Black Friday and Other Shopping Ideas

We got our newspaper on Thanksgiving and thought we might try doing a little Black Friday shopping. Early in the morning seemed exciting but after a while of searching the ads and searching the internet we found that we could stay in bed, get our sleep and find just as good of deals on line. then after a good breakfast we would head out and try a little shopping.  About 9 AM we left and made it to one store. It was Kohl's and I like Kohl's.  Apparently a lot of people like Kohl's. There were good deals and a lot of nice items we would like but in the end the line to pay for items caused us to leave. The line literally went 3/4 of the way  around the store. It was moving fast but we decided to wait until another day. So we left and did a couple of errands and came back home.  
It seems to me alot of people are going to be cutting back on Christmas. Cutting back on the amount of  money spent. Perhaps that is why searching for the best deals and best prices causes such great crowds. Though I know alot of people do love to shop in the hustle and bustle also.
There are other ways of cutting back on the amount of money one spends at Christmas.
Family Crafts http://familycrafts.about.com/od/giftstomake/tp/HomeMadeGiftIdeas.htm has
some neat ideas for homemade gifts. 100 ideas.  I remember when I was a young girl ( along time ago) in school we usually always  had a day where we made gifts for our parents.  As a homeschooling mom I hope to come up with some creative ideas this year of gifts that can be made by our family and given to friends. Sometimes it's the homemade gifts that come from the heart that mean the most. I know for me I find it very hard to throw away special gifts, cards and pictures my son has made.
Another place to find ideas to  help save on Christmas and to bring the true meaning of Christmas is an article found on Faith and Family's blog. The blog Simply Joyous tells of many ways to bring simplicity to Christmas and cut back on the spending. http://wbx.me/l/?u=http://faithandfamilylive.com/.
Focusing on what Christmas is truly about this year, the birth of our Savior, is most important and is what will last through eternity, not the stuff we buy at Kohl's or any other great store.

    

                    

Happy Thanksgiving

Advent and Christmas

                                              

We bought our Advent candles, started decorating our home for Advent and Christmas. This is my most favorite season of all that is coming up. My son, who is 12,  loves it, too.  He is so excited about the tree and the decorations. He  helped me pick out an advent wreath and candles this year.   We set up our manger scene and try to have the people in route. We place them at varying places around the room. Of course, baby Jesus is not brought out yet.
The best part about having Christ in your Christmas and celebrating Advent is it takes away the hustle and bustle of the commercialism that has been placed on Christmas and takes away the stress and helps bring peace.
For me Advent is one of the best things about Christmas, besides the coming of our Lord, of course.

Rain or Sunshine

Okay, we have had alot of rain lately. Yesterday we  had a peek at some sun but it is pretty cloudy here again today.  I am not complaining mind you, everyday is a beautiful gift to be enjoyed but I am praying for some sunshine or as my son would put it some Sonshine.

Homeschooling

     

 We have been homeschooling for 8 years now. Our son is in 8th grade  There have been  ups and downs but I have loved every minute of it. We are studying our Faith very deeply this year. He will be confirmed into the Catholic Church in Spring. It is such a glorious thought to think he is studying so much of God, the Holy Spirit and of the love God gives us and the beautiful church He left us.  As I attend the class with him I learn so much also. Things I didn't learn or remember from my own childhood. I hope and pray he will remember much better than I did the things he is being taught.

Our strongest and best subject is history. We love it. This year, though, we are also studying Latin. Wow, how that has helped with spelling. We started last year with English from the Roots Up. and moved on to Our Roman Roots and I have to say understanding how our language came to be and how words are put together sure helps me understand and spell better also.
Next is Math. Joshua is great at math, though, he doesn't believe it.  He can figure things in his head so well and quick. 
I came across a little gem here this year, Easy Grammar. Wow, do we like this curriculum for English.
We have a lot of other subjects yet.  We love off days, of course, field trips, choir, debate class. Our school is going well and I thank the good Lord He is always with us and guiding us. 
Hope your homeschool is going well, too.
Check out some of the links below for curriculum.
                                      

Anniversary

Besides being Veterans Day, yesterday was my husband and my anniversary. We have been married 14 wonderful years. I am so grateful to God for such a wonderful husband, marriage and family. We had a nice meal at home. We got out the good dishes, silverware and cups and had a small chocolate cake for desert.
It was nice celebrating at home, my son, my husband and myself.
                           

Veterans Day

Today I want to remember and pray for  all the men and women who bravely fought and continue to fight for the freedoms we have in this  Thank you all very much.   Also, I pray for all the families who have lost loved ones in war.
                        
                                           

Book Review: The Domestic Church by Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle

I am currently reading a very good book from Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle.
The Title is: The Domestic Church; Room by Room. The back cover of the book says, "Make your humble home as holy as the grandest cathedral. Pope John Paul II wrote that the "little domestic church, like the greater Church, needs to be constantly and intensely evangelized: hence its duty regarding permanent education in the faith. That's a tall order for busy Catholic mothers. You might even say it's as big as a house: You wouldn't want to clean the whole thing in one fell swoop, but if you take it one room at a time, you'll get the job done."


I think this is great. Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle talks about imitating Mother Mary in our Motherhood, loving our husbands, loving our blessings of little souls, everyday holiness, love in our home, sanctification, going to the cross, called to be a sign of Christ, so much more.
I am truly enjoying this book. I want to be a light to my family and my world of the wonderful love of the Savior. This book is full of spiritual ideas to help along the way.
                                

Working together

My husband and I worked together recently to build a holder for our garbage cans that can sit outside of our house. It's kind of like a little shed for garbage cans. It was great working together like that. It took us about a couple of weeks on and off.
My husband, son and I also worked together remodeling one of our bathrooms. We all had particular jobs to do and worked like a team and got the job done and it looks great. Special thanks to my husband who did so much work on both projects. It was also great to see my son working so hard right along side of us, being very diligent.

Sunday Mass Psalm

Psalm 146:
Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul! I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have being.
Today's Psalm at Mass helps us to remember to always be praising God, in everything we do.


I am just starting out blogging, so I hope this is a place where you can find doses of spiritual, homemaking and homeschooling encouragement.


God Bless.