It is finally the end of the school year. Erin and I still have about one more week of school left. My, how those last few weeks just seem to drag on. It feels never ending sometimes, but it will end. Then there will be another year under our belt. Next year Erin will be in the 6th grade. St. Thomas Aquinas, pray for us!And so now comes the time to research for the next school year. Since Erin and I started homeschooling when she was halfway through the 3rd grade, I feel like I have a lot to make up for, which cannot be crammed into one school year. I am forever asking my homeschooling friends for advice. They always tell me to stop worrying so much and that I am doing a good job. But I am a perfectionist, so I just cannot believe that is true. Not that striving for perfection is bad, on the contrary. We just have to realize that we will never be perfect. I know many of homeshooling moms feel this way, but as a good friend always tells me, "Even if you are the worst homeschooler, your child is still better off at home with you than in a public school (or even private school)." I try to remember that when I am beating myself up because I feel we did not cover enough art in the last school year. What I am severely lacking is prayer, asking God to guide me through the year. No wonder I feel so uneasy. I go through the year thinking I am Superwoman, and then panic at the end of the school year wondering if I did a good job, and what curriculum will I use for the next year. I'm sure these feelings are natural even with much prayer. I just hope as the years go by, I can learn to trust God more and let go of that perfectionist inside. Nothing is perfect, but God. -Pax
What a beautiful Monday afternoon with Sister Cecilia of The Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles. One week from yesterday my family and I came back from Kansas City where we saw the profession of these beautiful sisters. I don't think I ever once saw a sister without a smile on her face. What an inspirational trip. I think if I were not a married woman, I would join the order myself. No more time wasted on the world, only time for Our Lord. No more thoughts of, "Did I turn off the dryer before I left the house? Should I buy this little gadget that I need, even though twenty years ago people survived just fine without it? 
