Healthy Families: Safe Children – The Power of Relationships
I was so pleased when I heard that Bishop Vasa was developing this series to be used as an alternative to the “Safe Touch Education” program, which is required by many dioceses, including our own (although we did “opt out”), and which he did not implement in his own diocese.
In the following clip, Bishop Vasa explains the purpose of the Healthy Families: Safe Children video series:“The purpose of this program is to offer assistance to parents based on the science of child development to form healthy and secure relationships with their children. The secure attachment relationship assures that children will develop with empathy, self-control, and harmonious personalities. The most important protection children have against developing aggressive and violent behaviors, including sexual abuse, is the empathic and nurturing secure attachment to their parents beginning in the first year of life. In turn, this same relationship protects children from becoming victims of abuse.”– The Most Reverend Robert F. Vasa
Fr. John Cihak (do you remember this letter?) and Bishop Robert Vasa talk about the sexualization of our culture and the damage it does to the family and the young:
In this clip, Anticipatory Prevention Tactics, Bishop Vasa talks about the problem of exposing children to explicit sexual information before they are mature enough to handle it:
These are just a few clips of the 18-part video series which is available in an DVD Education set of 6 one-hour programs, on separate DVDs. This video series is extremely well done, educational and inspiring… (And I am not just saying that since hubby and I had the honor of doing a voice over, in one small part–which was SO much fun!–or because you may notice a few familiar faces throughout! 😉 ) It really is wonderful!
For more information visit SecureChild.Org.
Shower of Photos 2009 :: Day 2
Our Jesus Tree is blossoming beautifully, despite Snuggles continued attempts to hide all the symbols! My children just love it and it always makes me smile to see them looking at the tree and talking about the different bible stories that each symbol represents.
I took this photo this morning after reading the story for today.
Mystery Solved
I had meant to post this a couple weeks ago, but with all that has happened the past couple weeks I completely forgot until the other day when it came up again while talking to a few friends!
As you know, each day during lent we read a bible story about the life of Jesus and then add a symbol to our Jesus Tree. Well this year, with my school room changed around, I hung the Jesus Tree between my boys desks, right under the window.
Well, each morning I would wake up to find most of the symbols missing. I couldn’t find the missing ones at first which was frustrating! Well, one day I decided to look in the vent which is on the floor right below the window. Sure enough I found 4 of our symbols. I placed them back on the tree.
The next morning they were missing again. I looked in the vent to find 3 more symbols. I thought it strange that they would fall into the vent, and not on the floor, but thought perhaps that the draft from the heater might have had something to do with it since it was only on at night?? But the size of the symbols had me stumped… How on EARTH could they just randomly fall in the vent each night without some of them ending up on the floor or getting stuck in the slots of the vent? After the fourth day I shut the slots on this particular vent. Still, the next morning there were a couple symbols inside.
Well, after five days in a row of pulling symbols out of the vent, I was in the school room on the computer just before bedtime. I noticed Snuggles quietly come into the room and walk over to the tree and take a symbol off.
Ahh ha!!! I grabbed my camera. 😉
Shower of Photos 2009 :: Day 1
Hummm… What to post for April’s Shower of Photos? I still haven’t been able to come up with a theme… I’m thinking that maybe I’ll focus on things that make make me smile.
There is just one small problem with that… The one and only picture I took today makes me cry instead of smile… Yep, my favorite statue of St. Therese, a gift from hubby, was accidentally knocked over by an obnoxious big blue exercise ball that my children are NOT suppose to play with a couple of my children (who then felt awful). The statue fell over, breaking off her finger and part of the flowers, and even left a dent in the wall… It could have been worse, but I cried just the same. It has been one of those days!
I just couldn’t post the picture. So, I searched through my photos to find one that would make me smile.
It didn’t take long! This picture was taken on Monday, and is of Chiquita and her little friend. Aren’t they precious!?! There is nothing better than good friends and nice big hugs! ☺
April’s Shower of Photos ~ 2009
Last year I really enjoyed participating in April’s Shower of Photos. If you’d like, you can see last years pictures here. (My favorite was this one!) Jen has decided to host it once again and I am really looking forward to participating! Last year I didn’t choose a theme, and I can’t think of one this year either… Any suggestions??
My camera is a Canon Digital Rebel XTi
If you’d like to join in, head on over to S/V Mari Hal-O-Jen and leave a comment. I’ll be back later tonight with a picture for today.
Gotcha!
As you can see, I wasn’t the only one taking tons of pictures while we were checking out the wildlife! Be sure to head over to Elm’s and Amy’s blogs to see even more pictures including some embarrassing random pictures of me and my monkeys little ones.
Wild Life!
Yesterday we went on another field trip SAFARI!!!
More specifically, we visited a drive-through zoo, located on 600 acres, containing over 500 animals in their natural habitat, that roam freely (for the most part) as they do in the wild!
There were four of us moms (Marci, Amy, Elm, and I) with 15 of our children. We all piled into two of our vehicles to drive-through the park. The girls (and baby Ben) all went with Amy and Elm, and Marci and I had the boys. Yep… we got to experience the wildlife INSIDE the van, as well as OUTSIDE! 😉
I uploaded my pictures to the computer and was shocked to find that I took TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY SEVEN pictures!! Yikes!!!! Lots of them are duplicates of the same animals — trying to get that hard to capture “perfect picture”… Nevertheless, even though I promise not to post ALL of them, I have a feeling this post may end up having quite a few pictures… =)
The 4.5 mile trek through the park begins with animals from Africa.
African Lion
Did you know that a lion’s roar can be heard from 5 miles away?
Giraffes ~ That last guy was sticking his tongue out at us!
Check out the teeth on the Hippopotamus!
While we were trying to watch a couple of the bears fighting, we had a little bear fight break out in the car… Well, not exactly, though one of the boys did have the window shut on his little head! Poor guy! For a minute there they got a bit crazier… I was starting to wonder if we would survive the drive, but then, listening to their commentary about the animals was hilarious!
Last stop was Asia.
Tons to see here as well including: Tibetan Yaks, nilgai, Sarus Cranes, Silka Deer, Gibbons, Bactrian Camels, Rhea, and lots more…
Check out this cool looking Camel lying on the side of the road.
Here are some White Fallow Deer.
Before we left the kids even got to pet a turtle and a ferret, even though we didn’t have time to head to the petting zoo.
I also have a few cute pictures from the playground. I am out of time right now, but I’ll end with a couple group photos!
It was a FULL day, and I was am still exhausted, but I am pretty sure everyone had a wonderful time!
In like a Lion, Out like a Lamb
Can you believe it is already the last day of March?? I find it absolutely amazing that my children remember so perfectly what we did last year!! So, it looks like we’ll be making some Lamb Cupcakes today… What are your plans?
Resurrection Eggs
This year, in addition to our Lenten Calendar and Jesus Tree, I’ve decided to add one more activity as we countdown the days to Easter: Resurrection Eggs.
Resurrection eggs are yet another great way to tell our children the story of the passion and resurrection of Jesus, using 12 colorful eggs filled, symbolic objects, and passages from the Bible.
I am still trying to decide whether or not I want to use the eggs to countdown the 12 days leading up to Easter (beginning Wednesday), or if I just want to pull them all out on Good Friday… Decisions, decisions… =)
Anyhow, I purchased these eggs (and this book
Sure enough, I ran across these directions online, but decided to modify them to match our eggs and the book, Benjamin’s Box: The Story of the Resurrection Eggs, which we will be reading, and possibly make a few more sets so each of my children can have their own. (If not this year, maybe next?!)
You will need 12 plastic eggs that can be opened and filled. The eggs can either be kept in an Egg Carton, or you could use a basket labeling each egg with a number. You can also include the corresponding Bible verse/verses in each egg, which adds to the significance of the symbolism.
Egg 1: Place a small toy donkey inside the first egg which represents the donkey on which Jesus rode into Jerusalem just before His death and resurrection. Suggested Reading: Matthew 21:1-9
Egg 2: Place three dimes to symbolize the “30 pieces of silver” that Judas received to betray Jesus. Suggested Reading: Matthew 26:14-16
Egg 3: Place a small cup or goblet to symbolize the Last Supper. Another option would be to use a small piece if cracker. Suggested Reading: Matthew 26:17-19
Egg 4: Place praying hands inside this egg reminding us of Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. You could make these out of Sculpey clay, cut them out of foam or felt, or even print out an picture. Suggested Reading: Mark 14:32-42
Egg 5: Place a strip of leather to represent the scourging at the pillar. Suggested Reading: John 19:1-15
Egg 6: Place a thorn to symbolize the “crown of thorns” that Jesus wore. A rose bush may be a good source. Suggested Reading: Matthew 27:29-31
Egg 7: Nail, to represent the nails used to crucify Our Lord. Suggested Reading: John 19:16-22
Egg 8: Place a die or a couple of dice to symbolize the “lots that were cast” for Jesus’ clothing. Suggested Reading: John 19:23-25
Egg 9: Place a spear (Playmobil would be perfect!) to represent the spear which the Roman soldiers used to pierce Jesus’ side.”lots that were cast” for Jesus’ clothing. Suggested Reading: John 19:31-37
Egg 10: Place a small piece of white/linen cloth to symbolize the cloth with which Joseph of Arimathea wrapped the body of Jesus after He died on the cross. Suggested Reading: Matthew 27:57-61
Egg 11: Place a rock to symbolize the stone that was rolled away from the tomb. Suggested Reading: Matthew 28:1-3
Egg 12: EASTER MORNING! This egg will be empty to symbolize the tomb that was empty, that Jesus was risen from the dead! Suggested Reading: Matthew 28:5-8
A Beautiful Sermon on Veiling
I just finished listening to the following sermon from Audio Sancto on veiling images and the veiling of women:
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