Watch video about  ND Vision ...our destination for the week!

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

This one shouldn't be TOO hard!

• Comments (3) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

We've had record rainfall after torrential storms, and without exaggeration, we could have gone swimming in our backyard....except that the "lake"  was actually a muddy, raging river.  This picture is from a few years ago, but the water was twice as high this last week.

In spite of some state-wide flooding we traversed creeks in our SUV, (once roads), to go to the 2008 Sprint Meet in Paris, IL.  Several roads were closed from washouts, but we zigged and zagged to our destination.  Over 100 swimmers from Illinois and Indiana made it to the meet.

My boys were glad we made the extra effort and put forth their own  EXTRA efforts, earning themselves a First Place Overall trophy for their individual age divisions.  Both sons beat some of their personal best times, which makes them even happier.  Our daughter also won several medals and bested her own times in several events.  What a day....and there is more rain on the way!  Swimming may turn out to be a life skill we really need at this rate.

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

 25th year anniversary as a priest

Thank you for answering God's call to Holy Orders and serving as our parish priest, Father Joe!  You are someone our sons look up to as a solid role model.

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

The Illinois Catholic Homeschool Conference had an excellent Teen Track this year.  All three of my teens attended an opening pizza party with ice breakers, fellowship, and all the ice cream sundaes they could eat...a sure way to get a teen's attention! 

Following the fun, they shared Adoration, Rosary and a spiritual talk given by Father Pablo Straub.  Father has spent the last twenty years in rural Mexico, where he helped found two new missionary and contemplative religious orders. In the United States, Mexico and Guatemala, Father Straub directs missions, retreats, and Marian Eucharistic Conferences, and is a frequent presence on Mother Angelica’s EWTN and on Mexican Catholic television.  The kids thoroughly enjoyed his talk about the Glorious Mysteries of our Faith and his work in Mexico.

A teen Catholic Dance and Theater Troupe entertained us with a highly professional and beautifully choreographed show to close the evening.

On Saturday, the teen's keynote speaker was Father Burke Masters on "Discerning God's Call,"  followed by a workshop titled, "How to Promote a Culture of Life."

After more good food and ice cream, the teen boys had the opportunity to meet with Father Frank "Rocky" Hoffman.  Ordained as a priest for Opus Dei in 1992 by John Paul II, he holds a doctorate in Canon Law from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross (Rome), a B.A. from Northwestern in History and an M.B.A. from Notre Dame.   He talked with the boys about "Being Catholic & American: The Best of Both Worlds."   Their closing workshop was "Chivalry: Become Knights in Shining Armor."   I can only say, I haven't opened a door since then!

My teen daughter enjoyed an interactive adventure with Regina Doman  (the author of one of my daughter's favorite books),  discovering the relationship between Faith and creativity.  They talked about writing faith-based stories, using Christian symbols of "good" and "evil" and the use of  "light" and "dark" in conveying a meaningful message through literature.  My daughter loves to both read and write, and appreciated this discussion.

She also had the opportunity to meet with Fr. "Rocky" and other teen girls to discuss, "Living for God, Living for Others, Living for Christ" following the examples of Our Lady, St. Martha and St. Mary Magdalene.  Fr. Rocky's question he posed to the girls:  "Why in Genesis, did Satan choose the woman to tempt?"  After much discussion, he explained, "If Satan can bring the woman down, he can bring the whole family down with her."  She was very impressed with this insight.  She also wrote in her notebook, "I can choose my actions, but not the consequences."

Mom's quiet response, "Amen!"

Catholic Homeschool Conference: Part I

• Comments (2) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Notes from a great seminar.....

"Teaching the Truth to Our Children"  by Monsignor Dan Deutsch

1.  Teach children to be intimate with Christ, without inhibition through frequent prayer and reception of the sacraments.

2.  Teach children to encounter Christ regularly:  Adoration, Reconciliation, Mass/Eucharist.  "To encounter Christ is to be changed."

3.  Teach children to see the world through eyes of faith.

4.  Teach children conversion: 

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

The kids and I are on our way to the Illinois Catholic Homeschool Conference.

The kids are looking forward to the Teen Track and I'm happy for some inspirational talks too.  I'll report on the conference when we get back.

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Do you know the universal sign of gratitude?

Learn about the Gratitude Sign and when to use it!

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Click here: Great Quotes from Great Leaders Movie

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Hint:  He's not in the USA and this city is hosting soccer championships this year.

• Comments (2) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link