Blues Lose!?!

More than one boy in the Schmidling family was frustrated with the loss 2-5 tonight by the St. Louis Blues.  Not a good play-off series! "The repercussions of having a hockey-obsessed boy..."

Piano Final No. 4 - Semester 4

 Meggar performed "Consolation" by Lizst amazingly well for her Semester 4 Piano Performance. Four pink lilies to honor the 4th recital.

 Captain and I drove to Truman State for the concert yesterday and a relaxing lunch at Thousand Acres Park Restaurant.

Artwork in the background celebrates Harry S. Truman's piano playing abilities.

Small Ensemble Performs at Crown Center

All three boys performed at Crown Center last night. Aunt Kathy went with us to watch. (And to buy ice cream sundaes at Sheridan's!)

First, Dorito played his own concerto (Vivaldi's G Major) with Mr. Jarrett accompanying on keyboard.

Then the small ensemble of 12 string players from Mr. Jarrett's studio performed all three movements of Concerto in A Minor by Vivaldi.Winger was principal second, and is shown here playing alongside his teacher.

Polar Bear was principal third.

Blue Knights

Alison bought me a "Blue Knight" yesterday from the national chess tournament--in honor of my starting Blue Knights Club in our Catholic Homeschool Group. So cute!!

Art Co-op Makes Chaplets

For our monthly art co-op, I led the students in making a Eucharistic chaplet of 33 prayer beads. On each bead, you pray: "O Sacrament most holy, O Sacrament divine, All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine."

Originally, I wanted us to put knots between each bead, but it was too difficult to keep them close together. Obviously it takes practice to get good at knotted rosaries and chaplets.

Even More Prom Photos

Our Prom photographer has posted this album with all the photos so students can order prints themselves from any vendor they choose.  I love the quality of Faith's work.

Grand Finale (Homeschool Choir)

 The choir certainly sounded great on "Canon of Praise" (based on Canon in D by Pachabel)

and "Gospel Alleluia." I think there are many more members this year, which is helping their vocalizing.

My tall boys stood in the back looking handsome.

College Parties & College Friends

What a blessing to have Hannah in Meggar's life since homeschooling together. Although she attends a different college, Hannah is supporting Meggar's Christian standards through email, Twitter, and Facebook. She recently went to visit Truman State and meet all of Meggar's friends. Of course, there is a themed party nearly every weekend, which gave them a chance to craft these togas. Hannah also stopped by the Prom to help clean-up and lead "Electric Slide" for beginners. Looking forward to the summer for Zumba and putt putt!

Volunteer Hours

Last week, the boys did a "Fiddlers Three" show for the Savannah Senior Center and it was nice to see familiar faces there! They also provided a Boy Scout Color Guard for the Veteran's Health Fair at the Bartlett Center. (And they read aloud a patriotic poem from their literature books!) Tonight was Scout's Adopt-a-Highway and trash pickup. I am proud of the volunteer efforts they give to their community.

Socialization?! Playing on Words

It was so tempting for me to post pictures from Facebook of other local Proms to show a comparison with Dorito's very pleasant memories of going to a formal with a proper young lady and having a fun time. Homeschoolers are often accused of not "fitting in"... Are you kidding?! With whom -- the girls that don't fit in their dress? (front, back, up top, down the leg slit, or all four places) With the boys -- who have earrings/guages and plans for After Prom partying? The pressure to be immodest plus the cost of such shiny/skimpy dresses makes me blush.

Dance with a Beauty

The "Boots & Beauties" prom was a huge success with 48 homeschool teens at the Country Club for dinner and a dance. My junior boy is a very smooth dancer! His date was darling!

They stayed out there for every fast, fun, slow, Country, Christian, or pop song.

The DJ took a turn on the dance floor with her Dad during "Ladies Choice" -- and it was a Michael Buble song (of course).

Party Favors for Prom

The theme is "Boots & Beauties" tonight. HyVee donated bottled root beer for party favors.

Calling Upon Authority

Made more calls to Truman State University administrators. Also called Alpha Gamma Delta headquarters. My instincts as "Momma Bear" are fired up, but I am trying to keep a calm voice and sound reasonable with my request. Captain said I sounded professional. I hope to change Polish Week from beginning before the dorms open on campus, which creates pressure for many girls to stay at their boyfriend's apartment or frat house... (sigh) #bad decisions

Royals Game with Grandparents

Gr. Judy and Gr. Gerald took us to the Royals game tonight. Peanuts, frozen lemonade, and chocolate malts. Plus a bench clearing moment in the 7th inning. Home run by Alcides Esobar, but the Royals lost to the Tigers 3-4 on Billy Butler's birthday.

Donating Trophies

Captain called "OK Trophy" and found out they accept trophy donations, and they recycle them for Special Olympics events. Hooray!

Spring Cleaning

Last year I didn't do ANY spring cleaning. The basement was full of water and the repair men were making a mess outside and inside so that I just tried not to look. I would love to post a photo of the 12-foot-deep trench dug around our basement at a cost of $18,000, or the piles of dirt after the drain pipes and rock were installed. But my camera "crashed" and all of last year's photos were erased from the memory card.

This spring, however, I am more motivated to put things right. Cleaning, purging clothes to younger families, sorting trophies and other such clutter. Plus, Captain repainted the basement by matching the original yellow color. How nice to cover up the sheetrock repairs and the greasy hand marks of young boys!

Divine Mercy Sunday

The fount of mercy is rich on this Octave of Easter.

AGD Host Mom's Weekend

How nice to see Patty, from my own sorority pledge class, with her daughter Emma!

About 40-some AGDs took their moms to Steve's Garden Deli for supper last night. What a great turnout! They have great sandwiches, soups, and desserts. And they donated 10% back to the AGD philanthropy. Meggar and I shared the carrot cake (full of raisins, walnuts, and coconut). Then we played 12 rounds of Bunco, until it got so noisy that we couldn't stand it. It was nice to rotate tables and meet all the other moms. Later, about a dozen girls persuaded their moms to go to a frat party. (We knew it would elevate our "cool staus" by 100 points). But I am not really a night owl, so I only lasted until 11:30 pm.
Then today even more showed up for a potluck picnic at Thousand Hills Lake, and a serenade from the "True-Men" choir. I hung out with Meggar in the Chapter room watching TV and talking until the threat of approaching storms sent me back on the road before dark. What a weekend with my girl--while the boys were away at hockey try-outs! (Guess who designed the cute shirts?!)

Forever Stamps

I don't know about you but the Forever Stamps sounds like an Extreme-Couponer's dream! Imagine, you could buy up stamps this year while they are "only" 45 cents and store them away for the next 10 year's worth of Christmas cards. You could give them as gifts to children, and like savings bonds they will appreciate in value every year. They are a perfect tax-free investment. Unless the Post Office isn't forever...

Raise the Flag & Ring the Bell

The ribbon cutting ceremony was held this week for the new One-room Schoolhouse at the Pony Express Museum. It was given a bit of pomp and circumstance by the Schmidling Scouts in the Color Guard for the 33-star flag. The conclusion of a dream that started eight years ago.

Saint of the Day -- Catholics & Politics

ST. STANISLAS
Bishop and Martyr
(1030-1079)

        Stanislas was born in answer to prayer when his parents were advanced in age. Out of gratitude they educated him for the Church, and from a holy priest he became in time Bishop of Cracow.

        Boleslas II. was then King of Poland-a prince of good disposition, but spoilt by a long course of victory and success. After many acts of lust and cruelty, he outraged the whole kingdom by carrying off the wife of one of his nobles. Against this public scandal the chaste and gentle bishop alone raised his voice. Having commended the matter to God, he went down to the palace and openly rebuked the king for his crime against God and his subjects, and threatened to excommunicate him if he persisted in his sin.

        To slander the Saint's character, Boleslas suborned the nephews of one Paul, lately dead, to swear that their uncle had never been paid for land bought by the bishop for the Church. The Saint stood fearlessly before the king's tribunal, though all his witnesses forsook him, and guaranteed to bring the dead man to witness for him within three days. On the third day, after many prayers and tears, he raised Paul to life, and led him in his grave-clothes before the king. Boleslas made a show for a while of a better life. Soon, however, he relapsed into the most scandalous excesses, and the bishop, finding all remonstrance useless, pronounced the sentence of excommunication.

        In defiance of the censure, on April 11, 1079, the king went down to a chapel where the bishop himself was saying Mass, and sent in three companies of soldiers to dispatch him at the altar. Each in turn came out, saying they had been scared by a light from heaven. Then the king rushed in and slew the Saint at the altar with his own hand.

Lives of the Saints, by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894]

Catholic Twitter Messages

I like having a few Twitter messages come to my phone as a text, for instance: the daily Jane Austen quote, C.S. Lewis quote, and witty remarks from friends (like Meggar and Dorito). I also just subscribed to the Fulton Sheen quote of the day:
"The antiphon of th Empty Tomb was striking on the chords of your heart. It was not you who died; it was sin. It was not Christ who died; it was death." (The Eternal Galilean) Very inspiring.
Tuesday is also our holy hour at the Adoration Chapel, and we are joining the Divine Mercy novena this week leading up to Divine Mercy Sunday on the octave of Easter.
The quiet hour also gives me a chance to read some Catholic authors. Among others, I have been tackling "The Interior Castle" by St. Teresa of Avila. In the Fourth Mansion, she talks about worries and disturbing thoughts. "...the result cannot but be very painful, indeed almost unbearable," she says. "If you would progress a long way on this road and ascend to the Mansions of your desire, the important thing is not to think much, but to love much; do, then, whatever most arouses you to love."
This blew me away. I don't know if it can change my life, but I am trying to be mentally healthier. I am a deep thinker and often I become overly analytical when I'm worried. Plus my sense of duty (as a wife and homeschool mother) builds upon my sense of loyalty (caused by frequent moves during my childhood)--causing me to think I need to DO MORE in order to be loved. To be loved by God. To be loved by family and friends. There is the painful point of my existence, as I try to cope with a seemingly hopeless low-thyroid body and brain.
The message of Divine Mercy is "Jesus, I Trust in Thee!"

Easter Mass - He is Risen Indeed

Camping Out with Dad

The boys came home before the storms, and Captain said they had a GREAT time camping at Wallace State Park.
Tilapia followed by cherry cobbler and hot cocoa.

Good Friday

The death of the Lord our God
should not be a cause of shame for us;
rather, it should be our greatest hope,
our greatest glory...
Brethern, let us then fearlessly acknowledge and
even openly proclaim that Christ was crucified for us;
let us confess it, not in fear but in joy,
not in shame but in glory.
    --From a homily by St. Augustine

Our family went to outdoor Stations of the Cross this afternoon with Carpenters and Riordan's families. Tonight, Meggar will be home for her Easter break!

Maundy Thursday

We set out our Last Supper centerpiece, which is beautifully hand-carved.

Golfing Expectations

Dorito has started back part-time at the Fairview Golf Course. He is looking forward to having no school tomorrow and is already planning a golf outing for the Schmidling four-some.
He's also talking a great deal about the Masters Tournament, which starts tomorrow. He downloaded an App to his iPhone that let's him stream live coverage 24/7. All my boys are excited about that. Dorito also hinted that for his High School Graduation present (next year), he would like Captain to take him to see the Masters up close.

Good Reads to Come

I just heard about the release of "A Daughter's Tale," the memoir of mary Soames--youngest child of Winston and Clementine Churchill. She is 90 years old; what a great accomplishment.  I actually have a chance to purchase a UK signed copy in advance of the US publication date. All thanks to my newsletter from the National Churchill Museum in Fulton, Missouri. I've become more and more interested in Churchill as I teach history to my high schoolers. And of course, Meggar and I have wonderful pictures from Chartwell when Daphne took us to his house for a tour in 2010. I'm eager to read her thoughts about the war and memories of her father. The formidable Prime Minister had just failed reelection, but in 1946, he came to Missouri with President Harry Truman and gave his "iron curtain" speech. We full intend to vist the Churchill Museum this fall--it's right on our way to St. Louis, where the twins will surely have a hockey tournament.

Fooling Around

We are all smiling as Dorito keeps bursting out laughing today. He is having fun with his April Fool's joke -- he posted his new Facebook status that said: "Yesterday I found out that I got accepted to the Medical Center of Harvard to study surgical robotics." So far he has tricked 31 people before noon (9 people commented and 22 people hit "Like") and each time he feels a little more mischievious with his APRIL FOOLS! He actually called Aunt Kathy to set her straight, saying: "I love you too much Aunt Kathy to trick you for long." Her reply was: "Uncle Terry is going to smack you."