Friday, November 27, 2009

Black Friday and Other Shopping Ideas

We got our newspaper on Thanksgiving and thought we might try doing a little Black Friday shopping. Early in the morning seemed exciting but after a while of searching the ads and searching the internet we found that we could stay in bed, get our sleep and find just as good of deals on line. then after a good breakfast we would head out and try a little shopping.  About 9 AM we left and made it to one store. It was Kohl's and I like Kohl's.  Apparently a lot of people like Kohl's. There were good deals and a lot of nice items we would like but in the end the line to pay for items caused us to leave. The line literally went 3/4 of the way  around the store. It was moving fast but we decided to wait until another day. So we left and did a couple of errands and came back home.  
It seems to me alot of people are going to be cutting back on Christmas. Cutting back on the amount of  money spent. Perhaps that is why searching for the best deals and best prices causes such great crowds. Though I know alot of people do love to shop in the hustle and bustle also.
There are other ways of cutting back on the amount of money one spends at Christmas.
Family Crafts http://familycrafts.about.com/od/giftstomake/tp/HomeMadeGiftIdeas.htm has
some neat ideas for homemade gifts. 100 ideas.  I remember when I was a young girl ( along time ago) in school we usually always  had a day where we made gifts for our parents.  As a homeschooling mom I hope to come up with some creative ideas this year of gifts that can be made by our family and given to friends. Sometimes it's the homemade gifts that come from the heart that mean the most. I know for me I find it very hard to throw away special gifts, cards and pictures my son has made.
Another place to find ideas to  help save on Christmas and to bring the true meaning of Christmas is an article found on Faith and Family's blog. The blog Simply Joyous tells of many ways to bring simplicity to Christmas and cut back on the spending. http://wbx.me/l/?u=http://faithandfamilylive.com/.
Focusing on what Christmas is truly about this year, the birth of our Savior, is most important and is what will last through eternity, not the stuff we buy at Kohl's or any other great store.
    
                    

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Advent and Christmas

                                              

We bought our Advent candles, started decorating our home for Advent and Christmas. This is my most favorite season of all that is coming up. My son, who is 12,  loves it, too.  He is so excited about the tree and the decorations. He  helped me pick out an advent wreath and candles this year.   We set up our manger scene and try to have the people in route. We place them at varying places around the room. Of course, baby Jesus is not brought out yet.
The best part about having Christ in your Christmas and celebrating Advent is it takes away the hustle and bustle of the commercialism that has been placed on Christmas and takes away the stress and helps bring peace.
For me Advent is one of the best things about Christmas, besides the coming of our Lord, of course.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Rain or Sunshine

Okay, we have had alot of rain lately. Yesterday we  had a peek at some sun but it is pretty cloudy here again today.  I am not complaining mind you, everyday is a beautiful gift to be enjoyed but I am praying for some sunshine or as my son would put it some Sonshine.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Homeschooling

     
Holy vessels and candles
 We have been homeschooling for 8 years now. Our son is in 8th grade  There have been  ups and downs but I have loved every minute of it. We are studying our Faith very deeply this year. He will be confirmed into the Catholic Church in Spring. It is such a glorious thought to think he is studying so much of God, the Holy Spirit and of the love God gives us and the beautiful church He left us.  As I attend the class with him I learn so much also. Things I didn't learn or remember from my own childhood. I hope and pray he will remember much better than I did the things he is being taught.


Our strongest and best subject is history. We love it. This year, though, we are also studying Latin. Wow, how that has helped with spelling. We started last year with English from the Roots Up. and moved on to Our Roman Roots and I have to say understanding how our language came to be and how words are put together sure helps me understand and spell better also.
Next is Math. Joshua is great at math, though, he doesn't believe it.  He can figure things in his head so well and quick. 
I came across a little gem here this year, Easy Grammar. Wow, do we like this curriculum for English.
We have a lot of other subjects yet.  We love off days, of course, field trips, choir, debate class. Our school is going well and I thank the good Lord He is always with us and guiding us. 
Hope your homeschool is going well, too.
Check out some of the links below for curriculum.
                                      

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Anniversary

Besides being Veterans Day, yesterday was my husband and my anniversary. We have been married 14 wonderful years. I am so grateful to God for such a wonderful husband, marriage and family. We had a nice meal at home. We got out the good dishes, silverware and cups and had a small chocolate cake for desert.
It was nice celebrating at home, my son, my husband and myself.
                           hands, with this ring, I thee wed

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Veterans Day

Today I want to remember and pray for  all the men and women who bravely fought and continue to fight for the freedoms we have in this  Thank you all very much.   Also, I pray for all the families who have lost loved ones in war.
                        
                                          vet4.gif - 2.9 K 

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Book Review: The Domestic Church by Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle

I am currently reading a very good book from Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle.
The Title is: The Domestic Church; Room by Room. The back cover of the book says, "Make your humble home as holy as the grandest cathedral. Pope John Paul II wrote that the "little domestic church, like the greater Church, needs to be constantly and intensely evangelized: hence its duty regarding permanent education in the faith. That's a tall order for busy Catholic mothers. You might even say it's as big as a house: You wouldn't want to clean the whole thing in one fell swoop, but if you take it one room at a time, you'll get the job done."


I think this is great. Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle talks about imitating Mother Mary in our Motherhood, loving our husbands, loving our blessings of little souls, everyday holiness, love in our home, sanctification, going to the cross, called to be a sign of Christ, so much more.
I am truly enjoying this book. I want to be a light to my family and my world of the wonderful love of the Savior. This book is full of spiritual ideas to help along the way.
                                Product Details

Monday, November 9, 2009

Working together

My husband and I worked together recently to build a holder for our garbage cans that can sit outside of our house. It's kind of like a little shed for garbage cans. It was great working together like that. It took us about a couple of weeks on and off.
My husband, son and I also worked together remodeling one of our bathrooms. We all had particular jobs to do and worked like a team and got the job done and it looks great. Special thanks to my husband who did so much work on both projects. It was also great to see my son working so hard right along side of us, being very diligent.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Sunday Mass Psalm

Psalm 146:
Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul! I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have being.
Today's Psalm at Mass helps us to remember to always be praising God, in everything we do.


I am just starting out blogging, so I hope this is a place where you can find doses of spiritual, homemaking and homeschooling encouragement.


God Bless.

Dear Lord help us to educate our family for your glory.

"Since parents have conferred life on their children, they have a most solemn obligation to educate their offspring. Hence, parents must be acknowledged as the first and foremost educators of their children. Their role as educators is so decisive that scarcely anything can compensate for their failure in it. For it devolves on parents to create a family atmosphere so animated with love and reverence for God and others that a well-rounded personal and social development will be fostered among children. Hence, the family is the first school of those social virtues which every society needs."--Gravissimum Educationis (one of the documents of the Second Vatican Council)

Helping and Loving Our Neighbor

Corporal works of Mercy
Feed the hungry

Give drink to the thirsty

Clothe the naked

Shelter the homeless

Visit the sick

Visit the imprisoned

Bury the dead



The Spiritual Works of Mercy
Admonish the sinner

Instruct the ignorant

Counsel the doubtful

Comfort the sorrowful
Bear wrongs patiently

Forgive all injuries

Pray for the living and the dead


Good Samaritain