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Cici
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| Posted: March 29 2006 at 8:42pm | IP Logged
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I don't even know where to begin. It started here, at this forum. I know I want to homeschool my children (dd 4 and ds 18 mo) and I stumbled upon this site and this forum quite by the Grace of God.
I am a Catholic convert - ironically, I converted at the prompting of my Cradle Catholic husband, and some preliminary study ("Why Do Catholics Do that?", "Catholicism vs Fundamentalism", and Scott Hahn's "Home Sweet Rome"). After reading the three books, I finally saw that the Catholic faith was not the mary-worshipping, saint-worshipping religion I had always thought and that I had found home. Converted, married.
Ahh.. fast forward six years. Alas, my husband is a cradle catholic - but I can't even say he is a Sunday catholic. He's not.  And lately, it has been a source of arguments for us as I begin to see and struggle with learning the faith enough to teach my dd4 who is so delighted with God right now. I struggle daily with teaching her about the saints, about Mary - about anything as I am so unsure about the faith myself and struggle (I have a fundamentalist background) still with Mary/Saints/the concept of Grace/the sacraments - you name it. I so much want this for our family! Well, not the arguments and struggle - but the faith as a family!
Even though I have only 2 children, I often sneak in the More the Merrier Thread and read, I confess, with envy. What little I do understand of my faith - trusting God in family size has become a burden of mine but to reconcile this w/ my dh who does not see things this way?
I have called our parish office to find a good, local, women's support group where I can learn and grow. Alas, I called the "spiritual" circle of the WOmen's Guild recommended by the church secretary and discover that they are really quite older than I (the grandparent's group, if I may). Not that I mind, but I was hoping to find some more ladies like you - only local. The leader of that group gave me the name of women's guild circle more my age and with children - they are self-proclaimed defunct. Too busy to continue with the kids schedule and all. That leader then gave me the name of another lady who meets twice a week to plan activities, etc. Which is not really what I'm looking for. I really try to keep our activities under check. My dc are still quite young. I am left with the impression that since I have begun this "quest" I have come under spiritual attack and really don't know where else to turn.
I ask, ever so humbly, for you pray for:
1)my faith and understanding of that faith
2) same for my husband
3) that I can find a local group of women to connect with for support. I feel very isolated and ignorant.
4) Enough wisdom to know how to encourage/keep lit that beautiful "faith of a child" in my precious dd's heart
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Christine - mom to 
My Sewing Blog
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esperanza
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| Posted: March 29 2006 at 10:17pm | IP Logged
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Praying for you as you grow in your faith and share your joy of God's love with your dd. I remember all so well my oldest at 4 yrs old full of questions that I had to find answers for..we still share a love of learning more about our beautiful Catholic faith and now she is teaching her 18 mo old his prayers.
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In His Peace,
Tammy Gonzalez in VA
dh-Johnny
mom to Tara-'85, Noelle-'88, Jeremy-'91, Elizabeth-'93, Emma-'96, Dominic-'99, Gabriel-'01, Elijah-03
and Jacinta-06
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Maddie
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| Posted: March 29 2006 at 10:39pm | IP Logged
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I will pray for you CiCi. I am also a convert  . Can I suggest you have as many Masses as you can said for your intentions? The Mass is the most powerful prayer there is and it should be said for the living too, not just the poor souls in Purgatory! You can just specify "special intention" at the church office to maintain your privacy.
One last idea, my daughter prayed for my brother for 2 years, everyday at 3o'clock for his conversion. A year and a half ago he converted and may have a vocation to the priesthood. Three o'clock is the hour Our Lord died and He pours out His mercy on those who ask at that time.
God bless you.
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~Maddie~
Wife to my dh and Momma of 9 dear ones
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Jen L.
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| Posted: March 29 2006 at 11:17pm | IP Logged
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I am praying for you and your husband, Cici.
Is there an Atrium near you?(see atrium finder for locations) and this thread for information on just what an Atrium is). Not only would it be great for your 4 year old, but also for you. A small, Catholic, co-op preschool is where I met my best friends -- the women who fit your desired description.
And please, use this forum liberally -- we are here for you. 
__________________
Jen
dh Klete,ds (8/95),dd (12/97), dd (11/00), and ^2^ in heaven
"...the best state in which to glorify God is our actual state; the best grace is that of the moment..." St. Peter Eymard
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humanaevitae
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| Posted: March 29 2006 at 11:44pm | IP Logged
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I feel for you! We live in the middle of nowhere and I have no local access to Catholic women who want to pass the faith on to their children. Sometimes I get so envious of others who have such support. However i am so thankful for the group here-I shudder to think of life without Internet 
I would prefer a lot more hand-holding and inspiring examples in my daily life but instead I throw myself at Jesus begging him to keep me in the race. I work on receiving the sacaraments and growing closer to him through the Bible, Catechism, and other inspiring Homeschooling-Catholic books. I really enjoy Mary Reed Newland as she gives such great explanations to her young children. I wish I could just memorize them!
Your family is in my prayers.
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Nicole-Zane 10, Elizabeth 7, Xavier 4, and John Patrick 2
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amyable
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| Posted: March 30 2006 at 5:15am | IP Logged
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Praying for you! I can feel the heartache in your post.
You seem to be in a similar position I was in 5 or so years ago. Some things that helped me/us:
*joining the local TORCH group. It's short for "Traditions of Roman Catholic Homes" (I think? LOL) and it is a Catholic homeschooling group. Googling it should bring up a site where you can find a local group if there is one. Those women were my sanity at that time and taught me so much. Their example (in having many children and surviving  ) was also a good example to my dh. Many TORCH groups have preschool activities and at least in our group there were several women who joined when they had only preschoolers. It was worth a long drive to join the first one I joined.
*Express your thoughts about more children ONCE (unless dh brings it up). Then place it all in God's hands, with fervent prayers that God change your dh's heart from the inside. I always do more harm than good by pushing my religious/family life views on my dh, but God has worked miracles in his heart when I just gave way. (speaking of that, I think I need to try that on my kids...  ) We were a "two and done" family, then "four and definitely done" but now we have left it up to God (and *I'm* the one shakin' in my boots, lol) 
I'm sure others will have good resources for growing in faith - I just read everything I can get my hands on. I hope something here helps and I hope I didn't sound preachy, I just have a heart for your concerns also (having been there, although I'm a "revert" with a Sunday Catholic background) and just want to share what has been good here.
My prayers are with you!! ((((((hugs))))))
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Amy
mom of 5, ages 6-16, and happy wife of 
The Highly Sensitive Homeschooler
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Elizabeth
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| Posted: March 30 2006 at 5:24am | IP Logged
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ciCi,
We will certainly pray for you and be as much of a support as a virtual group can be. I second the recommendation that you find a local Catholic homeschooling support group. That's the bunch of ladies likely to really mentor you in person. Groups differ in personality, so you may have to try it on for size, but it's the most likely place for you to find something like this board, only in person.
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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kristina
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| Posted: March 30 2006 at 1:23pm | IP Logged
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Cici wrote:
That leader then gave me the name of another lady who meets twice a week to plan activities, etc. Which is not really what I'm looking for. I really try to keep our activities under check. My dc are still quite young.
I ask, ever so humbly, for you pray for:
1)my faith and understanding of that faith
2) same for my husband
3) that I can find a local group of women to connect with for support. I feel very isolated and ignorant.
4) Enough wisdom to know how to encourage/keep lit that beautiful "faith of a child" in my precious dd's heart
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I will pray for your intentions! I am a convert as well. In the beginning, I felt that none of my secular friends could understand my conversion. I prayed for good and holy examples who were living their faith to cross my path. God heard my prayer. After a few short months, some of the people I had only seen at holy mass were introduced to me and we connected.
The autumn after my Easter Vigil Confirmation I was missing my weekly RCIA class, so I joined a parish bible study on the same weeknight. I was the youngest person there, but it was wonderful. I continued with this group for several years until my husband's schedule changed. My participation in this group helped me to grow in knowledge of God's word, have fellowship with people I would not normally interact with, receive the benefits of the wisdom of some of the older parents (grandparents!) in the group who have lived and learned.
Cici, even if your individual parish does not offer much, perhaps your deanery has a mom's faith group or even homeschooling group that you can join at a nearby parish.
A though about the activities group. Perhaps just checking it out you might cross paths with like minded moms. I have driven 30 min to 45 min (we are pretty rural) for weekly homeschool gym with other catholic families. Fellowship with the other moms while the children play has often left me inspired and refreshed. Not to mention that the children enjoy the interaction with children who come from families with similar rules and values as well as having their Catholic faith in common. We need to remember that God has a plan for each one of us. He will place people in our path for not only our benefit, but for theirs as well.
Pray for your husband and if your daughter knows that he is not going to mass on Sundays, enlist her in praying for him. My mom started going to mass after 50 years away from the church as a direct result of my children's prayers for her. Our children would say, "why doesn't Nana go to mass?" I would tell them that she stopped being Catholic when she married Grampy. Then the children prayed for her every night to go to mass. I never told them to, they just had it on their heart. Well, knock me over with a feather.. oh me of little faith.. I was blown away. I would have thought the pope would marry before my mom ever went back to church!
God Bless you!
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kristina
yesterthoughts
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Donna
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Praying for you Cici.
__________________
Donna
DH, Keven
Jason, Stevie, Marie, Jackson, Clara, and Aaron
Jacob, Sam, and Regina with God
Grandbabies Leigha and Elsie
Moments Like These
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4Real Forums : We Pray to the Lord
Topic: please pray for me and my family
