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“A Mother’s Rule of Life” Book Study Schedule

mothers-rule-of-life

During January & February, I will be hosting a Mother’s Rule of Life online book study.   I’ve had this book for exactly one year and I’ve been meaning to apply it the WHOLE time I’ve owned it.   I bought it while we had moved to Florida for a few months and I’ve read it no fewer than 5 times.   I just haven’t been able to get my ducks in a row and I thought some accountability might help.  So, I thought I would make my book study public and ask all of you to join me in getting my priorities in order and getting all the IMPORTANT things done as we start 2010!

Each Saturday, I will be publishing a post corresponding to a chapter (or two) of the book.  There will be a catch up week after the brunt of the “work” in February so that we can share our plans when we get to that point.  This post will be sticky (and updated) at the top of my blog until March so that you can join in even after we’ve started.

January 2 – I Reach the Breaking Point / A Rule of Life (Ch. 1 & 2)

January 9 – The First P: Prayer (Ch. 3)

January 16 – The Second P: Person (Ch. 4)

January 23 – The Third P: Partner (Ch.5)

January 30 – The Fourth P: Parent (Ch. 6)

February 6 – The Fifth P: Provider (Ch. 7)

February 13 – CATCH UP/BREAK

February 20 – Pulling Together Your Rule (Ch. 8)

February 27 – Getting Determined / The Heart of a Mother’s Rule / Spirit of a Mother’s Rule (Ch. 9 & 10, Appendix)

You can purchase the book A Mother’s Rule of Life at Amazon.  The (optional) workbook is available at Holly Pierlot’s website, Mother’s Rule of Life.com.

Harlequin Book Giveaway!

As a part of the Harlequin Ambassador’s program, I received a shipment of books on Christmas Eve.   They sent me several copies of the Silhouette Special Edition book The Cowboy’s Christmas Miracle by Raeanne Thayne to share with you.   Although, it’s a Christmas book, I thought that since it’s a romance book, it would work okay for Valentine’s Day, too :) .

I have 2 copies of this book to give away.   To enter, leave me a comment telling me your favorite (G-rated, please!) way to spend time with your significant other.  This entry is required.   You can also earn extra entries:

  • Following me in Twitter (leave another comment with your twitter handle)
  • Subscribing to my feed via RSS or email (leave a comment telling me you are a subscriber)
  • Blogging or tweeting about this contest (leave a comment with link to each)
  • Stumble this post (leave another comment letting me know you have).

This giveaway is open to US & Canadian shipping addresses only, please.  Contest ends at midnight EST on Sunday, February 14, 2010.   Winners must reply back in 48 hours or I will draw a new winner.

MROL Book Study – Week 6

mothers-rule-of-life

Welcome to Week 6 of our Mother’s Rule of Life online book study.   If you have missed previous weeks, you can find them all here.   This week we are reading and discussing Chapter 7 – The Fifth P: Provider.

The provider role covers all the other essentials that you are probably at least partially responsible for as the other head of the house — food, clothing, shelter, and financial responsibility.

It gave me a whole new way to look at housework.  On page 129, she considers it a manifestation of the creation of the earth.   God calls us to be good stewards of his creation and that INCLUDES the maintenance and cleaning of our homes & belongings.   I am not going to get into the whole “GREEN” thing because I think that as society touts it, it’s a load of bunk.  BUT as a Catholic/Christian, I believe we do need to be better stewards, whatever that may mean to you.

One of the girls I went to high school with has an AWESOME blog called Kitchen Stewardship.  Another awesome site is Keeper Of The Home.  She has an e-book called Healthy Homemaking that can help you improve your stewardship all over your house, not just the kitchen.   And you can always stop by here on Thursdays for my “Use It Up, Wear It Out, Make it Do or Do Without!” meme to get and share ideas & successes!

I only had two other things strike me as I read this chapter.   First was the quote:

I simply had to stop wanting so much stuff.

I had an epiphany about stuff last year as we spent 2 months in a 20 foot camper.  I just didn’t need so much.  I got rid of a full sized van full between a trip to goodwill, a yard sale and a clothing swap.   I never really considered the spiritual aspect of it, though, until I read this quote by St. Thomas Aquinas:

…by pampering ourselves, we superficially shelter ourselves from the realities of life, so when serious difficulties come, we’re unprepared spiritually to cope with them.

If you are using the workbook, this will be the time where you will find the most help.  There are TONS of worksheets for analyzing and planning all the facets of this role.   Also, be sure to answer the Working Out Essentials questions.  Keep in mind that this is such a wide sweeping role that it could take all year to work through each area!   In March, I will be doing a series on building a household notebook and sharing resources for that.   She recommends starting out with chore routines.   If you need some help getting started with that, try FlyLady.

For Discussion

What area do you find you struggle with most within this role?  Are you doing too much in an attempt to ‘do it all’?  Was there anything in this chapter that made you stop and think about how/why you do certain things?

Next week if is a free week to give you time to catch up and work through these 5 chapters.  In two weeks, we will be talking a little more about putting together your MROL.  Feel free to post on any and all discussions as you go back and fine-tune and/or review your progress!

Use It Up #4

Well I kind of have a mixed bag this week.

USE IT UP -

FAIL – I still threw out what seemed to be a TON of food this week, BUT

SUCCESS – I tried to use up a bunch of leftover couscous in a frittatta.   It was okay, but nothing I’d repeat.   I also used a bunch of leftover cheese sauce to make some homemade hamburger helper type stuff and THAT worked out well.

DO WITHOUT – and today I’m doing without a car because DH’s is getting his fixed.

What have you done to follow the frugal credo?  Leave your link or comment below!

28 Day Organizing Challenge

After much deliberation, I’ve decided to participate in the 28-day organizing challenge at OrgJunkie.com.   My junk room (formerly Lil’ Bit’s room) needs to be cleaned out AGAIN.  I swear I’ve had it clean at least 4 times since summer.  I think I’m going to turn it into a craft/sewing & homeschool room.   I wouldn’t mind winning one of the kickin’ prizes either :) .

Book Review – The Gospel Truth

The Gospel Truth by Kenneth Ogorek is a lectionary-based catechism for adults.   This book contains the readings for every Sunday Gospel for all three years of the lectionary cycle.   It does not contain the Holy Days EXCEPT for the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (19 days after Pentacost).

For each Sunday, the book includes the Gospel reading, as well as a 2 short reflections on the reading as it relates to the Catechism of the Catholic Church.   These are followed by a question for me to ponder for the day (or week), a question for you to ask your children and a thought regarding your role in the community.   You are also directed to related readings in the Bible and the US Catholic Catechism for Adults for further study if you so desire.   Each Sunday ends with a verse that would make an excellent memory verse if you are so inclined.

I knew I was going to like this book when I read my first reflection.  It was the 4th Sunday in Advent and it was about the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth.   One of the reflections said:

…And Mary is not referred to as “the woman who may become the mother of my Lord if and when the bundle of cells in her womb becomes a person at some debatable point”…

That alone sold me :) .   I have been reading this book every week since then and love it!   It has little bite-sized sections that work well for me as a busy, constantly-interrupted mom.    I start looking at it on Saturday to preview the gospel reading.  I read it again on the way to church and then again on the way home because with a 2-year old the odds of me getting to HEAR the readings or homily are slim.  I especially like the points to ponder in my community and for me and look forward to sharing the children’s questions with her as she gets older.

If you have more time, this could be a fairly comprehensive bible study program.   You get the week’s reading, some information from the Catechism, some reflection points, a bible verse for memorization and even some additional points to study in the Bible and US Catechism.   Very solid study guide, indeed!   I look forward to using this resource for years to come and recommend it to everyone!

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 The Gospel Truth- A Lectionary-Based Catechism for Adults.

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