Ana Braga-Henebry's Journal

Praying

2012-02-02T07:58:00.000-08:00

Business leaders decry HHS contraception mandate
Read it here.

Teachers' Appreciation Dinner

2012-02-01T07:06:00.000-08:00

There were seventeen of us at the restaurant to celebrate Catholic Schools Week! Don't fooled by the pictures to think we were tame and quiet. We were a loud, joyful crowd, and we closed the restaurant. They food was fantastic, the conversation wonderful, and we were invited to return!

Thinking back to conversation themes: during the evening I heard the following topics: Hungarian geography, drama, the wars of the 20th century, the makings of a script-writing workshop, the Crusades, craft-making, books, someone's upcoming trip to Puerto Rico, recipes, decisions of both buying and selling homes, colleges, grown-up children, young children, new babies' names. Just to name a few. Get a bunch of homeschool moms together, and the sky is the limit!

A poetic list

2012-01-31T06:24:00.000-08:00

Our old friend realtor, the one who helped us find this acreage almost 7 years ago, has contacted us recently saying acreages such as ours are in demand. He knows we have talked off and on about selling this property and living in town. With the kids rapidly leaving home I will soon be left with three and in another year just two girls at home, and the benefits of living close to everything--church, park, store, etc--are obvious.

Not to Numbers Six and Seven. They presented me with a list the other day, a long list, a long and poetic list. Some of the items on the list were predictable. Some were breathtakingly poetic.

This morning as I said the Rosary, God sent me another of his gorgeous dawn postcards. May God help us in making a decision that is a happy one for the future of our family life.

Wonderful film!

2012-01-30T05:55:00.000-08:00

We received it for Christmas and have watched it in installments. Tears streamed from my eyes last night as the beautiful final scene filled the screen. We were all watching it, from Husband and Number Four to Number Seven, and we were all delighted in it.

I don't think I knew much about Saint Philip Neri beforehand although his name is so very familiar. He is not a great saint of great accomplishments or great written treaties. He did not travel and his intellect did not shine above others.

What was great about him? His immense charity, his humble love for all who encountered him, poor and rich alike, wealthy merchants or nobles, murderers and pariahs, all were targets of his deep love and charity. He also had the ability to use great humor in all he did--all smiled and laughed around him! He lived in a hard time for the church and his unusual confraternity was investigated by the Curia more than once, only to disarm the pope completely when faced with his deep love for others and total trust in God's Providence.

The film was made for Italian TV and the production is very good. We loved the actors and the costumes. An impressive details is w they managed to gather such similar -looking actors to portrays the child and grown up versions of his followers, it is almost as if they started the film when they were children and waited ten years to continue, so similar they were.

Distributed in the USA by Ignatius Press, available anywhere, we bought it on Amazon.

Note: I read the other reviews on Amazon and am very respectful of them and recommend their reading. Perhaps because we had such a wonderful time watching it as a family, and perhaps because we already know real facts are changed in films about saints, I still give it 4 stars. The film does show Christian love in many beautiful ways and we live in a world so thirsty for that. After the film we read a brief account of his life online and were further enriched.

Petition

2012-01-29T14:49:00.001-08:00

Friend Fr. B. A. sent this. Important stuff! I posted it on Facebook also, after signing it. I think every citizen in America should be interested in signing this.

His Eminence, Cardinal-elect Dolan, President of the USCCB, together with his brother bishops, is asking that every Catholic take the time to join in the fight for religious liberty and freedom on conscience.

The following from the USCCB website:

"Never before has federal law forced citizens to purchase what violates their deeply held beliefs and ethical convictions. But now the Administration is forcing us to act as if pregnancy were a disease to be prevented at all costs. For many Americans that means choosing between violating our consciences and forgoing health care -- literally an unconscionable dilemma.

"Our country's longstanding laws protecting conscience rights must now apply fully to the implementation of health care reform. For that we need more than rule-making, we need a law.

"The bishops are urging Congress to support the "Respect for Rights of Conscience Act" in light of the new HHS rule and the "unprecedented threat to religious freedom" it poses.

"Please CLICK HERE to join your voice with theirs and with the many organizations -- Catholic and non-Catholic -- who are fighting for religious liberty and conscience rights."

Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas

2012-01-28T06:39:00.000-08:00

What a saint to be named after...! Today Number Four chooses a restaurant for the celebrations of the feast of his patron saint.

From Catholic News Agency:

When most people think of St. Thomas Aquinas, they think of the Summa Theologica, however the saint wrote much more than the one thick book in his short lifetime.
Thomas was born in Italy to a well-connected, wealthy family who sent him to be educated by the monks at the abbey of Monte Cassino. The boy was quite astute, and surprised his preceptor by asking, “What is God?”
Eventually the young Aquinas chose to enter the Dominican order. His family, however, did not approve of his action, and took such drastic steps such as having him detained by relatives who were soldiers and sending an impure woman to tempt him. The saint was able to overcome the temptation and was eventually able to pursue his vocation.
He made his profession and was sent to Cologne to study and it was there where he was ordained a priest. His tutor and mentor was Albert the Great, but despite Albert’s greatness, Aquinas surpassed him in wisdom and knowledge. It was also during this time that Thomas earned his nickname the “Dumb Ox” because he was rather silent, and also quite large.
Aquinas was then sent to Paris, where he earned his doctorate at the age of 31. He spent the rest of his life studying, praying, teaching, writing and traveling. Aquinas is said to have been able to dictate to more than one scribe at a time. Thus, of all the works attributed to him, not all of them were written in his own, which explains the 60 works he produced in less than 50 years.
He died on March 7, 1274 and was canonized by John XXII on July 18, 1323 - less than 50 years after his death.
St. Thomas Aquinas is the patron saint of Catholic universities, colleges, and schools.

Science class

2012-01-27T13:44:00.000-08:00

The kids love Mrs. J.'s class at the library! They are learning carbon chemistry this semester, using this wonderful curriculum.

What I will do on my 50th birthday!

2012-01-26T05:38:00.000-08:00

Tickets here!

Republican Response to the State of the Union Address

2012-01-25T06:06:00.000-08:00

I liked it.

Irena's Jar of Secrets

2012-01-24T06:37:00.000-08:00

Irena's Jars of Secrets by Marcia Vaughan, illustrated by Ron Mazellan, 2011 Lee& Low Books.

I first heard about Irena Sendler from my sister Marta, but the film starring Anna Paquin is still to become available on Netflix. Then I picked up a children's book about her, and now here is another one. It is beautiful, and the courageous story is beautifully told and illustrated. Irena, singlehandedly, and courageously, saved the life of hundreds of Jewish children in Poland during WWII. You can read a little about her here.

Dinner at Grandma's

2012-01-23T05:17:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Numbers One and Three enjoyed grandmas's hospitality in Dallas, along with friend Alli who is in graduate school at Baylor. Aunt Sue and cousin Brenna came and sent the photo, to which we all here sighed and said, "we wish we were there too!" Number One flew there to say goodbye as he leaves for Australia at the end of this week for a long business trip.

Beautiful story on Art leading to God

2012-01-21T07:56:00.001-08:00

Both Numbers One and Two have visited this amazing church, and then the pope elevated it to a Basilica last year. I have posted a picture book about the architect Gaudi, whose cause for beatification has been opened. And today Rome Reports has this wonderful story of how Art leads to God.

Prizes, prizes

2012-01-21T07:54:00.000-08:00

Number Six and I have received prizes for the last few days, fun! She has a one-year free subscription to Encyclopaedia Britannica online and is loving it. She also received free language lessons through PowerSpeak and is trying to decide between French and Italian.

I actually won a drawing from a blog I visited and received a book, Strengthening your Family, a Catholic Approach to Holiness at Home. I have been also receiving prizes for winning the Blog award, which I still think is very funny. I have received books and games, online curriculum and a $25 gift certificate for Timberdoodle! Thanks to all of the donors.

Video response

2012-01-20T06:10:00.000-08:00

I have watched a few responses to the Hate religion video, and I will stick with Fr. Barron's, for anyone looking for a good Catholic response.

Ave Maria...

2012-01-19T10:55:00.000-08:00

I am saying Aves today for my dear father as he undergoes a second carotid surgery. Please say one with me for him, as he has a lifelong devotion to the Blessed Mother. I wish I were there but this time I wasn't able to go.

The photo is from a very recent visit by his sister Maria Teresa, his only sibling and a widow of many years. She was a huge and wonderful presence in our lives with her creative drama adaptations and classes of all sorts. She and dad were educated in a British school in Rio, and we grew up listening to their affectionate English. My aunt lived next door to us, and their six children and the ten of us made a lively crowd.

Two books requested!

2012-01-18T12:38:00.000-08:00

My Brother the Pope by Georg Ratzinger
and
The True Icon: From the Shroud of Turin to the Veil of Manoppello by Paul Badde

Just posted on PopeStNickV: If you go to Advanced Search on Amazon, and look for Ignatius Press as publisher, and by date of publication, you will come across both the recent
and pre-publication titles of that excellent publisher.

Remember, libraries have a budget for patrons' suggestions, and if their budget year follows the calendar year, January and early spring are good requesting months!

History Workbook Sample pages!

2012-01-18T06:07:00.000-08:00

I just noticed the Catholic History Textbook Project has included sample pages of my workbook on their page.
Here is the link.

As I have said in my last post, I am working on the very last chapter of Light of the Nations, part 2. Below is the proof of the pudding.

History studies

2012-01-18T05:24:00.001-08:00

I lead a History study group on Tuesdays, and we just finished All Ye Lands' chapter on Japan.

We closed the chapter with several students' presentations: we heard about the Japanese poems called haikus, about Commodore Perry and the opening of the Tokyo Bay ports after centuries of isolationism, about the Nagasaki Martyrs who gave their lives for Jesus Christ and whose blood was the seed of Christianity in Japan, about the exquisite and curious art of Bonsai (miniature trees), about the life of a Samurai, and about the great Saint Francis Xavier, called the second great Apostle of Christ after St. Paul! Also, we were honored with Mrs. S.'s presence, she assisted her boys in their Japanese food report and we all got to have some homemade Sushi! They also brought Japanese newspaper, money and Kimonos! Thank you S. family!

I think sometimes of my role with this large classroom of kids from 4th to 8th grade and doubt the fruitfulness of my definitely imperfect work. This is the only Catholic Textbook Project volume I have not written the workbook for (I am finishing the last chapter of Light of Nations Part 2!) so I have had to come up with some different ideas for students' work and activities. Assigning different topics for students to present, in their choice of manner, has worked well. I have also written simple skits that the students presented in class. If the students have learned and the class has been successful is is because the book is wonderful, and the students are equally wonderful! Although I have a licenciature degree in Art from my Brazilian college, which is somewhat equivalent to an education degree, I have never sought to be a classroom teacher. But leading a group of homeschool students whose education has been home-centered and home supported has been very enjoyable.

Into the box

2012-01-17T07:11:00.000-08:00

Into the box they go... manger, shepherd, king, camel, neatly, side by side.

Praying, praising, rejoicing and waiting, all at once, until next year when we stop the world again for the most joyful of all feasts.

Happy 18th Birthday, Number Four!

2012-01-16T05:54:00.000-08:00

God smiled at us when he brought you into our warms, a big, healthy, peaceful baby. We are so fortunate to have you as a son! Your loving, calm and serviceable presence has blessed our life immensely! And we learned so much geography helping your prepare for all of your Geography bees! :-)

May God bless and guide all of your steps, son, all the days of your life.

Aparecida

2012-01-15T10:39:00.000-08:00

My sister Marta has a good friend, Sister Aparecida. She sent me this photo yesterday of the two of them doing what they do best together: laugh!

A little later my Rome Reports email subscriptions sent me a video blurb about Aparecida.

Aparecida is the largest Marian shrine in the world, and it happens to be in the region of Sao Paulo state where I went to college in Brazil. My whole family saw Pope JPII there, and during college I went there on pilgrimage with good friends. When Pope Benedict went there more recently I was astounded to see that no one--not even well-traveled friend priests-- could tell me the story behind it. Needless to say I also couldn't find a single children's book about it. So the idea was born.

I have written a children's book about the simple story of the humble fisherman and the miraculous catch. It seems that now, with Brazil soaring, its economy booming, and with it hosting several upcoming world events, it may be the time. I have long left this project in the Blessed Mother's loving hands.... and it seems that this is the time. I have begun sending the manuscript out to publishers, and may God's will be done.

The Third Miracle by Bill Briggs

2012-01-14T06:29:00.000-08:00

The Third Miracle by Bill Briggs, 2011 Broadway.

I finished it last night, sitting by the fire at the local ski facility while Number Seven and friends enjoyed the chilly fresh air going up the lift and down in skis for hours.

I greatly enjoyed the reading and recommend the book, and I would love to discuss it in a book group. Some books leave you with many things to "say"... and this is one of them.

Personal impressions:

- the author is a phenomenal writer. He turns what could be a dry account of a lengthy process into a page turner, and beautifully so. His respect and passion for the events and the people involved are disarming, and shown throughout the book.

- Interestingly, the book spends a lot of time around the sisters at Saint-Mary-in-the-Woods who were working on the canonization process of Mother Theodore, the eighth American saint canonized in 2006. And yet for this reader, they are left in second plane. The saint herself, an amazing, determined woman with vision and love for God in her heart, and the non-Catholic man--the recipient of the miracle needed for the canonization--these are the characters I loved in the book.

- God's love and hand are shown through the characters: His healing love is for all who ask Him, and His will is done even through sisters whose congregation has long left the traditional ways. A glimpse into their website, and their division around the saint's cause as told in the book, both exemplify this.

- Some of the author's observations are left wanting. Most especially an assertion he makes after describing the way these sisters (and most today) live, and the problem of the lack of new vocations. I paraphrase: he says that oddly, one convent of Dominican sisters in Nashville seems to be thriving with new vocations and they still long wear the floor-length traditional habits. Uh? For an investigating reporter there is little excuse for this. Two minutes on Google would reveal to him at least two things: first that the Nashville Dominican sisters are not the only one in floor-length traditional habits teeming with new vocations these days. Secondly, there is no "oddity" here: the traditional religious life with all of its richness is what is attractive to young women who find themselves called by God to religious life: not a divided, feminist, jeans and make-up set of women working in environmental issues and peace-and-justice stuff. (Nothing wrong with environmental or peace and justice issues per se, by the way).

- I thought the whole canonization process very interestingly told, but I didn't think that there was a secretive veil lifted by the author as the advertising of the book seems to imply. Sorry, but no dirty secrets here. Any well-read Catholic is aware of the lengthy, meticulous and slow process the Vatican requires for a saint to be canonized, even if we cannot go into closed room inquests. I enjoyed reading about the sealing of the acts in Indianapolis, what with the archbishop's wax seal and whatnot.

- The man who is the recipient of the second miracle needed for Sister Theodore's canonization, in his case an inexplicable overnight cure from an awful eye condition, won my heart. An engineer and handy man, a highly intelligent and hard-working husband and father, in a moment of anxiety and despair, opens his heart to God. Unveiling the pain in his heart, he sincerely asks for heavenly help. That unveiling of one's heart to God, in a moment of complete acknowledgement of need: that is heroic. Especially coming from a capable, intelligent man, who had never been very religious. I found myself drawn to him and "on his side" to the last page. His wife too, a hard-working nurse, and their marriage, are inspirational. May God bless them.

- There are only two miracles needed for canonization. The "third miracle", a theme woven throughout the book by the author, comes in the last few pages, and it happens intimately, in the heart, no flashing lights or cameras. The peace and love of God are amazing things, I will finish by saying that.

Finally! The story of the real "Father of Flight" told to American children!

2012-01-13T07:46:00.000-08:00

The Fabulous Flying Machines of Alberto Santos-Dumont by Victoria Griffith, illustrated by Eva Montanari, 2011 Abram Books for Young Readers.

I couldn't believe my eyes when I found this title as I perused the new non-fiction books at Main Library last night. My faithful readers of course already know of Alberto Santos-Dumont and therefore are way ahead of the game. I went directly to Amazon to let all of those million of readers about this long-hidden historical truth! Here is my review on this important Picture Book!

If you read this book to your children, or to yourself, skip to author's note right away: there you will understand how the story of the "Father of Flight", as Santos-Dumont is known in Europe and South America, is finally being told to the American children. The familiar anecdote the author tells is so very much the same as our own family anecdote! In our case it is this Brazilian wife, not the husband (in the book's case it was the author's husband) that has exclaimed, again and again, about how wrong Americans are to think the Wright Brothers--of whom I had never heard growing up in Brazil--who take that claim. No! It was Alberto Santos-Dumont, a clever, inventive and fashionable Brazilian living in Paris, who was the first one to build, and take off, and fly, and land, in an aeroplane!! Why, any child in South American knows that! (The Wrights brothers, I tell my kids, didn't take off--their aeroplane was thrown down a cliff! To what my engineer-minded son retorts, "No, Mom, he was pushed down a ramp". Same thing). I have looked for anything printed for kids in the USA about him and have come up empty handed every time! We have visited his museum in Petropolis, Brazil, as the author surely has, and believe me, it wasn't only the airplane he invented! Kudos to Victoria Griffith for writing this wonderful book and may Santos-Dumont enter the American milieu full-force!

Google and Catholic scientists

2012-01-12T06:33:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Google honored Catholic priest Nicolas Steno, considered as the "Father of Geology".

Not long ago it was Gregor Mendel, the "Father Modern Genetics", and also a Catholic priest.

It is nice when the marriage of faith and science appears, nonchalantly, in unexpected places.

H/T to friend C. B. on G+.

A Picture Book about J. R. R. Tolkien

2012-01-11T06:38:00.000-08:00

J. R. R. Tolkien by Alexandra and John Wallner, 2011 Holiday House.

I had seen it on the library catalog while it was still on order... and picked it up yesterday. The author and illustrator pair have done many children's picture books together, including the nice "Picture Book of..." American history series.

The interesting and wonderful thing about Tolkien's life isn't easy to tell in a book for kids, because they were the things living inside his heart: his intelligence and discipline, his hard work, his love and dedication to his wife and children, his faith. This picture book tells the life of the renowned author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, and it was a life of sorrows, and very ordinary. I like their imaginative way to tell it, illustrated as a progressive board game and populated by his fictional characters. While I may not love the style of the illustrations, the overall effect was sweet. This book can tell a child that a very "regular" life can amount to great things, and that a good writer need not have an exciting and adventurous life.

Homeschool Spelling Bee!

2012-01-10T05:25:00.000-08:00

It was a fun afternoon in unusually warm South Dakota January day. Number Seven won third place in the 5th/6th grade category, and Number Six won First Place! She will compete in the city-wide Bee on February 11. Good luck, Number Six, and Congratulations!

Baklava!

2012-01-09T06:36:00.000-08:00

It is my second attempt. I have been craving for Baklava all this holy season and finally enjoyed some last night! So glad I took the photo when I did: strangely, after hearing from my darling children how they did not like this exotic, queen of all desserts, I returned to the kitchen not long after said photo was taken to find... one quarter of the pan left intact. Kids.

Recipe? I used this one.

Reflections: one year with my iPad

2012-01-08T07:14:00.000-08:00

Number One surprised me at Christmas with one last year. It has become such a part of my life since, and I have been thinking of writing a post about it.

I often begin the day by using the Magnificat app. Because the iPad screen is lit, I need not to turn on the lamp, and it all can be done very quietly. In the dark of the early morning, the screen light can be considerably dimmed. This wonderful app has the simplified prayers of the day including the Mass readings.

In the kitchen, after making the coffee and Husband's lunch, I scan the news and may make this and that comment as Number Five and Husband prepare to leave. Sometimes the comment is more like, "give me a five-letter word with X and F ending with N". You get the picture. I may also use it to update this blog although it is usually done on the larger, desktop machine.

At the homeschool table, the iPad has been used a myriad of ways: to look up word definitions, to find rivers in southern Asia, to see pictures of an unfamiliar object, to access the homeschool group's site with the coop homework assignments. The possibilities multiply.

During breaks, the girls and I may play a game. There are several good ones, besides the excellent Scrabble app, that we enjoy: Ticket to Ride is a favorite, and so is a new Tintin game based on the new movie.

During errands in the car we hook up the iPad to the sound system and enjoy audio books. We will never look back: no longer the need to insert new tapes or CDs, to deal with the skipping and other mechanical issues, and unfortunate things such as returning library sets with missing parts. The girls and I are listening to Pride and Prejudice and James Herriot, and we also listened to many of Number Seven's literature assignments this past fall: Padraic Colum's The Children's Homer and Fitzgerald's The Great Brain were both very enjoyable! Many of these are free or next to free from Audible or other sources. (Husband has been listening to massive classic after massive classic on his own iPad during his commute to and from work, having already listened to such titles as War and Peace, Moby Dick and The Brothers Karamazov among others.)

In the kitchen, at supper time, the iPad turns into the handiest of cookbooks: it is easy to scroll down recipe variations until I find one that uses the ingredients I have at hand. Plus it plays music on Pandora for me, or the very occasional NPR interesting news story.

And at night, as we gather for family prayer before bedtime, the iPad has become essential. The young girls play the audio bite from "The saint of the Day" app., which we have enjoyed and loved from day one! The audio is very pleasant, professional, and the text relevant and interesting. These are produced by the Franciscan-run Saint Anthony Messenger Press for Catholic radio. I highly recommend it! Historical, humorous, profound and inspirational all at once, we look forward to listen to the stories of these holy people who have endured so much and who are able to inspire us every day to be more faithful to God, generous, loving, strong. We have also been using the night prayer text from Magnificat and the kids really enjoy that. What a wonderful way to end the day, saying the words of the night prayer said all around the world!

The iPad has been a continually-giving gift. I thank God for a generous son. If it doesn't make the best-gift ever, it is because there was a Christmas morning, many years ago, when Number Two and Husband surprised me with an unexpected gift: they had me look through the sunny window, into the snowy Christmas morning, to see the sturdy, solid garden statue of Our Lady gleaming happily between the frozen mounds of dormant day-lilies, and making spontaneous tears of happiness and gratitude flow. I cannot but think of Number Two every time I tend the Mary garden, of how much the gift meant and continues to mean, of her generous then-teenager heart, spending her hard-earned money. How I have missed her this Christmas. May God bring comfort and consolation through His presence in prayer.

Two books

2012-01-07T15:16:00.000-08:00

I am grabbed, these days, by two books, and carefully pacing my reading in both instances. One I mentioned at Chritmas, and it is absolutely delightful. P. D. James has the ability to bring up all of Austen's characters impeccably, respectfully, imaginably. Truly I cannot imagine a better-done sequel to the world's favorite novel! As Husband and I are reading it together, and our busy lives intersect, sleeplessly and alone, at minute windows, the delightful reading will continue, piecewise, for a good while longer.

The second is entitled The Third Miracle, written by a journalist, and it is enthralling reading. I cannot say much yet since I am somewhere in the middle of the book-- but as it is said, "so far so good"! The journalist is telling the story of the third miracle needed to be approved by Rome for the canonization of a french nun who came to Indiana some time ago. But to tell the story, he needs to tell many other stories, and he does it masterfully, with heart, with detail, with intelligence.

I won!

2012-01-06T06:27:00.000-08:00

My day started with an email from Brandon at The Thin Veil telling me I won a drawing! .... what a fabulous young man, I love his blog. His conversion story on his sidebar-- and interview at EWTN's Journey Home-- is very sweet, interesting.

Thank you for the prize, Brandon!

Dia de Reis

2012-01-06T05:43:00.000-08:00

They finally arrived, having lurked from afar these past weeks... and found the newborn Christ Child, the Light of the World, laying on a manger, surrounded by humble shepherds, in a stable. Come, Lord Jesus, into the hearts of the poor and rich alike, the weak, and the powerful.

Board games

2012-01-05T05:36:00.000-08:00

Lines of shapes and colors, interwoven in a Scrabble manner, and the familiar colorful train cars spanning the country in search of maximum points: these were our Holidays' games. While Ticket to Ride has become an old favorite, Qwirkle is new for us and are greatly enjoying it!

I took the pictures for an article on family games I just sent in to Mater & Magistra, due next issue.

Fifth Grade Latin

2012-01-04T09:09:00.000-08:00

The sounds coming from two friends doing their Latin homework sound like music to my ears. Thank You Mrs. S. for teaching an excellent class! They are using Memoria Press' First Form Latin.

Number Seven

2012-01-04T07:35:00.000-08:00

She has a new haircut, and is on this month's cover of the diocesan newspaper, in yellow, as the Brazilian child around the manger in the cathedral Christmas concert. See the online issue here.

My Three Sons

2012-01-03T07:06:00.000-08:00

It took some effort (read bribery) but I managed to get a one-minute photo-session before the boys left for their ski-shop job shifts, and Number One for the airport. I am told they look alike... I can see the similarities but they will always look so different to me!

A good beginning of the year...

2012-01-02T10:42:00.000-08:00

...for a son I love and admire so much. Yesterday morning at Mass he served as lector, reading the Sacred Word with dignity and his clear, beautiful voice. He was also essential in our small family choir leading the music for mass, what with the new translation's settings and new challenges. Incredible what a year and a half of college choral music training can do do a young male's voice.

And at the day's end, as we stood with our neighbors and friends and welcome the new year with expressions of gratitude, prayers, purposes and resolutions, he was the first to speak up, confidently, and among his resolutions he showed earnestness in working towards higher grades. May God bless you and continue guiding you, dear son!

Happy Birthday, Margot!

2012-01-01T13:28:00.000-08:00

She was born, my dad always told us, the first baby of the decade, a few minutes after midnight on January 1st, 1960. A wonderful sister, a beautiful person inside and out. I wish for you everything that is good, dearest sister! Your unwavering faith through all of life's sorrows, and your generous joy radiating to all around you, both have been profound inspiration to me! May our Heavenly Father, in His Infinite Wisdom, allow that we spend time together in peace and health still in this life.

On the top picture, on a visit to the Rio Art Museum, she is on the front row on the right, next to me and our little cousin named after Dad, Claudio Humberto. The middle picture shows the two of us with our little brother Eduardo in grandmother's summer home where we spent 2 months of the year. Her first Holy Communion picture is so nice, with Benedictine nuns' school chaplain, Fr. Miguel OSB: she is on the front row, the second girl to the left of Fr.

Blessed words for the New Year

2012-01-01T12:38:00.001-08:00

I got to know Blessed Charles de Foucauld this past year. His tumultuous early life, his search for the truly authentic Christian life, his writings... they enchanted me and brought me better understanding of a far away culture. Fr. Austin just sent this and what good thoughts for the new year.

It is good to empty your memory of all visible things, and to fill it again with the hope of heavenly things. Even here, how happy we are. There are many miseries, no doubt, our sins especially and the long procession of our imperfections and our weaknesses. But when one thinks that our beloved Jesus is always with us in the Tabernacle . . . that he is always in our souls, what can we say . . . but that life has lost its darkness . . . Dear brothers in Jesus, how lucky we are.

Blessed Charles de Foucauld

Christmas Gifts

2011-12-31T08:16:00.000-08:00

I finally finished the scarf for Husband: I found the baby Alpaca yarn at the local natural fibers shop on sale and wow, it is ever so soft and warm. He loved it.

The turquoise tea mug is a present for me from Number Three. I have been enjoying organic loose chamomile tea in the evenings, and it works beautifully. The yellow, handsome teapot given by Mrs. Pepino on occasion of our anniversary is the perfect complement. Thank you!

Christmas food

2011-12-31T08:12:00.000-08:00

Homemade waffles and Colorado peaches canned last summer for this week, and perfect Date Pinwheels. Christmas!

Our newly-adopted seminarian

2011-12-30T07:02:00.000-08:00

Number Seven made him a card, and we attended the Serra Club lunch for the diocesan's seminarians. What a wonderful group of young men! Husband chose Stephen for our family to adopt--we gave him a gift with the cute card, along with the gift of prayer. We gain immensely from each of the courageous examples of these young men! He has a beautiful smile and his humility was disarming. May God bless you, Stephen, and may He guide your studies!

Our newly-adopted seminarian

2011-12-30T06:53:00.000-08:00

Best images of 2011

2011-12-29T07:57:00.001-08:00

...from Rome Reports!

My brother Eduardo

2011-12-29T05:51:00.000-08:00

Today it is his birthday, and I pray for him. He is one of the most intelligent and talented people I know, driven, with an enormous, giving heart.

May God bless you today, dearest brother, may He comfort, guide, and reward all of your generous, life-giving efforts. I love you!

Gloria in Excelcis Deo

2011-12-28T06:46:00.000-08:00

Drawing courtesy of Illuminated Ink, color by Number Five. Number Six and I.

Saudades...

2011-12-28T06:44:00.000-08:00

... a profound Portuguese word for what happens in the heart when we receive a photo of our loved ones who are so far away.

Some old, some new

2011-12-27T06:14:00.000-08:00

The little house I made, following my aunties' homemade pattern, for our first Christmas. Number Five made the cinnamon gingerbread man last week, but the cinnamon heart was made many, many years ago by Aunt Mary, as it was the recycled paper reindeer! Number Six was given the musical note from her chamber's cello player. The papyrus boat came from Husband's trip to Ethiopia, and the beautiful painted egg from his adventures in Hungary. The pretty ceramic Madonna was given by my sister Tereza.The angels, bell, nesting doll and bird were gifts from dear friends... The little boy and girl I hung because it reminds me of Number Two, as it was bought when she was a tiny, lively, beautiful little girl. We love our simple tree and our ornaments--they tell stories of love, of travels, of friends and relatives.

A Tintin Christmas!

2011-12-26T10:39:00.000-08:00

To celebrate the new film, Santa brought many Tintin gifts! Number Five will be proud to take her lunch to school in her new lunch box, Number Three will drink his favorite teas in his new Tintin cup, Number Seven got the new book edition (see my Amazon review here), and the girls got "Tintin in Vitenam" t-shirts from Husband's last foreign shopping trip!

Christmas daughters

2011-12-26T05:38:00.000-08:00

I love their Christmas smiles! The photo was taken before leaving for midnight mass.

May the birth of the Lord Jesus bring renewed joy in each of their hearts!

Urbi et Orbi

2011-12-26T05:32:00.000-08:00

I woke up thinking of the horrific news of the churches bombed in Nigeria yesterday. May God have mercy on us! Let us pray with the pope:

Urbi et Orbi: Pope sends Christmas greeting in 65 languages and asks help for Horn of Africa

December 25, 2011. (Romereports.com) By noon, thousands of people had flocked to St. Peter's Square in Rome to hear the pope's Christmas greeting, which this year sounded like this: “May the birth of the Prince of Peace remind the world where its true happiness lies; and may your hearts be filled with hope and joy, for the Saviour has been born for us”.

The pope read his Christmas speech, which mentioned the situation in the Middle East and remembered those who are facing special difficulties.

“Together let us ask God’s help for the peoples of the Horn of Africa, who suffer from hunger and food shortages, aggravated at times by a persistent state of insecurity. May the international community not fail to offer assistance to the many displaced persons coming from that region and whose dignity has been sorely tried”.

Among the dozens of languages used by the pope, among them was Chinese, Urdu, Latin and Esperanto, which brought the applause of many of the language's admirers.

The pope then gave his solemn blessing, the “Urbi et Orbi,” “to the city of Rome and the world”. It's significant because only he can impart the blessing. It's traditionally given only on Christmas Day and Easter Sunday.

In St. Peter's Square, alongside the impressive Christmas tree from Ukraine, the traditional Nativity scene can now be seen adorning the center of Christianity, a tradition that began 30 years ago.

Christmas morning

2011-12-25T12:40:00.000-08:00

A father takes his twelve year old to early mass, even if she has gone to midnight mass already, did not get enough sleep, and hasn't opened a single present yet: she is playing a beautiful arrangement of Joy to the World for a prelude. They stop to look at the newborn Child.

Life is filled with such moments. It is easy to disregard them completely. But O, what rewards come to the heart when we do notice them.

My heart thanks the Lord!

A personal Christmas-giving story worthy of O. Henry

2011-12-25T12:25:00.000-08:00

Among the millions of gift choices in the world, Husband and I chose to give each other books this Christmas. Among the millions of books ever published, we chose to give each other a recent publication. From all of myriad of genres we chose the same to give to each other. From all of the contemporary authors out there, we chose the same author to gift to each other.

Yes, Husband and I gave, after 25 years of marriage, unbeknownst to the other, the exact same gift to each other!!

The only difference was the format: he gave me the audio book download on Audible, I gave him the hardcover. Isn't it wonderful to be married to the one person in the world with whom you would most like to read and discuss a book aloud?

Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James is a mixture of classic and murder mystery with a wonderful reference (from my favorite Willa Cather) in the title to boot! I inscribed the first page: "To my husband, what looks like finally a worthy sequel to the book you read aloud to me during our first married summer 25 years ago".

Merry Christmas! It is warm (40F) and sunny and dry here, believe it or not!

Surprise package!

2011-12-24T09:49:00.000-08:00

Number Two sent us a package, a beautiful box of chocolates for each of us-- a complete surprise! Can't wait to taste them tomorrow! Thank you, lovey!

Baking day!

2011-12-24T08:58:00.000-08:00

The cloth is a hand embroidered gift from Jannell... and it witnessed a very sweet day in the kitchen yesterday! Number Seven decided we should make a gingerbread house from scratch and finished it with the tree and little sugar-cookie guy. Hansel and Gretel would be proud.

Rabanadas!

2011-12-24T07:00:00.000-08:00

I have developed my own version for this Portuguese recipe through the years... The fabulous cookbook A Continual Feast has a great recipe for it and my own adapted recipe comes from it. Some families in Brazil have this during the holidays only--and I seem to do the same, although growing up we used to have it year round.

I believe the original bread you start with should be a day old French loaf--commonly found in a Brazilian kitchen. For this batch I used a homemade, dense bread I had extras of, sliced about one 3/4 inches thick. I scalded the milk and added about 1/2 Tsbp lemon juice to it, some sugar and 3 eggs. The slices soaked in there and were fried in vegetable oil and then rolled in sugar.

Delicious breakfast with fresh coffee.

O Emmanuel!

2011-12-23T09:01:00.000-08:00

O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster,

exspectatio Gentium, et Salvator earum:

veni ad salvandum nos, Domine, Deus noster.

O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver,

the hope of the nations and their Saviour:

Come and save us, O Lord our God.

Tintin: Superb!

2011-12-23T08:43:00.000-08:00

We took over 90% of the movie theater, our family plus twelve other families from the homeschool group, and were all delighted by a wonderful show! Number One and I discussed the movie over breakfast this morning, and our combined overall review--and being Tintin lovers we are very picky reviewers--was very, very favorable:

the film kept the atmosphere, feel of the Tintin stories
no politically-correct distortions
incredible attention to detail in every scene, we felt as if inside one of the books
the 3-D effect awesome!
the initial scene of Tintin being drawn by Herge' at the art fair won all of our hearts
the Catholic reference of St. John the Evangelist in the final scene was left intact (see original page of book here)
and many more...

Thank You, Aunt Sarah!

2011-12-22T07:01:00.001-08:00

We enjoyed different treats from your wonderful box this morning already! Thank you and merry Christmas!

Have gingersnaps...

2011-12-22T06:59:00.000-08:00

O Rex Gentium

2011-12-22T06:41:00.000-08:00

O Rex Gentium, et desideratus earum,

lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum:

veni, et salva hominem,

quem de limo formasti.

O King of the nations, and their desire,

the cornerstone making both one:

Come and save the human race,

which you fashioned from clay.

Image credit here.

O Dawn of the East

2011-12-21T06:04:00.000-08:00

O Oriens,

splendor lucis aeternae, et sol justitiae:

veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis.

O Dawn of the East,

Brightness of the Light Eternal and Sun of Justice,

come and enlighten them that dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death.

The Hobbit: The Trailer!

2011-12-20T20:19:00.001-08:00

Enjoy!
http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/wb/thehobbit/

From Fr. B. A.

2011-12-20T06:32:00.000-08:00

Good friend Fr. B. A. just sent me this. Wonderful news indeed, especially for North America! I can't wait to see what will be the official portrait of the native American saint, to be unveiled at the canonization ceremony. She will be for now on another heavenly saint as I pray for each of my children.

KATERI TEKAKWITHA: FIRST NATIVE NORTH AMERICAN SAINT

VATICAN CITY, 20 DEC 2011 (VIS) - The Holy Father yesterday signed decrees acknowledging miracles attributed to the intervention of seven blesseds (four women and three men) who will shortly be canonised. One of the new blesseds is Kateri Tekakwitha, the first native North American to be raised to the glory of the altars.

Kateri Tekakwitha was born in 1656 in Ossernenon (present-day Auriesville, U.S.A.). Her father was a Mohawk chief and her mother a Roman Catholic Algonquian who had been educated by French missionaries. At the age of four she lost her family in a smallpox epidemic which also left her disfigured and with poor eyesight. Adopted by a relative, the chief of neighbouring clan, she continued to nurture an interest in Christianity and was baptised at the age of 20.

The members of her tribe did not understand her new religious affiliation and she was marginalised, practising physical mortification as a path of sanctity and praying for the conversion of her relatives. Having suffered persecutions which put her life at risk, she was forced to flee to a native American Christian community in Kahnawake, Quebec where she made a vow of chastity and lived a life dedicated to prayer, penance, and care for the sick and elderly. She died in 1680 at the age of 24. Her last words were: "Jesus, I love you". According to tradition, Kateri's scars disappeared after her death to reveal a woman of great beauty, and numerous sick people who participated in her funeral were miraculously healed.

The process of canonisation began in 1884. She was declared venerable by Pius XII in 1943 and beatified by John Paul II in 1980. As the first native North American to be beatified she occupies a special place in the devotion of her people. Her feast day falls on 14 July.

O Clavis David

2011-12-20T06:23:00.000-08:00

Today's O Antiphon:

O Clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israel,

qui aperis, et nemo claudit; claudis, et nemo aperuit:

veni, et educ vinctum de domo carceris,

sedentem in tenebris, et umbra mortis.

O Key of David, O royal Power of Israel,

controlling at your will the gate of heaven:

Come, break down the prison walls of death

for those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death;

and lead your captive people into freedom.

From my reader Kathie

2011-12-20T05:49:00.000-08:00

Kathie emails from Canada once in a while and it is always so nice to hear from her. She sent me this idea for a homemade Christmas craft. Here are the instructions:

Here is my go-to craft idea for 2011. (You don't want to know how many stars I fashioned this Christmas!) I thought you might be interested for your craft session for next year (or anytime in between). I made the outside star shape with thicker copper wire, and then used thinner copper wire to wrap the beads around the star shape. It is a good way to use up excess beads in the house. Use large and small beads. Wrap the wire loosely, several times around the shape. Plus, you can personalize it with various coloured beads.

I am sure Jannell will love the idea! It does sound like a great craft for using all of those excess beads in the girls' supply. Thank you and God bless you, Kathie!

Homemade gifts from Aunt Sue

2011-12-20T05:03:00.000-08:00

Number Three brought a box of homemade goodies from Aunt Sue in Texas: the sugar scrubs make the skin feel so soft! A box of fudge, caramel and holiday beverages too! We were surprised and delighted! Thank you, Aunt Sue!

Number Three is at home!

2011-12-19T13:08:00.000-08:00

He surprised me with a very handsome haircut! And he grew too, to almost his dad's height. I think he looks very handsome!

O Radix Jesse

2011-12-19T08:33:00.000-08:00

Today's O Antiphon: O Radix Jesse

O Radix Jesse, qui stas in signum populorum, super quem continebunt reges os suum, quem gentes deprecabuntur: veni ad liberandum nos, iam noli tardare.

O Root of Jesse, that stands for an ensign of the people, before whom the kings keep silence and unto whom the Gentiles shall make supplication: come, to deliver us, and tarry not.

Christmas at the Cathedral

2011-12-19T05:45:00.000-08:00

Number Seven spent the past week in a very busy performance schedule: she was the Brazilian child around the manger scene at the Christmas at the Cathedral, an annual Christmas music show. All six performances were sold out! Our family attended the very last show last night and I was able to take a picture of her before she went in, and of the finale, from the choir loft. The show will be on the local NBC station on Christmas eve and I will record it then. She enjoyed every minute of it and wishes there were more performances!

Packages, packages

2011-12-18T06:00:00.000-08:00

Packages are delivered daily these days as online shopping has become very convenient, only to swiftly and mysteriously disappear. Two recent packages, however, were opened on-arrival! The first was the new edition of Fenestrae Fidei by Sean Fitzpatrick, with a new cover--by our own Number Five! The new edition cover is already displayed on Amazon.com! (It was four years ago that we worked on that project and I wrote the L2L review, see here). Congratulations, Number Five!

Number Four was the recipient of the second package: he is a senior and just purchased his own laptop, not without careful research. I don't need to say much--the photos tell it all.

O Adonai

2011-12-18T05:30:00.000-08:00

The prophet Isaiah

Latin:

O Adonai, et Dux domus Israel,

qui Moysi in igne flammae rubi apparuisti,

et ei in Sina legem dedisti:

veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento.

English:

O Adonai, and leader of the House of Israel,

who appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush

and gave him the law on Sinai:

Come and redeem us with an outstretched arm.

Isaiah had prophesied:

"[...] but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins." Isaiah 11:4-5
"For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our ruler, the Lord is our king; he will save us." Isaiah 33:22

The O Antiphons

2011-12-17T12:40:00.000-08:00

Today we begin praying the O Antiphons, singing each verse of the popular Veni Veni Emmanuel and reading the Scripture reference for it. These will take us all the way to Christmas!

Today: O Sapientia

O Wisdom that comest out of the mouth of the Most High, that reachest from one end to another, and orderest all things mightily and sweetly, come to teach us the way of prudence! The Lord giveth Wisdom: and out of his mouth cometh prudence and knowledge (Proverbs 2:6).

Image credit here.

Facebook post from my friend Tintin

2011-12-16T05:15:00.000-08:00

He is a wonderful "Facebook friend", posting all sort of interesting stuff about his own fictional character! If you grew up with Tintin, like me, and you are on Facebook, you should most definitely friend him! Today he posted how the recent film has already been nominated for best animated feature. Of course the film has yet to open in the USA, but has been a huge box office hit in Europe and Canada. I have promised my young Lit class that I will take them to the movie!

Also on Facebook I found a post by Tintin on these 1940s Christmas cards made by the Catholic author Herge. Don't you love them? If you want to know more about my love for Tintin, here is what I have blogged in the past abut him including an article I wrote.

A celebration of friendship and ingenuity

2011-12-15T06:50:00.000-08:00

I took these from our homeschool group's website, as they were posted by the hostess and photographer extraordinaire Jannell. Mothers and daughters got together to work on beautiful homemade gifts and to enjoy each other's company. These talented, intelligent and faithful women are my dear friends of everyday life--and for each of them I thank the Heavenly Father. (See more at Jannell's blog).

85

2011-12-14T05:50:00.000-08:00

My dearest papai is celebrating his 85th birthday today. Here is a post I enjoyed writing about him when I saw him last. I miss him always, and indeed it is difficult to think of him or to listen to his voice without shedding a tear. May God allow that I can be with him soon, and then one day we can all be reunited with our dear mother in heaven. Feliz aniversario, papai querido, eu te amo!

He is quiet and lonely without our dear mother, whose presence he misses painfully. Theirs was an adventurous, inspiring 57 year marriage. As an old man, he walks slowly with the help of a sturdy wooden cane, and spends much of the day in a very quiet way. While I was there I went through his office, preserved by my sister much as it was in my growing up years. A framed picture of him with Tio Gustavo, the Brazilian thinker and author about whom my sister wrote her book, has always been there. In the same way, I cannot remember life at home without his large, framed National Geographic World Map, under a crucifix, where we all would go to find a location subject of a conversation. The books and items on the shelves reflect his love for the Church, for literature and for religious thought, and his career as a steel engineer. The small iron figure of Churchill has always been there in my mind, in front of his famous WWIIoeuvre. And a copy of the Gettysburg address--dad has always been a great admirer of Lincoln. Dad traveled the whole world, taking Mother with him many times, and brought home, to us, much of its history and culture. He was constantly fascinated by beauty, by art, by goodness and by Love.
Dad is a great man, and I was an adoring daughter. I used to love his company and as a teenager and college student I had, with him, some of the most memorable conversations of my life. To him I am deeply indebted, as much of who I am today was formed under his loving guidance. He is calmly resting now from a very busy life, in his golden years, loved and respected by his children, and cared lovingly. May God reward him one day for the great good he brought into so many people's lives, be it through education, charity, friendship or example.

Saint Lucy's Feast

2011-12-13T05:13:00.000-08:00

This early church saint (she is one of the few listed in the Canon of the mass) was my dear mother's patron saint. In Brazil she is known as Luzia, perhaps because of the Italian pronunciation of her native land.

Number Three and her friend K. B. were invited by the K. twins to bake lucy's cats to celebrate the day... their house smelled divine.

O glorious Santa Lucia, who combined the profession of faith with the glory of martyrdom, help us to openly profess the truths of the Gospel and to walk in faith according to the teachings of our Saviour. Oh Virgin of Syracuse, be thou the light in our life and the model for our actions so that, after following in thy footsteps here on earth, we can rejoice together with thee in the vision of our Lord.
Amen.

A pleasant, unexpected email

2011-12-12T07:05:00.000-08:00

As I read email this morning, husband and daughter gone already and the day still to begin and dark, I received an unexpected email that filled my eyes with tears and my heart with saudades... I exchanged email with the sender, the UD parent of the boys in the video, twins and classmates of Number Three. Number Three loves his college and mentions often how he is in the right place--it was a hard decision to make since he was accepted at Notre Dame with a nice package to boot--and this sweet video shows it. Ah, to be young, to be in college, to have good friends, to do impromptu music. What a wonderful time of life. We are counting the days for his arrival.

PS: I took the video from my iPad. As it happens, the video he sent me from his MAC played upside down on my screen but correctly on my iPad so I recorded it from the iPad screen.

Gaudete Sunday

2011-12-11T22:30:00.001-08:00

The cold, howling wind outside made our inside activity even more comforting: tree and nativity set up, because this is the Sunday when we feel His coming is getting closer!
"Gaudete, gaudete Christus est natus ex Maria Virgine, gaudete!" (Introit, 3rd Sunday of Advent)

Update: I stand corrected, "Gaudete in Domino semper", taken from Philippians 4:4-5, is the correct introit. Thanks you, Fr. B. A.!

Choir concert

2011-12-10T06:34:00.000-08:00

Number Five sang and accompanied at her Catholic High School choir concert... it was a beautiful evening at the glorious newly-restored Cathedral.

Photographs by Number Four

2011-12-09T05:46:00.000-08:00

He grabbed the camera and went outside late afternoon yesterday... and now I see why! The evening star and the moon crowned the opposite sides of the sky.

Feast day cake

2011-12-09T05:21:00.000-08:00

The B. family crowned Number Six's day with a surprise feast day cake! I got this picture first thing this morning... and my heart rejoiced over the joy of having wonderful friends in this vale of tears.

Thank you!

Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature

2011-12-08T05:43:00.000-08:00

Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature, by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Beth Krommes, Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2011.

A nice find at the library! I love picture books that bring forth mathematics concepts to children in beautiful ways. This is a very nice picture book for young readers that explore the concept of spirals present in the natural world. Wonderfully illustrated, and written in simple, poetic language. On the two last pages the author offers more information on the subject and explains the basic mathematics behind each one. This will be very useful for an elementary school child who will be attracted by the book and want to know a little more.

Speech Class: Christmas traditions speeches

2011-12-07T07:19:00.001-08:00

Number Two sent me this...

2011-12-06T20:44:00.000-08:00

... it makes me feel like a brave soul. Numbers 1 through 7 are in Alaska or North Dakota. Brrrr. Read it here.

Chamber recital

2011-12-06T07:14:00.001-08:00

Piano Trio in G Major by Mazas and Trio in B flat Major, Op. 43 ("De Promethee") by Beethoven

Congratulations, girls!

Michelangelo, according to Number Seven

2011-12-04T06:52:00.000-08:00

I give plenty of choices as to report formats for our weekly History class using All Ye Lands. This week we covered the Renaissance and Number Seven did her art-report right away, as she knew exactly the angle she would take to draw Michelangelo at work. Voila. I want to share her wonderful angle to the whole world, down to the paint splotches!
Number Five's envious comment was, "Wow, you can do human hands so well!"
To complement her study on Michelangelo, I read the chapter on the great artist from our old Calvert School's wonderful History of Art.

Last day at coop

2011-12-03T04:49:00.000-08:00

Another semester done at our homeschool coop, and a handsome group of happy kids. The video is of the older kids' rendition of "Witness". Mrs. G. does such a great job with them. Enjoy!

And one more: Holy Mountain!

Number Six and friends

2011-12-02T04:16:00.000-08:00

Life has been flying these weeks, with so many activities... it is nice to stop and freeze a friendly moment. Number Six has such a nice group of friends and here are some of them... I had to grab the camera as we stepped outside the library after our Tuesday classes. The sun shone from its gorgeous, golden angle, and their smiles luminous. These girls have Chemistry, Speech, Lit & Writing and History classes together every Tuesday with a bunch of other homeschool kids!

Two arrivals in the mail

2011-11-30T06:21:00.000-08:00

We love advent calendars, we love pop-up, and we love Maite Roche! So we knew this adorable Advent calendar would be a hit.

The latest issue of Mater & Magistra also arrived, and I just finished the beautiful and resourceful cover article!

Birthday Pictures

2011-11-29T06:08:00.000-08:00

A stuffed giraffe was a most-wanted gift, and a restaurant dinner with Number One and A. T. was a treat! Number Seven also got to accomplish one other wish-list item: to visit the Humane Society and play with their animals!

Godfather, goddaughter

2011-11-29T05:47:00.000-08:00

...on their iPads during the Thanksgiving holidays.
Need I say more?

Michael O'Brien's book trailer

2011-11-28T10:00:00.001-08:00

I just put it on hold from our library! Watch this trailer... you will feel like reading it too!

Caipirinha

2011-11-28T06:18:00.000-08:00

I find these traditional Brazilian cocktails very easy to make, but have been surprised at how complicated people can make them. Most You-Tubes I have seen add unnecessary ingredients as well as butcher the pronunciation of the Brazilian liquor in it, cachaça (cah-sha-sah), which is made from sugar cane. I made two nice batches this past few days... Unfortunately, I am not able to give exact measures as I never do measure anything when I make them. Approximately: three large limes, squeezed, two trays of ice, 3/4 C sugar, 1 C or so of cachaça, and I always add some water. You can't go wrong.

Happy Birthday, Number Seven!

2011-11-27T06:23:00.000-08:00

Her announcement was so much fun to create! And the photo with Number Four precious!

Happy Birthday to a talented and wonderful ray-of-sunshine daughter!

24 jars of jam

2011-11-26T06:20:00.000-08:00

I made these in time for Number One to take back to give at his office. Mother's love is both powerful and foolish.

Thanksgiving scenes

2011-11-25T05:27:00.000-08:00

A young crew helped with the stuffing prep, and Number Five won the game of the day: the new Asia Ticket to Ride. Husband was happy to step in the kitchen to carve the wonderful, farm fresh organic turkey.

Outside, inside

2011-11-24T04:58:00.000-08:00

There is beauty in the fog and hoarfrost, and I love to juxtapose the cold with the smells of a house ready for this holiday... as my heart overflows with gratitude. For safe journeys, for the presence of far away sons whom I miss immensely through the busy weeks. For my helpful, loving children still at home, for a good, faithful and wonderful husband. For the opportunity and privilege to host friends, to be able to cook and serve good food.

History skit

2011-11-23T04:28:00.000-08:00

I have been writing mini skits as assignments for All Ye Lands History at TC... here's yesterday's Robin Hood:

I won!

2011-11-22T16:20:00.000-08:00

I was stunned to know I won! Thanks to everyone who voted! Now I need to choose a prize... so many choices! Thanks Lisa at Golden Grasses for the nomination!

(And thank You, Lord, because truly it is all done for You. Without Your loving help and guidance I would amount to nothing.)

A Lefsa morning!

2011-11-22T06:24:00.000-08:00

Uncle Dave is here for a quick pre-Thanksgiving visit and treated us to homemade Lefsas this morning! Yum! He grew up in MN and the taste of Lefsa brings him sweet childhood memories. We had it with fresh raspberry jam and it was all smiles in the kitchen!