Last Days ... And New Beginnings

My three oldest daughters sat on the porch in the early morning. It was the last day of school for my Kindergartener. Tomorrow would be the last day for my first and second graders.

An entire school year coming to a close. A year filled with learning, growing, praying, laughing and playing. An entire school year culminating with one final all-school assembly: a traditional May Crowning that took place last night. This May Crowning is an event that our family has grown to love very much.

This school year ending is different than any other we have experienced, though. For a couple reasons. And this leaves a bittersweet feeling in the air this weekend.

It is bitter, because after 35 years, our wonderful little Catholic school is closing its doors. It has been a tremendous blessing to our children and to our family as a whole. For this school has truly been an extension of our teaching of the Faith to our children. This school has reinforced the same spiritual and moral direction in which we want our children to go. Many times, this school has even encouraged us to do more with our Faith—through prayer and living out the Liturgical Year—and helped us weave it into every aspect of life. This school has been good and has left an eternal mark on our children's souls.

It is sweet, too, though, because God is calling us to a new chapter in our children's education. Last summer, as we were gathering school supplies and making sure we had enough uniforms, the Lord put on my heart the idea to homeschool.

I have never, ever thought of myself as someone who could homeschool. I have always admired mothers who do, but that just wasn't for me. So many reasons I could list as to why I didn't want to homeschool. And at the time, they made so much sense to me. I actually think I could not have done it back then or even a year ago. I, personally, was not ready.

But when God placed the idea to homeschool on my heart, and it didn't go away after months and months, I began to believe that He was truly calling me (us) to this new way of schooling.

After many months of praying, talking with my husband (who was just as convicted of this), researching, etc., we found out about our dear little school. It was sad, of course. But it also was personal confirmation that what the Lord placed on my heart so many months ago was truly what He wanted for our family.

And we felt peace ... and excitement about this new endeavor!

Sometimes, I still think I am crazy! I have six children, eight and younger. And I will be educating three of them next year. What about the other three? What will our days look like? Will the children get along (at least most of the time)? What about housework and grocery shopping and the other things I took care of when they were in school? I certainly have more questions than answers at this point. But oddly enough I am OK with that. That is just another way I know this is of God and God alone.

So, our summer vacation began today. But so did a completely bigger chapter in our family's life. The one of home education. For this week was the last week my children would wear uniforms to school, the last time I packed lunches for school and signed homework sheets, the last time we had to be out the door at 8 a.m., and the last time I'd drive the route we've been taking every morning for the past three years.

It is still bittersweet to me. I am a little weepy just writing this! But when I start thinking about all of the new possibilities that are coming our way, I get very, very excited.

Please keep us in your prayers as we figure out curriculum and how we are going to approach all of this in the best way for our family. Oh, and if there are any Minnesota (or surrounding states) bloggers who are attending the Minnesota Catholic Home Educators Conference, please let me know; it'd be great to see you there!

Personal Shopper Giveaway

Have you ever thought, "I could really use a personal shopper"? I know I have. I want to wear certain clothing or have a specific look, but often it takes time and money, and so I fall back on the same 'ol jeans. (At least they're a dark wash, right? And now they're cropped for spring.)

Well, the lovely Betty Beguiles wants to help! She has started a personal shopping business and wants to give one person an opportunity to win a session! Fun, huh?

And in the meantime, head on over to her blog. It's so feminine and filled with inspiration for all of us to dress our best.

Happy Friday, friends!

Little Flowers :: Wrapping Up the Year

My Trio and I had our last Little Flowers Girls' Club meeting for Wreath 1 a week and a half ago.

We moved through this first year at a very rapid speed, since we didn't start until January but wanted to finish by the end of the school year. Next year will be much more normal, with only monthly meetings.

Since I haven't been able to keep up with posting each meeting, here is a brief look at the last four virtues of Wreath 1.

Piety ~ St. Cecillia ~ Forget-Me-Not

The Colors of Piety. This was a great additional resource. Worksheet found here.

Humility ~ St. Catherine Laboure ~ Violet

Sisters

Industry ~ St. Frances Xavier Cabrini ~ Daffodil

Cute daffodil desserts

Truthfulness ~ St. Bridget of Sweden ~ Narcissus

We are really looking forward to our tea part in a few weeks! We are planning now, and it is going to be fun :)

I am so grateful for this little program. It is so beautiful to see the girls learning about the virtues and various saints that exemplify them. All under the protection of Our Lady and the intercession of St. Therese of Lisieux. It truly has been a blessing for the girls—and for the mothers alike!

20/52

Joining Barbara in ...

... 52 weeks of daily life in pictures: trials and celebrations, the extraordinary and mundane—whatever is unique to the week.

Me and my Kindergartener at our last Little Flowers Meeting.

The same daughter was very sick for the rest of the week. Fever of 104, sore throat, so very tired and little appetite. It wasn't Strep, and the doctor was very surprised by that. A cold is lingering on, and several of the others have a cold or allergies, too.

Packing up everything that didn't sell in last week's garage sale to be donated to the local "free store."

Working on a new system. I am feeling terribly unable to focus lately. Sidetracked. Overwhelmed. I'm not really sure. But I don't like it. Perhaps I'll have it in me to write more on this at a later date.

Well, my friends, happy weekend! It started out pouring rain here today, but now the sun has come out. Yeah! We look forward to a cousin's First Holy Communion tomorrow. And then we begin the last week of school! And that's an even bigger deal than normal this year. More on that, too :)

First Holy Communion Menu

When we first started planning my oldest girl's First Holy Communion, I was very mindful of wanting the Sacrament to be the highlight of the day. Yes, it was a time to celebrate! But I didn't want the party or the gifts or the decorations to take away from what was really happening that day: My daughter receiving Jesus for the very first time! Nothing should overshadow that.

My daughter suggested a dessert party. (She has the biggest sweet tooth!) And while I loved the idea, I knew we also needed to serve real food, for we would be gathering around noon. So, we settled on brunch. I had a rough-draft of a menu in mind, but it really needed some fine-tuning. So, I consulted the author of my favorite (and only) food blog, and she was so kind to help me along in the menu-planning process. Thanks, Barbara!

.: Brunch Menu :.

Breakfast Casserole (a family favorite made with Challah bread)

Jalapeño Cheddar Breakfast Bake

Asiago Cheese Bagel Bake

Fresh Fruit Salad

Caprese Salad Skewers

Assorted Olives

Mini Muffins

Orange Juice and Coffee

To make this meal more special, we used antique serving dishes from my mom, grandmother and even my great-grandmother. My daughter has a fondness for old things, so this really made it special for her.

before meal prayer and a special blessing over our First Communicant

We had a dessert buffet after brunch, to keep my daughter's original request.

.: Dessert Menu :.

Lemony Angel Cake

Chalice-shaped Sugar Cookies

Brownie Bites

Assorted Candy in Pretty Dishes

First Holy Communion Spiritual Bouquet

With each invitation we sent out, we (secretly) included a little card asking guests to join us in giving our daughter a spiritual bouquet for her First Holy Communion.

They could check off what prayers they would like to offer for her.

And then, we asked them to bring the card, attached to a special flower, to our celebration afterward.

It was so beautiful to see the bouquet grow, with all of the different hand-selected stems! And all of the prayers she is receiving are so appreciative!

Long after the flowers have wilted away (there are only a few remaining today), she will be able to keep the prayer-cards with her other special First Communion items, and know and feel just how loved she is through the power and beauty of prayer.

19/52

Joining Barbara in ...

... 52 weeks of daily life in pictures: trials and celebrations, the extraordinary and mundane—whatever is unique to the week.

A fist-full of "flowers" to grace our prayer table.

A real-life photo, captured by my 8yo daughter.

It's titled "Spilled Juice."

Mother's Day roses.

A post-First Communion gift from a kind friend. She (and her sweet daughter) made my daughter's day, when she found this sweet little bracelet in the mail. Thank you, Barbara and Faith! (A) loves it!

Up to my neck in garage sale stuff. The sorting, the pricing ... three days of selling. And it was cold. I'm so glad it's over. The leftovers are on their way to the donation center. Although I'm exhausted and my body aches, it feels good to be rid of the clutter!

Well, I'm off to curl up in my PJs and watch a Hallmark movie. That's about all I can handle tonight.

Enjoy your weekend! See you next time ...

Thanks and ??

Thanks to all of you for your sweet comments about my daughter's First Holy Communion dress. I was so excited to share this special project with all of you.

But I noticed that with Blogger down this morning, some of your comments were lost. Boo. =(

Oh well! Thank you, anyway, for stopping by and leaving me a note. I really appreciate it!

Happy Weekend! We are in the middle of a BIG garage sale. And it's cold.

Before & After ~ First Holy Communion Dress

It started with a dress I wore nearly 10 years ago. When I married my husband. My wedding dress.

Could it be made into a First Holy Communion dress? I wondered. How wonderful it would be! Could the dress that I wore on the day Greg and I began life together be transformed into a dress my daughter could wear on the day she receives Jesus for the very first time?

Sacrament to sacrament. Grace to grace. Passing on. Tradition. Part of me. Part of her.

For it has sat in my closet, in the same plastic wardrobe bag it came in the day I picked it up from the wedding-gown shop. And I have always wondered what I will ever do with my dress. Too nostalgic to part with it. Yet trying to keep the clutter at bay.

As I thought about the idea more and more, I grew excited! Perhaps this transformed dress could be worn not only by my oldest daughter, but by all four of my daughters ... and maybe even my granddaughters, too.

Part of me could be part of all of them. Sacrament to sacrament. Grace to grace. Passing on. Tradition.

I loved the idea of a First Holy Communion dress made out of my wedding dress. To be passed down. After all, the Baptismal gown they all wore was worn by me and made by my grandmother, too.

With only a smidgen of sewing ability, I consulted my cousin Jenny to determine if my idea was possible. She went to college for apparel design and development. If anyone would know if my idea was actually doable, it was her. And her response was yes! And she even agreed to help me do it for me. My aunt, her mom helped quite a bit, too, from what I am told.

We met. We measured. We cut out the pattern we found at JoAnn.

She made a mock-up dress out of muslin. Yes, she really is professional!

She modified the mock up before cutting into the train of my wedding dress.

We had another fitting on Easter Sunday. It was a little big, so she took it in a bit. And made a few other alternations.

The beading, which was along the bottom of my dress and train was removed and positioned on the cuffs of the sleeves. (I love the three-quarter-length sleeves on this dress!)

The end result. With matching bag :)

It touches my heart so much that the dress I wore for my wedding was worn by my daughter this past Saturday for her First Holy Communion. The day was already emotional, but this made it even more so. And this dress will be passed on and worn by my other daughters, too! Maybe not for their wedding day, but for the most important day of their lives—for their First Holy Communion, the day they first meet Jesus in the most intimate way possible.

And according to my creative cousin, I have enough beading left over to make ring-bearer pillows when the day comes when one of them actually does get married. But that's not for a long, long, long time! (If ever, my husband says!)

Thank you, Jen and Aunt Anne! You really gave us such a gift. How will we ever repay you?

A Glimpse at First Holy Communion

My daughter's First Holy Communion was so beautiful! The day was filled with prayer and grace and joy. I cried. Knowing Jesus was coming into her heart in such a real and special way. Words cannot express what I felt for my daughter. How my faith in the Real Presence was deepened.

I will share more soon. Especially about her dress and a few other things we did. Your responses to my questions a few months ago really gave me the boost I needed to begin planning this memorable day. Keeping the Sacrament as the focal point. And yet also celebrating in a special way. I hope you will be interested ... In the meantime, I will give you a glimpse of her special day.

Dear Child of God,

How fortunate you are!

Jesus, the King of Kings, your Creator, comes down from Heaven and waits for you upon the altar!

He is so happy to see you. He has waited from eternity for this moment, to share Himself with you in the Holy Eucharist.

Look at your angel, he is so proud to be with you, he kneels at the door of your heart, holding it open for Jesus. Our Mother Mary is there, too, and your Patron Saint, they are so full of joy!

Always remember, dear Child, that you are a temple of God ... that He delights living in your heart. Be sure to keep it clean and free from sin, ask Our Lady to help you. She is an excellent housekeeper, she will help you make your heart into a palace, a beautiful home for the King of Heaven, Jesus!

17-18/52

Joining Barbara in ...

... 52 weeks of daily life in pictures: trials and celebrations, the extraordinary and mundane—whatever is unique to the week.

Happy 7th Birthday! As part of her day, we took her to Panera for a small treat and to play games. Just the three of us. It was great to have some special time with this amazing girl!

We saw this vocal group in concert with some friends. They were really wonderful!

After receiving birthday gifts of art supplies, we had a lot of creativity happening around here!

By the end of Easter Week, our candy was almost gone! Yikes! But maybe it's just better to eat it all and be done, rather than to have it linger around the house for weeks and weeks.

Practicing how we will do her hair for First Holy Communion tomorrow. (Her nose is almost always in a book! Love that about her =)