Vermont Vacation

These are the Mountains we would wake up to every morning. The Green Mountains are so beautiful!! Vermont is truly an awesome get away.
Kerry worked all week for the big horse show on Saturday. Her hard work paid off as she walked away with her share of ribbons.

The boys hiked with us in the rugged Mountain side. Vt must have had a very bad Winter, there were trees down all over the woods. Huge trees uprooted all over. So the hike was a bit hard but we managed to maneuver our way through.

Jake wanted to take our picture so we could look back and know we were there too. I guess he realizes I'm not in many pictures because I'm always taking them. Ha!

I thank God for another beautiful family vacation!!

Small Successes

1. My learning room is finished! All of our books are in and put away. I am thrilled!! 2. All of our bedroom closets are cleaned out and organized along with the playroom/basement.3. We have finally set a date with a dear homeschooling family to get together before school starts and that will be today. All other get togethers have been successfully met as well. We have cleared our schedule for tonight to attend a prayervigil for life with many lovely families. I can honestly say while I know there is so much more I can do, I am happy with progress made here. Thanks Faith and Family!!!!

Wordless Wednesday

Finally

Our school room is finally complete! Yeah!!! All the books have trickled in over the past several weeks and now they are all put away on their prospective shelves. My lesson plans have a nice jump start and dare I say ..I am actually organized and ready for the new school year.

Saint Elizabeth Anne Seton

This is Saint Elizabeth Anne Seton's picture that she had from when she was married. They said she prayed before it often. Isn't He beautiful?
These were the stations of the cross that she had always wanted but were not put up until after her death. They are made of the bone from fish. Very intricate, the detail is impressive.

This is my clan minus my 20 year old in front of St. Seton's statue.

And this is the room where she met Jesus on her death bed. This is not the original bed but it is the exact spot where Mother Seton passed from this world to the next. I was so moved being in this Holy place.

Pilgrimage

For quite some time I have wanted to go to Emmitsburg, Maryland to visit Saint Elizabeth Anne Seton's Home. She is the patron Saint of teachers as well as Homeschoolers and our home school group prays to her continuously to help us on our journey on this narrow road we travel. For several Summers now I tell the kids this is the year we will head down there and then the Summer fills up and we never end up going. My husband had off Tuesday and told us that would be a good day to pack up our lunches and make it happen and we did just that. I am thrilled with all we walked away with. Her story has touched my life on so many levels. She was a wife, Mother, sister, daughter, teacher and nun. She had so many hardships and kept looking to God and praising him. In her difficult times she praised him more and what I found so inspiring is that she trusted more as well. When life got her down she turned to God in hope, when many of us turn to despair. She always knew that he knew best. I pray for that strength, love and trust.

I pray for all of us on this journey that Mother Seton will intercede for us to help us to be exactly what our Lord needs us to be for our children. Saint Elizabeth Anne Seton, pray for us.

Saturday Evening

We decided to build a bonfire today ...roasted some marshmallows had some smores.

Then we said the rosary. It was a lovely Saturday night!! I will miss the lazy Summer Evenings when the only thing on our agenda is to relax. Thank you God for Summer !

Wordless Wednesday

Happy Birthday Rachel

20 years old!!!! I can't believe it! My how you have grown! May God Bless you and keep you always in the palm of his hand until it is time to meet him face to face. God first then EVERYTHING will fall into its proper place. I love you!!

Gardening

My green lettuce is coming up so beautifully in my garden I just had to share a picture of it. I heard lettuce was particularly hard to grow so I wanted to see for myself and so far we have had some lovely salads. It is so rewarding to run out to the garden and pick fresh produce for dinner. We also have tomatoes, green beans, cucumbers, corn, scallions, basil and dill. Next year I would like to expand the garden to include much more.