Fitting In Fitness

It's Monday, the day I normally wake up and recommit to leading a fit and healthy lifestyle. Today, my kids are off school, so I lingered in bed a bit longer than usual, lapping up the luxury of having teens who like to sleep in. Part of my mental wandering as I hit the snooze button was towards blogging, and how I want to start writing more frequently about trying to lead a healthy lifestyle.

Rising to a quiet house with still sleeping boys, I was tempted to hit the computer and do a quick google search on fitness topics to garner some ideas and then I had one of those "smack across the face" moments when I realized that I hadn't yet eaten breakfast or made any attempt at exercise and was yet readying myself to sit on my rear end at my computer for a few hours. Does writing about exercising burn calories? Not many!

So instead I tied on my walking shoes, grabbed my iPod and hit the door. It’s cold outside (ok, California cold…48 degrees!), and the menacing grey clouds almost sent me back in to my treadmill, but I persisted. Normally on Mondays I meet my exercise buddy at the gym first thing after dropping off the boys, but a day off usually preempts the regular schedule and exercise falls by the way side.

Fitting exercise into our busy schedules is a perpetual challenge. I know very few people who crave a cardio workout. Most of us can find a multitude of excuses for putting off physical activity. Yet, it is such an important part of our overall health and well being. Equally important for me are the spiritual, mental and emotional boosts I gain from taking time to sweat. A walk reconnects me with the incredible beauty of God’s creation and reminds me to thank Him for the bounty of blessings in my life.

So my erudite column on physical fitness will have to wait – perhaps until next Monday. In the mean time, have you had your walk today? Did you take the stairs to your office? Did you park in a remote spot in the parking lot at school or work and briskly walk to your destination? I’m working hard at looking for opportunities to work my heart and my mind throughout the course of the day. In my case, every little bit helps!

I found this great article from the May Clinic on “Fitting in Fitness” – it offers several simple pointers for increasing our activity levels during our day to day routines.

New On My Bookshelf - Children's Edition

Some great new titles for kids:

Catholic Bible Stories for Children
Catholic Bible Stories: First Communion Edition
My First Easter Sticker Book
Hands-On Bible Explorations: 52 Fun Activities for Christian Learning
The Eight Beatitudes Coloring and Activity Book
57 Stories of Saints
Saint Bakhita: Forever Free (Encounter the Saints)

Catholic Kids Worship Music

Natalie Burt and those awesome kids over at Catholic Kids Worship are hard at work trying to put together their second CD. Right now they are in fundraising mode and are asking for your support. A small donation will help them reach their goal and you can even pay tribute to your favorite Catholic kid in the process. You may remember my review of their first CD, Your Grace Is Enough which ran last year in Grapevine Magazine and at CatholicMom.com. I love their music!

Can you help the kids?

• Information about the Catholic Kids Worship project
• Read my review of Your Grace Is Enough
• Order or listen to samples of Your Grace Is Enough
• Check out more great music for Catholic kids at CatholicMom.com
  

Tennis Mom

I am slowly adjusting to my new role as "Tennis Mom", owing to the fact that Eric seems to have joined the Junior Varsity Tennis Team at his small Catholic high school. I say "seems" because I'm not definitely positive that he's actually on the team. Our school is small enough that most of the sports have a "no cut" policy, affording inexperienced players the chance to try out several sports in their early years in school. I was discussing this with a friend whose child is due to be a freshman next year at our local Mega State Championship Winning Public High School. As I was telling her about Eric's foray into Tennis, she was lamenting the fact that at her son's new school, you won't make a team unless you were identified by the "feeder system" around second grade. At that school, sports teams practice year round, making playing more than one sport next to impossible.

I think it's great that Eric, who has never played much tennis in his life, will have this opportunity to learn the sport. I'm just having a bit of an acclimation period with transitioning from Football Mom to Tennis Mom.

* Tennis Mom gets to pick her son and his tennis friends up after school every day and shuttle them to the private tennis club where they have practice (since our school courts are crumbling). Son and friends make polite conversation on the way to practice, updating Mom about their day and thanking her for the ride as they exit the car.

Football Mom never saw son as practice began immediately after school and study hall. Periodic cell phone conversations after school were mostly monosyllabic grunts and inquiries about what was planned for dinner.

* Tennis Mom needs to be sure to read the weekly notes home from coach, including schedule information and details on how to personally contact coach.

Football Mom was warned by son repeatedly that she was to have no personal interaction with coach, never to make direct eye contact with the coach, and it was better if she didn't even come in his vicinity.

* Tennis Mom needs to pay attention to the weather around 2:00 pm, because if it is raining, looks like rain, or is cold enough that puddles haven't dried, practice will be canceled and the schedule reverts to Plan B.

Football Mom knew that the only difference in the schedule on rainy days would be that son's uniform would be extra dirty and would require super-soaking abilities to remove mud stains.

* Tennis Mom needs to be at the practice facility for pick up promptly at 5:30, because that's when practice ends, on time.

Football Mom is used to waiting in the car in a cold, dark parking lot for long periods of time. She has pre-cooked dinner, which will be eaten by son as he works on late night homework. She knows that practice ends when the coach feels like having it end, and that coach doesn't really think family dinner is a priority.

I have to say that I'm sort of getting used to the cushy life lived by Tennis Mom. She probably does need some sort of cute outfit to wear as she watches son's JV matches, since she probably can't sport the same Notre Dame football sweatshirt Football Mom wore to all the football games. She'd also better get used to whispering, instead of loudly yelling "Block Him!!!" or "Great Hit!!!".

Tennis Mom would probably be better friends with Fencing Mom than Football Mom. But there's one thing she needs to remember:

Football Mom knows that practice goes year round, and that this reprieve from driving to 6:30 am weightlifting and conditioning is only temporary. Being a Football Mom is a year round job.

New on My Bookshelf

In an effort to help spread the word about the many new books I receive, I am starting this new feature called "New on My Bookshelf". Here, you will find the titles of new books I've received, along with links to more information about these books at Amazon. Many of the books will be featured here or over at CatholicMom.com in greater detail, but at least this way you can hear about the many great books our Catholic authors are writing as soon as I hear about them.

New today:

Breastfeeding And Catholic Motherhood: God's Plan For You And Your Baby - by Sheila Kippley, this books comes highly recommended by our soon-to-be Catholic Breastfeeding columnist, Pam.

Where Did Grandad Go? - Children's book from Pauline Kids

Where Do Babies Come From? - Children's Book from Pauline Kids

Brother Juniper- A lovely picture book by Diane Gibfried featuring the traditional stories of Brother Juniper, who lived in the hills of Assisi with Father Francis.

Amazing Grace

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!

Global Fast 2007

You may have already heard about this project, but I wanted to invite you to join me in fasting for this cause on Ash Wednesday, February 21. Click here for more information on Global Fast.

Global Fast 2007, with the motto of “One Day to Change the World,” will take place Feb. 21 of this year. The charity project was created as a way to feed the poor, fight injustice and foster peace throughout the world.

The event invites people to “share their food” with the hungry, and to set aside a day of prayer for the world. Believing that faith, hope and charity can truly change the world, Global Fast creator Rich Halvorson hopes to grow an annual event with people from around the globe joining in a day of fasting and prayer. The vision of Global Fast is to unite people from across the world on one day to fight hunger, poverty and injustice.

“I wanted to create a simple thing, something that everyone can do that would truly make a global impact,” Halvorson said. “If we all give up our food together for one day, how many lives can we impact permanently?

“Charity is only half of it – the real key is the spiritual power of millions of us praying together. When we get caught up in the daily hustle, it’s all too easy for our prayer and faith to take a back seat. This is one day for the soul to really take priority.”

The charity aspect of Global Fast seeks to give everyday individuals a way to have “real impact” on the disturbing prevalence of global poverty. Each day, 852 million people are hungry and more than 16,000 children die due to hunger-related issues. As our world is torn apart by injustice, corruption and sin, there is a real need for charity, hope and spiritual renewal. Together, change can be accomplished through fasting and prayer.

Fasters are asked to donate to charity what they would have spent on food on Feb. 21 – which marks the beginning of Lent, a traditional season of fasting for Christians.

Click here for more information on Global Fast.

Book Talk

Last week, I posted several great new Book Spotlights over at CatholicMom.com and wanted to bring them to your attention here. My bookshelf is overflowing with great new titles, so be on the lookout here for lots of new reviews and interviews. Click on the title below to check out my comments and interviews for these books:

Elizabeth: A Holy Land Pilgrimage by Cheryl Dickow - I loved her non-fiction work and Cheryl's first novel is wonderful!

Growing in Faith When a Catholic Marriage Fails: For Divorced or Separated Catholics and Those Who Minister with Them by Antoinette Bosco - A must read interview with the author

The Perfect World Inside My Minivan -- One mom's journey through the streets of suburbia by Marybeth Hicks - Yes, it's the debut book from our CatholicMom.com columnist Marybeth Hicks

My Muslim Friend: A Young Catholic Learns about Islam by Donna Jean Kemmetmueller, FSP - Aimed at children, but grown ups will learn a thing or two as well!

Time to Unsubscribe?

In an effort to streamline the time I spend reading email, I've been casting a serious eye upon the various lists to which I'm subscribed. One such list, aimed at helping homemakers get organized, is notorious for sending out tons of email.

Yes, I have subscribed to the "digest" version of the list, but this morning as my "delete trigger finger" poised over this particular daily email, I stopped to ask myself, "When is the last time I actually read an email from this sender?"

Since I could not recall a single time in the last six months, I clicked into the email and quickly unsubscribed from the group. I know how to find that particular service again in the future if I am interested in re-signing up to be nagged about cleaning my sink each night before I go to bed.

I remain on some lists for the fact that even just seeing the email subject line is a good mental reminder. A case in point is my weekly Monday email from WeightWatchers.com. I'm a lifetime member, but don't frequently attend meetings, so that Monday email is a welcome reminder to start my week off on the right foot.

I also remain subscribed to some particularly heavy professional networking lists, for the value they provide in ideas and contacts. I don't always read each email, but I take time each day to scan the digest index.

Are you snowed in under virtual stacks of email? Some time spent prioritizing your inbox contents may prove to you that it's time to "unsubscribe" to a few outdated lists.

Monday is for Getting My Act Together

A fresh week always means a fresh start for me. I look forward to Mondays as a day to look forward to all that the week ahead will hold. I spend "table time" organizing, paying bills, checking off action items and planning my "to do" list for the week. I take extra time to work out. I post all of the columns for CatholicMom.com and get extra inspiration from the wise words of the wonderful women who share their thoughts in these columns.

One of my weekly Monday stops is to the fabulous blog of Mike St. Pierre. Mike's blog carries the tag line "Simple Ways to Keep Life Moving". It's an apt and fitting statement, as that's exactly the type of stuff you'll find on Mike's notebook. His articles are brief, concise and always relevant to the business of life. It's not surprising, since Mike is a professional Coach. But what makes his takes so special for me is that his faith is always at the forefront. He reminds me to not only get my act together, but to remember my faith and prayer life as top priorities.

Have you stopped by Mike's blog lately? If not, click here and treat yourself to a few minutes of reading. It will pay dividends in both your time management and your peace of mind...and be sure to tell him Lisa says hi!

At the Outpost

Have you joined Catholic Outpost yet? I try to remember to head over there a few times a month to check out the many great groups. Check it out and drop me a note if you form a group I should join!

Is it Summer Yet?

Gerald from Cat. Chat wrote me recently to share the great news that they are going live with their 2007 Cat. Chat Vacation Bible School, "Cool Kingdom Party". I'm a huge fan of the Cat. Chat program, so I'm sure this VBS will be a winner. It's so great that we're coming up with some wonderful Catholic VBS options. On the VBS front, Growing With the Saints has a new 2007 version called "Assorted Saints & the Virtues of Faith, Hope & Love".

Can you tell I'm ready for summer?!

Lent Resources

As I mentioned earlier today, Lent begins later this month with Ash Wednesday on February 21. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has many wonderful resources available for you, your family and your parish to make this the best Lent ever. I will be sharing many of these resources here and at CatholicMom.com, but if you would like to look now to begin to prepare for Lent, click here to view the 2007 USCCB Lent Resources.

Adoption Resource

Thank you to Pam for writing me to share information about her Yahoo group for Catholics who have an interest in international adoption.

Click here for more information on the Catholic International Adoptive Parents Group.

The following description is posted at the group's site:

Welcome to the Catholic International Adoptive Parents group! This group is for practicing Catholics who are in the process of completing an international adoption or have already adopted internationally. At least one spouse must be Catholic or in the process of becoming Catholic. Families that have blended biological and adoptive children are welcome!

This group's intent is to bring together the entire Catholic international adoptive parent community through fellowship and prayer.

Pope John Paul II's words from Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life): "True parental love is ready to go beyond the bonds of flesh and blood in order to accept children from other families, offering them whatever is necessary for their well-being and full development."

Another Great Reflection from Chuck

One of my favorite Catholic artists, Chuck Stevens, has another great recorded reflection podcast now available on his web site. You can listen by clicking here. This particular podcast features two selections from Chuck's "In Your Presence" CD. Find some quiet time this weekend and grow closer to God with Chuck.

Cofidential to My Brother In Law David

I'm glad you're feeling better enough to be SASSY!!!

Girls' Weekend

It feels like I just got home from Chicago, and now I have another fun adventure planned. My buddy Mara and I will be driving down to Rancho Santa Fe, near San Diego, for the weekend. I will be attending our regional Notre Dame Alumni Association meeting. Mara is coming along for moral support (Greg is very grateful I'm not driving alone) and to enjoy the amenities of the nice resort I'll be staying at. I will be locked away in meetings all day, so I'm glad one of us will get to enjoy the place. I owe my wonderful husband a big thank you for letting me take off again so quickly. I'm hoping to be home in my PJs early enough Sunday to enjoy a certain football game.

Go Bears!

Flipping the Calendar

I have a few wall calendars in my house of one of my "habit resolutions" for this year is to get them flipped to the next month before the first week of that upcoming month has already passed. My favorite calendar this year is the one gifted to me by my sister, Erin. Erin's calendar contains the dates of all of our family birthdays, anniversaries and other special observances. Family photos grace each page, with my parents, my siblings and their children highlighting the various months of the year. This month we will celebrate my nephew Justin's birthday, so his adorable smile will grace my wall all month on the calendar.

Have you looked ahead to what February holds for you. Take a few minutes now to plan for the following:

* Family birthdays and anniversaries - you can write out those cards now and save them to send a few months before the event

* Holidays and Observances - Note to all of those husbands out there: Valentine's day is coming up this month. Plan now! I always tell my husband that I think a hand written card is much more romantic than flowers - the fact that he took time to write out his thoughts means the world to me. At our house, we celebrate Valentine's Day with our traditional "Chocolate Breakfast Feast", sending the boys off to school with a sugar high. Also this month, many school children will be off school in commemoration of national holidays. Have you planned special activities or alternate day care arrangements for those days when school is not in session?

* Our Liturgical Calendar - This year, Lent begins with Ash Wednesday on February 21st. It's not too early to start contemplating your Lenten devotions now. If you enjoy reading daily meditations or use special printed devotional materials, order those today so that you will have them in hand prior to the beginning of Lent. Investigate possible "alms-giving" opportunities in your community. This year, our family will be focusing upon "freeze relief" efforts being undertaken by our local Catholic Charities office.

A little time today spent planning the month will help you to make the most of the weeks ahead.

This post can also be found over at the CE On Time blog, along with other great ideas about time management and personal productivity.

Live in Pennsylvania??

It's kind of late notice, but I just heard from the Catholic Hernandez Family Singers that they will be doing a Catholic Schools Week concert tomorrow in Hanover. Here's the information Bernie sent me:

By the way, if you have any Moms in the Hanover/York area, please let them know our family is performing two Catholic Schools Week concerts this Friday, Feb. 2. K-2nd @12:35 and 3rd-5th @1:30pm. This is at St. Joseph School 236 Baltimore St. Hanover PA 17331. (717) 632-1335.

Geeky Gadget Auntie Say Thanks!!

Dear PIII,

I wanted to thank you and your Mommy for the awesome Target gift certificate you sent me! Most normal Aunties probably would have gone straight to the "Cute Valentine Decoration" aisle, but not me! I'm sorry to be the one to inform you that your Auntie is a total Gadget Geek (well, your Daddy probably already told you that!) I used your gift to buy myself a little toy I've been wanting for a while now - a new digital voice recorder!!

Next time you come to visit, we'll be able to record the sound of your delicious little giggle. Also, I used my new toy today to record my violin teacher playing the new song I'm learning. It will also come in handy for interviews and stuff like reminding myself to buy groceries and pick up your cousins from their various practices.

Thank you again for your generosity! You really shouldn't have, but I'm having lots of fun!

Love and moose smoochies,
Auntie Lisa

Notre Dame, Our Mother!

You gotta love Mark Hart, the Bible Geek! This morning, when I was whining about being cold when it's 40 degrees outside, I should have remembered those good old 8:00 am classes at Notre Dame!

Planning Ahead

Three times a month, I spend time volunteering in the "College Connection" office at my son Eric's Catholic high school. Eric is a freshman this year and while college seems very far away, I know that it will be upon us in the blink of an eye. Volunteering with the counselors is helping me greatly understand some of the nuances in helping a student be prepared to apply to good colleges.

Today, as I was doing my work in the background, one of the counselors was reviewing the recently taken ACT-PLAN test results with a group of sophomores. This test is an early prediction of performance on other tests the student will take when applying for college. With one eye on my work, I was listening carefully to the information the counselor was sharing with the students about requirements for our local California colleges.

Times have certainly changed since I was accepted at and attended the University of Notre Dame. Students really do need to be planning as early as their first year of high school to ensure that they are taking all necessary courses. If you have a student in high school or junior high, consider making regular visits to the College Board web site , which offers many helpful resources. Also, volunteering at your child's school may be a great source of information and inspiration. I hope that both of my sons will have the opportunity to attend great universities. That being said, I consider it part of my job as a mom to help them prepare now to keep all of their options open. Just as we "grown ups" need to assess and work towards goals and personal aspirations, so do our young men and women. I feel fortunate that I have a very close relationship with our fifteen year old. On a recent walk, we spent thirty minutes discussing his possible future vocation (which seems to change once a month) and the steps he needs to be taking now to prepare himself. I don't want to put too much pressure on my son, but I do want him to know the sky is the limit if he works up to his potential.

Perhaps your child is the type who comes home from school each day and tells you everything that happened. That doesn't happen in my house. So volunteering at high school is a bridge for great conversations!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Dear Daddy,

Happy Birthday!!! I wish I could be with you today to celebrate, but at least I have the wonderful memories of our time together at Tyler's Baptism still warm in my heart. As a 43 year old Daddy's girl, I continue to feel sorry for woman who's not your daughter - it's so wonderful to have the perfect Daddy!

For your inspiration, your patience, your compassion, the way you truly listen, and most of all for your dance moves, I love you with all my heart. Thanks for teaching me that it's always great to strive for our goals, whether they be spiritual, physical, financial, intellectual or emotional. Thank you for your gentle way and your great laugh. Thanks for teaching me that every day is the best yet, a gift from God. Thank you for teaching me how to love my spouse, my children, my parents and my siblings unconditionally.

I hope you have a wonderful celebration this year and many more in the future. You're the best!!!

I love you,
Your Favorite!

Just in Case

Just in case you're in the mood to shop over at Amazon, would you mind clicking through this link for the next few days?! I'm very close to the next commission level for the month of January and a few more sales could mean a bit higher commission and more money for CatholicMom.com. Thanks!

For My Chicago Baseball Fans

This sounds like a really cool event:

“CHAMPIONS OF FAITH” TO HOLD INAUGURAL AWARDS/BENEFIT EVENT
AT CHICAGO’S SOLDIER FIELD ON FEB. 11

Click here for more information or to reserve.

WHAT: Honor Major League Baseball Stars and Benefit “Champions of Faith” Project Juan Pierre, former Chicago Cub and current LA Dodger center fielder, and Jack McKeon, Former Manager of World Champion Florida Marlins, will be award recipients and speakers at the First Annual Champions of Faith Awards Benefit.

The Champions of Faith Project explores the intersection of sports and faith by profiling some of the most accomplished and devout figures in sports, both on and off the field. Its first tool – a high-definition video sports special – highlights the lives and careers of some of the biggest names in Major League Baseball.

This Chicago Awards Benefit hopes to raise awareness and funding in order to bring this powerful film to every school, Little League, church and men’s group in the United States. In addition to honoring two of the featured stars of the film, an engrossing, 10-minute sneak peek will be shown at the event, showcasing baseball as a powerful metaphor for life. Produced with the cooperation of Major League Baseball and music legend Bob Dylan, this inspiring production provides some of the biggest names in our national pastime with a unique forum to discuss faith, family, teamwork, sacrifice, leadership, humility and the many virtues and spiritual lessons they have learned from the game. “Champions of Faith – Baseball Edition” is scheduled for release at the start of the 2007 Major League Baseball season.

WHEN: Sunday, Feb. 11
1-2 p.m. – VIP Reception featuring meet-and-greet with All-Star center fielder Juan Pierre and legendary manager Jack McKeon of the 2003 World Champion Florida Marlins
2-4 p.m. – General Reception featuring keynote presentations, awards and live auction

WHERE: Cadillac Club at Soldier Field
1410 S. Museum Campus Drive, Gate 14
Chicago, IL 60605 (312) 235-7000

WHO: Patrick McCaskey, co-owner of the NFL’s Chicago Bears, is hosting the event. Featured speakers include Juan Pierre, Jack McKeon and former Chicago sportscaster John Morales, who is serving as Master of Ceremonies.

COST: Individual tickets for the General Reception are $65 in advance and $80 at the door on the day of the event. For the VIP Reception (limited to 200 people), tickets are $100 in advance and not available at the door. For more information or to order tickets for the Chicago event, visit www.ChampionsofFaith.com/Chicago or call (678) 990-9032.

Happy Baptism Tyler!

My Dear Precious Tyler,

I can't believe it's been a week since your Baptism and I'm just now finding the time to write you this note! I had such a wonderful time with you in Chicago and now I'm missing you like crazy!

What a special gift it was for me to be present for the celebration of your Baptism - you are our little miracle baby, a constant reminder that God loves us so greatly He can make all of our dreams come true. I want to remember what a special day we had for your Baptism - it really was perfect. You looked like a little angel in our family Baptismal gown. It seems like your big brother Evan was just wearing it yesterday for his special day. Although it was snowing outside for your Baptism, the Church had a warm glow inside. I remember being so proud of your mommy, my sister Erin, as she held you at the moment Father poured the water of Baptism over your little forehead. With such a wonderful mommy and daddy, you're sure to grow up filled with faith and love. Our celebration after the ceremony was so much fun too, the perfect ending to a perfect day.

Ty, every time I think of you it makes me smile. You have that bright, loving face that bursts into sunshine every time you look into someone's eyes. I love how you play and how you love watching your brother. I love your confident faith in your mommy and daddy - you know that they will always love and care for you. You are truly a wonder - I can't wait to come back and see you and Evan again soon. Thank you for sharing your special day with me. Darling babies like you are the future of our Church, and that's a very bright and hopeful prospect!

Happy Baptism Tyler Thomas Patrick. I love you!
Auntie Lisa

Catholic Poetry

If you enjoy Catholic poetry, you are likely familiar with the work of poet Pavel Chichikov, Poetry Editor at Catholic Exchange. Now, along with reading Pavel's poetry, you can listen to him read it online at his website, www.pavelreads.com - his voice has a tremendously soothing quality and his work is always very spiritually relevant.

New Edition of "To Teach"

One of my favorite "e" publications is the wonderful "To Teach" from USCCB. February's edition is now available and looks at the "heart of our faith" - love. Click here to read this great resource, directed at educators and parents.

The Business of Life

Yesterday, I spent the day traveling by plane from Chicago back home to Fresno. On one of the portions of my trip, I broke out my highlighted and underlined copy of David Allen's Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity to review. Seated adjacent to me was a young executive flying on business. My book caught his eye and he commented on it, asking me my profession. "I'm a Mom," I told him, giving my standard response.

The reality of my employment status is a bit too complicated to explain, so I prefer to state my vocation when asked. In truth, I run several web sites, am employed part time by my parish, write on a freelance basis and do design projects for small businesses.

I caught his sarcastic smile when he queried why I was reading a book about personal productivity if I was "just" a stay at home mom. Rather than give a lengthy response, I told him I worked part time and that I was interested in the topic of time management.

If I had been thinking straight, I would have referred to productivity guru David Allen's latest podcast, where he refers to "winning at the game of work and the business of life".

Indeed, for our work to be successful, it is crucial that we look at our home life as a well oiled machine. If my husband does not have laundered white coats fresh and waiting, he will not be properly uniformed to carry out his work as an ER doctor. If the brakes on my car don't function properly due to lack of service, I am unable to drive to my clients' offices for consultation. If I do not eat healthfully and exercise regularly, I am not in top form to manage the multiple professional responsibilities that demand my attention each day. You get the idea.

On the final flight home, I spent time working on a list of "next actions" that need to be taken care of today. However, when I returned home, I learned of the death of one of our parishioners and the fact that his funeral is this afternoon. My list will have to wait, as I feel compelled to honor and pray in thanksgiving for this special man and his well lived life.

Regardless of whether we are stay-at-home parents or partners in a law firm, personal productity and time management are critical to our missions and vocations and have great relevance to our lives, both at work and in the home.

Sometimes, the business of life trumps the game of work.

This post is also available on the Catholic Exchange productivity blog, CE on Time

Home Again

I arrived home from my trip to Chicago safe and sound. No missed connections made for a very smooth trip. I hope to post photos of my adorable nephews later today or tomorrow, but need to take care of a few things this morning and attend a funeral this afternoon. Thanks for all of those prayers for safe travels! They worked!

Becoming-the-best-version-of-myself

Sorry the cell phone photo is so bad, but that tiny blue dot behind the microphone is famous Catholic author and Speaker Matthew Kelly, who spoke at Eric's high school today. If you've never heard of Matthew Kelly, you don't follow the Catholic best seller list, at the top of which Kelly consistently resides.

Eric's Freshman religion teacher, a wonderfully enthusiastic and faith-filled teacher, arranged the Matthew Kelly visit. He spoke for about an hour and then gave each of the students a copy of his latest book. It was the first time I've heard Matthew speak, so I was thrilled to hear his talk. I risked facing the wrath of my son and joined the other moms who sneaked in to hear this wildly motivational young man.

Matthew Kelly's talk was largely based upon the tenants of his successful books:

* Spend at least ten minutes per day in the "classroom of silence"
* You are not too young to do anything. You are not too old to do anything.
* Your life changes when your habits change.
* Always work at becoming the best version of yourself

While Matthew's talk was clearly geared at the high school students in the gym, at least one 43 year old woman walked away feeling incredibly inspired and ready to look for opportunities to make a difference in our world. Thanks be to our God, who gives us a fresh opportunity each day to become the best version of ourselves. I'm still a work in progress!

Rethinking My Workouts

I knew this information already, but this article by our Fitness Focus columnist Lynn Bode has me rethinking the time I spend at the gym. Eric started back into football workouts this week, needing to report to school by 6:30 am Monday through Thursday. Do you think they'd just let mom come along for the strength training workouts, since I have to drive there anyway?!

Travelers' Blessings

I'm off on a trip tomorrow, traveling to Chicago to witness the Baptism of my youngest nephew, Tyler. I will make the trip solo, leaving husband and sons at home with a list of activities and provisions to last until next Wednesday when I return home. I actually savor airline travel for the opportunity it gives me to get caught up on loose ends. I normally bring along interviews needing completion, book review notes and other design projects that require quiet and concentration. I'm one of those travelers who conscientiously arrive at the airport two hours early, so I usually have a good chunk of time to finish up a few projects. During one of my most recent trips, I found myself in Midway airport in Chicago for several hours. Having exhausted my laptop battery, I got in a good long walk and eventually wandered upon the Airport Chapel. The half hour I spent praying the Rosary in the solitude of that small enclave was actually one of the highlights of my trip. I now try to check my itinerary in advance to see if any of my stopovers may have a chapel where I can visit. To check out locations of airport chapels worldwide, visit the website of the International Association of Civil Aviation Chaplains.

This post can also be found on the Catholic Exchange on Time Blog.

Being an "After"

Many of us are focused on health and fitness issues in January, the month of resolutions. I found this article over at WeightWatcher.com to be a great motivational tool. It seems that some of the concepts of goal setting and "baby steps" can be translated to other areas where I might be seeking to make some personal improvements.

If the concept of the overall change feels too daunting, it helps me to take baby steps toward achieving the main goal and to document those steps along the way as a means towards staying movtivated. One of my major goals for the next month is to get control over my home office. I'm tempted to post a picture here, just to let you know what a major challenge this is!! The idea of doing it all at once has caused my to procrastinate, because I never seem to find the time. My commitment here, today, is to spend ten minutes a day focusing on cleaning up the office. We'll see how long it takes me to accomplish this task. I'm not talking here about simply moving stacks around - I'm talking about coming up with some systems that will enable me to avoid the mess that now plagues me. That's going to take some time, but this has been a continual problem that's only gotten worse with time.

Do you have a goal this month? If so, what are your baby steps for achieving that goal?

Saintly Role Model

Words of inspiration came to me this morning at daily Mass, as our priest shared information about today's saint, St. Anthony the Abbot, of Egypt. This third century founder of monasticism was noted for his ability to motivate other to "hear the word of God and live it intensely." I found the following quotation in search for additional information on this zealous saint:

Anthony always told those who came to visit him that the key to the ascetic life was perseverance, not to think proudly, "We've lived an ascetic life for a long time" but treat each day as if it were the beginning. To many, perseverance is simply not giving up, hanging in there. But to Anthony perseverance meant waking up each day with the same zeal as the first day. It wasn't enough that he had given up all his property one day. What was he going to do the next day?

As I approach the start of each new day, a precious gift from God, do I wake with zeal for all I will do during the course of my day? This type of perseverance in the faith is what sets us believers apart from others seeking time management and personal excellence. With His mission before us, we seek productivity in our own lives so that we, and those with whom we interact, can possibly move a little closer each day to a true relationship with God.

Today I also posted this to C E On Time - A Guide to Personal Productivity.

The Best Laid Plans...

Irony often reigns in the life of a Catholic Mom. Today, I embark on a new journey as part of the advent of the "C E On Time - A Guide to Personal Productivity Blog" over at Catholic Exchange. While it's an honor to be invited to blog with the talented folks who've been lined up for this new project, today has left me feeling particularly unworthy of my invitation.

Things have been going along swimmingly with my babysitting gig - our 18 month old nephew Patrick has been with us since Friday evening. Last night, as I held him at Mass and collected comments on his excellent behavior, I should have known that something was amiss. Do you know many 18 month olds who will agree to be held quietly for the majority of an hour long Mass?

Well, this morning I discovered why little PIII was so compliant last night. He must have been coming down with something. We've spent most of today cleaning up vomit and doing lots of snuggling. I'm happy to say that the worst of it seems to be behind us. He managed to eat dinner and was just tucked in to bed. It's been at least 8 hours since the last tummy attack.

Personal productivity seemed the farthest thing from my mind today as I fretted over my sweet little nephew's well being. Thankfully, I had already planned a clear calendar for the duration of Patrick's stay (which ends tomorrow). However, it was an excellent reminder that sometimes, the most productive thing a parent can do is to lovingly hold and care for a child. Dishes may pile up and goodness knows there'll be lots of laundry (the yucky kind) waiting, but few things seemed more important - and productive - to me today than snuggling with a precious toddler.

Things My Auntie Lisa Learned Today

Hi everybody! Mom and Dad may think my bed time is 7:00 pm, but when I stay at Auntie Lisa's house, I get to stay up late and blog. I thought I'd take a minute to teach you some of the important lessons I taught Auntie Lisa today:

* If you want something, no matter how outlandish it may be, smile and look really cute when you ask for it. You will likely get what you want!

* Stop eating when you're full, even if there's still stuff in front of you. Then immediately get up and run around - you'll be in great shape like I am!

* It's never to cold to go outside and play, or to take a walk.

* My favorite part of Mass is any time Uncle Greg is playing his guitar. Auntie Lisa must think so too, because she smiles a lot when he plays.

* If you're at Target and there's something you think you can't live without (like a Buzz Lightyear with lights and talking noises), pick it up and walk around with it while you shop. Right before you leave, sneak it back onto the shelf. You probably won't even remember you wanted it by the time you get home and you'll save some money.

* Having a giggle fit while someone says bedtime prayers with you is an excellent stall tactic.

If you're lucky, maybe I'll be back tomorrow as a guest blogger. I'm supposed to go to the zoo with my cousins, so it should be a great day!

Love and kisses,
PIII

Baby Report

Little Mr. Patrick III is down for a nap, so I thought I'd report that all is well in "Auntie Land" in case Mom and Dad happen to get online and check in. We had a full night of sleep (almost twelve hours for him! I kept waking up to check and see why he wasn't crying...). After a lingering breakfast (he loves to eat), we went out for Story Time at Barnes and Noble and to run a few errands. He's a joy to have around. Now I can see why grandmas love spoiling their grandbabies so much!
I should probably go make some productive use of naptime - keep up those prayers. They're working!

Getting Ready for Patrick

Tomorrow afternoon, I will be welcoming a pint sized visitor - my 18 month old nephew Patrick, or PIII as he's known in these parts. He's coming to stay with us until Tuesday while his Mom and Dad take a business trip. I can't wait for him to get here! I'm counting on him for lots of play time stacking (and knocking over) blocks, playing with Thomas the Tank Engine and generally just getting into stuff. Our house is incredibly un-baby-proofed, so Auntie Lisa has some work to do to get ready to host a toddler. Blogging will be sparse to non-existent, probably until Wednesday, as I plan to spend most of the next few several days playing with playdough and stuff like that. I'm not sure how moms with many small children find time to do anything on the computer...this will be a reminder to me of life in the good old days when the most productive thing I hoped to do was take a shower and put on clean clothes that hadn't been spit up on.
I was planning to take little Patrick to the zoo, but it looks like we're going to have a very cold streak in Fresno. If anyone has a good idea for cold weather ways to entertain an 18 month old, post a comment for me. When my boys were this age, we would go to the park for hours on end to wear them out, but I don't think that's going to be an option this weekend. I can't wait for him to get here!

Adam Drumming Update

A new video of Adam practicing on his drums!

Lighting Candles

Maybe it's because of my time at Notre Dame, spent in proximity to the Grotto, but I LOVE lighting candles for special intentions. For that reason, I was moved by the latest column by my friend Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur at CatholicMom.com. Patrice's son David is having a difficult time adjusting to school. Take a moment to read Patrice's column and I think you'll agree that she came up with a wonderful way to support David in his concerns. Patrice and David, I lit a candle at Mass this morning for you and will keep you in my prayers! Thank you for reminding me of the power of simple, loving prayer during times of difficulty. God bless you!

Gadget Mom Wants This Next

I don't need it, but I really want it!

Give it a Try

Can you think of anyplace you go where they thank you profusely for coming the minute you walk in the door, invite you to lounge in a comfy leather recliner for twenty minutes, tell you NOT to exercise for the next 24 hours, hand you a free tshirt and then encourage you to eat twinkies/ding dongs and other sugary snacks for twenty minutes before you leave?

"Where is this magical land?" you ask. "Tell me, so I too can go there!"

Here's your answer: your local blood donor center!

At this point, if you're like most of my friends, you're compiling a list of why you can't donate blood. Even if you've been denied in the past, I would encourage you to check in and see if now you may be eligible to give. I just finished my one year "deferral" following our trip to Costa Rica and spent a lovely morning giving blood, the gift of life.

My best friend and I make giving blood together a special occasion. Every few months, we book a date, go together to donate, and then do a quick lunch afterwards. I'm not a big "going out to lunch" girl, so it's a treat to have this special time with Mara. In the mean time, I get a good assessment of my health (my blood pressure, pulse and iron levels are all very healthy). I walk out with the feeling that I've done something very worthwhile and that perhaps I've helped someone in tremendous need in the process. If you've never given blood and you're afraid, let them know when you walk in the door that it's your first time and you will be treated like a queen (or king!). My daddy introduced me to the joy of being a blood donor - I was so scared the first time I donated that I was sure I would pass out. I couldn't believe it when I was done in twenty minutes and there was so little discomfort involved.

Sure lots of people have valid reasons why they can't donate, but lots of us can! If my child were in an accident or had a disease that required transfusions, I would pray for lots of people like me to save my child's life. That may sound dramatic, but it's true. Believe me, the joy that comes from giving blood vastly outweighs any pain you may feel. If you need any more encouragement, or a virtual hand to hold when you donate, email me and I'll be there for you!

Fr. Solanus

Now that the busyness of Advent and the holidays is behind, I am getting caught up on posting some wonderful resources at CatholicMom.com. I recently had the pleasure of previewing the video of The Healing Prophet: Solanus Casey.

This documentary by GL Productions taught me so much about the life of Fr. Solanus, who was declared a Venerable by Pope John Paul II in 1995. He was a very humble and simple man, but he touched so many lives. For me, he is yet another role model - God uses each of us in our own way to share his light with others. Next time I'm in the midwest for an extended amount of time, I may trouble a certain Michigander I know to take me to visit the Solanus Casey Center in Detroit.

Click here to read my review and interview with filmmaker Audrey Geyer.

What's for Dinner?

Is one of your New Year's Resolutions to be a better planner when it comes to feeding your family? Then you may want to check out the "Dine Without Whine" section of recipes over at CatholicMom.com.

This week, the featured recipes are Golden Pork Chow Mein, Carrot Pineapple Loaves, and Easy Chocolate Mousse. If you like these types of recipes, you should definitely consider subscribing to Christine Steendahl's fabulous Dine Without Whine - A Weekly Menu Plan & Grocery List Delivered To Your E-mail Box.

Every week, Christine emails me a weekly list of recipes including main dishes for every night, great weekend brunch ideas and some wonderful and easy to cook sweet treats. For me, part of the pain of cooking is not having the correct items on hand. Along with the recipes, Christine emails a complete shopping list for the week. It's so simple, and all of the recipes we've tried have been winners with my family. Do you know what's for dinner tonight? I do!

Happy Birthday Michael and Meg!!!

Dear Michael and Meg,

My baby brother and his bride celebrate their 30th birthdays this week!

Together, you enter a new decade of life together as newlyweds. Could it get any better?!

Watching Michael turn thirty makes me feel incredibly old. I was a teenager when he was born, so you can do the math yourself and compute that not only do I feel old, I actually am old (44 in June!)

Michael and Meg, I'm sorry I can't be with you this week to celebrate. But I do want to let you both know that I'm so happy for you - I'm happy that you enter what will be a wonderful phase of your lives with your best friend by your side. I know the year ahead will be filled with smiles, fun and also some stress and changes. I want you to know that you are always in my prayers and that you both have a room (yes, you can share one now!) waiting for you at our home if you want to consider becoming part of the California pod. I can't imagine Michael having found a more wonderful wife and soul mate than Meg - we are so lucky to have you as our new sister!

Have a tremendous celebration and save a hug for me when I'm in Chicago later this month. Until then, moose smoochies and lots of love. Happy Birthday!

Lisa

Choosing Our Family's Way: The Wisdom of the Magi

They prostrated themselves and did him homage.
Then they opened their treasures
and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod,
they departed for their country by another way.

Matthew 2:11-12

One of my spiritual resolutions for the year 2007 is to be a more active listener when it comes time for Sunday’s Liturgy of the Word. Perhaps some of you are like me – I have the best of intentions. I prepare in advance by reading and meditating upon the Sunday gospel prior to attending Mass. Upon arriving at church on Sunday morning, I pray for a heart which will be open to hearing God’s message for me and for my family. But more times than I’d care to admit, after listening to the Sunday Gospel being pronounced by my pastor or another parish priest, I find my mind wandering during the homily. Filled with thoughts of the week ahead, focused on the behavior of my children, or succumbing to distractions around me, I miss out on pearls of wisdom offered by priests who have spent time in study, preparation and prayer. I’ve even walked out after mass at times completely unable to recall the homiletic message.

Auspiciously, my favorite homilist delivered Sunday’s sermon on Matthew’s account of the visit of the Magi to Jesus. When Msgr. Myron Cotta, Vicar General of the Diocese of Fresno talks, I pay attention. As per usual, Msgr. Cotta’s comments on Sunday gave me pause to stop and apply the gospel message to my own life. I knew in advance that he would speak on the importance of Epiphany’s theme of giving our lives as gifts to the Christ child. But it was a small comment Msgr. Cotta made toward the end of his homily that has me thinking today. Had I not been in my new “active listener” mode, I likely would have missed it. Thankfully, I was taking notes and was actually fortunate to document his words.

The Magi, Msgr. Cotta shared, had just come from a tremendous encounter. He called theirs perhaps the “first pilgrimage”, a face to face meeting with Jesus Christ, in the presence of Jesus’ mother Mary. They were forever changed and were anxious to leave and return home, surely filled with zeal and ready to evangelize. And return home they did – but by a different route. Matthew’s account states that, “they departed for their country by another way.” They were forever changed – they couldn’t go home the old way. They left by a new route.

Msgr. Cotta reminded us that we too have just had an encounter with Jesus Christ as we emerge from our Christmas season. “After a conversion of mind and heart, you will want to walk a different path, have different goals,” he encouraged.

My family celebrated a wonderful Christmas this year. In the faces of my boys, growing into young men, I saw the spirit of love and giving that God shares with me unconditionally. As a family, we were moved to pray for peace in our world. Owing to the celebration of Christmas day on a Monday, our celebrations were largely centered on attendance at Church, with our spiritual community – our little part of the body of Christ. We were kinder to one another than we usually are in day to day living, more patient, communicative and loving. We took time together as a family to travel, to play and to share meals. We encountered newborn baby Jesus in the crèche at church, and in our hearts at home. We were a changed family, renewed by the nativity of our Lord and refreshed by a break from the usual rat race.

School starts today, and we must emerge from our pilgrimage, our own encounter with Jesus during the Christmas season. We must return to our “country” – the work and school schedules that keep us a bit too busy. The question I ponder today, the challenge I give myself, is what “way” we will choose for our return. As a mother, it is a part of my vocation to lead my children along the path of their spiritual journey. I desire to encourage them to journey with me along a new, enhanced route. Buoyed by love for Jesus Christ and by his commission to share his good news with others, we set out on the next phase of our journey. Like the Magi, we are changed, converted, and better for having spent time in his presence. Like them, I hope we as a family can choose a new way, a path that eventually leads us and those we love to life with him forever in heaven.

Rosary Effort

“I look to all of you, brothers and sisters of every state of life, to you, Christian families, to you, the sick and elderly, and to you, young people: confidently take up the Rosary once again. Rediscover the Rosary in the light of Scripture, in harmony with the liturgy, and in the context of your daily lives. May this appeal of mine not go unheard!”
Pope John Paul II

A special thank you to my friend, CatholicMom.com columnist and the talented writer Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle. Donna-Marie wrote me today to share the following good news:

If you would like to donate used or new Rosary beads to be sent around the world in my ministry to promote the Rosary, please send them to me at: PO Box 773, New Milford, CT 06776 USA. Please do not send broken Rosaries at this time because I am presently not able to repair them. Please say a prayer for this ministry. You may also donate money (check or money order) for Rosaries to be purchased and to help pay for postage to send these Rosaries around the world. Presently I will be sending Rosaries to India. Thank you for your contribution to this ministry. May God bless you!

Click here to visit Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle's web site for additional information.

I'm superstitious about things like Rosaries. For whatever reason, I receive tons of mailings from various religious organizations. If they weren't from orders of saintly sisters, fathers and brothers, I would likely call them "junk mail". They often contain rosaries and other religious artifacts. I can never throw them away, so I have a large basket in my office and they are all there, being collected. Now I know that I can send those rosaries to Donna-Marie, and that they will go to a good home. Thank goodness!

Last Weekend of Fun

My boys head back to school on Monday, so life will be back to the routine - driving, feeding, practices, lessons, homework and all of that fun. We've been spending the past few days goofing off, and we intend to continue doing so all weekend. Blogging has been light, and will continue that way until Monday morning. I expect to have a case of the blues- I always dread sending my boys back to school.

Yesterday, however, was a good reminder of why I can't homeschool. Adam and I are working on a science project he has for some extra credit. It involves growing a "crystal garden". Yesterday morning found the two of us huddled around the sink and stove, boiling and disintergrating minerals. There were measuring spoons, a kitchen scale, and rubber gloves involved. There was also a big mess, three spills and a spider carcass which accidentally fell into one of our solutions. We decided to leave the spider in the solution - Adam thought it would add some "coolness" and an added scientific effect to the experiment. The back of my sink is now covered with four containers, each holding a rock and a gooey liquid "solution". We do not, as yet, see any sign of crystals forming. Granted, it has not yet been 24 hours, but I'm anxious for science to begin occuring! Did I mention that I'm terrible at science? Dad, the doctor, truly should have been the one to oversee this process, but alas he was at work. Besides, he likely would have suggested removal of the dead spider.

If we homeschooled, we'd probably do all literature and writing and zero math and science. We'd likely stay in our PJs every day until noon, and we'd probably take too many video game breaks while mom/teacher checked her emails.

I'm not sure if we're going to get any crystals or gardens out of the goo, but we did have a fun time together yesterday morning. Stay tuned, and I'll let you know what happens!

Sorry...

There will be no second half of the Sugar Bowl Catholic Mom play by play...I have to go watch Adam's fencing lesson...
I'm hoping to come home and find my husband in a happier mood.
Go Irish!

Catholic Schools Week

Reader Tammy wrote to remind me that Catholic Schools Week is coming up - this year we'll celebrate from 1/28 - 2/3. She's looking for fun craft or game activity ideas for her Kindergarten students. Does anyone have any suggestions? Comment below or email me at Lisa@catholicmom.com to share your thoughts.

New Edition of "To Teach"

The USCCB's excellent online Catholic Education resource "To Teach" for January is now available online - it contains great ideas for both Catholic parents and Catholic educators. Click here to view.

Oh No!

The Tigers managed to score right before the end of the first half, which means we go into half time down by seven and my men will spend the half time grumbling! Let's hope for a better second half!

Irish Score!

With 2:25 remaining in the first half, it's nice to hear the strains of the Notre Dame Victory March as the Irish score to tie the score at 14!

Let's Go Irish!

I'm posting this towards the tail end of the first half of the Sugar Bowl, and it's not looking good for the Irish. I've broken out the laptop to try to avoid the tension that is going on in my family TV room - Dad and Eric are not happy campers now that the Irish are trailing 14 to 7 and not looking too sharp. I love my husband, but it's tough being in the same room with him when the Irish aren't playing well!

I've been scouring the crowd shots since my Daddy, sister Brady, brother in law Matt and nephew Patrick are at the game. So far, I haven't seen them, but I'll bet my Daddy's having a great time! There are very few things that are more fun than attending a Notre Dame bowl game...especially one where they win!

I have to admit that while I'm rooting for the Irish, it was wonderful to watch the "pre-game stuff" featuring the Sugar Bowl's return to the Super Dome. How remarkable it is to think that it's been just over a year since the horrific shots we saw of Hurricane Katrina.

OK, time to go back and watch a bit more of the game...let's hope things start clicking for the Irish!

Apostolate Needs Our Help

Many of us are familiar with the wonderful work being done by Johnnette Benkovic through her Women of Grace and Living His Life Abundantly ministries. You may also be aware that her apostolate is going through some severe financially difficulties at this time. I know that you were hit around the holidays by all kinds of people asking for money for worthy causes, but if you have a bit of financial support and prayer to spare, visit Johnnette's web site and make a small donation. Her example of faith translated into action is a role model for all of us and she deserves our support.

Christmas Continues

Wait, before you start putting away those Christmas decorations (yep, it's on my list too!), remember that we Catholics are just in the middle of our lovely season of Christmas. In that light, please take a moment to read columnist Pat Gohn's latest, entitled Piano Lessons for Christmas. I've long believed in the power of Christmas miracles, and Pat's column is a heart warming reflection on the true blessings of Christmas. Thanks Pat and happy playing!

New Catholic Publishing Company

Congratulations to my cyber pal Cheryl Dickow for the recent article in the Tidings announcing her formation of a new Catholic publishing company, Bezalel Books. You may remember my recent interview with Cheryl about her wonderful book, Reclaiming Your Christian Self in a Secular World.

Cheryl's plans include publication of a Catholic fiction series for women and publication of other authors' Catholic fiction titles as well. You all know that I'm constantly stating we need more Catholic fiction, so Cheryl's work is to be commended and should be supported by all of us. Her first title, Elizabeth, A Holy Land Pilgrimage, sounds wonderful and will be on my must read list. Look for it at our Catholic Mom Book Club after it's publication in February.

Magazine for Girls

Rebekah and Bernadette of St. Maria's Messenger Magazine for girls have written me requesting that I remind you about their wonderful resource for young ladies. Being a mom of two boys, I haven't had occasion to read this magazine yet, but I've heard very good things about it. Congratulations to these two faith filled young Catholic women for the great work they are doing!

Transitions

One of the world's best Mommies is probably having a stressful day today. She heads back to work after spending the past few months cuddling her second born son, nursing from sunrise to sunset with breaks to play with her active two year old.

This particular Mommy has a dual vocation as a lawyer, and she's a very good one. With the work she does, she makes her community and our world a better place. I'm sure when her alarm went off this morning (probably when it was still dark outside), she longed for another week (or month) of maternity leave. But she got up, hit the floor running, and likely had a hectic time getting herself and her family out the door.

I'm not worried about this particular Mommy, because I know she's one of those wonder-women who have the capacity, intellect and heart to do all that needs to be done. She may be doubting that this morning, as she sits amidst files, stacks of emails and calls that need to be returned. But I know her, and I know she and her baby are going to get through this day and joyously reunite for more nursing in not-too-many hours.

For this particular Mommy, and for all of us who face transitions, struggles, and challenges today, let us remind ourselves that God is good and that He loves us. Let's remember that He is there for us when we face times of difficulty and stress - turning to Him in a moment of quiet time may be just the answer when the going feels tough.

Don't worry Mommy, I'm praying overtime for you today!

Happy 2007!

Here in California, it's still officially New Year's Day, so I haven't yet broken my resolution to attempt to blog (however briefly) each weekday. I've heard from many who begin their workdays with a visit to Catholic Mom Moments or take a portion of their lunch break to visit this little blog. For you, and for me (because sharing my thoughts here has become therapeutic), I commit to making a better effort to write here most days of the week.

Has your year gotten off to a great start? Had I blogged at the beginning of the day, you might have gotten a laundry list of the Lisa Hendey Resolution List, version 2007.1. (Release of version 2007.2 anticipated around Ash Wednesday, February 21, 2007).

But since I've been so busy today, you get the pared down version of the New Year's post and a report that my 2007 is off to a wonderful start. Like many of you, I've used the occasion of a new calendar year to clarify priorities, to identify areas of focus in my spiritual and personal life that need refinement, and to reflect back on the many wonderful memories of 2006. When I take a peak back at my blog entries from the past year, I'm amazed at all of the fun and growing our family experienced in the past year. For better or for worse, my January 1, 2006 resolution blog post still rings awfully true to me. My goals and hopes haven't changed much from last year - perhaps it's a blessing that I'm optimistic enough to continue to believe that self improvement is worth the effort, no matter how long it may take!

My cheeks are rosy and burning from the cold night air - I just returned from my first long walk of 2007. It looked like it wasn't going to happen, as it was getting late, dark and cold. But I decided to bundle up and head out, and I'm glad I did. It gave me a few quiet moments to thank God for the gift of this day, my family and my life. Another example of "better late than never" and a reminder to me that a missed morning workout doesn't have to mean a skipped day of exercise (and the same relates to morning prayer, scripture reading, laundry duty or whatever else I haven't managed to accomplish at the appointed time).

If you are still contemplating how to make 2007 your best year yet, I would point you to a wonderful column at Catholic Exchange by my favorite Personal Productivity blogger and coach Mike St. Pierre. His cover article entitled "Catholicity and Balance: How to Stress Less and Achieve More" is a fantastic piece of motivation and inspiration. I make Mike's blog a daily stop in my internet travels.

Speaking of traveling, you may want to take a look at a new little web site I'm putting together for our family. I'm a proud new Mac owner, and I've been playing around with my new .mac account and have built a little family site. If you visit, you can see photos from our Christmas celebration and our camping trip to San Diego. That's right, we became the proud owners of an 11 year old 23 foot travel trailer and spent the past five days "camping" (if you can call it that when the campground has cable tv hookups!). After spending five days living together in 180 square feet, we are blessedly all still speaking! It was a great trip with no RV disasters and lots of adventures and fun.

Who knows what tomorrow holds, but if today's any indication, 2007 is going to be my best year yet! Hope yours is off to a great start too!