Pondering

“We have placed in our care for a few short years precious immortal souls who belong to God, whose destiny is an eternity in and with God, and who depend entirely upon us for the formation of a way of life which will lead them surely to God. And woe to us if we fail…

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Eastertide Daybook

I am listening to… Bernadette is playing music from the Lord of the Rings on her violin. She spends about an hour each morning playing her violin. First, she practices and then she has fun, playing and picking out pieces that she has heard at Mass, on a CD, the radio or in a movie. Listening to…

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These are a Few of My Favorite Catholic Books

Spiritual Guidelines for Souls Seeking God

Recently, I was speaking with another mother about good (maybe, I should say great) Catholic books. There are some real gems available that can help us to grow in our Faith. Some of these excellent Catholic books include: Great Wives and Mothers by Fr. Hugh Francis Blunt This is my favorite book about various female…

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2011 Read Alouds

Alvin Fernald, Foreign Trader by Clifford B. Hicks Alvin Fernald, Mayor for a Day by Clifford B. Hicks Banner in the Sky by James Ramsey Ullman Dog Training for Kids by Carol Lea Benjamin Once upon a Time Saints and More Once Upon a Time Saints by Ethel Pochocki Petite Suzanne by Marguerite de Angeli Secret…

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2011 Personal Reading

The Art of Raising a Puppy (Revised Edition) by the Monks of New Skete Before and After Getting Your Puppy: The Positive Approach to Raising a Happy, Healthy, and Well-Behaved Dog by Dr. Ian Dunbar Boys Should Be Boys: 7 Secrets to Raising Healthy Sons by Meg Meeker I found this book informative, but it was…

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Tintin

On Tuesday, my five eldest children went to see The Adventures of Tintin with their dad and their uncle. I was happy to hear that they really liked it and that they are looking forward to hopefully seeing a sequel. Like their grandfather and me, they have grown up with the Tintin comic books and they enjoyed seeing him…

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Advent, Christmas and Winter Feast Day Books

One of the things that I like about this time of year is snuggling up with my children and reading picture books. A few years ago, I shared a list of picture books that we like to read during December and January. Below is an updated (and hopefully better organized) list. Advent Books: Annika’s Secret…

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September Picture Book Basket

I intended to share this list last September, but I wanted to write a little something about each book. I still haven’t had a chance to do so; however, I have decided to share anyway. Hopefully, one of my children or I will have a chance to write a little something about the books one of these…

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A Passion Week Daybook

FOR TODAY Outside my window it is dark. I am thinking about this prayer that I read: My suffering and crucified King, can I expect an easy life when You lived such a hard one? No. I want to be like You as far as I am able in this earthly life of mine. Let…

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Easter Butterflies

Once again this Lent, we ordered caterpillars from Insect Lore for our butterfly garden. Last week, four of the caterpillars started making their chrysalis. We have moved the four chrysalides (or pupae) to the butterfly garden and are still waiting for the last (and smallest) caterpillar to make its chrysalis. Four butterflies should emerge a…

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Read-Aloud Books for 5-Year-Old Children

I was happy to receive a question about read-aloud books for 5-year-old children. My first inclination was to recommend chapter books, but thankfully I took some time to think. I thought about the chapter books that I read to my two oldest daughters, starting around age five and six. Although the girls enjoyed listening to…

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2010 Read Alouds

Once again, this past year, my husband read to our older children. The children listened to him read: Redwall by Brian Jacques The Cure of Ars: The Priest Who Out-Talked the Devil by Milton Lomask Crossbows and Crucifixes: A Novel of the Priest Hunters and the Brave Young Men Who Fought Them by Henry Garnett Red Falcons Of…

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