Although I am easily distracted by all the fantastic homeschooling curricula out there, I usually refrain from homeschooling catalog shopping until January. Well, this year, I think I started looking at catalogs when we were only 3 weeks into the school year! Can you say, "Dissatisfied?"

For years I've wanted to implement the Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) program. This highly-touted, but pricey program caught my attention early on in our homeschooling endeavor. Fortunately, I found the complete DVD set and accompanying notes at a garage sale for $20. Such a deal! I brought the program home and began watching the workshops. They were fantastic, and really taught me to be a better writing teacher. The problem was that I had to take that knowledge and create assignments for my kids. That worked, last year, for about 4 months. Then I really burned out.

Imagine my joy in recently discovering a series of fully planned assignments implementing the IEW program. http://writing-edu.com/writing/theme.php. I ordered a copy of the U.S. History Writing Lessons, Vol. 1. Now I thought it would be good, but in the past two weeks I've discovered that my kids love it! Writing is not the drudgery that they once thought it was. They are laughing and being creative with words. They were actually acting out the action verbs we were using in this week's assignment.

It is rare when you find something that just "works", but I am so very thankful to have found this. Deo Gratias!

Latin is complicated.

There are many benefits to learning Latin:
1. A better understanding of grammar
2. Increased knowledge of vocabulary
3. Head start in learning a modern Romance language
4. Increased ability to problem-solve
5. Carrying on the tradition of the Church
6. And, hey, who wouldn't want to be able to read a little Cicero, for kicks?

There is only one drawback - Latin hurts my brain!

I'm all for making Latin easier and more enjoyable, so I was so thrilled to find a new resource available for Latin reading. Olim Erat! A First Latin Reader. It includes prayers, Bible stories, and saint's stories. And it only costs $3.00!

I've also hoped that teaching Latin to my children would pay off as Latin is gradually reintroduced in the Mass. Unfortunately, I found out tonight that Latin will not be returning to Mass in our parish. A select few parishes in the Archdiocese will offer the Latin Novus Ordo, but St. Anthony's is not one of them. At least not anytime in the near future. Sigh...

So for now, we keep the language of the Church alive in our own Domestic Church. Fiat voluntas tua.

Allow me to get up on my soap box for a moment. Being an American, I am a firm believer in voting. I'm a little maniacal about getting my family members and friends to get out and vote. It really frustrates me no end when those who can vote choose not to. In the past, members of my family have told me, "We we're just too tired to go the polls and vote." Arghhhhhhh!!!! I truly believe it is our responsibility to take part in the election of our leaders and the making of our laws. And it only takes a few minutes.

Tomorrow is election day, so prepare, then get out and vote! You'll advance the cause of freedom, get that wonderful patriotic feeling, pass along the importance of voting to your kids, and even get a cool sticker! :-)

I am reading the Autobiography of Fulton Sheen right now, entitled Treasure in Clay. Fantastic book about a fantastic human being. I'm always inspired by what he says or writes, but this passage made me consider my life in a completely different light. He is talking about how his autobiography is not really the story of his life, but is interwoven with the story of salvation. He can see his own life unfolding in the pages of the Bible.

"That autobiography is the crucifix - the inside story of my life not in the way it walks the stage of time, but how it was recorded, taped and written in the Book of Life. It is not the autobiography that I tell you, but the autobiography I read to myself. In the crown of thorns, I see my pride, my grasping for earthly toys in the pierced Hands, my flight from shepherding care in the pierced Feet, my wasted love in the wounded Heart, and my prurient desires in the flesh hanging from Him like purple rags. Almost every time I turn a page of that book, my heart weeps at what eros has done to agape, what the 'I' has done to the 'Thou,' what the professed friend has done to the Beloved.

But there have been moments in that autobiography when my heart leaped with joy at being invited to His Last Supper; when I grieved when one of my own left His side to blister His lips with a kiss; when I tried falteringly to help carry His gibbet to the Hill of the Skull; when I moved a few steps closer to Mary to help draw the thrust sword from her heart; when I hoped to be now and then in life a disciple like the disciple called 'Beloved'; when I rejoiced at bringing other Magdalenes to the the Cross to become the love we fall just short of in all love; when I tried to emulate the centurion and press cold water to thirsty lips; when, like Peter, I ran to an empty tomb and then, at the seashore, had my heart broken a thousand times as He kept asking over and over again in my life: 'Do you love Me?'"

I've never put myself into the moments of Christ's life in the way that Fulton Sheen does in this passage. My failures and triumphs affect our Lord in a profound way, as do the failures and triumphs of all mankind. God's love and patience is simply unfathomable, and I remain in awe at the gifts he continues to bestow on me.

Fulton Sheen, pray for us!

We've begun a new tradition in our house. I've dubbed it, "Clean soul, clean house." We choose one Saturday each month to accomplish a few things - go to confession, eat a nice breakfast together, and then tackle those major cleaning chores that we just don't get to during the week. Today was only our second month to do this little tradition, but it's starting to click.

This evening we topped the whole thing off with an All Saints party with about 30 other homeschooling families. The kids dressed up in costumes of their favorite saints, we set up our All Saints BINGO game amid the other activities, and shared a pot-luck meal together.

Now, I'm not a great housekeeper. Quite frankly, I really dislike cleaning. And on the weekends, I really don't like to cook. And honestly, making a good examination of conscience so that I discover what all my faults are, isn't something I do for kicks. So on paper this day seems like my worst nightmare.

But as I sit here tonight, reflecting on the day, somehow I can't imagine it being any better. I'm typing this post with my bare feet resting on a clean floor. My kids are sound asleep after a hard day working and playing. My husband and I have spent time together and with the friends we love. And we are reconciled to our God.

All is right in the world.