, if you want to dress up), outdoor games; weather permitting, pizza and a bon fire.  Hope you all can make it.

The First New Englad Christmas Tree

HI there everyone!!  I neglected to remember that this past Friday when we were with Jesus in Adoration, we were in union with hundreds of thousands of other children around the world!  It was International  Children's Eucharistic Adoration Day!!!  YAY!!  I will try bvery hard to remember next year and advertise it in the bulletin.

It is that time of year!!!  Time to cast and practice the Advent Play!!  The play this year is about 10 pages long and has 7 characters, though I can add more young children to the family as interest demands.  Also there can be more townsfolks if I need more older kids parts.  But as it is printed, here ia the cast list:

Mistress Harcus, mother
Jamie, her crippled son
Cynthia, her little daughter
George, her oldest son (really!)
William, her second son
Neighbor Warren
Captain Harcus
Elder Hopkins
Villagers

There are three scenes, the last one being Christmas Eve.  We end with a carol, which will be a perfect segue into our Advent Carol Sing along!  SOOOOOOO  who want to be in it??  I would like to rehearse 3 times before the Party, and a dress rehearsal in the early afternoon the day of the Party.  Maybe someone in west Bath  or Woolwich can host 2 rehearsals..cough, cough, hint hint.....

Getting excited!!!!  Can yout tell?!

Flying Colors!

Thank you all so much for your prayers - God heard them!

My brother - in - law made it through surgery (seven hours of it which was brief given what they did) with flying colors! If you don't mind, keep him (and them) in your prayers when you think of it for faith in the heart now that the heart can pump again!

I'm so grateful to all of you for your prayers as is my sister who is still walking around in a bit of a daze.

Thank you all!
stacy

Elephants!

Anyone interested?
http://hopeelephants.org/visit-us/
The suggested donation is pricy, but it IS just a suggestion....

Adoration Schedule--Kind of....

I thought it would be nice to know ahead of time what we are going to do during our hour with Jesus.

Here's my first go at it, but I am easily influenced if you think something is out of place:

Divine Mercy Chaplet (last decade sung) since we begin at 3:00, the hour of Mercy

Tantum Ergo: maybe twice for practice

Rosary  Mom's before we go in, or even here in the comments, let's find out who wants to lead which decade.  The last decade, the Crucifixion, we will recite in Latin, so bring along printed prayers if you need them.  We'll go slow!  It's not that hard....

Story from one of my Catholic Stories books.

More singing to finish.  What's the song in English we usually sing?  Holy God We Praise Thy Name I think.  Maybe Tantum Ergo again for good measure.  We'll broaden our musical repertoire as the year progresses.

Keep Praying

Hi everybody,

I thank you for your prayers for my brother-in-law and sister Lauren. He will be undergoing surgery tomorrow at 9:30. My sisters and I will be meeting my other sister at the hospital prior to surgery. Please, please pray for his heart and her peace and their children whatever God's plan might be.

Thank you,
stacy

Happy Days of Autumn!!

What a great cook out party we had at the Veevers-Carter's!!  On the hike out, I was reminded of Joseph and Mary loosing Jesus in the caravan away from Jerusalem, when Melissa started calling up the line looking for Marcus in the dark. 

This coming Friday from 3-4 is our Eucharistic Hour.  If you want to spend an hour shushing your children and trying to keep ornery toddlers from rolling around irreverently bringing your children to Jesus and helping them grow in love of the Eucharist, come on up!!  You are welcome at my house either before (come by 1;30 to make it worth the effort it take to unpack, then pack-up) or after.  N.B. I am hosting a LLL potluck at 5:30 on Friday, so you may join us and hang out with some very nice families who may or may not be Catholic.  Really, the more the merrier.  Just be prepared to say something positive about breast feeding ;)

I have sent an email to Fr. Augustin at the Abbey asking to reserve the guest house Dec13-15.  I will let you know when I hear back from him.

Can't wait to pick apples!!!

Hope you all had a blessed Feast Day on Sunday!!!  

Reminders for those interested

Hi everybody,

Just a reminder that the October Saint Supper is this Wednesday at Saint Mary's. My friend Clare is leading them this year and they are all centered around Marian feast days. Anyway, the supper is potluck - plan to arrive at 5pm for the "lesson and activity" followed by dinner.

Also, this Friday is Adoration at Saint Patrick's 3-4 unless Allison has other info on that.

My brother in law is being moved to Boston today. They've assembled a surgical team and are no longer talking heart transplant but are planning on a repair so prayer is working - thank you. My family and I are still praying for a miracle. As it is, his surgery will be 12-14 hours and he will be in ICU recovery for 6 weeks minimum according to the doctors. I'll let you know when the surgery is and humbly request special prayers for him and my sister's family during that time.

Thank you and God bless you all and your faith.
stacy

Apple Orchard Field Trip

Hi all,

Mark your calendars.

Our first field trip is at Rocky Ridge Apple Orchard on October 11 at 1:00 pm.

The cost is $4 per child, adults are free.

It includes a hayride, an apple picked from a tree, and a small pumpkin.

Does anyone mind if I invite some families from the homeschool league?
Including Katie Williams and Linda Dumonts families, and a few others.

(I understand if you would rather keep it to us, just let me know.)

Upcomming Stuff!!

I am so eager for us to get together I thought it was all THIS week...but it's not! 

Next Week Tuesday the 24th we will meet at Stacy's from 6-8 pm.  Bring finger food to share and stuff to pray about and discuss! 

Then the following Saturday is the Michaelmas party at Stacy's too--boy she's outdoing herself this month!! ;)

I'm going to check on our St. Benedict Abbey reservation because I'm eager for that too!!!

Does everyone likt the new background?  Stacy said the former background gave her seizures or something.

Got All the Tools I need!

OK, I know I am spending too much time on the blog that few read--but I am trying out Firefox as a browser to see if I can post with little details like paragraphs!!

So far so Good!!  I even have spell check on my tool bar!  YAHOOO!! Well I'd like to have more to say but am too stressed by late dinner and crying kids, but really need to go care for lovely children.  Had a fabulous time at the lighthouse remembering the battle fought 200 years ago today.  Really moving and wonderful!  Let's talk about Saturday prayer and fasting plans!  What has Pope Francis said?

First Friday

This Friday is our First Friday Holy Hour from 3-4 at St. Patirck's. Sadly, there is a funeral for the granddaughter of a parish family that day. As a result the Eucharist will not be on the alter, although the church will be open. I will be there with my children and would love everyone to still come. Jesus is present in the tabernacle!! Here is the link to the young adult child's obituary. She suffered from mental health issues and the family is consoled that she is no longer suffering.

Happenings!!

Has everyone started school?!! We are getting a late start on day 2--clearly posting on the homeschool blog supersedes actual homeschooling!! Tomorrow from 3-5 at Pemaquid Light there is a presentation about the 1812 battle that took place there on Sept 5. We would love to see people there--if you need a pit stop at my place before or after! Free! ALSO! You must have heard about the day of fast and prayer Pope Francis has called for this coming Saturday for the intention of peace in Syria. I was wondering what you and your families are planning to do. I have only just asked my people to think about it--and my in-laws are in town visiting, so it might not go over well to tell them we are not serving food on Saturday hahhahahaha! So far all I can think of is a family Rosary....maybe fasting from dessert----which looks lame as I type it, The suffering people in Syria deserve more, and certainly the politicians need more!!!! ALSO!!!!! Don't forget the parish picnic and celebration of Our Lady's Birthday this Sunday in Boothbay!! Sept 24 First Meeting at Stacy's! God Bless You All!!

Planning Meeting

Wow!! All we have to do is stay that orginized for the next9 months and we will all have a fabulous homeschooling year!! Stacy was the model hostess, and the breezy shady lawn was the perfect location for us to meet and solve eachother's, the Church's, and the world's problems, in that order! To Sum up: N.B. the links to the right. I think these were all of the links I was asked to share. I could not find info on the internet about the Topsham group that Janine is participating in. Maybe you can post that sometime Janine. Also to the right should be a list of upcomming events. I have run into a glitch on the blog, so if it is not there today it will be soon. Field trips will include apple/pumpkin/hay ride in October, Maybe Darling Marine Center in January, Maine State Museum in March, Old York Village in April after Easter (see link to the right, but their website is a bit shaby of you ask me). LIturgical Feasts we plan on celebrating together include Mishaelmas at Stacy's, All Saints, First Sunday of Advent at my place, Maybe Gaudette Sunday, Maybe Epiphany or St. Joseph's, Ascention Thursday picnic to end the year. Other homeschoooling events we are planning include the First Friday Eucharistic hour every month at St. Patrick's, monthly meetings the 4th Tuesday of each month from 6-8 at Stacy's (may need to cancel or move around in December, or have a fun night of Mommy pressie exchance and chocolate eating), Spelling Bee in the winter, Talent show in May at St. Patrick's. We talked about not wanting to conflict with St. John's by keeping our group a word of mouth personal invitation under the radar kind of think. Though one exception I think is the Children's Eucharistic hour. This is not necesasrily a homeschool thig and I think an announcement about it would be fine. What do you all think? We are all planning on working on basic Latin prayers, and will pray one decade of the Rosary in Latin at Frist Friday. We also plan to work on singing Tantum Ergo, O Salutoris Hostia, and Holy God We Praise Thy Name at Adoration. I will try to find links to those and post them. I mentioned Glitches....the blog is not letting me format this post at all--paragraphs etc. if anyone else wants to hack into this post and edit it nicely that would be nice. God will send us a new computer in the right time! I'm sure I have forgetten some stuff--so please add or comment. I will attempt to invite Melissa to be a contributor also. Spell check is nowhere to be seen so forgive me! God Bless you All!

Maine State Museum

We have a date for the Maine State Museum!

May 10th is the date with arrival time at 8:45 am. We're slotted in a little earlier than last year so we can fit two guided activities in for the entire group. That means we wont be splitting into two smaller groups for the activities. All of our kids will participate in two activities as on group. We will have an activity at 9:00am and 9:30am. I haven't confirmed what the activities will be, but they will be fun whatever they are.  I'm in the process of arranging a  guided tour of the museum after our activities. The tour will have a focus and I'll let you know what that is when I find out myself.

Please blog on this or email me to let me know if you can come so I can give a firm number. It is free. We will pack a lunch and eat at the museum.

Caroline, I know you can't do two Augusta trips in one week. I' have room in my car for two of your kids and maybe another of us can pick up the third.

ps the cross look FABULOUS!!!!!! The kids may not even want a patina. They really look wonderful as is. Digby can wax them as is or the kids can chose a patina. They can decide next week. You'll be so pleased with how they look.

See you all soon.
stacy

Museum and crosses

FYI-I haven't heard back from the State Museum yet which means I have to call them to set up a trip. I'm hoping to get that done this week and it's looking like it will be the second Friday in May unless that's too late in the year for all of you. I'll keep you posted.

Digby is running the crosses through the dip cycle this week and should be pouring next week which means they will be ready for patina at the end of next week. I'm going to the Cape a week from Friday and will be back Monday so I'm thinking we will do the patina the Friday of the week I get back which is the last week in April, I think, but that's the general plan.

State Museum

Hi everyone,

I put in a tour form for the Maine State Museum. Here are the dates I requested in order of preferencee and they will send back confirmation of which date they had available:

1.   April 26,  9am-1pm

2.   April 19, 9am-1pm

3.  May 3, 9am-1pm


I've requested a 1 hour general tour of the whole museum and several smaller guided activities for the kids with 1/2 for a lunch break. The guided activities/sub groups include some sort of Revolutionary War activity, something about Saint Mary (? not sure if they mean our Blessed Mother or someother saint or what the context is), and rocks and minerals. They'll contact me with the set date and program times. I'll let you know what the final particulars are one I get them.

Thanks!

Happy spring!

Science Meets Art: Wax to Bronze

Catchy title, don't you think?

Here is the FINAL date, I promise. MARCH 8 which is a Friday. This is the day that wont impact schedules for Janine and Caroline.

Here is my final count please confirm so I can give Digby final numbers for set up:

EB-5
McD-2
OB-3
VCs-3

Digby  would prefer to do groups of 4 as there will be hot implements and the kids will need his attention. We should start at 12 noon sharp so as to cycle the kids through and be done in a reasonable amount of time. I guess that means late breakfast or early lunch.

I'm thinking he can give an overview to everyone then the smaller kids can rush through in about 1/2 hour leaving the older kids with more time to be creative.

He wants the projects to be 5-8 inches and so will be make them to stand on a table or mount on a wall which is a little different than previously stated but better, I think.

We'd like to have the projects wrapped up that day so they can be cast out and patined before Easter. We can work out the details day of but that's what it's looking like.

The younger kids should finish up first and are welcome to hang out and have snacks and play while the older kids finish up.

Renewing the Homeschooling Group!!

So--I miss you all!  When can we get together to discuss Smart Martha's?  Is this just adding business to already busy lives, or is it worthwhile for us?  What do you think?  I am usually limited by how much gas I can spend--driving around in my tank--but my Lent has ALREADY foundered (whose idea was it to have school vacation for my big girls the first full week of lent???).  But I am trying to get back on track today, and could really use the spiritual support of my Catholic women friends. 

See as the Eddyblouins are not moving anywhere anytime soon, I am wanting to build up our Catholic Community as much as I can!!  I think I'm tapped out (or close to it) in building it by giving birth.....

Slightly related:  I have scheduled another NFP class series in April, May, June.  go to ccli.org and search for classes to see dates and times, though the 2nd and 3rd classes are negotiable since we usually are teaching one or two couples....so if you are interested in taking the course, but one date does not work for you, we may be able to work around that.  Also, pass it on to any other couples who may be interested in the info.

XXXOOO--We will be in Brunswick tomorrow!

A

Mass and Altar explained to the kids

On March 22, Friday !0:00 am, Marcy Brenner has offered to show and discuss the mass and altar components at St Charles church for the kids.  She will keep it to an hour or less, and did not ask for a 

fee.  ( I forgot to ask as well).  I assume it's free, but will ask when I RSVP the headcount attending on

the 15th.  Let me know if you and the kids want to go when you decide. 

Audio of the Rosary

Does anyone know of a good audio of the Rosary? No music, not to fast, not to slow, nothing to distract. I was trying to find something online w/o much luck.

Thanks

Does God have a soul?

Oliver asked me this question, "Does God have a soul". Jesus has a soul because he became flesh, and Jesus is God, but does God the father have a soul? I couldn't find a quick answer online. Any of you have something definitive? Is this one of those situations where we are putting human understanding/vocabulary on the Divine and is therefore somewhat obsolete? Any insight would be appreciated.

Smart Martha's

I am longing to get together with you all!!  Who has Smart Martha's?  Who has read it?  Who has suggestions for this coming Tuesday? (discuss the 1st half, all of it, only the first couple of chapters...).   My energy is low as I recover from sinus infection from hell--but I'll be all better by Tuesday!  Antibiotics are the thing sometimes!! 

All Saints "Winter Warmup" Feb 2, 2013

Save the date, and I hope you all will join in on the Winter Warmup (free) sponsored by our
fantastic parish.  It will be at St Patricks church from 9-4 (with 8:30 registration), followed by mass, and there is an attempt happening to get priest participation for confession......more to come on that.

The focus of of the warmup is to grow our relationship with Jesus through Gospel and personal story sharing with a gentleman named Dan Ponsetto.  He is Boston Colleges Director of Volunteer and Service Learning Center and a friend of Shiela Murphy's.  She tells us that he is a magnificent and enthusiastic teacher of the faith and she recommends him to this warmup experience ( I refuse to call it a  retreat).

There will be posters and announcements at our churches this weekend, along with a sign-up sheet, but wanted to get this to you before then to see if it might work with you.  Here is a web page to see him.

http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/prs/chaplaincy/saltandlight/dantheman.htm

Sky High

We could do this during Feb vacation, or I was thinking of doing the Friday of homeschool roller blading. We could meet at the center at 9am, visit for a hour, then scoot out to skate. Thoughts?

Also, I'm gearing up to plan the State Museum trip. Is anybody interested in being a page for a session in the House, Let me know so I can set that up. Our other option for the day that I'm going to set up is a TOUR of the museum with a guide. I think my kids would get more out of it. They also have a scavenger hunt and we break off into the little groups for extra activities like we did last year. Let me know what you all want out of it this year.

Finally, we're about to enter Ordinary Time quickly followed by Lent. Digby has offered time and studio to help the kids sculpt crosses and a corpus if they are so inclined and he will cast them and finish the project with a patina which the kid can watch. That will be a separate day of Science Meets Art and I'll prepare a little thing on chemistry, gasses, and heat (that's what makes the color on the patina). Who's in on that?

Thanks for getting back to me!

Happy Epiphany! We just had our Christmas dinner yesterday. It was really nice and we felt so grateful to still have Christmas (which I always thought ended at Epiphany, but apparently not!)

Parish Retreat

Is anybody planning on attending this? I feel like I should since I've been such a PIA to the parish powers that be lately but I'm not too psyched about "sharing" in smaller groups. Any chance any of you will go so we can be in a group together. That, or I'll take up smoking again for the day and ditch outside to hack butts while everyone else shares. My lungs are in your hands.

Lisa St. Jean

Hi all and Happy New Year!
I was at Mass today in Lewiston and saw Lisa St. Jean.  She had the same twinkle in her eyes but after an extended conversation, she shared through tears that she is in excruciating pain due to rheumatoid arthritis, from her jaw to her lower back.  She's tried everything: chiropractors, physical therapy, herbal remedies, and now she's on narcotic pain relievers.  She's really discouraged and asked for prayer from anyone who is willing.  I wonder if we could organize some meals for her.  She's still homeschooling three at Alcuin Academy and has three enrolled there.  I don't know how she's doing any of it and mentioned that due to good old Obamacare, she's unable to afford her medication.  Not sure how that all works, but she really needs a ton of prayer.  Couldn't stand to see her in tears with pain.  Please let me know if you think you could make a meal for her family, or perhaps offer to shop for her.  We might want to team up to make a meal, as I think they are currently a family of ten at her house, with her oldest daughter married and living a few towns away.