Other Greater thoughts about St. Nick

If you read my post on St. Nick, you really must read this. Karen Edmisten's post is sooo much more meaningful. I'll have to add her to my favorites! Not to mention she quotes C.S. Lewis! Who can top him?

Happy Epiphany today!

Yes, There is a Santa Claus

His real name is St. Nicholas.

Boy, do I wish someone had said that to me when my FIRST child was born. Navigating the tricky waters of Faith and Advertising during the month of December is an no little ol' boat ride.

Especially since we began homeschooling. Homeschoolers are a mixed bag when it comes to St. Nick. Some go all out, others tow a tighter line. Here are a few thoughts I have distilled and have tried to communicate consistently to my children to help make sense of what they see on TV and what they hear in Church or around our Jesse tree.

1. Is there a Santa? Yes, There is a Santa Claus. His name is St. Nicholas. He lived in Greece around 300 AD
2. Does he live at the North Pole? Now he is a Saint in Heaven with Jesus. Much farther North than even the North Pole!
3. St. Nicholas loved Jesus so much that he made many miracles happen.
4. Those miracles are still happening today.
5. Does Santa come down the chimney? Santa probably doesn't come down the chimney. Some people don't understand miracles, so they write stories to explain how they think a miracle could happen. Just like a reindeer with a red glowing nose. I love that movie, don't you? It is one way people try to explain Christmas Miracles.
6. How can those presents show up? It's a miracle, isn't it?
7. Do you believe in Santa? Yes, I believe.
8. How can Santa get presents all around the world in one night? It's a miracle, isn't it?

They ask some pretty tricky questions don't they? In the beginning I tried answer with the explanations given in stories like "Twas the Night Before Christmas" but that got more confusing to me over the last several years.

St. Nicholas is real, he does make Christmas Miracles come true. I know that too! Much better to focus on him. We love the video "Nicholas, the boy who became Santa". A beautiful tale of St. Nicholas' life, and very compelling to remember Jesus this season.

Teaching our children to believe in Miracles is extremely important because of course, one happens every day at Mass! But knowing the difference between the Real Power of God and say the not so real power of Superman is equally important.

Merry Christmas, may your children experience a few miracles this season too!

Advent Activities

We have a new schedule for our Spring Semester of co-op. But that will be posted another day. Here are a few of my favorite Advent activities to share:

• Create a Jesse Tree. Although we haven't done this, there are lots of great websites with ideas. Visit the Domestic Church to get started.
• Learn about St. Nicholas. I love this website. Used several pictures and activities in our homeschool last Advent.
• Create an Advent wreath. Better late than never!
• Can't leave out CatholicMom.com

Enjoy the Season of Getting Ready!

Guest Speaker

This has to be a perk of belonging to a co-op. Where else could I get to meet the president of a college and ask any question I may have about the homeschool-highschool-college transistion? Or about majors? Or about the value of a liberal arts major?

Dr. Thierfelder joined our group for lunch and discussion this week. Hearing his explanation of the value of educating the "whole" person is certainly food for thought. Jenny Ryan, director of Campus Ministry, joined our discussion also. Very inspiring to learn about so many young people enthusiatic for our Faith!

Visit Belmont Abbey to learn more about the history and tradition of Excellence and Virtue right in our own backyard!

Thanksgving Freebies

Last post had a Thanksgiving activity that is free but not uniquely Catholic. Here's a link to Pflaum Publishing to print some activities that do focus on our Catholic heritage. You have to join on their site, but it is free. These family pages are updated quarterly. Enjoy!

Turkey Day!

This activity isn't especially Catholic, but it is seasonal and very, simple! Create a turkey out of leaves from your yard. The idea is from DLTK's website, "Fall Leaf Turkey". And I used the body from the this other turkey craft at DLTK. Just to make it even more simple!

Happy Thanksgiving!

A Little Rendezvous

A Field Trip Success! I wasn't sure our family would get to join co-op on this trip to Rendezvous Mtn. The drive seemed daunting and traveling with a baby is always a challenge. Yet the clear weather and a little reminder that trips like these are a "perk" of homeschooling tipped the scaled in favor of going. So very glad we did! Enjoy the pics.

Here Holly and Joseph are waiting on the Ranger to explain about "friendly logging" strategies.
I'm the logger cutting down the "trees". I hope this was time I was being eco-friendly!

Mary Hannah and Elizabeth are being cut to make perfume, of course!

A pleasant group of trees, awaiting their fate!

Gathering for the forest lesson.

What a mom can see from the Ranger Station: Our beautiful Appalachian Mtns.

What a baby can see from the Ranger Station.

Yvonne, Nicholas, Joel and Ellen take in the view.

Eager students learning about the animals in the forest!