Living Without School: Tomorrow is...

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Tomorrow is...

...the feast of St Francis Xavier, patron saint of missionaries and tourists.

The tourist part is fitting - I'm off to Japan tomorrow for a Kumon Conference. Fifty years of Kumon, of valuing education and the individual child. Guess what we've been reading about this week - Japan, of course!

Very excited. feeling grown up, too, travelling without the family. And nervous - I never go anywhere without my kids! Except hospital...And I'll miss dh. And Alexander's first formal...And the feast of St Nicholas, third son's feast day..And celebrating the Immaculate Conception with the family...

Oh, well. I'll learn a lot, have fun, do some sightseeing, am catching the bullet train to Nagasaki to see the Shrine of Christian Martyrs, and have arranged to meet some friends in the hotel bar, too. Woo hoo! We all have to grow up sometime. Even me. Even though I've been dancing round the kitchen, driving dh mad!

I still have to pack..But have organised some folders, with lists and reminders, for dh and the kids. One for Kumon. One for Home. See above?

And had some streaks put in my hair today. Now I really look like a witch, with my almost black nail polish and streaky hair...the witch of Kumon....

6 comments:

Mary G said...: First, you do NOT look like a witch -- you look great!

Second, Japan won't know what hit them ....

Have a blast and we'll pray that all goes well at home and abroad.; 12:26 am
Chris said...: Love the hair. The streaks look lovely. Will miss U but have a great time. Have you ever tried Saki?; 12:36 am
Leonie said...: lol Mary - will try to post pics...Chris - NEVER tried saki but there's always a first time.
:-); 4:16 am
Hopewell said...: Have a safe and fun trip!Slurp some noodles!; 10:17 am
Anonymous said...: You look so pretty, Leonie!! You'll have such a blast. I had never traveled alone before I went to China 10 years ago to bring home our now 17 y.o. dd. I had fun and felt pretty much like Superwoman that I went alone. Seven years ago I went back alone to bring home dd now 16. The second time I went without a travel group and enjoyed every single second. I missed dh and dc but that's what phone cards or Skype are for. You'll be so proud of yourself for "adventuring". I'll pray that you have a safe but exciting trip and love every moment.

Mary G is right--Japan doesn't know what's coming, but it sure is something great!!

Enjoy,
Mary Alice; 2:50 pm
Greg said...: I think 'witch' is a positive...plus it might give me some street cred if I had a goth mother :); 7:19 am

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Prayer of Consecration of St. Maximilian Kolbe

O Immaculata, Queen of Heaven and earth, refuge of sinners and our most loving Mother, God has willed to entrust the entire order of mercy to thee. I, N___, a repentant sinner, cast myself at thy feet humbly imploring thee to take me with all that I am and have, wholly to thyself as thy possession and property. Please make of me, of all my powers of soul and body, of my whole life, death and eternity, whatever most pleases thee. If it pleases thee, use all that I am and have without reserve, wholly to accomplish what was said of thee: "She will crush your head," and, "Thou alone have destroyed all heresies in the whole world."

Let me be a fit instrument in thine Immaculate and merciful hands for introducing and increasing the maximum in all the many strayed and indifferent souls, and thus help extend as far as possible the blessed Kingdom of the most Sacred Heart of Jesus. For wherever thou enters, one obtains the grace of conversion and growth in holiness, since it is through thy hands that all graces come to us from the most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

V. Allow me to praise thee O Sacred Virgin.
R. Give me strength against thy enemies.

Prayer of St Bonaventure

Pierce, O most Sweet Lord Jesus, my inmost soul with the most joyous and healthful wound of Thy love, with true, serene, and most holy apostolic charity, that my soul may ever languish and melt with love and longing for Thee, that it may yearn for Thee and faint for Thy courts, and long to be dissolved and to be with Thee.Grant that my soul may hunger after Thee, the bread of angels, the refreshment of holy souls, our daily and supersubstantial bread, having all sweetness and savor and every delight of taste; let my heart ever hunger after and feed upon Thee, upon whom the angels desire to look, and may my inmost soul be filled with the sweetness of Thy savor; may it ever thirst after Thee, the fountain of life, the fountain of wisdom and knowledge, the fountain of eternal light, the torrent of pleasure, the richness of the house of God.May it ever compass Thee, seek Thee, find Thee, run to Thee, attain Thee, meditate upon Thee, speak of Thee, and do all things to the praise and glory of Thy name, with humility and discretion, with love and delight, with ease and affection, and with perseverance unto the end.May Thou alone be ever my hope, my entire assurance, my riches, my delight, my pleasure, my joy, my rest and tranquility, my peace, my sweetness, my fragrance, my sweet savor, my food, my refreshment, my refuge, my help, my wisdom, my portion, my possession and my treasure, in whom may my mind and my heart be fixed and firmly rooted immovably henceforth and for ever. Amen.