How to Ensure a Peaceful Advent Season
Sarah Damm details a plan to allow more time for family, friends, and holiday traditions as you experience a peaceful, prayerful Advent season.
4 Ways to Live Liturgically This Fall
Wondering how to live liturgically during autumn’s ordinary days? Sarah Damm shares simple and meaningful ideas that promise not to overwhelm.
Being Present to November: It’s Not Christmas Yet
If I had to guess the calendar date based on my favorite store’s décor, I would get it wrong. Fall pumpkins, cornucopias, and leafy garlands are nowhere to be found. Only messy remnants of Halloween remain on the clearance racks. Instead, I see Christmas trees, twinkle lights, and stockings. Signs and symbols of December, not early November. Whenever I see Christmas coming too early, I feel rushed and anxious. Suddenly, I think I am behind, as if I’ve missed a…
Less is More: Building, Establishing, and Filling Spaces
Today is Day 24 of Resetting the Rhythms of Life. This week, we are focusing on our fourth (and final) theme: Refreshing Our Homes. So far, we have reflected and pondered about how we want to abide within our homes and how we pray within our homes. Today, let’s get a little practical. Let’s make a plan. Not a complete overhaul … but a gentle, intentional plan to be wise about our homes … how we abide in them and…
Celebrating the Saints This Halloween With New Greeting Cards
As a little girl, I was always a little apprehensive about Halloween. I liked dressing up and feasting on candy, but some neighbors down the street created this haunted house experience in their front yard, and I wanted nothing to do with it. I don’t know if I just didn’t like feeling scared or if I actually sensed a type of evil in their decorations. What I do know is that it caused Halloween to be one of my least…
Open Book: What I’m Reading This October
Well, I started writing this Open Book post in September, but life happened, and I never got around to publishing it. As I turned the calendar to the new month of October, I was bound and determined to join Carolyn Astfalk and friends for this month’s Open Book feature on CatholicMom.com. And here I am! Do you find that your reading patterns change with the seasons? Summer seems to be the perfect time to read a little romance. They are easy, quick reads that…
Daybook :: The World of Octobers + Day 12 :: 31 Days With Mary
Outside my window … It is mid-October, and I wore shorts on Saturday. Today, the air has shifted, and it feels much more like October. The leaves have not been as vibrant this year, and I don’t know why. Every bright red and vivid orange tree I see makes me smile. Thanking God for … * The month of October … my favorite * Beautiful fall weather … it seems like the fall is taking its time * Bright…
Embracing Change by Leaning on God
As I look out my window, I notice the glorious changes taking place in nature. Bright green summer leaves are transforming to yellow, orange and red. There is a crispness in the once-warm breeze, and I notice pumpkins sitting on my neighbor’s porch. It is the first day of fall. Today begins my very favorite season of the year. I love the warm hues that paint the landscape, the weather that provides a chance to dig out the cozy sweaters…
Daybook :: Back-to-School Edition
Yeah, I know that daybooks are normally published on Mondays … But Thursday’s the day for me this week! I hope I’m not breaking too many blogging rules! Today, is August 27. My oldest daughter starts a new school (junior high!) today. Next week, four of my children begin their school year, and the day after Labor Day starts my youngest’s second year of preschool. Yes, we are wrapping up our summer and gearing up for a new school year. I…
A Month of Thanksgiving
Yesterday, November 1 and the Feast of All Saints Day, I saw a lovely illustration that caught my attention. It welcomed this quiet month with tranquility, and it made me think for just a moment about the importance of savoring November. http://www.rosehilldesigns.blogspot.com This year, as we approached All Hallow’s Eve, someone asked me if I had started my Christmas shopping. She recalled that one year I did all my shopping in October, but that also was the year I was…