Schoolyear 2011 for us started on Monday, January 31 (feastday of St John Bosco), a week later than regular schools in Queensland. Schooling is CHAOTIC, to say the very least. Good thing 9-week-old Bobbles 'cooperates' and sleeps through the morning which is when the bulk of the schooling is usually done. At this stage it is a matter of "doing what works at a particular time," as we are still in the process of establishing our schooling routine (i.e. if we ever do); but so far so good, thank God indeed.
Wednesdays are always free days for us, and this works out very well because it gives us a much-needed break after 2 days of schooling, and it provides a good opportunity for going on trips to the museum, pilgrimages, doing liturgical craft activities, cooking sessions, or whatever else.
Yesterday was our first field trip of the school year, and I decided to take the kids to a little museum in Samford where we were amazed by the variery of displays ranging from period clothing to old musical instruments to antiquated appliances, tractors and manual tools used in the home, in the farm or on automobiles. Webster especially thought the old washing machine was "cool," although he first referred to it as a cement mixer before he was very kindly corrected by one of the museum staff. We also saw an old building (Provisional School) which housed old school items such as desks, old chalk boards, maps, school bells, books, etc. The kids tried their hands on using the old writing tablets. Webster also pointed out to me that there was a "funny globe" in one of the shelves that had Australia on top and Russia underneath. It was apparently an 'upside down globe' having the southern and northern hemispheres interchanged. Though I did not expect much from this trip, the kids got a lot of enjoyment out of seeing lots of historical stuff. They wanted to stay much longer, but I had to cut it short as we had to go to Christian Supplies to pick up the carton of candles we ordered earlier in the day to be blessed by Father at Candlemas that evening.
CANDLEMASIn celebration of the beautiful feastday of Our Lady's Purification (Presentation of Our Lord), we attended the Traditional Latin Mass which included blessing of the candles for use throughout the year, a procession, and of course, Holy Mass. The little chapel was full-packed this year which made it extra special, moreso for Fr Hartley. We saw a few homeschooling families, so the kids were very happy to celebrate the occasion with friends. Being Bobbles' first Candlemas, he stayed awake for most of it, though slept through some parts. ;D
ST BLAISE'S THROAT BLESSING
Being the vigil of the feastday of St Blaise last night, we also received a blessing of the throat from Fr Hartley, using candles he blessed during the preceding ceremony. This is a beautiful tradition that the kids have grown to like, and are able to associate to the story of when St Blaise (as a bishop) was able to cure a child (brought in by his mother) seriously choking on a fishbone, just through prayer and the use of 2 blessed candles crossed in the middle.
Yesterday was certainly a day filled with fun as it was with graces. As children of God, we are called to be both salt to the earth and light to the world (Mt 5:13-14); and on this occasion of the Purification of Our Lady (the Light-bearer) and the Presentation of the Lord (proclaimed by St Simeon as THE Light of the World), we thank God for a very challenging but fruitful week for all of us. We thank Him especially for giving us this blessed opportunity of being able to form and educate the kids at home, right where they belong. ♥♥♥
