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.

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!

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!

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 .

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.

February is devoted to the Holy Family.  This devotion to the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph has been hailed as the model of virtue for Christian Families since the 1600’s.  Jesus spent his first 30 years before his ministry began taking part in his family life because it was so important.   As always, there are several good prayers to add your prayer routine for the month.

For the Protection of the Holy Family

Grant unto us, Lord Jesus, ever to follow the example of Thy holy Family, that in the hour of our death Thy glorious Virgin Mother together with blessed Joseph may come to meet us and we may be worthily received by Thee into everlasting dwellings: who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.

There are also several more prayers for use this month available at About.com’s Catholicism section.  You can also find a lot more information about the history and devotion to the Holy Family at Catholic Culture.org.

How to Use the Little Black Book

Six minutes a day.

That’s what you’re asked to give from now until Easter.  Each 24-hour day has 240 “six minute” packages.  During Lent, one of those will be given to the Lord.

The centerpiece of each day (except Sundays) is the Passion according to Mark, which is on the right hand page.  We’ll walk through the whole Passion a little bit at a time and offer some reflections with each piece.

Once you get into it, you’ll find this practice to be peaceful, even something to look forward to.  You’ll also find that it helps to make your day go a bit better.  Prayer does that.

Focus on the Scripture text.  God may take you down a path different from the written reflection that is provided.  Don’t worry about that.  God speaks to us through the Sacred Word.  Stay with the Scripture and the thoughts that come.  This is a traditional form of prayer.

The left-hand page has a variety of quotes, suggestions, information, and timely thoughts.  Treat it like a buffet table from which you can take what you like.  (If pressed for time, go directly to the right-hand page and spend your time with that.)

We won’t start reading the Passion until Ash Wednesday when Lent actually begins.  But we’ll start the six minute program on Sunday, Feb. 14 (the Sunday before Ash Wednesday), which will give us three days to get ready for Lent.

The last reflection in this book is for Easter Sunday.

From the Little White Book:

Six Minutes a day.

That’s what you’re asked to give during these next 50 days of the Easter season.

Each 24-hour day has 240 “six minute” package.  During the Easter season, one of those will be given to the Lord

The key is the right-hand page.  On that page each day (except Sundays) we’ll walk through Luke’s resurrection narrative and on into the first part of his Acts of the Apostles.  On Sundays, we will look at the different ways the Spirit affects our lives.

The left-hand page is like a buffet table with information about the Easter season, or various traditions and customs, or the lives of saints whose feasts land on that particular day.

Start with either page, as you wish.

All of this provides the framework for you to enjoy one of our oldest traditions of prayer called Lectio Devina — sacred reading.  We take a short Scripture package and simply let God speak to us through the words, guiding us to reflections that sometimes seem to come from nowhere.  But they’re not “from nowhere.”  They’re from God.

People are often surprised at how easy it is to pray this way, and how deep such prayer can be.

It can change your day…change your life.

This book picks up on Monday, April 5 and ends Sunday, May 23 (Pentacost).

If you would like to buy a copy of these, they are available from the Diocese of Saginaw.

I have 2 sets of containing both the Little Black Book & the Little White Book to give away.

Like last time, to enter just leave me a comment with your favorite thing about Lent and/or Easter.  Open to US & Canadian shipping addresses  only please.

Contest ends at midnight EST Wednesday, February 10 so that you will receive them in time for Lent.  Winners must respond within 24 hours or a new winner will be picked.

Welcome to Week 5 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 6 – The Fourth P: Parent.

This is one that is such an awesome responsibility that I don’t think ANYONE thinks they have a handle on it.  (If you are one of those, email me, I could use a mentor!).   I love Holly’s assertion that being is more important than doing.  I finally had to put hard breaks in my day.  I “do” first (prayer).  Then I “be”  (snuggle, eat, dress her, etc).  Then I “do” ( shower & put my slaves (dishwasher & washer/dryer) to work).  Then I “be” again.  I read, play, etc.   You know do-be-do-be-do .

ANYWAY, I love the reminder that my biggest contribution is “giving the world healthy, holy citizens to will spread their sphere of influence.”   It’s more important than anything else I do unless it’s for God or my hubby.   Even more important than work or hobbies.   And my hobbies are TIME. SUCKERS.  Twitter anyone?  Facebook?  Blogging?

I was also struck by the fact that we are called to recreate the garden of paradise by making our homes a place of beauty, peace and harmony.  I’ve always tried to make my home feel like that.  I was blessed to have our Best Man stay with us for a few weeks one summer and he actually told me that our house felt peaceful and homey (or something like that).   Ahhh.  Our homes should be a sanctuary of the family and a place to be a living witness.

Not only should our homes attempt to mimic the garden of eden (notice there was only ONE thing in the whole garden they should not touch; this is not an ideal magazine spread but something that WORKS for the family), but we should become a living witness!   We need to be an example.  A good example!  I am having such a time with this because my little two year old is turning into quite the parrot!  I’m so thankful that some of my prior bad behaviors are no longer habits and that she’s picking up some good things.  But I can see that I have much work to do on myself, which is why I’m doing this book study with you lovely ladies!

The last things I noticed were:

• What we ask our children to do must be based on a real, legitimate reason, on a real good for the benefit of the child, the parent and the common good of the family.
• Mommy means what she says AND IS WILLING TO ENFORCE IT (emphasis mine).
• Find a logical place for everything and teach this to your children.
• The heart of routine is natural progression.  x leads to y leads to z.

They were sort of self-explanatory so I didn’t think I needed to go on about them.  I’ve already been pretty wordy .   Go ahead and work through the Working out Essentials (and Beyond the Basics if this is a refresher for you).  If you are doing the workbook, do the corresponding pages.

For Discussion

How do you balance being and doing?   What do you consider your battles?   Any parenting “rules” that you don’t find to be worth the battle?   What items hit close to home for you while you were reading this chapter?

One final thought:   Mary is Mother.  And Mother is the personification of Love.

Next week, we’ll be discussing the 5th P – Provider.

Sorry that I didn’t get this up last week.  Lil’ Bit wasn’t feeling well and I was doing some (MORE) discernment surrounding computer time.

This week I had some successes…

USE IT UP – I used up some getting old baby carrots in a pot of HOMEMADE turkey soup.   Mmmmm.

MAKE IT DO – I started working on my Household Notebook v.4 this week. Instead of going out to Walmart or Staples to get NEW supplies (I CANNOT be trusted to not come out with $50 of office supplies), I pulled an old note book out and decided to cover it with fabric.  I wanted this HN to be pretty so that I might, you know, USE it.    I used stuff I already had to make my notebook.   I’m still debating about the fabric though.   I’m not a sewer so my fabric stash is SUPER small.

How did you do this week?   Leave a link or comment and let us know!