7 Quick Takes

1.

It's been a bit of a wild and wooly week or so health-wise, but I think I have an answer and have been feeling quite better following the recommendations (avoiding caffeine and refined sugars and grains) - hypoglycemia. Will have official blood test results in a few weeks. Creative food suggestions and recipes would be most welcome!

2.

Kate will be receiving her First Communion in May! As it works out, my husband and I AND Terri and Bernie will be singing in the choir for that Mass AND Bernie will be doing the cantoring. Cool!

3.

On Fat Tuesday, our parish had a big Mardi Gras party and it was great fun. My husband got to be king (oh woe to me for not bringing the camera, but a friend captured this shot of me and my king). He was the perfect king and seemed to enjoy himself immensely in judging costume contests, leading parades and other sorts of kingly activities. Also, our Terri won the hula hoop contest. :)

4.

This week, I weeded about four bags of Catholic books from our home library and donated it to the parish - and they were happy to receive them. Makes me happy! I really need to do some more purging (including more books), but haven't had a lot of time.

We're in the midst of Irish dance recital prep (for a nursing home in the week before St. Patty's Day, Stations of the Cross Practice, National Latin Exam prep as well as various choir things. Also, we have a seminarian stationed at our parish from South America who is preparing for an important test in English proficiency in May. We've been trying to have him over for dinner and some English practice regularly. Please pray that his preparation goes well. His name is Alex.

5.

The other day I had to drive my oldest (Ria) and youngest (Frank) up to Holy Hill for a late Mass since they didn't wake up in time for the earlier Mass that my husband and I sing at. I was driving along, when I heard a cute little voice from the back seat proclaim: "Mommy, aren't you glad you get to bring at least one munchkin to church with you?"

I love that boy!

6.

I was quite surprised to discover that there are people who think old Latin chants and hymns are only relevant to those who have studied Latin, but the truth is that many of us study Latin because we love the old chants and hymns (and other aspects of our Catholic heritage).

7.

And last, but certainly not least, I have a new great-nephew! His name is Jory. :)

Awesome Prayer/Reflection for Ash Wednesday

from today's Morning Prayer:

Today God our Father brings us to the beginning of Lent. We pray that in this time of salvation he will fill us with the Holy Spirit, purify our hearts, and strengthen us in love. Let us humbly ask him: Lord, give us your Holy Spirit.

May we be filled and satisfied,
-by the word which you give us.

Teach us to be loving not only in great and exceptional moments,
-but above all in the ordinary events of daily life.

May we abstain from what we do not really need,
-and help our brothers and sisters in distress.

May we bear the wounds of your Son in our bodies,
-for through his body he gave us life.

Do Not Fret...

(from today's Office of Readings):

Do not fret because of the wicked;
do not envy those who do evil:
for they wither quickly like grass
and fade like the green of the fields.

If you trust in the Lord and do good,
then you will live in the land and be secure.
If you find your delight in the Lord,
he will grant your heart's desire.

Commit your life to the Lord,
trust in him and he will act,
so that your justice breaks forth like the light,
your cause like the noon-day sun.

Be still before the Lord and wait in patience;
do not fret at the man who prospers;
a man who makes evil plots
to bring down the needy and the poor.

Calm your anger and forget your rage;
do not fret, it only leads to evil.
(from Psalm 37)

Homeschool Talks I'm Working On...

(Subject to change)

For the Memphis Conference...

The conference organizers were particularly looking for talks of a spiritual and practical nature that encourage families who are burnt out and perhaps help in keeping things in perspective and developing good attitudes about life, love and learning. 

1. Christian Fearlessness: Putting on an Attitude of Hope

Somewhat based on my article on hope from mater et magistra magazine but a little more personal.

2. Sanity-Savers (haven't found the right name for this one yet)

Somewhat based on this blog post, but with a more general age-range emphasis plus a related academic component.

3. An Environment of Love and Learning (not sure if this is the final title)

I'll be drawing from some of my work here on Studeo, the Educational Theory section at Love2learn and my Love2learn Moments, but on the whole it's a new project.

For the Kentucky Conference...

1. Choosing Worthwhile Materials

This is basically the one I did a webinar on for Homeschool Connections.

2. An Environment of Love and Learning

This one will be a repeat from the Memphis Conference.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians

I've been rather negligent of even the basic booknotes on this blog of late, but I'm going to attempt to catch up by piecing together some of the notes on the Percy Jackson books and movie that I've been discussing with others on Facebook.

I just finished the 5th and final book in the series (at least the first series - there's a hint that other series may be in store) a few days ago and saw the movie on opening night.

First, here are some notes on the books that I wrote in response to a question from a friend:

The books are a little tricky in spots (because they are Greek myths after all), but I think they're okay for 12 and up - maybe younger depending... John and I and Ria have all read and talked about the first five books - and I recently read D'Aulaire aloud to all of the kids (the books are less weird and much more enjoyable if you're familiar with the myths first), so now John is starting to read Percy Jackson aloud to the family. Terri (age 12) is pushing ahead on her own.

There are a few little things that made me cringe (not all that nuts about the oracle thing, for example, particularly in the last book) but liked them on the whole. There are a number of little things that may be bothersomely sensitive to particular families or particular children, but on the whole there were more things that I liked than didn't like - and some of these were *really* great.

Next the movie:

I give the movie two thumbs down. It takes the prize as the worst adaptation of a book that I've ever seen - and I usually enjoy adaptations, even if they're a bit off. This was a totally different story.

I found the books to be a rather fun cross between Greek Mythology and the Phantom Tollbooth (or something like that). Not perfect, but clever and thoughtful in many ways. The "Phantom Tollbooth" aspect was completely lost in the movie which instead went for more of a "Clash of the Titans" feel.

Basically, the movie takes the story way too seriously.

By the way, Decent Films has a pretty good review of the movie here. It's really too bad, because many of the criticisms that apply to the movie don't apply to the books.

I'm posting more details about the movie in the comments box. Don't read it if you want to avoid spoilers!!!

Kathren and the gote

A story by Kate

(With no spelling edits at this point because I think it's delightful to preserve the phonetic attempts of a little girl who's clearly listened to a lot of good English, but has yet to really embark upon the spelling. :) By the way, I did make the sentence beginnings and endings a little clearer for you.)

Wans apan a tim thar was a little grl nand Kathren. She was playing weth her cusin Brenedet wen she so (saw) to horns sticing awt of the booshis. It was a got and thay falod it to its home and it was an orfin so it desided to liv with them and so it did and it gust (just) hapind to be a grle. Kathren naimd it Jese then Kathren fawnd a bed far Jese. Jese lavd hr noo bed and thay livd hapile evr aftr. the end

Hadrian's Villa by Ria

Hadrian's Villa by Ria, originally uploaded by Chez VH.

This painting tied for 1st place in the painting competition at the State Latin Convention.

The Magnificent Seven

DSC_0476, originally uploaded by Chez VH.

In all fairness, I must point out that we had seven teens who acted in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night on January 9th and 10th, traveled to the March for Life in Washington D.C. by bus two weeks later and competed in Latin Convention four days after returning from D.C. They are an impressive (and well-rounded) bunch!

Costume and Art Competitions

Two Niobes and two lay helpers pose with Paris and Helen., originally uploaded by Chez VH.

Here is a picture of most of our costume competitors. Two girls are dressed as Niobe (they came in 1st and 3rd in the girls' competition!) and the two with painted faces are Paris and Helen imitating the style of Greek pottery. They placed 2nd in the couples' competition! We also had a very creative Pan costume in the boys' category (he entered on the 2nd day and so is not pictured here) who won 2nd place.

Ria also painted a lovely picture of a scene from Hadrian's Villa which tied for 1st place in the painting category with a perfect score!

GMCHE Door Art

GMCHE Door Art, originally uploaded by Chez VH.

I really liked our door this year - based on Tolkien's Gates of Moria. A few of us were inside the room one evening when we heard some call out in surprise. We kept listening out of curiosity and heard one of a group say, "Oh, it's in Latin!" Funny comment at a Latin Convention, but I realized that they were yelling in recognition of the Tolkien art and then realizing its connectedness to the convention.

Finally they started yelling "Amica! Amica!" until we opened the door and they cheered, happily proclaiming their love for Tolkien and Latin as they walked away.

By the way, my daughter Ria did the artwork.

P.S. It wasn't an award-winning door, but still received an excellent score towards our overall spirit total.

Team GMCHE

DSC_0395, originally uploaded by Chez VH.

We had 11 kids on this year's team (unfortunately you can't see one of them in this neat shot) who are posing here with the qualitative trophy and the spirit trophy. The spirit trophy, by the way, is sporting a Spongebob Squarepants bandaid - a box of which was awarded to us for our outstanding spirit performance in the Constellation-themed competition. :)

Our Award-Winning Constellation Spirit Thing

Our Award-Winning Constellation Spirit Thing, originally uploaded by Chez VH.

The theme of Friday morning's spirit competition was Constellations. Our team each took an animal constellation which they represented through unique headgear, except for the two leaders who dressed as Poseidon and his wife Amphitrite.

They made up a song/cheer (in Latin of course) based on Old MacDonald had a farm (which ended with us-i-o-um-o) and the animals took turns dancing according to their animal character in the middle - all led by Poseidon.

Occasionally Amphitrite would tire of this, grab the trident (or pieces of trident as the cheer went on and the cardboard trident fell to pieces) and direct all of the constellations in a rousing chorus of "Mica, Mica, Parva Stella" (Twinkle, Twinkle in Latin). Poseidon - ever the versatile master of the sea - used the trident pieces to play faux violin. It was a real hoot and took the highest score for that competition.

Oh yes, and I almost forgot to mention that our team won the 1st place spirit trophy for small schools (with the 3rd highest score overall).

Just for fun

Just for fun, originally uploaded by Chez VH.

GMCHE Banner

GMCHE Banner, originally uploaded by Chez VH.

My nephew (the same one who made the ballista) crafted this gorgeous banner for our Latin team at convention. GMCHE (which stands for the Greater Milwaukee Catholic Home Educators) is our official name at convention, though most people at convention call us Gimcha. :)

The banner, by the way, took 2nd place in one of the art competitions - the Models, Games and Dolls category.

Scorpion Ballista

Scorpion Ballista, originally uploaded by Chez VH.

This is my nephew participating in the war machines competition at Latin Convention. If you look carefully, you can see the projectile in the upper right-hand corner. Unfortunately the machine didn't place, but it was a really impressive work and he received many compliments on it as he carried it around for the day!

State Latin Convention 2010

DSC_0404, originally uploaded by Chez VH.

Our homeschool team (from the Milwaukee Catholic Homeschool) had a wonderful convention this past weekend. It began, fortuitously enough, on the feast of St. Thomas Aquinas and ended on the weekend that kicks off Catholic schools week around the country.

It was an excellent convention and the team surpassed all of my expectations in attitude and performance - I couldn't be prouder! (I should also note, for those unfamiliar with this convention, that ours is the only homeschool group there - we compete with public and private schools with Latin programs).

We again took home the 2nd place qualitative trophy. This means that we had the second highest average number of points per student among all of the schools. This was a more difficult this year than in the past because of rule changes limiting the number of students attending per school.

One of our first year students surprised perhaps even herself by scoring in the top ten on all twelve written tests, including three 1st place scores and four 2nd place scores (plus a 2nd place in the costume contest) and ended up in 7th place among all 500 or so students at convention for highest personal score. Go Susan!

More photos and more details of the convention coming soon...