Teaching Tuesday~ Welcome to Our Farm

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Well, it's another year! I think this is my 16th year teaching Sunday school at our church. When you've been teaching this long, you tend to lose count of the years. I have another exciting, fun-filled year scheduled for my little ones. 

This year, I decided to go with a farm theme. I had never done that theme before, so I went searching online for some cute ideas. 

I went with an adorable cow-themed door. I was searching for Highland cows, but I found this one instead. All my little farmers seemed to enjoy finding their cow on the door. I have 9 little farmers in class this year, 6 boys and 3 girls. 

I continued our farm theme into our prayer wall. I made haystack prayer charts and then added a farm animal with each child's name on it.  We are learning 5 prayers this year... Sign of the Cross, The Our Father, The Hail Mary, The Glory Be, and the Guardian Angel. When each child learns the prayer, I will add a sticker next to the prayer to keep track of the ones they know. The little farmers always get excited to get their stickers. I added a few farm religious-themed cutouts to the wall for decorations! They have cute sayings about God's love for the little ones. 

Our side wall is a cute little farm scene. It's a big wall, so I have to spread it out a bit. I still need to add our Bible verse, but it is all set for the kids. On this wall, each little farmer can find their name again. I love making them feel welcome and that our classroom is their home. 

I kept the same prayer posters up from the last few years. This helps the little ones learn their prayers. I make a prayer booklet for each child to take home, so they can practice their prayers at home with their parents and siblings. Over the years, I've found that older siblings are some of the biggest helpers with learning prayers. 

Last year, we focused more on prayer. Why should we pray, and when should we pray? I found this cute poster set to help remind the little ones throughout the year. 

I kept a few of the same decorations from last year. Our posters of the Armor of God stayed up for the lesson we will have later on in the year. I still have our poster board up for the Saints and Virtues we will learn over the year. I have our map up of the Bible land, so the little ones can put the people and places we talk about into perspective. 

We have our prayer table and the Good Deeds jar set up. Each week, I encourage the little ones to go home and practice a good deed. When they come back, we write them down and add them to the jar. We add some glitter, shake it up, and sing the Good Deeds song.

Good Deeds, Good Deeds... they're everywhere

Good Deeds, Good Deeds... from those who care

Good Deeds, Good Deeds... they kinda make us smart

Good Deeds, Good Deeds... they come from the HEART!

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Monique

Happy Homemaker Monday~ September 15, 2025

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Good Morning and Happy Monday! It's been a hard week here for me. It's felt like a weight has been placed on my chest, and it's hard to breathe at times. I look at the world and no longer recognize it. The death of innocent people is always hard, but this week felt even harder. A husband and a father was taken too soon. My heart aches for his family, and for our country. I mourn for a life that no longer seems to exist. How did we get here? Where has our love for one another gone? Where has our sympathy gone? How have people gotten so evil that they mock death and laugh at it? It truly boggles my mind. I've turned more to prayer this week. I've asked God to help us get back to the nation we once were. I've asked Him to help turn people back to Him. We need him more now than ever. 

So, let's get started with Happy Homemaker Monday with our beautiful hostess, Sandra from Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. Be sure to stop in, grab a cup of coffee or tea, and say hi.

The Weather in My Neck of the Woods~

We had a wonderful week of cooler temps, and then the 80s came back with high humidity. We had to turn the AC back on. The poor dogs and cats were panting. The temps were too bad. It was the humidity that was yucky. This week's temps are up and down. Typical weather here in the fall, though.

Monday~ Cloudy, 78*

Tuesday~ Cloudy with a chance of showers, 73*

Wednesday ~ Rain, 67*

Thursday~ Sunny, 81*

Friday~ Sunny, 88*

Saturday~ Sunny, 82*

Sunday~ Sunny, 78*

As I Look Out My Window~

The sun has come up. Ruby woke us up before the sun. The leaves have started to turn and are already falling into the yard. From where I'm sitting on the couch, I can see the yellow, red, and orange marigolds that are growing around the post of the clothes line. My hanging baskets of petunias are still bursting with purple, red, and white blooms. 

The yard is littered with acorns. We have an abundance of acorns this year. They keep falling, and it's crazy. The bounce off the roofs of the chicken coop and shed. It's so loud and quite dangerous outside. While watering my flowers, I feel like I need a hard hat to avoid getting pummeled in the head. 

Thinking and Pondering~

Honestly, I'm trying to stay hopeful and pray more. I feel like I need the strength God can give me more than ever. I worry about my children and the world that they will raise their kids in. I worry about my grandbaby, that isn't even been born yet. What will this world be like for him? I pray we turn back to God and start to see the beauty we have around us. I pray we start to see that we are all children of God. We all deserve love and respect. We all need to ask for God's grace. 

Right Now I Am ~

I'm currently sitting in the living room typing up this post. Ruby is curled up next to me, fast asleep. I guess getting up at 5:30 was a little too early for her.  Maddie is down by my feet, snoring away. I'm enjoying my cup of coffee as I type this post up. All the animals have been fed. 

How I'm  Feeling~

My fall allergies are still being a pain in the behind. I had a bad migraine on Saturday. Luckily, it dulled a little for Mass and Sunday school. It's never pleasant to teach 9 little ones when your head is pounding. 

What's on My Nightstand~  

My Bible and the Catholic Mom's Prayer Companion: A Book of Daily Reflections. 

Morning and Evening Prayers by Charles Spurgeon.

My kindle 

What's for Breakfast~

I'm making myself a smoothie with berries and spinach. 

Looking Around the House~

The floors need to be swept and mopped again. I need to do just the normal tidying up. Overall, the house isn't that bad. I do need to organize a little bit. I'm feeling the need to declutter again. 

On My To-Do List This Week~

Laundry

Meal Plan (I didn't do it last week...it's hard when everyone's schedule is wacky)

Wipe down the kitchen cabinets...didn't get to that last week

Deep clean the kitchen

Clean the bathroom

Change the sheets

Wash the dogs and their beds

Happening This Week~

Monday~ Vet appointment for Baby. She needs her shot for arthritis. 

Wednesday~ Chiro

On My Reading Pile~

Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon

Christmas Wishes in Wild Harbor by Grace Worthington

 An Irresistible Harvest by Rebecca Goldie

Persuasion by Jane Austen

I have one ARC book I'm currently reading, Mom Redicovered by Jen Butler.

I finished the other ARC book, Barefoot Promises by Stephanie Tyo. It was not my favorite. I love the story theme, and the characters had great potential. However, I didn't enjoy the writing style. two book 

I'm actually doing clubs through church this year. I'm doing Rooted and Radient: A Study of Colossians with Walking with Purpose for our Bible study group. I also joined the Well Read Mom book club at church. For this group, we read real books that strengthen our faith. This year's theme is the Year of the Teacher. 

What I'm Listening To~

Zach Bryan

90s Music

Christian Music

On TV this week~

Netflix

Sullivan's Crossing

Call the Midwives

Blindspot

YouTube

Cooking Videos

Quilting Videos

Exercise videos

On the Menu this Week~

Monday~ Stuffed Peppers

Tuesday~ Leftovers

Wednesday~ Chicken and Rice

Thursday~?

Friday~ Night Out

Saturday~?

I still need to meal plan this week. I just need to sit down and force myself to do this! First I need to take inventory of what food we have in the house. 

What I am Sewing, Quilting, and Creating~

I'm working on two new fall wreaths and a new fall table runner. I found a few Christmas patterns I'm excited to do, too. I have cleaned off the sewing table and cleaned up the craft room, so I'm ready to go. 

My Simple Pleasures~

Now that it's gotten cooler again, I love drinking warm cups of tea. I tend not to do that in the summertime, but it's a must in the fall and winter. 

From the Camera~

The saints cry over lost time. This quote stuck with me. How often do we waste time? I know too much for me. If we looked at every minute as if it might be our last, we would view our time quite differently. 

Praying For~

My parents

My husband and children

Our country

Friends and family

My 9 little ones

The Kirk Family

Inspirational Quote/Bible Verse/Faith~

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Till Next Time,

Monique

Sunday Inspiration~ September 14, 2025

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Monique

Happy Reading~ My August 2025 Reads

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A week late, but hey, it's always better late than never. Another month of reading has come to a close. August went by way too quickly, if you ask me. As far as reading goes, August was a slow month for me. We had a few projects going on in the house, so I didn't have as much time to read as I would have liked. 

2025 Reading Goal~ 125 Books

I've read 96 books so far this year. Good reads says I'm 13 books ahead of schedule this year, so I may exceed my goal. I joined a new book club with ladies from church, and I rejoined my Bible study group, so those books will add to my goal. 

Here's how my book recap goes. 

~ I have included pictures if I have them and have provided links to them on Amazon so you can find out more about the books before you buy or check them out at your local library. 

~ If I left a more detailed review for a book, I'll include the link under the book so you can check it out. I leave reviews for books I really like or have received for reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, and this blog. 

~If I receive a preview book, I'll include the release date for you.

~ Each book will have a rating in bold. I rate each book with a numbered star.

The rating system I use is as follows ~

*5 This book was amazing! I couldn't put it down. I loved the book so much that I either bought the book or planned to buy it to add to my ever-growing collection so I could reread it. 

*4 This means the book is definitely worth reading. I really enjoyed the book. I liked it, but not enough to buy it and add it to my collection. 

*3 This book was good. It wasn't the best book I've read, but I did enjoy it. I wouldn't need to read it again. 

*2 This book was okay. I finished it, but had to force myself to. I probably didn't like the plot or the characters. The story just didn't work for me. 

*1 This means I didn't like the book at all, and I couldn't finish it.

Here are this month's books~

Don't Tease Me (Mad Men #1) by Renee Rose   3 stars

This was a free eBook I got during one of those stuff your Kindle days. It's your typical age-pag romance stories that are out there. The plot was the same old story. The characters were developed well. Unfortunately, most of these stories seem to be all the same. It's a quick read that you don't have to concentrate on too much. 

Hour is Come (A Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery) by Victoria Tait 4 stars

This was another freebie I received. I actually received this one straight from the author. It's a mystery-solving book like Agatha Christie books (which I've never read). The story wasn't bad. It had a Labrador Retriever in it. I like the man character Dotty. She is a young (not too young) military widow starting over. For me, the story didn't grab me right away. It took a little bit to get into it. Once I was, I was trying to figure out who did it. If you like mysteries, I highly recommend the series. 

The Things We Leave Unfinished by Rebecca Yarros  5 stars

I bought this book for our trip to the beach. Wrong choice! This is not a light, easy read for a vacation. I quickly realized I wanted to focus more on this story, so I put it away until we got home. This is a fantastic historical fiction book. I fell in love with the characters and was deeply involved in their story. The story has a few twists and turns I didn't see coming, but I absolutely loved the story. It goes back and forth from the present day to letters from World War II. This is a story I will reread again.

Summer Nights in Wild Harbor (Wild Harbor Beach Book 2) by Grace Worthington 4 stars

This is book 2 in the Wild Harbor Beach series. I really enjoyed the first book so I was eager to read the rest of the seires. I loved how the characters are relatable and I'm a sucker for a sweet romance. 

Book 1 in the Series 

In Too Deep (The Castell Brothers #1) by Izzy Williams  2 stars

This was another freebie from Stuff Your Kindle day. Sadly, I'm finding most of the books offered during these promotions are not very good. Poor writing and lots of typos.  I really need to stop adding from these days. I hate reading a book that sounds like a 6th grader wrote it. It drives me crazy. Not good. It really feels like so many of the authors just copy stories from one another. I know I'm not a writer, but get your own storyline.  

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Till Next Time,

Monique

We are lost....

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How did we get here? Twenty-four years ago, our world changed. Americans realized that they were vulnerable and that other countries could attack us. Now, we have a completely different attack going on here in America. Hate. Hate and a lack of empathy seem to be growing day by day. 

I look at the world we live in now, and I don't recognize it. How did we get this far gone? The horrible, senseless murders we have been seeing have no place here. Innocent people are dying. What is wrong with America? Nothing makes sense anymore. The world I knew and grew up in no longer exists. A world where we felt safe no longer exists. We shouldn't have to live in fear of being killed for having different opinions from others. I wonder what my grandmother felt raising her children back in the 1950s. Did she feel the same way I do know?

Yesterday, I spent the day cleaning our bedroom and vacuuming the house. I sat down for a quick break and opened up Facebook. I immediately saw a post asking for prayers for Charlie Kirk because he had been shot at an event on a college campus in Utah. I quickly did a search because you can never trust what you see on the internet. I turned on the TV and was immediately hit with the devastating news. I started praying for him and his family. 

After seeing the video, I knew it didn't look good for him, but I know God can do anything. What I saw today, I can't unsee. The sad thing is that many of us didn't get a choice in whether or not we saw it. It was plastered all over social media and still is. It was there, mixed in with dog videos and ads. Just another video adding to the chaos of our lives. It shouldn't have been there. Like so many other videos on social media. What have we become? This can't be real! This can't be the world we live in. Where is our compassion? Our love? Our humanity? I think we have forgotten what it is to be human. To love and respect one another. We have forgotten what it is to love one another, no matter what our differences are. We have lost God. I feel that this is the saddest part of our world and our lives. 

Last night, I sat there and was at a loss for words. I felt numb, confused, sad, and scared. Scared for the world our children live in. Scared for my sweet grandbaby that has yet to enter this world. The lack of respect for human life is disgusting. I sat there at the dining room table, and all I could hear in my head was the quote from Mother Terese, "We must not be surprised when we hear of murders, killings, of wars, or of hatred... If a mother can kill her own child but what is left but for us to kill each other?" 

I'm saddened we live in a world where lives are being taken simply for looking different, having different values, different faiths, and different political views. A world where being strong in your beliefs and standing up for what you believe in can put a target on your back. It's disheartening that we can be made to feel unsafe for expressing our faith, our culture, or even our own personal opinions. 

Why is it okay to hate others? Hate others just for their differences? How do we tell our children and grandchildren that there are people in this world who will hate them for who they are? People who will judge them without even knowing them. 

Charlie Kirk was just a man. A husband. A father. A friend. A brother.  A  son. A fellow Christian. A man standing up for America. A true patriot. He challenged young people to question, to think for themselves, and to stand up for what they believe. He wanted people to question the narrative. He was a role model for the next generation of young people. He was killed for encouraging peaceful debates. He was killed for expressing his own beliefs and values. Are we so far gone that we kill people who do not agree with us? Are we so morally lost that we no longer respect the sanctity of human life?

I grieve for our world. A world I no longer recognize. But I will turn to God. I will turn to my faith and pray! I will pray fervently. 

"When you look down in your arms and you see your child... 

everything that you're fighting for 

gets into absolute clarity."

~Charlie Kirk

Rest in peace, faithful servant. Eternal rest grant unto Charlie, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace with you forever. Amen. 

God bless y'all, and know that I am praying for all of you. 

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Till Next Time,

Monique

Happy Homemaker Monday~ September 8, 2025

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Happy Monday, friends! I'm so glad y'all have stopped by again. We had another busy weekend. On Saturday, we replaced the side door leading into our kitchen, and we added a screen door. This way, I can open the door and get more fresh air into the kitchen. We had a screen door years ago, but it broke, and we never got around to replacing it. With us redoing the porch, we wanted to make the door area look nice, too. On Sunday, we had Mass, and I had my first Sunday school class. I love teaching my little first graders. I have 9 students this year, 6 boys and 3 girls.

Let's get started with Happy Homemaker Monday with our beautiful hostess, Sandra from Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. Be sure to stop in, grab a cup of coffee, and say hi.

The Weather in My Neck of the Woods~

Cooler temperatures have arrived, and I am loving it.  We have bright and sunny days filled with beautiful temps. There has been a gentle breeze blowing. I love days like that. All the windows are open, and the fresh air can fill the house. 

Monday~ Sunny, 74*

Tuesday~ Sunny, 73*

Wednesday ~ Sunny, 72*

Thursday~ Sunny, 75*

Friday~ Sunny, 77*

Saturday~ Sunny, 76*

Sunday~ Sunny, 78*

As I Look Out My Window~

I had a busy day today, so it's dark out as I write up this post. It's 9:00 at night, and the house is quiet. Everyone else has gone to bed. 

Thinking and Pondering~

I'm hoping I have a wonderful year with all my kids. I hope they enjoy the class and learn more about Jesus and our church. I hope I can help them grow their faith and learn to love God more. 

I've been thinking about our Maddie girl. She turned 12 this past Saturday. She's still in great health and gets around extremely well. She has slowed down some and sleeps more. It's hard to believe we've had her for 12 years already. 

Right Now I Am ~

I'm currently sitting in the living room typing up this post. Ruby is on the loveseat, asleep, while Maddie is by my feet, snoring away. The cats are perched on the back of chairs and couches. I have all the animals fast asleep with me. I'm watching season 3 of Call the Midwife. 

How I'm  Feeling~

Fall allergies have kicked in. I've been waking up every morning with a stuffy nose. This past year has been one of the worst ones for my allergies. 

What's on My Nightstand~  

My Bible and the Catholic Mom's Prayer Companion: A Book of Daily Reflections. 

Morning and Evening Prayers by Charles Spurgeon.

My kindle 

What's for Breakfast~

I rushed out this morning to take Therese to a doctor's appointment, so I only had a cup of coffee. After her doctor's appointment, we ran some errands and then had lunch at Jersey Mike's. We can get a gluten-free sub there, so it's nice. 

Looking Around the House~

The floors need to be swept and mopped. I put up the fall decorations this past week, so the house feels all comfy and cozy for fall.

On My To-Do List This Week~

Laundry

Meal Plan ( I didn't do it last week)

Wipe down the kitchen cabinets

Deep clean the kitchen

Clean the bathroom

Happening This Week~

Monday~ Doctor's Appointment for Therese and Errands

Tuesday~ HairAppointment

On My Reading Pile~

Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon

Christmas Wishes in Wild Harbor by Grace Worthington

Framed and Frosted by Kim Davis

One Kind Heart by Christine DePetriloo

I have two ARC books I'm currently reading, Mom Redicovered by Jen Butler and Barefoot Promises by Stephanie Tyo. 

What I'm Listening To~

Zach Bryan

90s Music

On TV this week~

Netflix

Sullivan's Crossing

Call the Midwives

Blindspot

Amazon Prime

 I finished Reacher Season 3

YouTube

Cooking Videos

Quilting Videos

Exercise videos

On the Menu this Week~

Monday~ Tacos, Rice, and Refried Beans

Tuesday~ 

Wednesday~ 

Thursday~ 

Friday~ 

Saturday~ 

I need to meal plan this week. I'm hoping to get 2 ideas from everyone to help make it easier for me. 

What I am Sewing, Quilting, and Creating~

I'm working on a new fall wreath and a new fall table runner.

My Simple Pleasures~

I love sitting outside and hanging out with the chickens. Marigold (mama hen) is a little protective of her babies. She is so happy to be a mama again. 

From the Camera~

Birthday Girl

Praying For~

My parents

My husband and children

Our country

Friends and family

My 9 little ones

Inspirational Quote/Bible Verse/Faith~

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Till Next Time,

Monique

Wednesday Hodgepodge~ September 3, 2025

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Hello friends!  I'm joining Joyce over at From This Side of the Pond for Wednesday's Hodgepodge. Each week, she hosts a weekly link-up that is a collection of questions for bloggers to answer. It's to help bloggers get to know each other better and have a little bit of fun! It's a great way to hang out with friends. So grab a cup of coffee or tea if you prefer and join in on the fun. 

So, what is a hodgepodge? A hodgepodge is an unorganized mixture of various things, a jumble of items that don't belong together. 

Here are this week's questions and my answers for this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge~ 

1. Next Sunday is Grandparents' Day. Share a favorite memory, photo, recipe, or something you learned from a grandparent. 

I have so many fond memories of my grandparents on my mother's side. When I was 3, my parents divorced, so my mom, sister, and I moved in with my grandparents. I lived with them for 3 years. My grandma was the best. She took care of me when I was sick, shared memories with me as we looked at the old photo albums. The memories I cherish the most are the times we played shoe store. I loved pretending to be a salesperson in a shoe store while she pretended she was the customer looking for that perfect pair of shoes for a certain event. She had a wonderful collection of shoes. I would bring out a few pairs and let her try them on to see which ones she liked the most. I'm thinking I got my love of shoes from her. She'd also play grocery store with me. She always made me feel loved, special, and that I was the most important person in the room. She loved her family. She passed away when I was 14. I miss her.

2. What's a quote from a book (besides The Bible) that has stayed with you? 

 “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” ~The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

An interesting fact about The Little Prince. I read this book in French first in my Honors French class in high school. After reading it in French, I read it in English.

3. What's your number one food pet peeve? 

Being a person with Celiac Disease, it annoys me when people don't take it seriously. I can't tell you how many times I've heard....

It's not a real allergy.

A little bit won't hurt you.

Why do you have to be so picky?

The list is endless. It makes eating out difficult. It makes eating at other people's houses difficult. It's hard to trust people when so many people doubt the realness of this disease. 

4. What's one thing about you that is still the same as it was when you were young? 

Other than the physical features of brown hair with some new added highlights to cover the gray, brown eyes, and my short 5-foot height, I'd have to say I still keep to myself. I was never a big extrovert. When I was little, I'd often go off and play by myself. My grandma always said I was so quiet it was easy to forget about me. I had friends, went to parties, was a cheerleader, but at the end of the day, I liked my quiet time. My alone time. I hated drama and still do. I've never been one to want to be in the mix of it all. I have family members who love the soap opera drama that life and work bring. I honestly couldn't care less. It always made me wonder why people wanted to be in the mix of it and why they think it made them important. They would just have to tell you the newest, juicest details they heard. At the end of the day, no one really cares. I would much rather have my serenity.  

5. September is National Preparedness Month...does your family have an emergency plan? Do you have some sort of preparedness kit you keep on hand? If so, tell us one thing that's kept there. 

Nope, not really. We've talked about what would happen if the shit hits the fan, as they say, but I don't think we have any real plans. 

                                                                   Enjoyed this post? 

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Monique