CCD

 This year I was supposed to be a Catechist teacher for James' CCD class (he requested I teach his this year since I taught sissy's last year). Unfortunately the spot was already filled (James was sad, but he has some awesome teachers!) so I stuck with teaching Madeline's grade. Last year I taught the 2nd/3rd grade First Communion students...this year I am teaching 3rd and 4th grades. Fortunately we've been told that enrollment in religious studies at our parish has gone up! In the past many families pull their kids out of religious ed after they've received their Sacraments like Reconciliation and First Communion, I guess to them it's too much of a chore to bring their kids every week. But learning about our Faith should be a lifelong schooling! That's how I feel anyway.So James and Madeline will continue to attend all the way through receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation in high school until they are adults. Hopefully then they will decide for themselves to volunteer for different ministries, go to bible studies, etc.

Yesterday my students and I studied the chapter on "Christ Will Come Again", focusing on His ressurection, His second coming/final judgement and what we can do to "stay awake" in our Faith and lives for His second coming. I love this age group, because they are such in-depth thinkers. We talked a lot about this verse:

34 “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 36 naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? 38 And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 39 When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’

It was great to hear all of their responses, thoughts and questions. Afterwards we made this poster to hang up in our classroom, they all helped color it. It reads:

Jesus Will Come Again
Name some ways you can “stay awake” for the second coming.

 Eyes open to serve God 
Being aware of our words & actions 
Participate in the Sacraments 
Listen to God’s Word

Lastly what was most awesome was that all of them understood these ways were not ways for us to earn our own way into Heaven, but proof of our Faith in Him and our responding to sanctifying grace! Some adults struggle with that concept, so I was proud my students "got it".

P.S. Had to share this cute conversation between Madeline and I as we walked from our car to CCD class. When we parked we saw that our priest, Father Kirby, had just pulled into the parking lot too. So when we walked by Madeline waved. :) As we kept walking she asked, "Mommy, what are those women called in our Church who are married to God?" "They are called nuns my dear, and we call them Sister So-in-so." I love that Madeline understands that priests and nuns devote themselves entirely to God and doing His work.

We have a 2nd grader!

School started back up on Monday and Madeline is now in 2nd grade. So far we've had a wonderful experience with her elementary school, with awesome teachers. I think this year will be no different, her new teacher seems very nice, upbeat and fun. 

click on image to view larger

Since Madeline started kindergarten only a few weeks after we moved into our new home, I decided to start a tradition of taking a photo of her (and James when he starts) in the same spot by our front porch every year on the first day of school. It's crazy to look at the comparison and see how much she's grown over the years.

She rode the bus to school. I met her there to walk her to class.

Her classroom is now on the other side of the school by the bigger kids in 3rd, 4th & 5th grade.

Her new classroom is decorated nicely with a warm and fun environment to learn in. They even have a class aquarium.

This was the first year Madeline was a little embarrassed that I was taking so many pictures of her and told me it was okay that I go now. Miss Independent! 

This week Madeline's friend is riding the bus home with her to stay at our house after school. Here are the girls after they got off the bus. They said they had a great first day of school!

In these first few days Madeline's class has gone into depth to discuss the Pledge of Allegiance they say every morning. I thought I must post this cool tid-bit. It's no secret America is turning more secular, the world is for that matter. Which makes our job as Christian parents more challenging, God has entrusted us with our children to teach, train, nurture and discipline them. It's imperative they know His Word, how to use it in their daily lives and to continually trust in Him. We have some family & friends who have chosen to homeschool so they may teach their children academic subjects through a biblical worldview rather than a secular one. I think this is definitely a great way to avoid spiritual battlegrounds that can occur in public and even private schools. But since we have chosen to send Madeline & James to public schooling and teach them to be well-versed in our Christian principles when they are home and also through our Church's religious education program, I pay close attention to what they are learning and picking up at school. After all children tend to adopt values of those with whom they spend a lot of time with, and "bad company corrupts good morals" 1 Corinthians 15:33. So I was pleasantly surprised when Madeline showed me this paper explaining our "one nation under God" and that God is the one we worship. We're thankful our school is still teaching the principles Lincoln gave us when he said, 

 'that the nation shall, under God, have a new birth of freedom.'  

So far this back to school week has been great. I'm a little tired from getting up earlier, but I'll get used to it again soon. And even though school has started it doesn't mean that summer (or shall I say our summer weather) has left. Pool time after school sounded like a great way to cool off!

Yahoo!!

C.C.D.

Madeline started Pre-K C.C.D. classes at Church tonight! (C.C.D. are religious education Catechism classes for children in the Catholic Church) She was so thrilled to be going to her first day of "school". She almost didn't make it in to the classes this year, as they filled up fast at Santa Cruz.

Here's what our parish wrote about C.C.D. classes, and I have to agree...

"Enough cannot be said about the serious responsibility for parents to educate their children in the ways of the Faith. This comes from the promise parents and godparents made at the child’s baptism. Parish religious educators form a partnership with the parents in the formation of their children. Religious formation begins at home from the earliest years by teaching children how to pray."

Madeline's 1st workbook and craft.

Madeline has been curious about God for some time now, constantly asking questions. And she's very adamant about doing her bedtime prayers, she definitely reminds us if we forget. I believe this first year of C.C.D. will be a wonderful experience for her - I know I have fond memories of my C.C.D. classes.

P.S. Since it is the eve anniversary of September 11th I thought I would end this post with a prayer for those lost in the tragic event...

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven: for all who died on September 11; for the angels to carry them safely to the arms of the Father.

We pray to the Lord.

Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted: for all who are still wounded and saddened during this time of remembrance. We pray to the Lord.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God: for our church, national, and world leaders; for the courage to bear the cross of peace; for wisdom to prevent even more death. We pray to the Lord.

Intercessions for Peace (by Diana Macalintal)