Two weeks in......

Well its been two weeks, maybe three since we commenced school for the year..
I have tried to keep the school load as light as possible.
Some subjects are progressing quicker than others, but I am placing no pressure on Brid. She is working at her pace.
This workload leaves Brid free to warm up and stretch before her daily ballet classes.
We are working with another family, exploring Art & Artists. Its not only to learn about these Artists but to have girl time with a close friend. That's so important in the world of ballet. It can be extremely competitive.
Brid is reading through a gorgeous book she chose at a Catholic bookstore in Melbourne, certainly not on any lists, but she's enjoying it, nevertheless.

  Its full of wonderful wisdom although it is pitched at the older teen,its certainly a great inspiring book that she'd recommend. The best part for me is that she chose it, not me. Makes me proud.
So with a balance of school load and allowing her plenty of down time after Ballet classes, a good nutritious diet we have settled in well to our year.
Its bound to get quite busy, as the eisterfodd season is upon us.
This year Brid is attending a big Competetion, AICD. Its a chance to win a Scholarship to a prestigious Ballet Summer School in Houston USA. Just to enter will be amazing experience, no matter the outcome.
We are still trying to Keep God as our focus and At times, I must confess this can be difficult as the world creaps in. So spare a prayer for Brid as she enters these Competitions. Her intention always is to dance for God.

How is your year going so far?
  

End of an Era

Brid joined the Gilr Guide movement in 2008 after our difficult ordeal that year. It has been a great movement to be involved in.
She has learnt a lot of skills and has been patrol leader for the last year.
She has been able to do many things we could not have done with her.he slept out under the stars at the Zoo.
She has been on walks and camp fires, ttended talks and fundraised for various different charities including Diabetes and the Blind society.
Late last year the Guide movement asked the Girls to Vote to modernise the Promise.
For those who don't know I learnt it as this"
I Promise to do my best, to do my duty to God, to serve the Queen, help other people and to keep the Guide law.

Brids' promise was fairly similar to mine.

They girls were kept up to date and recently there was a flyer she recieved in the mail which upset her..
It said that We were taking God out of the Promise.
Brid was Far from impressed..She was quite at first but I could see she was mulling it all over.

Out of the blue, I should have known it was coming she said " Mum I don't want to go to Guides any more".
I pressed her for why? The day before she brought home a worksheet on the the new Promise. "I have to learn this".
I Am not surprised really. She brings Our Lord into every area of her life, and if He wa to be taken out then she really had no option.. She is 14, she made an informed decision, and I totally respect that decision..
Good on her for standing up for what she believes.
We wrote an email to the Movement and to the Unit explaining our decision. .
The  movements head office were surprised by Brids reaction.
The unit were very sad but understood. Brid has passed into a new phase of her life and as the saying goes. "It was good while it lasted".

Encouragement night for July

On a cold winter night there was nothing I wanted more than to spend it in front of our fire, but there is more to life than a cosy fire.. So I prepared Dinner early and afterwards took Brid and myself off to the teen girls night and the Mums encouragement night.
I was presenting a talk tonight on Marriage and its effects on homeschooling. I myself could only see positive results from Homeschooling so I chose a different approach.
After a quick introduction about myself and Dermot, our journey to meet each other and our love for each other I began my main focus..
Did I tell you I had forgotten my glasses-, so Michelle kindly found me a magnifying glass and I presented everything with one eye closed to see the page properly. It did look hysterical...
Anyway, I chose to present a set of notes that are part of the 'follow on' after a marriage weekend. I was most comfortable talking like this as its been second nature to Dermot and I, as we have used this format for 10 years or more.
I asked each of the ladies read a paragraph each, taking turns around the circle. We discussed various points and wrote a love letter to our husbands.
These women are wonderful women of God and I wondered how I would fel presenting content that is Catholic, but I felt totally at ease using this particular method with them. I chose a fairly broad topic, as it is meant to be in a couple setting, with your spouse present at the time. I let God help me chose from the many topics that are available. The one I focused on was You are the Message. All about self esteem and esteemimg your husband.
It was so easy to get distracted and discuss the children, but it was there husbands and there relationship we were focusing on this night.
I was quite fired up anyway, as Dermot & I had just been to the relaunch of celebrate love to Smart  Loving. Its platform is quite impressive. There is something there for everyone. Single, dating, engaged, married, a family, schools. Its idea is to have bite size pieces of information to view as often or little as you like - dip you toe in, or immerse yourself entirely. The ultimate or the gold standard is for the couple to do Smart loving Engaged   or Smart Loving Marriage.
So when it came to the Homeschooling Mums encouragement night, it was a very simple choice. Use a resource I am familiar with and reach out using it. Thank ladies for accomodating me and asking me to talk on marriage
Now, I know the teen girls met, but that's there story to tell. I know for certain that it was one very powerful meeting... Praise God in his Glory......

Fashioned......

A friend recommended a really great book, called Fashioned by Faith. I researched it a little further and ordered it.
Its about a Fashion model who learnt how to say no to being put in situations and positions, as a model, that would compromise her body. It is after all the Temple of the Holy Spirit.
Brid has read the teen series, All things Girls., and we have had many heart to hearts, so it was no surprise to me that she would enjoy this book.
A few days ago, we were shopping and she said out of the blue,"I didn't realise how many immodest clothes there were until I began reading that book Mum,". I was surprised by her reaction, but she was looking at clothing in a completely new way.
We taped the Christmas carols to watch and she wanted to fast forward a few songs. when questioned why? 'They need to cover up more.
So this book has made a big impact on Brid. We have taught her the art of modesty and dressing for Our Lord, but this book explained it in much more detail.

This will take us on a journey over the next year looking at and expanding modesty, purity and boys.
Brid and I work together with another family during the year, and us Mums. we were at a loss, what subject will we cover this year with them? So this is it!.
Maybe at the end we will read and study Pygmalion. It highlighting the issues we have looked at.

Girls Retreat..

It was quite a weekend..
We were send out an invitation to this weekend some time ago. It was just what we have been looking for. Teens 13 to 18 were called to a weekend of their journey through teenage hood.
The weekend arrived. There were 9 girls and 2 mums to stay at a homeschool mums home.
She wasn't able to be present, but she felt committed and comfortable to leave us the hospitality of her home. Thank you so much.  Her Son stayed to help us, as we needed.
We arrived a little late, thanks to the long weekend traffic. But Thanks to God we arrived safely.
Now reality check. 9 girls all in the same room. !!! oh my, I was taken aback- me the control freak..
'Ok Leanne its Ok', I said to myself.  I would leave that worry for another time.
There were people to meet and say hello to.
We had the Religious Sisters of Mercy already and waiting for us to arrive. Mums from Homeschool camp to say hello to and a quick catch up with the ones I knew.
The Sisters shared a meal with us all, and took the Girls straight into the comfy loungeroom to watch Little Women. The girls were asked to reflect on this in there lives. They were asked to observe silence and enjoy a good nights rest. .....

bedtime...

Well, I must say, the sleep and rest didn't happen.
the girls were very excited. Some of them don't see each other for many months. So it was a time to come together as young women, but as friends and have a special weekend together.
It also happened to be the weekend of St Therese's feast day, so she was especially central in Brids and my day.
The girls were up very early, leaving lots of time to get them ready for the day. I made sure they were ready, so Sarah could take the girls early to the Sisters residence by train. We were up so early we had mostly prepared the evening meal, so I was left to finish as much as I could.
I myself went off to meet up with friends for the day. But beforehand, I found a lovely church close to were we were staying to begin celebrating St Therese of Liseux and her feast. I was delighted to find that Adoration and Benediction were offered after Mass. What a way to begin my day.
I prayed for the girls and the Sisters. I hoped they were having an inspiring and lovely day together.

My day was filled with news from a family I only see at homeschool camp. It was a great day, ending all too soon.
On arrival  'home', I chatted and waited for the girls to arrive as we completed the cooking of our meal. The girls arrived with many wonderful stories. They celebrated Mass on arrival, were able to attend Confession, Adoration and Benediction were offered later in the day. So Talks, meals, games so much to fit in, and the girls were not shy to tell us about there day. I asked them as we ate our evening meal together to share one thing each they enjoyed.

that photography course came in handy

After dinner the decision was unanimous, Everafter- the movie. There was a lovely atmosphere that evening as each of the girls settled in to watch and explain parts of the movie that way not have been understood by others.

Volleyball

All to son it was bedtime,  and the clocks were due to change to Daylight saving time. Therefore, 1 less hours sleep. We explained this to the girls. 'oh no'..they said. They hurried to get organised and into bed. This time they slept much better, awaking early again, as we had another day with the Sisters planned. This time we were to take them in by car. All the girls gear had to be fitted into our 2 cars. Joy oh Joy, that was  a challenge, but achievable. Did I tell you it was Raining- not sprinkling but raining..It was a 25 min trip, and I was following Sarahs' Husband this time. I was unfamiliar with the roads, but we managed to follow with no wrong turns. yah!!
This time we were able to attend Mass with the girls at the Church next door to the Convent. Beautiful Mass and a Priest so reverent to The Eucharist.
We had been invited to lunch, so Sarah and her husband there little children and myself occupied ourselves drinking coffee and chatting in a coffee shop until the hour arrived.

All the girls at the Sisters

It was a very Blessed weekend. The girls really enjoyed there time together and with the Sisters. They will remember this weekend for a very long time. Thank you so much Sr Moira and your Sisters.