A Special Birthday

This work is called Ven Espíritu Santo 

or Come Holy Spirit

It's Pentecost Sunday, the birthday of the Catholic Church.  St. Martha's was decked out in red this morning and we heard the story of the first pentecost when the apostles went from hiding fearfully in the upper room to boldly proclaiming the gospel. (Acts 2:1-11)

Growing up, I was reluctant to eat my vegetables.  My mother would remind me that I needed to eat at least seven--one for each of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  So, my siblings and I could recite those big words long before we knew what they meant:  Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety and Fear of the Lord.  It's a tradition that we are passing on to our girls.

In his homily today, father reminded us that without the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, our Church would have gone to ruin long ago as everything man-made does.  So today is a day to celebrate.

At Casa Doyle, we are eating cake and ice cream and praying in thanksgiving for the gift of the Church and for our ancestors who passed on their Catholic faith.  We also pray for any confirmed Catholics who have left the church.  May they find their way home.

Swim Stories

The newest Wahoo from Casa Doyle

We are so proud of her!

We are halfway through the swim season and our swimmers are improving their strokes and their times, making new friends and learning to be good sports.  

Chris and I both love swimming as a sport for our girls.  Chris loves the individual-effort-for-a-team aspect of it and I love it because it was my favorite sport growing up.  To say that I was not a star swimmer is an understatement.  I was queen of the participation award although one summer, I won the Team Spirit Award for cheering loudly and for some clever signs I made.  I definitely wasn't the one taking home the blue ribbons or breaking pool records (I left that to my little sis') but I was at practice every single day and swam my heart out at every meet.  

At Madeleine's recent sports banquet, her coach, Tom Walsh, observed, "Athletics is a never-ending lesson in how we handle defeat".  How true.  I never want my girls to be so afraid of failure that they quit or refuse to even try.  My wish for them is that they have the spirit to get back on the horse over and over until they feel the wind in their hair and travel to places they've never been.  I hope they invite their sisters along for the ride, thanking God all the way.

Following are some photos of our swimmers from the last few meets.  Enjoy!

Madeleine

Madeleine is an amazing breaststroker

Hands in the ready position

This was a few strokes away from finishing a first place relay for her team

I think this is my favorite action shot

Mia

Flying fairy

Fairy flies again

(I didn't know fairies could swim)

Mia has a great backstroke.  Long and fast.  Last week, she took first in her heat.

Grace

Grace is waiting on the block in lane 2

One meet later

Her diving form keeps improving.

Grace likes to spend a little time on the lane rope during each race.  She sort of checks out the scene, adjusts her goggles and is off again.  During one race, we were cheering her on, yelling, "Go G!"  She yelled back, "No, call me GiGi!"  No time like the middle of a race to request a new nickname!  

"I finished Mama!"

COMING SOON:  

A Look Behind the Scenes of Swim Stories

Wednesday Adventure

Yesterday, the Doyle Homeschool went adventuring at the George Ranch Historical Park.  It was homeschool day which meant we enjoyed reduced admission and the company of other homeschooling families.  We went with the female Ceys and had a fabulous time.  As we arrived under threatening skies, Misty and I both wondered if the other had brought an umbrella.  Neither of us had but as it turned out, that didn't matter.  The rains came later in the afternoon but they were insignificant and the overcast day gave us cool weather for touring homes with no air conditioning.  It couldn't have been better.  

The George Ranch Park (named for the family who owned it and lived there until 1960) includes four homes built between the 1830s and the 1930s.  I have toured many period homes before but never four so close together where I could see the changes and the progression through the centuries.  It was fascinating.  The day was long--we left after 4:00 P.M.--but the girls were interested and well-behaved and came home raving about the field trip and ready to tell Daddy all about what they'd learned.  My kind of schooling.   

Visiting the 1830s Jones Stock Farm

Our guide taught us about Stephen F. Austin and life on the frontier.

He also taught us signs that early Texans would have used with indians.

I posted a video at the bottom of Mia and Grace demonstrating some of the signs.

Sophie and Ella were more interested in the chickens than the tour.

A few of the many chickens walking around

Fascinated

Determined--she tried hard but she never did catch one

Inside the log cabin

Sophie finds a toy in the children's loft

Loading the gun

Our guide told us about the gun.  It's special and rare but I didn't catch much more than that.

It was loud.

Outside the chicken house.

The back porch of the cabin.  The big hallway through the middle is called the dog run.

Watch that needle, G!

The 1860s Ryon Prairie Home

This home had a schoolroom with slates and chalk.  The guide told us the children would only go to school about eight days a month.  

Sophie thinks she might like to live here

Baby E

The 1890s Davis Victorian Mansion

I wish I'd taken my own photo of this home.  It was my favorite.

The family cemetery was near the Victorian Mansion

In the small country church

The girls asked if it was a Catholic church which gave a us a great opportunity to talk about the clues they could look for to answer that question for themselves.

Ringing the bell

"sanctuary"

Sophie likes to help Ella walk

And to kiss her too

The 1930s George Cattle Complex

This house was originally a one story home but they added on and built the second story.  When the Georges died, they had no heirs and left 50 million dollars to the foundation that operates the Park/ Ranch.  Ella loved the room off the kitchen which was full of hunting trophies.  She kept pointing and saying/ screeching "Look!"

Davie Crockett and Pocahontas

In the video, Mia "Davie" is giving Grace "Pocahontas" commands in sign language then doing words like "deer", "listen"& "bear".  They invented the sign at the end.

Scary

I thought I'd take time out from our family happenings to tell you about a very cute movie we watched with the kids this weekend--Disney's Bolt*.  The story was about being lost, then found and also about growing up and learning to believe in yourself.  We all enjoyed it and as happens with many movies, liked the soundtrack.  So--and this is scary--I downloaded the duet "I Thought I Lost You" by Miley Cyrus and John Travolta.  I say it's scary because while all good Gen Xrs are familiar with the vocal talents of John Travolta, Miley Cyrus is a pop phenom for the new millenium.  Oh well.  That's one of the great things about having kids--I can always play Miley's music for them (wink wink).  (And Kevin--I can hear you now--Miley Cyrus?  What can I say?:)

*When we show movies at Casa Doyle, we check them out ahead of time on the US Conference of Catholic Bishops' website.  Bolt was rated A-I, general patronage but some movies marketed to kids receive ratings of A-II (adults and adolescents) and higher.