Take time to be a family

Silly to even type it isn't it?  Aren't we always a family, in our family, with our family?  Perhaps.  Perhaps not.

The holidays are fast approaching - Thanksgiving, Advent, Christmas and more -  and I just want to remind us that in the midst of all the work of the holidays let us please take some time to be a family.  

Sit and talk, enjoy the time, share expectations and excitement.  Don't rush so quickly from one event to another that you don't enjoy the family you have been given.

Today's is the 1st Little Flower's Birthday

Today is Maggie's 21st birthday (Amelia was 19 on the 9th of this month).  Those two girls are the first of the Little Flowers.  I am in awe of what God has done in my family through their lives.  They are both serving Christ and His Church as Consecrated members of Regnum Christi (as is Joan's daughter Elizabeth).

In spite of our flaws as parents, our mistakes in raising them, God called them and they answered yes!   I miss them greatly but send my love via letters, phone calls, e-mails but more importantly through the doors of the Tabernacle and through the arms of our Blessed Mother Mary.

Your prayers for their vocations - and the vocations of all the LF throughout the world - are appreciated on this day.

Calling Virtue Virtue and Vice a Vice

Just encouraging you to remember that one of the easiest ways to 'teach' virtues is to make them part of your family life.  In other words, remember to compliment your child when they are industrious, tell them that sharing their toys is the charitable thing to do.  Being good at Mass is the best way to show love of God.

But also let them know that they can tend towards grumpiness and should try for joy!  Using the big words may seem intimidating but they are smarter than we give them credit for.  

Can't remember them (neither can I!), so print out the list of virtues from the wreaths so you have the right word for the right moment.

May God and the Little Flower bless you and all of your little flowers.

Be assured of my prayers - Rachel

I've got a piece on Catholic Exchange

If you have the time, please check out my piece on "The Shack" on Catholic Exchange today.  This subject - Catholic books vs. non-Catholic books is one I have pondered and thought about for a long time.  

If you read the piece you will certainly know how I feel about the subject.  I have grave concerns about handing anyone a 'Christian' book without making sure it is not heretical in any form.  And that is not always easy to determine - at least for me.

I think we must be especially careful when it comes to our kids.  I know friends who let their kids read the "Left Behind" series because it was 'Christian' not willing to admit that it taught a really, troublesome heresy (and was anti-Catholic in some places).  

In the comment section of the piece on CE, someone asked about C.S. Lewis.  I feel his writings would pass muster in that while he was not a Catholic, none of his writings said anything that went against Catholic teachings.  

Something to think about.

NEW WEB ADDRESS

If you are trying to order Little Flowers items and have our old AOL address bookmarked, please change your bookmark to: www.eccehomopress.com

AOL has completely erased their member websites and there is no way to forward from the old website. Thanks! 

New Book I really like

I was asked to review "Olivia and the Little Way" by Nancy Carabio Belanger.  I will admit I was hesitant as I have been asked to read and review other Catholic materials that I found disappointing.

Not so with this book.  This book - recommended for 8 and up - is a really nice book, wonderfully Catholic.  It tells the story of Olivia and her new school, her introduction to St. Therese and the Little Way.  I honestly will say I really liked it being a 'modern' story w/ modern struggles and challenges.  Our daughters need to see their faith as it plays out in a life that might be their own and Olivia just might be that girl.

Both my 14 yr. old and 10 yr. old have read it and both enjoyed it very much.  While the 14 yr. old recognized that it was written for girls a bit younger than herself it was, as she said, "a really good book and I learned more about St. Therese and met her on a personal level than a paragraph in a saint's book."

My 10 yr. old says, "I loved it.  It really touched me and now I love St. Therese and I am inspired to try to do better and try to treat Mom and Dad a bit better."  (Boy, what parent doesn't want to hear that!!!!)  My 8 yr. old is next in line and I'm eager to see how she likes the book as I think she and St. Therese will get along very well.

I am not the type of person who says - Go out and buy this book now!  But with Christmas right around the corner this would make a great present!  You can go to www.littleflowerbook.com for more info.

Game Ideas

On the Leaders' loop I was asked for some game ideas.  I didn't have one immediately on hand but did offer some of my favorite book titles for game ideas.  It has been on my mind, for quite some time, to create a game book for LF but don't know if that is a real need.  What do you think?

Let us know and we could certainly start on it.  Here are a few of my favorite game books (should be available at your library):

Hopscotch, Hangman, Hot Potato and Ha Ha Ha:  A Rulebook for Children's Games by Jack McGuire

Miss Mary Mack and Other Children's Street Rhymes by Joanna Cole

The Ultimate Playground and Recess Game Book by Guy Bailey