Happy Birthday Snuggle Bug!

I'm a little behind on my posting....

Snuggle Bug turned 12 a week ago today.

She is still in love with horses.

She said the most precious thing...

"I'm going to be a barrel racer and then a nun."

Thank you Lord for sharing this beautiful gift with us all!

We love you, Snuggle Bug :)

I just renewed

my subscription.  Do you have one?  If not, it's a great resource!!  Buck is especially enjoying the alphabet codes in the President's Day section.

Love Is...

Love Is...

Spending time with friends...

Helping one another along the way...

Dying to self...

Guiding small hands...

Living for God!

Love Never Fails (based on 1 Corinthians)

Every day is the perfect day to Love as God LOVES.

Saints Cyril and Methodius

Pray For Us!

{this moment}

A Friday ritual.   A Photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, visit Soulemama to leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Saint Scholastica ~ Pray For Us!

People often ask me if Buck and Honeybee are twins.  They are close in age, 18 months, close in size, but most of all are pretty much inseparable during the day.  Another beauty of homeschooling!

Snuggle Bug read them The Holy Twins this afternoon as I rested.  We seem to be passing a cold around :(  It's such a wonderful book!

After supper we watched Mass and made these doves shared by Stacy over at Catholic Moms Helper. 

Creation Lapbooks

This week we have been reading about the story of creation in the daily Mass readings.  Each morning I look for some type of coloring/activity sheet to use sometime during the day with the little ones.  When I came across this site, I thought - these materials would be great to use and make an easy lapbook!
So I did a simple fold lapbook and voila a pretty lapbook emerged!

I liked the way these were dotted for tracing the day and number.

On the inside of the lapbook, I made a little pocket to hold the memory match cards.  (just glue or tape down three sides of a piece of cardstock and you have made a pocket!)

I made another pocket to hold this little booklet, which I had Buck and Honeybee cut out.  I simply stacked these in order and stapled down the left hand edge to make a little book.

Then I made three Q&A cards based on the Catechism and one of our favorite CDs.

I folded a small piece of cardstock in two, added a small piece of white paper for contrast, and lightly printed the answers for them to copy.

Once that was done, he used this nifty little tool to add them to the lapbook.  I really like these little dot glue runners!  They are easy to use, not messy, and have a strong hold.



The finished product ~

 

My Daybook

Outside my window ~
Rain and a sleepy old dog.  I'm getting a little taste of caring for the elderly.  I know... she's just a dog but, she's turning back into a puppy needing lots of care and cleaning up after...if you know what I mean!

For today ~
Snuggle Bug's not feeling well.  Hopefully it's just a cold.  Breakfast and lunch trays have been served to her on the sofa.  A little TLC goes a long way.  She's looking a little better already :)

I'm hearing ~
The House Cat playing piano.  She's got such an ear for music - like her dad.  Now, if she can just discipline herself to learn to read it ;)

We are reading ~
The Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne.  Buck is really enjoying it and I've got lots of ideas for a lapbook to make once we are done.

I'm so thankful for ~
My new washer and dryer!  Well, they are new to me.  My honey found them on Craigslist for $200 each!  It was amazing to get all the laundry done Sat. morning.  The old dryer took three cycles to get the towels dry!!!

In the kitchen ~
Chili is simmering on the stove.  It will be nice to have supper ready and waiting when I get back in with Honeybee from gymnastics.

We are creating ~
Creation lapbooks (Buck and Honeybee).  An inspiration from the first Mass reading today.  Hopefully, I'll be able to share those soon.

Please continue to pray for ~
My sweet mama.  I can't imagine what she's going through!  I know how bad my heart breaks at times....  I know her's is a million times worse!

I'm pondering ~
There will always be people who have more than you and those who have less than you.  Be thankful for what God has given you!

Happy Birthday Dixie!

Our 1st baby is 17 years old today or 84 according to this site.

Under Brigid's cloak

Saint Brigid is one of the most beloved saints of Ireland.  She was born around the year 450 AD not too long before Saint Patrick died.  Her feast day is celebrated today on February first.  The Catholic Mosaic booklist suggests

reading this wonderful book today.  I printed this coloring sheet created by  Charlotte over at Waltzing Matilda. 
After reading the story,  Honeybee colored St. Brigid's cloak royal blue and added gold stars. 

I also added a little narration from her.

Snuggle Bug printed a pretty notebook page for a little dictation practice.

I noticed I never did post this from last year ~ Buck and Honeybee made these little cloaks for Honeybee's babies using a couple blue napkins I had and gold star stickers.

"Brigid's cloak played a part of several miracles later in her life, and became a sign of protection to the people of Ireland as well.  A common blessing among friends was the hope that they would be fa bhrat Bhrighde "under Brigid's cloak."   To this very day, the cathedral in Bruges, Belgium, keeps in reverence a large blue cloak which is said to be Saint Brigid's very own. " taken from Brigid's Cloak.

Mission to Love

It's a great day to begin watching this wonderful movie
and begin praying the Novena for Purification.
(see my sidebar) 

7 Quick Takes from my week

This last week flew by!  Snuggle Bug's been telling me, "Mama, you need to post!"  So here are a few things we've been keeping busy with since my last post.

1. The snow and ice hung out longer than I can ever remember it doing so.  Being a southern girl, I enjoy it for a day and that's about it!
2. My hubby asked me out for a date last Friday night.   How fun that was!!!  I wish we could do that every Friday night!  
3. Saturday was spent organizing our new master grocery list.  This is one of the time saving tips suggested in Homeschooling with a meek and quiet spirit  which we are reading in our book group.  My honey also put together a new bookcase for "my books" to go in our bedroom.  You can never have too many books! 
4. Sunday we began studying T3 - The Teen Timeline, Thy Kingdom Come, the Gospel of Matthew from Ascension Press, in our PSR class.  My honey and I are really enjoying sharing our faith with these wonderful 7th graders!
5. Monday my honey helped me organize Buck's room.  Boy, he sure is different than the girls!  We labeled bins and made a place for everything.  Now if we can only keep everything in it's place!!!
6. Tuesday, we went and painted for my mom.  The kids all helped and we got 'er done!  She had new carpet put in on Wednesday.  I can't wait to go and see! 
7. I've also been working on finishing up our 2nd Qtr. Progress Reports and making a plan for 3rd Qtr.  I ordered this horse study for Snuggle Bug yesterday.  The House Cat continues to write and has been published in the new Homeschool Literary Quarterly.  Buck is a Star Wars junkie and Honeybee... well, she's still sweet as sugar when she wants to be.  But, look out for her sting when she's tired!  :)  I'd say we had a pretty normal week around here ~ Staying Busy With our Blessings~

God Bless you all and visit Conversion Diary for more quick takes.

Wordless Wednesday ~ Icy Leaves in the South!

Visit WW for more wordless fun!

7 Quick Takes towards living in Ordinary Time

It's that time again...ordinary time.  One may be inclined too think this is a just a drab, numbered time.  Oh, but it is so much more!  The church in her wisdom knows what we need.  We need continual growth ~ Spiritual Growth!  So now we begin this time of "growing".

I've been extremely blessed by the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd training I've had.  I learned sooooo much during the classes!  One lesson we share with the children is on the liturgical colors of the church year.  This lesson shares with the children the colors of the liturgical year and the significance of each..  Ordinary time is called "the growing time" and is green.  Of course this is the time where we all take steps to grow closer to Our Lord during this ordinary or non-feast time in our year.

Last night at the supper table I posed the question, "Let's all think of a way we can grow closer to God during this "growing time." 

Here are our 7 quick takes on growing loser to God during this "Ordinary Time."

1. Exercise temperance through diet and exercise. (Dad)
2. Keep your hands to yourself.  (Honeybee)
3. Family prayer time after supper BEFORE the TV is turned on. (Snuggle Bug)
4. No name calling. (Buck)
5. Consistent bed time for all so that mom and dad can have time together.  (House Cat)  8:30 for Buck and Honeybee and 9:00 for House Cat and Snuggle Bug.  The older two can read in bed till 9:30.
6. More couple prayer time.(The Magnificat, Daily Prayer for our Children)   Just mom and dad - praying for our marriage and our children.  Try to do this after dad's home for work before supper.(Mom)
7. Make time for weekly adoration.

Dear Lord, please strengthen our family.  Help us to grow closer to you during this ordinary time.  Help us to loving serve you by serving one another cheerfully.  Protect us from the wickedness and snares of the devil!  We pray for our children's vocations.  Please help us to lead them to love You more than anything else in this world.  Amen.

visit Conversion Diary for more quick takes

Our Centerpiece on the Feast of the Lord's Baptism

Tonight we used some of the shell candles we made last year to decorate the table.  Buck and Honeybee also placed some sea shells about that we collected at the beach one year.  I knew I'd use those one day ! :)  It was a simple, quick and beautiful centerpiece!

Epiphany ~ 2011

The Magi arrived

Gifts were given

The House was Blessed 

A great way to begin the new year!

Poor Man's Dip

I was thinking of how many people make black-eyed peas for prosperity on New Year's Day.  We normally eat them too, with cabbage and cornbread.  I think the tradition is for health, wealth, and happiness or something like that.  Tomorrow we will share the same with Mama.  We will take along this Poor Man's Dip with us when we go.  I think it will be a perfect addition for our New Years gathering.  It's so simple to put
together ~

1 small bell pepper, chopped

1/2 small purple onion, chopped

2 can's black eyed peas (drained)

1 can shoe peg corn

8 oz bottle of Italian dressing

Mix all together and chill overnight.  Serve with Frito Scoops.

This is really the perfect dish for tomorrow.  May we all be poor in spirit, as the first beatitude states, remembering we can do nothing without God.  A Blessed New Year to You All!

Christmas with Mama ~ 2010

Mama added a new tree to the house this year.  She said, "Daddy always wanted a tree with blue lights."  She covered it with silver angels and other "heavenly" ornaments.
I bought and wrapped the peace ornament "for daddy's tree."  I think this might just become a new tradition for us. 

We bought this ornament for him last year at the Christmas tree farm. It looks beautiful on his tree.

She also added this beautiful, sparkly hummingbird.  They have so many hummingbirds there in the summer.  Daddy told her whenever she was sad and saw a hummingbird come to the window it would be him telling her everything was going to be ok.  A day or so after his death she was about to leave my house when a hummingbird flew to our front window and fluttered for a few seconds.  I asked her if she saw that.  I had never had that happen here before.  She then shared with me what he had told her.  

We had a nice visit with mama and she was very generous in her gift giving.  Just like daddy was  :) It's still hard for me to comprehend that he is not here anymore.  My heart aches but, the prayer "Jesus, I Trust in You" is the best medicine for my soul.

  I came across this poem today.  Mama, if you read this I hope it comforts you, too.

Christmas in Heaven

'Tis Christmas in Heaven

What a beautiful sight!

It's my first one here;

Everything is all right.

The crib is adorned

With the brilliance of stars,

Wise men have come

From Venus and Mars.

I've met all our dear ones

Who preceded us here;

The reunion was lovely,

An event full of cheer.

And tonight we'll all gather,

In reverence we'll kneel,

For the Babe in the cradle

Up in Heaven is Real.

I think of my family

that I left behind

And I pray that your Christmas

Is as blessed as mine

Please shed no more tears,

For my soul is at rest,

Just love one another;

Live life to its best.

Yes, It's Christmas In Heaven,

So I've heard them say,

Yet, Christmas In Heaven

Happens every day.

by Unknown.