All Souls Day

Today we went to 9am Mass. Everyone behaved really well *except* my 4yo. Monkey3 was in "rare form" today, and she was really a problem! I did get to receive the Eucharist though, so it definitely counts as a good day. :)

After Mass we went with some of the other homeschoolers from our group to a local Cemetery to pray for the Souls of the Faithful departed. We have done this for several years now, and it is one of my and the kids' favorite things we do all year.

We met up at the cemetary and prayed a Rosary for the Holy Souls and our own family and friends who have gone before us. We also prayed for the Souls of those who have no one to pray for them.

There are several members of our Church buried in this Cemetery so we stop to pray before their graves especially.

One of the wonderful moms from our group brought flowers and the children all got some flowers to place on the graves of those who had no flowers. We also prayed for those people in particular since they may not have anyone else to pray for them.



Here is Monkey3. She had just put those flowers down at that grave and was praying for the soul of the person buried there. [That stuffed bear backpack thing she is wearing is actually a kid leash. I never thought I'd use something like that, but she is SO horrible about running away that I bought one. I am more afraid of her getting hit by a car or snatched than I am of people saying mean things about mothers who leash their children. ;) ]



Monkey4 had a blast - she was really in to the whole thing, though I'm sure it mostly went over her head. And wasn't she clever to match her rosary to her outfit? Tres Chic!



Monkey2 was old enough to understand it all this year and he took it very seriously. He really enjoyed putting flowers down for those who had none and he enjoyed praying for the Dead.



Here is Monkey1 with her [our] wonderful friend. Monkey1 took her responsibility to pray very seriously too.



Here is Little Monkey5. She was fascinated by the whole thing too, until she completely zonked out. LOL!



These are most of the homeschoolers who were there today. Some had to leave before this picture was taken [potty emergency you know... :) ].

They were a great group of kids and they all behaved so well [with the exception of Monkey3 maybe....]

It was an amazing experience.

If you have a moment today, I ask you to pray for the Souls of your own beloved dead.

We pray today especially for the Souls of:

Lillie P.
Lamon P.
Maureen W.
Willie W.
Gordon N.
Patti M.
Perry P.
Knox B.
Lori S.
Gordon D.
Pat Y.
Joan S.

We also pray for the Souls of the babies we lost to miscarriage.

May their Souls and the Souls of all the Faithful Departed, through the Mercy of God, rest in peace.

God Bless you and your families today!