~ Ordinary Time ~

Ordinary Time is a season.  It is the liturgical period outside of the distinctive liturgical seasons, and runs 33 or 34 weeks. 

Ordinary Time, in Latin, is called Tempus Per Annum ~ "time throughout the year".

Ordinary Time falls between Christmas and Lent, and between Easter and Advent.

The Liturgical Color of Ordinary Time is GREEN.

Ordinary Time of the Year is the Monday following the Baptism of the Lord, until the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday.

And then, Monday following Pentecost until the evening before Advent. 

We read various Scriptural Readings, or refer to various Scriptures, during Ordinary Time.  It celebrates and symbolizes the Holy Trinity.

Did I mention GREEN is the color used...?  Green is the color of hope and growth.

Ordinary Time encompasses that part of the Christian year that does not fall within the seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent, or Easter.

The Catholic Church celebrates two periods of the year as Ordinary Time.  As you delve more deeply into the spiritual meaning of Ordinary Time, you will find just how rich this Time actually is...

 

ORDINARY TIME ~ QUITE AN EXTRAORDINARY TIME!

~ Life on the Rock ~

When we think of Life on the Rock,
we think of the EWTN show.

But Life on the Rock took on a new meaning for my children last week...

Heading towards "the Rock".

Getting ready to dock

(on the Rock). 

 

 

Self tour before we started the audio tour.

Life was tough on the Rock...even the plants are tough!  Check out those thorns...wicked.

~ Chemical Reaction ~

What does and empty container, vinegar, baking soda & ballon equal?

Besides carbon dioxide...

 

...a very happy 8 year old.  cool.

~ Traditional First Days ~

It's here! 
For the past 10 years we have traditionally started our school year on (or very near to) the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary - September 8th.  This year, Our Lady's birthday landed on a Saturday...so TODAY is the official start date for us.

For the past several years, we've started a newer tradition, to take a field-trip on our First Day of School.

Model version of our mystery field-trip

So, after Mass, we drove to our destination...
I didn't tell the kids until that morning, what we were doing or where we were going.  Boy, did that make for a very happy and cheerful rise-n-shine! lol.

We had the traditional  "Schultüte" or School Cone that the kids, no matter how old they are getting, look forward to. 

Little Lamb thanked me with a big hug and said, "Momma, I love how you give us lots of fun things to eat, but then give us the tools to take care of our teeth...it's like giving a party, and then giving a dust pan".  LOL
Their Easter baskets are pretty similar; tools and all.  lol. 


I didn't have a chance to give our regular Standardized Tests at the end of our school year - which ran until almost the end of July; so I will be giving them their tests this week.  We are trying something new this year.  Conductor & Butterfly will take both Math & Language Arts tests.  They actually like to take the CAT/5 and look forward to their testing. 

Let the fun begin...!

~ Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~

Today was (and is) a day of celebration!

First, and foremost, it is our Mother Mary's Birthday!
Like the amazingly unselfish mother that she is, she has shared her Son with us, yet again, on her day.

For the past two years, I have been working on a film about Adoration.  Today was the "official premiere" of that film. 
Our Bishop/Archbishop-designate Salvatore Cordileone celebrated the Holy Mass, which was followed by a talk on Adoration from Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P., from Catholic Answers - The Chaplain is In...
Then, the presentation of the film "Christ Among Us ~ His True Presence in the Diocese of Oakland"

I am so very thankful for this opportunity to serve Our Lord in this way.  His way. 

It is true that "I can do all things in He who strengthens me"  Philippians 4:13.

It is true that He uses the lowly.

It is true that He shows His greatness through the least:
"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves"  2 Corinthians 4:7

I am so very thankful for my husband.  I am thankful for my children.  I am thankful for my pastor.  I am thankful for my bishop.  I am thankful for You, Christ, for this gift of Yourself to us.

Christ, is indeed, Among us!

~ Before & After ~

Now that the weather is starting to change, baking is on my mind...
"Hand-maid" bread is just the thing for today's Traditional 3:00PM Tea.

BEFORE

2 lbs of Cinnamon Raisin Bread -
It looks a little sunken in the middle...but the taste wasn't effected. at. all. :o)

It's still yummy warm...

Yep.  I used my bread machine.  Add all ingredients to bread pan...and savorier!



AFTER

 

Served with Tea and Honey

 

CINNAMON RAISIN BREAD

1-1/8 cup warm water
1 egg
1-1/2 Tbl. butter or vegetable oil
3-1/2 cups all purpose flour (I used white whole wheat)
1/4 cup dry milk
3 Tbl. sugar (can sub with honey or agave)
1/2 cup raisins
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. dry yeast

~ Incentives ~

Summer is coming to a close.  My favorite season is fast approaching. 

I have been spending the past week re-organizing, de-cluttering, super-simplifying and searching for the perfect incentive for...

All new assignments.  With age, comes bigger responsibilities and bigger protests.
Some little reward...to increase productivity, to maintain cheerfulness, and to squelch avoid whining disquietness.

Unfortunately, "gold stars" are not enough any more...

And rather than deal with the consequence of nagging the "green square" or yelling "red circles"...I have decide to use a few new colors of my own...
meet the new gold, red and green brown "incentives":


Where are the green ones?!  New "Fall" colors.

Who can resist!?
Bribe?  I think not.  Brilliant?  You bet!

It is a mother's desire to maintain peace in the household...and to keep an orderly and tidy home.

I love this Season.