Did everyone have a nice, long weekend? We did! I actually managed to take a NAP yesterday, which was incredible and felt very self-indulgent. I've got a few great columns to share with you this week. Keep your eyes on the site too, as I may be adding a few more throughout the week.
Prayer Spam by Sherry Antonetti
Making the Most of Ordinary Time by Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur
Teaching Children about Confession by Lori Callaway
Image of the Father by Guest Columnist Genevieve Kineke
We have so many wonderful columns at CatholicMom.com this week. I hope you'll find time to enjoy them and to share the good news about our wonderful columnists with your family and friends.
May Motherhood Smiles by Deacon Tom Fox
Motherhood, Mary, and the "More" of God by Pat Gohn
Modern Day Slavery, Part I - Human Trafficking by Susan Handle Terbay
A Time for Miracles by Patrice Fagnant MacArthur
Being Spiritually Awake for the Feast by Sherry Antonetti
Motherhood in the Bosom of the Trinity by Guest Columnist Genevieve Kineke
Hands On, Prayers to Restore the Soul by Michele Howe
The Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit by Janet Cassidy
Fitness Focus: The Psychology of Weight Loss
"10 Going on 25" Isn't a Joke, It's Marketing by Marybeth Hicks
A special thanks to Lisa Mladinich, our Puppet Ministry Mom, for another tremendous script. Lisa's new "Resurrection!" script is the perfect thing for either puppet shows or class skits. Check out Resurrection and our other Puppet Ministry scripts.
Catholic sources all over the internet are posting resources today related to yesterday's publication of Pope Benedict XVI's apostolic exhortation SACRAMENTUM CARITATIS on the Eucharist as the Source and Summit of the Church's Life and Mission. I wish I could say that I've already taken the time to read the document in full, but I haven't. I hope to do so this weekend. In the mean time, here are some helpful resources for digesting this document:
Way back in October, I received a simple email from a CatholicMom.com reader named Laura.
It said: "How I love your site! I use it all the time and tell everyone how fantastic it is! I have some favorite activities that I would like to share with you that you are welcome to use."
Since October, Laura Grace has emailed me over 100 activities, lesson plans, puzzles and more related to religious education topics. For each Sunday, Laura emails me a Lesson Plan helper aimed at helping parents and religious education teachers find resources related to the Sunday gospels. In addition, she has prepared countless activities on topics such as the Liturgy, Sacraments, the Rosary and more. Laura Grace's lesson plans have quickly become one of the most popular features at CatholicMom.com and her generosity continues to amaze me.
Every time I receive an email from Laura (in my mind, her nickname is "Amazing Grace"), I say a thank you to God for sending me this angel to help me reach out to our children and share our love for Jesus. Laura is one of a tribe of angels who keep me going, giving me the drive to continue plugging away with my little web site. Laura lives all the way in Maryland, so I've never met her and don't know if I ever will. But she's one of my heroes: someone who is using the talent God gave her to share His love and glory.
If you haven't visited Laura's Lesson Plan page at CatholicMom.com, you need to go there now and check it out. You'll be amazed too! Thanks Laura, you're the best!
