The Fourteen Holy Helpers
Back to School :: 2021-2022
We are off to Mass to celebrate our Blessed Mother’s birthday and the beginning of our new school year!
After a whirlwind road trip on Friday, move-in day Saturday, and New Student Mass and Brunch today (Sunday), I’m heading back home and leaving a big chunk of my heart in North Dakota. How is it even possible that we have three young adults in college already?!? Please remember them, and all students, in your prayers! Love you so much @captain_faramir @celtickittens @rangerrascal and I will be praying and fasting for a blessed and fruitful semester for you all at @universityofmary!
I keep having the sweetest pictures pop up in my memories this week… Click here for a flash back to ten years ago! So much has changed and yet so much is still the same. I’m so grateful for all the blessings we have been given and excited to start this new school year with our youngest six still at home!
Small Things with Great Love
“Not all of us can do great things.
But we can do small things with great love.”
-Mother Teresa
Chai Cupcakes baked and decorated on Sunday by our 16 year old! She even found the printable cupcakes wrappers and toppers I made years ago to download, print and use for her cupcakes.
I hadn’t remembered that it was the feast of Mother Teresa until I walked in the door late Sunday night, following my flights home, and saw a plate of leftover cupcakes sitting on the table. She went above and beyond, as usual, while I was out of town dropping our oldest three off at college.
Saint Goals Tee from Annunciation Designs • Mother Teresa Mug from The Little Rose Shop
“Do something beautiful for God.
Do it with your life. Do it every day.
Do it in your own way. But do it!”
‘Pray, Hope, and Don’t Worry’
Ignatius Critical Editions {Review & Giveaway}
We have been utilizing the Ignatius Critical Editions in our home school curriculum for years now. They are always my top pick when searching for classic literature selections for our high-schoolers to read. Each edition contains a captivating introduction, the full text of the work, and then ends with an excellent selection of critical essays.
From the about page: “The Ignatius Critical Editions will ensure that traditional moral readings of the works are given prominence, instead of the feminist or deconstructionist readings that often proliferate in other series of ‘critical editions’. As such, they represent a genuine extension of consumer choice, enabling educators, students, and lovers of good literature to buy editions of classic literary works without having to ‘buy into’ the ideologies of secular fundamentalism.”
There are so many wonderful books to choose from in the series! I asked our first four to share their favorites… Our eldest son loved reading Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Hamlet in high school. Our next son really enjoyed The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Confessions, Frankenstein and Hamlet. Our eldest daughter loves all things Austen and she loved Jane Eyre! Our next daughter really enjoyed Julius Caesar and Mansfield Park.
Celebrating the 4th of July
A Back Yard War Film
Summer 2020 :: The “Nun Run” Part Two
Good morning! I’m back this week to share the next stop on last summer’s Nun Run. After leaving Gower, we continued our trip to Valparaiso, Nebraska to visit the Carmel of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. I have visited this convent three times in the past, for my three uncles very first Masses following their ordinations, but the last time was back in 2008 so it had been 12 years!
On our way there we stopped at a sushi restaurant for dinner (and played some “close your eyes and guess how many *insert items* are in the room” inspired by Shawn Spencer in Psych lol).
A picture on our way to the Carmel
The Chapel at the Carmel was so beautiful!
After Mass, we were able to visit one of the sisters through the turn and she told us her vocation story which was so inspirational. Also, we noticed a young lady who, after Mass, entered into the Carmel!
Visiting the Carmel of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph was such a rewarding experience and to see just how much the sisters give up for our Lord is so uplifting.
Patriotic Berry Pie
Can you believe it’s July already?!? I just don’t know where the months go anymore… They are flying by faster than ever! I’m really trying to slow down and enjoy these summer days with everyone home. I’ve had a little help from the weather this week… With temps reaching ridiculously hot up here in the North Idaho, most of our scheduled plans and activities have been canceled due to the dangerous heat wave! We are just praying that this isn’t followed by more wildfires and smoke…
He had requested “Berry Pie!” instead of birthday cake, after an afternoon rafting with friends, and I ended up surprising him with a couple Patriotic Berry Pies! It was quick and easy to make with the help of Red Hills Fruit Company Tart Cherry Filling, Blueberry Filling and some refrigerated pie crusts.
Summer 2020 :: The “Nun Run” Part One
Now that golf season has ended, and now that I have a lot of free time while I recover from my knee surgery, I can start back up on the posts! You can find my past posts here: written by Twinkle Toes.
Our Daily Schedule at Gower:
5:05 Matins and Private Prayer
7:10 Lauds, Prime, and Breakfast
8:45 Work (We mainly worked in the garden.)
10:50 Terce, Mass, Sext, Lunch
2:15 Exposition, None, Free time/Rosary
5:30 Vespers then Supper
6:45 Work
8:00 Compline, then bed
After Compline is the Grand Silence (no talking) which goes until after Prime the next morning.
The nuns gave us a tour of their sewing studio during our final day at Gower and showed us how to make vestments and altar linens.
Emily and I happen to have the same godparents (small world!) so we took a quick picture together to send to our godmother.
While we were at Gower, we were able to see one of my close friends (the girl in the middle).
The singing at Gower was amazing! I’ve grown up listening to their CDs at home and to hear them in person was even more beautiful!
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