Through My "I"s

Lawn Chair Catechism Announcement!

2013-05-25T00:33:00.000-04:00

We're hosting the "Lawn Chair Catechism" at CatholicMom.com on Wednesdays this summer, beginning on May 29. We're using Forming Intentional Disciples, by Sherry Weddell, as the basis for our study.

We have put together a discussion guide that includes both the executive summary of each chapter and discussion questions, and a two-page discussion question-only download.We'd love to have you participate!

You do not have to read the book to participate.

Our Sunday Visitor is offering the book for the incredibly low price of $10 through June 8, with free shipping. After June 8 and through the conclusion of our study, they'll be offering free shipping.

You can find all the information on the Lawn Chair Catechism page at CatholicMom.com.

I will be participating and hope to see you there!
Alicia

Book Review: Encyclopedia of US Catholic History

2013-05-24T00:01:00.000-04:00

In my home, I have a shelf of Catholic reference books. On it I have a couple of different Bibles, my Catechism, the US Catechism for Catholic Adults, an Oxford Dictionary of Popes, a few books over viewing Catholic Saints, a bunch of spiritual books that I have read and decided I may need to read again, and now… an Encyclopedia of US Catholic History. This is something all US Catholics should have on their reference shelves at home.

What is inside the Encyclopedia? Well, for starters every single diocese in the US is in this book, along with the names and dates for every bishop who has led that diocese. Every American saint is also located in this work with a brief overview of information about him/her. Famous American Catholics like John F Kennedy and Flannery O’Connor have also been showcased. If that’s not enough, this book also includes some popes and how they influenced American history, many of the Catholic organizations that can be found in America, and an overview of each religious order found in the US. Almost 1,000 pages of information is presented, making this book a perfect reference tool for all Catholics in the US.

My personal feelings about this book are all positive. I love that this book can be read from cover to cover, with the reader finding out almost everything there is to know about the history of Catholicism in the US or you can pick this book up at any time and look up pertinent information. I think this book would be a great addition to a homeschooling history curriculum, using the information inside to connect secular US history to Catholic US history. I recommend that this book be the next one you buy for your Catholic resource shelf at home!

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 Encyclopedia of U.S. Catholic History. The Catholic Company is the best resource for all your seasonal needs such as First Communion gifts as well as ideas and gifts for the special papal Year of Faith.

Book Review: A Woman's Guide to Reading the Bible in a Year

2013-05-22T00:01:00.000-04:00

I have never read the entire Bible. I have read bits and pieces but there are books of the Bible that I honestly have never even read the first verse from. I know it is a sad thing to admit but it is the truth and it is also the reason that I wanted to read A Woman’s Guide to Reading the Bible in a Year. I figured that I could review the book and then continue to follow along and journey through reading my entire Bible in the span of only 365 days.

Needless to say, my plans did not match up with my reality and I realized that for a mother of three who works full-time and attends school full-time and who writes online articles and book reviews and who enjoys recreational reading and is involved in other activities, that reading the Bible in a year is probably not a good goal for me. Reading the Bible in, say, three years, may be a more realistic goal.

With that all said, I suppose I should begin my actual review, huh? Well, this book has a beautiful cover and is a welcoming read, making you want to dive in and begin your study. The book is created to be a guide and also a journal to log your experiences as you read through your Bible. The book touts to be a good choice for individual and group study but after reviewing the book, I found that it would be better suited for group study although I do plan to use it for my own personal study as I attempt to read through my Bible at a slower pace.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Adventures in Odyssey FREE podcasts!

2013-05-20T22:22:00.000-04:00

Last week I posted about the ACTS challenge and the awesome giveaways that I will be participating in this summer but didn't have a chance to tell you about Adventures in Odyssey.

If you are unfamiliar with AIO, you are missing out. Adventures in Odyssey is a radio program for kids that teaches moral stories in a way that children will pay attention. The best part of all is that AIO is available for free in podcast form!

Just click here to head to the podcast page and start listening today!

Book Review: Candles in the Dark

2013-05-17T00:01:00.000-04:00

From the Reggae Priest to the Ghetto Priest, Father Richard Ho Lung's vocation has never been a boring one. He began his life in Jamaica, the son of two Chinese Buddhist immigrants. His parents later converted to Catholicism and, at the age of ten, Richard Ho Lung became a Catholic, too. He went on to become a priest, a list-topping pop music artist, and most importantly, the founder of the Missionaries of the Poor, a brotherhood that cares for the poorest of the poor in Jamaica and around the world. Fr. Ho Lung owns nothing yet his radiant smile proves that his work with the unwanted and unloved is all he needs to feel joyful in Christ.

Although Father Ho Lung has been referred to as a "male Mother Teresa", he considers his ministry different from the Missionaries of Charity. He wanted the brothers to build communities where the people cared for one another as opposed to Mother Teresa's ministry of caring for the sick and dying. He is also very adamant about evangelization, not shying away from telling people that they need to attend the Catholic Church.

Reading this book was tremendously inspirational to me. I have a special place in my heart for children with special needs so reading the stories about Father Ho Lung and the work he does with the handicapped children really touched my heart. Also, the humility of Father Ho Lung is inspirational as well. The Missionaries of the Poor own nothing. Everything they have is brought to them through donations and everything they buy goes to those that they serve. This is an amazing story.

Candles in the Dark by Joseph Pierce is the second book I've read by this author and I must admit that I plan to purchase more of his books in the future. He has a way with words where, as the reader, I am reading an intellectual piece of literature but feel as if I am reading a novel. The words flow and everything makes sense to me. I not only recommend Candles in the Dark but I recommend that you check out other work by this author as well.

For more information about Father Richard Ho Lung and the Missionaries of the Poor , watch this wonderful hour-long interview with Father Mitch Pacwa:

I received this book free of charge in exchange for my honest review from Saint Benedict Press/ TAN books.

Summer of Service Launch Party Announcement

2013-05-13T00:01:00.000-04:00

I am really excited to announce to my readers that I will be participating in the Summer of Service ACTS blog tour this summer! Each month this summer I will have something exciting to share with you directly from Adventures in Odyssey and I will be hosting two giveaways that you will not want to miss!

What is the ACTS challenge?

ACTS stands for A Call To Service and it is a challenge to encourage kids to act selflessly and start serving others. Participants can stop by a participating Christian bookstore and pick up a service log, or if you’re like me and live too far away from a participating location, you can download a free printable service log at the ACTS site! At the end of summer, kids can record and upload a short video telling how they serve and why they’d like to become an Adventures in Odyssey Ambassador.

Why should my family participate?

First, there are some awesome prizes: 100 winners will get the brand new AIO Album, and after online voting, 2 grand prize winners will get to travel on an exciting Good-Goers Mission Based Adventure trip to another country with a parent. The destination will be announced on a live podcast May 22!

Secondly and most importantly, serving is one of the most important things we can do as Christians and it is something we need to instill in our children at an early age. We should take to heart the words of Pope Francis in his homily on April 21, 2013: “Keep always before your eyes the example of the Good Shepherd who came not to be served but to serve, and to seek out and save what was lost”. This ACTS challenge will be a great way to begin to reinforce the idea in our children this summer!

What can we do to get started?

First, check and see if there is a participating Christian bookstore near you and get a service log or print one from home. Next, check out these awesome summer service ideas for kids to see if there's anything that motivates you to get started and listen to this free mp3 download, "The Business of Busyness". Finally, get out and get started! Don't forget to listen on May 22 to the live podcast for more information about the mystery destination and check back here often for some great giveaways and more service ideas!

Have a wonderful day!

Alicia

Book Review and Giveaway!! This Little Light of Mine

2013-05-08T00:01:00.000-04:00

I’ve mentioned before that when I became a Catholic in 2006, I had no real religious foundation at all. I was completely new to “religion” in general so when I first became a Catholic mom, I immediately began searching for resources to help me to instill my new-found faith in my children.

Since then I have found a few good resources but useful sources are still hard to come by. When I started reading This Little Light of Mine: Living the Beatitudes, I knew instantly that this small book was going to be placed on my shelf with my other Catholic parenting books for future reference. As a matter of fact, I am planning to use it this summer with my boys to continue their faith formation while religious ed classes are out.

The title of this book is a little deceiving. This book not only covers the beatitudes but also covers all of the Ten Commandments. Also, you may be thinking this book is only for families with young children but, in fact, this book can be used for families with children of all ages or no children at all! Each chapter covers the specified subject for the adult first, then for children, and then there is a “just live it” section for adults and children to get out and use the information gained in a practical way.

This little book is jam-packed with information and ideas. I love that it is small and only takes a few minutes to complete a chapter, making it perfect for family use since children hate to sit still for too long. The practical ideas at the end of the chapters are perfect for my kinesthetic boys, two of whom have ADHD and learn better by doing.

I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in simple ways of increasing their faith. Whether you are a mom of several children or a single woman with no children, this book is for you!

You can also win your very own copy of This Little Light of Mine: Living the Beatitudes by leaving your email address or Facebook address below! I will use random.org to choose a name on May 15!

Book Review: An Unholy Communion

2013-04-26T00:01:00.000-04:00

I love a good mystery. Among my favorite mystery/suspense authors are Agatha Christie and Mary Higgins Clark because of their panache for placing twists in just the right spot so I never know who to suspect. There is something about ending a long day curled up with my light blanket and a good mystery that helps me to unwind from all the stress and to wrap my mind up in the make believe world inside the pages of the book I am reading and I am always on the lookout for a new great mystery/suspense author, especially one who writes wholesome fiction that is not riddled with sexual innuendos and foul language. In comes Donna Fletcher Crow.

An Unholy Communion is a Christian novel based on the Anglican religion and is set in Wales. The main character, Felicity, is an American country girl who is studying abroad and has a tendency to find herself involved in solving murders. This time, it is a Deliverance Minister who is visiting her college who finds his untimely death at her feet on Ascension morning. Although Felicity tries to flee from involvement, she finds herself mixed up in solving the murder along with her fiancé, Father Antony.

This book was truly a great mystery and had me guessing throughout the entire book. It was full of twists and turns and I learned a great deal of new information about the occult and spiritual warfare as well. The author most definitely did a lot of research and, although this book is a work of fiction, has included much fact in here so that it is not only a fun read but also a learning experience. I think this book would be a good choice for a teenager to adult because it is a clean and wholesome book. I highly recommend that you place this book on your summer reading list!

Links to visit:

Donna Fletcher Crow's Blog

I received this book free of charge in exchange for my honest review!

Book Review: Rescuing Hope

2013-04-22T10:40:00.000-04:00

This book sucked me in within the first few paragraphs with the engaging nature of the plot. The book continued along this path, making me want to keep reading to see what happens to the dear main character, fourteen year old, Hope Ellis. First Hope is abandoned by her father, then she is raped, and then she is sucked in by a smooth-talking pimp. It seems like all hope is gone for a girl like Hope but true love in Christ never ends and Hope finds this out. I wish the author could have taken a little more time on the ending so that it was not so clean and easy and maybe made the book a bit longer so that she could add more detail to the ending. Other than that, this book was first rate and one that all teenage girls need to read this summer!

After reading this book it is no surprise that the author, Susan Norris is an international speaker who helps teens and women find freedom in the area of sexual purity and has worked directly with victims of sex trafficking. This book was well written and some of the information presented could only be known by someone who has been on the inside or who has spoken with someone who has. Overall, this book is an inspirational look at what we can accomplish if we work together to eradicate the evil of sex trafficking beginning in our own country and moving throughout the world.

For More Information:

Book Review: Lenten Reflections

2013-04-21T20:44:00.001-04:00

I know I am super late posting this review considering that Lent has passed but I have had some personal issues and am running a little behind in my posting. Also, I had planned to try using this book as my Lenten devotional this year so that I could give the review from the perspective of someone who was attempting to actually put it into practice.

I must begin by admitting that I am a die-hard Scot Hahn fan. Before I entered into the fullness of the Catholic Church, I began attending a Bible study in our parish after Mass on Sundays and we studied “The Lamb’s Supper”. I was not only new to the Catholic faith but new to religion in general so it was a really deep study for me but totally eye opening and has made me a fan of Dr. Hahn’s work. I have never read A Father Who Keeps His Promises so I thought this book would be a great choice in that it would serve as my Lenten devotional and also give me a taste of a Dr. Hahn book I haven’t read.

The book begins with an Ash Wednesday reflection- there are no dates so this book can be used during any liturgical cycle- and it begins with an overview of God’s Master Plan. This is followed by the Creation story, moving all the way through the Bible to Easter Week covering the covenant between God and his Bride, the Church. Each chapter has a Bible verse, a reflection from the book A Father Who Keeps His Promises, a question to encourage further reflection, and a prayer. All of this can be read and accomplished within five minutes or extended into a Holy Hour depending on how the reader uses the information presented, making this book a great option for almost anyone.

Are you interested to know how I did with keeping up with my devotional this year? Well, last year I gave up something for Lent and also completed a devotional but didn’t do as well with the devotional as I would have liked. This year, on the other hand, I didn’t give up something, per se, but decided to read as much as I could from the Vatican II documents as possible during Lent. Trying to read all of that information and also keep up with a devotional was too much, especially when I ended up in the hospital for stress related symptoms and now found out that my dad has cancer. So, I will keep this book on my shelf and read it again next Lent, hopefully sticking with it better than I did this year!

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 Lenten Reflections. The Catholic Company is the best resource for all your seasonal needs such as First Communion gifts as well as ideas and gifts for the special papal Year of Faith.

Book Review: Lead Your Family Like Jesus

2013-04-06T20:52:00.000-04:00

Lead Your Family Like Jesus by well-known authors Ken Blanchard, Phil Hodges, and Tricia Goyer is a roadmap for parents who are unsure where to go next in the Christian parenting journey. Whether your children are young or old, you have probably come to a point at one time or another where you wanted to throw your hands up in frustration because you just didn't know where to turn. Well, turn to Jesus.

Using the New Testament portrayal of Jesus as the model, the three authors each take their own perspective of the four most important parts of the ministry of Jesus- the Heart, the Head, the Hands, and the Habits. Ranging from a once-teenage single mom to a father of non-believing children, the authors make up the range of parents that represent real parents like me and you. They are not picture perfect models of faith, standing in a pulpit preaching down to the reader. They are like a friend, a father, a favorite preacher, offering encouragement and letting the reader know that they were once in the trenches too.

This book was a joy to read. I love that there were many anecdotes and there was a lot of new material presented. Some of the information was things that I already knew but wished that I could share with other parents (like not allowing your child to control you!) and now I have a great way to share that information- by gifting a copy of this book!

Each chapter has at least one pause and reflect section, making this book ideal for group study. I think this would be a perfect choice for a parents book club. There are also some practical suggestions that I began implementing immediately. I think that you should grab a copy of this book, especially if you are looking for some help in the parenting department!

Some useful links:
Lead your Family Like Jesus Website
Tyndale Rewards

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity and Tyndale Publishers for offering this book to me free of charge in exchange for my honest review!

Review: Band Angels

2013-03-21T19:59:00.000-04:00

The Band Angels story is a simple one. Grandparents Tim and Tami West were comforting their four year old granddaughter who had juvenile diabetes one night when they started talking about how they wished there were a way to teach her about the Promises of God through the bandages that she repeatedly used.

Now, we are blessed with the ability to share those very promises with our children through Band Angels!

Band Angels is a wonderful way to share God's word with children and also to comfort them when they are hurting. The little angels are adorable and the scripture verses are easy enough for children to memorize. These bandages also stick tightly to the skin so they do not fall off during regular play and routine hand washing but remove fairly painlessly. The quality is excellent!

I think that Band Angels should be added to your last-minute Easter basket gifts and are a definite must-have for those summer scrapes and cuts. Grab a box today!

Additional information:

http://www.bandangels.net

www.facebook.com/bandangels

I was given a box of Band Angels free of charge in exchange for my honest review!

Book Review: The Return Of Cassandra Todd

2013-03-09T17:16:00.000-05:00

Wow! Darrel Nelson is a prolific fiction writer and I am honored to have the chance to review his second book. His first book, The Anniversary Waltz, stuck with me for days and his newest release, The Return of Cassandra Todd was no different.

The book begins with a woman who is running away from some situation, what it is is not clear at the beginning. The plot then moves to a handyman college student, Turner Caldwell who is also running from something (or someone)- God.

The two end up meeting and Turner realizes that this woman is Cassandra Todd, a girl he had a crush on in high school. Her bully boyfriend used to relentlessly pick on Turner and he never really got over the pain. Seeing Cassandra brings back the pain of the past.

Soon the two find themselves becoming re-acquainted and both must face what they have been running from. In a twisting plot of unpredictable situations and realistic characters, Nelson keeps readers on the edge of their seats while entertaining them all the way through the book!

This book is a must-read! I love Nelson's literary style and the characters are so believable. The little boy in the book is so much like a real little boy that I sometimes had trouble remembering that this was a work of fiction. I also love that his books are Christian but are not so Christian that they would turn off a non-Christian reader. This allows the Holy Spirit to work in the hearts of non-Christians who may just be reading the book for the wonderful story.

Book Review: Homegrown Faith

2013-03-01T17:31:00.000-05:00

When I read the title and synopsis of this book I was under the impression that it was a book of ideas and practical advice for raising a Catholic family. I was surprised to open the book and see that it is a devotional book of anecdotes. Although I am not particularly a fan of devotionals, this one had the workings of a good devotional but missed the mark. It was harder to navigate than it was worth. For example, the book is divided into liturgical seasons and begins with Advent. Instead of labeling the chapters "1st week of Advent... 2nd week of Advent... etc" they are just named after whatever topic they cover, leading it to be a confusing mess if you are like me and are planning to follow along with the liturgical calendar.

With all of that said, the book has some pleasant stories that are well-written and fun to read. The stories come from a mom who has definitely spent some time in the trenches and knows what it's like to raise up a Catholic family. I enjoyed the "Growing Spiritually This Week" section at the end of each chapter as well. This section has four practical ideas that you can implement immediately after reading the section of the week. I think it would make for a great mom book/ Bible study. As I said earlier, I love the idea of having a Catholic devotional that goes along with the liturgical calendar but I just didn't like the way this one was implemented. If the author could fix it so that there are dates or at least some benchmark feast days to kind of keep the reader on track, this book would be a perfect devotional. Overall, though, I think this book is worth putting out the cash to purchase for your Catholic home library.

I received this book free of charge from Tiberriver.com reviewer program in exchange for my honest review!

Book Review: Fear, Faith, and a Fistful of Chocolate

2013-02-15T16:45:00.002-05:00

Debora Coty has a writing personality that is rare to find in the world of Christian publishing. When reading her work, it is like your best friend is talking to you through the pages of a book. Fear, Faith, and a Fistful of Chocolate is a book like no other. Coty tackles the most common fears among Christian women in a way that makes the reader want to try whatever she suggests. She goes through each fear, citing scripture and telling wonderful stories to bring the point home, always leaving the reader feeling like she can overcome whatever comes her way.

I loved this book, from the pink pages to the convenient size. I had fun reading the stories and could relate to the anecdotes throughout the book. I was motivated to memorize some Scripture to have at the ready in case I ever have an emergency need. As much as I loved all of these things, my favorite part of the book is the acronyms that Coty uses to make her ideas easier to learn and apply. Who would think a Christian book would have an acronym BARF to teach anti-anxiety techniques? (by the way, BARF stands for back off, admit, redirect, and forgive). I think these acronyms are cute and memorable and only go to show that this author is fun, funny, and knowledgeable. I definitely recommend this book to all Christian women and I think it would be a fun choice for a book study.

I received a copy of this book free of charge in exchange for my honest review!

Book Review: Unbreakable

2013-02-15T16:14:00.002-05:00

After reading and reviewing Nancy Mehl’s “Bonnet Book” novel, Inescapable in July, I knew I had to get my hands on her second book in the Road to Kingdom series, Unbreakable. I was elated when I was chosen to also review this book!

Hope Kauffman is a loyal Mennonite who runs a quilt shop in the town of Kingdom. The novel begins with Hope engaged to a shy boy named Ebbie Miller. Although Hope likes Ebbie, he doesn’t make her feel the tingles of lust that she feels for another Mennonite boy, Jonathon Weise. This leaves Hope in a quandary- should she continue her engagement with Ebbie or begin a relationship with Jonathon.

In addition to Hope’s love triangle, there is real danger lurking in Kingdom when violence against Christians shows up in the Mennonite town. This begins a debate between the townspeople about whether or not they should use violence in order to protect loved ones. In a roller coaster ride of emotions, Hope and fellow residents of Kingdom must decide where they stand before the violence escalates…

I was intrigued with Nancy Mehl’s way of bringing suspense into a seemingly peaceful setting such as a Mennonite town when I read “Inescapable”. She uses this same talent to spin another tale of romance and suspense with “Unbreakable”. I read this book fairly quickly because it is face paced and unpredictable.

There are enough turns in the plot to keep it interesting but simple enough to follow the storyline with ease. I highly recommend this book to all lovers of Bonnet Books!

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for my honest review!

Book Review: Wake Up Generation!

2013-02-11T16:30:00.000-05:00

As soon as I saw the last name on the newest release from Harvest House, I immediately wondered if the author was related to Stormie Omartian. Lo and behold, Paige Omartian is Stormie’s young daughter in law. Left with huge shoes to fill, Paige hit the ball out of the ballpark in her newest work, Wake Up Generation: You have a life… how will you use it?.

As a cancer survivor and devout Christian, this 21 year old recording artist has a lot to say about living a full life- and she says it well. The book is aimed toward the younger generation, giving them the encouragement they need to step out and become more that “just a teenager” and become a real part of the body of Christ. In addition to encouragement, Omartian offers the young adult the tools necessary to begin living a full Christian life. The book is so chock full of information, Bible verses, discussion questions, and real life stories

that I found my 31 year old self engrossed and motivated to make some changes.

This book would be perfect for a youth group book club or gift. I think it would be engaging and a great springboard for deep discussions about the faith life and transitioning into a Christian adult. I think this book is appropriate for older teens, about 16 and older. It would even be beneficial to the older young adult who is searching for a way to deepen his or her faith.

Christian Valentine's Day Ideas!

2013-02-04T10:41:00.000-05:00

One of the most fun days of the year is Valentine's Day. As a child, I remember the joy of trading little cards and candy with my classmates. Now that I am an adult, mom, and preschool teacher, I enjoy looking at all of the great ideas that are available for creating a Valentine's Day to remember. Today I am showcasing all of the creative Christian Valentine's Day ideas!

Check out these Saint Valentine Bookmarks, Holy Cards, and other fun printables @Sanctus Simplicitus

One of my favorite Catholic bloggers, Catholic Icing has an adorable Saint Valentine Bag Puppet to share (also check out her free e-book for subscribers to her blog!)

Or... what about these adorable printable Bible Verse Valentines that I used for my Religious Ed class last year, also from Catholic Icing?

How about teaching kids some Bible Verses with these Love Bible Verses for Kids complete with an envelope to store them in from the Crafty Classroom?

Want MORE printable valentines? How about some that are specifically for Catholics? Ahh... these Printable Catholic Valentine's may be my Religious Ed Valentine's this year...

Have you seen the Happy Saints?? They are the cutest representation of Catholic Saints that I have ever seen! Well, Equipping Catholic Families used the Happy Saints to create some really cute "Saint" Valentine's Day Cards!

Who doesn't love conversation hearts?? They taste like chalk you say? Really?? Well, I love them, especially when they have a Christian twist like this God's Conversation Hearts craft!

I hope you have fun with these adorable printable Valentine's Day ideas! Check back soon for my general Valentine's Day round up!

Opening my Eyes to the Grief of Abortion

2013-02-03T18:37:00.004-05:00

This post was originally posted at http://newevangelizers.com/blog/2013/02/01/opening-my-eyes-to-the-grief-of-abortion/

Opening My Eyes to the Grief of Abortion

As I write this, there are many people marching the streets across the U.S. in opposition of the anniversary of the death sentence for unborn children, Rowe v. Wade. Over 250,000 people storm Washington, DC annually to protest abortion in hopes that one day this law will be reversed.
The Catholic Church has had a longtime stance of being pro-life, even opposing the use of contraception. In addition, the Church understands the grief that a post-abortive parent can feel and offers support through a ministry called Rachel’s Vineyard.
Being a pro-lifer myself, I didn’t really understand the scope of the feelings of some post-abortive women until I had to experience some intense suffering myself.
Within a few weeks, I first found out I was expecting my fourth child and then lost him or her to miscarriage. Not only did I lose the life of my child, but I had subsequent medical issues that forced me to have to undergo a D&C.
While on the gurney, awaiting surgery, God opened my eyes to the experience of a woman who may have chosen abortion. There were things that I had taken for granted that a woman awaiting abortion did (does) not have.
She did not have a full medical staff on call, including a familiar doctor but was left in a cold room with a doctor and a nurse that she did not know.
She was not put to sleep but remained awake while her child was mutilated and sucked from her body.
She may not have had her mother and husband waiting on her when she was wheeled out after her operation but may have had to catch a bus or drive herself home from the clinic.
Although it is true that procured abortion is ultimately chosen by the mother, she is still a mother. She must forever count that baby as a “pregnancy” when asked on medical questionnaires. It has even been thought that she may actually hold some of her child’s DNA in her body after it is no longer in the womb. She can still suffer from post-partum depression. And on top of it all, she may suffer from the excruciating guilt of knowing that she ended the life of her child.
Women who have had abortions need the support of understanding and forgiving Christians like those that are found in the Catholic Church. Instead of only being known as the Church who opposes abortion, we should be known as the Church who respects life, including the life of the post-abortive mother who knew no other way. We must love her with the love of Jesus and open her eyes to the evil of abortion and the forgiveness that lies inside the Catholic Church.
Visit Rachel’s Vineyard for post-abortive support.

Book Review: Walking with Bilbo

2013-01-12T18:20:00.000-05:00

Walking with Bilbo by Sarah Arthur is a devotional packed with 22 chapters of anecdotes straight out of the life of Bilbo Baggins, the fictional main character in the book, The Hobbit. Each chapter has a story from The Hobbit or Lord of the Rings and then an anecdote from real life to connect it together. There are also Going Further Questions to connect the reader’s life with the devotion. At the end of each chapter, there is a section called “The Word on ______” which includes a few Bible verses to look up that pertain to the topic of that day’s devotion.

This book is written by an author who has written books devoted to youth in the past so I knew that this book was most likely aimed at youth. I think it is a decent devotional for the late high school/early college age group but it would probably not be my first choice unless he/she is a big time Tolkien fan. Unfortunately this book is not appropriate for the middle school crowd who has read The Hobbit as required reading for school. My soon-to-be 13 year old son would have been a perfect candidate but I felt the book was aimed at an older age group.

All in all this book is a nice devotional and takes the reader on a non-threatening journey through the virtues. The book is sensitive to Catholic readers (since Tolkien was a devoted Catholic himself) and would be appropriate for both Catholic and non-Catholic Christians. If the intended reader has not read The Hobbit and Lord of The Rings (or at least seen the movie) first, this is probably a book he/she would rather skip.

I was provided a copy of this book free of charge from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review and Giveaway: The Lesson

2013-01-05T09:50:00.000-05:00

"The Lesson" by Suzanne Woods Fisher is another installment in the Stoney Ridge Series. In this book, Mary Kate Lapp, better known as MK, is the main character. She is becoming a young woman and is still wandering around, trying to figure out what she plans to do with her life. After another run-in with her former teacher, MK finds herself teaching school. This book chronicles MK growing from a girl into a woman and, like MK herself, is full of adventure.

I've read a few books by Suzanne Woods Fisher in the past, including the book before this one in the series, "The Haven" and have been engrossed in each one. "The Lesson" was no different. The book was full of adventure and was a very fun read. Near the end of the book, there is a situation that comes up and I was a little disappointed that it was resolved a little too simply but other than that, this book was great. I think the Stoney Ridge Series books would be great for teenagers as well as adults.

Check out more information here:
A List of Suzanne Woods Fishers Books
Suzanne Woods Fishers Official Site
My Review of "Life With Lily", a children's book

Celebrate the release of The Lesson with Suzanne Woods Fisher by entering to win one of TWO iPads!



Two winners will receive:




A brand new iPad


A $15 gift certificate to iTunes


Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on January 20th. Winner will be announced on 1/22/13 at Suzanne's Blog.





Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.

Holy Name of Jesus Craft

2013-01-04T09:29:00.000-05:00

January is the month dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus with the actual feast day falling on January 3 this year. It is celebrated in January because eight days after the birth of Jesus, he would have been circumcised and his name would have been announced. There are hundreds of names and symbols that we, as Catholic Christians use to identify Jesus and January is a month in which we can give special praise to Him for being our Savior, Redeemer, Protector, and sweet Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

This craft, celebrating the Holy Name of Jesus combines the actual name “Jesus” with a picture of Jesus serving the first Eucharist. It is a simple craft that children of all ages will enjoy.

Items Needed:

· Holy Name of Jesus Printable (click here)

· Photograph of Jesus printed as full page:

· Paper cutter or scissors and ruler

· Glue

· 2 pieces of construction paper taped together lengthwise

First, cut the photograph and the name of Jesus as closely to 8 inches wide as possible. Then stack them on top of one another and cut into 1 inch strips, keeping them together. You can number the strips at this point but I found it was easy to piece together as long as I kept the name piece with the photo piece.

Spread glue all over the construction paper and begin piecing the strips onto the construction paper, keeping the bottom of the strips even with the bottom of the construction paper. Begin with the name strip and then place the photo strip that is stacked with it. Repeat with the next set of strips until all of the strips have been placed.

Finally, cut off the excess construction paper at the end of the artwork and you are finished!

Book Review: Wrapped Up

2012-12-29T09:46:00.003-05:00

There is beginning to be an abundance of books written with the Catholic woman in mind. Sometimes I wonder if there can really be too much of a good thing. I mean, can I really read five different books on the subject of womanhood and not get completely bored with them? Yes, I can!

I just finished reading Wrapped Up: God’s Ten Gifts for Women and I must admit that I was wary of choosing yet another book about Catholic womanhood when I chose to review this book. I chose it because the authors are Teresa Tomeo and Cheryl Dickow, two prolific Catholic writers who happen to be strong Christian women. I am so glad that I decided to read this book!

The book has ten chapters, each one dedicated to one gift from God. Each chapter is then broken into two sub-chapters: Timeless Truths and Timely Truths. Timeless Truths are written by Cheryl Dickow and she takes the gift and illustrates how it was modeled by a Biblical woman. Timely Truths are written by Teresa Tomeo and show the Catholic woman how to embrace this gift in the real world. Each sub-chapter begins with a quote and ends with a mantra or takeaway that the reader can meditate upon after reading.

I thought that this book was a creative approach to celebrating womanhood and offering a fresh perspective on what it means to be a real woman in the 21^st century. We can take those timeless truths- the ones that God teaches us in the Bible- and transfer them into our everyday lives using the approach found in this lovely book. If you are not a fan of books that require the reader to begin a journal or to look up Bible passages, this is a great book for you. This is a simple, yet effective book that does not require a lot of extra time to get the most out of it. The best approach to this book would be to read a chapter (or sub-chapter) and then meditate upon the “Takeaway” at the end.

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 Wrapped Up - God's Ten Gifts for Women. The Catholic Company has great gift ideas for all seasons of the liturgical year, be sure to check out their Advent selection and Catholic Christmas Gifts.

Book Review: Midnight in Aisle 7

2012-12-26T19:38:00.000-05:00

Midnight in Aisle 7 by Jay Lowder presents itself as a book of stories about how God has placed His hand upon people and the impact it has made on their lives. After reading the book, though, I think it is more of a book about how He has touched the life of Jay Lowder.

Lowder has been through it all. He suffered from depression as a teen and has been into the party scene. He is no stranger to adversity but presents a story of a man who wants to share the love he found in Jesus with the rest of the world. He meets people in his everyday life and listens to the urge of Jesus to takes the opportunity to get to know them. In the end, the person is not only touched because of the message of love and salvation that Jay offers them through Jesus, but he is also touched by their lives.

As I mentioned previously, I was expecting almost a “Chicken Soup” sort of book when I agreed to read and review this book. I was a little disappointed when I began reading the book but soon found myself embraced by the stories and I couldn’t put the book down. I find it amazing that one man has so many stories to share but I can see that he listened to the urgings of the Holy Spirit to step out and make a move countless times. This book is not as warm and fuzzy as most books of this nature. It will make you laugh, cry, and gasp at times because Lowder is writing about real life. This book is very inspiring and makes me want to take more time to listen to the Holy Spirit’s promptings in my own life.

Book Review: Where God Finds You GIVEAWAY!!!!!

2012-12-18T00:01:00.000-05:00

I don’t know about you, but I tend to have trouble with devotionals. I’ve purchased some wonderful devotionals that I start off reading each night and slowly become bored and finally give up on them. I like to be engaged and sometimes, after a long day at work or dealing with cranky kids, I don’t have the mental capacity to truly meditate on the devotions as they were intended. This leads to feelings of guilt and I become so overwhelmed that the devotional sits on my side table, never to be opened again.

Where God Finds You by Anita Higman is a true solution to the problem of boring devotionals! Open up this devotional and you will find Bible stories for adults. Each character of the Bible receives a name and background story even when the Bible does not supply it. Higman combines background information about Biblical characters, Bible texts, and a little imagination, and creates a devotional that pulls the ancient text into the modern world and is sure to please.

The reason I have fallen so hard for this devotional is because of the creativity of writing Bible stories for the adult reader. I am a very creative person and I find that most devotionals are one-dimensional and often call for the reader to have quite an extensive background in Bible reading where this devotional is appropriate for the new Christian to the life-long Jesus-follower. There are questions at the end of each devotion to take the reader further and this book is perfect for reading during quiet snatches of time for the busy mom, student, or anyone who is interested in growing in his or her understanding of the historical figures in the Bible.

This book (and the Giveaway copy!) were provided to me free of charge in exchange for my honest review.

Would you like to win a copy for yourself? Leave a comment below before December 25^th for a chance to win! (please include your email address so I can contact you if you win!)

More info can be found here:

Anita Higman's Website

Purchase Where God Finds You: 40 Devotions Bringing Bible Characters to Life on Amazon!

Update: The winner of the book is commenter #3!