Wow! Go canoing for a weekend and look what happens! Thanks for all your kind words and encouragement. I must admit that I'm not quite as well versed at how to maneuver my way around yet as I wish I was. Some of you asked questions, and if you had a link to your own blog with an email I tried to respond - although I havent completed that yet.

As much as I understand my brothers (Mark- You Duped me Lord) reasoning for his fast from blogging I miss it as much as the rest of you. He is a busy world traveler and his blog is a way that family can not only keep track of him, but feel involved in his amazing adventures. It also never hurts to procure some advise from your big brother. I know he talked about singing to the choir - but even the choir needs a positive tune on occasion to keep it in synch. Anyway I have confidence a balance will be found. So much for those of us who do not adapt well to change.

Some of your questions were about my journey as chatechist. I must admit that my methods are a little non-traditional - being a mother of 4 and a teachers aide in Kindergarten classroom for 21 has given me a lot of time for trial and error when teaching children. As most teachers of young children will tell you, the key to teaching the young is adapting to them - not attempting to adapt them to you. I bring this with me in public school academics and in catechesis. You would be amazed at how a simple experience can be converted to a catechal lesson if you only grasp the opportunity - some day I will have to tell you about the earthworm we found outside, and where that lead us. As for books - Benzinger has some good workbooks for Sacrament - but I must admit I simply used them as a guide and reference to share with parents - most of my class lessons were hands on (no not just coloring) experiences I adapted from my own knowledge base - and from taking cues from them. Our Parish currently uses a program called "Loreto", a three year cycle program that focuses on Church, Scripture and Creed. It was created by a Catechal board within our doicese - Again, I follow - use most of the materiels but adapt the lessons to the current group - how they learn and where I find there interests.

One of my more challenging older students - you all know him - or her- was finally showing interest when we spoke in class about Martyrs - he initially wanted to know how they put some of the martyrs to death - I obliged him - asked him to do an online search for me - he wanted to know if anyone was ever martyred by guilotine- a little morbid I must admit but not the end of the story - Riley can know tell me about many of the Saints - and not just about the ways in which they passed from this world - but what they did - and why they were worthy enough to be called Saint. I have learned to grab any thread available and run with it - get them involved first hand.

Anyway - thanks again for all your encouragement - I would love some advise on how to change the template of my blog - Ive seen some really nice stuff and would love to personalize mine a bit. I will leave you with a print of my other brother and his daughter - this was carved on hard linoleum and printed in multiple registration. I sketched the design from a photo my brother sent me - enjoy

Be Well
Bernadette

Ok so here goes. I have to admit that reading some of the posts of you bloggers who have been around a while leaves me feeling a bit unworthy. It is however comforting to find there are others in the world (the crazy place it can be) who are like thinkers.
I guess I can intoduce myself - I wear a lot of different hats - first and most importantly I am a Catholic wife (soon to be wife of Deacon) and mother of four amazing children. Those of you that are Moms or Dads know all the other roles that come with that - cleaner - comforter - counsilour and at times just plain dictator.
Currently my second hat is college student - Im a senior - yeah!! although being almost finished is of little comfort when you are persuing teaching - school will be my life both in job and professional development. I am also a catechist - though currently on sabatical.
The other roles - daughter, sister, friend all make my life very rewarding.
Anyway I dont quite know what my writings will cover - although faith, family, art, and education all come to mind.
Im reserved but excited about joining the blogosphere and hope to search out more of you and see what you have to say.
I will also take the opportunity to share some of my art. Here is a depiction of the crucifixion that I recently created in a printmaking class.
Be Well