![New Year, New 'Do for Janie]()
by Catherine | Jan 4, 2012 | Family
Janie’s hair was looking shaggy. Here she is, shortly after Christmas, trying on my vest.
I asked Philip to take Janie for a quick haircut at the nearest Super Cuts after dinner. Nothing but the best for our little princess!
Can I tell you how much I love having a husband who’s willing to take our daughter to get her haircut? I suppose we both have the mentality that the worst that could happen is a bad haircut that will grow out.
I asked Philip to tell the hairstylist to please trim Jane’s hair to just below her chin and to clean up her bangs. We ended up with a short, short bob, but Jane can rock it.
Her hair’s wet in these pics because she had just had her evening bath, but you get the general idea.
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| Janie + Barney = BFF |
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| Bedtime story with Daddy |
Nighty, night, sweetie!
![New Year, New ‘Do for Janie]()
by Catherine | Jan 4, 2012 | Family
Janie’s hair was looking shaggy. Here she is, shortly after Christmas, trying on my vest.
I asked Philip to take Janie for a quick haircut at the nearest Super Cuts after dinner. Nothing but the best for our little princess!
Can I tell you how much I love having a husband who’s willing to take our daughter to get her haircut? I suppose we both have the mentality that the worst that could happen is a bad haircut that will grow out.
I asked Philip to tell the hairstylist to please trim Jane’s hair to just below her chin and to clean up her bangs. We ended up with a short, short bob, but Jane can rock it.
Her hair’s wet in these pics because she had just had her evening bath, but you get the general idea.
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| Janie + Barney = BFF |
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| Bedtime story with Daddy |
Nighty, night, sweetie!
![Let the Children Come to Me]()
by Catherine | Dec 30, 2011 | Faith, Family
This year, we started after-dinner singing in front of the Advent wreath and Nativity scene. I’ve found Jane going over to the buffet table where they’re resting to look at them throughout the day.
Here she is, looking at the Advent wreath and Nativity scene during one of our singing sessions.
She loves pointing out the different figures in the Nativity scene, blowing out the Advent wreath candles from afar–even when they’re not lit, and singing her own rendition of “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” It sounds a lot like “O Come, O Come, O coooooooooooooooooooome.”
Yesterday, I was folding laundry in the living room. Jane ran off with the laundry basket, and I heard her banging it in front of the buffet table. This could only mean one thing. She was on a mission to see Baby Jesus. I grabbed the camera to catch this:
Sure enough, I found her, standing on top of the overturned laundry basket, peering into the stable. Before she saw me, I watched her wave into the stable and say, “Hi, Jesus!” She picked up the Baby Jesus out of the manger, brought him to her chest in a hug, said, “Awwwwwwww, I love you, Jesus” and then gave him a big kiss with a “Muwah!”
Oh, man. Talk about an “I could just eat you up” moment! I couldn’t help but let out a “Awwwww” of my own.
When Janie realized she’d been spotted, she said, “Mama! Look! Jesus! Mawwy! Jo-sip! Cow! Flying!” She had to show me all of the players in the Nativity scene.
To convince her to leave the Nativity scene in peace (and not in pieces!), I told her that Jesus was tired and that he needed to go night-night. She stuck him back in the manger. “Night-night, Jesus! Shhhhh, Mama! Jesus sleeping!”
![Catholicism Series by Fr. Robert Barron]()
by Catherine | Dec 29, 2011 | Faith
Finding out about the Catholic Faith has never been made easier or more fun thanks to the Catholicism Series by Fr. Robert Barron!
Fr. Robert Barron created a groundbreaking program for adults to explore what Catholics believe and why. The program “uses the art, architecture, literature, music and all the treasures of the Catholic tradition to illuminate the timeless teachings of the Church.”
- Ten compelling episodes from the series on DVD. Filmed in 50 locations throughout 15 countries, the CATHOLICISM DVDs reveal these truths in a visually-breath taking and compelling way, with original, high-definition cinematography.
- A companion study lesson written by Carl Olson for each DVD, complete with extensive commentary, questions for understanding and also questions for application to each participant’s own life.
- CATHOLICISM: Journey to the Heart of the Faith, a companion book based on a more detailed rendering of the scripts from the DVD series
- Leader’s Program Kit, including facilitator’s guide and study guide answer key
- Promotional materials to announce the upcoming program in your location
- Spanish and English subtitles included in each DVD set
- Can be experienced in 12 or 22 sessions
Fortunately, several parishes are offering the series for their parishoners so that they need only pay for the study materials. My parish, for example, is offering the 12-week series for parishoners, and they’re providing childcare. Philip and I are looking forward to having a weekly date night where we can find out more about our faith at the same time!
If your parish isn’t offering the Catholicism series, maybe another parish will. Call your archdiocesan office, check their website, ask at your local Catholic bookstore. There are so many phenomenal formation opportunities–we need only seek them out.
Don’t just take my word for it. Watch and read the endorsements of the program by other prominent Catholics such as Archbishop Timothy Dolan (Archbishop of New York City), George Weigel (Biographer of Blessed John Paul II), Tom Peterson (Founder and Creator of the Catholics Come Home®), and many more.
![First Christmas Without Them]()
by Catherine | Dec 21, 2011 | Faith, Family
As beautiful and joyous as Christmastime can be, it can be equally painful for those still suffering from the loss of a loved one–especially if this is their first Christmas without them.
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| James Ferdinand Irwin’s family singing carols at early family reunion Christmas celebration marking safe return of sons fr. WWII (L-R) Mr. Irwin, Scotty, Carolyn, Betty Roush, Jim, Myra Lee Love, Jack, Jeanne Haney, Mrs. Irwin, Jeff Haney, Levern Love, Beth Love.© Time Inc. Myron Davis (Photo found on: http://kcmeesha.com/2009/12/06/old-photos-old-timey-christmas/) |
The EWTN online Advent devotional I’ve been reading throughout Advent suggests sending a letter to someone you know who has lost a loved one this last year. Today’s blog post “A Different Kind of Christmas List” by Jennifer Fulwiler suggests doing the same.
It’s so easy in the hustle, bustle, and excitement of the season to forget about those who are feeling alone and in pain. In her blog post, Fulwiler shares the words of two people who recently lost a loved one. They said that they felt alone in their pain during Christmas and that those who gave them a phone call, sent an e-mail, or wrote a card lifted them up.
Fulwiler took the idea of writing the letter further. She says this is what she’s going to do:
I’m going to write a list of the contact information of people I know who may be aching for lost loved ones, and bring it with me to my Christmas celebrations. And in the midst of the hustle and bustle of Christmas day, I’ll carve out time to send an email or make a quick phone call to let them know I’m thinking of them, and that they’re in my prayers.
I love that she’s keeping the physical list of people with her as she runs errands, goes to Christmas parties, attends Mass, etc. It’s a tangible reminder to keep those people and their deceased loved ones in prayer.
I’m stealing this idea. Since I’m at home more than I’m out and about, I’m posting these people’s names on my bathroom medicine cabinet and kitchen counter. That way, after the letters are written, I am still reminded to continue to lift them up in prayer.
The corporal and spiritual works of mercy are on my brain since my 8th grade religious education students are learning them. In addition to comforting your loved one, this simple action lives out two spiritual works of mercy: comforting the afflicted and praying for the living and the dead.
Do you know someone who could use a phone call, e-mail, or letter?
