I bought a book today...

This book is half price today on Amazon.com.  I just went and bought mine as it has been on my "wish list" for quite some time.  Wanted to let other's know.



Blessings to you!

Advent Seasonal Plans 2011 - Take One

I have been busy trying to jot down a few plans for the upcoming Advent season.  They are not done.  The guilt of sitting and thinking is pouring in as well as preparations that need to be done for our Thanksgiving travel to see family.  

So, here is a glimpse of what I have so far.  I will present a final the first week after Thanksgiving.  

Wishing you all a very blessed Thanksgiving!

11/27/11 –    First Sunday of Advent            

• Blessing of the Advent wreath, lighting the first candle and readings.

• The girls begin their advent calenders which are full of chocolate yummyness.

11/28/11 -    Jesse Tree*

Begin Jesse Tree daily devotion with the girls and putting on the special ornaments we exchange with our homeschool family friends last year.  We are using The Advent Jesse Tree: Devotions for Children and Adults to Prepare for the Coming of the Christ Child at Christmas.

*Daily thereafter

12/01/11      Christmas Party with our homeschool group

12/03/11      Saint Nicholas pancake breakfast at St. James

                   9:30  a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Our Community Christmas Parade – 5:30 p.m.

12/04/11     Second Sunday of Advent

                Lighting of the second candle and readings.

12/06/11 -   Feast of Saint Nicholas  

• Read the story of Saint Nicholas 

• Make Candy Cane Coffee Cake & Hot Cocoa 
• Make St. Nicholas stick ornaments and votive candles 
• and St. Nicholas beaded ornaments 
• St. Nicholas coloring pages 
•  Eat a german feast of sausage, potatoes and kraut.
• Adorn the table with the votive candles and Santa’s turned into the real St. Nicholas!   
• Put out those shoes that will be filled with golden coins and these adorable Playmobil St. Nicholas and Angel figures. 
• We will also be trimming the tree on this evening

  12/08/11 -   Feast of the Immaculate Conception 

• Immaculate Conception Coloring page
• A Garden Enclosed - Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception Craft Idea

HOME Christmas Choir Concert @ 6:15 

12/09/11 -   HOME Choir Concert at Fine Arts Class

12/11/11       Third Sunday of Advent

                Lighting of the third candle

12/13/11 -    Feast of Saint Lucia (Lucy) 

• Easy out of the can Cinnamon Wreath 
  
• make a St. Lucia crown 
• do a unit study on St. Lucia which includes a Saint Lucia Paper Doll. 
  

                   AHG Christmas Party & Awards – 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.

12/18/11      Fourth Sunday of Advent

                Lighting of the fourth candle

12/22/11 -    Amber (big sis!) arrives at our house!

12/23/11 -    Gingerbread Houses

•  Decorating of the gingerbread houses (family tradition) and some Christmas baking. – Deliver to neighbors!

12/24/11 -    Christmas Eve 

• Evening Mass at St. James - 5:00 p.m. 
• Children’s Christmas Choir Concert and Play

12/25/11 -    Christmas Day – Christ is Born! 

• Traditional unveiling of the stockings & beginning of the gifting to others.
• Christmas Brunch – ongoing from about 9-11 a.m.
• Christmas Feast – Midday @ 4pm

01/01/12 -  Feast of Mary the Mother of God

                Happy New Year!


 01/06/12 -   Feast of the Epiphany

                  

                  

A Special Day in deed.....

K-Doodle's First Holy Communion

May 7th, 2011

A First Communion Blessing

May you always feel

as close to Jesus

as you do today.

May you always 

count on Him

to gently guide you

on your way.

May you always

trust in God

to answer every

single prayer.

May you always feel

Him blessing you

with tender, loving care.

We love you K-Doodle.

For the precious unborn.......

Yesterday, the girls and I took a bus ride with our parish into downtown Atlanta to the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception for Mass for the Unborn.  It was a very moving Homily and the music was simply  beautiful.  Solemn.

After mass and a quick lunch on the bus, we headed out to the capital to listen to Bishop Gregory and many legislators speak about the horrible reality of Roe vs. Wade.  The Bishop remarked that it is going to take both the Church and the Government.  The Church to pray, work and educate about the unborn, and the government to "undo" the horrible decision of Roe vs. Wade that has killed so many children.  The government is necessary to correct this terrible wrong.

Although my girls are young, they understood that we were there to give a voice to those without one.  I did not go into details of what an actual abortion is or does.  There is plenty of time for that.  We were there to celebrate life for all persons, all life.....no matter how small.  And the girls understood that and took-up the cause.

There was a sharp contrast in this March of Life and a pro-choice rally.  Pro-choice is screaming out for their "rights".  Our march was one of utter silence. Silence for those beautiful children with no voice.  It was a silent walk through downtown Atlanta, holding our signs of life and occasionally praying the Rosary out loud.  There was a large turn out and our presence was profound.  Important.  Necessary.

Almighty God, our Father,

you who have given us life 

and intended us to have it forever, 

grant us your blessings. 

Enlighten our minds to an awareness 

and to a renewed conviction 

that all human life is sacred 

because it is created 

in your image and likeness. 

Help us to teach by word 

and the example of our lives 

that life occupies the first place, 

that human life is precious 

because it is the gift of God 

whose love is infinite. 

Give us the strength to defend human life 

against every influence 

or action that threatens or weakens it, 

as well as the strength 

to make every life more human 

in all its aspects. 

Give us the grace...

When the sacredness of life 

before birth is attacked, 

to stand up and proclaim 

that no one ever has the authority 

to destroy unborn life.

When a child is described as a burden 

or is looked upon only as a means 

to satisfy an emotional need, 

to stand up 

and insist that every child is a unique 

and unrepeatable gift of God, 

a gift of God 

with a right to a loving 

and united family.

When the institution of marriage 

is abandoned to human selfishness 

or reduced to a temporary conditional arrangement 

that can easily be terminated, 

to stand up and affirm 

the indissolubility of the marriage bond.

When the value of the family is threatened 

because of social and economic pressure, 

to stand up and reaffirm 

that the family is necessary 

not only for the private good of every person, 

but also for the common good of every society, 

nation and state.

When freedom is used to dominate the weak, 

to squander natural resources and energy, 

to deny basic necessities to people, 

to stand up and affirm 

the demands of justice and social love.

Almighty Father, 

give us courage to proclaim the supreme dignity 

of all human life and to demand 

that society itself give its protection. 

We ask this in your name, 

through the redemptive act 

of your Son and in the Holy Spirit.

Amen.