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August 1, 2010

Welcome back! Within a few weeks eager minds and reluctant bodies will be headed back to school. But what to do on these few lazy hot days before school opens?

FAMILY FUN

I thought a bit of what to put in this section . It's August most people are back from their summer vacations, camps are over and all that's left is getting ready to get back to school. I asked my grown kids what they liked best about summer as kids, because we never went on trips. Their favorite summers were those when we took local trips around the city of Chicago. Listed below are the places we went, anyone is worth a full days trip, but you can get in several places in a day.










  • Field Museum
    1400 S. Lake Shore Drive Chicago, IL 60605-2496
    (312) 922-9410


  • Navy Pier
    On the Lake front

    These are also good research and resource sites, some have virtural tours, all are fun to explore in person or online.

    There are things to do closer to home. Check out the library and Colleges.


    INSPIRATION

    The Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated on August 14th. This is one of the most important Feast Days of the Church year, and celebrates Mary's death and her assumption, bodily, up to heaven.

    It is believed that even though the Apostles were on missions in various places they were miraculously bought to her bedside as she was dying. Jesus appeared and took her soul to heaven and three days after her burial returned as the angels carried her body to heaven.

    .

    On this Feast Day a family might do several things in her honor, such as pray the rosary especially the Joyous Mysteries and The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven the fourth mystery of the Glorious Mysteries. As a parent (or catechist) you might talk about events in Mary's life:

    The Annunciation: (Luke 1: 26-38) The angel Gabriel came Mary and told her of God's plan for her, that she would give birth to a son, and his name shall be Jesus.

    The Visitation (Luke: 1: 39 - 49) Gabriel told Mary that her cousin would also give birth, so Mary went to be with her.

    The Nativity of Jesus in Bethlehem (Luke 2: 22-35) Mary gave birth to Jesus in a manger.

    The Presentation of Jesus to the Temple (Luke 2: 22-35) According to the Laws of Moses regarding purification Mary and Joseph presented Jesus to the temple, and was told of a prophesy by Simeon.

    The Wedding at Cana (John 2: 1-12) Jesus first miracle was performed at the request of Mary. Jesus, his mother and the disciples attended a wedding at Cana in Galilee.. When the wine ran out Mary asked Jesus to turn water into wine, he did. This was his first miracle.

    The Crucifixion of Jesus (John 19: 25 - 27) Mary stood at the foot of the cross where Jesus was crucified

    The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Mary is raised bodily up to heaven

    Discuss these events in Mary's life, talk about what Mary may have felt and her virtues. She was a gentle woman of faith, a loving mother and wife, she followed her religion, she was caring, and she was sorrowful.

    Visit The Holy Rosary Site for information regarding each of the above.

    Let's make a bouquet using flowers that reflect Mary.

    We will use white lilies remind us of Mary's purity, humility and obedience to God, and blue irises remind us of her fidelity, and gladiolus, for they symbolize her " piercing sorrows. " We will add some baby's breath to remind us of Mary's purity and innocence, a few sprigs of ivy for eternity and faithfulness, violets for constancy and blue columbine which also symbolizes fidelity and some marigolds which reminds us of Mary's sorrows. What a beautiful bouquet.

    Or you may prefer to simply put a red rose in front of Mary's picture or statue. The rose is a symbol of perfect love for the Queen of Flowers and the Queen of Heaven - MARY.


    SILLY SIDE

    Some people think trivia is silly, maybe so but it is also fun. My three adult children (with adult children of their own) think I know everything about politics, current events, religion and especially baseball. I am a Renascence Mom, or so they think. Last week I was watching the Cubs and the Cards with my daughters. It was the seventh inning and the guest conducter was about to sing Take Me Out To The Ball Game, when one of my girls asked, " Why do they stretch in the seventh inning? Why not halfway through the game in the fourth inning. I wanted to say for television commercial purposes, but I knew the seventh inning stretch began before television. I said I don't know but I will find out. So, the next day I searched all over the Internet but could not find a time, date or reason, that I could verify on two or three reliablesites.

    But for any baseball trivia fans here, this is what I discovered.

    • One day, April 4, 1910, President Taft (our 27th President) attended a game between the Washington Senators and the Philadelphia Athletics at Griffin Stadium. When the umpire Billy Evans saw the President, he asked him to through out the first ball, thus setting the precedent for future Presidents. Everyone in the park knew he was there. But, we are interested in the seventh inning. President Taft was 6'2" and weighed over three hundred pounds, being a little stiff after sitting a the wooden chair for seven innings, he stood up. When the crowd saw this, they thought he was leaving and stood up out of respect. Thus the first version of the 7th inning stretch. What do you think?
    • In 1882 Brother Jasper, baseball coach and Perfect of Discipline at Manhattan College, was on duty, supervising the student fans. It was a hot, muggy day and the fans were getting restless so he called time-out. It was between the halves of the seventh inning. He asked everyone to stand and stretch their arms and legs. It worked so well he did this at all home games- soon it spread to other colleges and eventually to the big leagues. This is the second version. What do you think?
    • The third scenario is the version accepted by most historians. They say a manuscript, dated 1869, (before either of the above stories) was found documenting a letter by Henry Wright of the Cincinnati Red Stocking, " The spectators all arise between halves of the seventh inning, extend their legs and arms and sometimes walk about. In so doing they enjoy the relief afforded by relaxation from a long posture upon hard benches. "

    So what did I tell my girls? I told them all three stories, just as I told you. I tend to believe the third story, at least more than the others. But, why the seventh inning? Well, it really doesn't matter today, people get up and walk around all the time. So, even Renascence Moms don't have all the answers. We only try !!

    CHECK IT OUT

    Surfnetkids: Daily Factoid



    Surfnetkids: Coloring Page of the Day



    Surfnetkids: Daily Chuckle




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