Elena 
Outside my window…
Weather is pleasant and even a bit chilly, but not enough to need a sweater.
I am thinking…
About the church we visited on Sunday. For The Year of Faith, our Diocese has organized a way for the faithful to make a Pilgrimage with all that that entails!
There are five churches participating (and one of them is my home church!). You can get a passport at your very first stop and then when you visit one of the pilgrim churches, you get a lovely golden stamp for your passport. After visiting all four churches, you are supposed to go to the cathedral to get your final stamp.
This only goes until September 7, so Mr. Pete and I decided we better make our first trip and we did that on Sunday – we visited St. Mary’s Parish in Elyria.
I am thankful…
for such a creative bishop! I think this is a great way for folks to see what the rest of the diocese is like.
From the learning rooms…
Taking a break this week as we have some fun and as I get ready to notify the superintendent for the 18th time that we are homeschooling!! For more on notification in Ohio, see my article from 2011 – which I hope to have updated soon.
From the kitchen....
Steak grilled by Mr. Pete. and mashed potatoes and a side salad.
I am wearing…
Black capris and my favorite black strip T-shirt.
I am creating…
hopefully a sale of property that will close by my anniversary date – which is August 10. Things seem to be coming together. My sister and I took a gob of paperwork over to the bank to have notarized. My realtor seems hopeful. So I am just moving ahead as though everything is going to be great, the sale will go through and money will be deposited in my banking account. – a girl can dream right? I am going to keep praying about it – inspired by a homily I heard over the weekend.
I am going…
- walk every day
- Get in a strength and cardio video at least three times.
- Finish organizing the soccer league I inherited – which has been a major pain in the butt.
- Start organizing the support group.
- finish straightening up my office.
- prepare my notification for homeschooling next year.
I am reading…
This is a fascinating book. It starts out with the Old Testament way of education, through Christ’s commandments and the early church – and how none of it mandated the creation of schools to teach children! It’s really giving me a new way to look at education in general, and Catholic schools in particular.
I am up to the section that describes the formation of public education as we know it in this country. It was interesting to note that before we had public schools, the population was predominantly literate! Farmers and craftsmen all knew how to read, write and do math – and in fact some of our most famous citizens wrote amazing things! all without public education, and in may cases without a college degree.
I am wondering…
how I am going to manage two kids on two different cross country teams, and managing a soccer league! Gabe is also preparing to move and I wonder how that is going to work out too.
I am Hoping…
- That I can just reconcile and be on good terms with all of my sons. For the most part we are. I am learning more and more to swallow my pride and my anger and to just accept the things I cannot change.
- That the young women my sons give their hearts to won’t break them.
- that I have the strength to manage a homeschool group and a soccer league.
- that all my children make good choices going forward.
- that the sale of the property I am selling from my father’s estate goes through.
- that I can endure all of the things I am called to endure – through Christ who strengthens me.
I am Looking Forward To…
upcoming family reunions.
In a couple of days, the descendants of these young men and women will be gathering together for fun and fellowship. The handsome tall young man in the back with a vest and a wisp of dark head over his forehead is my grandpa. The lovely young girl on the right in the pretty plaid dress and bare feet is my lovable and controversial Aunt Opal. The baby is my Aunt Dot who is now 93 years old, and her slightly older sister is 96-year-old Aunt Grace.
I am hearing…
the buzz in my left ear, the air conditioner and the computer – all white noise!
A Picture I am Sharing…
!
Summer on the great lakes
