Our Normal Routine

Apologies for my absence.  There were a couple weeks when I just did not have a single second to do anything but prepare my classroom, write lesson plans, and get the kids ready to return to school.  Then I had trouble getting into my blog account.  Now I'm finally able to sit for a minute and take a deep breath.  Aaaahhhhhhh!

I hope everyone is doing well.  We are finally back into our school routine.  Our dog is not very happy with us, being gone all day long.  But the kids love on him all night so it's all good.

Have any of you been challenged to do the ALS ice bucket challenge?  I only ask because there has been a lot of talk between our Catholic friends about whether to donate to the ALS Society.  They apparently fund embryonic stem cell research.  So if we are challenged (is it bad I'm hoping that I'm not???), we will be donating to the John Paul II Medical Research Institute.  They do great work there...with ADULT stem cells.  I challenge you to do the same if you find yourself under a freezing cold bucket of water.  ;)

Prayers to you as we enter the weekend.  I know our family can certainly use the rest after our first full week of school and homework.  Blessings!

Gospel Reflection

Jesus feeds the crowd with only five loaves and two fish, with leftovers.  A couple things come to mind.  First, we can all make do with way less than we have.  As I look around our home, I sometimes wonder where everything came from and why we have so much "stuff." We're getting ready to prepare our house to sell it.  I'm most looking forward to purging everything we don't need and starting fresh in our new house.

Secondly, there were leftovers!  There is always a way for us to help others, even if we perceive that we don't have enough to give.  My husband has been laid off three different times in the last five years and we've tried really hard to continue giving to others.  Even laid off, we know that we are abundantly blessed.

What stands out for you?

Friday Fun Day

Any exciting plans this weekend?  We'll be attending the Midwest Catholic Family Conference.  So excited!  Tim Staples will be there, as well as Dr. Gregory and Lisa Popcak. Looking forward to some quality time with the family.  If you'd like to see more info on the conference, go to www.catholicfamilyconference.org.  Our diocese is certainly blessed to host this every August!

Hand or mouth?

I saw an interesting post on Facebook this week advocating for everyone to receive the Eucharist by mouth, as to keep reverent the reception of our Lord.  Some of the commenters even went so far to say that we should kneel while receiving and only receive from a priest because his hands are the only hands that are consecrated.  I immediately began researching and ended up reading Memoriale Domini.  From what I read, it seems that reception in the hand is allowed only in certain instances.  Does anyone know of an "updated" document from the Church?  I'm trying to figure out when or if the teaching of that document changed.  What is the norm in your area?  How do you receive?

Wednesday...finally!

We have nothing on the agenda today and I love it.  My in-laws are still here and it's rainy outside.  So we are officially hanging out.  I'll make cheeseburger soup for dinner tonight.

Do you also love "nothing" days?

Terrific Tuesday!

Let's share something terrific that's happened to us lately.  Ready, set, go!

Crock Pot Meals

Do you have a favorite crock pot recipe to share?  I need to do some meal planning before school starts and some days, the only way we have a yummy, hot meal in the evenings is if I turn on the crock pot.

Please share!