F is for First State ~

The other day Buck asked what the first state was.  Of course I knew the answer...  as I quickly Googled it - Delaware!  This reminded me of the geography study I've been wanting to do with the kids for a while using the Sleeping Bear Press series of Discover America State by State books!  I had wanted to buy these notebooking pages to go along with it, but never got around to it.  Then I came across these **FREE** Notebooking pages on Pinterest. 

So, I checked out F is for First State from the library and this morning after we were home from Mass we all gathered around the kitchen table and enjoyed it together.  As I read aloud they filled in info they heard like it's nickname is The Diamond State.  I printed off a state map and flag from Enchanted Learning and we glued them as seen below.

Then they colored in the flag to match.

Once they were finished we added the date to their time lines ~

and filed them in the back of their Book of Centuries.

Celebrating ~Our Lady of Lourdes ~

Today we celebrate Our Lady's first apparition to St. Bernadette at Lourdes France. We began our day watching Bernadette Princess of Lourdes. I just love these videos! We have several of them but not all yet :)

We celebrate a name day today so it's an extra special day here.

I was reading CHC's A Year With God this morning and was inpsired to try again with the family rosary in the evening. At least a decade. The living area needed a good straightening so I took the time to make sure we had rosaries and candles. I also copied the rosary books (From A Year With God) for the kids to make. I hope to work on those over the next few days.

I had the girls add Our Lady of Lourdes to their Book of Centuries.

We'll have a special French meal (American style) tonight.

Pure Potato Soup, Ham Steak, and French Rolls :)

(By the way the potato soup is only 2 pts a cup - if your counting :)

Pure Potato Soup in honor of Our Lady

Ingredients:

1 small onion

Bag of shredded potatoes

Packet of White Gravy Mix.

Broth  1 - 26oz box plus about a half of an addition can.

Saute the onion in a little of the broth from the box.  Once the onion is translucent, add remaining stock from the box and the bag of shredded potatoes.  In a separate bowl, whisk together the packet of white gravy mix with about half of the can of broth.  Once this is mixed well, add to the soup.  Bring up to temp. then reduce and simmer about 30 to 45 min. or until your potatoes are soft.

The white gravy mix makes the soup a little on the peppery side (which I really liked)!  The specks of pepper in the soup can remind us of our sins and how we are to pray to Our Lady asking her to help us to be good.

And here's a beautiful prayer from Catholic Culture to pray before tonights meal.

Catholic Culture : Liturgical Year : Table Blessing for the Feasts of the Mother of God (Prayer): "Blessing II

We praise and magnify you, O Lord, the most high, for in the fullness of time you chose the humble virgin of Nazareth as the mother of your only begotten Son. By the intercession of her prayers we beg your blessing upon our daily food and drink. May they sustain us in our journey until you bring us to the eternal joy of heaven, where Jesus is king forever and ever. Amen"

I'd better get to cooking... I'll try to pop back in and add a picture of the meal. Tonight is the Confraternity of Christian Mothers monthly meeting. The House Cat and Snuggle Bug are coming with me. How blessed I am!

A Blessed Woman's Daybook

Outside my window ~ Blackbirds, blackbirds, and more blackbirds. Boy they sure are chatty! The birds gave us quite a show Saturday morning. I don't think I've ever noticed so many in our yard at once. We could barely get finished with our lunch without someone jumping up and grabbing the binoculars. A special treat for me was seeing our Blue Jay and his mate. Another first!

I'm hearing ~ silence. It's after ten and everyone else has gone to bed. I've been trying to type this post all day to no avail.

We're looking forward to ~ 19 Kids and Counting: Special Duggar Delivery will air Sunday night at 7 central time on TLC. We enjoy watching the Duggars. They are such a beautiful Christian example to the world!

I'm wearing ~ my new University of Alabama shirt (Roll Tide), black pull on pants, and my hair is still in the braid that Snuggle Bug fixed this morning.

Around the house ~ Buck has successfully knocked all three of the pictures off the wall leading from the living room down the hall. How, you may ask? Playing football - of course :) I'll buy new frames later. For now he needs to be a boy.

Recipe of the week ~ Baked Zucchini Sticks with Homemade Marinara Sauce. This was Yummmmy! Thanks for the recipe Gina. This one is definitely a keeper....Yummy and Low point!

Weight Watchers ~ I am not focused on the scale. Repeat -I am not focused on the scale! Today was my meeting day. I was determined to be happy no matter what the scale said! I am peaceful with knowing I am being temperate with my food, sticking to the plan and not overeating . I took a new notebook with me to write down goals, recipes, and other info that comes up in the meetings. Yes, I'm a note taker :) It's good to be back and I already am feeling so much better - even if the scale doesn't show much of change ;)

Thought of the day ~ Nothing tastes as good as healthy feels!

Healthy Goal(s) this week ~ Walk at least three times and eat breakfast first thing in the morning.

We are creating ~ A Book of Centuries for The House Cat and Snuggle Bug. Also, we picked up needlepoint and cross-stich packets at Michael's this weekend.

I'm planning ~ on Snuggle Bug starting a bird book of her own. I'd love to hear suggestions if any has them.

A picture thought ~
Visit Peggy for more daybook inspiration.