This week, I have four books to share, and three something elses (or would it be else's?). Enjoy!Damosel, by Stephanie SpinnerI've been recommending this book to anyone I can get to stand still and listen to me rave about it ever since I ripped through it about a month ago. My niece Rebecca is probably sick of hearing me talk about it. I knew it would be good after reading Melissa Wiley's interview with the author, so why was I so delighted when it turned out to be even better than I expec... Read Full Story

It's time to salute the small successes of my week and yours too -- join in over at Faith & Family Live.1. I have continued reading the difficult book I started a while back (see #7 on this post). I haven't given in to the temptation to let it gather dust. I haven't picked up anything else. I'm plugging away. It's not that it's a badly written book, mind you, just not what I would have picked for summer reading if I had been, um, paying attention.2. Yesterday, I did what I said I was ... Read Full Story

Today I began the Little Flower Novena. It's also the first day of my two month sabbatical from work.I'm a little...uncomfortable...about this whole sabbatical thing. Oh, it's nice (though expensive). It's a grand opportunity. It's my chance to put my money (literally) where my mouth is...to show God that I do trust Him.All the same, it's scary. I feel like I have closed my eyes and jumped off the cliff, sans parachute or rope. I know God is there. I know God will take care of me and m... Read Full Story

This is part of my adventure in giving my monthly resolutions focus a yearly focus. You can read all of my resolution posts here (scroll down for older posts).Mental Focus: Clearing the clutter through home organizationAt the beginning of the year, I made a plan for which part of my house I would focus on each month. Well, that flopped. Or rather, it changed. Because life is not static, is it? I had to adapt a bit.July marks the beginning of my two month sabbatical from work. I’m going... Read Full Story

...is dinner:Do you garden? My husband is quite the agriculturist; this time of year he's more Farmer Bob than Prince Charming (because Prince Farmer Charming Bob just seems, well, clunky, don't you think?). Every night after dinner, he and the girls go out to the garden to measure the height of the corn, pull the weeds, and, last night, harvest the lettuce.There's irony here. We're not exactly salad people around here. But when we grow the lettuce ourselves, from seed, watching it get a l... Read Full Story

Don't you just love the kitchen table? I've loved mine for years. I inherited it, because I have the only house that fits it. The nook in our kitchen (perhaps called a dining room by fancier sorts, though nothing divides it, really, from the kitchen) that houses our six-foot-long table seems made for it. It's often my favorite writing place, maybe because I have lovely memories of different kitchen tables.Our kitchen table is home to art projects and dinner parties, folding fests and dumpi... Read Full Story

It's Friday and I don't have a cute little theme this week, so I'll do these quick takes the random way, with discussion questions thrown in for good measure. :)--1--I have a sunburn, and I'm happy about it. Yes, you read that right. I spent three hours with my nieces, nephew, and oldest daughter at a fabulous local swimming hole yesterday, and I have a sunburn to remind me of my younger days growing up at a camp. Where did you grow up, and did you get sunburned?--2--Last week, my husband... Read Full Story

You might have gathered that I enjoyed Joseph Langford's Mother Teresa: In the Shadow of Our Lady. (As if the daily quotes and reflections didn't tip you off!) It won't surprise you, then, to find out that my Mary Moment on this week's Catholic Moments podcast has to do with an image from the book, that of holding Mary's hand throughout my day.While you're at it, listen to the entire episode -- Deacon Tom has the last in this month's series of Deacon Moments about marriage and Lisa has a gr... Read Full Story

It has been an important exercise for me to look at what I've done right each week -- however small or seemingly insignificant. Those small successes add up, after all!Here's my list for the week:1. I went to the dentist (first time in two years or so). Yay for no cavities! (There is an abscessed tooth, though...) Yay for getting off my duff! (or getting on my duff, as the case may be)2. Over the weekend, I used the scheduler feature to line up some posts. Then this week hit, and I have... Read Full Story

Mother Teresa taught her Sisters and co-workers that Our Lady’s was a presence that helps us to see through the darkness, a presence that consoles and sustains us when we are weak, a presence that reminds us of the cry of her Son when we are forgetting him or following the voice of ego. Reflecting on the strength she found in this Marian milieu, Mother Teresa coined a short prayer that she taught her Sisters: “Keep us in your most pure heart.” She was convinced that in this sacred place, al... Read Full Story