End of GNoM homeschool year

Yes, you all in the Guilt No More Community may be wondering how we are winding down our laborious studies. Below, find proof of the grueling academic work these poor suffering children have been forced to endure.

Buster, brandishing his wand to give a kinetic demonstration of reading comprehension, using as his primary text "Harry Potter."

We use a dresser to keep track of all the different items for each child. Even though she is no longer (at this moment) homeschooled, Fifi's drawer gives perfect evidence of what she's been up to.

Here's Truckster, practicing gross motor skills and interpersonal communications, with Honeybee, who is learning spacial relationships.

And here we have Kewpie, during Sustained Silent Reading time, and Honeybee, working on her observational techniques.

It's been tough. But we're going to make it to tomorrow.

Building a culture of life

I took a walk tonight and marveled at the beauty of dusk. Despite living right in the heart of the city, we are surrounded by natural beauty -- birds, animals, lovely flowers and trees, children, clear sky, water ... Gave thanks to the Lord and was once more struck by how contingent it all is. There is no earthly reason that He had to make creation beautiful. He made it beautiful just because, because He loves beauty just as we love beauty only with an infinitely greater, truer, holier love. And out of love, He could take it away from us, or allow us to destroy it.

So that got me thinking that we ought to work HARD to hold onto the gifts He has so gratuitously surrounded us with.

When I got home, I finished reading the perfect post from http://www.studeo.blogspot.com/ on building the culture of life. Since I don't know how to link, go to the blog and read the seven points. They are just excellent! And then started thinking, I would like to come up with some ways to build the culture of life. Smaller than the writer at Studeo, who really has defined some core concepts. But ways that I myself would like to work on being part of the solution.

1. Support new families with a lot of encouragement, prayer, and gifts. As Pope John Paul II of blessed memory said, "The future of humanity passes by way of the family." Every new family is a slap in the face of our enemy. He would love to ruin them all.

2. Be open to our own children, and be open to other people's. How stupidly simple in theory, but how difficult in practice. Children can be exhausting, and selfish people, like me, have a million ways to avoid them even when we are living with them (even when we are co-sleeping!). And we need to make sure we don't overextend our strength and end up with a nervous breakdown. But really, I can be more attentive, listen better, be more focused, than I sometimes (ok, often) am.

3.Hospitality, especially to the single. Good food that retains some semblance of being prepared by a person rather than a machine; a table that looks like it was set for someone special; conversation, music, storytelling, strolling, poetry-reciting and piano-playing by us for us.

4. Family time that involves no screens at all. (Yes, I'm kind of a Luddite on this one.) Family time in which we figure out how to enjoy life together without the Nuk of electronic amusement. There's a place for passive entertainment, but we're building the culture of life, here. Let's learn to crochet, or weed the garden, or paint our toenails together.

5. Gratitude for whatever we have and an instant and irrevocable rejection of envy or wistfulness for something else. This world has no experience of peace, none. Even as ridiculous a Christian as I am can offer the world His peace if I am willing to accept, as from His hand, whatever I have or do not have, whatever I gain or lose.

6. Get serious about prayer. Huge. Get really, really, really serious about spending time in the presence of our Blessed Savior. No excuses, no limp-wristed sighing. Good grief, the only one who can help us is right here! As a corollary, I am going to be more intentional about offering Mass for the culture of life.

I'd love to hear other ideas from the other three people who occasionally read this blog.

Family pilgrimage

Since we all of us need all the help we can get, we have decided to do a family pilgrimage to the cathedral. Two other families will be joining us to walk down lovely Summit Avenue to the Cathedral of St. Paul -- an approved site for this Pauline Year.

We'll end at 10 a.m. Mass, then pray together the prayers for the intentions of the Holy Father, and then we' adjourn back here for ham, sweet rolls, fruit, and coffee.

I suggested that we carry palm branches and sing hymns as we walk, but the children gave me looks of horror. "It will be -- embarrassing!" said Buster.
"No way, I'm not singing," said Fifi.
"I will sing!" said Kewpie, who is always game for anything. At 3, you are mature enough to realize that winning the world for Christ may involve some -- embarrassment. So perhaps we can do one or two rounds of "Lift High the Cross."

And best, it is possible to gain a plenary indulgence! Of course, there is that small matter of being free of all attachment to sin. Yeah, just finishing up that little detachment. It's so lucky I'm almost done being attached to sin. I hope to be completely free of all attachment to sin after dinner.

We'll pray for all of our family in the diaspora.

What ho, family!

Here is Sweetums' First Communion. Bless God.

We all have red, glinty eyes, but you get the general gist.

And this is the best: Buster in his altar serving surplice, Sweetums, and Fifi in her Schola robe. I'd like to get this framed. Just as soon as I figure out how to print photos.

Homeschool discovery

We read a lot! No wonder the house is a disaster! Sheesh.

Get a load of this. This is a list that I kept the first year we "taught" the kids at home. Fifi was 7, Buster was 5, and everyone else was dang little.

The Book List -- completed (most read aloud)
Happy Birthday, Addie
Josefina Saves the Day
Dawn Treader
Understood Betsy
101 Dalmations
A Door in the Wall
Wind in the Willows
Prince Caspian
Beezus and Ramona
Anne of Green Gables
The Great Brain
The Great Brain Does it Again
The Great Brain at the Academy

Beautiful women

OK, yes, the daughters are cute. But check out the truly beautiful one -- the woman who barely looks old enough to be a grandmother. The classiest, smartest, and all-around best lady I know.

When I think of this young woman, I think of her as being in fourth grade, wearing a school jumper, playing dolls. (Although, I don't think I was actually at home much when she was doing these things, since she is several -- OK many -- years younger than me.) But as we see here, she's confident, fun, and beautiful too.

This young woman is just about the embodiment of sweet temper. She deserves to be surrounded by green growing things her whole life. Reflective, generous, beautiful.

And below I would like to post -- but can't because I don't have a good picture of -- the other sister of mine, who would truly make this post complete.

This is the best family!

What we're up to these days

Here is Buster's birthday party -- bowling and cupcakes.

Honeybee making the decision to drink responsibly, under adult supervision.

Kewpie's birthday. Can you even stand the cuteness?

Pinewood Derby racers.

Sweetums with her newest auntie, and a distracted brother, at the Como Conservatory.

We have far more photos to share. Here, though, is a list of news items.

1. Superguy has taken (it is devoutly to be hoped) his last law class EVER.

2. Sweetums made her First Holy Communion.

3. Truckster learned to ride a bike, without any help whatsoever.

4. Buster became an altar server.

5. Fifi will be in seventh grade this fall ------ insert dismay emoticon here!