Saint Francis of Assisi by Leo age:12

Saint Assisi’s Service and Sacrifice

            He served and ministered to the sick and poor.  He embraced lepers.  He lived in absolute poverty.  His name was Saint Francis of Assisi.  Saint Francis was the son of a wealthy cloth merchant.  During his early life, Francis spent his days hosting parties with his family’s riches, which left him little time for God.  Shortly after being ransomed from prison, and contracting sickness, Francis believed that God was using these significant trials in his life to reform his ways and lead him to take up ministry.  Francis gave up his wealth and quickly traveled from town to town, preaching and helping the feeble. 

            Saint Francis, who is now regarded as one of the holiest men of his day, led an early life encompassed by frivolity.  Saint Francis was born in Assisi, Italy to a prosperous family.  His early life was not that of a saint’s.  Frequently, lavishly, and liberally, he hosted massive banquets for nobles.  At these feasts, his friends joyously proclaimed him, “King of Feasts.”  Francis’s busy life of partying and selling cloth left him with little or no time for God.  Francis, being dashing, pleasant, and learned, constantly dreamt of knighthood.  His native land of Assisi was battling Perugia.  Naturally, he decided to join the war.  While fighting, Francis was wounded, taken prisoner, and diagnosed with Malaria.  Francis began to reconsider his frivolous early life. 

            Francis gave up his partying ways and converted to Christianity.  Francis, who was ransomed by his father, returned to Assisi.  Sickness again took hold of him.  Finally, after his trials, Francis began to consider a profession of peace and justice.  Francis had a vision.  Once, Francis was spoken to by a mysterious voice.  He was convinced that it was God who had talked to him.  He felt urged in another area of service.  Lepers disgusted Francis.  One day, Francis met one, and rather than merely throwing him a coin and proceeding, Francis embraced the leper.  On another occasion, in the church of San Damiano, a tremendous voice, commanded Francis to rebuild the church.  He eventually realized that God was compelling him to build up the church at large.  He also recognized that Christianity would set him in contrast to his society and distance him from his family and friends.  Francis’s conversion marked an enormous turning point in his life, preparing him to minister to lepers and build up the church as a Christian.

            Saint Francis forsook his wealth for ministry.  Francis could have lived in riches and comfort.  In patterning his life after Christ’s, however, he gave up his wealth and position.  Tenaciously, he trudged through cities and villages, ministering to lepers.  He also tended the sick and poor.  Many were roused by Francis’s call to extreme poverty.  Devout Franciscan friars, who were also known as “Little Brothers,” owned no property or estate, not even a monastery.  The spent their lives devotedly traveling from town to town helping others.  Francis gave up a life of luxury in exchange for sacrifice.

             During his ministry, Saint Francis demonstrated a vast amount of selflessness.  Francis’s family was profusely wealthy, yet he turned his back on his family fortune and frivolous lifestyle.  Francis experienced many trials, which he believed was God calling him to ministry.  Francis reformed and lived a life of ministry and poverty.  Francis set a lasting precedent for future generations of Christians, and those who would follow the Franciscan Order, embracing his lifestyle of service and sacrifice.

Red Blood Cell Story, By Rus, Age 8

this is a story of a red blood cell called mark. All that Mark does is work.He had just come back from the arm because his person was playing baseball. But he was worried because phagocytes had ate 10 red blood cells! but at least he was only a little broken. UH OH! His person fell of his bike. mark started drifting toward a hole! He was able to go past it.UH OH! What was this!BUMP! Mark hit the wall.he started to BREAK!Then vroom tons of white blood cells swept through. Bang! Bang! a battle started. Mark wished he could watch the fight. But mark knows God made him for another reason. and we should remember if we fail on something we should just say "God made me for another reason".   

'Making Hearts' Apologia Science Experiment Pictures By: Siobhan

Recently the boys had an experiment in science to 'make their own hearts' with graham crackers, marshmallows, toothpicks, frosting and food coloring.

 Step 1: Break the graham crackers

 Step 2: Dye the frosting, one bowl blue and the other red

 Step 3: Frost one graham cracker blue and the other pink. Also frost the marshmallows blue and red.

Shaila made hers all pink :)

 When can we eat it?

Merry Christmas 2013! Pictures By: Siobhan

Happy Holidays from Your Friends at Alma Mater! We hope your holidays were as blessed as ours. :) 

Stella found some recipes for peppermint fudge and orange dream fudge.

We had lots of fun decorating and preparing for the holidays.

Stella sewed this gingerbread countdown calendar

Little C joined us just after Thanksgiving. It was fun for the mommies and babies to finally see each other. C and Lux are such sweet additions to the family.

We also had fun making Christmas cookies!

Filia just enjoyed eating them :)

Rus' gingerbread men were a big it

...As was Leo's gingerbread man who lived in a 'shoe'

Our ham dinner on Christmas Eve was delicious!

Christmas morning finally came and everyone loved their presents...

Lux proceeded to eat his new hat

...and his wipes warmer

Tert was obviously shocked by the above present :)

I made a family tree patchwork for Mom and Dad. It is now hanging in the prime spot in the living room above the couch! 

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Leo and Rus's Anatomy With Pictures By: Siobhan

Hello Everyone!

The boys (Leo and Rus) have really enjoyed their Apologia Anatomy curriculum. We have done an Edible Cell Experiment post, but here are some miscellaneous pictures from different science experiments and notebooking projects.

 The boys have their own 'Personal Persons' pages of their notebooks where they add different systems (i.e. respiratory, circulatory, etc.) as they study them. 

The boys did an experiment where they found out what it would be like to not have any bones. They made little play dough figures.

Afterwards they stuck toothpicks in them 

They were much more sturdy

Notebooking...

The boys did a fun experiment to see why we need fluids in our head. They knew an egg that was shaken around in a container would break. For the experiment they stuck an egg inside a tupperware filled with some water and brought it on the trampoline. 

It didn't crack!

Then they did a stomach juice experiment. Rus was pretty grossed out. 

For this one they stuck some bread in some water and squeezed it like our stomach does...

Mooooomm!!

The boys have had a lot of fun so far. Stay tuned for more posts!