Happy Birthday to my Grandma!

Today would have been my Grandmother's 90th Birthday.  I really wish she were here to celebrate it.  It has been 13 years since she passed away and there is not a day that I don't miss her.

My Grandmother is the woman who has influenced my life the most here on earth.  She was always there for me.  Whether is was to take me someplace new and exciting, play spelling games with me, make me a delicious snack, or to pray for me.  When I was a teenager, my life was not going in a great direction.  I was at the top of my Grandmother's prayer list.  Even though I thought she was silly and old fashioned at the time, hanging green scapulars on my bed and lighting candles, now I wish she were here to see that her prayers were answered.  

She set the foundation for my faith and taught me about the Little Way.  Thank you Grandma!  I love you and miss you and hope to be with you one day in heaven.

Field Trip

Today we took a field trip to a local Christian camp.  The girls learned about nature and a bit about God's creation.  We did this field trip in the Fall too and it is a lot of fun!!!

Miss Comedian gets ready to cross the suspension bridge! 

That is Miss Musical up there coming back from the other side of the river

Miss Comedian went both ways with no issues at all!

Miss Dramatic is up there.  Second to last in line.

The month of Mary

(taken from catholicculture.org)

In our observance of the Marian month we should take into account the season of the Liturgical Year which largely corresponds with the fifty days of Easter. Our pious exercises could emphasize Our Lady's participation in the Paschal mystery and in Pentecost with which the Church begins. The pious exercises connected with the month of May can easily highlight the earthly role played by the glorified Queen of Heaven, here and now, in the celebration of the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Eucharist.

The following practices which are recommended by the Magisterium are offered as suggestions for honoring Our Lady during Her month.

The Regina Coeli
The ecclesial community addresses this antiphon to Mary for the Resurrection of her Son. It adverts to, and depends on, the invitation to joy addressed by Gabriel to the Lord's humble servant who was called to become the Mother of the saving Messiah.

The Rosary
Also called the Psalter of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Rosary is one of the most excellent prayers to the Mother of God. Thus, "the Roman Pontiffs have repeatedly exhorted the faithful to the frequent recitation of this biblically inspired prayer which is centered on contemplation of the salvific events of Christ's life, and their close association with the Virgin Mother."

Litanies of the Blessed Virgin MaryThese consist of a long series of invocations to Our Lady, which follow in a uniform rhythm, thereby creating a stream of prayer characterized by insistent praise and supplication.

Consecration and Entrustment to MaryThe Roman Pontiffs have frequently expressed appreciation for the pious practice of "consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary" and the formulas publicly used by them are well known.

Louis Grignon de Montfort is one of the great masters of the spirituality underlying the act of "consecration to Mary". He "proposed to the faithful consecration to Jesus through Mary, as an effective way of living out their baptismal commitment."

The Brown Scapular and other ScapularsThe scapular is an external sign of the filial relationship established between the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother and Queen of Mount Carmel, and the faithful who entrust themselves totally to her protection, who have recourse to her maternal intercession, who are mindful of the primacy of the spiritual life and the need for prayer.

Medals
These are witnesses of faith and a sign of veneration of the Holy Mother of God, as well as of trust in her maternal protection.

The Church blesses such objects of Marian devotion in the belief that "they help to remind the faithful of the love of God, and to increase trust in the Blessed Virgin Mary."

A picture is worth a thousand words....

Oh boy!

May Crowning

Yesterday we finished our Homeschool Wednesday Enrichment program for the year with Mass, a May Crowning procession, a Music showcase, and lunch afterwards.  It was a lovely day.  Miss Dramatic was asked to crown our Blessed Mother.  Miss Comedian scattered rose petals in the procession and both she and Miss Musical performed in the music showcase.  Miss Musical had a small solo part that was a nice surprise for me!  The show was adorable and the procession was beautiful despite our humble surroundings.  The Church we use was not available at the last minute and we scrambled to put together Mass in the gymnasium.  I know that my girls are really going to miss seeing all their friends weekly.  

With my girls and Our Lady

First Holy Communion

What a busy week!!  After celebrating Miss Dramatic's Confirmation on Tuesday evening, we rested on Wednesday and then we all jumped into the car on Thursday to drive about 12 hours west to be at my Goddaughter/Niece's First Holy Communion.  What a Holy whirlwind of events!!  The Mass was lovely. My niece received our Lord kneeling at a Communion rail.  Afterwards all the children received the Brown Scapular.  It was a lovely day!

The Confirmandi and the First Communicant

My sweet Goddaughter/Niece

With our wild bunch

Hubby and I with our Goddaughter

The First Communicant with her cake made by me

Come Holy Spirit!

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth. 

O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.


Tuesday April 24th, Miss Dramatic received the gifts of the Holy Spirit at Confirmation.  It was a beautiful Mass and I truly felt His presence among us.  Daddy's sister flew out from Texas to be Miss Dramatic's sponsor and my mother and brother drove 10 hours to be there.  We had several other family members drive hours to witness the Sacrament and to celebrate with us.  It was a lovely evening surrounded by family and friends.


One of my friends is our official parish event photographer and she borrowed my camera for the occasion so I am still waiting for my "official" pictures with the Bishop and family.

The Confirmandi and her cake

Cake that I made.  On reflection, I guess that I should have had
the Holy Spirit descending.

Sweet little faces waiting patiently for cake.