So much for a weekly blog! (and Advent thoughts)

Well, here we are, finishing up week 12 of our homeshooling effort. Two more weeks and we're free for the rest of Advent and Christmas. As the Christian Year ends with the Feast of Christ the King tomorrow (I started writing this on Saturday -oops) and we begin the new Year with Advent, I rededicate myself to posting at least once a week (unless I'm out of town ;)).

As we approach Advent, I once again ponder the miracle of the birth of the Savior. Twenty centuries later, we still celebrate His First Coming. There are parties and decorations, gifts for each other and lighted trees. All this I love and look forward to, but what gift do I have for my Savior on His birthday? I have bought or made all the gifts for family and friends, and even wrapped them on a good year, but am I prepared for His Second Coming? What if He actually came to one of the parties we give in His honor? Would He be pleased with what He sees? Would I actually welcome Him or would I rather He didn't come?

Well, He is coming, so what can I do to prepare? What can I do to help those in my care to prepare? Prayer is a good place to start. I don't have to buy any special equipment or do anything except turn to God in humility. Remember ACTS:

Adoration - I love You, Lord.
Contrition - I am sorry for the wrong I have done and the good I have left undone.
Thanksgiving - I thank You for everything You have given me.
Supplication - Please give me what I need to get to heaven, as well as what I need to do Your will here on earth.

I will blog more on this subject later this week.

Pray for Priests

This morning at Mass, Father gave an impassioned plea for our prayers for priests. He talked about praying for vocations and how sad it is that the parish will only be able to have a communion service during the week because all the priests will be on retreat. He talked about how incredible the sacrifice of the Mass is and that that's the priests number one responsibility.

I can only add that the sacrament of Holy Orders isn't just for men! The men who answer God's call to the priesthood are there for all of us. Without them, we can't live our lives as Catholics! Without them, there is no Mass, no Eucharist, no "source and summit" of our Faith! Without them, Jesus isn't present in the tabernacle! We need them, so we must do our part and AT THE VERY LEAST pray for their perseverance and faithfulness.

I am going to put a Pray For Our Priests Car Magnet on my vehicle. I hope that when you see one of these, you will stop and say a Hail Mary for our Blessed Mother's dear sons. Better yet, put one on your car, too!

Week 2 Begins

We began our second week of homeschooling today. We're not burned out yet! YAY!!

Seriously, we are enjoying our adventure very much. My 1st grader, Margaret, is picking up reading really well, and just loves math. Lucy, my 2nd grader, is looking forward to her First Confession and First Communion in the spring.

Andrew, 4, likes going off by himself and building things with Lego, and Anne, 3, likes to color. Susan, 2, also likes to color, but likes to eat crayons more. Peter, 6 months, likes to nurse and be held more than anything, which makes it imperative that I get our school supplies out before school begins every day!

What I am working on this week is using my time wisely so that the house stays in good order and the dishes and laundry don't get out of control in the midst of our studies. I need to figure out the best time to do these things, and then do them at those times instead of wasting time doing things I could do later (like surf the 'net, for example).

I actually already know when the best times for these things are. I just need to do them at those times before I get sidetracked by something else. In order for that to happen, I need to start a load of laundry as soon as I come out of my room, dressed and ready for the day, before the kids get up. Then I need to head to the kitchen and put away the clean dishes from the dishwasher, and start making breakfast.

In order for that to happen, the night before I will have had to put the dishes into the dish washer, treated any stains on the laundry and put the load I will wash in the hamper next to the washing machine, planned the next day's school activities, and decided what clothes I am going to wear.

This will be easy once i get into the habit. Right now, I don't do these things in order, so it is hard to remember what needs doing, especially when a certain 2-year-old is standing next to me as I try to type, whining about wanting a snack over and over again.

So - right now I will get the kids a snack (it is snack time, after all), and then I will see about getting the clean dishes put away so I can put today's breakfast and lunch dishes into the dish washer. We have already finished with school for today, so the kids can watch Black Beauty which we borrowed from the library yesterday! Tonight i will treat the stains on the clothes that are waiting next to the wash basin, and tomorrow morning I will rise up early with a prayer in my heart and start the day more wisely.

Older than Adam

Lucy (7) after reading to the little ones about the Creation out of the children's Bible: "Okay. Who can tell me who the very first people were?....Annie?"

Annie (3), looking up from her doll house: "Grandma?"

Silly Book Meme

1. Grab the book closest to you...NO cheating!
2. Open to page 123
3. Scroll down to 5th sentence.
4. Post text of next 3 sentences on blog-and name of book and author
Tag 3 people (that will be the hardest part!)

The Faith Explained by Leo J. Trese

"Before going any further, perhaps we should recall what the word 'virtue' means. In religion virtue is defined as a 'habit or permanent disposition which inclines a person to do good and to avoid evil.' For example, if you have the habit of always telling the truth, then you have the virtue of veracity or truthfulness."

Tag! You're it. Mary Poppins Not, Danielle, Amy, Sr. Lorraine, and YOU!

What's Your Name?

I just ran over to Barb's via Lori's. They are wondering about how we come up with our blog names. Are the names puns? Do they convey something about us or something we admire?

My blog's name comes from the Kyrie we pray during Mass. (Kyrie Eleison, Christe Eleison, Kyrie Eleison: Lord Have Mercy, Christ Have Mercy, Lord Have Mercy), and the fact that I love kittens. Kitty Eleison has become my nom de plume (or nom de Internet at least - heehee). It is a prayer as well as a silliness, but I hope it is not seen as disrespectful to God, because it isn't meant to be!

Go to Barb's and leave a link to your blog!

Help Needed: Spiritual Adoption

I am asking you for help, and I would like you to pass this along to everyone you can think of who would be willing to pray for our priests.

How any times do we see our priests leading their congregations astray? How many times do we complain to each other about it? Does complaining about it help the priest in any way (I mean talking about his problems to others - not asking him directly what is going on or offering help). How many times do we actually pray for our poor priests? When we DO pray, do we ask God to change the priest or make him go away so that life would be easier for us? Or do we humbly throw ourselves at His feet asking for forgiveness for the times we have felt superior to these servants that God has chosen for us? We cannot live without the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and the Mass cannot exist without our priests.

I am spiritually adopting a priest of my acquaintance, and intend to pray and sacrifce for him for the rest of my life. I will not go into specific details, but I will say that he desperately needs prayers. I am asking that you join me in sacrificing and praying for this man of God for as long as you feel called to do so. I also encourage you to adopt your own pastor or priest friends, because, you know, they can always use our prayers!

Tithing

Whenever we run into financial difficulties, we are faced with the temptation to cut back or keep our tithe. After all, we are helping a family in need, right?

But this seems to leave God's Providence out of the picture. If we say we trust in God, but keep back part of what is His to begin with, are we not lying (and stealing)?

I am renewing my dedication to giving my tithe faithfully every month. Please pray for me!

Letter to the Pope

No, I am not going to post an open letter to the Holy Father here. But I was wondering what YOU would write to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI if you had the opportunity. What would you tell him of your prayers, works, joys & sufferings? Would you ask him for anything? What concerns for your famiy, parish, job, diocese or country would you express to him?

My BOY Overheard at the Breakfast Table

4-year-old Andrew: "Mommy, am I the hungriest person here?" (as he eats yet another pancake after everyone else has left the table.)

To 4-month-old Peter: "Someday you’ll be as hungry as me!"

To me: "Mommy, did I eat sure a lot?"

And as soon as he has swallowed his last bite of breakfast, before he has even put his fork down: "Mommy, can I have a snack?"

Rules of Etiquette

Today my 7-year-old daughter Lucy handed me a list of rules she made up for her sister's upcoming birthday. I thought that many of these rules would benefit society at large, so I will start educating the masses by posting the list here (I have corrected spelling so that the masses may be educated more easily):

Margaret's Birthday Rules
1) Don't stick out your tongue
2) Only one dessert per person, including adults
3) Don't spit! No mean faces
4) Don't say the cake is ugly
5) Don't make personal remarks
6) You shall not touch the Queen's stuff against her will
7) Don't hit the Queen
8) Bow before the Queen!
9) Don't bow sideways backwards
10) Don't kick the Queen out of her throne
11) Don't flick the Queen
12) Don't spank he Queen
13) Don't take any of the Queen's stuff home
14) Don't ask to watch TV!

Punishment:
Be arrested
Time out
Sit in the car
Can't watch the Queen open presents

Homeschooling Carnival 27 is up!

Go here for this week's Carnival of Homeschooling!

What's your Home School's name?

Do you have a name for your home school? I have been homeschooling for 2 years now, but haven't pinned down "the" name for what we're trying to do here. I love St. Therese, and much of what we do is modeled after her "Little Way," but I don't know if my boys would like a name reflecting this as much as my girls might. What are the names of YOUR home schools and why? OR, if you have chosen to remain nameless, why?

Overheard in the Bathtub

Andrew (4) is in the tub, making bubbles with a squeeze toy: "Mommy, look! I can easily kill the bad guys. I am thundering them. Watch me throw a bomb at them."

Me: " "

None of my 4 girls would imagine that bubbles coming from a bath toy were a weapon of mass destruction (well, maybe my almost-2-year-old would destroy the bathroom by splashing it).

Where I'm From

I found this and thought it would be interesting to try it. And interesting exercise in remembering your childhood & adolescence. Where are YOU from?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am from Dorothy Hammil haircuts, from Otter Pops and Star Wars.

I am from the big brick house my father built, from the musty old house of our poverty, and the windy house of our love. From the white house with the picket fence and the lemon tree, the 619 house, and the Wong's house.

I am from the California Poppy, the pink desert primrose, and the dust; from the Texas Bluebonnet, the pecan tree, and the humidity; from the Colorado Columbine, the lilac and the snow. I am from the Rose.

I am from Midnight Mass and unplanned Sundays, from Grandma and Grandpa, from Abuelito and Abuelita, from Borobia & Bodenhammer.

I am from giving till it hurts and praying till it stops hurting.

From "te lo haran tus hijos" and "you can't chew gum and walk at the same time."

I am from Christ Crucified. From Feasts and Fasts, sin and sorrow for sin, loneliness and love.

I'm from Spain, Portugal, Germany, England & Scotland; from spaghetti & Ragu and Enchiladas Suizas.

From the hiding of priests and clandestine marriages in Abuelita's basement, the stone bridge Thomas Skelton Hutchinson built in Scotland, and Tommy's ability to pick up any musical instrument and play it well.

I am from lost heirlooms, memories of long dinners and conversations at my grandmother's table, from the clown blanket Aunt Toni made for me, and the graduation dress my Mother made for my sister, the blue linen Confirmation dress she made for me, and the smocked dresses she made for my daughters.

I am a child of God and hope someday to return Home.

COOKIE!

You Are a Chocolate Chip Cookie

Traditional and conservative, most people find you comforting. You're friendly and easy to get to know. This makes you very popular - without even trying!

What Kind of Cookie Are You?

These seem to be great qualities for a mother to have. But you know, it struck me that these "blog things" with quizes that give you fun results are all soothers. I can't imagine one saying "You are a rotten apple and everyone hates you." It is nice to think I am a "chocoate chip cookie" but I can't just be content knowing most people find me comforting. What if my husband or children don't? Then my comforting nature means nothing, since my husband and children are my vocation, not "most people." My cookie status teaches me nothing about how to be what I ought to be. It does not challenge me to be a better cookie or even see any faults I might have (the chocolate chip cookie, in my opinion, is the best just as it is, and does not need any improving). I know it is just a game, but this is blog is supposed to be my spiritual exercise, so bear with me.

Anyway, I am craving a cookie right now so I have to go find something to distract me before I give in!

Corpus Christi

Today I have been perusing other blogs, looking at pictures of Pope Benedict XVI's Corpus Christi procession in Rome. Then I saw pictures of like processions in different countries. I hope the US will have some this weekend, but I am sad to think that we might not. Jesus Christ our Lord gave His very LIFE for us, and are we too embarrassed to walk among our neighbors showing the world that we love Him? Or don't we believe that He is here with us in the Holy Eucharist? What a gift God has given us! We can receive our Lord every day if we want to, and yet we ignore Him all week, and can't even acknowlege in public that He is God. If your parish, diocese or archdiocese is having a procession in honor of our Lord, please post about it here! If there are pictures, please post a link. I would love to see them.

I thought I was a Hobbit

To which race of Middle Earth do you belong?

Numenorean
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Kids' Novena to St. Joseph

This morning the kids and I decided to write a novena prayer to St. Joseph to sell our house. You see, yesterday a family came to see it and they really liked it! They only need to get their mom's ok and they'll make an offer in a few days, so we are pretty excited.

Anyway, this is what we came up with as Margaret (5) came up with the rhymes, Andrew (4) drew and colored St. Joseph, and Lucy (7) wrote out the prayer (I left in her capitalization).

Dear Saint Joseph to thee we pray,
We start our Novena in the month of May.
Please help us Sell our house Soon
So that we can Move today at Noon.
Today in school we shall say this Novena
today and every Day help me be Good as Gold.
I love you Saint Joseph and all the Saints and Angels. Amen.
And Anne says to tell you we have a new baby.

Since it is already 11 AM, I don't expect St. Joseph to make me pack the whole house by noon, but I have no doubts he will hear the children's prayer and smile.

Selling a House and Finding a Home

St. Joseph, pray for us.

We put our house on the market towards the end of September, 2005. We thought we would sell it within a month and be in our new house by Thanksgiving. I packed up anything I didn't think we'd need until after Christmas to put in the garage, including summer clothes and books I usually use for Lent and Easter. A few people came to see it, but almost always right after a snowstorm, when there was mud on the floor from several pairs of little boots.

Well, the snowstorms are just about over for the winter, and our house is still on the market. I had to go a couple of times to dig through boxes to find that certain cookbook or an extra blanket (thank goodness I labeled most of the boxes before Ian took them out to the garage), but for the most part I haven't missed anything I packed away.

Our house still has too much "stuff" in it, but we have been slowly giving away, throwing away, and finding peace in less. When the realtor's office calls and says that someone wants to come see the house in an hour, we can say yes (the only exception was when I was in labor a couple of months ago), and have the house looking good and the kids in the van to go see their grandmother or Daddy within the time allotted.

I am not sure what I meant to say in this post, except that in spite of being ready to move to a new house since last October, I am at peace with being here a while longer. I hope we can begin the new school year in our new place in September, but I hoped we'd spend last Christmas there, too. I went through a small anxiety attack when I was about to give birth to my youngest son, but Ian assured me that I would not have to lift a finger if we had to move at that time, and since his birth, I have learned to take one day at a time, and fill it with as much prayer and happiness as I can. I really can't live as if this were no longer our home. I must let the kids play and not be afraid that they'll make a mess. This IS our home until we sell it, and we will surely have at least a month to pack things up before we move.

In the meantime, I am trying to finish up the school year with the kids, and give away or toss as much as possible. If something we have is not worth moving to a new place, out it goes. And since I have not missed most of what's in the garage, I am seriously considering just dropping off the boxes at a local charity! That's a lot of storage space that could be used for something we want to keep, or even for keeping it empty. I am sure that a lot of what we have could be more useful to someone else. I am striving to live simply and teach our kids to live simply as well.

If someone comes to see the house today and wants to buy it - GREAT! But if not, I can live with that too. Our novena doesn't end until Thursday. I can hang on patiently until then ;)