A Boy and His Blocks
{pretty, happy, funny, real}
This year our garden is doing much better than last, but we still have so much to learn.
Oh, how I am missing this oldest boy of ours!
Captain left for a boys camp on Monday morning and will be home again on Friday. This is his first time attending a summer camp, other than camping with our whole family. He has spent the night away from home a few times for various reasons, but always with at least a brother or two.
Actually, this week has been the hardest on Rascal, who has never been away from his older brother overnight. (Except for one night when he was 9 months old, when we left Captain with my parents for an overnight trip to the coast on our anniversary. Actually, he didn’t do well with the separation that night either.) Rascal is definitely my hardest worker and on Monday he spent the day cleaning out the van, mopping the floors, doing dishes, and any other random job that he could think of to help me. He said that “If I stay really busy the week will go by faster.” Awwww… The afternoon at the Science Museum with friends yesterday helped, and the week is already more than half over! Captain will be coming home tomorrow! All his siblings are making cards and little handmade gifts to surprise him with when he gets home. He has been missed!
Smokey Summer Daybook :: August 7, 2013
Outside my window…
Smoke… Way too much smoke. We have been dealing with a thick choking layer of smoke in our area, due to severe wildfire smoke, which has been causing unhealthy to extremely hazardous air quality. We had a very short break from the smoke last Friday, and it wasn’t nearly as bad as it had been over the weekend, but it is back. All the local outdoor activities for summer, including the swimming lessons the kids were taking, have all been cancelled or postponed indefinitely. We have dealt with smoke from wildfires before, but it has never been this bad. Please continue to pray, especially for the safety of the firefighters, including my husband.
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| August 6th – Not as bad as before, but still “very unhealthy” |
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| July 30 – Hazardous (Highest Level, the most dangerous/harmful on the Air Quality Index) |
I am thinking…
it is going to get worse before it gets better. Thunderstorms are on the forecast all week, and the last couple days/nights we had hundreds of lightning strikes in our country which have ignited some new wildfires. We currently have a “Red Flag Warning” for our area, which means that “critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly.” Hopefully the storms will at least clear up the smoke for a little while. I am so ready for fall.
I am thankful…
for our air conditioner, which helps filter the air in the house, and for respirator masks, which make it a little safer to go out and water the garden and complete other outdoor chores when the smoke is really bad. Fun times.
Learning all the time…
The kids have been finding lots of ways to stay busy inside, despite the fact that I sold the television and have been busy selling truckloads of books… It only took the older boys a few days to complete the 1,000 piece puzzle Captain received for his birthday!
Celebrating the liturgical year…
We had our 3rd quarterly Latin Mass this past Sunday! Despite summer schedules, a date change, a time change, and all the smoke, we still had nearly 100 people in attendance. These masses have been such a blessing!
From the kitchen…
I haven’t had much energy left to spend much time in the kitchen lately, and with my husband not eating any meals at home, I’ve been even less motivated. It’s time to put together a meal plan and start creating some “real” meals again.
I am working on…
redecorating and organizing the girls’ bedrooms!
I am creating…
check-lists for next year. I do plan on finishing them as soon as I have a chance, but I’m starting to get a little nervous after hearing stories of a couple friends losing their finished documents (due to various computer issues) and then running across this last night. Oh, that would be so frustrating!
I am going…
to continue working on shipping out books! I took the first batch to the post office earlier this week and will be making one more trip with the rest of the books just as soon as I can get my hands on some more boxes and envelopes. Hopefully this afternoon!
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| I wasn’t exactly the person you wanted to be in line behind at the post office 😉 |
I am hoping…
I am praying…
for the soul of a a 19 year old who died fighting our local fires this week… May he rest in peace.
I am reading…
pictures books to the little ones at bedtime. They miss their Daddy, especially on the nights he gets home after they are asleep.
Pondering these words…
from Padre Pio:
I am listening…
to the washing machine. My husband usually does his own laundry, but he is nearly out of socks so I am chancing the possibility of coming down with poison oak again (I am highly allergic and he works in it everyday, especially now on the fire) and catching it up for him. It was either that or go buy a couple packs of new socks, which I actually considered! 😉
Around the house…
I wasn’t expecting the new bunk beds until next week, but they arrived, in five large boxes, on August 1st, just after posting the Book Sale link up! With the fire, and my husband getting home at 9 or 10 each night and leaving early in the morning, I wasn’t sure when we’d be able to get them assembled… Thankfully he was able to take off this past Sunday for our Latin Mass and we tackled the project in just a couple hours that day. The beds are so beautiful and I’ll take pictures to share soon!
new t-shirts from the fires their Dad fights!
Monday-Friday: Summer Camp for Captain!
Monday-Saturday: Stay Indoors… Complete Book Sales and try to finalize school plans.
Sunday: Annual St. Anthony’s Festa (I was informed at Mass last Sunday that Father Carmelo expects the boys to be there to serve, and to bring the cassocks and surplices. I can pull it off without Sean’s help, right? I hope so!)
3rd Annual Online Curriculum Sale Blog Hop
- Create a blog post with your gently used curriculum (and any other books/items) that you’d like to sell or pass on to another family, with pictures if possible.
- Add a link to your post, referring back to this post, so that others can find the link up.
- Using the linky below, enter the direct link to your post.
- Thank you for participating!
One Last Used Book Sale {Listing Books for my Mom}
I asked my mom if she had any books she wanted me to list for her this year during the Online Curriculum Sale Blog Hop that I am hosting. She had “a few” now that she is “retiring” from Home Educating after 25 years and my youngest brothers are headed off to college in the fall!
It took way longer than I planned some time, but I finally took pictures and listed them all below! They have all been used and range from very good to poor condition, with wear to the covers (some more than others and some with page curling, as you can see in the pictures), but all still useable. We tried to price them accordingly. If you have any questions please ask!
If you are interested in purchasing any of the books listed, please leave a comment listing the books you would like, along with your email address, and I will send you your total, with shipping, along with payment info. (If you’d rather not leave your email address, you can also email me directly at jessica(dot)showerofroses(at)gmail(dot)com)
These books will be shipped directly from my mom, and can’t be combined with any of the books that I have left. (By the way, I just reduced the prices on some of my remaining books here and here. Also be sure to check the link up for other new book sales!) Shipping will be a flat rate of $3.00 for 1-3 items (if they will fit in an envelope) and $6.00 for 4+ items or a box of any size, to cover the cost of packaging and media rate in the continental U.S.
Latin: First Year (Henle Latin), 2 1 available, Asking $5.00 each (Sale Pending)
Vocabulary From Classical Roots: Book E, Asking $5.00 Reduced to $3.00
Elementary Latin Exercises,
Wheelock’s Latin Grammar, Asking $3.00
Workbook for Wheelock’s Latin, (a few lessons with writing), Asking $4.00
Latin & English Dictionary, Asking $1.00 (SOLD)
Saxon Physics Student Textbook, Asking $30.00 Reduced to $25.00
Math 76 Textbook, Asking $6.00 Reduced to $5.00
Algebra 1/2 (Second Edition), Asking $5.00 (SOLD)
Saxon Advanced Mathematics Second Edition, Asking $20.00 Reduced to $17.00
Euclid The Thirteen Books of The Elements Volume 1, Asking $5.00 Reduced to $3.00
Algebra 1 (Second Edition), Asking $5.00
Algebra 1 (First Edition), Asking $5.00
Geometry, Asking $10.00 Reduced to $8.00
Of America Vol. 1, Asking $3.00
Of America Vol. 2, Asking $3.00
Government in America, Asking $3.00 (SOLD)
American Government A Complete Coursebook, Asking $5.00 (SOLD)
Winning Government Grants and Contracts for your Small Business, Asking $1.00
A History of US: From Colonies to Country, paperback, Asking $4.00
A History of US: The New Nation, paperback, Asking $4.00
A History of US: Liberty for All?, paperback, Asking $4.00
Or $10.00 for the set of all three Reduced to $8.00 (SOLD)
New Voyages in English Teacher’s Editions 4 (SOLD) Voyages in English 7 Hardcover with OLVS Teacher’s Manual, Asking $8.00 for the setVoyages in English 8 Teacher’s Manual, Asking $2.00Voyages in English 5 – Old Hardcover, binding taped, with OLVS Teacher’s Manual and Key for Voyages in English – Asking $4.00 for the set
Abeka Earth Science with Test Booklet, Asking $4.00
Abeka Basic Science, Asking $4.00
Abeka Biology: God’s Living Creation, Asking $4.00
World Geography, Asking $4.00
Science and Living in God’s World Grade 5, Asking $6.00
Science and Living in God’s World Grade 6, Asking $5.00 (SOLD)
Science and Living in God’s World Grade 7, Asking $5.00 (SOLD)
Science and Living in God’s World Grade 8, Asking $5.00 (SOLD)
Kolbe Academy Church History II/Apologetics Reader, Asking $12.00 (SOLD)
Kolbe Academy The Kolbe Roman Reader: Ancient Roman Literature (2 Available) Asking $6.00 (SOLD)
Cliff Notes: The Tempest, Asking $1.00 (SOLD)
Cliff Notes: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Asking $1.00 (SOLD)
Cliff Notes: King Lear, Asking $1.00 (SOLD)
The Official SAT Study Guide with DVD (2 1 available – Very Good Condition, name on front cover), Asking $12.00
The Official Study Guide for ALL SAT Subject Tests 2nd Edition, Asking $10.00
Can You Pass These Tests? Asking $2.00
Kaplan Act in a Box, Asking $2.00
Kaplan Sat in a Box, Asking $2.00
Our Life With God Religion Series, Teacher’s Manual and Key for Book 5, God Leads Me, ©1960, Very Good, Asking $10.00 Reduced to $7.00
The Kingdom of God Series, Bible Lessons, William Newton & Ellamay Horan, ©1937/1942, Good,Asking $15.00 Reduced to $10.00
Abigail Adams: The President’s Lady by Regina Kelly, ©1962, Good, Asking $8.00 Reduced to $6.00
Streets and Roads, Basic Readers 1946-1947 Edition, Acceptable, First Page is falling out/half, Asking $8.00 Reduced to $6.00
Around the Corner, ©1957, Good, Asking $6.00 Reduced to $5.00
The New If I Were Going, ©1936, 1951 Edition, Asking $5.00
Creatures in God’s World by Sister M. Veronice ©1959, Asking $5.00 (SOLD)
Wild Bill Hockok Tames the West by Stewart H. Holbrook, Lots of Cover Wear, ©1952, Asking $3.00
Meet The North American Indians, Asking $2.00
California: The Story of Our Southwest Corner by Grace S. Dawson, ©1939, Cover split and taped together, Asking $5.00 Reduced to $3.00
Set of Children’s Saint Picture Books, Mostly by Father Lovasik, in fair to poor condition$5.00 for the Set (SOLD)
New Catholic Picture Bible, Asking $3.00 (SOLD)
Francis: The Knight of Assisi, Asking $1.00
My Prayerbook, Asking $1.00
Leading The Little Ones to Mary, Asking $2.00 (SOLD)
Glory to the Newborn King, Asking $1.00
Our Friends The Saints, Asking $4.00 Reduced to $3.00
Is it a Saint’s Name?, Asking $5.00 (Sale Pending)
A Saint for Your Name: Saints for Boys, Asking $3.00 (SOLD)
A Saint for Your Name: Saints for Girls, Asking $3.00 (SOLD)
American History, Lepanto Press, Like New, Asking $20.00 Reduced to $17.00
Quest of a Hemisphere, ©1970, Like New with some cover wear, Asking $10.00 Reduced to $8.00
Compton’s Pictured Encyclopedia ©1954, Asking $5.00 (SOLD)
Exploring Our Living Planet National Geographic, Asking $10.00 (SOLD)
Writing Workshop Level F Workbooks (2 1 Available), Used with Kolbe Academy, Chapter one has pencil writing, Asking $6.00 each
Writing Workshop Level F Teacher’s Edition, Asking $8.00 (SOLD)
Writing Workshop Level E Teacher’s Edition, Asking $8.00
Sadlier-Oxford Vocabulary Workshop Level H, Asking $3.00
Writing a Research Paper Grades 6-12, Third Edition, Asking $15.00 Reduced to $10.00
Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, Asking $1.00 (SOLD)
Days of Healing, Days of Joy, Asking $1.00 (SOLD)
The Ways of God for Meditation and Prayer Attributed to Saint Thomas Aquinas, Asking $1.00 (SOLD)
Dominican Mission Manual, 50 cents (SOLD)
New… St. Joseph Sunday Missal and Hymnal, Free with other purchase (SOLD)
Understanding Our Lady’s Messages, 50 cents (SOLD)
St. Jude Thaddeus, Free with other purchase (SOLD)
Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth, Free with other purchase (SOLD)
A Large Print Prayer Book, Free with other purchase (SOLD)
Mother of Christ Crusade, Free with other purchase (SOLD)
Album of Horses, Asking $8.00 (SOLD)
Alaskan Wildlife, Asking $1.00 (SOLD)
Atoms and Molecules, Asking $4.00 (SOLD)
Mysteries and Legends of Montana, Asking $2.00
The New Penguin Atlas of Ancient History, Asking $4.00
Native Americans, Asking $5.00
Montana Curiosities, Asking $4.00
The Old World and America with Answer Key, Asking $10.00 (SOLD)
Church History, Asking $15.00 Reduced to $10.00
Christ and the Americas, Poor Condition/Spine Spliting Inside, Asking $4.00 (SOLD)
Our Pioneers and Patriots Answer Key, Asking $5.00 (SOLD)
Christ the Kind Lord of History with Teacher’s Guide and Answer Key, Asking $10.00 (SOLD)
Christ and the Americas, very good condition, with Answer Key, Asking $12.00 (SOLD)
Credo: I Believe: Book 5, Asking $2.00 (SOLD)
The Baltimore Catechisms are old (most from the school my dad attended as a child) and some of the spines have been taped together in some cases, with a few torn pages). These are free for whoever would like a copy shipped with any other books purchased.
The Origin of the Rings VHS, Asking $1.00
Treasures of Catholicism 2 VHS Set, Asking $4.00
Unlocking the Secrets of the Shroud, Asking $1.00 (SOLD)
Our Father’s Plan 3 VHS Set, Asking $4.00 (SOLD)
Catholic Home Education Student Planner, Inside of cover has old calendars (1999-2001) but the rest of the pages are undated and can be customized for any week. A Few pages have been written on with pencil. Asking $5.00 (SOLD)
Our 2013 Used Book Sale #2
If you are interested in purchasing any of the items listed, please leave a comment listing the books you would like, along with your email address, and I will send you your total, with shipping, along with my PayPal info. (If you’d rather not leave your email address, you can email me directly at jessica(dot)showerofroses(at)gmail(dot)com.)
Purchase the set for $25.00
Island of the World – Like New, Asking $14.00
The Father’s Tale – Like New, Asking $14.00
Purchase all three Hardcover Books for
The Best Dictionary for Students – $1.00
Answering Jehovah’s Witnesses –
Thoughts of the Cure D’Ars – (Duplicate Copy)
Preparation for Total Consecration – (Duplicate Copy)
The 4 Temperaments by Rev. Conrad Hock – (Duplicate Copy)
Liturgical Shipwreck – $1.00 (
Aim Higher! Spiritual and Marian Reflections of St. Maximilian Koble – (Duplicate Copy)
Our 2013 Used Book Sale
It’s time for another Online Curriculum Sale Blog Hop! You can find all the details, browse books for sale on other blogs, or add a link to your own post here.
I didn’t have nearly enough time to prepare for this year’s sale as I would have liked, and still have quite a few books that I’d like to sort though, but I filled a few boxes last night and just finished pricing them all! Most of these books we no longer use or are duplicate copies we have been given. I plan to continue going through my bookshelves and adding to this post over the next few days, so please check back for updates!
If you are interested in purchasing any of the items listed, please leave a comment listing the books you would like, along with your email address, and I will send you your total, with shipping, along with my PayPal info. (If you’d rather not leave your email address, you can email me directly at jessica(dot)showerofroses(at)gmail(dot)com.)
Shipping will be a flat rate of $3.00 for 1-3 items (if they will fit in an envelope) and $6.00 for a box of any size, to cover the cost of packaging and media rate in the continental U.S.
Thank you!
Latina Christiana I Student Book (2nd Edition) –
Songs for God and Country, some shelf wear,
Primary Skills Workbook Seatwork $
Exercises in English 5th Year Teacher’s Key – FREE with purchase of another item (SOLD)
Horizons Math K Book Two – first 12 pages completed and erased, cover wear
The Ultimate Lap Book Handbook, Like New OOP
Harcourt Science Workbook – New, Shelf Wear
Fun Physical Fitness For The Home (missing CD) –
Cuisenaire Rods Alphabet Book (Sorry! I changed my mind on this one after I took the picture… It will make a nice addition to The Alphabet Path, if we ever get back to it!)
Catholic Home Schooling – Like New
Meet Felicity – Duplicate Copy, cover wear
Meet Josefina – Duplicate Copy
Secrets in the Hills: A Josefina Mystery – Duplicate Copy
Industrial Revolution through the Great Depression Unit Study and Lap Book
- From Sea to Shining Sea (Chapters 18: The Wild West, Chapter 19: Land of Steel and Steam, and Chapter 20: Catholics in America)
- The Orphans Find a Home: A St. Francis Xavier Cabrini Story
- Mother Cabrini: Missionary to the World
- Saint Katharine Drexel: Friend of the Oppressed
- Jose Finds the King; a Blessed Miguel Pro Story
(Mexico)
- Henry Ford: Young Man With Ideas (Childhood of Famous Americans)
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| My children love reading the Childhood of Famous Americans series – Our library doesn’t carry them but we have slowly been building our collection. |
- Teddy Roosevelt: Young Rough Rider (Childhood of Famous Americans)
- Bully for You, Teddy Roosevelt!
- Little House on the Prairie
(Audio Books)
- Laura Ingalls Wilder: A Biography
- Laura Ingalls Wilder: Young Pioneer (Childhood of Famous Americans)
Orphan Trains
- Wilbur and Orville Wright: Young Fliers (Childhood of Famous Americans)
- The Glorious Flight: Across the Channel with Louis Bleriot July 25, 1909
- The Wright Brothers (Landmark Books)
- The Wright Brothers: How They Invented the Airplane
- History of Flight Coloring Book
- The Story of the Wright Brothers
The Great Depression
- Potato: A Tale From The Great Depression
- Finding Daddy: A Story of the Great Depression
- Children of the Great Depression
- 850-1917 St. Frances Xavier Cabrini
- 1858-1919 Theodore Roosevelt
- 1858-1955 St. Katharine Drexel
- 1862-1869 The Transcontinental Railroad
- 1863-1947 Henry Ford
- 1867-1957 Laura Ingalls Wilder
- 1867-1912 & 1871-1948 Wilbur & Orville Wright
- 1867 “Custer’s Last Stand”
- 1886 Statue of Liberty
- 1891-1927 Blessed Miguel Pro
- 1892-1943 Ellis Island
- 1898 Spanish-American War
- 1903 1st successful, powered, piloted flight April
- 1906 San Francisco Earthquake
- 1914-1918 World War I
- 1914 The Panama Canal
- April 14-15, 1912 The Titanic Sinks
- Jan 26-Feb 2, 1925 The Serum Run to Nome
- 1927-1941 Mount Rushmore
- 1929-1930s The Stock Market Crash and the Great Depression
- 1934-1937 Oklahoma Dust Bowl
- 1939-1945 World War II
I asked the boys to choose five people or events from the list above to add to their History Through the Ages Record of Time timeline book during this unit. Here are a few pictures of their entries:
- Build the Empire State Building
- Build a Sopwith Camel and a Mini Sopwith Camel
- Build a Suspension Bridge
- Build a Wright Brothers Model (we didn’t get to this one…)
- Depression-Era Dinner (made by the girls)
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| The Empire State Building |
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| Building the Sopwith Camel |
- Timeline
- Women Suffragists
- The Amendments
- Transcontinental
- The Indian Wars
- What Would An Immigrant See?
- The Orphan Trains
- Seward’s Folly
- Grandma’s Goodies
- Chicago’s World’s Fair
- Henry Ford
- Visiting Mount Rushmore
- The Oklahoma Dust Bowl
- Disasters
- Serum Run to Nome
- Getting to know Frank Lloyd Wright
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| 1925 Serum Race to Nome |
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| Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright |
Our swimming lessons have been cancelled for the rest of this week, due to the thick smoke and hazardous air quality, which is freeing up a little time to get back to our summer World War II Study since we must stay indoors anyways.. Please continue to pray for all those affected by the fires and especially for the safety of the firefighters.
Now back to decluttering our bookshelves… I have a Curriculum Sale Blog Hop to host tomorrow!
Summer Daybook :: July 29, 2013
Outside my window…
our garden is actually growing! And, look! We have a little watermelon!!! (and quite a few others that are just starting to grow!) We still have so much to learn about gardening, but so far this year is going better than last. The plants that have been growing the best (like the watermelon and sunflowers) were the ones we planted with St. Clare Heirloom Seeds. I’ll have to take some more pictures of the garden to share soon. Now if I could just figure out how to keep the bugs from eating all the flowers (Zinnias, etc) just as soon as they bloom… any suggestions?
I am thinking…
about the 7 posts in 7 days challenge. It was hard. I know I would not have made the time to blog much otherwise, with how busy we have been lately. I am really glad I participated. I probably won’t be posting every day this week! 😉 I would like to get back to posting each weekday, but that will all depend on how much we are home, and this week is going to be busier than last. We’ll see! I have enjoyed visiting with you all, even if I have gotten even further behind with answering emails! 😉
I am thankful…
that Sean has been able to come home each night, even though he is only home from just 10pm to 4am, and for all the firemen who are working so hard to get the fires under control.
Learning all the time…
I had such great plans for this summer, to continue studying Math and teaching Snuggles to read. It hasn’t been happening. The children are still learning all the time (this week swimming skills!) and reading (or listening to) books everyday. There will be plenty of time for the rest in the fall, right?
Celebrating the liturgical year…
The feast of St. Ignatius is coming up on July 31st. It’s also a baptismal anniversary so I’m thinking about making another madeliene recipe shell cakes again! A few additional ideas can be found in the archives at Catholic Cuisine.
From the kitchen…
cherry tomatoes from our garden!
I am working on… and creating…
a more organized (and cozy!) home. This past week and weekend, in addition to working on the bedrooms, I also rearranged furniture (and found an area rug!) in our family/living rooms. I will have to try and take pictures sometime soon.
I am going…
to be spending a lot of time at the swimming pool again this week!
I am hoping…
that I can find time to start getting ready for my Curriculum Sale Blog Hop… It’s just been too busy and it’s coming up on August 1st!
I am praying…
for Katrina and her twins, one of whom has anencephaly. I have been online friends with her sister, Laura, for years and have been praying for Katrina since I learned of her pregnancy complications. Will you please join me?
I am reading…
lots of updates on the fires, particularly on the one which my husband is fighting.
Pondering these words…
from today’s Quiet Moment:
I am listening…
to “a, a, a, aaaa, a, a, aaaa, a, b, c, a, a, a, aaaa”… Can someone please take that WORD WHAMMER away from the baby! 😉 Now that the television is gone the kids have been finding all sorts of old toys that even I forgot we had…
Around the house…
I haven’t been the only one redecorating!
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| Seri’s Dollhouse |
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| Calico Critter Families and Furniture |
drawing and finding anything heart shaped!
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| “Look Mom! I found a HEART leaf!!!” |
Monday: Swimming Lessons, Overnight Visitors
Tuesday: Swimming Lessons Canceled due to too much smoke and ash in the air…
Wednesday: Swimming Lessons/Life Saving Day
Thursday: Swimming Lessons/Graduation Day, Curriculum Sale Blog Hop Hosted Here!
Friday: Morning Mass, Afternoon with Friends, Grocery Shopping
Saturday: Recover from the week! 😉
Sunday: Our third Quarterly Latin Mass
Wildfire
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| Following Confessions and Mass – Blue Skies on One Side, Smokey Skies on the other. Ash falling around us while we watched and offered another prayer for their Daddy’s safety… |
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| Credit: ODF – InciWeb taken July 26, 2013 |
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| Credit : InciWeb taken July 26, 2013 |
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