All Saints Day 2012

Sarah and I found the time to get our crews together for our annual All Saints Day party.  It was pretty laid-back, just the way we like it!  A fun time was had by all, but as usual, the day passed much too quickly for both kids and moms.

MN Homeschool Conference

It was homeschool conference time again this past weekend.  As always, there is a funny or silly story to go with each and every attendance (more on that later!). 

Sarah G., her daughter and my God-daughter, Miss J, and I left around 9am on Friday, June 1 from Fargo.  Our plan was to visit good friend, Jamie, and take time to eat lunch and let Miss J get a little exercise.  We did sort-of crash a six-year-olds birthday party, but we did not come empty handed.  Those kiddos are sure blessed because Jamie can whip together one very cool themed birthday party (this one was a Fish theme).  Cannot say I have EVER done that in my life!  It was hard to leave, but onward to St.Paul and St. Thomas University we were drawn.

And, then the chatting began.  IF, I’d have paid a little better attention to the signs enroute, I wouldn’t have missed the correct place to merge and thus get us to campus by our intended 4pm time frame.  No, instead, Sarah and I were chatting and didn’t catch that we’d missed the proper place to merge until quite a bit later.  Needless to say, we arrived at campus much later (6:15pm) and missed out on the first half of the Used Book Sale (which Sarah very much wanted to peruse).  Thankfully Miss J was a good little traveler and put up just fine with our extended entrapment in the suburban.

We parked, checked into the room, then headed to the sale.  Though late, we both managed to find a few steals at the sale and catch up with a few friends.  After the sale’s closing, we headed back to the room (a very nice college apt/dorm with four bedrooms and 2 baths).  We ordered pizza and the rest of the FMCHE group arrived to visit.  I miss these ladies!  I and Mary N. did stay up ‘till 1am (I set my alarm because I knew we’d need at least some sleep!!) talking about kids and other such topics.  It was GOOD.

Saturday morn began with Mass, celebrated by Fr. Michael Keating. His homily was excellent. It's always difficult to get up and at'em (staying up to late to chat, laugh and cry with friends), but so worth it every time. I'm sure his talks will be just as wonderful. He is soft-spoken and his message heart-felt.

I attended two talks by Marcel LeJuene, the campus ministry administrator at Texas A&M.  Marcel was excellent. I purchased both books sold at his booth and am looking forward to listening to the remaining talks he gave at the conference once the CD set arrives. (I always purchase the CD set so I can listen again and share with my husband). Marcel is a dynamic speaker and I regret that I didn't have time to ask him a few questions after his talks or at his table. His first keynote on Friday was for Fathers, so I plan to listen to that particular talk with Eric.

There were other talks I would have enjoyed, but my theory is that I can listen to the talks later, while driving, and I only have this time to shop the vendor hall.  Truly, the vendor hall was excellent this year. I'd looked through the vendors before going, visited some of their websites (yes, my friends gently heckled me about my preparedness!!) and had marked specific booths to visit. My favorites were:

**Shirley's Prepackaged Crafts: http://shirleysprepackagedcrafts.com
For someone like me, who has a hard time getting organized for crafts, this is ideal. The kits include 12 crafts and can be ordered separately or as a school year package. She also sells the CD's, if you are so inclined to do all the work yourself and save the money. Eva has already done the couple crafts from the convention package with Louis and Graham. It's a hit.  With baby on the way, I am considering this option for the school year.

**Remember Me:
While the final printing has not been completed, the paperback mock-up of this book is enough to judge the finished product.  It is a beautiful book for recording deaths in your family or among your friends. Each month has a place to record the name and a pocket to keep the funeral or prayer card for the person. In the back are more detailed entries where you can enter further details about the person. I picked up a set of the following:  Holy Mass Intentions/Remembering You Cards, Holy Hour Meditation/Praying Always postcards, Holy Hour Repose/Never Forgotten postcards, and With Special Prayer postcards.  The postcards are similar spiritual bouquets.  They are beautiful. The vendor talked about how the idea of offering Mass for our dead is becoming 'forgotten' and she's right. This is her way of educating. I knew my mom would love the whole idea behind her book, so I split the cards and postcards with her.

**St. George Books: Going out of business sale in their homeschool store...huge discounts. Check out their website to find 10-60% off many items.  Great deals!!

**Faith Folders for Catholics:  We've done a few supplementary lapbooks and the kids enjoy them. These lapbooks are ALL Catholic and focus on sacraments, the liturgical year, or other themes related to Catholicism. They are reasonably priced and excellent. The other item she had for sale was a Children's Adoration Guidebook. I didn't purchase, but am still considering it.

**Sewing with Grandma:
THIS IS SOOO COOL! She sold kits that included 12 projects. Each project has pre-cut fabric and most of the notions necessary to complete the entire project. I purchased the basic kit at the conference special price, but she also has kits geared toward boys or girls.  Each of the projects would work for 4-H and she has demo videos on her website (you can download any for $1 each).  Angelina has already completed the pillowcase and the she hopes to sew the skirt tomorrow.

Thank goodness the trip home was much more uneventful…almost.  Didn’t miss my turn and it didn’t make me ‘angry’.  The whole FMCHE crew stopped at Applebee’s in St. Cloud for supper.  It was a very late night.  I arrived at the hotel around 12:30am, but I slept all night which is more than I can say for most nights at home lately.  Mass in the morning at St. Mary’s and visiting with good friends capped off this trip.  Anyway, that's my take on conference. I'm so glad I went; it truly was a needed respite.

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Roomies for Convention – and this photo proves that I’m no good at the arm-length photos!   Mary N., Me, Sarah G.  Miss J, below, is looking at us like were nuts.  She’s probably right.

 

The whole crew from FMCHE!  Thanks, ladies, for making this such a great trip.

Tuesday DayLook: August 16, 2011

Looking out from my back porch... green, wet, slight breeze.
I am thankful that... hail in the last couple storms did not cause damage to our crops, garden or property.
I am reading… ‘A  Parent’s Guide to Concussions in Sports’ published by the National Federation of State High School Associations.  Interesting. 
I am praying for... a little bit of closure on that ‘interesting and challenging opportunity’. 
I am hearing... the kids goofing around in the basement.  The TV is on, even though I asked that it be shut off … there, no more TV.
I am wearing… shorts (yes, a rarity), t-shirt (from CCL Convention 2010) and flip-flops.
From the sewing/craft room (aka. laundry room!)… does purchasing a scrapbook idea book for Angelina count as crafting?  At least I’m thinking about something creative.
From the Kitchen... shrimp salad.
From the Garden…  lots of cukes and zukes.
From the FarmYard…  3 new chicks last Friday.  This past Saturday, we moved the Barreds and Buffs to the holding pen in the laying hen coop.  My!  The older hens were thrown for a loop!  Moved the Ameraucanas to the Wahoo pen with outside access.  Wheat harvest began this weekend.
A successful moment… the gathering with friends this past Saturday was a blast and everyone had a great time.
A few plans for the rest of the week…
Monday: Ortho appt for Angelina, evening meetings in Fargo for me. Last day of morning football practice for Dash.
Tuesday: Afternoon football practices for Dash will be the norm today and on following days. Menu-planning and cleaning.
Wednesday-Thursday:   Cleaning and organizing.  Yard & garden work, too.  I’m sure harvest of wheat will recommence, too.
Friday/Saturday/Sunday:   My hubby’s birthday is on Sunday!
A picture memory...

First corn on the cob for us…

Crop sprayer over the field near the house…

A gathering of college friends…

In Conversation…

As mentioned in earlier posts, while Methe’s were visiting, Michelle and I talked about everything.  Basically catching up on four years of living and raising kids that had occurred since the last time we were together.  Nothing is off limits!  She knows me very well; I hold very little back and she is the same.

During one of our conversations about discipline, we were talking about our methods and difficult spots with different children.  Each child reacts in his/her own way, and we react differently to them as well.  I know I can get loud and I yell.  It would be awesome if I didn’t, and I often regret my yelling and sometimes my actions.  There is always that thought that I might break ‘the child’s spirit.’  Now, I don’t really think this will happen, but a mother worries, ya know??

Michelle was reassuring.  I can’t remember how she lead into it, but at a certain point, she mentioned that one of her friends stated during a conversation, “And, this is me with Christ!” 

Now, that statement gives one pause….

Yes, and this is ME with Christ!

I’ll be pondering that for quite some time.

Having Michelle here was like having a mini spiritual retreat brought to me in my own home.  Many thanks, dear friend.

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A somewhat challenging and exciting opportunity was presented to me at the beginning of this week.  I’ve been praying, thinking and talking about it with specific people.  Please pray that I’m shown the correct decision.  Thanks!

Methe Visit

 

The Methe Family

Back row: Kevin, Michelle, Miss M2

Middle row: Miss R, Miss E, Mr. J

Front: Mr. JP, Miss E2

Not pictured: Miss M, college student who was hanging at home and working her summer job.

 

Kevin relaxing (and playing a game or two on his cell) after a day in the field.

Michelle (above) and a mix of kids hanging out in the kitchen.  With this crew, we were doing a lot of cooking and dishes, thus were hanging out in the kitchen often. 

Mr. J, Zeke and Mr. JP

 

Miss M2 holding Louis. 

Miss E2 while enjoying a Mocha Brownie.

 

Miss E2 and Angelina – they share the same ‘REAL’ name.  The girls are named after Kevin’s paternal grandmother and my paternal grandmother.

 

Angelina was in heaven with so many girls in the house!

From L to R:  Miss E, Miss R, Angelina, Miss R2, Miss E2

 

Michelle and I, above.  We are such good friends because our faith journey really took off at the beginning of our friendship.  We moved into a house next to their Red House when she was pregnant with Miss R, their third child.  Michelle is one of those friends with whom I can pick right up where we left off even if we haven’t talked in ages. 

She and Kevin are godparents to Dash, our first born, and we are godparents to their first son, Mr. J.  We are pictured below with Mr. J. 

Before they left on Thursday, we finally took the time to take pics.  My dad, who was having such a good time, was giving the kids instructions:  ‘Okay, now do a funny one’…

…’Okay, now do one with your hands and feet in the air’…

…’Okay, now do one backwards and waving!’  And, the kids all followed his instructions – laughing all along!!