Thanks to the beloved Deacon Tom Fox for sharing the following bit of inspiration for Moms everywhere:

REAL MOTHERS

Real Mothers don’t eat quiche;
They don’t have time to make it.

Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils
Are probably in the sandbox.

Real Mothers often have sticky floors,
Filthy ovens and happy kids.

Real Mothers know that dried play dough
Doesn’t come out of carpets.

Real Mothers don’t want to know what
The vacuum just sucked up…….

Real Mothers sometimes ask ‘Why me?’
And get their answer when a little
Voice says, ‘Because I love you best.’

Real Mothers know that a child’s growth
Is not measured by height or years or grade…
It is marked by the progression of Mommy to Mom to Mother…..

The Images of Mother

4 YEARS OF AGE – My Mommy can do anything!

8 YEARS OF AGE – My Mom knows a lot! A whole lot!

12 YEARS OF AGE – My Mother doesn’t know everything!

14 YEARS OF AGE – My Mother? She wouldn’t’ have a clue.

16 YEARS OF AGE – Mother? She’s so five minutes ago.

18 YEARS OF AGE – That old woman? She’s way out of date!

25 YEARS OF AGE – Well, she might know a little bit about it!

35 YEARS OF AGE – Before we decide, let’s get Mom’s opinion.

45 YEARS OF AGE – Wonder what Mom would have thought about it?

65 YEARS OF AGE – Wish I could talk it over with Mom.

The beauty of a Mother is not in the clothes she wears, the figure she
carries, or the way she combs her hair.
The beauty of a Mother  must be seen from in her eyes,
Because that is the doorway to her heart,
The place where love resides.
The beauty of a Mother is not in a facial mole,
But true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.
It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she
Shows, and the beauty of a Mother with years only grows!

Have you taken time lately to thank your mom, your friends who are moms, and the many out there caring for children “no matter where they come from”?

So let’s start with the good news.  As reported by Zenit yesterday, Cardinal Ennio Antonelli, the President of the Pontifical Council for the Family, is calling for financial and professional perks for families stressing that “domestic work deserves economic recognition.”

I loved this section of the Zenit article:

The Vatican official noted that raising a family and seeking a career outside the home are compatible for women, but he urged support services: day care centers in businesses and neighborhoods, and for the elderly and handicapped, other social services.

He also pointed out the importance of offering women a “variety of opportunities in professional work: part-time work, telework, flexibility of hours and vacations.”

I don’t expect anyone to be sending me a paycheck soon for my laundry duties, but it is wonderful that our church leaders are setting a high bar in recognition of the service moms provide both to our families and to the world around us.  We’ll watch as this one unfolds…

And now to the mom news that made me do a double-take – Kate Gosselin on Dancing with The Stars.  Seriously??!!  I am having a hard time wrapping my mind around the concept of a single mom of eight finding time in her day to watch that show, let alone to dance on it.  In this video of her from last night’s Jimmy Kimmel show, she explains her game plan for practicing.  But I still have my doubts.  I think it’s great that Kate is not dragging the kids in front of the camera for this project (although I’ll bet we see them on the show), but I just wonder how all of this is going to work out.  I guess we’ll see…  If you think this is a good idea for Kate and her kids, I’d love to hear from you!

Video Link

It hasn’t always been this way in my life.  I honestly have few recollections of childhood Lenten seasons, outside of fleeting memories of Friday night fish fry dinners and Good Friday stations of the cross.

For many years in my marriage, I hated Lent.  Ironically, serving on our parish’s RCIA team should have made me love Lent even more, but in my heart it was a constant reminder that my husband was not Catholic.  Seeing candidates and catechumens filled with joy as they progressed toward the Easter vigil too often tore at my heart.  Instead of focusing on my own Lenten journey, I myopically obsessed about what wasn’t happening in my husband’s spiritual life.

Greg’s conversion story is fodder for another post, but let me just say that in accepting his situation as it was then, after too many years of grief and envy, I learned to find peace in Lent, and now to truly love this beautiful season of our liturgical calendar.  We moms may feel so responsible for making sure everyone else in our families are doing Lent “right” that we neglect our own 40 days of fasting, prayer and almsgiving.

I am not suggesting we not celebrate Lent as a family, but rather that we not fall into the trap of feeling dejected if our family celebration of the season is not picture perfect.  This week and in the days to come, we will read and hear about wonderful ways to celebrate together as a family.  For a few moments today, take the luxury of pondering your own Lenten journey, as you hope it will be.  Know of my prayers for each of you, wherever you find yourselves this Lent.  May it be a time of great spiritual fruit and peace in your lives!

CatholicMom.com Lenten Resources

During our tour of the NICU, Genevieve and I spent some time talking about how we wished we had been more educated about our health care options during our pregnancies.  I must admit that I gave absolutely no consideration to that horrible “what if” question and would have been completely unprepared had my boys needed neonatal intensive care services.  I thought about strollers, clothing, and a car seat, but not about what I would have done if one of my babies needed immediate treatment following his birth.  One of the things that is great about Genevieve’s new job is that she will have a voice to help new and first time moms think about these types of things before they actually might need to make a decision.

Strolling through the NICU and seeing the care being given to those tiny little treasures made my heart swell.  No mother wants to see her newborn preemie hooked up to equipment, but thankfully there are places like the Children’s Hospital of Central California where skilled and dedicated doctors and nurses are ready and waiting to help our children.

Do you have a local children’s hospital?  Have you—during your pregnancies or even now that you have children—given any thought to where you would go in the event of a health care emergency or crisis in your family?  Let’s say a prayer today, on the Feast of St. Blaise, for all of those providing health care services to our families.

Just send us your  favorite, best working, or funniest piece of motherly advice you’ve heard from your Mom, Grandmother, etc.  We’ll compile all the entries and pick our Top Five Favorites to win a signed copy of Lisa’s new book!  We’ll post all entries online and share the Top Five on YouTube, Facebook, CatholicSpotlight.com and more.

Email your entry to contest@catholiccompany.com; please include your full name, email address, and mailing address. No purchase is necessary. Submissions will be accepted now through February 14, 2010. Only one entry per person.  Participants must be 18 years of age or older as of the time of submission.  This contest is open to legal residents of the 50 United States and Washington, DC except for employees of The Catholic Company and Trinity Road, LLC, and all companies contributing prizes, judges, and members of their immediate families.

To build a little excitement, I filmed the following video today.  Please help spread the word by sharing this on your website, blog or podcast – and don’t forget to send your entry to contest@catholiccompany.com by 2/14/10.

My book is now available at The Catholic Company, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Aquinas and More, or a Catholic bookstore near you!


Video Link

Brian’s efforts have led to a special prayer service, to be held on St. Josephine Bakhita’s feast day, Monday, February 8th at 6:30 pm at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Portland, Oregon.  I hope that those of you living near Portland can gather at the prayer service for readings, reflections and music.  For the rest of us, those living outside Portland in warm homes with well cared for families, let us as mom pause for some quiet prayer time on February 8th to pray for St. Josephine Bakhita’s intercession in this global crisis.  For additional information, please visit the Global Health Promise website and please consider supporting this important effort.

“I am writing a longer piece for Laywitness on “mentor moms,”  focusing on the idea that  moms who are beyond the baby years have time and wisdom to share with their younger counterparts. Many churches in evangelical circles have established programs that bring younger moms and older moms together in those kinds of relationships.  In the Catholic circles I know of, these relationships seem to establsh themselves more informally or organically.

I would love to hear from your readers on two points:  If they are younger moms:  Would they be interested in a mentoring relationship with an older mom and, if so, what qualities would they look for? I’d love to hear their stories of moms who filled that role or how they found a mentor.  For older moms:  Are they open to sharing their time and wisdom?  What do they feel they have to give? How would they begin such a relationship (suggesting it to a younger mom or wait to be asked)? Again, I’d love to hear stories of the mentors in their own lives or how they have become involved in mentoring younger moms (however informallly).”

Can you help Mary with what promises to be a great article for moms?  Email her directly at catholicmentormoms@gmail.com to share your thoughts on this important topic.

In truth, that half hour of settling time is a luxury and one of the best parts of my week.  Most Sundays, I reread the Liturgy of the Word and jot a few words in the notebook I always carry with me – some of those notes deal with the readings.  There are also “to do” lists, shopping lists, prayer requests, story ideas, and just fleeting thoughts I need and want to capture before they are replaced in my mind.

Most moms don’t have this grace in their lives – I didn’t until very recently.  Sunday morning means finding the lost shoe, slicking the hair, cleaning spitup off the shoulder of the one dress you have clean, herding a passel of little ones into a minivan, refereeing fights, maneuvering the parking lot and arriving in the pew as the priest processed down the aisle – been there, done that!

Most moms feel anything but the serenity I know every Sunday morning – we continually rehash the age-old debates about how to get our tribe to sit peacefully for Mass.

I guess I just want those of you who are in the thick of that seemingly endless phase to know that a day will come when you may indeed miss all of that craziness, when you’ll have time to sit and pray and read.  The quiet will be all the more precious to you because of these years you’re spending without it.  The still will feel palpable, like a gift from God that you can never properly acknowledge.  And — believe it or not — you will look back longingly on the days of kneeler wars and lost good shoes.

During part of my quiet time every Sunday I pray for each of you — my mom sisters.  I may know you and your struggles personally, or I may never have the pleasure of meeting you in person.  But as we begin our celebration of National Vocation Awareness Week, you remain in my prayers.  The vocation we share, our state in life, is one of God’s greatest gifts.  Whether your Sunday is chaotic or quiet, your life as a mom is making a difference in this world.

Please briefly introduce yourself and your family.

My name is Lisa Howard and I am 32 years old. I have been married to my Husband, Adam for 5 and a half years and we have 3 children named Matilda who is 3 and a half years, Tristan who is 2 and a half years, and baby Quinlann who is now 12 months old.

I am a full time Mother and work from home part time, teaching singing to people of all ages.

Please share about your musical background- is this your first CD? What led you into the music field and enabled you to produce this lovely CD?

I have been classically trained as a Soprano since the age of 14and continue to have the occasional lesson for a “tune up”.  I completed my Associate Diploma of Music at the Australian Institute of Music and continued to perform in various shows for other musicians and directors (during my studies) as well as my own shows and solo work in Perth, Sydney and Overseas in London.

I now sing in my local parish as well as impromptu performances about town or for the promotion of the CD. My most recent and major performance was singing at the World Youth Day Festival at Darling Harbour in Sydney last year.

Whispers of My Spirit is my debut album.  I was led into the music field by my passion and the need to sing.

First of all I wanted to pursue a career in Musical Theatre, however, I was never content and didn’t really believe in what I was doing. It lacked my focus and vocal purpose……I just didn’t seem to fit in.

It wasn’t until I personally experienced the Love of God in my life after going back to the church, that I realised how much I desired to sing for God on all levels of my being.

When I began to sing in Church, people felt closer to God and became emotionally charged. It was through this, and my own faith walk, that I wanted to help people and give so much more than just singing at a Sunday Mass. I wanted to be instrumental in God’s healing Love through my singing and music.

I prayed, fasted and discerned about it a lot more than “usual”.  I had a desire and yearning to make a healing CD. I didn’t know when? or how? But I knew I would do it. It was through being open to God’s will and I would bump into musicians,  people in the industry, and  people from reputable music institutes.  They were able to help me, and could hear what I wanted to do.

The prospect of pursuing this project further on both sides was becoming evident. They were excited creatively, having not worked on a project similar to mine.  I may add that this discernment period became at times very frustrating due to many set backs along the way but the desire to continue was still there.

Can you tell us a bit about the process of selecting the songs for the CD and the actual recording process?

The selection of the 4 copyright songs completed the ‘healing’ theme for the CD and having sung them before they held a special place in my heart.

The 4 copyright songs on the CD were also fitting for the other 6 originals that were my own prayers, and they each flowed on from the other working towards ministry.

I wanted to make the CD a healing/prayerful journey opening up with ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ and ending it lightly with God’s blessing and reassurance, hence the last song being ‘The Lord Bless You and keep You’.

In regards to the recording process I had 2 solid hours every Saturday over a 10 week period, to work with an arranger and figure out musically how the songs were to be structured and the overall  musical theme and tune of the song.  We would quickly record them with the piano backing and then pass them through to another arranger/composer to complete the final orchestrations and have all the songs completed, edited ready for the real and final recording.

Being 7 and a half months pregnant for the final recording, time was of the essence due to the restrictions I had with breathing and the expectation of  solid vocal quality within the songs.  I worked one full solid day from 10am -5pm over a 3 and a half week period.

To cut down on major costs in regards to studio hiring and labour, the production manager maintained a state of the art home studio set up with hi-tech equipment and modern music programmes that had come about from the U.S.  This programme was very effective in helping me achieve the overall sound and feeling of the CD.

The music is predominantly piano and strings. The songs had been pre-recorded with the pianist and arranger making changes to suit the style and theme of the CD. This was also done in their own time, and we would maintain contact via the web. The backing music for the songs on the CD had previously been pre recorded and were ready to be used purely for the vocal recording.

In this instance, it reduced the amount of ‘recording live’ sessions, and the necessity of all the musicians together at one time, which was incredibly impossible due to their own work demands elsewhere.

As a busy wife and mum, how do you find the time for your music? How does being a mum impact upon your creative process?

My time for my music can range however, when I am doing monotonous chores like the dishes, I feel and hear God’s presence of music and will quickly jot down the words or tune.

During the children’s sleep time I try and journal  or just sit and contemplate. Praying the Rosary (sometimes not finished) helps me unwind as well.

I have been extremely blessed with a supportive husband who allows me to achieve and if it’s viable, he can take care of the children for a couple of hours on a week-end or week night.  Unity and compromise have won, however, this stage of our relationship can sometimes take little longer than others!

In the long run it means that we are both happy and supportive of each other, which works (prayer helps too).

Being a mum, I think makes me so much more creative than any other time for the reason, that every emotion and feeling within myself is challenged and discovered, it creates an opportunity to express that into song.

You experience love on so many levels because of the love you have for your children and this is a reflection of God’s love for us.  Love is always a core catalyst to express something creative and beautiful if it’s for someone or something.

Having 3 young dependant children I am very limited to my spare time that when I have an opportunity, I maximise it wisely and push that little bit further than what I could the day before. This keeps me focused on quality.

I may add that my continued pregnancies within this period made me more determined to finish what I started.

On a more serious level, the birth of my first baby Daughter was extremely traumatic and our lives were in God’s hands. I was tested severely in trusting God, my faith and how he allows situations to happen that aren’t joyful, but will one day fit a much greater and bigger picture in his plan for us.

It was through this experience I embraced Motherhood so soundly. I retreated more within myself to search and pray on a deeper level and the completion of my songs for the CD came about.  I had once again experienced God, and his healing Love for me on a deeper level than previously before.

It took a while to make the decision of “yes” I am going to physically make a CD and the time is nigh, because I was struggling with the fact that I had this most precious, gorgeous and healthy baby girl and I was loving Motherhood but I still yearned to sing and keep focused on my dream.

I felt guilty due to the fact I had achieved something so incredibly wonderful and I should just be content with that.

I experienced an inner struggle of thinking is this me and my human level of selfishness? Or is it really God’s will? as the desire consistently consumed my thoughts and who I was as a Mother and myself, Lisa Howard.

I have always been passionate about being a Mother and being able to maintain my singing alongside fulfilling my dreams and desires, particularly if they were from God. I kept asking in prayer that “surely with the grace and being Gods will it’s possible to combine both.”

I knew there was only one way to find out and that was to step out in faith and make the first move in getting started.

In a nut shell my introduction into Motherhood was raw and real, but through this initial phase, it catapulted me into making a healing CD with the completed written material content for my songs.

How has your faith journey influenced your work as a musician?

When I decided to come back to my faith, I experienced Gods love in an overwhelming way that my whole self and direction in life changed.

My Mum having been a witness to me during this moment, also had a deeper conversion and healing.  I realised in heart, mind, body and spirit that God had created me for his purpose and I was excited to find out.

My original plan didn’t work out, so I was open to letting go of everything and just wait on God seeing that he gave me life in the first place and I was prepared to give it back to him.

Through this year of transition and growth God took me on my own journey of healing and forgiveness of my past (prior to my daughter’s birth scenario) that I gained an understanding as to why I had made many mistakes and choices.

Over time I didn’t realise I had morphed myself into somebody I wasn’t. I was actually running away from the real me, who was actually a broken, vulnerable person and had been for a very long time. The career and life I was chasing was a bandaid I kept replacing.

It took grace to find this out and have a deeper understanding to the poignant questions in life.

In this particular year I continued to journal my experiences, and there a pattern emerged of prayers that were the actual beginning material for my songs on the CD.

I felt that one day I wanted to share Gods healing Love with so many. And I didn’t want the songs to be ‘fluffy’ , As Gods true joy is experienced in great suffering and we can truly appreciate a blessing when it comes.

I wanted the songs to portray the effect of our humanity with God, and the realness of our relationship with him.

Circumstances in life beyond our control can really hurt sometimes, but  become pivotal in changing our whole being and direct us to do something good, give purpose and most of all give God the Glory.

In embracing the cross I found who I was, what I was running from and what I needed to do.

I couldn’t keep the Miraculous Lord to myself , and I have never believed in something so much, that I couldn’t not share it.

The CD had become a desire by then, however the birth of my first daughter was the conclusive point in which I made the commitment to make the CD really happen.

What has been really refreshing of late is hearing how some of the words in the songs have really touched people deeply. What I love most is that in my moments of hardship and pain, God has used this to annoint somone else and the suffering isn’t in vain. It actually has power to turn someones heart around ……….back to God.

Who are some of your favourite musicians and musical influences?

I would have to say that I have a fair list of names. They are predominantly known for their singing. They are:

Enya , Sarah Brightman, Lisa Gerrard , Cecilia, The Secret Garden and Marina Prior.

I fell in love with the music from The Passion of the Christ, and Lord of the Rings.

How can readers learn more about your music or order your CD?

Whispers of my Spirit is my debut album. You can order it on line on my website www.lisahoward.com.au. It’s $20 AUS plus postage and handling. I usually work on a cheque or wire transfer for purchase.  Otherwise it is stocked in the Catholic bookshop Shop here in Perth, W.A.  I am thinking that my website is more convenient and a better way to purchase.  You can actually view and listen to the songs on my website.

The website is updated with information from time to time and I am currently working on an information page, as well as material towards further promotion and another CD.

Are there any additional comments you’d like to share with our readers?

I am most grateful for your support.  Motherhood is by far the highest and best vocation God calls us to and what more of a role model could we have than ‘Our Lady’ . I must say that a lot of her intercession has kept me grounded and still continues to do so today.  Your children don’t always do as they are asked and God can minister his healing Love to us in the best of times !!

God Bless You greatly.

For more information on the music of Lisa Howard visit her website at http://www.lisahoward.com.au/

Maria’s book is the gift every Catholic Mom should give herself this Christmas – warm, reflective and a resource you’ll want to revisit time and again every Advent and Christmas season.  Check out this great book and Maria’s other work at her website.

Maria, thank you for writing such a wonderful and greatly needed book!  Please introduce yourself and your family to our readers.

Hello, Lisa!  Thanks for your kind words.  By way of introduction, I have been married for 17 years and have two daughters, age 16 and 9.  In my professional life, I am a speaker, author and teacher.  I have served in church ministry for over 20 years in communications, adult spirituality, family life and retreat direction.  I love to find the hidden meaning in life and help others to see it, too!

Please share with our readers a bit about your book Prepare Your Heart for a Great Christmas – what makes this book different from other Christmas books?

Prepare Your Heart for a Great Christmas is a one-of-a-kind book because it combines timely, scripture-based reflections with journal pages to write a gratitude list, the day’s intention, and your to-do list.  I’ve found daily reflection books, and Christmas planning books, but this is the only one I’ve seen that combines the two.  I think this is important because God is at work in the details of our lives, so this format brings our prayer and practical lives together.  I wrote it for busy women, like me, who want to enjoy the Advent and Christmas seasons in the spiritual sense of it.  It’s so easy for us to get caught up in all the tasks of holiday preparations that we lose sight of the wonderful opportunities to grow closer to God that Advent and Christmas give us.  By taking quiet prayer time everyday, we’re tending to our most important relationship–with God–and bringing that peace and love into the tasks of our day.

I love the fact that you encourage readers to pause and reflect each day during this hectic season.  What are some practical pointers for prioritizing this daily quiet time when things feel so very busy?

This is a great question, because daily prayer can, unfortunately, become “one more thing to do.”  That’s one reason why the book’s reflections and journal pages are brief.  The reader need not feel that it’s a burden to do the daily prayer.  So, I invite readers to put prayer at the top of the day’s agenda.  In my experience, my days go so much more smoothly when I’ve taken time to pray in the morning.  Not that the circumstances are different, but my response to them is.  Seen through the eyes of faith, the events of the day are easier to manage and place in God’s hands.  On the other hand, some women prefer to use the book in the evening, or at bedtime as a way to reflect on the day and make plans for the next.  Either way, I think its the mindfulness of the prayertime that’s important.  Tend to that, and see what miracles unfold.

How can we, as families, reclaim some of the original intentions of the Advent and Christmas season?  What are some of your family’s favorite Advent and Christmas traditions?

To answer your second question first, we love to set up the creche and tell the Christmas story together as we place each figure in the manger.  Also, we light Advent candles each Sunday during the season, and our daughters get a special ornament each year.  We have a daily Advent calendar that creates the nativity scene with a new character added each day.  And, music, music, music!  We all have our favorite Christmas CDs, and my husband plays piano by ear, so he takes requests anytime.

In response to your first question, I encourage families to make the Advent and Christmas traditions a priority and not just add them to an already busy schedule.  For example, if decorating the tree is a family project, schedule the time to do it, don’t just try to squeeze it in and end up doing it at a time went people are tired or distracted.  The most important thing we can do to reclaim some of the original intentions of Advent and Christmas is to set our priorities and stick to them.  Most people I talk with value time with family during the holidays over anything else.  So, cut back on some of the activities and build in lots of time to hang out with your children.  The spontaneous moments often become the beloved memories.  And, get the kids involved as much as possible.  They love to make a contribution to the celebration. I know it can be hard for some moms to give up some control of the outcomes, but there will be some wonderful surprises and blessings when the energy and creativity of the children is brought to the task!

I know that you do quite a bit of speaking to groups and organizations.  What are some of your favorite speaking topics to share with others during Advent and Christmas?

My favorite topics are:  Advent—Wait, Watch, and Wonder; Mary—the First to Say “Yes!”, and: Finding Ourselves in the Christmas Story.  This year, I’ll also speak on Loving, Laughing and Longing: the Gifts of Christmas.

Taking a page from your wonderful book, how would you answer the question, “Today I am thankful for…”

The warm sunshine, even in the chilly air
Hot tea
My daughter’s silly sense of humor
Our home and food
The post office
The chance to connect with CatholicMom.com!

Thank you so much for your time and for this great book Maria!  Are there any additional thoughts or comments you’d like to share with our readers?

I pray all your readers will find peace in their hearts this Advent, and celebrate a wonderful Christmas with those they love.  Thank you, Lisa!

Order Prepare Your Heart for a Great Christmas and support CatholicMom.com with your purchase.

Teddy Bear hat by Shannon of Organic Mama's Shop

Nursing Bracelet by Shannon of Organic Mama's Shop

Visit Shannon’s Organic Mama’s Etsy Shop

Enter our November Pregnancy Product giveaway for your chance to win!

Prize Pack 1:

• 1 copy of Erin O’Brien’s Complete Pregnancy Fitness DVD set
• 1 Bella Band
• 1 copy of the complete Laugh and Learn DVD package including Laugh and Learn about Childbirth, Breastfeeding, and Newborn Baby Care;  1 Laugh and Learn T-shirt; 1 copy of Sheri Bayles’ Laugh and Learn about Childbirth book
• 1 copy of Prayerfully Expecting: A Nine-Month Novena for Mothers to Be by Donna Marie Cooper O’Boyle
• 1 copy of Margo B. Smith’s CD “Sending Up A Prayer”
• 1 Nursing Bracelet from OrganicMama’s Etsy Shop

Prize Pack 2:

• 1 copy of Erin O’Brien’s Complete Pregnancy Fitness DVD set
• 2 boxes of Organic Preggie Pop Drops
• 1 copy of the complete Laugh and Learn DVD package including Laugh and Learn about Childbirth, Breastfeeding, and Newborn Baby Care; 1 Laugh and Learn T-shirt; 1 copy of Sheri Bayles’ Laugh and Learn about Childbirth book
• 1 copy of Prayerfully Expecting: A Nine-Month Novena for Mothers to Be by Donna Marie Cooper O’Boyle
• 1 copy of Margo B. Smith’s CD “Sending Up A Prayer”
• 1 Hand knit “Teddy Bear” newborn hat from Organic Mama’s Etsy Shop

Visit Kate Wicker at Momopoly for a detailed review of the Complete Pregnancy Fitness DVD set.  Visit Anne McClure at Catholic Mommy Brain for reviews of the Bella Band, Laugh and Learn package, and Prayerfully Expecting.  For additional information and products by Shannon and Organic Mama’s visit their adorable Etsy shop.

To enter to win this contest, you must leave a comment on this post with a valid email address (which won’t be published or shared) before Midnight PST on November 30, 2009.  I’ll draw two random winners and announce the winners when the contest has ended.

Editor’s Note – A HUGE Thanks to Anne McClure of Catholic Mommy Brain for coordinating this giveaway!

Update: Our lucky winners are Ann R (#48) and Sonja (#27). Your prizes will be sent soon.  Take a look at our other CatholicMom.com contests for more great chances to win!

Like many of you, I have admired Dr. Coleen’s work on her terrific Ave Maria Radio program, “The Doctor is In”.  But there is much more to know and love about this terrific wife and mother of five.    Her professional bio from TMG Speakers gives a great overview of the breadth of her expertise:

Coleen Kelly Mast, an author, public speaker and radio talk show host, is a pioneer in the field of chastity education. Dr. Mast currently hosts a popular call-in radio advice show, The Doctor Is In produced and syndicated by Ave Maria Radio for more than 100 stations of the Catholic Radio Association, EWTN and Sirius Satellite Radio. She provides Catholic-flavored practical solutions to callers who seek her advice on a variety of personal, spiritual and family problems.

Mast holds an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Quincy University, a Masters Degree in Health Education and Secondary teaching certificates in four specialty fields: Theology, Health, Physical Education and Science. She has taught at the elementary, junior high and high school levels and has been involved in Family Life Education since 1975.

Mast has written both the ‘Love and Life’ and ‘Sex Respect’ chastity education programs, which include books, seminars and videos for teachers, teens and parents. Mast’s programs have been sold in 23 countries and all 50 states. She has appeared on Oprah, Geraldo, Mother Angelica Live, 60 Minutes, andat Steubenville High School Youth Conferences. Mast has debated the Presidents of SEICUS and Planned Parenthood on television and debated ACLU representatives on public radio.

She assisted with the writing of the USCC Bishops 1992 document on Human Sexuality Education Guidelines, and in 1997 Mast was one of four people from the United States invited to the Vatican by the Pontifical Council for the Family for an in-depth study of the ‘Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality’ document when it was released. Based on those teachings and the need for additional parent catechesis today, her ‘Love and Life’ Parent and Teen Series was updated for 2006 complete with Imprimatur and published by Ignatius Press.

She has been married for 30 years to Kent Mast. They have five children and live in Illinois.

Several times a month, I find myself referring parents who contact me to Coleen’s website at www.SexRespect.com.  Her resources, aimed at providing a Christian moral framework for sexual abstinence, are a life saver for families struggling with the pressures placed on today’s teens by their peers and society.  While I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting Coleen Kelly Mast in person, I remain a tremendous fan of her work and thank Matthew Warner for the opportunity to introduce this Catholic speaking champion to our readers.

I hope you will take a few minutes to listen to Tony’s recent Christopher Closeup interview with Lacy, where we learn a little bit more about how she went from single mom to pro life advocate.  During the show, Lacy shares her experience of an unplanned pregnancy during her senior year at the University of Notre Dame.  Despite lack of support from her boyfriend, Lacy chose life for her beautiful daughter.  With the aid of her family, including her twin sister Amanda, Lacy was able to serve for five years in the US Army while raising her daughter.

Following her discharge from the military, Lacy relocated to Charlotte, where she became involved with Room at the Inn.  This fantastic organization is a model for pregnancy care centers across the country and has recently partnered with Belmont Abbey College in creating a special program targeted specifically at college students.  This new program offers the following support:

• Free, one-on-one counseling with a licensed, professional counselor to help with issues that may be causing stress and create plans for a successful future
• Material assistance such as clothing, diapers, food, baby and nursery supplies
• Personalized guidance to gain assistance through additional community resources
• Referrals to adoption agencies (if desired)
• Emotional and peer support

Their planned facility – which will be open to students at other colleges or vocational schools in the region – will have two residential wings housing up to 15 mothers, 15 infants and eight toddlers, as well as a chapel, laundry, playroom, kitchen and family-style dining room.

I am so proud of young moms like Lacy who take time to help others who may be facing a fearful situation with support, care and compassion.  If you would like to join me in supporting Room at the Inn, visit their website now to learn how you can help.