Seven Quick Takes, Feast of St. Jude and WIWS

1.  Novenas frustrate me greatly.  I often miss a day, or start them too late, or just get really angry with the idea that God won't hear my plea because I didn't say the magic words every day for nine days.  God doesn't work that way.

Somehow, I found this Pray More Novenas site, and it's really dumbed it down for me.  If a novena is coming up, I get an email alert.  If I choose to participate, I get the prayer emailed to me every day.  Easy, peasy.

Today is the Feast of St. Jude and I just finished saying his novena.  A lot has happened in that last nine days, including my beloved Cardinals duking it out in the World Series again.

Jill, me, Lucy, World Series 2011, Game 7 win vs. Texas Rangers

2.  But more importantly, as Edmund keeps telling the neighbor kids, he quit school.

I have been helping Edmund do 2 to 6 hours of unmodified (he has been diagnosed with dyslexia) homework every school night this year.  His grades haven't been stellar.  His self-esteem has been plummeting.  He never had time to play outside.

I realized that this was screwing up my kid.  I figure I can screw up my own kid in half the time and for a lot less money, plus I'll let him play outside.

So, one Friday afternoon, dismal test score in his hand, I told him to go clean out his locker, and he beamed at me.

3.  Right now, I'm calling our one student homeschool, St. Jude's School for Kids Who Want To Read Good and Do Other Things Good Too.

Or SJSFKWWTRGADOTGT.

4.  Our homeschool has been doing a lot of unschooling right now, partly because I didn't have a plan going into this and partly because St. Jude's can't afford to purchase all the multi-sensory subject curricula at once. (I suggested to our board, Patrick, that we sell some wrapping paper or raffle tickets.)

But mostly, not much structured learning is going on because of my dear friend's wise suggestion that we take some time off and detox from the stress we've (Edmund and I) have been dealing with.

Homeschool began last Monday.  Tuesday, I asked Edmund to unload the dishwasher.  He very politely informed me that he would rather not unload the dishwasher.

I suggested that he unload the dishwasher AND offer it up so that I don't screw him up too badly.

What do you mean "screw me up"?  

I've never done this before, Edmund.  I don't know how to homeschool anyone.

I think you're doing GREAT!

Plus, I let him do this at 9pm on Sunday night, after which he informed me he wants to do more science experiments.

5.  Remember Stitch Fix?  I know some of you do, because I just got notified of another credit in my account!  Thank You!  Mwah!

I have had varying amounts of success with Stitch Fix.  I have returned entire orders.  Once, I returned everything but a necklace.  Usually, though I get one or two really great pieces that I never would have tried on, much less bought for myself.

My last fix had this bombshell of a dress in it.

The color is gorgeous.  It's a wrap dress and very forgiving.  I love everything about it.

Jill wore a new and beautiful dress, but I removed it from her person immediately after Mass because I have plans to never have to wash it.

I wore this to Mass yesterday, so I'm linking up with Fine Linen and Purple for What I Wore On Sunday.

6.  Speaking of link-ups, Cari is hosting a Thanksgiving recipe link-up that I am going to be joining.  This will help me in the future from the annual online search for Bobby Flay's Pumpkin Bread Pudding and my New England Cranberry Relish recipe.

Keep your eyes peeled for that lengthy and delicious post, and if you blog your own self, hop on!

7.  Speaking of Cari, I just finished her book, Pope Awesome.  I cried.  I laughed.  I cried some more.*

Damn, it's good.  I'm definitely giving it to some folks this Christmas.

*This is not my official book review.  You have to wait until What We're Reading Wednesday for that.

Cari is hosting the 7QT party this week, so I'm double-dutch linking up with her.