Week 21 In Review

The Week in Pictures: 

 We were blessed to visit the Benedictine Monastery of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  Miriam met Sr. Myriam - they have been exchanging prayers so it was a joy for them to meet in person!

We got to attend Mass with the Sisters - this is the chapel outside the enclosure where they have daily Mass.

 We had a joyful visit with the Mother of the Community.  We were surprised to learn the Benedictine  Monastery was established in Vermont in 1981. The Nuns were invited by the Bishop to form a foundation from their monastery in Canada which at the time was at capacity with 75 sisters.  The Community belongs to the Benedictine Congregation of Solesmes.  

We feel truly blessed to have the prayers of these beautiful Nuns for our family and Phil's work of Catechesis and Evangelization and look forward to visiting them often.   

William and Miriam  participated in a workshop at the Library on how to make a DC battery using household materials.  With salt water, activated charcoal and a paper towel in a metal pan, they were able to power a small motor.  They had a lot of fun.

 Phil and the children planted the garden this week!

 We made thank you flower pots for the children's Catechists.

 The children enjoyed their end of the year Pentecost Celebration and family gathering at our Atrium.

We welcomed 6 new chicks to our home: Goldie, Sunny. Rose, Brownie, Flash and Eggna.

 William, Miriam and Luke have been enjoying their "home school" swim lessons.

 The children and I enjoyed a family end of the year dance/ "Masquerade ball"

 We had fun doing the Virginia Reel.

 William and Miriam did well at their first piano recital.

 Phil got the hammock up.

 Phil left for a conference in Florida today so we went to explore our local school playground and the kids had a ton of fun.

Who needs monkey bars when you have a pine tree? 

 We're thanking the Lord for the beautiful weather on this Trinity Sunday!

Phil's gone until Thursday so it's going to be a busy week!  We praise God for His many blessings especially on this feast of the Most Holy Trinity!  Our prayers are with you - please pray for us too!

Weeks 19 & 20 in Review

 Weeks 19 & 20 in Pictures: 

 On Saturday morning we had the perfect conditions to launch our rocket.  

If you look carefully at the speck in the sky you can see how high the rocket went.  Our neighbors joined us for the launch.  

 Unfortunately we weren't able to get far enough from the trees so it landed in the trees.

 

 Phil helped the kids find a toad.

We've been blessed to make friends at Mass with a retired farmer.  He and his wife have adopted our kids and it's a great blessing since we're so far from family.  He came over with his tractor and prepared our garden for us - he even brought fertilizer - we look forward to our biggest and best garden yet!

"Grandpa John" & "Grandma Fern" kept 100 acres from what was once their 400 acre farm.  Grandpa John likes to take the kids for rides in his 4 wheeled ATV around the property and this was one of the stops - a giant rock.  

 We made cookies to celebrate Pentecost Sunday today.

For Mother's day Phil gave me a new rose bush :-)

 The kids displayed some of their artwork at our end of the year home school talent show.

 The boys enjoyed some time at Lego club at the library.

 The kids' favorite place to play - the dirt hill.  The bathtub and laundry machine are doing double duty as a result. :-)

They got an extra hill from the grass layer that was over the garden plot.  

John turned 13 months old on May 10th. 

Other Highlights: 

We are busy wrapping up our school year and looking forward to enjoying the nice spring and summer weather.  We're scheduled to finish May 27th and I'm working on the children't portfolios to submit to the state and making our summer plans as well as preparing our curriculum for next year.  I'm looking forward to going to a Homeschool conference next Saturday in Montpelier, VT.

The kids have been enjoying weekly "homeschool swim lessons" at a local gym each Friday.   They have a great program where the kids get 50 minute swim lessons for 6 weeks.  We're really enjoying it.  William and Miriam will also have their first piano recital next Saturday!

This Wednesday we get to go visit and have lunch at the monastery of the cloistered Benedictine Sisters in Westfield Vermont - a little over an hour drive away.  Miriam has been praying for a sister Myriam who will soon be making her profession at the end of May as an extern sister there.   

Happy Pentecost and may the Holy Spirit aid us to bring the Gospel and Christ's love to all we meet! Our prayers are with you, please pray for us! 

A Mother's Day Reflection

A Mother's Day Reflection:

Today on Mother's Day, my heart overflows with gratitude for the gift of life I've been given.  So I have tried to find the words to say Thank you with my whole heart to the Mothers who have taught me to be a mother.

First, I must thank my Blessed Mother whose "Fiat" allows me a share in the life of Grace, a share in God's own Life which is greater than and more precious to me than any other gift and the source of all joy.

Next I thank my grandmothers - beautiful women through whom my parents received the gift of life and faith and whose unconditional love formed me in my earliest years.

My Mom's mother, my Memere, is looking down at my younger brother on the left side of the photo.

My dad'd mother, my Abuelita, is wearing a corsage at my wedding.

Next I thank my Mother, through whom I received the gift of life, and who's beautiful faith and generosity has so enriched my life.  I am so grateful for all the sacrifices you  have made for me and I strive to love my little ones as you love us!  I love you Mom!!

And to my Mother-in-Law whose love allowed me to be a mother through her son and whose friendship is a treasured gift.  I couldn't ask for a better Mother-in-law:-)  I love you!

I am also so grateful for all the love I have been surrounded by and the many other wonderful mothers whose example and love strengthens me in my vocation.  There are too many of you to begin to mention you one by one but each of you are cherished and loved.  My heart swells with gratitude for the many heroic women who have given of themselves so generously to their families always having room to love one more as well as to those who have chosen Spiritual Motherhood whose life of prayer strengthens me in my vocation!  You are my models in love and motherhood.

Some of the lessons in motherhood that I have learned from these amazing mothers are to love my children whole-heartedly and without reserve; yet, to teach them to be virtuous and love God first in a gentle but firm way.  To do whatever is necessary to be an advocate for the children God has entrusted me, praying always for the grace to do what is best for them.   To be diligent in serving my family, seeking always to create a loving home for them at the heart of which is an unconditional love.  To welcome guests to my home with joy and gratitude, inviting them to be "part of the family."   There are so many more lessons each of you have taught me but time and words fail me.  Though I often fall short of these ideals, I strive to live and love my family as I've seen each of you do. I thank you, with my whole heart for the love you've shown me and for teaching me how to be a mother.  My prayers and thoughts are with you especially on this Mother's Day!