Our Magnum Opus

The Most Important Lesson

Yesterday we had a very nice first day of schooling.  We took pictures of each child with some of their books, Kevin J. even smiled once during his photo shoot, but my camera was too slow to catch it.  I showed the kids how I wanted them to use their systems.  Workboxes for the younger and middle kids, hanging files for the older kids.  We had a group time which I haven't done much of the last couple of years.  And I started teaching the Baltimore Catechism to the younger group.

The first lesson of the catechism is the most important thing I could teach them.  That lesson: to know, love and serve God is the Christian life distilled.   I told them if you get nothing else your whole school career with me this lesson will help you live your life well and get to heaven when you die. 

Of course we discussed the ways that you know, love and serve, made lists and drew pictures.  But I was delighted that they voluntarily shared what they learned when a friend stopped by for tea and dad came home from work.  Hopefully, we are all grasping this most important lesson.

First Day 2009

Labor Day

Our parish has a pretty awesome Labor Day Festival, two days long, and our menfolk were there setting up the day before.  It was a long, exhausting, but fun weekend.

There were pony rides.

There was hatchet throwing, Dad got a bulls eye.

Knights of Columbus Soccer Kick Challenge

Bouncy Thingees (this is about all we saw of Will and Maria)

Bungee Bounce (Kevin and Alex did it too, but none of us were there with the camera)

Monica

Blaise (they were not that close to the electric poles, it's just the camera angle)

Dominic

Regina doing flips to her hearts content

And tomorrow we are back to school! 

Found in the Camera

Don't ask, I dunno

It's that time of year

jailed

Sleepless

Not much sleep has been happening here this week.  Kevin and I are both having awful dreams about our friend's children.  Dreaming that we are trying, but can't protect a specific child of our friends.  (Different children each dream.)  We are being ridiculously paranoid about our own childrens safety.  I'm sure this is because of the tragic losses among the Catholic homeschooling community in the last few weeks.   Also, in the last year or so, there have been heavy trials among our 'in person' friends.

Our youngest children must be picking up on that stress as they are not sleeping well either.  Add to that, wildlife outside our bedroom window at night.  The coyotes howl at night and did you know that deer snort and stamp when challenged? They don't want to give up their apple tree buffet so they challenge instead of running.  (I assume they are challenging something smaller, not the coyotes.)

Normally, my very sensible Dutch nature carries me through.  I don't get thrown easily and just keep plugging away.   This feels different.  As if we are being purged and prepared for an even greater battle.  I can't express the vague feeling any better that that.  But I share it because I think other other parents out there are feeling it too.

The early Christians rallied through persecutions and suffering by upholding each other in prayer and temperol needs.  The faith spread rapidly that way.  Like the early Christians, we bear each other's burdens and help those in need where we can. We are praying mightily for our friends, our brothers and sisters in Christ, who are in the valley of the shadow.   Hopefully, like the early Church, they will know we are Christians by our love.

Encouraging Words

The children and I have been working on saying encouraging words more frequently.  I was very encouraged to hear that at least four year old Maria has taken it to heart.  She was at Grandma's house yesterday afternoon.   When Grandma opened her refrigerator, Maria gasped and exclaimed "Grandma your refrigerator is beautiful!"  When she saw the cleaning supplies, she said "What a lovely vacuum!"