by Catherine | May 9, 2018 | Podcast
This past month, I started making some changes to how I approach my days. I used to jam-pack my schedule and rush from one thing to the next. Now, I’m bringing my planner to my prayer time, and I’m choosing my “Big 3” things that I hope to accomplish each day. Most days, I limit myself to my morning prayer, exercise, and 1 other task. I’m noticing that keeping my to-do list shorter and more focused is helping me to connect with the people in my life on a deeper level. I’m calling this my “Mother’s Ministry of Presence.” In this episode, I shared how I’m seeing that Ministry of Presence bear fruit at the grocery store and within my parish.
Links to things mentioned in this episode:
Questions for You:
- Are you like me and try to maximize your time and things off of your to-do list, running frantically from one thing to the next? In your rushing, are you treating people like speed bumps and barriers to rush past?
- Can you think of a person you encounter on a regular basis that you can make time to have a more meaningful encounter? Bank teller? Grocery store cashier? Neighbor? A child’s teacher?
- Does your parish have some sort of a Mentor Mom or “Adopt a Grandparent” ministry? What does it look like?
- I want to hear how you’re slowing down and having a Ministry of Presence for the people around you. Please send me your stories!
Get in touch! Send questions or topic suggestions my way. As always, you can e-mail me at podcastATcatherineboucherDOTcom or find me on Facebook or Instagram
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by Catherine | May 1, 2018 | Podcast
If you had any doubts as to whether or not God has a sense of humor, listen to the story of how today’s guest and I met. Today, Brenda and I talked all things books, and we got to do a little literary matchmaking.
Some of Brenda’s Childhood favorites:
Brenda’s current reader profile:
- 70% fiction to 30% non-fiction
- fiction is mostly historical (favorite period is early to mid 20th century)
- Nonfiction is mostly parenting, biography, or memoir
- almost all e-books, mostly from the library
Topics covered:
- how Brenda makes reading happen as a mother of 3 young children (Libby, by OverDrive on the phone)
- how she finds the books she reads
- how we feel about being a “book breaker-upper” (and how Brenda wishes she were different in this regard)
- Brenda’s current roadblocks to having the reading life she wants
- how she feels about her endings and what she needs in her characters
Literary matchmaking with Brenda (format unabashedly borrowed from the What Should I Read Next? Podcast by Anne Bogel)
- Favorites
- What wasn’t for her
- Current reads
- What she wishes was different in her reading life
My Recommendations for Brenda:
Brenda’s Recommendations for me:
Closing Questions:
- Go back in time. What advice do you have for new mama Brenda?
- What’s something (big or small) that’s making your life easier lately?
Questions for you, listener:
- A Series of Unfortunate Events – what do you think about these books? Have you read them? Have your children? Would you recommend them for your kids?
- What do you think of my book recommendations for Brenda? Do you have any titles to add to my list?
- Do you celebrate May Day? What does your family do?
- Don’t you think Jennifer Fulwiler should add Lincoln, NE to her book tour for One Beautiful Dream? Me too!
For those who asked about it, here is the First Communion Novena we prayed with Jane leading up to her big day.
Get in touch! Send questions or topic suggestions my way. As always, you can e-mail me at podcastATcatherineboucherDOTcom or find me on Facebook or Instagram
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by Catherine | Apr 25, 2018 | Podcast
Jane received her First Holy Communion last Saturday, and she came on the podcast to share about her experience.
Hooray for helpers! Jenny and Bekah, thank you for everything you did to help make Jane’s First Holy Communion a peaceful, prayerful day!
Question: How does your parish handle seating during First Holy Communion Mass? Do the First Communicants sit by themselves? Do families sit together?
Our awesome find at the local Catholic bookstore – St. Joseph Daily and Sunday Missal (3-volume set, leather, zippered)
Prayer request: GodTeens finale Mass on Sunday. Please pray for our GodTeens and all of the graduating seniors as they discern their next chapter. May God keep them close and may they always lean on Him.
Husker Catholic Candlelit Rosary this Sunday, April 29th 8-9 p.m. (surround the border of UNL’s campus)
Get in touch! Send questions or topic suggestions my way. As always, you can e-mail me at podcastATcatherineboucherDOTcom or find me on Facebook or Instagram
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by Catherine | Apr 17, 2018 | Podcast
This week’s recap:
How We Did Disney
- Our luggage
- Where we stayed: Bay Lake Tower at the Contemporary Resort
- Airplane survival
- Pre-order groceries and had them delivered to the resort room from Garden Grocer
- Double stroller rental from Magic Strollers
- Coppertone Water Babies Sunscreen
- Advice: Have a plan if you get separated!
- Memorize mom and dad’s cell phone numbers
- “Find a mom with kids like you guys, and ask them if you can call your mom”
- What’s your game plan?
- FastPass+
- MagicBands
- Get a Decision Game Plan: Who’s making the decisions?
- Make the decision
- Communicate the decision
- Support the decision-maker
- Mobile Food and Beverage Ordering through the Disney App
- Food is ready for you when you arrive. Ready food = happy little people (and happy parents!)
- HALT (Are you Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired?)
- Take care of all of those needs to avoid BIG emotions!
- Our favorite rides (keeping in mind we didn’t do a ton of rides and were with young kiddos)
- Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular (Hollywood Studios firework show)
- Evening ritual anchor to end first day of travel (for us, that was our read-aloud time)
- Travel during Holy Week (pros and cons)
- Consider going during a cooler time of year to increase your little ones’ endurance!
- Pro of going with young kids: they’re into the magic of meeting the characters, and they get so much sheer JOY from the trip!
How do YOU do Disney? Any tips or tricks to share?
Get in touch! Send questions or topic suggestions my way. As always, you can e-mail me at podcastATcatherineboucherDOTcom or find me on Facebook or Instagram
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by Catherine | Apr 11, 2018 | Podcast
After giving my weekly recap, I shared about my annual visit to the dermatologist’s office. Our conversation about my hormonal acne treatment options led to a great discussion about NFP (specifically the Marquette Method) and how it works.
Links/Resources Mentioned in this episode:
For next time: Do you have any questions about Disney World or travel in general with young kids? Philip’s coming on the show next week to talk about our trip and answer your questions.
As always, you can e-mail me at podcastATcatherineboucherDOTcom or find me on Facebook or Instagram
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