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by | Dec 29, 2022

Celebrating Michaelmas

Sep 30, 2020 | , , , | 2 Comments

 

Michael, prince of all the angels, While your legions fill the sky, 

All victorious over Satan, Lift your flaming sword on high; 
Shout to all the seas and heavens: Now the morning is begun; 
Now is rescued from the dragon She whose garment is the sun!

I tried adapting our Michaelmas Blackberry Cobbler recipe using Cassava Flour and Coconut Sugar… 
Didn’t turn out wonderful but I enjoyed having a refined sugar-free treat!
St. Raphael, St. Michael and St. Gabriel from Naturally Catholic • Ostheimer Dragon
St. Michael Saints ‘N Stitches from Waltzing Matilda
All decked out to celebrate his patron saint! 
St. Michael Socks • St. Michael T-Shirt from Catholic T-shirt Club • St. Michael Coffee Mug
Mighty champion of the woman, Mighty servant of her Lord, 
Come with all your myriad warriors, Come and save us with your sword; 
Enemies of God surround us: Share with us your burning love; 
Let the incense of our worship Rise before His throne above! 

The special little gift I purchased hasn’t arrived yet…
but the younger kids were so excited when this
Special Edition Saints Around the World Box arrived! 

I was just (unsuccessfully) looking for our copy of The Great Battle for Heaven! Perfect timing.
St. Michael Statue, another My Holy Cards Holder, and all sorts of other goodies too!

The Great Battle for Heaven

The Children’s Book of Angels
Gabriel, messenger to Mary, Raphael, healer, friend and guide, 
All you hosts of guardian angels Ever standing by our side, 
Virtues, Thrones and Dominations, Raise on high your joyful hymn, 
Principalities and Powers, Cherubim and Seraphim!
Blackberry Bubly and Izze Sparkling Blackberry Drinks

I had planned to make our Apple Chicken to serve with Angel Hair,
but changed my mind after seeing Ruby’s Chicken Scampi… Yummmmmmmmm!

Our annual Michaelmas Cupcakes are always a favorite! 
Devil’s Food Cupcakes with swords for “stabbing the Devil!” 

3 Archangels Saint Block Set from Almond Rod Toys • Playmobil Swords
Happy Michaelmas!

Tooth Trauma {Take Two}

Sep 27, 2020 | , , | 5 Comments

If you’ve been reading along for awhile, you might remember the Tooth Trauma we had way back in 2012… Well, this past week, as we were getting started on the first experiments for Zoology 2 (the first time we’ve revisited the topic since 2012-2013… So ironic!) I joked with the children saying “Let’s not break any teeth this time!” On Wednesday night, after I was tagged a couple times in a Christendom post featuring one of our boys, I also joked in a comment saying “Such good looking students!” 😉 

Sigh… I know better than to joke around like that! 

Thursday night, after soccer practice, I received a text message with the following photo… 

“Soccer practice” 
It was bound to happen eventually… and honestly I’m glad it held together for 8 years and survived braces before breaking again… but it would have been nice if he wasn’t 2500 miles away from home and our family dentist! He popped it in some milk, put it in the fridge and headed to his evening classes. 
(Note: He did give me permission to share pictures with you all.) 
“A true Christendom intellectual” 
So proud! Toilet seat and all… I think he was having way too much fun! He did have me laughing with the photos and stories of cheesy grins to friends in passing on his way to class. 
Meanwhile older brother was making plans for this year’s Costume Dance…
Friday morning I started trying to find a dentist. I reached out to an online friend in Front Royal for recommendations, but all the dentists I called were either closed on Fridays, not accepting new patients, or didn’t have the best reviews online.  At 9:45 my time (which was 12:45 Eastern) I finally found a young dentist, a preferred provider with our insurance, who could see him. However, she was a little over an hour away and scheduled to close shortly at 1PM, but offered to wait for the boys to arrive. I had to have our oldest son skip his 1:00 literature class, but thankfully they at least have a car with them this year. Whew!

She did an amazing job putting the tooth back together! It actually looks better than it did before. Eventually he will need a crown, but hopefully this will hold for another 8 years… 

And no more soccer without a mouth guard! 

Our 2020-2021 Curriculum

Sep 22, 2020 | , | 20 Comments

This year I’m once again (officially) home educating five of our children. We have a 12th grader, 10th grader, 8th grader, 5th grader and a 3rd grader … plus two college students, a toddler and a baby. Life is full! 


After three challenging years, with difficult pregnancies, new babies, and a move to a new state, I’m really excited about this new school year! Even though we just celebrated the beginning of our school year the week before last, on September 8th, we are actually now in our fifth week. We got started as soon as the older boys left for college last month, in an attempt to get a jump start on some of our subjects (math, Latin, writing) and have some flexibility to take a longer break when the boys are back for Christmas break. Our high school girls had online classes (Latin, writing) begin in August anyway. We’ve slowly added in additional subjects as backordered books (science, more writing) finally arrived! Now that everything has been fine tuned, and we are working on a consistent weekly schedule, I wanted to record and share what we are using this year. 

“Next, Catholic home schooling must be schooling. There must be organization, administration, a pattern, a schedule, and a program. Somebody has to be in charge. Mother and father must cooperate in the home schooling. Home schooling must be sacramental. In other words, the Church that Christ founded is the Church of the Seven Sacraments, especially the Sacraments of Eucharist and Confession. You, yourselves, should receive the sacraments of Holy Communion and Confession. Train your children to live a sacramental life. Finally, to be authentically Catholic, home schooling must be prayerful. The single most fundamental thing you can teach your children, bar none, is to know the necessity and method of prayer. You must pray yourselves. Without prayer, all the schooling in the world will not produce the effect which God wants home schooling to give, because home schooling is a communication of divine grace, from Christ to the parents to the children. And the principle way parents communicate from Christ to their children, the grace upon which those children will be saved, is prayer.” 

– Excerpted from a speech originally given by Fr. John Hardon, S. J. 
at a home school seminar in Oct. 1991 
.: High School :. 
Twinkle Toes :: 12th Grade

Technically she only needs to take Chemistry+LAB, Theology, and just one elective to complete the requirements for the Summa Cum Laude diploma from Kolbe Academy! 

Theology: (1 Credit)
Our Moral Life in Christ
with Our Moral Life in Christ Student Workbook

Science: (1 Credit + LAB)

English/Literature: (1 1/2 Credits)
Muse on the Loose: Survey of Greek Literature in Translation (Fall)
Muse Re-Loosed: Survey of Latin Literature in Translation (Spring)

She has really loved taking Dr. Fisher’s Latin 1 & 2 the past two years (completing Wheelock Latin) but, rather than move on to translating, decided to take her Literature course this upcoming year. 

Additional English/Literature:  (1/2 semester each) 
The Illiad by Homer with Joseph Pearce
The Odyssey by Homer with Joseph Pearce
using the recorded courses at Homeschool Connections

 Mathematics: (1/2 Credit)
Foundations in Personal Finance (Fall)
Possible dual credit Math course in Spring 2021, still undecided

History: (1 Credit)
Government, Democracy, and Citizenship with Ed Rivet (Fall – 3/4 semester)
American Elections:Democracy in Action with Ed Rivet (Fall – Audit Class Oct 1-Nov 5, 2020)
Economics as if people matter! with Philip Campbell (Spring)
using the recorded courses at Homeschool Connections

Fine Arts: (1/2 Credit)
Choir

Physical Education: (1 Credit)
High School Golf (hopefully competitive!) 

Chiquita :: 10th Grade

Theology: (1 Credit)
The History of the Church

Mathematics: (1 Credit)

English/Literature: (1 1/2 Credits) 
19th Century Literature (Already completed over the summer)
Mansfield Park, Oliver Twist and North and South 

 The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis (Fall) 

The 19th-Century Novel (Victorian Classics) (Spring) 
Emma, David Copperfield, and the Barsetshire Chronicles with Eleanor Bourg Nicholson 

 using the recorded courses at Homeschool Connections
History: (1 Credit) 
The History of the Church (Core Text for both Theology and History)

Additional literature chosen from Connecting with History, Volume 2 – The Arrival of the King and His Kingdom, New Testament and Early Medieval History:

One Hundred Saints, Their Lives and Likenesses Drawn from Butler’s Lives of the Saints and Great Works of Western Art
A Graphic Life of Jesus Christ
Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Rome
The New Penguin Atlas of Medieval History
Lives from Plutarch
Mythology

Unit #1: Julius Caesar, Ben Hur (audio)
Unit #2: The Spear: A Novel of the Crucifixion
Unit #3: Story of the Last Days of Jerusalem from Josephus, Quo Vadis
Unit #4: Eagle of the Ninth, The Silver Branch
Unit #5: St. Athanasius, St. Monica, Beowulf: Illustrated Edition, Confessions of St. Augustine
Unit #6: Two Lives of Charlemagne
Unit #7: Hamlet, The Ballad of the White Horse

History Through the Ages Record of Time – Timeline

Foreign Language: (1 Credit)
Latin II using Wheelock Latin, 7th Edition
Live online class, Lukeion 

 Fine Arts:  (1/2 Credit)
Choir

Physical Education: (1 Credit)
High School Golf

.: Middle School :. 
Snuggles :: 8th Grade 

Fix It! Grammar: Robin Hood (Book 2 Teacher/Student Combo)
Phonetic Zoo, continue Level B
Writing Our Catholic Faith – Grade 8 Cursive Writing

Literature:
The Chronicles of Narnia, Part One and Part Two with Kevin O’Brien
using the recorded courses at Homeschool Connections
Chronicles of Narnia Book Set

History & Geography:
Light to the Nations, Part One

Additional literature chosen from Connecting with History, Volume 2 – The Arrival of the King and His Kingdom, New Testament and Early Medieval History:

57 Stories of Saints
Famous Men of Rome
Famous Men of the Middle Ages
Roman Britain
Augustus Caesar’s World
A Graphic Life of Jesus Christ

Unit #1: Julius Caesar, Ben Hur (audio)
Unit #2: The Bronze Bow, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Unit #3: The Ides of April, Beyond the Desert Gate
Unit #4: The White Isle, Galen and the Gateway to Medicine
Unit #5: Beowulf the Warrior, St. Helena and the True Cross, The King’s Thane
Unit #6: Fingal’s Quest, King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table, St. Benedict: Hero of the Hills
Unit #7: The Story of Rolf and the Viking Bow, The Sword of Clontarf

History Through the Ages Record of Time – Timeline

Maps Charts and Graphs Level G: The World
Various Mapping Assignments, Activities, Puzzles and Games

Science:
Exploring Creation with Physical Science (3rd Edition)
with Solutions and Tests and Student Notebook

Foreign Language:

Physical Education:
Self Defense / Martial Arts: Jui Jitsu
Golf

.: Elementary School:. 

Rose :: 5th Grade
Religion:
St. Joseph Baltimore Catechism (with Dad on Sundays)
The Vine and the Branches (Highway to Heaven Series Book 5)
Supplemental Religion Books and Saint Stories from Our Monthly Book Baskets

Mathematics:
Saxon 5/4 with Solutions Manual and Tests/Worksheets
Saxon Teacher Math 5/4 Lesson and Tests CDs

Language Arts:

All About Spelling
Fix It! Grammar: The Nose Tree (Book 1 Teacher/Student Combo)
Writing Our Catholic Faith – Grade 5 Cursive Writing
Supplemental Readers and Additional Literature

 Literature:
The Chronicles of Narnia, Part One and Part Two with Kevin O’Brien
using the recorded courses at Homeschool Connections
Chronicles of Narnia Book Set

History & Geography:

with Workbook and Audio Book

Additional literature chosen from Connecting with History, Volume 2 – The Arrival of the King and His Kingdom, New Testament and Early Medieval History:

57 Stories of Saints
Famous Men of Rome
Famous Men of the Middle Ages
Roman Britain
Augustus Caesar’s World
Ancient World (Usborne)
Spend the Day in Ancient Rome
Twelve Bright Trumpets
A Life of Our Lord for Children
The First Christians

Unit #1: Cleopatra, City, Ben Hur (audio)
Unit #2: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Mary My Mother, Good St. Joseph
Unit #3: City of the Golden House, St. Peter the Apostle, The Apostles of Jesus, St. Paul the Apostle
Unit #4: The Roman Colosseum, Gladiator, No Tears for the Bride: A Story of St. Perpetua
Unit #5: St. Helena and the True Cross, Beowulf: A Hero’s Tale Retold, St. George and the Dragon, Word to Caesar
Unit #6: St. Benedict: Hero of the Hills, The Silk Route, Life in Celtic Times Coloring Book, Color Your Own Book of Kells, Bring Me and Ax: A Story of St. Boniface, King Arthur: Tales from the Round Table
Unit #7: Beorn the Proud, Hide the Children: St. Bernard of Clairvaux, D’Aulaires’ Book of Norse Myths

History Through the Ages Record of Time – Timeline

Various Mapping Assignments, Activities, Puzzles and Games

 United States Elections Unit Study

 Science:
Exploring Creation with Zoology 2: Swimming Creatures of the Fifth Day
with Audiobook, Lab Kit and Notebooking Journal

Fine Arts:

Bud :: 3rd Grade

Religion:
St. Joseph First Communion Catechism (with Dad on Sundays)
The Life of the Soul (Highway to Heaven Series Book 3)
Supplemental Religion Books and Saint Stories from Our Monthly Book Baskets

Mathematics:
Math Mammoth- Little Blue Series 3

Language Arts:
Structure and Style for Students: Year 1 Level A

Once Upon a Time Saints
More Once Upon a Time Saints
Famous Figures of Ancient Times
Famous Figures of Medieval Times
Time Traveler

Spend the Day in Ancient Rome
A Life of Our Lord for Children
The First Christians

Unit #1: How to be a Roman Soldier, City, Ben Hur (audio)
Unit #2: Mary My Mother, Good St. Joseph, The Miracles of Jesus, Jesus With Us: The Gift of the Eucharist, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Unit #3: Pompeii- Buried Alive, Story of St. Peter, Story of St. Stephen, Story of St. Andrew the Apostle, The Adventures of St. Paul
Unit #4: St. Valentine, Story of Agatha, Story of Cecilia, Story of Cyprian, Story of Sebastian, Story of Lawrence, Story of St. Catherine of Alexandria, Story of St. Christopher, Story of St. Lucy
Unit #5: St. Patrick, Patron Saint of Ireland, The Saint Who Fought the Dragon, St. George and the Dragon, Nicholas, the Boy Who Became Santa (DVD), Brigid’s Cloak, Story of St. Blaise, The Queen and the Cross
Unit #6: We’re Riding on a Caravan, Story of St. Benedict, The Sword in the Tree, Celtic Treasures (CD), Caedmon’s Song, Saint Brendan and the Voyage Before Columbus
Unit #7: Vikings: Dress, Eat and Play Like the Vikings, Margaret, Story of St. Wenceslas, Leif the Lucky, D’Aulaires’ Book of Norse Myths

History Through the Ages Record of Time – Timeline

Various Mapping Assignments, Activities, Puzzles and Games

 United States Elections Unit Study

Science:
Exploring Creation with Zoology 2: Swimming Creatures of the Fifth Day
with Audiobook, Lab Kit and Junior Notebooking Journal

Fine Arts:
Meet the Masters

Physical Education: 
Self Defense / Martial Arts: Jiu Jitsu

The rest of our science books finally arrived and these two (three?) are so excited to dive into marine biology this year!  I had been considering an introduction to chemistry course, since our high schoolers are both taking chemistry this year, but they begged for this instead. Their eldest brother (who got scuba certified this summer) might have had something to do with it… This was his favorite science book as a child! 

💦🦀🐋🐠🦞🐟🐬🐡🦈🦑💦 🦀🐋🐠🦞🐟🐬🐡🦈🦑💦 

Grace :: Pre Pre-K (Age 3)

Catholic Children’s Treasure Box Books 1-10 and 11-20
Feast Day Picture Books
Seasonal Picture Books
Lots of fun learning Toys and Puzzles
Occasional Crafts and Baking with Older Siblings
Nothing formal, yet… basically just living life in a large family!

“Parents have the first responsibility for the education of their children. They bear witness to this responsibility by creating a home where tenderness, forgiveness, respect, fidelity, and disinterested service are the rule. The home is well suited for education in the virtues. This requires an apprenticeship in self-denial, sound judgment, and self-mastery– the preconditions of all true freedom. Parents should teach their children to subordinate the “material and instinctual dimensions to interior and spiritual ones.” Parents have a grave responsibility to give good example to their children. By knowing how to acknowledge their own failings to their children, parents will be better able to guide and correct them.”
(The Catechism of the Catholic Church #2223)
Additional Resources: 

#1 – Kolbe Academy 

Our high schoolers all work towards the Magna Cum Laude Diploma. I love the flexibility offered by Kolbe and that we can continue tailoring our curriculum to our family’s preferences and our children’s needs. I submit graded samples twice a year and they keep all the necessary records for the transcripts. We have two students currently enrolled in Kolbe Academy.

#2 – The Lukeion Project 

Charlotte was the one to introduce us to Lukeion and the live classes my high schoolers have taken have all been excellent. After just completing Wheelock Latin, our eldest daughter is moving on to a Literature Course and daughter #2 is taking Latin II. 

To quote Lukeion: “There are many programs now available for younger students. In our experience, however, these programs demand a lot of busy work but deliver very little in the way of learning the functional nuts-and-bolts of Classical languages. Students are not generally prepared to master these languages until they have reached the logic stage. You will accomplish much more in a fraction of the time if you wait until your student is 12 to 15 before you start formal instruction in Latin and Greek. Better still, waiting to start these logic based languages may mean your student will enjoy them more.”

#3 – Homeschool Connections 

We’re still paying the $30 per month for access to all of their recorded classes which the kids can take at their own pace. Middle School favorites have included science classes with MacBeth Derham and history classes with Philip Campbell. For high school we have loved Joseph Pearce, Gregory Pyne, and Eleanor Bourg Nicholson’s literature classes, as well as American Sign Language. My high schoolers can’t get the “Kolbe designation” on the non-Kolbe courses, but they still qualify for high school credit (the high school level courses do anyway, with pre-approval from Kolbe) and they have worked well for us!

#4 – Taylor Science 

My three oldest all loved Mrs. Taylor’s biology class. This year the older girls are taking her recorded chemistry class. So awesome!

#5 – Institute for Excellence in Writing

After taking a couple year break from IEW’s Structure and Style writing classes, I’m so excited to get back to it this year! I was just going to dust off all my old materials, but after checking out the awesome new updated versions, we are making the switch! 

We completed the first three weeks using the FREE LESSONS currently available online while waiting for our package to arrive. It’s so well done!  (Note: We are also continuing on with Fix It! Grammar and over the summer we finished up Primary Arts of Language, but I’ll eventually get back to that once again once our three year old is a little older. I really love all the products offered by IEW!) 

Back-to-School :: 2020-2021

Sep 9, 2020 | , , | 116 Comments

“The spirit of adventure was rising in them all, and no one really wanted to be back at school.” – Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis
… but they were all ready for their back to school treats! 

I was questioning my younger self yesterday, as I assembled this year’s Back-to-School Schultütes… “WHY did I start these little annual traditions all those years ago?!?” I just don’t have the energy I had when I was younger… However they really didn’t take that long to assemble, and the smiles on all my children’s faces made it worth the extra effort!

I’m in love with our new school supplies from OOLY. I happened to discover them at my favorite local store, Pilgrim’s Market in Coeur d’Alene, and had to get some for this year’s Schultütes.
 
 
I had to get her the little fox… 
Last week she chased off a coyote, saving all but one of our chickens. 

We also celebrated with Birthday Cake for our Blessed Mother ♥
..Back-to-School Pictures..
 

Twinkle Toes :: 12th Grade 
 
Chiquita :: 10th Grade


Snuggles :: 8th Grade  
 

Rose :: 5th Grade


 
Bud :: 3rd Grade  
Grace :: Pre Pre-School 😉 
“Mama! Where’s mine?!?” 

Our sweet little “Joy” was not too happy that her older sis wouldn’t share… 
A is for Angel (not Anger) 😉 
I also had a lovely new picture book for my children… 
… and a beautiful handmade wire wrap rosary from The Rose Picker to send to one of you! 
Update: For all those who are curios, the book, under the rosary, is my Roman Catholic Daily Missal (1962)
To enter the rosary giveaway simply leave a comment on this post! 
I’ll randomly choose and then contact the winner on September 14th. 
Thank you to The Rose Picker for sponsoring this giveaway!
**Giveaway has ended – Congratulations, Patricia!**
P.S.  The Rose Picker is offering 10% OFF ROSARIES until October 1, 2020 
with coupon code: SHOWEROFROSES

On the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Sep 9, 2020 | , | 1 Comment

Bestow upon Thy servants, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the gift of Thy heavenly grace: that as the childbearing of the Blessed Virgin was the beginning of our salvation, so the solemn feast of her Nativity may bring us an increase of peace. 

Early morning Mass (for some of us), classes, then back-to-school treats, an extra decade of the rosary while lighting ten candles, and birthday cake for our dear Mother Mary! We technically started our new school year a couple weeks ago, at least most subjects-when online classes began for my high schoolers and the boys started their sophomore year at Christendom, but we officially celebrated today.

Happy Birthday, Blessed Mother!

St. Rose of Lima, Ora Pro Nobis!

Aug 24, 2020 | , , | 5 Comments

“Without the burden of afflictions it is impossible to reach the height of grace. The gift of grace increases as the struggle increases.”
– St. Rose of Lima
Mother’s Prayer to St Rose

Saint Rose, devout Virgin, fragrant rose in the garden of God, sweetly blooming amid the thorns of distressing tribulation and severe mortification, white as snow in the immaculate innocence of your heart, glowing in the love of God that consumed you. 
Your devotedness to your parents was so great that you laboured night and day to relieve their poverty, and most tenderly cared for them in their sickness.
Most grateful, most humble daughter, have pity on me and my children. Teach me, by conduct truly Christian, to deserve the warmhearted gratitude of my children. Teach my children to appreciate my love and the numerous sacrifices that I cheerfully make for their sake; teach them to repay the same by filial love and obedience, and chiefly by fervent prayers for me. 
Bless me and my entire family. May our hearts be intimately united even in adversity. Let us not place our happiness in temporal prosperity, but rather in the hope of a future, eternal blessedness. 
Pray, likewise, O sainted patroness of America, for all Christian mothers in particular, that Christian life and sentiments may everywhere be awakened among them. May these sentiments spread far and wide, uniting all families into the one great family of God, in which Jesus Christ may live and rule with God the Father and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

We’ll freeze the rest of the cupcakes to decorate for her traditional feast day next weekend! 
August 23rd (New) and August 30th (Traditional) 

Christendom Bound :: A Cross-Country Road Trip

Aug 24, 2020 | , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

I was fine until I hugged them both goodbye… then the tears started falling! The last five months, despite all the craziness, has been such a gift and a wish come true to have all our children at home “just a little longer.” We had so much fun together!

We went back and forth all summer on whether or not to send the boys back to Christendom College again this year, and then whether to have them fly or drive… We had flights, booked but on Wednesday (Aug 12th) we changed plans and decided to send them with a vehicle at the last minute. Our little ones all woke up extra early Friday morning (Aug 14th) so they could say goodbye just before the boys hit the road to travel from the West Coast all the way over to the East Coast. We already miss them so much! 

2700+ miles, 16 states, and approximately 42 hours plus stops = four days on the road! 
I kept a close eye on “find my phone” all day every day and they were also great about staying in touch and sending pictures to all of us back here at home… 
 
They said I could share some of the pictures with you all!

.: Day One – Aug 14th :.
Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming


Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument
“This was a nice spontaneous little stop! Had NO clue that we would be passing this on our route and when John and I saw the signs we HAD to stop by!!”


.: Day Two – Aug 15th :. 
South Dakota, Nebraska

Mount Rushmore National Memorial

.: Sunday Break – Aug 16th :. 
Holy Mass and Spending the Day with Friends
Catholic Church in the Middle of a Corn Field

Sure love seeing these “kids” together again! When they were all younger we had so many great adventures together: Crater Lake, many trips to the Oregon Coast, Grand Tetons, and more! 
.: Day Three – Aug 17th :. 
Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky

Carmel of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

… and a picture of THE DOOR!
From Deep in the Archives: *Almost* Excommunicated
The Gateway Arch

 
.: Day Four – Aug 18th :. 
Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia
They made it!!

John was supposed to arrive at Christendom last Sunday night for soccer camp starting this pst Monday (his flight was supposed to be the 16th and James was going to follow on the 22nd) tomorrow and James’ was next Saturday) but the coaches said it was fine if he arrived a day or two late… James however was not allowed to stay on campus until Saturday, so after dropping John off he headed back to Maryland to spend four nights with his cousins. 

The boys are now both settled in their new dorm rooms. Classes begin on Tuesday!📚 

Holy Mother Mary, 
Who by virtue of your divine motherhood, 
Hast become mother of us all, 
I place the charge which God has given me, 
under your loving protection. 
Be a Protecting Mother to my children. 
Guard their bodies and 
keep them in health and strength. 
Guard their minds and keep their thoughts 
ever holy in the sight of their Creator and God. 
Guard their hearts and keep them pure 
and strong and happy in the love of God. 
Guard always their souls and ever preserve in them, 
faithfully, the glorious image of God 
whom they received in Holy Baptism. 
Always Mother, protect them 
and keep them under your Mothering care. 
Supply in your all-wise motherhood, 
for my poor human deficiencies 
and protect them from all evil. 
Amen. 
Queen of the Most Holy Family, pray for us!

Sponsor Love: Updates & Current Specials

Jul 25, 2020 | | 2 Comments

It’s been a couple years now since my last sponsor update. I had to discontinue my quarterly updates right around the time we moved, which was quickly followed by another surprise. Now that our sweet baby girl is almost a year old, and we are finally getting a little more sleep, I wanted to take a minute to share another sponsor update.

Here are some of my new sponsors! Please check out their websites when you have a minute or two:

Devout Decals

“The inspiration for Devout Decals came about when, due to work, we were always moving and renting homes. We were looking for a way to decorate our children’s bedrooms and discovered removable vinyl wall decals. There were many themes available. However, we were unable to find any decals of Saints or Devotions. We thought, how wonderful it would be to create something so people could surround themselves in their home, classroom, work space or wherever it may be with beautiful sacred images. Our hope is that while going about your busy day, being able to reflect on a sacred image and reciting a short prayer, it will help one to stay in prayer all day long.”

“One single day of devotion is worth more than a thousand years of worldly life.” 
– St. Francis de Sales

Save 10% with coupon code: DDROSES


In addition to visiting DevoutDecals.com, you can also follow them on Facebook and Instagram! 

I’m currently giving away the Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Catholic Decal Set over at Instagram! Click over to enter. 

 + + +

Stylistic Scribe

Mrs. L. is a veteran homeschool mother of four children who has used IEW  with her own children and can testify to the effectiveness of this program.  Her love of words and writing match perfectly with the IEW curriculum, and she particularly enjoys having fun with students as they learn to write eloquently and persuasively.
Mrs. L. is a certified instructor through the Institute for Excellence in Writing and also teaches for the company. She has taught classes at all levels for over twenty years and constantly witnesses students improve their writing skills with the tools taught in her classes through this writing process.
 

I have LOVED using Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) over the years with my children. We still use it, currently the Primary Arts of Language for my younger students, but I really miss the wonderful tutor I had in Oregon who would edit papers for my older children each week… With the move and new babies, I took a break from the writing program. This year one of my daughters will be participating in Essay Writing class offered by Stylistic Scribe using IEW’s The Elegant Essay. 

Check out all the Online Classes for Fall 2020 

 You can also follow Stylistic Scribe on Facebook and check out the video she recently shared for more information!

+ + +

“We are a Catholic homeschooling family of 8. Our educational website currently offers an early reading program called Phonograms Fun. It is a collection of video lessons with accompanying printables and lesson plans and teaches children all the letter sounds as well as some of the multi-letter phonograms. We hope to publish subsequent online lessons in reading and grammar. We also plan to offer printable books and activities mostly in the areas of language and religious education.”

Make preparing for First Communion FUN with Billy the Puppet!

This is a fun way for your child to learn the catechism necessary to receive his/her First Communion. Based on the New St. Joseph First Communion Catechism that has been around for decades!

Through engaging conversations between Billy, Christine and your child, the faith is learned. Christine is a Catholic and a professional storyteller. Billy, well, is a puppet that is trying to learn his faith so he can receive his First Communion too.

Your child will have fun learning the First Communion Catechism (what we as Catholics need to know before receiving our First Communion) with Billy. During each lesson, Christine tells in “storytelling style” a Bible story or Saint story.

This program is geared for children ages four to seven years old. Though four and five year olds will still not be old enough to receive their First Communion at the end of this program, this is a fantastic way to introduce them to our wonderful Catholic faith. Six and seven year olds should be ready to receive their First Communion by the end of the video series, though you will still need to teach them their prayers. (Sign of the Cross, Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, and Act of Contrition.)

This program costs only $5 a month for 9 months or a one time payment of $45. A new video link is emailed every Monday for 34 weeks. You can cancel any time if you are paying monthly. 


You can also follow Faith and Puppets on Facebook and Instagram!

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Offering handmade rosaries, rosary parts, jewelry and crocheted/knitted items. 

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A special THANK YOU to all my continuing sponsors! 

Prayer Pillowcases
Prayer Pillowcases are more than just a pretty place to lay your head! They’re a unique way to bring Catholic art and prayer into your home and a practical way to share the Faith with your family and friends. Our distinctive line combines original art and favorite Catholic prayers that appeal to all ages and transform pillows from the ordinary to the divine! Honor a special occasion or make any occasion special with the gift of a joyful, lasting (and personalizable) Prayer Pillowcase. We’re always working on new designs and hope you’ll visit again soon to see even more ways to help your loved ones begin and each day with a prayerful heart.


Personalize it for Summer Birthdays & Feast Days!
Free Shipping (4+ Pillowcases shipping within US) 
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Saints Around the World
Featuring a different saint from a new country every two months, this subscription is a perfect way for me to easily incorporate a little more theology and geography for my younger ones with very little effort! Plus my older children were all more than happy to join in and help too. 


With each box purchased, $4 is donated to the “Culture of Life Studies” program, another one of my favorite resources and current blog sponsors!

Here are a few pictures from one of the boxes we received earlier this year:

Two of our children got to visit the National Shine and home of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American born Saint, in Maryland earlier this month!

Start your family on this adventurous journey to Heaven, with the Saints as their guides! Click here.
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Culture of Life Studies Program (CLSP)
The Culture of Life Studies Program serves teachers and parents as they guide their students in building a culture that respects and protects the dignity of every human being regardless of age, appearance, or ability. 

Right now Culture of Life Studies Program is offering all of their downloads for FREE!!! 
Shower of Roses readers can always save 20% off their entire order using the code: ROSES20

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Lisieux Nail Polish
We are a young Catholic company with a passion for sacred scripture, Church traditions and the New Evangelization. There is so much beauty in our faith that we decided to bottle some of it up! Our goal is to equip women with a new, simple and fun way to express their faith and share it with others. We also wanted to create a way to have a holy reminder with you at all times.

We were inspired (and helped) by Saint Therese, the Little Flower of Lisieux and Saint John Paul II. Mother Angelica was also an inspiration for her wisdom regarding holy reminders.

It was really important for us to have quality nail polish so we are proud to say Lisieux is professional grade polish that we had our friends and family of various ages and vocations test out. 


All of the polishes on our website have been handpicked for their color, ease of application and longevity.

In addition to the website, you can also follow Lisieux on Facebook and Instagram!

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Catholic Schoolhouse is designed to help homeschool families enrich their educational experience through a flexible approach to learning inspired by classical elements. Family unity continues to be our goal as we roll out our upper-level program, giving for  our dialectic and rhetoric students an enriching experience at chapter while their younger siblings are leaning the memory work.

You can also follow Catholic Schoolhouse on Facebook!

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Almond Rod Toys
Almond Rod Toys makes Saint Blocks that are just the right size for little hands and can be used for imaginative play, building, stacking or collecting. The front has a print of original watercolor artwork. The back has a quote or a prayer chosen to inspire little ones and the one that cleans up behind them. The saint’s name, feast day and patronage are also listed; just enough to be a reminder and an inspiration for further learning.

We really love the new Rosary Blocks!
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All of our aprons are embroidered, not screen printed, giving them a rich, elegant, look! Our durable 100% cotton-twill aprons, with soil-release finish for added stain protection, provide ultimate full length cover and comfort.


 

Check out the full collection over at Catholic Cuisine!

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My next advertising quarter runs from Aug 1st-Oct 31st and I have a few ad spaces available. Let me know if you have a Catholic business you’d like to promote and I can send you the details.

Thank you to all of my sponsors and visitors for your support! 
May God bless you all! 


The Catholic Child and the Sacred Heart

Jul 12, 2020 | , | 6 Comments

My Child: Forget not the Sacred Heart of Jesus. 

The Heart of Jesus loves thee. 
The Heart of Jesus suffers for thee. 
The Heart of Jesus is meek, humble, patient, obedient.
The Heart of Jesus is an ocean of goodness. 
The Heart of Jesus is filled with mercy. 
The Heart of Jesus is your comfort in sorrow.
The Heart of Jesus is your strength in temptation. 
The Heart of Jesus is your hope in dying. 

Sweet Heart of Jesus, be Thou my love!

Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on me!
May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be everywhere loved! 

O Sweetest Heart of Jesus! 
I implore that I may ever love Thee more and more.
Excerpt of prayer from Jesus, Make Me Worthy – a reprint of the original can be found here.
Sacred Heart pendant from Telos Art + Design

Our Family

Sean & Jessica, Captain-25, Ranger-23, Twinkle Toes-22, Chiquita-20, Snuggles-18, Rose-15, Bud-13, Grace-8 and Joy-6 (blog nicknames)

A Little About Me

Hi! I'm Jessica, a Roman Catholic wife and home educating mother to our nine children. I was home educated myself, along with my eleven younger siblings. I have a special devotion to St. Therese, through whom I have been given much help and many blessings--the beautiful "Shower of Roses" that she has sent my way! Here I will record a few of the blessings I treasure. Please remember that what you see here is just a little glimpse at our lives, so please say a prayer for us, as we continue to strive for holiness.

My Other Blog: Catholic Cuisine

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Prayer of Mothers

Father in heaven, grant me the grace to appreciate the dignity which you have conferred on me. Let me realize that not even the Angels have been blessed with such a privilege—to share in your creative miracle and bring new Saints to heaven. Make me a good mother to all my children after the example of Mary, the Mother of your Son. Through the intercession of Jesus and Mary I ask your continued blessings on my family. Let us all be dedicated to your service on earth and attain the eternal happiness of your kingdom in heaven. Amen.


Our Family

Sean & Jessica, Captain-25, Ranger-23, Twinkle Toes-22, Chiquita-20, Snuggles-18, Rose-15, Bud-13, Grace-8 and Joy-6 (blog nicknames)

A Little About Me

Hi! I'm Jessica, a Roman Catholic wife and home educating mother to our nine children. I was home educated myself, along with my eleven younger siblings. I have a special devotion to St. Therese, through whom I have been given much help and many blessings--the beautiful "Shower of Roses" that she has sent my way! Here I will record a few of the blessings I treasure. Please remember that what you see here is just a little glimpse at our lives, so please say a prayer for us, as we continue to strive for holiness.

My Other Blog: Catholic Cuisine

Please Visit My Sponsors…

This Week's Popular Posts

Shower of Roses Affiliate Links

All About Spelling
All About Reading
All About Reading Giveaways
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Our Advent & Christmas Books

Shower of Roses Gift Guides

Looking for Something?

looking-back

  • ▼2025 (9)
  • ►2024 (41)
  • ►2023 (30)
  • ►2022 (48)
  • ►2021 (48)
  • ►2020 (57)
  • ►2019 (61)
  • ►2018 (90)
  • ►2017 (128)
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  • ►2015 (172)
  • ►2014 (227)
  • ►2013 (238)
  • ►2012 (308)
  • ►2011 (297)
  • ►2010 (313)
  • ►2009 (486)
  • ►2008 (564)
  • ►2007 (148)

Posts About:

Shower of Roses Alphabet of Saints

A Papal Unit Study & Lap Book

Shower of Roses Easter Gift Guides



All Saints Party Printables

All original photographs and written material are ©2007-2025 Shower of Roses. I'd love for you to link back to me, but please do not copy or take content from this blog without permission. Click here for my Copyright Terms & Conditions. Thank you for visiting!