Thy Will Be Done...

Friday, November 15, 2013

Our little puppet is 12!!! Yikes I can't believe it...you were the first baby born in this house and I was in shock that we had FIVE boys...

little did I know that God had three more boys in store for our family...

You are the funniest kid...number 8 child and everyone loves you...you make us smile...

keep it up and don't turn into a scary teenager!!!

You can sleep anywhere at any time, it is a gift you inherited from your mommy!!!

We can't wait to see what God has in store for you and your future...

we know it will be great if you stay on the path of CHRIST.

Keep up the great work and thanks for always helping with the little guys!!!

Love you forever, like you for always, as long as I'm living my baby you'll be!!!

Make them laugh, make them laugh, make them laugh!!!

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Friday, November 8, 2013

HOMESCHOOLING WORKS...even with the toughest kids!!!

Dear friends,

Those who know me, know my style...I homeschool from birth till they graduate from High School...most of my kids are late readers...mainly because I am very laid back homeschooler...my objective is to have them read for fun as much as possible and do school on their own...this may mean doing "easier work" till they are confident in their ability. This may mean being embarrassed when my third grader still struggles with reading...this may mean feeling overwhelmed when I am tired and the house is a mess and we are all still in our pj's at lunch!!!

I am, I guess considered a seasoned homeschooler these days...my oldest is going to be 24 and I have four in college now. Plus the two in highschool, two in middle school, two in elementary school, and two running around tearing the house apart.

About twice a year I send my younger friends with houses full of babies a note to encourage them and to share my good news of my college kids when their grades come in and they are all getting A's and B's (maybe an occasional C). I feel a little boastful sending it but I always explain that many of our days we just spent reading on the couch, playing play doe, painting, and going for walks or playing outside.

I have had easy children and difficult children, I have smart children and children who struggle, I have diligent children and unmotivated children, I have extroverted children and introverted children, I have loud children and quiet children...ok, I think you get it.

The following letter was sent to me from my son who asked me not to share it...well, since he doesn't read my blog and I omitted his name...I figured I was safe to share this. The reason I am sending this is because this is my difficult, unmotivated, introverted, quiet child who drove me crazy...there were days when I thought I should send him to school...when I thought I was the worse teacher for him...my pediatrician would tell me I was the best teacher for him and he would do best at home. So we persevered and made it to his highschool graduation and his introduction to college...now four years later he is applying (and got into one of the best schools in the country!!!) to grad schools and graduating in May!!! I highlighted the words in red which made me most proud and affirmed my decision of why God has called our family to homeschool!!!

The following are excerpts from a letter was sent from one of my child's teacher/advisers to the Graduate Admissions Committee. I highlighted the parts that made me so proud and convinced that Homeschooling works for my family!!!

" initiative, confidence and incredible work ethic are what set his apart from fellow classmates."

" is at ease around people and his calm, warm personality creates a welcoming environment..."

"is able to build a trustful relationship. "

" is well liked by fellow classmates because of his ability to lead by example. "

" is quick to volunteer his time to participate in community service events or to organize an event."

"ability to teach and interact with people on a thoughtful and compassionate way"

" able to work independently and completed tasks with accuracy and on time."

" motivation and focus seemed tireless."

" leaves the impression of a responsible, enthusiastic, and motivated young man."

"an individual with a thirst for knowledge and dedication."

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Thursday, October 31, 2013

The Saint Song

http://www.youtube.com/v/Fnt-P38ykc4?autohide=1&version=3&showinfo=1&attribution_tag=KdwDHbXaDyeuvgRhbfDdAA&autoplay=1&autohide=1&feature=share

Sunday, October 20, 2013

The PERSISTENT widow!!!

I love fall...I am not a big fan of September...I don't mind the weather, but the activities kill a mom of 13!!! We have school starting and every other activity beginning. Even tho we don't do alot of extra activities around our home; just CCD, youth group, school, and FALL soccer, keep us super busy.

At the end of September a dear friend and mentor died from Cancer. I was so moved by her life and her funeral really hit a cord in my being! Most moving is the fact that her 8 children and 23 grandchildren are all still practicing their faith! She died with the peace of knowing her job was well done.

There were 32 priest and one deacon at her simple funeral mass. It was life changing for me to ponder my own life and personality. I know God made me the way I am and even tho I am an extrovert and a very "pushy broad" as my hubby calls me, I still need to work on balance in my life and being more humble and contrite.

I went on a retreat the first weekend of October after the funeral, so it was a perfect time for me to meditate on being more contemplative. I have been going on a weekend silent retreat for about 16 years. This retreat was amazing and one of the best I have ever gone on. I came home with a huge commitment to change and simplify my life more.

Well...I had a little help from modern technology. The fan on my laptop broke-so no more laptop. My phone once again lost all the contacts and was cleared of everything, because I have an encryptive password lock glitch on my computer...and worst of all our family computer just died.

So God is giving me lots of extra time for prayer and mediation.

Today's Gospel Lk 18:1-8

Jesus told his disciples a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary. He said, "There was a judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor respected any human being. And a widow in that town used to come to him and say, 'Render a just decision for me against my adversary.' For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought, 'While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being, because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.'" The Lord said, "Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says. Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"

THIS IS MY READING...the priest in this picture used to introduce me as a famous bible character: "the persistent widow" So even tho I am trying to be more humble...I need to use my persistence in prayer, not nagging.

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+