our weekend

Every year we join a few families from Sydney and we meet at Huntington House- on the central coast. Last weekend was that gathering. These are a few photos and scenery shots of the weekend. The property is beachfront and has the best fireplace.

I'm a little surpised

Lately we have been teaching Brid new skills; such as cooking, sewing and ironing. She has adapted to them very well- apart from having a careful fear of the heat of the iron.
Our homeschool community is going to Tocal Homestead, for an old fashioned day. The girls have decided to dress up for the occasion, so today we had friends over so the girls could make little bonnets under our supervision.
The girls cut and pinned there fabric and then one at a time sewed on the machine, whilst the boys just played, and we loosely kept an ear and eye on there project.
I was rather delighted to watch the items come together. The girls were taught some finer points of sewing, and also some that we just made up as we went along.
We got the bonnets nearly finished before heading off to our weekly homeschool event.
This evening Brid continued her project. She has made another apron to go with the whole colonial theme. She has made it from scratch, with very little assistance from me.
All I could hear tonight was the sewing machine going rather fast. it rather surprised me.
I was delighted with her efforts.
Can't wait to see them all dressed for the occasion next week.

The Year of Priests

I have just been reading Our Holy Fathers homily from last Sunday at San Giovanni Rotanda. It was a very beautiful Homily, and one I could invisage him delivering.


I was touched by his homily, and particularly by his last paragraph. "........Even in the storms that can suddenly rise up, you can experience the breath of the holy spirit that is stronger than any contrary wind and which pushes the boat of the Church and each of us. That is why we must live in serenity and cultivate joy in our hearts, giving thanks to the Lord. "his love is forever" ............


The dioceses that I live in, has been greatly affected by many Priests being charged with abuse. This has rocked many parishioners and has slandered the Church.

We as a family have decided to take up the prayers for our Priests. We have decided to pray for certain areas of the priesthood on certain days, as Our Holy Father has asked us to do.

Monday- all Priests

Tuesday - Priests of our Dioceses

Wednesday -Priests being tempted

Thursday -vocation

Friday - deceased Priests and those that have been martyred

Saturday - A different country per week

Sunday- Vocation

This may not be in a correct order, and I am sure some would put them in different places, but as Brid made the list up, I will stick with her ideas.

What they do when I am not around

I was away a couple of weekends ago....this is what they got up too.

Brids' favourite game has always been dress ups- that dress her Dad up, and cubbies.

Looked like fun.

Very compliant Dad!!!!

Dinner served

Lately we have changed our routine. We changed it so Brid could help with the family meal. I am responsible for teaching Brid how to cook, sew etc., so as a family we decided Brid would be available to help prepare our meals.

She is very diligent, and as I have had issues getting around because of my knee, Brid wanted to really get hands on.

Brid washed her hands, and under my instruction: chose the ingredients from the fridge and pantry, got out all the equipment necessary, started to chop the vegetables, cook the chicken, just like she had done it a million times- which I can assure you she hadn't.

Daddy helped make rice- another first, and I sat looking on from the lounge giving instructions as needed. I was learning more patience. I so wanted to be up there and help---umm take over.

Brid was very proud of herself, and as she says, I now know there is much more to making a meal. She really 'worked' the kitchen very well.

As she was very proud of her efforts- she made Teriyaki Chicken', I said yes she could serve out.

As we said our prayer before our meal, I trult could say 'Bless the hands that have made this meal'- as it wasn't me, it was my sweet dear little 11 year old.

Brid recently became a Girl Guide- she took months to organise her 'Promise ceremony'- because we wanted her to want to become a Guide. Now her cooking efforts can go toward her cooking badge. And sewing efforts.......This has excited Brid.

Brid is wearing the apron she made last year, and she has a new fashion accessory- glasses. She is very proud of them. They really suit her face. Brid proudly displayed them to the Mums at Gymnastics yesterday- a kind friend took her -thank you.

Humble

Two weeks ago I injured my knee by kneeling on it. I cannot explain it any better than that, but it has really slowed me down. So what am I to learn from this. I wonder. I remember when I was pregnant with Brid spending many months on bedrest due to placenta praevia. I learnt to stop controlling situations.
I believe this time is to teach me to slow down and be humble. I have needed to be dependant on many people to run our household. My parents, children, Dermot, and friends.
Last weekend a couple of sisters in Christ and myself were booked in to go to 'Sisterhood'- the inaugural conference for women by women.
I wasn't even sure if I would be able to go, even up until the last hour an a half I was still unsure due to the severity of my knee injury. I decided why not.
My friend picked me up in her car, I made myself comfortable in the back seat, picked up another friend- hi Tricia, and we were off. To Sydney.
We got there in one piece, we found our allocated rooms. I was told we would be together, but apparently there computer system lost the updated list, and they were working on an old room list. So we three shared with 2 other ladies. All our worst fears rolled in to one. I looked at one friend and I could see, we all had reservations. So I hadn't thought my df would have to bring my stuff to the room from the car, as I was on crutches, with limited movement, and guess what It was raining. Great.
We unpacked and made our way up to the conference area to see what we were in for.
I saw so mant people I know. Many from WYD05, other organisations. It was so cool to see them all again. And we could chat-wow.
It was a powerful weekend of a wonderful message of Sisterhood, celebration of Women, Talks ranged from The feminine genius, the wounds of our Souls, marriage, Bernie Black gave her testimony of her life as a very young Mum- and her determination to Not have an Abortion under any circumstances- beautiful heart wrenching testimony.
We had Adoration and the chance for Confession, an awesome night of praise and worship- if only I could have stood up-( I was made very comfortable all the weekend by a longe chair and pillows for my knee. ) So I couldn't praise how I wanted to, I couldn't kneel when Blessed Sacrament was exposed, but I learnt to do this in a different way.
I recommitted my life, like many other women to Our Lord, publicly. This was very moving. I make this commitment every year at Summer School, But to do this amongst Women was very emotional.
The next day, a Beautiful Mass was said By Fr Ken Barker the founder of the MGL's -Missionary of God's Love order- coming under the umbrella of the Disciples Of Jesus.
It was lovely weekend, very stirring, although I wished I could have been more mobile. But with out Louise & Tricia helping me I would never have been able to go. To be at the mercy of friends and other people who don't know you, and for them to come up to help you is very humbling.
So humility is my lesson, and possibly patience.

Brid and Dermot had the best weekend, while I was away. They saw Asterix- in French- needed to read the subtitles. Dermot is a big Asterix fan, so It is only fitting that he took Brid along.
when we were on our way home I rang to see what was happening. Brid said Dermot was ironing. I thought thank you.
Dermot said he would like to take Brid away for a father/ daughter camp. Brid spends many hours with me, so this was a wonderful opportunity to be together.
So in all, I would like to invite all Australian Catholic Women to this conference next year. Come along and be totally embraced by the love of other women and Our Lord.

Today I am feeling better, I was able to cook dinner. That is a story I will post in a couple of days. Because it is quite a story.