Month: May 2016

Introducing the Catholic Mom’s Prayer Companion

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One of the cool things about writing for CatholicMom.com is the group of terrific contributors. Every single one brings something different to the table, and it’s wonderful to be a part of this group.

Even more wonderful is the opportunity to participate in writing a book with these talented authors! Coming this August, The Catholic Mom’s Prayer Companion features the work of over 80 CM contributors, including the site’s founder, Lisa M. Hendey.

CM Prayer Companion cover art

I wrote four reflections for this book of short daily devotions which publishes August 29 from Ave Maria Press. Preorder your copy now and you’ll have it on the first day it’s available.

Here’s more about the book:

Are you a Catholic mom who prays for the wisdom and patience to get through each day? Do you pray for your children, husband, family and friends, and sometimes even yourself? The Catholic Mom’s Prayer Companion offers a new, daily resource to make the most of those few, precious minutes you have to pause and reflect.

For more than fifteen years, the award-winning CatholicMom.com website has been a trusted source for sound, practical, and spiritual guidance. In their new book, authors Lisa M. Hendey and Sarah A. Reinhard bring together more than eighty moms, dads, and trusted spiritual companions to provide fresh, uplifting meditations for every day of the year.

You’ll find encouragement when you’re struggling, reassurance when you feel alone, and comfort when you’re distracted by worry. Created by moms for moms, these hope-filled meditations touch on the issues and concerns you face as you try to get through the day with a sense of God’s presence in your life. Whether you are a new or seasoned mom working in or outside of your home, this inspiring collection of reflections for every day of the year will help you

  • stay in touch with the seasons of the Church year
  • remember Mary’s loving presence on her feast days
  • keep company with both new and familiar saints
  • see the spiritual meaning of secular holidays and
  • make you smile with occasions such as Houseplant Appreciation Day and National Popcorn Day.

Each day begins with a brief quotation from scripture, saints, recent popes, or important spiritual writers. A personal reflection–written by contributors including Danielle Bean, Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle, Lisa Mladinich, Elizabeth Scalia, Carolyn Woo, Mark Hart, and Jeff Young–focuses on some dimension of your spiritual, emotional, intellectual, or physical life. Each day also includes a brief prayer and a question or thought to ponder throughout the day. In just a few minutes of quiet you’ll find the boost you need from a friendly voice. Each month also has a special theme such as love, family fun, and slowing down. Start these reflections any time throughout the year and feel your days become more grace-filled and inspired.

Your purchase of The Catholic Mom’s Prayer Companion helps support FranciscanMom. Thanks!

Small Success: Mom’s New Office

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Thursdays at CatholicMom.com begin with a look at the past week’s Small Successes!

I’ve been working a little bit at a time to clear out TheKid’s old bedroom. He vacated it when he took over his big brother’s room almost two years ago, and it’s just been sitting there collecting junk ever since.

Sure, it’s small (10×12 or even smaller) but it will work just fine for me to use as an office, and it will do for a guest room in a pinch as well.

I’ve gotten the office part under control, at least. There’s still a bunch of stuff on the bed that I need to clear away, plus the ironing board, but I’m at the point where I can bring my laptop into that room and work. I’ve been working there all week!

Office in progress

That’ll be great this summer when the Street Urchins are hanging around, playing Super Smash Brothers only a few feet from the living room.

Someday I’ll paint it, but right now it’s just nice to have a quiet place to work.

Share your Small Successes at CatholicMom.com by joining the linkup in the bottom of today’s post. No blog? List yours in the comments box!

On Barb’s Bookshelf: Life-Changing Love by Theresa Linden

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Theresa Linden’s new novel for teens, Life-Changing Love, releases today from Silver Fire Publishing. A standalone sequel to Roland West, Loner, this novel tells the story of Roland’s classmate Caitlyn, who at 15 is not allowed to date but who dearly wishes for a romantic relationship, competing for Roland’s attention with a girl who has no restrictions and seemingly few inhibitions.

LCLFrontCover-265x400

After reading (and thoroughly enjoying) both novels, I interviewed the author about the series and the idea of courtship as a dating alternative, which was central to Life-Changing Love.

  1. Roland West, Loner was written from a male character’s point of view; Life-Changing Love was told in the point of view of a female character. Did you find one easier to write than the other?

I enjoy writing from the point of view of both male and female characters. Once I create them, giving them unique characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses, they sort of come alive in my mind. I can hear their thoughts in my head and understand how they feel about different situations. The only characters I struggle with are those that aren’t developed enough. That’s when I realize I need to spend more time “creating” a particular character.

  1. Will there be more books in the series? If so, who’s the main character in the next installment?

I have several books planned but Battle for His Soul is completed and scheduled for release October 2, 2016. Jarret West is the main character. This story is different from the others because Jarret’s guardian angel is also a point-of-view character in the story. It brings a completely different perspective to the events in Jarret’s life.

  1. A central theme in the novel was the idea of courting as a healthy alternative to dating. How can families learn more about this?

Through this book, I hope to encourage families to openly discuss this topic. Our children’s souls are at stake. Today’s culture too often promotes an unhealthy view of relationships that reduces everything to the physical. It has turned dating into something spiritually dangerous. Children are “dating” at younger and younger ages, making inappropriate emotional bonds. This opens the door to temptations for making physical bonds as well. But they are not necessarily thinking about marriage.

Some argue that old-fashioned courtship puts too much pressure on the couple to marry. Courtship might not be the perfect solution, but families can take the ideas that work from both dating and courtship and create a plan for their children that will allow them to get to know themselves and others without undue pressure and by keeping things in the right order.

While I think there are many definitions of the word “courtship,” I see it as something family-focused where two people get to know each other in a natural way. When a person is older and seriously thinking about marriage, getting to know the families provides valuable understanding about the person. A couple can further get to know each other in group settings like college groups. Courtship-type practices can allow people to get to know each other without risking their souls.

Other resources:

Emotional Virtue by Sarah Swafford comes highly recommended as a guide for developing healthy and pure relationships.

National Catholic Register has an article titled “A Parent’s Guide to Courtship” by Lori Hadacek Chaplin.

Catholic News Agency has an article titled “The difference between courtship and dating” by Anthony Buono.

  1. What can families do to help their teens be more receptive to the idea of courting?

Here are a few concrete ideas that might make courtship feel like the natural way to go:

  • Regular family prayer: be the leader and example in showing that God comes first. Enlist the help of the patron saints for purity and chastity like St. Aloysius Gonzaga and St. Maria Goretti.
  • Regular family discussions: the teenage years come with a whole new set of hopes, ideas, and challenges. Be there to guide them and let them know you care.
  • Talk about virtue and the spiritual side of life. Our primary goal is to get ourselves and our loved ones to heaven. It’s easy to lose focus so practice making the discussion of virtue a part of daily life.
  • Create a welcome and open environment in the home so your teens feel comfortable inviting their friends over.
  • Point out good examples and bad examples as you notice them in the news or in TV shows, books, and movies. Discuss the consequences that come from these choices.
  • Remember that helping our children to protect their virtue and develop healthy, age-appropriate relationships is very important. We want our children to have the freedom to get to know others, while having fun and showing respect, cooperating with God’s plan for their life. It will help them to have successful marriages and families in the future!

Here’s the book trailer for Life-Changing Love:

The Fine Print: I received an advance copy of the book, and no other compensation, for the purpose of this review. Opinions expressed are mine alone. Your purchase of this book through my Amazon link supports Franciscanmom.com. Thank you!

The Chapel Rosary

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I was running a minute or two late for my Holy Hour yesterday, and as I approached the church driveway I realized I’d left my pocket rosary behind when I changed my clothes.

Worse, I’d tossed my wallet into my “Adoration tote” along with my journal, earbuds and a spiritual book or three–so I didn’t have the rosary I keep in my handbag.

I can count on my fingers in a pinch; after all, God gave me ten of them, but our Adoration chapel has a few rosaries on a hook near the entrance. I decided to use one of those to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet.

Using a chapel rosary (or any rosary belonging to someone else) brings to mind a unique connection that is made through prayer.

What other hands had held that rosary, fingering the beads, counting off prayer intentions, wiping away tears?

What other hearts had prayed the prayers, there in the chapel, laying bare their most secret and fervent desires of the soul?

Was the last person to lift this rosary off that hook a stranger? A friend? A neighbor? My husband?

So many prayers have been prayed on this rosary, in this chapel.

I prayed one extra Memorare for those who have prayed here before me, for those who pray here with me, and for those who will pray here after me.

We are all connected, united, brought together by our prayers on a single string of beads.

Copyright 2016 Barb Szyszkiewicz. All rights reserved.
Copyright 2016 Barb Szyszkiewicz. All rights reserved.

Small Success: Dormitory Tetris

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Thursdays at CatholicMom.com begin with a look at the past week’s Small Successes!

On Friday, I folded down the seats in “Maxine,” my station wagon, and headed over to collect my daughter’s stuff from her college dorm room, using all my Tetris skills to cram a refrigerator, hand truck, foot locker, 3 drawer units, 2 Rubbermaid bins, the Keurig she adopted after I got an Aeropress for Christmas, and assorted smaller items into the car. The doors all closed and I could see out all the windows.

File May 13, 1 27 33 PM

There was a desperate-looking mom parked next to me on move-out day. She had loaded all the soft, squishy-looking (but bulky) things into her small SUV first. Large, structured items littered the sidewalk around her car. I very nearly offered to help her unload the whole thing and start over, but you never know how those suggestions would be taken, so I just made a joke about playing Tetris and got into the car to wait for my daughter. (I’m still wondering if I should have made that offer to help reload her car. Packing is my superpower.)

For the record, “Maxine” was a wise purchase. My old minivan had more cubic feet of space, but it was nowhere near this accessible and usable. The van was nowhere near this stylish or comfortable either. I don’t miss too much about that van.

In my slow-but-steady pursuit of Inbox Zero (AKA the Impossible Dream) I have reduced my inbox to about 1500–less than half of what it was when I started working on it.

This week I’ve made a batch of cookies and a batch of meatballs and sauce and now I’m waiting for a loaf of sourdough bread to rise.

Other than that, it’s been same old, same old, and that’s OK.

Share your Small Successes at CatholicMom.com by joining the linkup in the bottom of today’s post. No blog? List yours in the comments box.

Don’t miss an opportunity to win a signed first edition of Learning to Love with the Saints at my giveaway! Enter now!

On Barb’s Bookshelf: Learning to Love with the Saints Review and Giveaway

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Jean Heimann has blogged at Catholic Fire since 2003, and I think I’ve been reading her blog for almost that long. While she covers a wide range of faith-related topics on her blog, saints have come to be her main focus.

Jean’s blog covers the who, what, when and where of the saints whose lives and example have influenced her. Her new spiritual biography, Learning to Love with the Saints, explores the how and why of those saints’ personal influence on her life. In this book, Jean shares her own surprising and inspiring faith story, tracing a path walked with growing devotion and conviction. Learn how Jean’s life was influenced by the stories of the saints.

Learning to Love with the Saints -- Front Cover 250 x 400

Jean shows how Scripture, prayer, and the example and writings of various saints guided her throughout her life. Jean’s personal and family history is viewed through the lens of faith as she interweaves quotes from the saints and family vignettes. Honestly sharing her struggles and her joys, Jean expresses the hope that her story will draw readers to the Truth and, ultimately, closer to God. As you read this book you will come to see the saints, as Jean does, as “heavenly helpers.”

Would you like to win an autographed first-edition copy of Learning to Love with the Saints?

To be entered to win, simply leave a comment on this post answering the question:

Who’s YOUR go-to saint?

This giveaway will be open through 11:59 PM Wednesday, May 25. Winner will be notified by email and will have 48 hours from the time the email is sent to respond. USA only, please!

Visit the other stops on Jean’s Learning to Love with the Saints Book Tour:

May 13 — Ellen Gable Hrkach at Plot, Line, and Sinker
May 14 — Rosemary Bogdan at A Catholic Mother’s Thoughts (with giveaway!)
May 15 — Carolyn Astfalk at My Scribbler’s Heart Blog (with giveaway!)
May 16 — Lisa Mladinich at Patheos
May 17—Nancy HC Ward at Joy Alive in our Hearts (with giveaway!)
May 18 — Esther Gefroh at A Catholic Mom in Hawaii
May 20–Jeannie Ewing at Love Alone Creates (with giveaway!)
May 21– Patrice Faganant McArthur at Spiritual Woman
May 22 — Melanie Jean Juneau at Association of Catholic Women Bloggers and Joy of Nine
May 23–Virginia Lieto at Virginia Lieto (with giveaway!)
May 24 — Tony Agnesi at Finding God’s Grace in Everyday Life

The Fine Print: Buy this book through my Amazon link and support FranciscanMom.com with your purchase!
I received an advance review copy of this memoir, but no other compensation, for the purpose of this review. Opinions expressed here are mine alone.

Worth Revisit: Personal Best

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Looking back at May 2008 for this one, “Winning Isn’t Everything.”

“I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved his appearing” (2 Tim. 4:7-8).

Yesterday Big Brother’s track team had a meet against a local rival. Big Brother told me last week, “To the captain of the team, this meet is the Super Bowl.” Both teams were undefeated in the local matches, going into this meet.

But Big Brother’s team was handicapped: one of the runners, the captain of the team who competes in at least 3 events per meet, was injured and would not be running. Everyone was sad for him, that he wouldn’t get that last chance to prove his strength against this other team, and for the whole team.

Big Brother was asked to run the 400m hurdles (1/4 mile) even though he has never done this in practice. (He ran the hurdles during one meet earlier this season). He doesn’t feel very confident about this event, since he has never had the chance to practice, but he agreed to do what was asked of him and he did the best he could.

Copyright 2008, All rights reserved.
Copyright 2008, All rights reserved.

Track & field is interesting in that it is uniquely an individual AND team sport. Each individual competes not only to defeat an opponent, but also to achieve a new “personal best.” In addition, points are awarded to the whole team for first-, second- and third-place finishes.

I was really impressed with the spirit and heart the team showed. They knew they were missing one of their key runners, but the whole team was in the stands, making noise, encouraging each other, and when they competed, they all tried their hardest. They didn’t win the meet but they have cause to be proud.

Can we say the same? Do we “fight the good fight” in everything that we do? Do we run our races with all our heart, all our energy, all our strength, with our eyes on the ultimate goal? And if we lost our race, can we do so with dignity, and with renewed resolve that next time we’ll do just a little better than our “personal best?”

worth revisit

I’m linking up with Reconciled to You and Theology is a Verb for #WorthRevisit Wednesday, a place where you can come and bring a past & treasured post to share, and link up with fellow bloggers!

STOP the drive-time grumpies

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It’s no secret that I don’t enjoy driving TheKid to school in the morning when he’s missed the bus.

TheKid misses the bus daily. He doesn’t even try anymore. Hubs doesn’t mind driving him, so it works out for both of them, and Hubs enjoys the time in the car with TheKid.

But then come the days when, for one reason or another, Hubs can’t drive TheKid to school–and I have to. With 10 minutes’ notice.

Today was one of those days.

Mornings are a busy time for me. By 8 AM today I showered, made coffee, prayed, woke TheKid, cooked the bacon, woke TheKid, packed a lunch, woke TheKid, measured bags of popcorn and pretzels for TheKid’s lunches for the rest of the week, tossed in a load of laundry and made a batch of chocolate-chip cookies. I wanted to get that laundry out on the clothesline and make my grocery list before 9:00 Mass. But at 7:45 I found out that I was driving.

That’s at least 20 minutes out of my schedule right there, 10 of which are spent arguing fighting tooth and nail negotiating over the choice of radio station (another point on which Hubs is more flexible than me).

So I was grumpy. Until I reached the corner with the second-last stop light before school.

There’s a crossing guard at that light, and TheKid’s school arrival time is not in sync with the public school’s, so the crossing guard is just waiting around for the next bunch of kids when I reach that intersection.

Photo via Flickr. All rights reserved.
Photo via Flickr. All rights reserved.

He fills the time pointing at drivers, then giving them a thumbs-up as he stands there with his cool mirrored sunglasses, his reflective yellow jacket, and his STOP sign.

In other words, he’s The Fonz, Crossing Guard.

And it’s pretty much impossible to stay grumpy when The Fonz greets you on your way to school.

On Barb’s Bookshelf: Keep Your Kids Catholic

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Exactly whose job is it to teach your children about the Faith? Is it your parish priest’s responsibility? The second-grade catechist? The parochial-school teacher?

While all of these people have a natural hand in passing on the faith to your children, Marc Cardonarella maintains that you are the one who is your child’s primary catechist in his new book, Keep Your Kids Catholic.

keep your kids catholic

I love the subtitle of this book: “Sharing Your Faith and Making It Stick.” Just sharing isn’t enough.

Faith should lead to changed lives and changed behaviors–new life in Christ. Children need other types of formation in addition to education for Christian faith to be sustainable, and parents are the only ones who can provide it (104).

There is one teenager remaining in my household. He was just confirmed two months ago. Now is my chance to examine what I can do better as I strive to pass along the faith, to help him stay Catholic despite the influences he faces from his peers, the media, and adults who don’t always set the best example.

I remember a post-soccer-practice huddle one evening, when Coach announced that he’d rescheduled a rained-out game for the following Sunday morning. My kid spoke up: “Um, we go to church…” and after a few seconds of silence, several other boys chimed in to say the same. Coach found another time to play that game. Now is my chance to make sure he continues to speak up for what is right and begins to take ownership of his life as a Catholic.

I am grateful for the faithful priests and teachers in my son’s life, but Marc Cardonarella’s book drives home the point that I can’t leave it all to them. It is my job to examine the example I set, the conversations I have, the way the faith is lived in my family. Cardonarella shares concrete ways parents can secure their own faith, then structure their lives (and their teens’) to support growth in faith.

The Fine Print:
Your purchase of Keep Your Kids Catholic through my Amazon affiliate link supports Franciscanmom.com!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Ave Maria Press, for the purpose of this review. Opinions expressed here are mine alone and I received no compensation for publishing this review.

#WorthRevisit: Do You Hear what I Hear?

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It’s spring (finally!) though it’s been feeling more like late March than early May. But I’m starting to see neighbors out in their yards, planting gardens, playing with dogs, and hanging up laundry. That means it’s time to think about our tone of voice–and our volume. Let’s revisit this entry from May 2007. For the record, I can still use a lot of work in this department.

Photo via Pixabay (2013) CCO Public Domain.
Photo via Pixabay (2013) CCO Public Domain. Unfortunately, my windows are nowhere near as picturesque as this one.

It’s that “open the windows wide” time of year in my part of the country. And when the windows are open you hear everything that you’ve been insulated from all winter long: the traffic on the main road a couple of blocks away, the freight train 2 miles to the west, music from the passing cars with their windows open, plenty of birdsong, and the neighbors’ loud party after midnight on a Friday night.

Another neighbor and I were commiserating over that party, since we were both woken up by it, and she observed that the people having the party probably didn’t realize just how loud they were, and that sound carries so well in the middle of the night with no competing noise, so that we all could hear exactly what was being said by everyone at the party.

She mentioned that it was a reminder to her that she needs to watch how she speaks when she’s outside, or even in her own home with the windows open, in case someone hears. And I know the feeling. I am much more likely to speak to a family member through clenched teeth in my own home than I am in a public place like a supermarket.

That’s certainly not something I should be proud of, however. An answer through clenched teeth is never going to be remembered for its gentleness.

But I don’t want the motivation for changing my ways to just be a need for company manners: “someone might hear.” What really struck me as I was thinking about this is that Someone will hear. God hears. In 1 Samuel, we read: “for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7) And in Matthew 6:4 Jesus mentions that the Father sees what we do in secret.

The Morning Offering is a good way to start the day. If you have little children they can learn this simple one:

Good morning, dear Jesus, this day is for you.
I offer you all that I think, say, and do. Amen.

“All that I think, say, and do…” If I’m offering all that to God, I’d better do things with a kinder spirit.

worth revisit

I’m linking up with Reconciled to You and Theology is a Verb for #WorthRevisit Wednesday, a place where you can come and bring a past & treasured post to share, and link up with fellow bloggers!