Here’s some background on these lovely women, and a bit of their history:

Our mission is simple:    Strengthen your Body, Strengthen your Soul.

We are three moms who love walking for exercise.  In 2009 we decided to train for the Columbus Half Marathon.  Our team walks took place on Saturday mornings and we often talked about how wonderful it was to take time for ourselves.  Each week we prayed a rosary together and as our devotion to the Blessed Mother grew our hearts became filled with peace and we felt a closer connection to our Lord.  We began to fully appreciate and understand the phrase “To Jesus through Mary”.  With increased endurance and enriched faith we completed the Columbus Half Marathon and called ourselves “Mamas Movin’ With Mary”.

It is now our goal to inspire others to take time for themselves and “Get Movin’ With Mary”.

Clearly, the Mamas are about more than just selling t-shirts.  They promote Marian devotion with instructions on how to pray the Rosary, provide fitness support and information, and a forum for sharing your story.  All this is wonderful, plus their shirt is now my favorite article of workout attire. The sight of it puts a smile on my face, and wearing it affords me opportunities to share the good news with people who see me and comment on my shirt.  It’s happened several times already, as I make it a point of wearing my “Mamas” shirt when I’m working out in various places during my travels.

Q:  Kristy, please briefly tell us a bit about yourself and your family life with your husband.

Hi Lisa!  I am a coffee-addicted transplanted California Catholic now living in Lexington, Kentucky. I teach 4th grade at a classical curriculum school. When spare time comes my way, I enjoy Irish Dancing, blogging, cooking, and listening to my ipod.

I’m a graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville.  4 years after meeting my husband Mark, on St. Raphael.net (now Catholic Match.com), we married and now live in Kentucky.  I grew up in California, so our marriage is sort of the meshing of 2 different cultures.  Ha ha ha.  I proudly drive around Lexington with an InNOut Burger sticker on my car.

Currently I teach 4th grade and children’s Latin at a classical curriculum school.

Q:  What prompted you to begin your infertility ministry?  How has the ministry blossomed since its inception?

One day a woman called Johnette Benkovic’s radio program lamenting the lack of infertility resources.  I had just started to ask for advice from a couple of friends who had gone through it and felt compelled to call.  I left my phone number with the show so the caller could get in touch with me.  Two weeks later I was floored to get a call from Johnette Benkovich’s daugher, inviting me to fly to EWTN studios in Alabama to appear on a show about infertility.  Appearing on the show was a wonderful experience; Johnette is a friendly interviewer.  I also met a doctor who gave me some advice of Catholic-friendly treatments to pursue. The time spent at EWTN really kickstarted some ideas that had been floating around in my head.

I should mention that God had sent me wonderful friends who had gone through infertility and “lived to tell.”  First of all, it took my parents 4 years to conceive me, so they always had a very good understanding.  I also sought advice from a friend who had adopted 4 children.  She would always assure me that my tears at a baptism, frustrations with the rest of the world getting pregnant except me, etc. were normal.  Many good-intentioned people will often tell women like me to “Just relax” or “get over yourself!”

Such understanding is critical, because most people do not understand the pain of infertility unless they or a close friend have gone through it.  I’m sure that people who have endured things like cancer, the death of a child, etc. would say the same thing.  It’s not a matter of “misery loved company;” rather, the best comfort comes from those who have “been there, done that.”

So as I began to pray and think about things, I thought about women out there who didn’t have such understanding friends.  After meeting with my diocese’s Family Life Office director, the group started last January.  He’s been supportive of us the entire way and advertises our group meetings in the diocesan bulletins.

SHE stands for Sarah, Hannah, and Elizabeth; 3 women in the Bible who all endured infertility.  http://shesupportgroup.blogspot.com/

Q:  Infertility is such an intensely emotional and private struggle.  How did you find the courage to speak openly about your own journey and to encourage other couples?

I should mention that infertility often puts couples in a bind.  When well-meaning people asked questions like, “So, when are you going to have kids?” or, “So, you’re NOT going to have kids?” the infertile couple is faced with a dilemma: talk about a very private struggle or not say anything and look like they don’t want kids.  Some Catholics may even assume that the couple is using contraception.

My husband and I went through this from both the secular and Catholic side.  Secular minded people would ask us stupid questions like, “Why do you want kids anyway?  Don’t you know they grow up to be teenagers?”  or “You’ve got plenty of time; why stress about it.”  Some of our well-meaning Catholic acquaintances have asked, “So, when is it your turn to have kids” (asked by a mom of 5 out of the blue) or “When are you going to have kids?”

I didn’t want to look like that we didn’t want kids.  So, I just started talking about infertility more.  Usually the well-meaning people became embarrassed and promised to pray for us.  But I think something else started to happen: people became aware.  Statistics say that one in every six couples suffers through infertility.  Why is it not discussed?  Why are there few ministries to help couples in this struggle?

Now when I’m asked about kids, I get to say, “We’re currently adopting from South Korea.  Please pray for us!”

Q:  How has the Church and your faith life supported you in this journey?

As a Catholic, what makes infertility even more unique is following the Church’s teachings on fertility technology. Methods such as IVF violate the inherent nature of the marital act: Unitive and Procreative.  Unfortunately, the number of Catholics who choose to follow this teaching is VERY small.  To boot, OB/GYNs think this thinking is crazy.  I’ve been told so.

While the Church’s wisdom in these teachings is understandable, it can also become very isolating.  That’s why I felt compelled to start a CATHOLIC support group.  One of our group members attended a national infertility group’s meeting.  Because she had chosen not to pursue IVF, the group saw her as “not exercising her options.”  The SHE group offers support to women who come, whether they are choosing adoption, pursuing ethical treatments, etc.  The group doesn’t just offer support; it offers information.

Personally, the Eucharist (especially adoration) and Confession have really helped me in this journey.  I want something good: a child.  It is very hard to see everyone else getting this gift while my hands are empty.  I very easily fall into jealousy, envy, self-pity, etc.  The Sacraments help me keep these things in check, particularly confession.  My parish’s pastor once told me that he understood my pain.  Although he is happy in his priestly vocation, he has always wanted children of his own.  And it’s so wonderful to go to the local adoration chapel and just sit there and cry.

Also, the women of the Bible offer a lot of hope.  Infertility is not a new struggle.  Also, we have lots of friends and family praying for us: little children, a couple of orders of sisters, various priests, etc.  While their prayers have not yet been answered in our life, I often say that their prayers keep me sane.  Somehow, God gives me the extra grace to get through another doctor’s appointment.

Q:  What are some of the biggest struggles and challenges you have had to overcome, both in your own personal situation and in this ministry?

For me personally, I keep asking, “Why?”  We want children.  We want more than 2.  I smiled when answering the “Will you accept children” question on my wedding day.  Why is this happening?  What did I do to deserve this?  (the answer is nothing, but sometimes emotions take over).  Why do so many women who don’t want kids end up getting pregnant?  Why did God let that big family have baby #8?  Logically, it doesn’t make sense.  Faith-wise, this is a mystery that I will HOPEFULLY understand someday.

Another struggle is the doctor’s office.  First of all, we are accustomed to going to the doctor’s office and getting health problems fixed or resolved. Not so with infertility.  I’ve had ultrasounds, too many blood tests to count, various exams, been put on medication.  Even now my husband has to give me 4 HCG shots a month.  It’s tough to go to the doctor visit after visit with no progress made.

Then comes the problem of the lack of respect for our morals.  When the OB/GYN wanted to test my husband, I explained the only moral way we could do it (perforated condom).  The doc looked at us incredulously and said, “I see Catholics in my practice all the time, and you two are the first people to have a problem with this test.”  He also has voiced his displeasure that we have chosen not to seek IUI (the USCCB bishops have not ruled on this method, but my husband and I feel uncomfortable about it) and IVF.  From comparing notes with other Infertility women, this reception is common.

So add all of this to the longing for a child, walking through baby clothes aisles knowing you can’t buy them, watching other families with their children, answering probing questions…it all becomes one bittersweet symphony.

As far as SHE goes, I was blessed to start it at a parish that already had Elizabeth Ministry in place.  Some of the Elizabeth Ministers have attended our meeting to learn more about infertility and have brought food, etc.  The only challenge with our group is that it is very small, like around 5 people.  I know there are more women out there.  We advertise in all the bulletins of our diocese.

The group has given women a chance to air our feelings securely.  All we have to say is, “3 of my friends announced their pregnancies this week!” and our heads will nod in sympathy.  You won’t here insensitive remarks like, “Get over yourself.”  The mutual understanding has been incredibly helpful.   Some of us are pursuing medical means of getting pregnant; others are pursuing adoption.  The meetings become a place of support and prayer, but also and information exchange.  The speakers bring encouragement and hope– two things that are in short supply during the infertility journey.

I particularly find consolation from the other women.  One of them became my “blood test buddy.”  We had to get 8 blood tests in 2 weeks.  We went together and she even held my hand when the phelbotomist kept sticking me unsuccessfully.  When she underwent a laparoscopy, the other SHE members met for Mass a couple days before the surgery and stayed afterwards as she received Anointing of the Sick.  http://percolatingpetals.blogspot.com/2009/08/power-of-prayer.html

We’re here for each other on the journey, and I know we will rejoice with one another as we become mothers, Godwilling.

This past September we had the awesome privilege of praying with the relics of St. Gianna individually. The experienced touched us all very deeply; I blogged about it here: http://percolatingpetals.blogspot.com/2009/09/praying-with-st-gianna.html

By the way, our chaplain, Fr. Steve Roberts, is a former OB/GYN who became a priest.  If you’re ever looking for a great interview, he’s a lot of fun.  Also, he has been studying bioethics in Rome.

Q:  What words of encouragement and wisdom can you offer to other couples facing the pain of infertility?

I have some practical suggestions.  FIND SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS.  This is especially important for the woman, whose body is made for children.  If there is no support group in the area, talk to your parish priest or family life office.  Even meeting one person who can listen to your frustrations and understand makes all the difference.  This journey is very difficult; do not think you can do it on your own.

Along those lines, there are a great deal of Catholic women going through infertility who write blogs.  For me, these blogs have been a tremendous source of support and information.  Just to know that other women out there are going through the same thing really helps.  It also creates quite the network of prayer!! Some of the most popular blogs are: All You Who Hope and Sew Infertile.

Also, be sure that God is at the center of your marriage.  Seek the help of the sacraments to keep you and your husband sustained.  Infertility is a cause of difficulty in marriages, so it’s important to fortify yourself with the supernatural grace.

Husbands should especially try to listen to their wives’ frustrations; women tend to suffer the brunt of infertility.  My husband has helped me in a huge way during this journey; he always listens and holds my hand when I cry in frustration at a baptism.  Even though it may be the 5th time I’ve complained about a medical procedure or someone’s pregnancy announcement, he always listens and comforts.

For women, I really recommend taking stock of your situation.  Do baby showers cause you pain?  Don’t go.  Are there so many families at your Mass that you can’t concentrate on the readings?  Find another time.  I can’t attend baby showers anymore.  Nowadays, I buy a baby gift and take the mother out to lunch.  The past few friends I’ve done this for are quite understanding of my situation. As my friend who adopted told me, “You have to go into survival mode.  Don’t place yourself in situations that will cause you more pain.”

Q:  I know that you are now involved in the adoption process – how has that been for you and what have you learned along the way?

We have always been open to adoption.  For me personally the process offers more hope than the doctor appointments.  At the end of the adoption process, you really do end up with a child!  Financially, this will be a difficult road, but it’s worth it.  We want to be parents, no matter how God decides to make that happen.

Currently we are in the process of adopting from South Korea.  We have learned a lot about the Korean Martyrs of the 19th century that helped solidify Korea’s Catholic heritage. In addition, South Korea has a BMI (Body Mass Index) requirement.  My husband and I are currently dieting to reach this BMI.  I guess it’s one of those early parenting sacrifices.

Once we complete our homestudy, we will have the referral for our child in about 10 months.
I think the process has really helped us to love from a far.  Even though I won’t endure the same physical complications from pregnancy, the paperwork and financial sacrifice will not be easy.  Still, we find it so worthwhile.

A good friend of mine told me that after she adopted, she began to see the love of God the Father.  He adopted us all through His Son, Jesus.  He loves us because we are his.  She felt the same for her adopted children.

Our friends who have children of their own have learned more about the adoption process and infertility thanks to our struggle.  Maybe these friends will be able to help other friends in the future…you never know!

Q:  Are there any additional thoughts or comments you’d like to share with our readers?

If you’re going through a unique suffering, consider reaching out to find and help others like you.  Maybe you’ll end up starting a support group or blog to help others, teaching religious ed at your parish, etc.  DOING something to get out of yourself and the ever-easy temptation of self-pity will help you in the long run.  Not only did starting the SHE group help me tremendously, it helped others.  I’ve finally gained some loving girl friends as well!  A priest also recommended finding a goal-oriented hobby to help channel the infertility frustrations.

Most importantly, NEVER tell a woman going through infertility, “Just relax and it will happen” or, “Just have fun trying.”  You have no idea of the stress and pain she is enduring already!  Stress is not always the cause of infertility.

Instead, tell her, “I’m sure that is a heavy cross.  I will pray for you!”

Copyright 2010 Lisa Hendey

Please briefly introduce yourself and your family.

Hi, my name is Marian Frentz and I am a wife to my wonderful husband Mike and a mother to our four beautiful grown girls.  Our youngest just graduated from college and we are preparing for weddings so there’s no end to the excitement that exists in our home. My husband and I were born in the same hospital and delivered by the same doctor though we didn’t meet until 20 years later when we both attended Catholic University in Washington D.C. together. We have been married for 32 years. Our oldest is 31.  Yes, nine months and five days after we got married, God blessed us with our first little miracle. I was born in the “Marian year of the Church” in the month of May, so the Blessed Mother has played a big role in my life, constantly drawing me to her Son.  We belong to a wonderful church family, St. Mary of the Mills in Laurel, Maryland where I run a Catholic women’s program called TASTE that is helping women learn more about Jesus and the Church He founded.  You can check out our website  www.tasteprogram.com to find more information about the program. If you are in the area please come by and see us.  We meet September through May on Thursday mornings from 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. (with Confessions following the lecture!)

Please give an introduction and history of the TASTE Program.

The TASTE Program (Taste And See Take …Eat) meets weekly to help women fall completely in love with Jesus and the Church He founded.  Every Thursday (the day Jesus instituted the priesthood) we come together to learn the Truths of our Faith.  Our speakers are by invitation only and are chosen for their orthodox teaching and zeal for the Lord.  Women from 28 different parishes come from the Washington, Baltimore and Wilmington dioceses.  We began the program in 2007 and have grown steadily each year.  Our mission is to empower women to really know and understand their Faith as well as to nurture our priests.  We have spiritually adopted priests and also pray for our priests during the program.  Many fruits have come from the program. Several moms now attend daily Mass and many have become catechists.  It’s a place to come and know you are being taught the truth and it encourages women to share their Faith with others.

Can you tell our readers a bit about your Recipes for Life Catholic Family Cookbook?  How was the cookbook compiled and what motivated the project?

Before our first year ended, a few of us got together and discussed ways to make money so that the program could expand and enable us to bring in speakers and pay them some sort of stipend.  We tossed around a few ideas and came up with collecting some recipes and making a TASTE cookbook.  We presented the idea to all the women and everyone including some of our priests and speakers started turning in recipes.  As we were collecting the recipes, the wife of one of our speakers said she thought we should make the cookbook really Catholic and put some saints in it.  We contacted the cookbook publishers and couldn’t find anyone willing to put text into the cookbook.  They wanted recipes only.  As I was surfing the net I did find one publisher in Ohio that advertised that you could put up to 70 photographs into your cookbook.  We contacted them and began a wonderful friendship. She was Catholic and loved the idea.  We weren’t held to our 70 picture cap and she just encouraged us all the way. Our first printing was just for our group and parish but we sold out in a few days so we printed more and still sold out.  After the third printing Cookbook Kathy as we fondly call her said, “I think we need to think about getting serious and taking this to the next level.”  We spent the entire summer editing, changing out, adding and just making it very special.  I think the final product is something that could actually change the way families make dinner and it helps make the Faith more integrated with your day-to-day life.  It’s definitely a labor of love!

What makes this book unique and different from other family cookbooks?

The Catholic Family Cookbook contains over 80 Saint biographies with recipes associated with each saint.  There are many others recipes too, over 300 total! Following each saint bio there are motivational tips to help moms and dads teach their little ones how to imitate that particular saint’s virtue.  The recipes vary, for instance, one saint was not very liked because she was so different as she was deformed but she won over the town’s people and they came to love her. It’s paired with a spinach ball recipe. Spinach is a vegetable not particularly liked by children but this recipe is delicious.   St. Jerome, who usually is depicted with a lion, took a thorn out of its paw, so there is a recipe called  Jerome’s  Lion Claws made from simple crescent rolls and a few added ingredients with a toothpick stuck inside the claw. The kids get to pull it out before they eat theirs.  There are suggestions on how to become a saint, the process of canonization, a “get connected” page and Eucharistic quotes sprinkled throughout.  The book is chocked full of goodness!  Many books seem to try and hide that they’re Catholic and cater to the more general “Christian” audience but this cookbook is totally Catholic. Even the cover with Mary looking at Jesus in the Monstrance and the mom looking at her child in the same way just jumps off the page and shows that the Eucharist is the center of Catholicism.

What type of feedback have you received from families using the cookbook?

Moms are constantly coming up to me to thank our group for such a fantastic cookbook.  Not only are the recipes delicious but the concepts are so wholesome and good.  One suggestion is to designate a special night as “Saint’s Night” at your house and get a bowl that you only use for that occasion.  When you get it down the kids will all know that they will get to help while you teach them about a particular saint.  They have a mission.  Watch as they ask for St. John Bosco’s Chicken Pot Pie or St. Agatha’s Carrot Cake.

Actual comments made:

“This cookbook has changed the way we make dinner. Thank you!” ~Mary

“I purchased one out of obligation but was shocked to find my son curled up in a chair reading it…Wow!” ~Jennifer

“I gave one to my sister to encourage her to live her faith more fully.” ~Kathy

“We have a copy on our coffee table and pick it up after dinner to read.” ~Sister in a convent

“I was given one as a Christmas present by my daughter in Maryland and decide to sell them at my Church in Illinois. Please send 60 copies!” ~Margaret

What are your plans for the proceeds you receive from the cookbook?

Our initial plans are to cover our expenses and fund the program.  We have a responsibility to evangelize so we are offering these cookbooks at a very low cost to help Catholic schools and parish groups earn money.  They make the money and we get the satisfaction of knowing we are trying to do God’s work as mothers and provide a resource for families to draw closer to heaven.  There is just such awesomeness to our Faith! You can also order individual copies online at www.catholicfamilycookbook.com or check with your local Catholic bookstore and they can order them for you.

I noted that you have a fundraising program affiliated with the cookbook.  Can you please explain this to our readers?

The fundraising program allows Catholic schools and parish groups to obtain cookbooks at wholesale prices and sell them to earn money for their school or group.  We make very little off each book so that the profits can make a big difference for their school or group.  Not only will parents get something that lasts instead of consumable wrapping paper, candy bars, pizza or popcorn, but they will also be able to see a difference the cookbook has on their family.  Children grow up so fast and having them grow up with the saints and have our big brothers and sisters in Faith as role models will shape their character and mold them into good Catholic Christians.

For more information please go to our website www.catholicfamilycookbook.com or email sales@catholicfamilycookbook.com

What advice would you give to other parishes and diocese who might like to emulate your TASTE Program?

If you are interested in starting a TASTE Program in your diocese please contact us. TASTE is completely run by volunteers who are on fire for their Faith. E-mail  marian@tasteprogram.com

Are there any closing thoughts you might like to share with our readers?

Our Catholic Faith is a treasure.  We are so blessed to belong to the true Church, the one Jesus founded over 2000 years ago. Children are a gift and lent to us for a very short period of time.  Don’t waste precious time.  Allow them to help.  Let them crack eggs, use a separate bowl so you can pick the eggshells out, but let them cook.  Teach them and they will come back when they’re grown and remember the time you took to be patient with them. So what if they spill a little milk… it gives them confidence and helps their coordination.  It shows them that mom and dad believe in them, and that God has given to them the ability to make a difference. Nurture their Faith and spend time building excitement over what saint they’ll pick to have dinner with each week. Encourage them to make decisions as well as compromise on what others want too.  You might also learn a thing or two while teaching them!

For information on our new cookbook Recipes for Life: A Catholic Family Cookbook please go to: www.catholicfamilycookbook.com

Sample Recipes:

Congratulations to my new friend Karen Weber, a Catholic Mom who recently contacted me about her new home business.  Karen shares the following press release about her greeting cards, which are absolutely beautiful!  Please take a moment to check them out at www.HandmadePoetryCards.com.

Getting back to the basics of reverent sentiment, quality, and beauty, a mom designs personable greeting cards for life’s meaningful moments.  With original poetry and photography, Karen Weber creates a card that is keepsake caliber.

Howell, Michigan, June 10, 2010  –  Karen Weber, a Catholic mom of two, recently launched her business of Handmade Poetry Cards that commemorate the special moments in life and particularly, children’s celebration of the sacraments.

When daughter Ava made her First Holy Communion, Weber shopped for invitations that were classic, elegant, and captured a childlike innocence.  She also wanted a manageable quantity at an affordable price.  Not finding what she desired, Weber designed her own.  Original photography of praying hands holding a white rosary graced the front of the flat card. Vellum overlay with the personalized information in an elegant font and a tied white ribbon completed the invitation – and an idea was born for a future business venture.

Weber subsequently designed a Greeting Card featuring her original poem First Holy Communion.  The poem captures the reverent awe of a young communicant when first receiving the Holy Eucharist.  The greeting card has scripture and an inscription inside.  Finally, Thank You Notes round out the stationery of this line, and these boast the matching picture of praying hands, which is gender specific – white rosary for girls or black rosary for boys.  The thank you note cards have an inscription and a papal sentiment from Pope John Paul II.

Weber expanded the card collections to include the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation, as well as New Baby, Eighth Grade and High School Graduation.  Adult occasions of Anniversary and Friendship also comprise the extended lines.  The card collections each have a Poetry Greeting Card, and some include personalized invitations and thank you notes.  All the cards feature original photography.  Weber is continuing to broaden her collections and is currently creating a multi-design box set of an all-occasion thank you note card.

It is a passion for Weber to write poetry, reflect on the lives of children, and ultimately, network with the Christian community.  She is inspired by her faith and her role as Mom to Ava and younger brother Adam.  She has been blessed with a positive and warm response in her community and from her parish of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Brighton, Michigan and has enjoyed a busy spring season.  Weber is excited to market to an extended audience.

“Send one of my cards, send a piece of yourself,” Weber says.  “More than anything, I want to touch the hearts of people.”

For more information, contact Karen Weber:

Karen A. Weber LLC

Handmade Poetry Cards

517.540.0443

www.HandmadePoetryCards.com

Video Link

With the one who’s almost out the door to college, the letting go has been a gradual transition.  He is a great student (both boys are, actually) and has demonstrated over the past few years that he can manage his workload properly, even if his timing always doesn’t line up with my desires.  Kid #2, just finishing up his freshman year of high school, is equally as talented and wired entirely differently from his brother.  The things that inspire and motivate him are unique and precious, and I’m still figuring them out as we go.

So today was one of those days I regret more as the morning goes on.  A nice drive to school punctuated by a parting disagreement, solidified by a follow up cell phone call that makes things even worse.  Me – left to stew and fret.  Him – likely upset at mom and thinking she doesn’t understand.  Terminal to the relationship?  Likely not… but I still wish I could have the whole thing back to do over again.

This Mom thing can be tough – a lifelong period of on the job training.  I often hope my boys won’t suffer long-term for the times when I feel I’ve screwed up, fallen short of what God wants of me as a mother and of what my family needs and deserves from me.  I guess we won’t know that for years.

In the mean time, we take one moment at a time, do our best, and try to make the grade.

• Meet and Greet/Mom’s Night Out Event – Pauline Book Center, Culver City, CA – May 6, 2010, 6:30 pm – Event Details
• Meet and Greet/Mom’s Night Out Event – Pauline Book Center, San Diego, CA – May 7, 2010 6:30 pm – Event Details
• Book Signing – GodSpace Religious Books & Music – Thousand Oaks, CA – May 8, 2010 – 12 pm – 2 pm – Event Details
• Mother’s Day Book Signing – The Cathedral Gift Shop – Los Angeles, CA – May 9, 2010 – Event Details

My mom will be with me and we’re excited about getting out to meet friends and readers in Southern California.  Can you help me spread the word about these events?  If you would please share this information with your parish and/or school for bulletins and newsletters, that would be a huge help! Additional appearances and all event details can be found at http://lisahendey.com/media/

For friends and readers in the New York/New Jersey area, I am planning a trip to your area for mid June.  I’d love to come visit your parish or organization!  For additional details, contact me by email at lisa@catholicmom.com.

The more time I spend in the company of Catholic moms, the more hopeful I am about the future of our Church.  With so many faith filled women dedicating themselves to their domestic churches, our future leaders are getting a great base for their faith formation, as well as a true knowledge of God’s continual love for each for us.

Thank you again to the “Anns” who made last night possible, and to all those who made the effort to come out.  Also, just a quick reminder that I will be speaking briefly and signing books tonight at the Pauline Book and Media Center on Michigan Avenue here in Chicago at 6:30 pm, and on Saturday, 4/17 at the Hammes Bookstore at Notre Dame at 1:00 pm.  I’d love to meet you in person!

If you would like to bring me out to speak with your parish or organization, please email lisa@catholicmom.com.

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!

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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!


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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.