Watch this video on YouTube.

Picnic Casserole

Picnic Casserole

Makes 6 servings

4 red potatoes medium, peeled, diced and cooked
1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 tablespoons onions minced
6 hot dogs sliced
1 10 1/2-ounce can cream of mushroom soup condensed
1 cup peas thawed
1/2 cup milk
1 tablespoon mustard prepared
1/3 cup sharp cheddar cheese shredded

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. In an ungreased 2-quart casserole, toss potatoes, butter or margarine, and onion.
3. In a medium bowl, mix frankfurters, soup, peas, milk and mustard. Pour over potato mixture.
4. Bake for 40 minutes. Top with cheese. Bake 5 minutes longer or until cheese melts.

Serve with fresh strawberries

Find more great family recipes and meal planning assistance at Dine Without Whine

Words do hurt, and lately, I’ve being hearing one word in particular being flung around wildly in a way that stings unfairly: bigot.

I live just across the river from Minnesota, where marriage recently was redefined. Rather than marriage being a union between a man and woman (and any children born from that union), a child-centric institution, Minnesota has now made it, legally anyway, a genderless, adult-centric union, becoming the 12th state to do so.

The news had barely hit the press when I began seeing the word “bigot” on my Facebook news feed, posted by those who supported the change, referencing anyone who had not supported it.

Some harsh things are happening surrounding this issue and I find it very disturbing.

Just last month, I read with alarm an article on LifeSiteNews.com about a priest in Belgium who supports traditional marriage and came under attack by a group of gay activists. The women had barged into a meeting he was leading and shouted curses at him while dousing him with water.

I’m concerned about these actions, which are the result as I see it of a misunderstanding regarding what those who oppose a redefinition are really saying.

I’m not sure when it happened exactly, but somewhere along the line, it became “truth” that when someone opposes something, it means they hate anyone associated with the thing they oppose.

In the case of a redefinition of marriage, based on everything I’ve heard from those with whom I’ve spoken who oppose redefining marriage, there is no absence of love toward everyone involved — children, families, and even people with same-sex attraction who desire to love and be loved. But they are deeply concerned about the implications of redefining this bedrock societal institution, and believe it will hurt families and children.

As I’ve watched this discussion happen, it appears to me that each side is speaking a completely different language. It’s easy to see how a word like “bigot” might crop up given the misunderstanding that hate is involved, but it’s a tragic misapplication and misunderstanding. I’m disturbed because “bigot” has an awfully strong implication. “Obstinance,” “intolerance” and “hatred” are some of the words linked with its definition. And in some ways, it seems, using this word without understanding the true intent of the target is actually perpetuating an attitude of bigotry in reverse.

I’m not going to argue the definition of marriage in this post. That can be for another time. I’m just very troubled right now by the venom I am seeing spewed throughout social media surrounding this topic, all based on a misunderstood base. As a result, we are losing touch with love; hate between friends is becoming commonplace. That’s a problem, because no world can thrive when that happens.

Unfortunately, I don’t see the problem diminishing anytime soon. In fact, I see the opposite in place — an escalation. In the meantime, we must pray long and hard and not lose sight of the God of love whom we serve. When wrongly placed, hurtful accusations come at us, we must not succumb and return the same in kind.

Copyright 2013 Roxane Salonen

There is another Terry; this one a young man, also diagnosed as being in a persistent vegetative state after a car accident in 1989. For nineteen years, many people wondered why his parents did not just get on with their lives. But two years before the other Terry died, he surprised everyone.

Here is his mother’s story.

image source: http://www.theterrywallisfund.org/

“Please God, let my son live,” I pleaded during the hour-long drive to the hospital.  All I knew was that Terry and his friend, Lowell “Chubs”, had been in a terrible car accident early that Saturday morning in July of 1984.  My son was just eighteen with a wife and beautiful six-week old baby girl, Amber.

Since we had no phone at that time, a neighbor had come over to tell me the hospital was trying to contact us. There had been a bad accident.  My husband Jerry was out on errands with our other two sons, Perry, and George, ages seventeen and ten.  Terry’s place was about a mile away, so I drove over to break the news to his wife, Sandy. Chub’s wife, was there also.  With a car full of family members, we sped off to the hospital in a panic.

We prayed unceasingly, pleading for the lives of Terry and Chubs.  My shock prevented any tears. I could not believe this was happening to us.

We lived a simple but happy life in a modest, two-bedroom house in Marshall, Arkansas.  The two youngest boys lived at home while my daughter Tammy and Terry both lived close by with their spouses. Jerry worked as a mechanic and I had been employed at a shirt factory for eight years.

When we reached the hospital, we were told the boys had both been taken by helicopter to Springfield Hospital, the trauma center three hours away.   We got back into the car for the longest drive of my life.

At the trauma center, we were taken aside and filled in.  Terry had a brain stem injury.  This meant paralysis was a possibility.  He had been given medication to reduce his brain swelling, but the swelling continued.

“There will be machines and a lot of tubes,” the nurse explained.  “Terry has been given medication for pain and is not awake.  It is possible he might be able to hear you, so remain calm.  We do not want to upset him further in any way.”

As I walked into the room and saw all the tubes and machines, my emotions spilled out.  I quickly stepped back out.  Shaking, crying, and gasping for air, I tried hard to get myself under control.

Taking deep breaths to calm myself, I walked over to Terry’s bedside.  Love and fear overwhelmed me as I looked at my son lying unconscious.  Yet, seeing him gave me hope.  The only physical sign of the accident was a cut over his eye that required three stitches.  Terry’s arms were twisting back and forth.  “Isn’t that good?” I asked the nurse when I saw his arms moving.  “He can’t be paralyzed if his arms are moving.”

The nurse explained that twitching arms were a reaction to his brain swelling and it was not a good sign.  I swallowed hard but could not stop my tears.  I touched his hand and struggled to keep my voice steady. “Terry, hang in there. I love you and I’m going to be here for you.”

His wife also touched his hand and talked to him reassuringly.  I looked at my boy who had always been so healthy and energetic, lying there with tubes going into him.  “This can’t be,” I thought.  But I could only pray that Terry would recover. Chubs did not make it.

It was still possible that Terry could die also. For several days the doctors tried in vain to stop his brain from swelling. Day after day the only word was: “We don’t know what the extent of his injuries will be.”

But whatever kind of life Terry would have, as his mother–the one who gave him life–I would be there for him. For weeks I slept on a couch in a waiting room.  Jerry came often with the other kids.  Together, we kept praying and reassuring Terry to hang in there.

After a few weeks, Sandy and I worked out a routine taking turns at Terry’s side.

Towards the end of October, the doctor told us that there was no longer any reason to keep Terry in the hospital.  The doctors could do no more for him.

Terry was still in a coma and was placed in a nursing home two hours away from our house. At this point, some people questioned if perhaps it would have been better for Terry to have died in the accident. If he never came out of the coma, was my desire to keep him alive selfish?  I did not want to let him go, and yet, what did Terry want?

I asked God what He wanted.  “Lord, I love Terry and I want you to heal him, but your will be done,” I prayed. “I trust in you, God.”  In the midst of my pain, I began to feel some peace. If Terry continued to live, it would be because God wanted it.

I returned to work, where I had been given a leave of absence, but I spent every other weekend at the nursing home. As Christmas neared that first year after the accident, I could not imagine a family celebration without Terry.  I wanted him home.  Since he was still in a coma, there was great concern that this would be too difficult.   I was scared but I was also determined; Terry needed to be home during Christmas.

Terry’s feeding tube was removed shortly after Thanksgiving.  I watched the nurses feed him with a syringe and decided I could manage.  Staff from the nursing home helped us carry Terry into the car.  Family and friends helped us carry him into the house once we got him home.

In the familiar setting of home and surrounded by family and friends, loved ones came by to wish Terry a Merry Christmas. Everyone talked to him as if he were the old Terry.  He was still in a coma, but I believed he had to know the difference between being in the nursing home and being at home.  I could not prove it, but I felt it with my whole heart.

From that time on, we started bringing Terry home every other weekend.  By the end of the next year, Terry was moved into a nursing home in the town where I worked. I frequently stopped by to see him after work and we brought him home every weekend.

The months turned into years–five, ten, fifteen– and people saw no improvement.  Terry’s young wife got on with her life.  His daughter, Amber only occasionally saw her father as she grew up.  A few people questioned the wisdom of bringing him home every weekend but most of our family and friends supported us.  It was a strain, but Jerry and I were united in our unwavering love for Terry.

Like a bud that blooms so slowly that its movement is imperceptible, Jerry and I felt that our son was opening up.  It was so gradual that it escaped others. There were little things like a blink or a wink.  One day, Terry laughed.  And once Terry did something, he could continue to do it.

Driving with Terry in the car one morning, his head bobbed up and down after I asked him a question.  I paid no attention, thinking it was the bouncing of the car that caused it.  But Jerry cried out:  “Look, he’s answering you.  He’s shaking his head yes!” From that moment on, Terry was able to shake his head when asked a question.  Later on, he started making the sound: “uh-huh.”

Nineteen years after the accident, on Wednesday, June 11, 2003, I walked into Terry’s room and said “Hi, Terry,” as I always did.  One of the nursing home aides asked him, “Who is that Terry?”

“Mom,” he answered clearly.  I almost fell over I was so shocked.  The aid and I looked at each other with the same astonished expressions on our faces. Tears of joy rolled down our laughing cheeks as we ran over and hugged Terry.

“Did you hear that?” I cried. “He said ‘Mom!’ Terry, say that again!”

Terry laughed and again said “Mom”, the most beautiful word I had ever heard.

Terry did not say another word that day, but after nineteen years, he had spoken!  His one word was more incredible than his first “mamma” so many years before.  We brought him home for a weekend visit that Friday.  I kept asking him questions that he could answer with “Mom.”  Later that day, I got him to say “Pepsi.”

On Saturday morning, I awoke to turn him over at 4 a.m., which was a necessary task.  This was always a time when I would talk with him.  Terry was mumbling.

“I know you are trying to tell me something,” I said.  “Just keep trying and I’ll catch it,” I told him.  He kept struggling until  “Mom and Dad”  tumbled out.

“Say it again,” I pleaded excitedly through my tears.

Terry repeated:  “Mom and Dad.”

“Terry, tomorrow is Father’s Day,” I cried.  “When Dad gets up, we’ll tell him what you can say.  It will be his Father’s Day present from you.”

When Jerry got up, I could not contain my excitement.  “Jerry, Terry has a Father’s Day present for you,” I said, escorting him to Terry’s bedside.  Then, very clearly, Terry spoke:  “Mom and Dad.”

Jerry is not one given to emotions, but tears glistened in his eyes.  “That’s the best Father’s Day present I could have,” he said.

For breakfast, I expected Terry to ask for Pepsi–his new word–when I asked him what he wanted to drink.  Instead, he said: “Milk.”

When a nurse at the nursing home learned of all Terry’s words, she arranged for a speech therapist to visit Terry.  “Angilee, I believe he will be speaking in full sentences within a week,” she announced.

The next week, when I walked into his room, he was telling the people around him that his birthday was April 7, 1964.  I laughed and hugged him then asked:  “Terry, what else can you say?”

“Anything I want,” he answered, laughing.

By the end of August we brought Terry home to stay.  I quit my job to care for him full-time.  His daughter Amber is nineteen now.  She comes every day to spend time with her dad.  She loves Terry just because he is her dad.

Terry is a quadriplegic as a result of the accident.  Yet, many times he has told me,”I’m so happy.”  God did want Terry to live and now I know Terry also wanted to survive.  My family is still the center of my life, but  God is also there with us.

My son’s life is a miracle.  I keep praying and trusting, that God will continue to see us all through.

###

Follow up:  Three years after he “woke up” in 2003, research on Wallis, was published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation concluding that the nerve fibers from the cells in Wallis’ brain remained intact. It was reported by Dr. James Bernat, neurologist at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire that Schiavo’s brain cells had died. Nerve cells that have not died can form new connections although it is very rare in brain cells. The belief is that for nineteen years, while others had given up on Wallis, he may have been very slowly recovering as nerves in his brain formed new connections.

Still, there was no definitive explanation as to how, after nineteen years in a coma, Terry came out of it. His parents reported that as his recovery continues, his old personality returned to the point that he can even make jokes. “He now seems almost exactly like his old self. And he very often tells us how glad he is to be alive,” Jerry Wallis said.

This story was originally told to me for  Amazing Grace for Mothers.

The Wallis family is very private and only went public with their story with the hope of getting more help for Terry. To read more or to donate go to: http://www.theterrywallisfund.org/history.html

Copyright 2013 Patti Maguire Armstrong

A while back, I reviewed an awesome new Bible study from Ascension Press and mentioned casually that I was interested in possibly hosting something online here.

And y’all responded enthusiastically, indicating an interest and a desire for something like this.

So here we are, with an announcement for something that’s the brainchild of a mom-writer-catechist I admire, has the blessing of our fearless founder, and is based on a book I’ve been meaning to read.

Lawn Chair Catechism

Lawn Chair Catechism is going to be our journey together through Sherry Weddell’s Forming Intentional Disciples: The Path to Knowing and Following Jesus. You can participate whether you’re reading the book or not.

Our own Jen Fitz put together a discussion guide, which will be the basis for our posts here, as well as a 2-pager with only the discussion questions.

Through June 6, Our Sunday Visitor will be offering the book for $10 with free shipping. From June 7 on, you can order it with free shipping from Our Sunday Visitor. Simply click here to purchase the book from them or pick it up at your nearest Catholic bookstore.

Tune in on Wednesdays:

Each Wednesday, starting May 29, at 6 a.m. Eastern (3 a.m. Pacific), we’ll have a post beginning the conversation. It will include discussion questions and a linky-do so that other bloggers can link to their thoughts and you can click around to see the discussion.

And, of course, we’ll have discussion here in the comments.

A bit about the book:

You might wonder why we picked this book. As it turns out, it was highly recommended. I’ve had it on my own review shelf for a lonnnng time. It’s come to us recommended by priests and laity, friends and family, reviewers and normal folk.

According to Christian LeBlanc,

Particulars aside, the main reason I like this book is that it plops the responsibility for New Evangelizing right where it belongs: in the lap of the laity. And having done so, it then shows how the laity can get the job done. Not by talking about the New Evangelization, but by generating a critical mass of intentional disciples in one’s parish. Based on my experience, if a parish has that, New Evangelization happens of its own accord.

I’m not going into more detail. I’ll close by saying that any Catholic who wants to see his or her parish become salt and light to the world would find this book both an interesting read and a useful guide.

A field guide for evangelizing? Yeah, I’m sold.

And then Jennifer Fitz said:

Summary: Excellent book, long-needed.  I recommend it widely, but my copy is staying in my hands.

I took note when Will Duquette posted:

The Catholic Church as a body understands how to know and love and follow Jesus. But many of us in the pews do not; and that’s what this book is about: encouraging Catholics like me to spread the word, as well as sage advice on how to go about it.

For their part, Our Sunday Visitor (Weddell’s publisher) describes the book this way:

How can we transmit a living, personal Catholic faith to future generations? By coming to know Jesus Christ, and following him as his disciples.

These are times of immense challenge and immense opportunity for the Catholic Church.

Consider these statistics for the United States.

• Only 30 percent of Americans who were raised Catholic are still practicing.
• Fully 10 percent of all adults in America are ex-Catholics.
• The number of marriages celebrated in the Church decreased dramatically, by nearly 60 percent, between 1972 and 2010.
• Only 60 percent of Catholics believe in a personal God.

If the Church is to reverse these trends, the evangelizers must first be evangelized-in other words, Catholics-in-the-pew must make a conscious choice to know and follow Jesus before they can draw others to him. This work of discipleship lies at the heart of Forming Intentional Disciples, a book designed to help Church leaders, parish staff and all Catholics transform parish life from within.
Drawing upon her fifteen years of experience with the Catherine of Siena Institute, Sherry Weddell leads readers through steps that will help Catholics enter more deeply into a relationship with God and the river of apostolic creativity, charisms, and vocation that flow from that relationship for the sake of the Church and the world.

Learn about the five thresholds of postmodern conversion, how to open a conversation about faith and belief, how to ask thought-provoking questions and establish an atmosphere of trust, when to tell the Great Story of Jesus, how to help someone respond to God’s call to intentional discipleship, and much more.

And be prepared for conversion because when life at the parish level changes, the life of the whole Church will change.

Want to do it with your friends?

We know not everyone will be able to read along, so we wanted to make this something that can have a long life.

We have resources for you on the Lawn Chair Catechism landing page. If you’re ambitious and want to set up a parish group (now or in the future), they will remain there for you.

See you next Wednesday!

Be sure to check out our Book Notes archive.

Copyright 2013, Sarah Reinhard

Be a Virtue Magnet

For we are His handiwork…Ephesians 2:10

After I finished the supper dishes tonight, I asked my son Jason what I should write tomorrow’s blog about.  He grinned and said, “Why don’t you write about how awesome I am.”  I laughed and said, “Ok, tell me three things that make you awesome.”  He declined.  He said through his goofy little laugh, “You have to think of them cause if I do that would just be bragging.”  I thanked him for his sudden burst of humility.  An hour later, here I sit and I can’t seem to move past the topic.  It’s important for everyone to understand that our Jason is and has always been the “funny guy” of the house and he is going to be completely stunned when sees this blog and realizes he gave his mamma the perfect idea.

Not wanting to sound like a gushing mother, I went directly to Jason’s little sister Shannon for an objective perspective and told her what I was planning to write about. She smiled and said, “That will be the easiest blog you’ve ever written.”  She went on to tell me that Jason was the funniest, friendliest, most patient guy she knew.  She also added that he was a great teacher, he wasn’t spoiled or worried about showing off and best of all, he always talks to everyone including his little sister in the hallways at school. “He’s someone I really look up to…he’s my role model.” she said sweetly.  WOW!  I’ll admit it, my eyes leaked a few tears!  Everything she mentioned had to do with how her brother treated others and not about his personal talents or gifts. If I was a bettin’ woman, I would bet if I ask Jason to tell me about Shannon, he would come up with a similar list.  Dave and I have been blessed with three great kids but their goodness or “awesomeness” as Jason would say comes not from us, but from the God who shared them with us.  They seek and share the positive.

Yesterday I spent a terrific day with a group of school staff and parents from all over the Lansing area learning about Virtues based school discipline.  One of the many, many great things I took from that day was a powerful reminder of the value of looking for the good in others and focusing on the positives.  We began with a sharing circle and we were asked to speak about a person who had been an inspiration to us.  It was a very powerful experience leaving us all realizing how blessed we were.  Many times a training like this would have begun by asking us to share our biggest problem or issue with student behavior.  Automatically starting with something positive framed the attitude and atmosphere for the entire day. We discussed the three Theological Virtues which are Faith, Hope and Love.  If we were to speak and act with those virtues and look for those virtues in others the world would change in an instant.  We were reminded of the words of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta who when asked what needed to change most in this world, she simply pointed to herself and said, “I do.”

Living a virtuous life is putting the Gospel message in action.  Treating others with kindness, compassion, love, patience and humility is the stuff Mother Teresa was referring to. Treating others that way gives us hearts and eyes to see God’s handiwork in others, especially the ones that are difficult.  What do you suppose would happen if the next time that challenging person in your life entered the room you IMMEDIATELY began to think of three positive things about them instead of the things about them that frustrate or annoy you.  That’s virtue in action.  What if instead of pointing out you hard work and effort you made it a point to recognize the work and effort of someone else first. What if we each made it our mission today to purposely make someone else look good.  Give it a try.

If you made a list of the people you enjoy being around most, chances are those are the people who are positive and demonstrate virtue. Those kinds of folks are like magnets because we all seek what they freely offer.  Instead of seeking that person…why not BE that person. We are His handiwork so that means we have all the equipment necessary…we simply have to ask Him to show us which virtue to begin practicing first.

A seed to plant: Take ten minutes to do a search of virtues or read Colossians 3:12-13.  Pray over those words and ask God to show you where to begin.

Blessings on your day!

Copyright 2013 Sheri Wohlfert

‘Come, let us reason together’  Isaiah 1: 18

Is there an atheist in your life? Someone you love and have done everything in your power to pull into the light, to no avail?  Maybe you don’t know how to convince them. Maybe you’ve been going round after round with them, but your punches never land,  your arguments go in one ear and out the other. Maybe you’re starting to feel a bit like that angel wrestling Jacob all night in Genesis. Maybe you’re about ready to throw in the towel!

Then maybe it’s time to tag someone else to enter the ring.

We often feel like we have to convert the people we love. The truth is, only God converts hearts. Sometimes He chooses us to be His instruments, but, just as often, He chooses someone a little further from the heart of the one being converted. At times, it’s easier to hear what someone is saying when we aren’t in a daily relationship with them.

If you struggle communicating with an atheist loved one, introduce them to Brandon Vogt’s StrangNotions.com. Hopefully, this new site by the author  of The Church and New Media will level the playing field enough for God to get a foothold into their heart.

Most atheists are either very intelligent (or, at least, think they are). They require a very high level of dialogue that can be plain exhausting for most of us. And the simple truth is, not every Catholic has the ability to argue apologetics effectively with an atheist. Not many are called to that particular work, but, those who are can now gather in one place to do polite intellectual battle.

This army of acclaimed and celebrated Catholic thinkers, are prepared to fight for the souls of your loved ones through kind and respectful discourse on Strange Notions. The crew includes Fr. Robert Barron, Dr. Janet Smith, Fr. Robert Spitzer, Christopher West , Jimmy Akin, Devin Rose, Jennifer Fulwiler, and (my personal favorite) Dr Peter Kreeft ,

Built on Paul’s Aeropagus Sermon in Acts 17, Strange Notions sets out to be a gathering place for reasonable and open-minded atheists and Catholics to come together and debate the great questions that so fascinate the heart and mind of humanity:

• Is there a God?
• Where did the universe come from?
• What is our purpose?
• Why is there evil?
• Can (has) science disprove(d) God ?

This site has been two years in the making by the masterful Brandon Vogt, who has been on the forefront of the new evangelization movement. Beautifully crafted and aesthetically pleasing, this is one of the best organized websites I have ever seen. It is jam-packed with information, yet everything is easy to find.

So, the next time you get in a stalemate with some atheist online, or find yourself exasperated with  an unbelieving loved one, prayerfully put them in God’s hands and direct them to Strange Notions.

While currently Catholic-centric, the plan is to eventually invite atheist to fully contribute their own content. While everyone naturally will approach the debate from their own point of view, the site strives to be open-minded. After all, one shouldn’t expect the atheist to listen to a Catholic argument with an open mind if Catholics aren’t willing to extend the same courtesy.

The rules and tips section should receive an Internet Nobel Peace prize. If everyone followed theses guidelines for online discussions, the world would be a more peaceful place.

It will be interesting, indeed, to see if it achieves its goal of civil debate between such polar extremes. Strange Notions is definitely a site to watch. Let us hope and pray it fulfills its potential and becomes a successful and productive endeavor.

Read more of our Tech Talk columns.

Copyright 2013 Jen Haganey

Watch this video on YouTube.

Vancouver, BC, May.1, 2013 — MV Studios and Airace Productions are pleased to announce, after 7 months of production the short film “Letter to a Priest”. Motivated by the Year of Faith and the Catholics Come Home campaign, director Clayton Richard Long set out to create a film that would attract souls to Christ. “The film is only 12 mins in length, with a short running time it can be a challenge to create an engaging, thought provoking film, the key to this was keeping our visuals fresh and our action moving at a constant pace.”

“The ‘door of faith’ (Acts14: 27) is always open for us, ushering us into the life of communion with God and offering entry into his Church.”—Pope Benedict XVI, Apostolic Letter Porta Fidei for the Induction of the Year of Faith.

Letter to a Priest is a short film inspired by “Lettre à un Religieux”, a book by French philosopher Simone Weil.

A scene from “Letter to a Priest”

The film centers around “Jenny” a university student who, in refusing to be baptized, takes Simone Weil as the model for her life, she comes into conflict with her former boyfriend when she finds out that he, a formerly lapsed Catholic, is now planning to get married in the Catholic Church with his new fiancée, an Evangelical now converting to Catholicism.

Follow “Letter to a Priest” on Facebook for news and screening information.

Watch this video on YouTube.

The winner of The American Bible Challenge Fan Favorite contest will be announced during the show, as well, and will receive $10,000 for their team’s charity.

Should they win, the Dominican Sisters will use their winnings from the show to provide for the treatment and care of the aging Sisters in the Order, and to ensure that they are provided for as they advance into retirement.

They’ve had a terrific run on the show – surely their “winning attitude” has taught many about today’s Religious Sisters and the beauty of our Faith. We’ll be cheering for you tonight Sisters! Good luck!

Watch the Game Show Network’s “The American Bible Challenge” finale tonight at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT.

Persistent Prayerful Silence

We have this little bird house hanging under our carport. Every year one little Mama bird is brave enough to venture close enough to make her nest in it and each spring we get to hear the babies chirp and cry out until she comes with a worm, cricket, or whatever other kind of morsel of food for them to snack on.

Today I watched as she came back over and over and OVER again with food. She barely fits inside her house because the babies take up most of the room. She nervously darts around watching my boys and our cats carefully each time she comes back to feed her young. I think she left and came back 10 times in hour we were outside. Finally, she settled the bird house for her own lunch and rest time.

I admired her quiet persistence. That Momma bird just went about her job of feeding her young and had such a purpose and determination to do it! It made me picture myself, fixing lunch for my family. So often and how I complain out loud if I have to get up to get something for somebody else fourteen times before I even get to take a bite.

I hope to learn from this small creature. I want to go about my daily jobs more quietly. I love to talk on the phone way too much or sometimes, I just fill up the air with words when I probably could accomplish my task in a more prayerful silence, listening to the children instead of talking over them.

My own three little boys are growing, changing and giving me great joy. I see the joy they bring people when we go out. Especially when my youngest makes eye contact or approaches those we just met I often get many comments about how lucky I am to see his face each day. They are absolutely right!!

This week has been full of new babies, with my sister and best friend having babies a day a part! No matter how many children are in my life, each one is exciting in its own way. The more I get to know my kids, nieces, nephews and my friend’s kids I realize it doesn’t matter how many people there are out there, each one is unique and has something special to offer this world. When holding a baby, it is easier to be quiet, knowing they mostly take comfort in your presence and touch.

Do you sometimes struggle with persistent prayerful silence? I think more of this in my day could lead me closer to Christ.

Copyright 2013 Laura Buller

21 Ways to Worship

If the thought of a book about Eucharistic Adoration makes you feel guilty, sleepy, overwhelmed or uncomfortable, prepare to have your mind changed. That’s what happened to me when I picked up 21 Ways to Worship: A Guide to Eucharistic Adoration by best-selling author Vinny Flynn.

It’s probably a big, fat, sinful faux pas for for me to admit it, but I have suffered over the years from a bit of a guilt complex when it comes to the topic of Eucharistic Adoration.

My parish is blessed with a lovely 24 hour adoration chapel where I can luxuriate in Christ’s true presence, but I’ve declined to commit to a regularly-scheduled hour because of my sporadic travel schedule. For that reason, I don’t have access to the “key” that unlocks our chapel (sadly, secured because of prior acts of desecration). So my visits to that chapel are less frequent than I’d like. I’ve hesitated to “pop in” unscheduled in the past year, because I can rarely commit to an entire “holy hour”. Instead, I frequently visit a nearby chapel where I can make a visit to an unlocked chapel during the day, pray in Christ’s presence and move in and out quietly without disrupting other adorers.

OK, enough of “true confessions of Catholic Mom”. And enter Vinny Flynn’s amazing book 21 Ways to Worship: A Guide to Eucharistic Adoration. From it’s bright purple cover to its amazingly inviting tone, this is the book that will smash your previously held misconceptions of Adoration. Vinny’s tone is fun, inviting, and actually infectious. His sharing of his own personal experiences will have you nodding, smiling, and feeling less guilty than perhaps you’ve felt in the past. Adoration is a gift — indeed the greatest gift we can receive — and Vinny is the friend who wants to hold your hand and lead you to its riches.

My favorite chapter in this book is joyfully called, “Please don’t snore!” In it, Vinny Flynn addresses the concern that so many moms share on the fear that once they finally find two minutes to quietly pray, they run the risk of falling asleep. Vinny reminds us how we would feel if one of our beloved children slept (or worked, or played) lovingly in our presence — how filled with joy our hearts would be at the mere pleasure of their presence. And doesn’t God, our Father, desire the very same of you and I?

21 Ways to Worship: A Guide to Eucharistic Adoration is the perfect companion for those of us who need a reminder that we are “good enough” — just as we are — to deserve time in the presence of the God who loves us so greatly. If you’ve been away from Adoration for some reason, this book will be your faithful companion as you journey home. If you are already in the practice of praying in the presence of the Eucharist regularly, you too will benefit from Flynn’s work. There’s truly something for everyone between the covers of this book.

I’m pleased to be a small part of Vinny Flynn’s ongoing blog tour. To read what others are saying about this book, visit the rest of the tour.

Vinny Flynn

Known internationally as the best-selling author of 7 Secrets of the Eucharist, 21 Ways to Worship, and as the man who sings the Divine Mercy Chaplet on EWTN, Vinny Flynn is also a popular speaker at parish missions, conferences, and retreats. Formerly the Executive Editor at the Marian Helpers Center and General Manager of Divine Mercy International, Vinny is one of the foremost experts on the message of The Divine Mercy and is now the Executive Director of MercySong Ministries of Healing. His relatable style and his powerful teachings on the Sacraments, Our Lady, Divine Mercy, and the Father’s love have been called “Healing” “Uplifting” and “Life-changing. Visit him at www.VinnyFlynn.com. 

Order 21 Ways to Worship: A Guide to Eucharistic Adoration and support CatholicMom.com with your purchase

Be sure to check out our Book Notes archive.

Want to win a free copy of 21 Ways To Worship? Simply leave a comment below by midnight (Pacific time) on Monday, May 26, 2013. One winner randomly selected.

Copyright 2013 Lisa M. Hendey

Homeschooling or Unschooling?

I’ve heard bits and pieces about unschooling from some of you since Ifirst began this homeschooling journey.  It never really sounded like it was for us (I’m a ‘routine’ kind of gal, and if it’s not a plan set in stone, it likely isn’t going to happen around here), but incorporating pieces and parts of it might not be so bad.

Something inside of me wonders if I’ll look back and wish I had ‘gotten it’ sooner about unschooling, the way I wish I had ‘gotten it’ sooner about homeschooling.

Continue reading My World Is Rocked (I Need Your Thoughts on Unschooling and Giving Kids Free Reign on Screen Time)

Arts & Faith from Loyola Press

A religion teacher who prays while singing opera. A lieutenant in Afghanistan who brings spiritual healing to soldiers through artwork. A young dancer who uses movement to interpret Scripture. A Jesuit who studies Mexican drug ballads to find God’s presence. These are a few of the fascinating stories we’ll be bringing you in Loyola Press’s new series, Arts and Faith.

Arts and Faith is a collection of stories from Catholics around the globe who demonstrate the inspiring—and surprising—ways art expresses and deepens their relationship with God.

The special series kicks off on LoyolaPress.com with daily articles, videos, slide shows, podcasts and more from four categories of interpretive art: Music, Dance, Drama and Visual Arts.

Arts and Faith covers a wide scope of the personal and public ways faith is shared. A catechist explains why and how arts and crafts should be used in the classroom. A twenty-something describes his ministry of playing the organ at multiple parishes every weekend. A faith formation leader reflects on how she prays a form of the Examen through photography. Whether you’re a catechist, an artist, or a creative soul, you’re sure to find inspiration and meaning in the stories you’ll hear.

The stories in Arts and Faith capture snapshots of how spirituality is explored, revealed and ultimately, celebrated in our faith communities. We hope these 40+ stories inspire you to tap your own talents to express your faith through sewing, sculpting, design, fashion, cooking, collage, spoken word, photography, poetry, modern dance, and so on.

As our series illustrates, you don’t have to be a Monet to participate in the arts. Jump in, explore the stories, and share the creative ways you’re expressing your faith!

See http://www.loyolapress.com/arts-and-faith.htm

Advice from Marybeth Hicks

To: Marybeth
From: Opposed to cohabiting

Can you offer any advice for my young adult daughters about why not to live with their boyfriends? I feel strongly that living together is to be saved for marriage, but it is hard for them to understand because “everyone is doing it” and they think I’m just old fashioned. They are (or will soon be) independent adults, making good choices otherwise. So far we haven’t had to cross this bridge, but I’d like to be ready with some great advice and suggestions.

To: Opposed
From: Mb

If only “everyone” always made smart decisions. It would be so much easier to go along with what’s cool and current, wouldn’t it?

Unfortunately, changing societal attitudes about marriage have taken a toll on the institution itself, and even young adults who have been raised with the example of a healthy, traditional marriage exhibit skepticism — if not cynicism — about the value of it’s traditions, especially about the importance of establishing a home in the context of marriage.

When your daughters say “everyone is doing it,” it’s possible that everyone they know really is. A recent study from the National Center for Health Statistics says from 2006 to 2010 nearly half (48 percent) of women 15 to 44 years old cohabited outside of marriage. That number is up from 43 percent in 2002 and 34 percent in 1995. So the trend is for greater numbers of women to move in with a partner before marriage.

In fact, less than a quarter of “first unions,” defined as a first marriage or first cohabitation, were marriages during the span of the study.

Additionally, cohabiting couples are delaying marriage for longer periods of time. If young women believe that moving in with a boyfriend will speed up the process of getting married, the statistics indicate otherwise. In 1995, the average length of living together before marriage was 14 months. In the CHS study, the average was 21 months.

And a full 20 percent of cohabiting women became pregnant in their first year of cohabitation. Forty percent of first-year cohabitations transitioned into marriage within three years, but 27 percent dissolved within five years.

Yet statistics aren’t what compel young adults when it comes to decisions about marriage and living together. Love and optimism go hand-in-hand, after all, and all the data in the world won’t convince them that moving in with a boyfriend isn’t in their best interests, especially if they also cite pragmatic concerns such as the cost of maintaining two apartments.

You’re smart to look ahead and have conversations about this subject well before the time when such decisions are being made. But rather than focus your comments on the mistake you think it would be to cohabit, reinforce your confidence in the good decisions your daughters are making, and on your belief in the institution of marriage.

Obviously, you can’t control the actions of independent adults, and trying to do so (think: withholding love, support, future wedding funds) is unlikely to result in anything but strife. Instead, share these thoughts with your daughters early and often:

“I believe with all my heart that establishing your home in the context of marriage is the best step you can take to commit to your loved one and begin your life together. I’m here to do anything I can to support your decision to get married and to create a home. I love you and I want what’s best for you, and while you are free to make your own choices, I want you to know that I believe your happiness and the stability of your love will be greatest if you marry before you move in together.”

Just in case, you might want to memorize some statistics, too.

Have a question about parenting in today’s culture? Email marybeth@marybethhicks.com.

Copyright 2013 Marybeth Hicks

The Rosary App

By Jackson Egan; Available on iOS (99-cents); Official Website

I am easily distracted from my prayers. You know the dog from “Up!”? If that were a person, it would be me.

I have four or five ways to pray the rosary on my phone so when this app was originally brought to my attention, I thought, “Well, that’s just what I need. Another app.”

What sold me on trying it out was the claim to a distraction free way to pray the rosary on your iPhone. I really do need that.

And Rosary App delivers.

The screen is clean. There is nothing on the screen but a picture of a wooden bead with chain links connecting it to the next bead and a reminder of what mystery you’re on. The clock on your phone does not appear at all.  In most of my other rosary apps, the clock is there and I am always flicking my eyes up to it.

There is a “i” button at the top left where you can set the mystery and the language (English, Spanish or Latin – or just a numeral) and whether or not you want it to vibrate at each bead and at each decade. Set it and you’re off and bead running.

By the way, the numeral setting is great if you want to use your virtual beads for the Chaplet of Divine Mercy or any other chaplet that uses rosary beads as a basis.

It does not have any prayers of the rosary written out for you to follow and it also does not have a key to tell you which mysteries go on which days, (Sunday: Glorious, Monday: Joyful, etc…) In other words, you have to know something about saying the rosary in order to use this app.  Because of this, it’s a great app for people who are familiar with the devotion, but I wouldn’t recommend it for a new convert or someone who is not very comfortable with the rosary already.

I use this app for my morning rosary and, as advertised in the App Store, I can do it with my eyes shut and that allows me to really concentrate on the prayers and not everything going on around me.  It was a real help when I added a daily rosary to my morning prayers for Lent.

The $.99 price tag was initially hard to swallow, as it has a very, very simple function. But as I have used it, I have decided that it’s a small price to pay for the lack of distraction.

Think of it this way: It’s the price of a plastic rosary at the religious goods store but it won’t get tangled in your keys at the bottom of your purse. And, should you get distracted by your toddler pulling the sugar off of the top shelf of your cabinets, it holds your spot. It’s a small price to pay for a little extra help with your prayer life.

Simple and elegant: Well played, Jackson Egan.

Read more of our Tech Talk columns.

Copyright 2013 Katie O’Keefe

• Today’s Scriptures
• USCCB Video Reflection
• Saints of the Day

Ben Sira (Sirach) uses words that are rather sharp and pointed. They are meant for our growth in wisdom. These are the ones that caught my attention and made me wake up to the call of wisdom this morning, “Delay not your conversion to the Lord, put it not off from day to day.”  That is a call from the inspired words of God for me to take advantage of each day as a new turning part, a daily conversion, and a change of heart and mind toward any thought or deed that is an obstacle to God working within my life.  No matter who we are, there is always an area within us that needs to be opened to change and to a daily conversion of any of our selfish desires and thoughts of pride.  The Scriptures help us to face ourselves each day.  To look into the mirror of our life and to see who really is there.

We are also assisted in knowing who we are by our friends, our spiritual guides, and our confessor or spiritual director.  We can learn much from many channels of wisdom that God gives us each day.  Spiritual reading that speaks to the soul is another great help.  Prayer to the Holy Spirit, the Giver of all good gifts is a primary source for wisdom which puts all things in order and helps us to see God’s bigger picture for ourselves, others, and the world.

I personally love Psalm One for it is clear, direct, and a great start for opening our minds and hearts to the rest of the 149 Psalms.  It is a wisdom psalm that helps us  to see clearly the path  of life that leads to friendship with God.  Its first line bestows a blessing on those who follow its advice; it assures us of happiness with who we are and what we do and how we can continue on in life doing good things.  It is a path to God using the right departure point on our journey and staying on the course as we move through life each day.  It promotes the blessing by having us meditate on the Torah (the teaching, the law, the gift).  It suggests we keep pondering over God’s words in our hearts in order to sense the blessing of happiness and wholeness.  We are like trees planted near flesh flowing waters.  We are not chaff blown by the wind.  I equated the words of the Psalm to what I learned in grade school from a bit of memorizing parts of the catechism.  God made us to love God, to serve God, and to be happy with God in this life and in the next.”

The first word in the Psalm can mean “Happy” as well as Blessed. The Psalm is a great way of praying and opening up the whole book of  psalms for an ongoing taste of the fruits of wisdom.  “ The twenty-six beatitudes in the Psalter are not magical formulas, nor are they recipes for happiness, but they do take the question seriously and endeavor to find some solution that can make happiness possible.” (Prevost, A Short Dictionary of the Psalms, p.21) Amen.

Copyright 2013 Fr. Bertrand Buby, S.M. 

Is “pure fashion” an oxymoron?

Modesty is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, an outward sign of God working within us.  As with other fruits like patience and charity, modesty is manifested in what we do — in our works, the actions we seek to perform that help us recognize the presence of God.  It’s not always easy.

Anyone who strives for modesty and also has a daughter over size 6X will lament with me the lack of appropriate clothing choices at most mainstream shopping venues.  You see, I adhere to the sensible modesty guidelines set forth by Pure Fashion.  Most retailers do not.

I discovered Pure Fashion when my oldest daughter was five.  As we began to venture into the size 7 – 16 clothing section, I was relieved to have found practical guidelines that other Catholic moms use with their daughters.  Pure Fashion’s emphasis on modest clothing is a huge step in the right direction for our culture, and accolades for developing a system for clothing selection are well deserved.

But as I gained more exposure to the organization, I realized that the “fashion” aspect showcased at its events showed an incomplete understanding of the multi-faceted virtue of modesty.  A girl on a catwalk, no matter how pristinely clad, is still a girl on a catwalk—expecting eyes centered on her, seeking the attention of the crowd, and imitating an industry that emphasizes appearance as the sole measure of a thereby disordered femininity.

While Pure Fashion aims to teach girls to be poised, graceful, and confident, they do so through modeling.  Poise and grace do not celebrate self.  They are humble.  And as Catholic women, we should beware the phrase “self confidence.”  Our confidence, the “bold confidence” of the Little Way of St. Therese, should remain solely in Him.

There is much to like about the Pure Fashion philosophy and its desire to teach girls to value modesty in dress.  Adult leaders explain modesty as it reflects on the dignity of the human person using the CCC as a resource.  But the program’s final celebration, the fashion show, reflects an emphasis on a narrow definition of modesty.  Modesty as a virtue is much larger than clothing selection.

Fashion, by its very nature, is of this world.  Without extensively defining the virtue of purity here, to me the phrase “pure fashion” seems an oxymoron.

Copyright 2013 Sharon Rayner

Financial Fitness Tips for the Mom Entrepreneur

One of the greatest gifts of being an entrepreneur is the opportunity to flex your financial muscles. It’s also one of the greatest challenges for me personally. In fact, many entrepreneurs make the decision to start their own business because they have a certain skill or talent – or an idea for a product. They don’t know anything about the financial aspects of business – like payroll, budgeting, P&L statements, profitability, cash flow, taxes, etc. So what happens? We learn as we go! We rely on the experts. And we develop those financial muscles.

Many of the moms I work with are creative types – writers, photographers, caterers, artists, graphic designers, fitness trainers, dieticians, chiropractors, counselors… and the financial aspects of business don’t come naturally. Very few of them are “in the business of money.” Yet, all of them are in business for themselves. And if you’re a mom entrepreneur…if you own a business of any kind…no matter what your company is…no matter what service you provide or product you sell, as a business owner, it’s YOUR JOB to know about the money. And if there’s something you don’t know, your job is to find someone you trust who does know. It’s a challenge for some of us to accept this responsibility, but we can’t have a thriving business unless we do.

Here are five financial fitness tips to help you develop those financial muscles and stay in good financial shape.

Financial Fitness Tips for the Mom Entrepreneur

1. Open a separate checking account for your business. This is the single most important step you can take to turn your hobby into a business. For some reason, this simple task is a huge ordeal for many moms when they are just getting started in business. They put it off until they are making money. Or they convince themselves that it’s going to take a long time and require a ton of paperwork, so it’s not worth the effort. The truth is it takes about 30 minutes to go to the bank and open a business checking account and in most cases all you need is your tax ID number, some identification and an initial deposit. Having that separate account not only makes things cleaner for you at tax time, but it also helps you to take your business seriously.

2. Pay yourself a salary – even if it’s a small amount. Here’s another step that many entrepreneurs tend to skip in start up phase. They pay their vendors, employees and bills and then pray there is enough left over to take a distribution for themselves. I understand that when there is little or no profit and you’re bootstrapping the business you may not feel right about taking a salary. But, hear me on this – you WILL burn out if you don’t have a reasonable steady salary coming in! And you can choose to invest it all back in the company if you want to – but it should still be coming to you on paper. And I know it’s a stretch to think about this now, but if you ever plan to sell the company – or seek investors – you’re going to need an accurate operating budget, which would include your salary.

3. Hire a bookkeeper and CPA. For most entrepreneurs, this is one of the first responsibilities we need to outsource. That’s because we are not experts in finances, taxes and bookkeeping. Yet many of us insist on trying to do it ourselves. I did this for several years before I realized that it caused a strain in my marriage. One day I was working on the books with my husband and we could hear the kids playing in another room with a babysitter we had hired so we could prepare our tax return. We sat in the office for about three hours, getting frustrated and irritated with each other while the kids laughed and played. I decided that we would never again miss out on a day of fun with our children so we could do something we weren’t very good at doing and didn’t enjoy doing at all. I immediately hired a bookkeeper and a CPA and have never regretted it. Remember, when we let go of something we are not called to do in our business, we have an opportunity to bless another business owner who is called to serve others in that capacity. And – we free up our own time to focus on what we are called to do in business and at home!

4. Watch your numbers to determine ROI and manage cash flow. If you are the type of mompreneur who gets wrapped up in the creative side of business and ignores the finances, this is going to be a challenge. But just like a new exercise routine, you start small and make a commitment to be consistent. The idea is to schedule a specific time every day, week or month (depending on your business) to review your financial statements. This is easier to do when you have a bookkeeper setting up your books with you. And it doesn’t have to be a complicated process – you can create a simple spreadsheet or dashboard that allows you to track the numbers you want to monitor, such as sales, expenses, returns, accounts receivable, etc. This dashboard will be different for every business, but keep it simple and focus only on the numbers that will help you make better decisions in your business.

5. Set boundaries around your time and money. This is one that’s difficult for women because we’re people pleasers and we don’t like to say no. But if we want to run a profitable business, we have to set boundaries around our time and our money. When you set boundaries around your time and our money, you are able to:

• Charge what you are worth for your services
• Outsource or delegate tasks
• Stop saying yes to volunteer projects that steal your joy and leave you filled with resentment
• Identify the charitable contributions and in-kind donations (pro-bono work) you can commit to for the year and say no to others
• Stop attending networking meetings that aren’t bringing you an ROI
• Collect on unpaid invoices
• Require payment in advance for your services
• Attract clients and customers who value your time and will pay what you are worth

What am I missing? Share your financial fitness tips with us here!

Copyright 2013 Theresa Ceniccola

She sees what she wants to get done
and loves with her accomplishments.
A gift to her child,
a blessing for her husband.
Too busy to see how much
has already been done,
too concerned with tomorrow
to enjoy today.

Forcing herself to compete
and check off tasks
on an arbitrary list.
Gaining nothing of value,
yet missing the essence
of a child’s love.

A hug,
a kiss,
three small words
getting lost in the hustle.
A smile,
a laugh,
a story
too short to miss.

A mother’s love is strong,
yet weak in the busyness of life.
Letting priorities get shifted
and looking ahead
instead of down at her child.

Too fast,
too soon,
it will be tomorrow.
Regrets will then set in,
and she will mourn the days she wasted.
Her child will be grown
and she will be old,
but her love will still be inside
waiting to flourish through her eyes.

Copyright 2013 Tanya Weitzel

Spring Cleaning

It began innocently enough – two moms sharing the woes of spice cupboards-you know, the ones whose little glass bottles immediately spill over when one is looking for that last illusive ingredient for supper at six and it is now five forty(okay so this is my issue, my friend’s cupboard is infinitely more precise and user friendly). Anyhow, next thing I know Leslie bursts forth with many practical, smart and easy ideas for changes that would certainly bring new life and joy to my tiny, yet lovable and lived-in kitchen.

She graciously gives me a full afternoon of precious mom time to aid me in a thorough clean out and re-organization! Lots of items to recycle… I now have a pantry and everything seems close at hand and convenient.

Providentially, I also had a visit with another smart and savvy mom I know who introduced me to “Joy of Less” by Francine Jay. Lena’s home (mom of four youngsters under the age of 6)is remarkably neat, clean and free of clutter so, of course, I sought her “secret”. Over the last few years, Lena has made lots of decisions about “material stuff” motivated and inspired by Francine’s tips about considering the usefulness and lovability of all material goods. Does this particular item really deserve a place in our home? Is this something I use on a regular basis? Clear surfaces, a place for everything and everything in its place are mantras we have all come across but at the right time for our families, they may resound more loudly.

Managing a household of six children (an eclectic mix of ages, stages, passions and temperaments) and celebrating 25 years of marriage and mourning our baby Francis and sifting through all that I was “saving” for him-now seems to be the right  time for this Mom.

Another friend, Holly, shared with me her wardrobe transformation… project 333, that is: 33 items (clothes, shoes, outerwear, jewelry) for 3 months. Box the rest up until a re-assessment in a few months. Yes, ladies-I have a neat closet with more open space. Everything coordinates and makes picking an outfit easy and fun. I am also making more use of these items in new creative ways and it’s fun!

It is remarkably satisfying moving about in a home that is more efficient and user-friendly. As a homeschooling family we make a lot of use of all of our spaces. Conscious decision-making about what is and what is not important in our day-to-day walk is a skill I want to pass along to my children.

How I use this renewed sense of space and time will undoubtedly be a challenge. May God guide me to a spiritual spring cleaning that will help me prepare for my real home in eternity.

Blessings to you and yours for a warm and happy springtime!

Copyright 2013 Cathy Craig