Last Wednesday's reading...

...was scary. (I'm late in saying this)

Father's homily, though, turned it upside down. True, you never know when your page in life will turn into the next chapter. True, you never know when the next storm might arrive. True, you never know when life's at it's end, whether you're young or older. Yet, if you live life the best you can today, and God will take care of tomorrow.

Wow, nominated by Kaila and The Catholic Warrior!!

Mahalo nui loa. :-D

Here's what it says on the original blog (which is a very wonderful blog, so please visit it!)

"In a consumer society it is a blessing to read blogs where the writer's main focus is God. Where they express their love for their faith so visibly and joyfully.

In a cynical world it is refreshing to see so many blogs which are generous, giving, who care about others and demonstrate what being a Christian is about, loving God and loving our neighbor.

Through their faith, lives and spirituality, they bring God to us, they in essence make God visible, 'God with us.'

This Award goes to all the faith filled blogs who make evident 'Emmanuel'- God with us, with Joy in their hearts.

Please share this Award with Christian blogs that focus on the real meaning of Christmas, the birth of our Savior."

I'll nominate all my homeschooled blogging buddies and the homeschooling moms!

Point of Grace

Our favorite Christian group. (well, to us girls anyway : -D ) Though not Catholic, their songs are really good.
Click here!
(and hopefully it works...it decided to take a vacation earlier)

Thankful for...

Tagged by CT :-D

List 10 things you're thankful for!

1. For Eucharist received everyday

2. For my enormous family, even the ones not met

3. For all friends, hobbit size, towering, blogging, and saintly.

4. Little feather balls of fun

5. Inkspeckled pages

6. Music filled days

7. For the surrounding picture of nature

8. For His love that helps us through the times

9. and hope of the better yet to come.

10. For life through all it's strife and joys.

Now, I tag...

Cookie!! :-)

and of course anyone else who wants to play!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Here's a funny story Father Mike told this morning:

A woman had four sons, each a year apart. They graduated from high school one after the other, and they entered and graduated from collage one after the other. All four were very successful in their careers, and their mother was extremely proud.

The years flew by, the four better better off as each year passed. One holiday season, they decided to give their mother a present. She wasn't getting any younger, they knew, so it couldn't be just any present. They gathered together to decide their presents.

The first son said, "I know just what to give her. Mom always had that small apartment to live in, so I'll build her a mansion! Two floors plus an attic and a decent yard; that ought to please her."
The others agreed. That was a marvelous gift, mother would surely be living in luxury.

The second son declared, "Mom was always going to the movie rental, and she loves music. I know what I'll do, I'll get her a massive entertainment system. Complete with quality surround sound, flat screens, and fifty comfortable seats!"
The others liked that idea too.

The third had to think a little harder, the first twosome's ideas being grand and all. Finally he snapped his fingers. "I know! Mom's got this really old and rusty car, so I'll get her a 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S550. She won't have to walk a mile to the store any longer."
The others nodded, no more work for Mom.

Lastly, they turned to the youngest. He thought, and he thought, but he couldn't match the other's gifts. "Give me a week, I'll find something."
They waited a week while the youngest searched for the perfect present for Mom.
They gathered yet again, and this time the youngest had a gift in hand.
"I asked a preacher, 'cause Mom always reads the Bible," The others nodded at this, Mom sure loved each word in that book, "So I found a parrot that memorized the entire Bible. You give him a chapter and verse, and he'll tell it to you. Cost me 20,000 dollars a month for 20 years to buy him from the parish, but Mom's worth it!"
The others grinned, and when the time was right, they presented their gifts to mother.

Months past, and each received a letter, it was from Mom.
The first son's letter said, "Dear son, thank you for the enormous house. I only live in one room. I have to clean the rest of it. Thank you anyway, Mom."

The second son's letter read, "Dear son, thank you for your gift, but I can't hear too well, and my eyes can't see very far. There are fifty seats here in this entertainment room, but all my friends are dead and gone! Thank you anyway, Mom."

The third son's letter wrote, "Dear son, your gift is lovely, but I can no longer drive, and all my meals and groceries are delivered. Don't worry, it's still a nice car. Thank you anyway, Mom."

Finally the last son's letter said, "Dear son, from the bottom of my heart, thank you, thank you for your gift! It was so wonderful. I couldn't imagine a better one, so thank you. The chicken was delicious! Thanks, Mom."

Pictures and quotes

Music is expressing what cannot be expressed with all the words in the world.-Anonomous

When a friend calls to me from the road And slows his horse to a meaning walk, I don't stand still and look around On all the hills I haven't hoed, And shout from where I am, What is it? No, not as there is a time to talk. I thrust my hoe in the mellow ground,

Blade-end up and five feet tall, And plod: I go up to the stone wall For a friendly visit.

-Robert Frost

Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: "What! You, too? Thought I was the only one."-C.S. Lewis

Business, you know, may bring money, but friendship hardly ever does.

-Jane Austen

But friendship is precious, not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life; and thanks to a benevolent arrangement of things, the greater part of life is sunshine.

-Thomas Jefferson

A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.

-Tenneva Jordan

The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family.

-Thomas Jefferson

Christmas

Another very, very big mahalo to Kaila, from whom the nomination came!!
Click here for original post and explanation.

I now nominate five others! (you can nominate more than 5)

- Mom
- CT
- Aunty Esther
- One of my friend's whose blog is under construction...
- and Cookie, my friend who just started a blog!

Words, Words, and more Words

Found this on Kaila's blog (thanks!)

This was fun, we couldn't stop until we had to leave for the pet shop.
For every word you get right, ten grains of rice are donated.
Yes, more homework, but for a very good cause! :-)
Click here!

What else you can learn from birds

Seriously, you can learn something else from birds besides the other post's "lessons".

Birds trust completely in their masters (or mistresses).
They trust that they'll be fed everyday without fail, and even trust him enough to eat out of the master's hand.
They know toys will be provided, any master could see their little friends need playthings!
They know shelter and warmth will be given, a warm bird is a very happy bird.
Birds are extremely faithful, once master has proven true, none can take his place.
Birds are fine with their master rearranging their perches' positions, change keeps them alert.
Newspapers for lovebirds are essential, a master knows, birds need to build too!
Though master needs to trim flight feathers, the little one understands, it's a big world outside master's walls, he just doesn't want a feathered friend lost.
Water is always there without fail for a bird, and the bird knows it; bathtime or soup?
Lastly, a bird knows his master will love him without fail, even though bites come or mistakes occur, birds relent because master will always forgive.

Quotes

I should have posted this last week!

Quotes and pic found on Patron Saint's Index and Wikiquote

He who works with his hands is a laborer. He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman. He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist.

–Saint Francis of Assisi

If I am not [(in the state of grace)], may God put me there; and if I am, may God so keep me.

–Saint Joan of Arc

What is more, let anyone laugh and taunt if he so wishes. I am not keeping silent, nor am I hiding the signs and wonders that were shown to me by the Lord many years before they happened, [he] who knew everything, even before the beginning of time.

–Saint Patrick

It is love alone that gives worth to all things.

–Saint Teresa of Avila

Walk in the way of the Lord with simplicity and do not torment your spirit. You must hate your defects, but with a quiet hate, not troublesome and restless.

–Padre Pio

Music is the exaltation of the mind derived from things eternal, bursting forth in sound.

–Saint Thomas Aquinas

Apart from the cross there is no other ladder by which we may get to heaven.

–Saint Rose of Lima

Our Lord needs from us neither great deeds nor profound thoughts. Neither intelligence nor talents. He cherishes simplicity.

–Saint Therese of Liseux

Go forth in peace, for you have followed the good road. Go forth without fear, for he who created you has made you holy, has always protected you, and loves you as a mother. Blessed be you, my God, for having created me.

–Saint Clare of Assisi

Optical illusions

We went on a field trip to the museum a couple of weeks ago, and the exhibit topic was the brain. The brain needs us as much as we need it, which is a good thing because we wouldn't be ourselves without it! Optical illusions occur when "the information gathered by the eye is processed by the brain to give a percept that does not tally with a physical measurement of the stimulus source." (don't worry if you didn't get that, I barely understand it myself) : P


Here are a couple - um, three from my Aunt's email:

Focusing on the dot, move your head toward the screen, then back.

"To test this, stare at one spot for a couple seconds and everything will stop moving. Or look at the black center of each circle and it will stop moving. But move your eyes to the next black center and the previous will move after you take your eyes away from it.... ??

This one won't really work here...

Confusing....but thank God for brains!

Saint Therese

Just three lovely pictures of Saint Therese found on Patron Saint's Index
It always amazes me how she remembers events of her life. She recalled in her book stories of her younger self in nearly full detail! I wonder if she's the patron saint of memory...

:-)

All Creatures of Our God and King

Words by Saint Francis of Assisi.
More videos can be found here.
(hehe, found that link through Aunty Esther's blog, it's a really nice site!)

All Saint's Day

Happy Feast of All Saints!

Our homeschool group dressed as saints today and attended Mass. Can you guess which saint each of us are (are, is??)? Most kids just dress up for Halloween, we get to dress up two days in a row!