Have a Blessed Triduum

I'll be back next week with Follow Me Monday and the rest of the homeschooling/Crohn's Disease/Origami Owl/Week in Review stuff I usually blog about. Have a peaceful and safe weekend my friends.

Habemus Papam Francisco!

I am so excited with the announcement that our new Pope has been elected so quickly. Over the moon is more like it!

And that he is Argentine-born makes it all the more sweeter for me. {In case you didn't know, I am a first-generation American born to Argentine parents that immigrated here legally in 1964.}

I am thrilled that he is a Jesuit, an intellectual, a theological conservative, a Latin American, has Eastern Church leadership experience, a heart for peace and justice, and is humble, approachable, and a true pastor for his flock. And he chose the name "Francis" - a Saint that is universally loved, a symbol of peace and concern for the earth, and a man who strove for peace with Islam.

As everyone learns more about Pope Francis, I think they are going to be even more pleased with this selection; he is the right man for the job at this time. I heard a reporter say on the radio that Pope Francis was a humble man, remarking that he takes the bus to work instead of a chauffeured car around Buenos Aires. 

If they truly knew what it was like to take a "colectivo" in Buenos Aires they would know that Pope Francis is not only humble, but also extremely brave, because taking the bus in Argentina is a daring enterprise. The bus drivers are such reckless drivers that one steps onto the bus with a leap of faith that one will arrive at the destination in one piece. The traffic in Rome will not startle this new Pope at all!

And with World Youth Day this summer in Brazil! {How I wish I was young enough to go to World Youth Day.}

Latin America has a chance to get on fire for its Catholic Faith again. It is time for the re-conversion of the continent to begin. 

Virgen de Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas, Pray for Us!

Virgen de Lujan, Patroness of Argentina, Pray for Us!

If you don't see me for a while it's because I'm overdosing on all things Argentine: empanadas, mate, pastelitos, dulce de leche, milanesas, flan, tango, my Misa Criolla CD, the Mission on Netflix, and all the gaucho picture books for kids that I can round up quickly. The only one I own is On the Pampas by Maria Cristina Brusca, but Amazon is showing it as out of stock. I do hope they print some nice picture books for kids about this Pope's childhood. We so enjoyed the ones about Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI.

I'll come up for air later tonight to announce the winner of the picture book give away.

I've never written up a lap book or unit study before, but I am feeling inspired to gather all my Argentina materials and put them together in a way that a person new to studying the country could get a glimpse of the beautiful country that our new Pope calls home. 

Perhaps one of you experienced lapbookers would like to join forces with me? I can put the authentic Argentine spin on it, and you can add the creativity and the lapbook craftiness? Let me know if you're interested in joining forces for a Papal study unit on our new Pope's country of origin. {I can promise all the Catholic foodies out there that the food will be much, much better.}

Habemus Papam Francisco!

God Bless you everyone!

And so Lent begins...

After the Pope's blockbuster announcement earlier this week, it seemed the whole world couldn't wait to get on this story and start speculating as to why he was retiring. I read one crazy article that said it must have been because "Twitter" was too much for him. Really, what a bunch of narcissistic twits. Another said the pedophile crisis was the reason. When are they going to stop beating that old dead horse? I am sure the Pope feels bad about the abuse, I am sure he wishes he could have done more to stop the pain, but that problem pre-dated his papacy so if he were wanting to avoid that kettle of worms he could have just not taken the job in the first place.

I suspect the truth is far simpler. The Pope is German, and Bavarian. I have German Bavarian Catholic ancestors, and I can tell you they are a people of few words, and are often direct, frank, and precise. If he says he does not feel up to the demanding tasks of the modern Church due to his physical, mental, and spiritual frailty - then it may just be as simple as that. Let the poor man just rest. Focus on your own Lent. I'm sure it was not a decision he came to lightly.

I am confident the Holy Spirit will lead the Conclave to electing the Pope that we need for this time. And he will be ready for the challenges that lie ahead and help us to celebrate a Glorious Easter.

Our Liturgical week's ceremony preparations were subdued due to our health issues. We did manage to enjoy homemade pancakes with blueberries, bacon, syrup, and whipped cream for lunch on Shrove Tuesday. (Sweetpea refuses to eat breakfast for dinner, I was lucky to sneak this in as "Brunch" at 12:30 pm)

Imagine here a beautiful picture of our salt dough crown with nearly 50 wooden toothpicks scattered all about, placed by my four children, baked to golden perfection in my runs-too-hot oven. It was a pin-worthy effort.

You're imagining, right? Imagine the cutest one from Lacy's site over at Catholic Icing, or one of the amazing creations from Catholic Cuisine. It was really that good. Seriously.

Dum, dum, dum, dum....

Imagine the horror when an hour later I heard a crashing sound from the living room and ran in to find Riley, yes, THE Mastiff of The Mighty Mastiffs, eating the crown of thorns!!! I think I was able to get all the pieces that had toothpicks in them away from her before she could eat any of them, but she did chomp down most of the dough. I used epsom salt when I couldn't find regular salt, so I'm not sure how her stomach is going to respond to that. It's what they call a natural laxative my friends. Natural, cause that makes it sound better.

The children and I enjoyed making the crown of thorns, we did get a chance to talk about what it represents while we assembled and baked it, so at least it served its learning purpose. 

I was so glad to have finally incorporated this craft into our Liturgical year celebrations and I couldn't wait to see the good deeds being done throughout the house so they could pick a thorn out of Jesus' crown of thorns. But nope, instead we got to practice our patience and forgiveness on our "good girl"- who looks so peaceful as if all that salt dough hasn't even hit her stomach yet.

I don't think we'll have the energy to make another one. But there's always next year. I so appreciate the wisdom of more experienced homeschoolers, especially Catholic homeschoolers, who make me realize that NOT every liturgical activity (or experiment or lesson plan) has to go perfectly the first time. I will probably have a chance to make another one some time in a future year. If not with my kids, then with my grandkids. And oh, what a story I will have to tell!