Family Fitness

We started a family fitness program one week ago today. We get up at 5:30 a.m. three times a week, to walk with my husband before he leaves for work. On the other days, the kids and I do some circuit training along with some crunches and push-ups. We are watching our diets, not eating bread of any kind, right now and sticking mostly to high protein foods. Water is a big part of the plan, we drink half of our body weight in ounces, everyday.
When we weighed in this morning, the five of us had lost 29 pounds, collectively. Everyone had a very good start!
Our son, at college is doing his program at school and will keep us posted.
Our plan is to be lean and in shape for the fall...so we can take a family photograph for Christmas.

Wish us luck!!! :) And I'll keep you posted of our progress.
I have a ticker at the bottem of the page for each of us, which tracks our weight loss.

Have a great day,
Penny

Catholic Catechism Lesson II

The Nature of God
1.  Nature and characteristics of God:
S-P-A-C-E-O-A (space-o-a)
S upreme  - has no equals
Perfect  - without fault
Almighty - can do all things
Creator:  of all  by his word
Eternal: no beginning, no end
Omnipresent: everywhere always
A ll-knowing: nothing is hidden

2.  Does God the Father have a body?
No, He is a spirit.

3.  How many Gods are there?
There is only one God.

4.  How many persons are there in God?
Three:  God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit:  the   Trinity.

5. What is a mystery?
A truth which is above reason, but revealed by God and accepted by faith.

6.  How is our soul like the Trinity?
In the soul's three powers: memory, understanding, and will.

7. What does supernatural mean?
That which is above our natural power to acquire to merit.

Catholic Catechism Lesson I

Nature of the Church
1.  What are the four marks (identifying traits) of the true Church?
One  - Holy - Catholic - Apostolic

2.  How is the Church One?
All members have the same Faith, Sacrifice, Sacraments, and Head (Jesus Christ).

3.  How is the Church Holy?
Jesus Christ, Her holy Founder, teaches holy doctrine and the means of holiness.

4.  How is the Church Catholic (universal)?
Because it is a timeless source of teaching and Truth for all nations.

5.  How is the Church Apostolic?
It was founded by Christ on the apostles and, according to His Divine Will,
has always been governed by their lawful  successors.

6.  How do we know that the Church cannot err in what she  teaches?
Because Christ promised...
~ The gates of hell shall  never prevail against his Church
~ The Holy Spirit  shall teach her all things
~  He Himself will be with her all days
Matt. 16:18, John 14:16-26, Matt. 28:20

The Homeschool Cottage

Let us help you get started in homeschooling!

Come by the Home School Cottage and ...

• Pick up a homeschool application
• Take home free curriculum catalogs
• Receive guidance on curriculum choices
• Purchase used curriculum and resource materials
• Bring in your used curriculum to consign
• Sign up for tutoring classes
• Obtain information on local homeschool organizations
• Find out about upcoming workshops and special homeschooling events
• Relax with a snowcone or cold drink on our snack shop deck

If you would like to set up a private consultation with our homeschool counselor, call during store hours Tue-Fri 10-4 or Sat 10-2 and schedule an appointment.

Original location
606 Brownswitch Road
Slidell LA 70458
(985) 643-0104

Feast of the Epiphany

FAITH MAGAZINE: The Feast of the Epiphany --
Traditions that celebrate the twelfth day
By THOMAS BROWN, T&D Staff Writer
Friday, January 06, 2006

The popular carol, “The Twelve Days of Christmas,”celebrates the season with a variety of birds,musicians and members of the gentry dancing and leaping. Merchants start their count twelve days before Christmas, encouraging gift givers to shop early.

But long before there were malls and before the carol was written, the twelve days of
Christmas were observed beginning with Christmas Day or the Day of the Nativity,
and ending with Epiphany or Three Kings Day on Jan. 6, the day that the Magi arrived at the
site of Jesus’ birth.

According to a legend based on a Bible story, the three kings, Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar, saw a bright star in the sky on the night that Christ was born, followed it to Bethlehem, found
the Christ child and bestowed gifts upon him of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

The observance had its origins in the Eastern Christian church, according to the Catholic Encyclopedia. In the Western church, the feast of Christmas was established before that of Epiphany. Over time, the West began to celebrate Christmas on Dec. 25, while Eastern churches continued to treat Jan. 6 as the day marking Jesus’ birth.

Today in Eastern Orthodox churches, the emphasis at this feast is on the shining forth and revelation of Jesus Christ as the Messiah and second person of the Holy Trinity at the time of his baptism.

According to Robert Blair in “Christian Traditions and Customs,” the Irish call this day Little Christmas. In Rome, “Epiphania” was transformed into Befana, the fair held during this season.

In Spain and many of the countries of Central and South America, Epiphany is called El Dia de los Reyes — the Day of the Kings.

In Spanish tradition, on Jan. 6, the three Kings, representing Europe, Arabia and Africa,
arrived on horse, camel and elephant bringing their gifts.

In Mexico, children leave their shoes out on Jan. 6, sometimes filling them with hay for the camels so that the wise men will be generous with their gifts. In Puerto Rico, children fill a box with hay and place it under their beds, for the same reasons.

A French custom which is still practiced in New Orleans is the preparation of the king cake or Twelfth Night Cake, which can have a small doll, representing the baby Jesus, or an ornament baked in it. The person who finds the doll or ornament in their slice of the cake is named king of the day.

The blessing of the home is also a popular Epiphany custom. Using specially blessed chalk, many households mark their doorways with the inscription C - M - B, the initials of the wise men.

The inscription also stands for Christus Mansionem Benedicat, which means “Christ bless this home.”

All traditions and customs associated with Epiphany brings attention back to the Christ child. And at the foundation of them all, there is the meaning of the word Epiphany — appearance, miraculous phenomenon. They all celebrate the revelation of God to mankind in human form, in the person of JesusChrist.

Celebrating One Year of Blogging

It was one year ago today, that I began my blog. It has been fun and I hope you have enjoyed my posting. I have discovered many other blogs that I regularly enjoy. I have also added links to my site such as Catholic Moms on the Internet, Homeschooling Blogs, a guestbook for you to sign, and a link to an e-book called, Secrets of Successful Homeschooling, you can purchase it just by putting your mouse over the words Click Here, in the upper left hand corner of my blog.

My book has gotten some positive feedback, but no publisher, yet. Again, thank you, to all who filled out a survey and gave such complete and thoughtful answers. I sincerely appreciate it.

Our Homeschooling met with a huge set-back with the impact of Hurricane Katrina, but we keep plugging away!

I look forward to sharing more homeschooling information with all of you and hope to get some feedback. :)

Have a blessed and Happy New Year...may 2006 be filled with all good things as our Lord would have it.

Happy 1st Anniversary, Topsy-Turvy Homeschooler, and many more.