Expressions from our Youngest

Expressions from our Youngest
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Friday, June 22, 2012

NOL Sample Story - Ten Days and Nine Nights

You can get this book at the local library and enjoy the story along with rich examples of God's Word with your child (utilize bible).  Please see this link to try this with your child/children.  It is a lot of fun for my family.

http://www.nucleusoflife.com/apps/blog/show/16362155-sample-story-ten-days-and-nine-nights

Friday, June 15, 2012

Eileen is Grateful


I am a little late for A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings  on Judy's blog.  We need to continue every day to remember all the blessings in life God gives to us.  Especially during these times when our religious freedom is under assault.  The Lord, in all his goodness, is the only one who can guide us through these difficult times.  Remembering our blessings is a huge part of acknowledging this goodness.  If you would like to participate in this great meme, please click on this link.

1)  I am so grateful to be able to spend part of a sunny afternoon at a local splash park for my five year old.  He absolutely loved it.  They have huge water fountains to run through.  It is only five dollars for the entire day - so it is a pretty good deal.

2)  It is so difficult for young people to find jobs today.  We are fortunate that all our teens have jobs as lifeguards, engineering, helping out at a hospital, CIT - coach in training for swim team, and teaching swim lessons to children.  For this I am tremendously thankful.

3)  I am thankful that my daughter was able to attend a pool party with her friends for the incoming 8th graders at her school.  The girls had a great time and the family who hosted the party was amazing.  They have ten children.  Anyone who has ten children is amazing in my book - yes, that means you Judy.

4)  I am thankful to be able to attend an appreciation gathering for the principle at my daughters' Catholic school.

5)  I am very grateful that today was a more relaxed day than the beginning of the week.  I've been so busy because my two sons do not have cars yet as they are so expensive.  My husband and I are responsible for getting them and our teen to and from their jobs.


Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Catholic Social Teaching

Please go to http://cuf.org/ (Catholics United for the Faith) website and click on their blog to join in commenting on their post for Catholic Social Teaching - A Primer which includes a podcast linked to the USCCB website.  There are 11 topics.  I've commented on 10 of them and I have one more to go.  I ramble a bit in the beginning but got better at editing my comments toward the end.  So far - I'm the only one that has commented.  Let me know what you think - join in the dialogue.  The topics include:

1)  Option for the Poor
2)  Peace and Disarmament (made mistake on this one and then corrected myself)
3)  Political Participation
4)  Role of Government
5)  Social Justice
6)  Stewardship of Creation
7)  Common Good
8)  Dignity of the Human Person
9)  Economic Justice
10)  Global Solidarity
11)  Individual Rights

Friday, June 8, 2012

Shepherding a Child's Heart




I know it is a bit late but I wanted to post a little something about Chapter 14:  Infancy to Childhood:  Training Objectives and Chapter 15:  Infancy to Childhood:  Training Procedures in Amanda Pelser's book club for Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp.  At the end of each chapter, there is a list of Application Questions  for parents that really make you analyze your dedication to Christian parenting.  I highly suggest you read this book so that you can answer these questions to help you analyze one's devotion to Christian parenting.

To begin, Mr. Tripp mentions Ephesians 6:1-3 and has a superb illustration referring to this verse you can show your children in order to remain in God's protective "Circle of Blessing."  Honoring and obeying parents is a major part of remaining in this "Circle of Blessing" which means submitting to parental authority.  There were numerous times that 'submission' and 'spanking' were mentioned in these chapters.  While submission by discipline and/or punishment can be effective at times, submission is also directly linked to the virtue of humility which was not mentioned in these chapters.  God's Word and the sacraments can also play a vital role in teaching children to be humble [1) not proud or haughty: not arrogant or assertive  2) reflecting, expressing, or offered in a spirit of deference or submission.]  In fact, through out the entire Gospel, Jesus is constantly pointing to the grave attitudes of the proud and haughty Pharisees.  Humility is the exact opposite of this arrogance.  Children are smart and can learn this.

Therefore, we can reflect, express, and offer the humility God's grace bestows on our hearts when we pursue the Lord through scripture, sacramental blessings, Church tradition, and/or chosen community leaders.  We come to live out a desire  to gain favor of our God and parents by not only learning submission to authority through 'taking a set back' after we've disobeyed, but can also actually fall so in love with the Lord's  wisdom and holiness through scripture and sacramental blessings that we desire to make the Lord's efforts our own efforts.  This helps us to strive to 'move forward' and limits the times we 'fall back' to live as Christian disciples.  So be aware that God-given humility fosters submission in our children too.

Shepherding a Child's Heart is a great read and I do not want to bore you with little details about our specific strengths and weaknesses as parents.  I basically wanted to praise the efforts of Tedd Tripp and also point out that a child who leaves the "Circle of Blessing" does not always have to have the rod applied for disciplining.  I guess it depends on the circumstances, age, and temperament of the child.



Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Eileen is Grateful


I thought I would take this opportunity to express what I am thankful for this past week and join Judy's blog at A Thankful Woman's Blessings.  Just list five things you are thankful for and share them by clicking on this link.

1)  I am so grateful to have attended the Jubilee Mass at the Basilica in Washington D.C. for our 25th Wedding Anniversary.Cardinal Wuerl said the Mass.  He also blessed my brown scapulars.  It was quite romantic when we exchanged vows with each other again.

2)  I am thankful for the effort my high school daughter has put toward finishing three projects and studying for her final exams.  She has shown much diligence and good work ethic.

3)  I am grateful that my middle school daughter helped my college son make a birthday cake for his girlfriend.  I love the way my children help each other out.

4)  I am thankful that I was able to quiz my daughter before she takes her Latin and Math assessments to attend a private high school.

5)  I am also grateful that my high school daughter was able to be trained for a volunteer job at a local hospital. She would like to be a nurse.