Capitol Mile Run

 4 of my boys participated in the Capitol Mile Run race. This was the first time we tried one of these.  They did pretty well and all finished the entire mile 1-3/4 times around the Capitol Square.  Aside from some bad sportsmanship from the public school kids who pushed Sam and Frodo over right to the ground, they had alot of fun.  The children seem to be learning alot these days about the way many people act.

 Kili was a little less than thrilled and just enjoyed a nice long nap.

 Our big homeschooling group had a good number of participants earning our group a tie with another school for 2nd place.  This earned us $175 for various homeschooling events.

 Anticipation is a scourge!

 Our beautiful white washed sepulcher capitol building.

 On your mark, get set.....

 .... bang... GO!

 More than 1/2 way boys.... keep it up!

 The last leg....

 Catching one's breath!

Great job boys!

 You go!

 Kili enjoyed the arms of one of our homeschooling friends, they share nearly the same name so we'll call her Kilia :D

 Ok, this was just very funny.  A trolley with everyone peddling a "bike" towards the middle while the trolley moved forward. Interesting.  We could get one of those and my family could all go biking together! :D

 Pippin and his friend. Friend came in 2nd and Pippin came in 1st place for their age bracket (7 and under)

 Another 2nd place winner!  We had other winners in our homeschooling group as well. We were well represented.

Although he doesn't look like it in this picture, Pippin was ecstatic that he came in first place for his group!

Police on horseback!

 Great job boys... with of course Marigold having to get into the picture!

Pippinism

Pippin:  Mommy, Kili  looks like Augustus Gloop.

I guess I see what you mean....

... all that's missing is the Willie Wonka Scrumpdillicious Bar.

Relish and Not Relish

 The cucumbers are coming in so we've started making sweet pickle relish.

 It's very simple in a food processor, the only really time consuming part is that it has to soak for 2 hours. I do the inverted method since it is so acidic and have never had a sealing problem  We make ours in quart size jars :D

 This huge bug was found in our pool.  I so did not relish this.

This I found on the camera. It's a tomato wormy-thing.  I cannot believe my child-of-bug-loving-nature (Frodo) let this thing crawl on him.

St. Philomena Shrine

My children, Saint Philomena has great power with God, and she has, moreover, a kind heart; let us pray to her with confidence.  Her virginity and generosity in embracing her heroic martyrdom have rendered her so agreeable to God that He will never refuse her anything that she asks for us."

St. John Vianney

A person once approached the Cure' and said:  "Is it true, Monsieur le Cure', that Saint Philomena obeys you?" To which the holy priest replied, "And why not, since every day God Himself obeys me at the altar?"

 Our small homeschooling group went up to a local Shrine of St. Philomena.  We started the day in the church with the Rosary.  It might be noted it took us a bit to find the tabernacle.  Poor Jesus was off in a room off the side of the Church.

 A relic of St. Philomena.

 The inside of church itself wasn't very pretty but there were some nice attributes.  These 2 stained glass windows for example.

 A replica of the Cruxifix that spoke to St. Francis of Assisi

 This is the little shrine of St. Philomena with Our Lady at the top overlooking all.

 St. John Vianney

 Pope St. Pius X

Both of these saints were devoted to St. Philomena.

 Statue of St. Philomena.  The shrine was made to be like a cell where she spent her last days while preserving her purity.

 On our walk down to the tiny little bookstore this vehicle caught my eye.  It's a shopping car...literally. Very tiny and cute!  Of course it might be noted that it isn't a shopping vehicle for someone with 12 children.

 We prayed the Litany to St. Philomena at the shrine.

 The statue is looking towards a stained glass window which represents the vision of Our Lady and Her Son.  This is why the statue faces sideways in the shrine.

 Eowyn touches some religious items to the relic which makes them 3rd class relics.

 St. Joseph and Our Lady were honored in the church.

 St. Philomena and Eowyn who chose St. Philomena as her Confirmation saint.

 Afterwards we went to one family's home to enjoy a picnic and outdoor games.

 Fr. Alex given a talk on St. Philomena to the children.

Portiuncula Indulgence August 2nd

“The Portiuncula indulgence is the first plenary indulgence that was ever granted in the Church. There were indeed indulgences at all times, but they were only partial, and only a partial remission of the temporal punishments could be obtained by them. But he who gains the Portiuncula indulgence is freed from all temporal punishments and becomes as pure as after holy baptism. This was also the reason why Pope Honorius was astonished when St. Francis petitioned for the confirmation of this indulgence, for such an indulgence, up to that time, had been entirely unknown. It was only after he had come to the conviction that Jesus Christ himself wished it, that he granted the petition of the saint and confirmed the indulgence”

August 2nd is the feast of Portiuncula. A plenary indulgence is available to anyone who will:
1. Receive sacramental confession within 20 days prior to or following the day the indulgence is sought)
2. Receive the Holy Eucharist at Holy Mass on August 2nd
3. Enter a parish church and, with a contrite heart, pray the Our Father, Apostles Creed, and a prayer of his/her own choosing for the intentions of the Pope.
This indulgence is attributable to a soul in Purgatory. Let as many as possible obtain this indulgence tomorrow to release a multitude of souls into Heaven.
Angelfire

Beautiful Evening

 The sky was amazing!