7 Quick Takes August 24, 2012

--- 1 ---

Earlier this week I posted about planning our day for this school year.  I am very excited that I got it done and actually got it put up on my website (with a bit of help from my web savvy hubby :)  If you'd like to see our current school year schedule, you can go here!
 

--- 2 ---

One more short promo take and then we'll get down to business... There is only one more week (if you're reading this on the 24th, of course) of the free shipping offer on my book "A Plan for Joy in the Home".  Why not be organized this school year?  If you're interested, you can get your copy here.
 

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Ok, on to other things.  Through a few turns of events as well as Divine Inspiration, my husband and I have decided that we will not be signing anyone up for weekly activities through the end of this year.  We've all been run into the ground and we need some time to focus on school and recoup from the busy summer we've had.  The idea here, besides the recouping thing, is that we will have some more time, and more energy, to do things we want to do instead of things we "have" to do (ie things we've committed to and/or paid for!)  Hopefully this means some field trips and some good ole hospitality.

--- 4 ---

That type of thinking was the inspiration for me agreeing to take the kids on a one hour + drive to a shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe to join our homeschool group on their fifth annual trip.  Apparently I was not the only one inspired to join this year as there were many first timers besides our family; the biggest crowd yet, I was told!  Our homeschool group name is Our Lady of Guadalupe so the group has been pilgrim-aging here for the past four years and now I can see why.  It was a very nice and peaceful place.  Thus the last few takes will involve pictures of this wonderufl shrine!
 

--- 5 ---

Here is an overview shot of the shrine.  You'll notice Our Lady and St. Juan Diego in the upper right, an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the back center, an interesting, yet striking cross in the background (I didn't find out what it all meant, unfortunately) and a wonderful image of the Sacred Heart in the foreground.  What you can't see are the hundreds and hundreds of bouquets of flowers that have been brought here by the faithful to be laid at Our Lady's feet.  It truly was amazing.

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 Around the other side is a grotto with the risen Lord.  This area was also amazing in that there are a ton of candles and artifacts that have been put here.  Pictures, letters, rosaries, baby sweaters...just an unbelievable amount of things placed here at the feet of Our Lord.  You could just feel the devotion of all the people who brought the items.

--- 7 ---

 There was also a chapel that had pictures of many of the Mexican martyrs.  Above the altar was this crucifix.  We were wondering why the corpus is black but were unable to find out the answer.  Anyone know???

All in all it was a wonderful way to kick off our school year which officially begins on the 27th.  Have a wonderful weekend!

God Bless! 

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