Lena {JOYfilledfamily}

Homeschooling Encouragement & Call to Action

September 8, 2013 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Homeschool Meditations, Homeschooling, Sancta Familia Academy 4 Comments

Homeschooling is a catacomb…Homeschooling is among the new deserts for many saintly souls.

Dad and I continue to prepare our hearts and home for a new season of family life and another homeschool year. We turn towards the resources that have been made available from solid shepherds whom are willing to lead and correct.

Our most recent mediation comes by way of Regina Prophetarum.

Sloth: The Vice of Homeschoolers – Regina Prophetarum

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Below is an abbreviated dictation of the audio.

WHAT TO DO {to remain in the cave—to homeschool}:

St. Paul, in his letter to the Thessalonians

Make an effort to be quite.All that is of this world will be burned—it will come to an end.

Pursue your own affairs.We must not, out of curiosity, wish to inquire into or learn the deeds of others or that of world. God will let us know what He wants us to know, when the time comes. Form a rule/schedule for your homeschool.

Work with your own hands.Be not idle. Do what we’re supposed to be doing, when we’re supposed to be doing it.

Walk honorably for the sake of outsiders.We should recognize that we are on display for the whole world. What we say and do, is important. How we dress is significant. Our homeschools ought to be, first and foremost, schools of virtue and good character. Walk honorably for the sake of outsiders. You represent something special. Don’t try to be like the world!

Desire nothing from anyone. Be not alarmed that you do not have all the gadgets {books, extracurriculars, technology, etc…} that other people have. Do not long for the luxuries of the world. Do with less and be willing to be behind the Jones and the public schools. Having all those things doesn’t make for a devout life or a close knit family. Many have noted how helpful it is to do with less. To need something and, yet, not be able to get it, that’s not so bad. This keeps us humble and always looking up and always working together to keep us going. Stop the desiring of the ABC’s and work with what you’ve got and God will help you and you will be happy with less and you will produce more!

REMAIN IN THE CAVE!

May we follow His call, detached from government intervention and other temptations of the evil one. May we keep to our place and build the ark.

Let us consecrate our family and homeschool to Our Lady.

Reposted from 9.8.13

Sancta Familia 2013-14

September 6, 2013 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Homeschooling 4 Comments

My primary goal of homeschooling is to take my children to a place of refuge where they can fall in love with Jesus, with training and instruction befitting the Lord. Eph 6:4

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I am ready to embark on this new season that I find myself. I trust that He has been preparing me all along. ad Jesum per Mariam.

I will be adopting a more structured approach as I set a new foundation for my littles. I imagine it to be different than Rose’s home education but consentient with our commitment to educate in the natural rhythm of our daily lives, in union with the liturgical calendar, centered around the Holy Mass.

The kids will be following a Catholic, Classical, Charlotte Mason approach. All four kids, from pre-school – grade 4, will be studying the same subjects — Ancient & Classical Times; Animal and Plant.

This year’s curriculum will be provided by Schola Rosa.

The (Schola Rosa) program is organized around a three-year historical cycle and includes materials for pre-k through 12th grades. The beginner level (pre-K to 6th) covers English/Poetry, Religion/Catechism, Science, Art, Music, History, Virtue-Training, Latin/Greek and incorporates the Classically Catholic Memory program. In addition to lesson plans for all subjects, the online suite includes worksheets, group activity/ field trip plans, digital books, audio readings, links to resources, maps, and more.

It has been a complete answer to my prayers, providing me with a solid and complete model, allowing room for me to deviate as desired but providing structure when needed (due to health, move, or other demands of life within a large family). Best of all, it fit within my modest budget and does not require numerous purchases for supporting materials. I give praise and thanksgiving to the good Lord for leading me to this resource that will assist me in furthering His call for my family.

This year’s core will continue to be focused on our Sacramental life. We continue to seek to put Him first in our daily lives and school. We pray for His grace and provision to make this a consistent reality.

In addition to daily Mass, Dad will lead us with the following spiritual maxims:

Angelus
Renewal of Marian Consecration (use Children’s consecration)
Study the Mass – Year II
Daily Rosary (min. 2 Mysteries-10 decades)
Latin Prayers
Daily Readings & Saint Study
Virtue Study
Nightly Examination of Conscience
Bible Study
Breviary
Monthly recollection
Bi-monthly Spiritual read
Begin First Communion prep with the boys
Begin Confirmation prep with the girls

Seek ye therefore first the kingdom of God, and his justice, and all these things shall be added unto you.

~ Matthew 6:33

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St. Elizabeth of Hungary, St. Christina, Our Lady of Fatima, St. Bernadette, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Out Lady of Mount Carmel, St. Clare, St. Alexandria, St. Alexandra, Our Lady of Lordes, St. John the Baptist, St. John, St. Paul, St. Matthew, St. George, St. Gennaro, St. Maximilian, St. Lawrence, St. Barbara, St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. John Chrysostom, St. Valentine of Rome, and St. Guy of Anderlecht ~ Orate pro nobis.

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*This year’s school picture includes Rose, our alumna and big sis. She is now 18 and away at a beautiful college, Fisher More College. She remains and integral part of our hearts and homeschooling efforts.

Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi, Lex Vivendi

“as we pray, so we believe, so we live”

Parish Hoedown

August 31, 2013 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Family Night, Parish, St. Stephen the First Martyr 2 Comments

We ended the summer with a splendid family event at our parish. The SS annual pig roast and square dance was a glorious way to end the summer and have Rose say farewell to her parish community.

You can’t take the girls out of the dance tent. The “hoedown” is one of their highlights of each year.

The boys saved their first dance for the last dance.

They danced the night away, 10 PM to be exact.

{phfr} intagrams from july

August 24, 2013 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: {phfr}, Family Night, Picture Recap, Summer 1 Comment

summer happenings as life seems to be slipping away. a new season awaits. God’s grace sustains me and His love compels me to persevere.

1. baby g3 turned 4 months. 2. ~~dragonfly~~ private d was dozing off while on duty. 3. Beauty sleep while waiting for mama to finish getting ready so I could feed him. He is, by far, my easiest baby. God is good!!! I know He gives us only what we can handle. I tease that He knew I couldn’t handle much. Thank you Jesus for all my sweet children.

summer shenanigans.

we were blessed to have a dedicated shepherd travel hours to bring us JESUS while camping.

camping in lake tahoe with four other moms and a total of 30+ kids…BLESSING!

trial camping cooking, boiled baggie omelet – delish!

clean eating.

1. baby g spent many days sleeping in the red wagon while commuting from pool to home. 2. first trip to ikea for baby and girls. the girls are officially interior designers.

my city kids, wannabe country kids, climbing any tree within sight.

baby g sleeps anywhere, plays with everyone, and loves the water. he went for his first this summer.

happy, happy boy. loves to talk to mama.

sparkler fun. this is the only way that papi will hold a sparkler. i love that he is a calculated risk taker.

the easy life.

i love my stars and stripes.

the boy’s favorite pastime, skipping rocks like dad.

baby’s first fourth of july.

my early bird. baby g sleeps through the night. dad and i love when he wakes up early to cuddle and play. it reminds us of the early years with only one or two little ones.

1. the month started with an indoor campout. 2. sweetie is the designated “yaya” for baby g. 3. dragonfly greets baby g every morning, with a book or special toy for play time.

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