Signs and Wonders

A Simple Woman's Day Book - August 31st

Be sure to drop over to Peggy's for more day book entries.

Out side my window....It's early, all is still dark out, an inky pre dawn blackness as clouds cover the stars and the moon.

I am thinking....  Home school  camp, home school camp, home school camp! There is still lots to do before our annual Catholic home schooling camp next week. 

From the learning rooms...  The work box's continue to be a hit though it can be difficult for me to get them all loaded each day. We will continue with our study of saints and virtues as well as our Leonardo da Vinci unit ( this has been lots of fun and we have learned quite a lot.) Brigid will wind up her preparation for her first holy communion next week. 

I am thankful for...  A heavenly Father who see's and provides for our every need, spiritual and temporal.

From the kitchen...  It's Erin's turn to cook today so I'm not sure. I can tell you that it will be porridge or cold cereal for breakfast, most likely chocolate cake for morning tea, made by Anna this has become her speciality, something with eggs for lunch and something with chicken for tea.

I am going....  go through the children's clothes cupboard as I pack for camp and clean out old and out of season clothes.

I am reading.... I'm between books at the moment as I finish Swords at Sunset last night.

 I am hoping.... Damian has been such a good baby, he sleeps really well only waking once a night and even then he has a quick feed and goes straight back to sleep. I hope next weeks camp doesn't upset his routine to much.

I am hearing....Geese , roosters and the morning song of many birds as they greet a new day.

I am praying....   For Julia, maybe you could spare a prayer for this young woman before she passes from this world to the next.

Around the house.... I can hear the boys starting to stir in their bed room, Mike has gone out to milk the cow and Damien is making those sweet little baby coo's that are so very cute. Every one else is still asleep.

A few plans for the rest of the week....Last minute preparations for camp, talk with caterers, print of certificates, pack clothes, organise craft materials, print trivia questions... I think you get the idea this week is all about preparing for camp. We will however take time out to celebrate Anthony and Amiee's birthdays and fathers day next Sunday. Wednesday we will enjoy a picnic with some other home schooling families. 

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you....

Happy Birthday Beautiful Girl.

Happy birthday to you

Happy birthday to you

Happy birthday dear Brigid

Happy birthday to you.

We love you dear one and pray that your special day was full of laughter and fun.

May God bless you each day of your life

A New Child of God

Holy Baptism holds the first place among the sacraments, because it is the door of the spiritual life; for by it we are made members of Christ and incorporated with the Church. And since through the first man death entered into all, unless we be born again of water and the Holy Spirit, we can not enter into the kingdom of Heaven.

 Parents and godparents are invited to trace the sign of the cross on Damian's forehead.Paddy thinks that this is a job for big brothers and places a cross on Damian's forehead as well.

I baptise you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

Anointing with Chrism oil.

Chrism is olive oil that has been mixed with balsam and is blessed by the bishop during the chrism mass during Holy Week. The Catholic encyclopedia states that "olive-oil, being of its own nature rich, diffusive, and abiding, is fitted to represent the copious outpouring of sacramental grace, while balsam, which gives forth most agreeable and fragrant odours, typifies the innate sweetness of Christian virtue. Oil also gives strength and suppleness to the limbs, while balsam preserves from corruption. Thus anointing with chrism aptly signifies that fullness of grace and spiritual strength by which we are enabled to resist the contagion of sin and produce the sweet flowers of virtue. "For we are the good odour of Christ unto God" (2 Corinthians 2:15)."  

 

Clothing in the white garment

I was hoping to get some nice photo's of the whole family but rain made it hard to get everyone to sit still. Neither the less here we all are together.

Aren't These Cute!

My dear friend Deanne made these cute little out fits for Damian. The shorts are so tiny and just adorable.

Yesterday it was 36 deg C and perfect weather to try out our new clothes. Here is Damian in another out fit made by Deanne, doesn't he look handsome?

A Simple Woman's Day Book - August 24th

Be sure to drop over to Peggy's for more day book entries.

Out side my window....The eastern sky is a blaze of orange and yellow as a new day dawns bright through a light misting of fog.

I am thinking.... About preparations that need to be completed for this weeks school work, Camp and gardening. Spring is upon us well and truly even though it's still August, the days have been very warm and the garden beckons for attention.

From the learning rooms... The workbox's are working well but I do need to be more consistent in filling them each night before I go to bed instead to trying to fill each box as we move through the day.

I am thankful for...The gift of family and friends as we came together with both yesterday to celebrate Damian's Baptism.

From the kitchen...  It's early and the kitchen hasn't opened yet

I am reading....  I'm still mulling over much of the advice in this book Late, Lost and Unprepared, A parents guide to helping children with executive functioningby Joyce Cooper-Kahn, Ph.D. & Laurie Dietzel, Ph.D. Swords at Sunsetby Rosemary Sutcliff

 I am hoping....That today's high of 36 deg C doesn't eventuate that just way to hot for winter!!!

I am hearing.... The gulps and squeaks of Damian feeding he makes the funnest noises when he feeds Michael affectionately calls him squeaker.   

I am praying.... For friends,  far  and not so far away

A few plans for the rest of the week....I need to finalise a few last minute camp details and go through the childrens clothes and see just what we need to buy before camp. Sort through the box's and bags of books lining the breeze way area of our house and find them a home on the book shelves.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you....

Please Pray for the Barrett Family

It is with a heavy heart that I as your prayers for the Barrett Family. Yesterday while attending a father son camp  Mary Ellen's 14 year old autistic son Ryan went missing. Ryan unfortunately had drowned please keep this dear family in your Prayers at this most difficult time.

Grant eternal rest unto Ryan O Lord

May perpetual light shine upon him always

May his soul and the souls of the faithfully departed

through the mercy of God rest in peace

Amen

Spring is in the Air

Spring is officially a few weeks away never the less there are many signs around that indicate spring is well and truly sprung.

 The peach trees are a profusion of pink blossoms.

 The bees are just loving the lavender plants

      And the azaleas are providing some much needed colour in the house yard garden.

 We've had five new kids of the goat variety born in the last week. Aren't they cute?

A Simple Woman's Day book - August 10th

 Be sure to drop over to Peggy's for more day book entries.

Out side my window....The sun is setting through a haze of smoke as we are burning off ahead of the fire season.

I am thinking.... Baptism plans, Damian will be baptised Sunday week and we will have family and friends out for a Baptismal lunch afterward.

From the learning rooms...Lots of creativity here this week as we continue on our leonardo da Vinci study. We have been painting birds with water colours and creating stained glass windows based on some of Leonardo's best known pieces. Our new spelling program, All About Spelling arrived last week and we have made a start using this the children are keen and I'm hopeful that this will help not only with our spelling but also with the children's reading.

I am thankful for...  A gentle and relative easy water birth here at home.

From the kitchen...  Spicy Chicken, potato and steamed Veggies

I am going....  To spend alot of time this week inhaling that new baby smell. This time is all to fleeting and I want to snuggle as much as possible with this new little man.

I am reading....  Late, Lost and Unprepared, A parents guide to helping children with executive functioning by Joyce Cooper-Kahn, Ph.D. & Laurie Dietzel, Ph.D. and Crown of the World Book 1 Knight of the Temple by Nathan Sadasivan

 I am hoping.... Damian has been such a good and easy going baby through this fist week of life. He sleeps at night and I'm getting more sleep now then I have for weeks I really hope this pattern continues.

I am hearing.... Children setting the table and dishing up our Evening meal and sweet new baby snuffles and cues

I am praying.... For the seminarians and priests of the Diocese in a special way during this year of the priest.

Around the house....We have a new baby and the ebb and flow of daily life revolves around this little man. Chores are not being done in the same timely manner and life has slowed a pace as we all dote on our newest addition.

A few plans for the rest of the week....Sending a teenage daughter to Sydney for a few days holiday with her older sister. I hope to sell two mares at Fridays horse sale. Mass on Saturday for the feast of the Assumption.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you....

Meeting the Family

Daddy, Brigid and Damian just after he was born.

Anna loves being a big sister

Amiee and Damian

The oldest and the youngest

Anthony can't get enough of lookng after baby.

A very proud big brother.

Welcome to the World

Damian Alphonsus

 

 

 

We joyously welcomed our twelfth child and seventh son into the world in the wee hours of Saturday morning. Damian weighed in at a petite 7lb 12oz and is 48cm long. More pictures to be posted soon.

 

 Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; They will not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate. Ps 127:3-5