Minnesota Mom

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Wrinkles, Rollovers and a Poem

by Filed Under: Homeschooling, Honest Blogging, Just Me, Minnesota Me 20 Comments

First, the poem.I gave two talks at the recent Minnesota Catholic homeschooling conference. The first was titled, “Keep Your Eyes on Your Own Work: On Guarding Your Heart and Not Losing Hope,” and refers, in my mind, to both success in the classroom and spiritual growth.Because if we’re not growing spiritually then what’s the point.Right?At the end … [Read more...]

I ♥ 5-Year-Olds

by Filed Under: Anecdotal, Minnesota Me 10 Comments

Speaking of Florence, my friend Tina just got back from a trip to Italy where she spent a glorious week and a half with her husband and daughters. We had the privilege of watching her three sons during part of that time, and I’ll tell you, they couldn’t have been better little men.It was especially wonderful having another five-year-old in the … [Read more...]

My Little Piece of Italy

by Filed Under: Just Me, Minnesota Me, The Faith 14 Comments

A reader, Jan, emailed to ask me about the medal that I always wear.Would you like to hear its story?It all began with the girl in this photo—a lovely young lady named Guillemette.You know how that’s pronounced, right? Because it would kill me if you pronounced my friend’s name wrong. It’s Ghee-ya-mette, with a hard “g” as in “great”. Guillemette. … [Read more...]

Pickle Week in Review

by Filed Under: Food and Drink, Give-Aways, Minnesota Me 11 Comments

And you thought I’d forgotten.Well, I haven’t.The winner of (2) (Count ‘em) 2 (!) bags of pickle-flavored Giants sunflower seeds is:Jenny! Please send me your address, Jenny, so that I can mail your prize and stop tormenting my sons, who keep asking for permission to Eat. Your. Seeds.No, Joe, you may not have those. Sorry, Jem. Those are for … [Read more...]

Faith and Freedom

by Filed Under: Friends of the Heart, Gratitude, Minnesota Me, Special Events 8 Comments

I’m proud to be an American where at least I know I’m freeAnd I won’t forget the ones who died who gave that right to meAnd I gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land…God bless the USA. (from “God Bless the USA,” written by Lee Greenwood and sung by Dolly Parton) There were many, many times … [Read more...]

11 Years Ago Today

by Filed Under: Minnesota Me, My Boys, Special Events 6 Comments

…it was also Memorial Day, and I was in a hospital in Newton, Mass. delivering my newborn bundle of baby boy!Sigh. It seems like yesterday.Happy Birthday, Jem!You are everything we’d hoped for in a 2nd son—down-to-earth, responsible, and hilarious. With your brother away at school this past year, you have stepped up to the plate in ways unexpected … [Read more...]

Catholic Home Educators Unite!

by Filed Under: Homeschooling, Minnesohta, Minnesota Me, Special Events 12 Comments

The 2010 EditionWell, the Minnesota Catholic Home Education conference is over and now it is time to pay the piper. That is to say, it’s time to clean my neglected house...and do the laundry...and feed my family.Because I haven’t done any of these things for the past two weeks.And it was worth it.That vine-covered building in the photo up there? … [Read more...]