Hunting Season

Hunting Season began yesterday.

In our neck of the woods everyone learns gun safety and everyone wears blaze orange if they go outside this time of year. Bilbo is sporting our very fashionable attire.

Defend us in Battle

Visit Fr. Z's blog The Future and Our Choices be sure to watch the video on YouTube and shine up your armor via the Rosary.

What we can count on is that this won't be St. Michael's first battle, we've got hosts of angels and saints in our army.... not to mention numerous children!

Fight FOCA

Pray for our Priests and Bishops and the Holy Father!
All for the Greater Honor and Glory of God!

CONGRATULATIONS!

Congratulations to Bilbo's God Parents!

May God Bless your married life abundantly!

Aragorn's whole family! Aren't we a crowd!

More pictures coming.......... eventually.

What Made Your Day?

What made my day was that Aragorn brought home an unexpected lunch *for TWO* and we actually ate alone. Is that sweet or what?

Just Stuff

We met up with Aragorn's brother and his family for a walk to the Tunnel, I'll call Moria.

The hike to the tunnel was really nice, a perfect day, though we expected rain.

Entering the old train tunnel.

Wasn't that nice of me to turn around and take a picture of everyone behind me with a flash in a dark tunnel?

There is indeed a light at the end of a tunnel.

Sisters and a cousin. Don't you love it when they hold hands? So sweet!

Since we have a wedding coming up this week!! I thought we should see if we have shoes, socks and duds for everyone so we did a rather pathetic photo shoot.

Sam (who is very thrilled to be in a suit....... right)

Galadriel

Eowyn

Frodo

Rosie

Eleanor

Merry with Cap

Merry without Cap

Pippin with Cap

Pippin without Cap

Bilbo not cooperating

Bilbo has no shoes

However Bilbo does have black permanent sharpie on his head... and ankle, compliments of Pippin's school of fine art... or lack thereof.

Vanity, vanity, all things are vanity... but these matching doll dresses were soooo cute!

The group shots are just humorous so I'll include them all here and not in your Christmas card.

Praytell whose big idea was to take these pictures at Bilbo's naptime? You'd think by 9 children I'd know precisely when *not* to take pictures.

First rate goofballs (I wonder where they get that from?)

The election results were hard on this 8 year old. But lo and behold there at the grocery store on the for-suckers table were these adorable little puppies, just the right size for a little boy's pocket. We are rather low maintenance around here.

Fall Volunteer Day

Wet rats

Better your child than mine!

Tiny tots club

Here's the Answer

cocklebur

I was reading Divine Intimacy and found the answer to the question about how to explain the election.

"But, in the midst of all this good, the enemy comes to sow evil. Why does God permit this? To sift His servants as we sift grain, to test them. ... The cockle is spared, not because it is good, but in order save the wheat. In the same way God spares the wicked and does not destroy them, for the sake of the elect....[God] does not tell us to fraternize with evil, to make a league with the cockle, but He tells us to endure it with the longanimity (long suffering I believe) with which He Himself endured it. Was there not a traitor among the Apostles? Yet Jesus wanted him among His intimates -- and with how much love He treated him! ... When our love is perfect, we are able to live among the wicked without being harsh or contentious, without being influenced by them, but rather doing them good."

general google image
This is cocklebur growing up between the rows of corn. Even here at Trinity Acres we suffer from that blight! Nasty stuff!

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True Love and True Charity doesn't allow for compromise or letting evil get it's way, yet, at the same time, we must love our enemies as Christ. *phew* Now there is a lesson to learn.

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When Jesus told St. Teresa of Avila, "Teresa, that's how I treat my friends" Teresa responded, "No wonder you have so few friends."

Let's hope we are some of His elect (not the elected haha).

Various Gatherings

I made my own bread-butter-n-jelly.

FAMILY REUNION

Grandma's family had a family reunion

Playing with cousins or rather 2nd cousins

Galadriel and Eowyn

Merry

Frodo

Pippin

2nd cousins

ALL SAINTS' DAY PARTY

Yes, there is a boy under that box!

Games

The newest member of our homeschooling group!

Anyone surprised to see Eowyn sniffed out the bookshelves right away?

Tying on of the donuts

Donut game.

It was a beautifully perfect... though chilly day for our party. It was held at a perfect setting at one of the families-in-our-group's home.

Futures

The big bonfire

The civilized adult fire.

Pumpkin carving contest... the one with the cigar was the winner! Clever!

Our group!

I'd be remiss if I forgot to mention the cheese cakes! Oh yum!!

SPANISH & BREAKFAST DAY

Galadriel and Eowyn at breakfast after Spanish class.

Dinner (or rather breakfast) music

This was also boxes-for-soldiers day in honor of Vetrans' Day. Everyone brought supplies for the soldiers over seas and the littles stuffed the boxes. The boxes were then shipped overseas to people in the military.