~ Signs of Summer ~

Bowl of Cherries

We are still wrapping things up here, as far as school goes...But a few summer activities & classes are already being enjoyed.
Conductor & Butterfly are taking a Philosophy class with the Dominicans; and Little Lamb is taking a Pottery class.  Conductor will work as a volunteer for the County Fair...(more on that later); and both he and Butterfly will start Reader's Theatre class next week.

Then next month gets REALLY busy...

Chocolate Mint

~ Forget-Me-Not ~

Little love notes....Every night, Little Lamb asks me to "tuck-tuck" her in bed...

Last night she left this little sticky note on my bedroom door...

Little Lambs Love Note

...L.O.V.E. that little girl (that little picture is her bed and my signal to "tuck-tuck" her in).  Too cute.

~ Labor of Love ~

Pope John Paul II Rose

One of my favorite things to do is to be in my garden, to work in my garden - I don't even mind pulling weeds.  Honostly.

Pulling weeds is actually very therapeutic.  I'm removing something potentially harmful from something that I care about and love and want to make sure that it (my garden) grows and thrives and becomes the best and most beautiful that it can be...
 

Similarily, keeping potentially harmful things away from our children, teaching them to recognize things that are not so good, things that can limit them, things that may bring them distress - pulling weeds is a constant battle.

 You have to be diligent, attentive, persistant.  You need to have PERSEVERANCE (good tools are helpful as well).

I guess weeds can even be a little helpful, in some odd ways.  For instance, when I pull up a weed, the ground beneath is moist & workable (because it's been stealing the water from the plants nearby).  Now your ready to use the ground for good.

There are plenty of "weeds" in the world - giving us the opportunity to teach our children virtues, allowing them to see and discern right from wrong, good from bad, recognizing dangers, temptations, evils...The tools of prayer & the sacraments are essential.                                       " I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them that are evil, and thou hast tried them, who say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars"  ~ Revelation 2:2

Gardening takes WORK - But the benefits are beautiful...and soooo worth it.

When the blooms come, you know all your hard work has paid off.  Now you can sit and enjoy the work of love...

"For God is not unjust, that he should forget your work, and the love which you have shewn in his name, you who have ministered, and do minister to the saints."   ~ Hebrews 6:10

~ Still Back-Blogged ~

Well, May has come and gone and I have sooo many things that I want to share here...

I think I will do a monthly blog, and just combine ALL the activities that go on around here.  Maybe next month...?

Today is our 22nd  Wedding Anniversary AND in just two days - On the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity - Conductor will be sealed with the gift of the HOLY SPIRIT during a Confirmation Mass.  Call me crazy but I'm organizing a small reception (most likely 150+ people) for our parish and then a family reception back at my home...while working on a few other projects (film on Adoration for our Diocese, programs for our upcoming Confirmation...) while major construction is going on outside the front entrance of our home...So, we are going to take a rain-check on tonights anniversary celebrations.  :o)

A quick peek at my First Holy Communion class cakes.  Love those cake toppers which I have used for the past several years.

Conductor made this cake topper for my First Communion children's cake - it's made of chocolate from a mold

Asparagus on the grill for the (post reception) BBQ gathering of some of the First Holy Communion children & their families - fun.fun.fun.  Played us some Corn Hole. 

BBQ Reception


OK.  Break's over.  Back to work!

~ Communions... ~

Speaking of First Holy Communion Anniversaries...Little Lamb celebrates her 1 yr. Anniversary .   And, our parish will be celebrating the new Communicants, 2012, this Sunday...

Today we held the Rehearsal & Confessions for the children in my First Communion Class…

Before Confessions Father led them in prayer in front of the Blessed Virgin Mary Shrine – where, traditionally, pictures of the First Communicants are placed, at her feet, for her intercession:

To Jesus; Through Mary!

Consecration to Our Blessed Mother -

O my Queen, O my Mother,

I give myself to you.

And to show you that I love you,

I offer to you this day

My eyes,  my ears,  my mouth,  my heart.

Therefore, dear Mother,

Since I am your own,

Keep me and guard me.

Help me to love your Son, Jesus, more each day.

I ask her to prepare my heart to receive her Son Jesus in Holy Communion for the first time…

Conductor made these pure white Holy Communion lollipops

10 Boys, 2 girls...or twelve little faithful disciples...

This year I have 12 little dear children in my class.  They have such pure souls; so anxious to receive Him with such FAITH. 
May God bless them all the days of their lives.

I made, or rather, Conductor made these wonderful white chocolate Holy Communion lollipops for them. 

They will also receive a basil (also known as Holy Communion Plant) grow kit…accompanied by an explanation of the aromatic herb and a Blessing prayer.

Ocimum basilicum...has long been associated with the Holy Cross...

Yet another blessed day!

~ Anniversaries ~

Today we are celebrating several Anniversaries...

The 37 year anniversary of our Pastor's Priestly Ordination.  We celebrated by attending the Holy Mass this morning, which he celebrated.







The 1 year Priestly Ordination

And Conductor's 7 year First Holy Communion Anniversary...

Conductor serving at the Holy Mass for our Pastor's 37 year Priestly Ordination Anniversary

First Communion Candle with Guardian Angel holder

Communion Prayer:
"My Jesus, I believe that you are truly present in the Most Blessed Sacrament.  I love you above all things, and I desire to possess you within my soul.  I believe it because You have said it, and I am ready to give my life to maintain this truth."


A very blessed day.

~ Back-Blogged ~

I've had several things to share here...just never the time.  So, now I'm back-blogged.  You heard it here first...LOL. 

OK.  Where to start...?  How about St. Joseph the Worker Feast Day - May 2nd.  Our family has a very special devotion to St. Joseph.  He has been instrumental in our lives...
So, here I share our day:

San Giuseppe Altar

A bottle of Chianti, some sparkling cider...

"According to legend, during the Middle Ages a terrible drought and famine plagued the people of Sicily. It virtually destroyed most of their crops and many people in the western part of Sicily died of starvation. The people began praying to St. Joseph and begged for his intercession to their plight. In return they promised to celebrate his feast day by having special altars abundant in food that would be shared with all people rich and poor as their thanksgiving to him. Traditionally this custom is celebrated on March 19th - the Feast of St. Joseph." 

Little Lamb made bread in the shape of St. Joseph symbols.  Can you guess what they are? :o)

Did I mention I was back-blogged? 
Here are some pics from our Spring Garden (or blog II)...
We've been having some incredible salads lately!

Butterfly holding future dinner salad...

 Good Stuff!

More Italiano...Here are some highlights from our Altar Boy Fundraiser Dinner (aka Blog III) ...

Our Pastor is taking our boys to, where else?, Roma!!

Our Boys are the Best!!!

Here are a  couple of our servers helping to prepare the feast...what a fabulous meal it was...

Great Food.  Great Time.  Great Cause.  

More on this later...

 Our friend makes his

Solemn Profession (Blog IV)

Beautiful. 

"Veni, Creator Spiritus,

Mentes tuorum visita,

Imple superna gratia

Quae tu creasti pectorra..."

* Blog Break *