Sharing is Caring (My Nanny Diary)

This morning I came out of the kitchen with Wheat Thins on a plate.  Sunshine asked me for one right away and once she said please, I immediately gave her one.  Her sisters were playing on the other side of the room and hadn’t spotted me, yet, which made it all the more impressive when big sis broke two small pieces off of her already little cracker to give to each of her sisters.  Wait, it gets even better.  She did this without me asking her to and before her sisters even realized there were Wheat Thins to be had. 

    
I praised Sunshine up, down, and sideways for being so thoughtful and sharing right away with her sisters without even being asked (more like begged or nagged) to do so.  It’s moments like those you have to treasure and keep in your heart, especially for those days when the oldest is racking up time-outs like it’s her job.  Fortunately, she only required one time-out today, and interestingly enough, it was not too long before her shining moment of sharing.    

    
This reminded me of an incident with “my little guys” that was heartwarming then harrowing while I was at the kitchen sink washing baby bottles.  I looked down and saw one of them offer a cup to his buddy.  I said something about how nice it was that he was sharing with his friend.  I looked at the bottles I was washing for a few seconds then back and the one who had kindly been sharing his cup was now bonking his buddy over the head with it.  A similar food incident that occurred more than once when I was nannying for the boys inspired me to write “A Parable of O’s and Fishes.”

    
The girls enjoy both Cheerios and Goldfish crackers as well as pretty much whatever I’m eating.  I typically bring enough of everything I eat while I’m there to feed all three of the girls.  Their parents have a well-stocked refrigerator, cupboards, and freezer, but the girls always want whatever I’m having whenever I’m having it, so Kevin and I have learned to shop for the two of us and the three of them.  When I pack my lunch and snacks in the morning, I do so with them in mind.  Lately, I’ve been bringing two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, which has made lunchtime significantly smoother because they love some PB and J!  They’re also amused by both versions of the Peanut Butter and Jelly song that I sing to them.  This is the one I was taught growing up: 

The second version is the one which Kevin found on Youtube to which I changed the lyrics in order to let Sunshine know when it was time to high-tail it in and use the potty.  You can find this gem at this link (It’s #3 of the 7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 84) along with the Youtube video of Peanut Butter Jelly Time).  Warning: The song itself and my modified version can become quite annoying if you’re asked to sing them a bazillion times a day, but you probably already figured that out, as the most popular kids songs are often those that make you want to poke your eyeballs out after a while. For a more complete picture of our potty training adventures, you might want to check out “Once Upon A Potty Training.” 

   
I’ve discovered that graham crackers are a persuasive bargaining chip with the girls, so I bring a whole stack to ration out over the days I’m taking care of them each week.  They are very fond of fresh fruit, so I try to bring a good variety of that, especially on days when I’m particularly worn-out and exhausted before I even arrive at their place.  Yeah, I know it’s a form of bribery for better behavior, but at least it’s with healthy foods.  Now that the two youngest are taking every possible opportunity to climb to greater heights, I’m willing to pull out a few stops at mealtimes to keep them strapped in a little longer. 

I figure the best way I can teach them about the importance of sharing is the best way to teach them about anything else: show them by doing it consistently myself.

Thanksgiving Traditions, Memories, & Amusement

     We have so much to thank God for, and this beautiful song by The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir describes perfectly some of the most precious blessings the Lord has given us.

 

     Kevin and I hope you and your loved ones have a wonderful day filled with abundant blessings and a myriad of reminders that God is loving, compassionate, and provides for His children.  We’re bringing the green bean casserole to the two Thanksgiving feasts we’re going to today. 

     To read up on some of the Thanksgiving traditions, memories, and amusement we’ve experienced in the past, click here. 

     Lord, thank you for your many blessings.  Please open our hearts and minds so that we become increasing aware of the many ways You love in and through people bring us closer to You.  Amen. 

Beloved Daughter Rejoice!

What would happen if you believed with every fiber of your being that you are, indeed, God’s Beloved Child? My prediction is that there would be a great deal of rejoicing from within and without. Well, guess what?! The Truth is you are God’s Beloved Child, so you have every reason to sing, dance, clap your hands, shout praises to the Lord!

     
I don’t know about you, but I’m definitely someone who wants and needs frequent reminders that I am loved, cherished, seen as precious and valuable. Fortunately, the Lord wants nothing more than to shower us with an abundance of blessings to let us know how deeply loved we are by Him.
     
God’s joy is in loving us unconditionally, passionately, and overwhelmingly. His love for us is the source of our strength.  His willingness to give His own Son to show us how to live, suffer, die, and rise again is the ultimate proof that we are God’s Beloved Children. He doesn’t withhold any goodness, fruit of the spirit or blessing to any who come to His table.
     
That is not to say that our lives will be without suffering or devoid of pain, but it means that  throughout even the most daunting trial or haunting tragedy, the Lord will remain with us.  He won’t turn away or abandon us.  We can persevere in hardships knowing that, united to Christ’s Passion and death on the Cross, our suffering can be used for the salvation of souls in time and eternity. 
     
The physical, emotional, and spiritual crosses we bear in this life will not be in vain.  Though sorrow and strife may plague us in this life, threatening to rob of us of all of our hope and joy, we know that there is more than our earthly existence to be concerned with; we have been offered an eternity of unconditional love and pure unbridled rejoicing with the Lord. 
     
Is there anything keeping you from rejoicing that you are a beloved child of God?  If yes, what is it?  Would you be willing to offer it up to the Lord and listen for His Truth? 

“Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout O Israel!

Rejoice and exult with all your heart,
O daughter of Jerusalem!
The Lord has taken away the judgments against you,
He has cast out your enemies.
The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst;
you shall fear evil no more.
On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
“Do not fear, O Zion;
let not your hands grow weak.
The Lord your God is in your midst,
a warrior who gives victory;
He will rejoice over you with gladness
He will renew you in his love;
He will exult over you with loud singing
as on a day of festival.”
                                                Zephaniah 3:14-18

Note: This reflection, written in honor of the participants of the Women's Cursillo Weekend taking place at Shalom House from May 31-June 2, 2012, first appeared in the May 2012 Edition of The Rooster Review.

Behold, Believe, Be Forgiven

Note to reader: This reflection was written in honor of the participants of the Men's Cursillo Weekend taking place at Shalom House February 16-19, 2012, and first appeared in the January 2012 issue of the Rooster Review. 

     The miracle of God’s love is always around us and inside of us.  The more we pay attention, watch carefully, and observe this, the more likely we are to be amazed at what God has done and is doing in our lives. 
     During Jesus’ public life, He performed a number of miracles that left people awestruck.  He didn’t heal people to get a rise out of the crowd or to gain fame; bringing physical relief was one of the many ways He glorified the Lord and brought other people closer to Him.  It was one way to get people’s attention and draw them in.  Restoring sight to the blind, healing the lame, and casting out demons would make you someone in high demand at any time. 
     People don’t want to remain in pain.  They don’t want to despair.  They don’t want to be stuck.  Jesus offered everyone new life then, just as He does now.  Many came to Him because they were interested in being healed of an ailment that had been present since birth and/or one that had stumped doctors for years.  Few understood the level of healing that was taking place.  Not many knew that the most important healing that Christ offered then was the forgiveness of sins, the healing of our souls.  Many of us seem to forget that’s still the most important type of healing Christ offers, that which allows us to enter into eternity with Him when we pass from this life into the next. 
     Christ’s followers were astounded to behold the signs and wonders He performed in the name of God the Father through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Much of what Jesus did had people, even His top twelve, scratching their heads.  They saw what He was doing and heard what He said, but they still needed help in the believing department. 
     God knows that about us.  He knows that even if He’s manifested Himself to us in miraculous ways that we still can have a tendency to doubt.  The Apostles saw Him after He rose from the dead, yet they still had trouble accepting and believing what He’d been telling them all along would happen. 
     We are blessed with the gift of faith, which the Lord plants in our hearts, because He knows that we are inclined to doubt.  We want physical proof.  We want to see the evidence, and sometimes not even that is enough.   To believe means to accept some aspects of the Divine Truth purely on faith, a grace freely given by God to help us get beyond the “show me/prove it” mentality. 
     When a person who’s been on the prayer list for months, facing one health challenge after another walks into an Ultreya or other Cursillo event smiling, we witness God’s power to heal.  We have yet another reason to believe that Christ is able to bring us through the toughest times. 
      Often the pre-requisite for healing to take place in the Bible is belief.  The person, or sometimes their friends, needed to believe in Christ’s power to restore the body, mind, and/or spirit to health.  The depth of the healing He offered, that of the soul as well as the body, was unparalleled.  It still is.    
     Perhaps the most challenging part of faith is to believe that the Lord Jesus Christ knows us more intimately than anyone else, loves us so much more than is humanly possible, and offers us forgiveness, which we are free to accept or refuse.  It’s not enough that we behold the Lord working in the world, believe what He has done and is doing, and trust that everyone else is being forgiven. 
     We have to behold God’s Presence within us, believe that He can work in and through people as flawed as we are, and take the leap of faith required to accept the forgiveness He offers, though we don’t deserve it, didn’t earn it, couldn’t do anything that would merit it… 
     Are you ready to behold God’s glory, believe in God’s mercy, and be forgiven? 

It's Gettin' Real on My Facebook Wall!

     The following message is Facebook comment 70 of 70 (the last time I checked my wall) in response to this link I posted "Time to Admit It: The Catholic Church Has Always Been Right on Birth Control" on February 10, 2012 at 4:14pm:                  "To be honest, there have been times recently when I have dreaded opening my Facebook account, not because there would be comments contrary to my political, moral, or religious viewpoints, but mostly due to the almost vicious tone with which new ideas, arguments, and perspectives were shared.  I like to encourage discussion and learn what others know, think, feel, have experienced, and discerned in prayer about different issues.  I believe most of the time the discussions, conversations, even debates are ones that help us voice our concerns in a place that’s relatively safe to explore—at least that’s the tone I try to set for the discussions that take place on my wall. 

      In looking at some of the above comments and the accusations, I feel I haven’t been a good facilitator of this particular discussion, and I would like to extend my apologies to each of you along with

Tell Me the Truth, though It May Be Daring

     In many ways, it’s human nature to want to keep our failures, guilt, shame, insecurities, and struggles away from others.  To some extent we do that with every single person in our lives, at least I do.  I hide some facet of who I am (or at least I think I hide it), so that someone isn’t as likely to judge or reject me, like I assume they would if only they knew some of my deepest darkest secrets.

     In a sense there’s truth to the statement that you’re only as sick as your secrets.  Those things which we are too ashamed, horrified, embarrassed, humiliated, afraid, or traumatized to talk about with others or even be honest with ourselves about, are most likely the areas in our lives where there are deep-seated lies and a measure of stronghold over us because of the fear of being exposed. 
     There have certainly been times after I have shared something incredibly personal that I have worried that person betray my trust.  Most often I have feared that the more people find out about me and the better they get to know me, the more likely they will be

The Epiphany and Total Consecration Connection

     Because Kevin was driving, we only got a little turned around on the way to the Cursillo Epiphany party at St. Gabriel’s Church last Friday evening, instead of completely lost as we would have been if I’d been driving (I’m exceptionally good at getting undeniably lost) or if John had gone on his own (he thought it was at St. Edward’s).  At least we didn’t stop and ask some crazy control freak for directions on the way like the three wise men.    

     Anyway, I’d been looking forward to the party for a while, eager to see members of our Cursillo family that we hadn’t caught up with in too long.  It was no surprise that Faith and Rob Grubbs did a wonderful job hosting the event.

     There was plenty of food, as is traditionally the case with Cursillo events.  A friend of ours was told that there wouldn’t be much to eat when he made his weekend a number of years ago, so he packed a whole suitcase with snacks and things, only to find out that his sponsor had been kidding.  If you go hungry on a weekend, it’s your choice—never a lack of food—that’s the culprit.

     It was wonderful to be greeted with lots of hugs and smiles.  The joy-filled fellowship began as soon as we walked in the door and lasted the entire evening.

    

     I was very excited I’d remembered to bring the remaining Total Consecration packets that had been on a bookshelf at our apartment.  They weren’t doing anyone any good on our shelf at home.  I’d given a number of them to family, friends, the gentlemen on a discernment vocations retreat, my Christ Renews His Parish sisters, etc., but many still remained. 

     After experiencing a deeper conversion when I first made my Consecration to Jesus through Mary while in high school, you’d think I would have made it a higher priority to get these powerful prayers in people’s hands, but I didn’t. 

    Once Faith got everyone’s attention and led us in saying grace, I got to say a word about the Preparation for Total Consecration.  I invited everyone present to take one with them. 

     There were only four packets left when we were ready to head back over the river and through the woods to go home, and Faith had said she’d take any remaining ones to her prayer group.  I was ecstatic to have been able to share a gift that, for countless people around the world and over the years, has brought them to another level of faith and devotion. 

     Thank you, Ray Mooney, and all who have been working so hard to spread the word about this most beautiful and powerful devotion.  For more information or to place an order for your own FREE Total Consecration packets, visit the My Consecration website.   

Fierce Beauty: Choosing to Stand for What Matters Most by Kim Meeder

“You were not created to be a princess of entitlement but a warrior, fighting to bring love and hope to the world.”  -Kim Meeder

Powerful true life stories, masterful writing, deep faith, and persistent hope are four of the elements that make Kim Meeder’s Fierce Beauty a masterpiece.  I’ve read quite a number of Christian books over the years that deal with the topic of physical beauty versus inner beauty, but not many have explored the related pain and conflicts involved with such vivid imagery, lyrical prose, and spiritual wisdom as does this prayer warrior/author.  
     
I was blown away by the gorgeous settings for these accounts.  Kim Meeder is a lover of God and a strong admirer of all of His Creations.  Her penchant for adventure and exploration has led her into some crazy encounters with the wilderness.  She’s come face-to-face with Galápagos sharks, grizzly bears, and wild horses (just to name a few) and lived to tell the tales. 
     
Meeder steps out to confront life’s challenges with courage, humility, and grace.  The depth of her compassion and love for all those whom God has put in her life is inspiring to say the very least.
     
Breathtaking scenery serves as a stunning backdrop for these stories of suffering, sacrifice, triumph, and hope.  In some ways, I felt so taken in by the descriptions of the places the author was visiting that the reading experience occasionally made me feel as enthralled with the natural world as I was when reading the Pulitzer prize-winner Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard. 
     
Her actions, her insights, and her writing all show that Kim Meeder isn’t afraid to get covered in muck if that’s what it takes to bring healing and hope to people as well as animals who have been used, abused, and abandoned.  As stated on the back cover: “Along with her husband, Troy, she owns and operates Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch in central Oregon, a nonprofit organization that rescues abused and neglected horses and pairs them with disadvantaged children, offering them a place of safety, peace, and hope.”
     
If you like true stories, deep faith, triumph over suffering, people who care about people, gorgeous descriptions of nature, outdoor exploration, animals, masterful writing, God, Christianity in action…then you will absolutely love Fierce Beauty!   
     
I’m definitely adding Kim Meeder’s three other books—Hope Rising, Bridge Called Hope, and Blind Hope—to my wish list, and my guess is as soon as you read one of her books you’ll want to get the other three as well.  I don’t know that I’m daring enough for some of the extreme outdoor adventures Kim Meeder’s gone on, but I’m positive I would absolutely love to go to her ranch and meet her in her element some day.
     
For more info about the book or to order your copy, click here.  To read the first chapter of Fierce Beauty, click here. 
     
I received Fierce Beauty for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.  If you’re a blogger interested in reading, check out their Blogging for Books program.    

7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 24)

— 1 —

Not Quite The Camino, but Definitely the Longest Possible Route! Kevin and I had to laugh at our silly sequence of events that morning. We’re doing the Five First Saturdays devotion, and I didn’t have the pamphlet with me that has all of the requirements in it. I joked with Kevin about the possibility of receiving an extra blessing for doing a pilgrimage on the way to Mass on the first Saturday of the month. We certainly took the longest possible route. If we’d just stayed where we were, we would have been early!

     Lord, thank You for opening my heart and Kevin’s so that we are drawn to praise You through the sacrifice of daily Mass, no matter how long it takes us to get there. Amen.

— 2 —

Picture this!  My mom called me on Sunday evening to come over to Planned Parenthood to take pictures of the 40 Days for Life Closing.  I grabbed our camera and headed over.  I saw many people I recognized gathered across the street from where I parked.  My mom and several prayer warriors who have been involved in the campaign for many hours and many years were standing on the sidewalk with candles and flowers.  I was the most surprised to see Kay Marie Geiger, who I hadn’t seen since her husband Joe Geiger’s funeral the week before.  Talk about dedication!  I’d considered taking pictures then, politely slipping out, as it had been a long, busy weekend, but I couldn’t bring myself to leave since Kay Marie was there.

The 40 Days for Life Closing prayer at the vigil was beautiful, complete with candles, roses, and music!  Thanks Valerie and Chris for putting everything together.  Dinner at Baker’s Crust afterwards was scrumptious and spiritually edifying.  What an amazing group of people God has brought together to respect and protect the sanctity and dignity of human life from the moment of conception!   

— 3 —

40 Days for Life Breakthrough: https://40daysforlifebreakthrough.com/ Join us for the LIVE teleconference and web simulcast Monday, November 14, 2011 at 9:00pm Eastern (6pm Pacific)

During this one-time-only phone and web event, you will join with thousands of others to learn:

* The stunning results of this fall's 40 Days for Life ... which point to even BIGGER victories in 2012
* The breaking news that's about to expose Planned Parenthood's dirty little secret ... this shocking
story has never been publicly revealed -- UNTIL NOW!
* Why these next 12 months are crucially important ... and how our pro-life movement is positioned to
achieve massive, life-saving success on many fronts
* The innovative strategic plans -- four years in the making -- about to be unleashed to help mobilize more people, change more hearts and minds ... and save more lives than ever before
* How YOU can help make a profound impact on ending abortion ... right where you live!
This is the great news you've been waiting for, and it's absolutely free to attend -- however, the limited spaces for the event are filling up fast ...so REGISTER NOW at:https://40daysforlifebreakthrough.com

— 4 —

Heaven is for Real  Last week, I’d finished reading this awesome book, but I hadn’t yet written the review.  I said to check back for the full assessment of Heaven is for Real later.  Here it is!

— 5 —

The Red Mass In many ways, Bishop DiLorenzo’s sermon at the Red Mass held at St. Benedict Church Thursday evening was a state of the union address for the Catholic Diocese of Richmond.  In case you’re wondering, though there are many issues to be addressed that may seem overwhelming at times, our bishops, priests, deacons, religious, married, singles…are in the trenches, hard at work fighting against the culture of death, and the many ways it manifests itself. 

— 6 —

The Human Concerns Core Team I can’t think of a better follow-up activity to the Red Mass than going to biannual Human Concerns Core Team meeting at St. Michael the Archangel parish.  A roomful of men and women who are passionate about their ministries joined together to discuss how their outreach has been Christ to others through action, reflection, and transformation. 

— 7 —

Prayers for a Safe, Joyful, Enriching Pilgrimage Lord, please bless those who are leaving tomorrow for their pilgrimage to Italy.  Keep them safe from harm, illness, and injury.  Enkindle in them the fire of Your love, especially as it is manifested through the gift of the Mass and the Eucharist.  Open the hearts of Your faithful, refresh their spirits, and strengthen them in their dedication to putting You first and foremost in their lives.  Amen. 

Heaven is for Real

Several months ago the father of the family my husband and I have been “adopted” into was telling us about a book that sounded like it would be a great read. He described some of what he’d heard about Heaven is for Real, and I knew immediately I wanted to read the book.

     
Those of you who know me as a voracious reader and rapid reviewer will understand that with so many books coming in for me to read and review, I don’t often buy books. I was planning on purchasing this one, but when out with my husband one Saturday, he said not to bother looking for it. I knew that was code for “I already ordered it for you.”

     
This miraculous story of a young child’s time in Heaven is beautifully written, Scripturally supported, and full of hope.

     
I was very excited to open this birthday present, not just because I’d finished another book the night before, but also because I really wanted to start Heaven is for Real.  I always love it when a book is even better than I’d imagined it would be.  I knew only a little bit of Colton Burpo’s story, mainly what I’d heard when we were out to dinner one evening, and I had no idea how such an intriguing subject would be covered, especially when the visitor was only four.

     
The matter-of-fact, tell-it-like-it-is attitude children have can be incredibly endearing and undeniably cute.  One of my favorite things about this book is that the story is told in much the way it was revealed by Colton to his parents: in bits and pieces, over a period of time, and in the simple language of someone who still loved playing swordfights and wasn’t too old to get away with wearing superhero costumes complete with a cape pretty much year-round.

     
It feels even more genuine and authentic that Colton’s description of his time in Heaven isn’t just plopped into the book.  His memories of his time there, whom he saw, and what happened trickled out in the days, months, and years following his near-death experience.  His parents might mention something or Colton would ask them a question out-of-the-blue that caught them completely off-guard, something that showed he had knowledge of people, circumstances, and Biblical descriptions that he couldn’t possibly have learned about from his parents or Sunday school teachers.   

Heaven is for Real made me think of my dad.  Before he passed away, he used to ask a lot of questions about what I thought Heaven might be like, who would be there, etc.  This confirmed some of the answers we gave him and shed light on some he’s gotten to experience firsthand, ones that must have been glorious surprises. 

     
I highly recommend this book!  The book is beautiful, authentic, deeply moving, well-written, and definitely a must-read. For more information about and/or to order a copy of Heaven is for Real, click here. 

Birthdays: A Life Chain Reaction

Last February my mom felt she was being called, yet again, to lead a 40 Days for Life campaign in Richmond, VA. John, who my husband Kevin and I refer to as our dear brother in Christ/best friend, decided he was going to promote the local campaign that was part of the international prayer vigil by talking with two of the groups that meet on Friday evenings. I offered to go with him to spread the word about our local efforts to end abortion through prayer and fasting.

    
A young man named James was attending the Charismatic Prayer Group meeting the night John and I spoke to the group at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church. James expressed an interest in taking part in 40 Days for Life, and he shared a story about how God had already used him to save two lives that had been in jeopardy.
    
Not too long after that, I saw James at St. Benedict’s daily Mass, and he asked if he could give my contact info to a friend of a friend who was facing an unplanned pregnancy in another city. Of course, I said yes, and thus began a new friendship and a sequence of Holy Spirit-inspired incidents only the Lord could have foreseen.
    
In the spring, John’s mom Cathy and I went out to meet the young woman, listen to her story, and provide her with the numbers of local pregnancy resources available in her area. We prayed with her and assured her that she would have our ongoing prayer coverage and whatever of other types of support she needed on the journey.

Fastforward to the Fall--->

    
On Saturday October 15, 2011 (during the Fall 40 Days for Life Campaign), Kevin, my mom, and I threw a baby shower for the young mother. It was wonderful to meet many of her friends and introduce her to many of our friends and family who have been praying for her and pitching in various ways since last spring.
    
The Holy Spirit showed up in some very powerful ways that day as we talked, ate, laughed, chased two little ones around the house, prayed, cried, sang, drank hot tea, then talked and prayed some more.
    
Lord, thank You for the gift of new life and for a number of people who have come together to support a young woman with no family in this country, so she would know the depth of Your love for her and for her son.

Share, Be Satisfied

     God provides all that we need and then some.  God provides us with an unquenchable hunger for Him that keeps us focused.  He gives us the gift of faith.  He showers love, mercy, forgiveness, and compassion upon us, so that we may go and share these gifts with others, thereby bringing us all closer to Him.  He provides for some of what we need for ourselves and gives us extra that’s meant to be shared. 

     Oftentimes, God works through other people to meet our most basic physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.  We each have different gifts, talents, and abilities, possess different types of wealth, but we’re each called to share all that we have been given. 

     Some of us may believe we haven’t got much that’s worth sharing.  We fear we can’t make a significant enough contribution to others.  We believe we don’t have enough money, resources, education, support, faith, and/or wisdom to share with others. 

     Sharing makes us vulnerable.  It means giving not only what we have, but also who we are, and that can be frightening at times.  Sharing our food and/or our money can be far easier than

The Chocolate Diaries

Truth be told, I’m a firm believer that all women need chocolate.  When I found out about a non-fiction book about women getting through tough times with the help of family, friends, prayer, laughter, tears, and plenty of chocolate, of course I was interested in reading The Chocolate Diaries. 

      
In some ways, it is lighter in tone and has more humor than many of the books I’ve been reading lately, though there are certainly some heart-wrenching stories included.  Karen Scalf Linamen approaches what she refers to as “Secrets for a Sweeter Journey on the Rocky Road of Life” with humor and honesty that make even some of the most bitter circumstances palatable in the end.

This Christian writer, speaker, and chocolate connoisseur has authored several books for women.  This isn’t the first work she’s done about how to handle suffering with God’s grace and some good chocolate.  I liked how she incorporated some of her own tough times with the woes of other strong women who have come through suffering with a greater sense of themselves, the Lord, and, of course, the value of chocolate in whatever form you can get it.   
     
There are quotes, ideas about how to satisfy a chocolate craving in a pinch, and some mouth-watering recipes mixed in throughout the batch of true stories that are as inspiring as they are rich. 
     
I highly recommend eating chocolate in some form or another while reading the The Chocolate Diaries.  It definitely enhances the sensory experiences and helps set in stone the fact that women need chocolate.  To get your copy of The Chocolate Diaries, click here.
     
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for writing this review.  To join Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group's Blogging for Books program click here.

True Conversion: One Heart at a Time (Especially Our Own)

   I wrote the following note to a friend who was worried about witnessing and evangelizing to family and friends:
   It’s a gift that we notice ways that we can bring our family and friends closer to God.  If we see it as a burden or as another area of life where we’re failing miserably, then we won’t be as inspired to make the effort.  If we concentrate on who God is instead of our shortcomings, then we’ll become better reflections of God’s love.  Spending time in communion with God, wanting His will more than our own, and letting Him do the spiritual cleansing we need to make us a better sanctuary or tabernacle for Him is the best possible way we can show others the Lord’s love. 
   God is the one who gives people the gift of faith.  No person can give faith in God to another person.  People can give facts and reasons, theology and emotions behind why they or others believe, but God alone gives people faith, and once they have faith, no further proof is really needed.  However without God’s gift of faith, no proof will be enough.  
   The Holy Spirit has placed in you a desire to bring others closer to God.

Nature Fun for Kids: Create the Box, then Think Outside It

Last week at Nature Club, I taught the kids the how to fold a square piece of paper into a little box. We counted the number of triangles, squares, quadrilaterals, rectangles, and trapezoids each time we did another step of the process. Before we opened up our origami boxes, I had them color the edges, pointing out the ones that would show once we completed all of the proper folds.
    
I was about 11 or 12 when I first learned how to fold this origami box, and it’s the one thing I remember how to fold without looking at instructions. I knew the exercise would be a hit since the boys in Nature Club had often begun folding any leftover pieces of paper to make airplanes, some which were much more aerodynamically sound than others.

After we opened up and did the final folds on our 3” X 3” boxes, I asked them to imagine what sort of things from nature could fit into the box they’d made. They named a number of different insects, arachnids, and such, then I asked them what they might find on our school campus from nature, that wasn’t still living, that would fit into their boxes. They came up with a number of things before we set out on our nature walk to see what we could find to put in our boxes.
    
All of us had fun selecting fallen flower petals, leaves, the tops of acorns, mini red berries, little sticks, nibbled on pine cones, pieces of bark, rocks, half-eaten tree nuts, and such to put in our little boxes. When we returned, we dumped our things out and examined what each person had found, then I had them draw and color some of the sundry treasures they’d found. It was so enjoyable, that I decided to do the same thing with my French Club on Thursday, only we talked about the colors, items, shapes and names of things in nature in French.
    
Lord, thank you for the gift of children, who so often help us to slow down and recognize the beauty, delicate details, and wonder in the world around us. Please increase our ability to see Your handprints on everything and in everyone. Amen.

Holding on to Hope: The Journey Beyond Darkness

Usually, I read a book once, then move on to the next one, but Holding on to Hope by Kathryn J. Hermes, FSP, definitely warrants more than one read-through. There are a number of guided meditations on various Scripture passages that the reader is invited to consider, put him/herself into, and listen to what Jesus has to say to you in that particular situation.
    
In addition to expounding upon the struggles she has faced dealing with mental illness, the author makes practical suggestions for how to structure life in order so healing is most likely to occur. She makes recommendations for different types of imagery and meditations as ways of envisioning ourselves in a Scripture reading, close to Jesus, open to what He would like to tell and show us at this point in our journey with and towards the Lord.
    
One thing I love about this book is that Hermes is quite candid in her accounts of her struggles with mental illness and how they have impacted her faith. She draws clear connections among the physical, emotional, and spiritual suffering she’s endured, and how each has helped her grow closer to Christ. Through her vulnerability and honesty, Hermes shows that God keeps working on us, continues always to draw us closer, and to open us up to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
    
Transformation is approached and discussed as an ongoing process essential to the Christian life. Ongoing metanoia is emphasized as an essential part of growing in God’s love, accepting His mercy and forgiveness, and extending His compassion to others.
    
Kathryn Hermes never claims to have things all figured out. She shares the failures and triumphs of her continuing journey and imparts the wisdom that she has learned over the years in a way that is humble and clearly coming forth from a woman who is in the trenches—not someone who is waxing philosophic about a difficult period in her life that has long since passed.
    
It is her openness to ongoing healing, her receptivity to God’s plan being one of ongoing transformation, and her personal experience with bipolar disorder and depression that make this book a comforting companion on the journey towards God that is, at times, shrouded in darkness.
    
I highly recommend anyone suffering from mental illness and all who care for and about those who are suffering read Holding on to Hope.
    
This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Holding on to Hope. They are also a great source for serenity prayer and baptism gifts.

I've Still Got Your Back

     My best friend from high school and I have been through quite a lot together. Holly and I met in gym class our sophomore year of high school and have been close friends ever since.
     Over the past fourteen plus years of friendship, we’ve seen each other at our worst and at our best. We’ve spent hours conversing about faith—Roman Catholic versus Jewish— family, relationships, volunteering, health issues, little decisions (such as whether to order a gold or silver class ring), big dreams, long-term goals, great triumphs, and trivial tribulations.
     We’ve gotten lost countless times. One of the things we have in common is being directionally challenged. We have accidentally ended up in random ghettos in the middle of the day and in the middle of the night on two continents and in a number of different cities. As an absolute last resort, we

Be Still. Listen. Be Present.

     These three reminders from Deacon David Nemetz’s sermon have stuck with me: “Be still. Listen. Be Present.” In an evening prayer service, Deacon Dave shared with us some of the lessons he’s learned over the years as he’s worked with families mourning the loss of loved ones. These three have proved to be the most profound, and at times, the most difficult.
     When someone is suffering in mind, body, and/or spirit, my reaction is often to want to take some action to make things better. All too often this tendency to get moving keeps me from recognizing the true source of the pain. If I slow down and allow myself to be still, it’s more likely that my emotional baggage or issues I’d likely project onto someone else will get sifted out, so focusing on the other person becomes easier.

Blessed: Living a Grateful Life

Blessed: Living a Grateful Life is collection of stories about blessings from everyday life with a down-home, earthy feel to it. The cover, the vivid sensorial descriptions of gardening, stories of cooking, connecting with nature, and taking care of others combine to show the amazing and miraculous in the at-first-glance routine, commonplace, seemingly mundane aspects of life.
   
 As someone without children of our own, or any pets, who managed to kill the one and only living plant we had in our place by watering it too much, I wondered if I’d be able to identify with someone like Michaud, who is so connected to plants, nature, animals, and possesses strong maternal and survival instincts. These brief stories, as varied in subject matter as they are in the emphasized strengths of the women and men within them, proved to resonate very deeply with me.
    
The traditions and relationships in Michaud’s own small community, garden, and work provide a suitable frame for the portrait painted in each chapter.
    
Just as the flower seeds blown by the wind that settle into the soil and pop up from the ground come spring, Michaud illustrates how she and a myriad of remarkable women from different walks of life, disparate socioeconomic backgrounds, education, and life experiences bloom where they are planted, and/or in some cases, uproot and settle down to grow roots in a place more suitable for them to flourish.
    
The conversational feel of the book fits perfectly. I can easily imagine listening to any number of these stories sitting in the kitchen with Michaud, some hot tea, a slice of homemade cake, and a dog or two at our feet. She masterfully blends the deepest desires of the human spirit with intimate accounts of how real women have made a difference. Some of the more heart wrenching stories made me tear-up. Others made me marvel at the ingenuity of women, especially when it comes to loving, encouraging, and nurturing others who are suffering.
    
I would definitely recommend Blessed: Living a Grateful Life as a great reminder to cultivate compassion and an attitude of gratitude through acts of kindness big and small that provide blessings to us all.  For more information or to order your copy of the book, click here.  Check out Ellen Michaud's blog at http://www.theblessedblog.com/

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.  To check out other books available through FSB Media or sign up to be a book blogger, click here.

Parenting on Purpose!

Reading Parenting on Purpose! by husband, father of eight, writer, speaker…Jason Free was both enjoyable and easy. Living out these seven ways to “raise terrific Christian kids” on a daily basis can only be accomplished through the grace of God. I love Free’s writing style, which is conversational, honest, and even entertaining. He doesn’t approach the subject of parenting in a know-it-all and am the perfect role model position. He shows how he has discovered these keys to raising good Christians while making a number of faux-pas along the way.

    
I really appreciate the two sections at the end of each chapter where there are “Reflections from Dad,” personal accounts written by Jason Free, then “Reflections from Mom,” penned by his wife Colleen. The anecdotes are filled with love and some important reminders about ordering our priorities so as to build up the Kingdom of God and the bond of family.
    
The main premise of this book on building strong, Godly families is that we should put the Lord first. If parents are focused on the Lord, then they are mindful of the importance of continuing their own faith journeys. They have the humility to learn from and with their children about goodness, holiness, and wholesomeness. To have a strong family, Free explains how reliance on God, dedication to prayer and to your marriage are the best examples of love and service to offer the Lord.
    
Free shares many stories in which the sponge-like minds of his children, soaking up every word and every action, lead him closer to the Lord. Sometimes, their comments or actions make him realize that he’s not been a good example. Other times, such as when he regularly blesses his children at bedtime, he discovers what a powerful gift he’s giving them, one that they are eager to share with him as well.
    
Parents will surely benefit from and be able to identify with the at times joy-filled, at times heartbreaking on-the-job training Jason and Colleen have been receiving as they raise their eight children. There aren’t perfect mothers or fathers, but Parenting on Purpose! could certainly help well-intentioned parents make better decisions about how they spend their time, energy, faith, and money to serve the Lord, their spouse, and the children God has given them.
    
Lord, please bring all parents and caregivers of children into a deeper relationship with You. Make each of us a better kind for young impressionable minds and precious little souls. Amen.
    
To order your copy of Parenting on Purpose! click here. I wrote this review for Ignatius in exchange for a free copy of the book. For more information or to purchase, see Ignatius Press.