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by Jessica | Dec 29, 2022

State-by-State Scrapbook :: Georgia

Oct 11, 2009 | Kids in the Kitchen, State-by-State, State-by-State Scrapbook | 6 Comments

“A is for Atlanta,
It is the capital of our state.
Gold dome we see from afar,
where rules and laws we legislate.”

~ P is for Peach: A Georgia Alphabet

I am *really* loving the Discover America State by State Series and so are my children. That said, they are expensive so I have been slowly purchasing them used from Amazon since I wasn’t able to convince my library to purchase the set. Apparently I am purchasing then too slowly. I realized Monday that I had not yet found an inexpensive copy of P is for Peach… sigh… So, I decided to read what we could online through Amazon’s “Look Inside” feature. By continually asking it to “surprise me” we were able to read the pages for the letters: A, B, J, K, L, M and N. Much better than nothing!

We then downloaded the study guide and worked on some of the worksheets as well as look up more information about Georgia online. (Study guides for the entire series can be found here.)

Once again the boys did an excellent job on their Scrapbook Pages:

Since “the girls have been getting to do all the fun stuff in the kitchen,” I decided to let the boys make one of the recipes suggested in the study guide, Pecan Clusters. They were super easy and turned out very yummy, though I think they would have been even better made with Milk or White Chocolate Chips.

“What has shells and is sold by the pound?

One grows in a tree and the other underground.

What makes peanut butter, the other pecan pie?

N is for Georgia Nuts, the good tastes that make us sigh.”

~ P is for Peach: A Georgia Alphabet

Next week we will be moving on to Connecticut…

And we even have the book!

Little Flowers Girls’ Club ~ Tote Bags and T-Shirts

Oct 9, 2009 | Crafts, Little Flowers | 7 Comments

At the beginning of the year, each of the girls received a white tote bag (I purchased them on sale at JoAnns for a few dollars each) to carry their notebook, member’s guide and other Little Flowers Girls’ Club items. I had tried to figure out a way to decorate the bags, but wasn’t really sure which direction I wanted to go…

Well, another mom ended up using some of the clipart from Catholic Artworks to iron-on a picture to her daughter’s tote. (These particular images came from the Faith Keepers Combo… Each image can be printed in both color or black & white!) So, after our meeting we printed out a couple more to do my girls totes too! Didn’t they turn out adorable?!

So we could tell whose bag was whose, we then printed out a picture of each of my girls’ favorite saints for on the other side of their bags. They were SOOO excited!

We then moved on to making St. Therese t-shirts for the girls. I had purchased t-shirts from Michaels when they were on sale for $2.50 each and the 5-pack (which we only used 3) of dark iron-on paper was only $11.00, so we were able to make each of the girls a t-shirt for just over $3.00 each!

The t-shirts didn’t turn out exactly how we had planned, and we ended up needing to cut the cut border and name off the picture since we didn’t read the directions for “dark” iron-on paper versus the “light” paper used on the totes, and had to peel them off and start over… Oh well, next time we’ll know how to do it right the first time!

They still turned out nicely and my girls were smilin’ from ear to ear!

Little Flowers Girls’ Club ~ Joy/Mirthfulness

Oct 9, 2009 | Little Flowers, Little Flowers Wreath II | 10 Comments

I can’t believe we have already completed our 3rd Little Flowers Girls’ Club meeting for this year. The time is just flying! We just have two more meetings scheduled before it will be time for our little “winter break” and my babymoon!

Unlike our last meeting, where we had all 12 girls in attendance for the first time, this meeting was really small since apparently there are lots of sick children right now. In fact, only 4 girls were able to attend, two of which were my own girls.

Nevertheless, the meeting still went great and the girls had a wonderful time! It just proves that you really don’t need very many girls at all to have a successful Little Flowers Group. Like I’ve mentioned before, even if it was just my two girls we would still be having Little Flowers.

For extra coloring pages this month, we used images from Catholic Artworks. I’ve had my eyes on their CD-Roms for sometime now (especially since they are the publishers of An Alphabet of Catholic Saints which we’ve been using Along the Alphabet Path and which I used for making our Painted Wooden Alphabet of Saints!), and although I hadn’t ordered yet, a friend of mine received her order and we printed a couple images for this meeting. My own copies are now on their way!!

The St. Clare Coloring Page was from their Faith Keepers Combo and the Rosary Coloring Page was from their Rosary Art CD-Rom. I also ordered some of the Teacher’s Helpers, including the Teacher’s Helper Edition #7 which has all the images from An Alphabet of Saints! It will be a perfect addition to the Alphabet Path! And did I mention that they offer Home Schoolers a 50% discount!! Can you tell I am just a little excited about these collections!?! Just wait till I post pictures of a couple things Marci & I made for the girls using the clipart printed onto Iron-On Transfers!! 😉

We began our meeting with our opening prayers and then reviewed the virtue of Courage from our last meeting. The girls shared some of the activities that they were able to complete from their checklists in the Wreath 2 Member’s Guide and choose prizes accordingly from the prize box (which is stocked with various Coloring and Father Lovasik Books, Stickers, Stamps, Notebooks, Candy, Bubbles, and more!).

We then moved on to our current months virtue, the virtue of Joy/Mirthfulness, and learned about St. Clare of Assisi. I also decided to expand on the lesson to include a little lesson on the Rosary, since it it October – the month of the Rosary, particularly the JOYful mysteries!

Following the lesson the girls began making their notebook pages. I included the memory verse for Joy/Mirthfulness, an image of St. Clare, a quote from St. Clare, a picture of the orange tulips, and the prayer to St. Clare from the Little Flowers Virtues CD. (If you would like to download the document I created for this notebook page, you can do so here. Also, you can find links to all of my notebook page documents in this post.)

Here is a picture of the sample page I had prepared for the meeting:

OOOPPPSS!! It wasn’t until posting these pictures that I finally noticed that I misspelled “Mirthfulness.” Can I just blame it on my mind being pre-occupied with “growing my baby” right now?? I guess it was a good thing that only four girls were able to attend today so I can correct it before giving the rest their packets from this meeting! And perhaps I can figure out an easy way to help the girls correct the ones that are already completed. They did a lovely job, especially given what they had to work with! 😉

Hummm… Perhaps I should have somebody proof read our next 6 pages. Any volunteers?

Next we moved on to another craft project. We made Rosary Bead Boxes from Oriental Trading. The craft kits I ordered have been so much fun and have really simplified preparing for our meetings this year without adding that much expense and the girls have really enjoyed the addition since they have gotten so fast and efficient at making their notebook pages.

Even though Erica had someone sick in her home, she still pulled through with providing the treats for the meeting. Thank you Erica!! Isn’t the cookie rosary wonderful?! It has been so fun to see all the variations of the Cupcake Rosary this year. Just look at those smiles. Amazingly enough, all those cookies didn’t last long, and I only had two… they were so yummy!

Before I go, here are a few more excellent resources for this meeting, which we will be using at home these next couple weeks:

Well, hopefully everyone will be healthy again soon and we will see you back here in two weeks for our next meeting!

Saint Clare teach us how to be full of mirth,
the joy of the Lord.

Saint Therese, the Little Flower, pray for us!

Small Successes :: October 8, 2009

Oct 8, 2009 | Small Successes | 25 Comments

“It’s important for moms to recognize that all the small successes in our days can add up to one big triumph. So on Thursday of each week, we do exactly that.”

~ 1 ~

I called the phone company, while I was paying bills this week, just to check if we were getting the best rates possible. We ended up qualifying for a one year “loyalty” promo which is going to knock nearly $20 per month off of our bill. Wahoo! That means I can buy a couple more books each month, right?! 😉

~ 2 ~

I looked into fixing, rather than replacing, a couple of our older baby items including our highchair and infant carseat (which doesn’t expire till Dec ’10) and called the various manufacturers about replacement products.

We purchased a very expensive high chair with a “passive restraint bar and shoulder harness” — which I LOVE — after Twinkle Toes literally hung herself from our old garage sale high chair by wiggling (she was super skinny, but thank goodness we were right there!) out of the strap that only wrapped around the waist. However, after going through three children, the seat liner is really gross and falling apart… I just found out that I can actually order a replacement from the company! Yay!! Now I just have to decide which color… The chair itself is white with blue legs so it sort of limits my options.

As for the car seat (which was made by Combi), the fabric has completely deteriorated and they don’t have replacements for that “old” of car seats so it looks like I am going to need to buy a new one… Any suggestions? I kind of like this one.

~ 3 ~

I made it to the top of ~~that darn~~ the Yaquina Head Lighthouse without putting myself into labor, had a wonderful 10th Anniversary, and survived to blog about it all!

What are your Small Successes this week?

Stop by Faith and Family Live to read more of this week’s Small Successes.

State-by-State Scrapbook :: New Jersey

Oct 8, 2009 | State-by-State, State-by-State Scrapbook | 5 Comments

“G is for Gardens
that fill the state’s bowers
with color and fragrance,
farm vegetables, and flowers.”

~ G is for Garden State: A New Jersey Alphabet

The boys actually finished these pages for their State-by-State Scrapbooks a couple weeks ago, and since they keep asking if I’ve posted pictures yet, so here you go.

I had to wait until “G” Week, right! 😉

Next up is Georgia (How Serendipitous!), just as soon as I upload the pictures!

On the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary

Oct 7, 2009 | Liturgical Year, Marian, Our Lady of the Rosary | 3 Comments

The Our Lady of the Rosary Candle from Saintly Soaps (which smells perfectly heavenly!) will be lit during our family rosary, followed by a special tea for afterwards!

Since we’ve had so many cupcakes lately, I decided to not make the Cupcake Rosary we made last year and use Jamie’s variation instead! I didn’t have any hershey kisses (those never last long around here!) but the boys made Pecan Clusters yesterday which worked perfectly.

We’ll read our well loved copy of The Holy Rosary and color a beautiful Our Lady of the Rosary Coloring Page…

…and what perfect timing for some new Coloring Books

to arrive in the mail from Grandma!

My dearest Mother Mary, behold me, your child, in prayer at your feet. Accept this Holy Rosary, which I offer you in accordance with your requests at Fatima, as a proof of my tender love for you, for the intentions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in atonement for the offenses committed against your Immaculate Heart, and for this special favor which I earnestly request in my Rosary Novena: (Mention your request).

I beg you to present my petition to your Divine Son. If you will pray for me, I cannot be refused. I know, dearest Mother, that you want me to seek God’s holy Will concerning my request. If what I ask for should not be granted, pray that I may receive that which will be of greater benefit to my soul.

I offer you this spiritual “Bouquet of Roses” because I love you. I put all my confidence in you, since your prayers before God are most powerful. For the greater glory of God and for the sake of Jesus, your loving Son, hear and grant my prayer. Sweet Heart of Mary, be my salvation.

Our Lady of the Rosary ~ Pray for Us!

The Oregon Coast ~ The Yaquina Head Lighthouse

Oct 7, 2009 | Lighthouses, Pacific Ocean, Tenth Anniversary, Travel | 5 Comments

Yaquina Head Lighthouse is one of the most popular lighthouses in the United States. There are hundreds of thousands of guests that visit every year. The tower is the tallest on the Oregon Coast – soaring 93 feet in the air. This lighthouse is the only Oregon Lighthouse with a marble floor. It stands 162 feet above sea level, and can be seen from ocean vessels as far away as 19 miles. I was told this by one of the kind volunteers at this lighthouse. He added that it can be seen “no further, thanks to the curvature of the earth.”

During construction, two different boats met their doom on Yaquina Head’s shores trying to deliver supplies. After much labor, the lighthouse was lit on August 20, 1873. There was a large dwelling built for the three keepers that manned this lighthouse station. Because of this lighthouses proximity on the coast, there were a number of storms and high winds that caused surface damage to the tower and the keeper’s dwellings. Fences were built to ward off rocks and other debris from destroying the property. However, this didn’t stop the tower from being struck by lightning in October of 1920. Luckily, through the years, the lightening and severe storms haven’t really hurt this lighthouse. In fact, to this very day the structure of the lighthouse is within one inch of being perfectly straight.

When you first walk in you can see both the Work Room and the Oil Room.

I don’t know what I was thinking by actually climbing all those stairs, 7 months pregnant, to get a peek from the top…

…It was worth it though…

At least until it was time to go back down all one hundred and eleven steps! I ~~barely~~ made it but I am still sore! 😉

After visiting this lighthouse it was time to head back and pick up our children. Hopefully it won’t be too long before we can visit the Pacific Ocean again. All of God’s creations are so amazing, aren’t they?!?!

The Oregon Coast ~ Restaurant Raves

Oct 7, 2009 | Pacific Ocean, Tenth Anniversary | 3 Comments

Before we left for our trip I looked into which Restaurants would be worth visiting. I made a list of a few of the highly recommended ones and we were not disappointed. Everything we ordered was so delicious! We decided to eat out just once each day to help keep the cost of the trip down and give us more time to enjoy the beach and the condo.

The first night we went out for dinner and ate at a Restaurant that was just down the street called The Blackfish Cafe.

After dinner we actually considered just eating here the rest of the trip since the food was so good. I felt silly taking a picture of our meals but they were too pretty not to! 😉

~ Hubby’s Dinner ~

Grilled Ling Cod with Coast Range Mushroom Relish

Served with roasted Butternut Squash Bisque, Carlton Bacon braised Brussel Sprouts and Russian Fingerling Potatoes with grilled Mushroom Relish

~ My Dinner ~

The “Special” (aka: the BEST Halibut EVER)

Served with roasted Pepper Bisque, Carlton Bacon braised Greens and Pesto Risotto

Both were served with bread and salad and we shared a bowl of Clam Chowder… They aren’t kidding when they say it is “The best Clam Chowder on the Oregon Coast!”

On Saturday we ended up going out for a late lunch/early dinner at Tidal Raves, in Depoe Bay, after a little window shopping and whale watching.

Thankfully we had made reservations earlier that morning because that place was packed, even at 2pm. All the tables in the restaurant have a view of the ocean, but we were lucky to have an awesome table right next to the window. Check out the view!

Once again the food was really yummy, though the clam chowder wasn’t quite as good as at The Blackfish Cafe.

~ Hubby’s Lunch ~

Mixed Seafood Platter

Garlic sauteed Pacific Cod, Oysters, and Tiger Shrimp
served with mixed Vegetables and Rice Pilaf

~ My Lunch ~

Grilled Halibut Tacos

Served With Corn Tortillas, Cilantro dressed Cabbage,
roasted Pepper Rice, Pico de Gallo, and Black Beans

We even had dessert: Tiramisu and their “Famous” Key Lime Pie!

On Sunday morning after Mass and checking out of the Condo we went to Brunch at The Wildflower Grill. It was absolutely charming and we had a little table on the patio looking over a huge pond.

~ Hubby’s Breakfast ~

Crab Benedict

Poached Eggs & Local Crab on Wildflower Toast
With Hash Browns and topped with choice of Hollandaise Sauce

~ My Breakfast ~

Chanterelle Mushroom Omelet

Three Egg Omelet stuffed with Chanterelle Mushrooms, Chiles,
and diced Tomatoes, topped Sour Cream and Avocado

Served with Wildflower Toast, Marion Berry Jam, and Hash-browns

Ok, now I am really craving some more of these yummy foods!!

The Oregon Coast ~ Another Beautiful Sunset

Oct 6, 2009 | Nature, Pacific Ocean, Tenth Anniversary, Travel | 9 Comments

~ October 3, 2009 ~

The Oregon Coast ~ Whale Watching

Oct 6, 2009 | Nature, Pacific Ocean, Tenth Anniversary, Travel, Wildlife | 2 Comments

Whale Watching Center ~ Depoe Bay, Oregon

California Sea Lion • Harbor Seal • Harbor Porpoise

While at the whale center we heard that a couple whales had just been spotted near Rocky Creek State Park, 2 miles south, so we headed that direction. We were able to see two Gray Whales, who were feeding just off shore. I was even able to get a few tail shots!

“A deep dive, also known as sounding or fluking, happens when a whale lifts its tail flukes out of the water. This helps propel the whale downward at a steep angle to the bottom, where they feed on small crustaceans. After the flukes disappear under the water, the turbulence of the dive will cause a circle of smooth water, known as a fluke-print.”

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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.

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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.