Read To Me Monday: Bringing Lent Home

Donna Marie Cooper O'Boyle is one of those older wiser women in the Catholic Faith, who has lived though many experiences and loved much along the way.  She is one we can look up to and gleam from her wisdom.  I own almost all her books!  She is such a blessing -both through her writing and being in touch with her on FB.  She is very gifted in encouragement and offering women and mothers inspiration on their faith journeys.  God love and bless her!!!

She offers four devotionals for families that can help guide them on their Lenten journeys.  Four to choose from - just buy whatever one speaks to you most and let that giant in our faith "walk with you" during Lent this year.  A huge plus about these books - is that they are well under $5!!!  For that price, buy a few and give some away!!  Each devotional starts on Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter Sunday.  Here are on the links on amazon where you can buy them...

Bringing Home Lent With St. Therese of Lisieux:  Prayers, Reflections, and Activities for Families

Bringing Home Lent With Mother Teresa:  Prayers, Reflections, and Activities for Families (who is not St Teresa!!  ++thank you, God!!++

Bringing Home Lent With St. John Paul II:  Prayers, Reflections, and Activities for Families

Bringing Home Lent With Pope Francis:  Prayers, Reflections, and Activities for Families 

Just a quick peek into these lovely books - each day includes....

• Saintly Inspiration (or Papal Inspiration)
• Parent Reflection
• Family Prayer
• A Story from the Saint's (or Pope's) Life
• Fasting
• Almsgiving
• Prayer

Here's a sample of one of the days from the St. Therese devotional, to show you how simple and doable these are to follow....

++St. Therese of Lisieux, pray for us!++

++St. Teresa of Calcutta, pray for us!++

++Pope Saint John Paul II, pray for us!++

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Linking this post up with Siena Sisters, which will have a Lenten Blog Hop (go live date 2/21)

Click on the image below to get more ideas for Lent this year!

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Read To Me Monday - Saints and Sinners: A History of the Popes

Saints and Sinners: A History of the Popes by Eamon Duffy

A disclaimer:  I have not yet finished this book.  (And there are about 50 other books in the same predicament on my bookshelf and sitting beside my bed and chair.)

This is a 400 page book, and I have gotten through about 200 pages.  I have had to read chapters over and over as my ever-distracted brain tried to digest and comprehend where it all falls in history.  Fortunately, Mr. Duffy does an outstanding job of placing each papacy into its historical context.

This book is a nice balance of meaty and readability.  (Kind of like the Old Testament?)

What I like best about this book is how it puts our present papacy in perspective.  Pope Francis ain't got nuthin' on Pope Vigilius!  We must always remember no matter what we hear on the news (even the Catholic news) that our Faith has overcome so much tumult from as close as the See of Peter himself.  Perspective...perspective.  I feel this book is a must-read for our current times.

Read To Me Monday: The Last Straw

We got out our Advent/Christmas books this weekend which is always super exciting around here!  I wanted to share one of our (my) favorites that we've read so many times the pages fell out everywhere when I picked it up.

The Last Straw by Fredrick H. Thury, is a fantastic story for all ages.  Kids love the unusual name of the camel, Hoshmakaka, and the colorful illustrations of his journey.  Adults can relate to his weariness, his weakness, his feelings of inadequacy as he tries to please others and do it all.  Everyone can benefit from the lesson, which is twofold, one the reminder that Jesus never asks us to do anything alone but to let him help us carry our burdens and two, that when we aim to serve Him, to show Him honor, all things seem easier.

I hope you decide to check this book out of your local library or borrow a copy from a friend.  It's a great read!

Read To Me Monday: St. Patrick's Summer

Read-to-Me-Monday 

St. Patrick’s Summer by Marigold Hunt

I can’t believe I’m recommending a book that I haven’t even finished reading yet.  It’s like “sharing” an article on Facebook without perusing it first.  It comes dangerously close to sin, no??  I can rest assured, however, that I’m not leading you astray as many, many of my close “friends” have mentioned it more than a few times as essential reading for a child receiving their First Communion.
Of which I will have one this year.

I’m also all about combining children’s subjects in a large homeschool family (it’s all about simplification, right??).  So, since we’re expecting a baby in a little over month (or less…please let it be less!), I’ve been reading St. Patrick’s Summer by Marigold Hunt out loud to my children, ages 13 down to 5.

It is an OUTSTANDING book.  The kids have been asking great questions, I have been bowled over by ideas on the Blessed Trinity that I had never heard before, and I think we’re only on Chapter 4!!  I can only imagine where this book will take us, and I see now why it’s so highly recommended, even if you DON’T have a child receiving their First Communion this year.  This may very well replace ALL Faith & Life catechisms this year!!

Read to Me Monday: William Shakespeare's Star Wars Trilogy

All Star Wars fans, prepare to be delighted.  

I mentioned this series back in the summer and wanted to report back.  

Ian Doescher has done an incredible job writing the Star Wars Trilogy 

in Shakespearean English, the whole iambic pentameter bit.  

He has captured all the characters brilliantly. 

Although I started out reading the book and did OK 

muddling through the strange English and the stage directions, 

our enjoyment sky-rocketed when we started listening 

to the books on Audible.  Now the voices match the characters 

and the sound effects add excitement and charm. 

It has been the perfect summer-time transition 

to our study of Medieval History.  

William Shakespeare's Star Wars: Verily a New Hope

William Shakespeare's The Empire Striketh Back

William Shakespeare's The Jedi Doth Return

Read to Me Monday

"Aunt Karen. Aunt Karen! Read us the book you read last time!"
"Which book, dear nephews?"
"You know!  The one with the dragon and the knight, the cave and the scroll and the squire!"

I'd say it is pretty great when the little ones remember a book from eight months ago and beg for it to be read aloud to them again.

Can you guess which book?

The Squire and the Scroll

This book has engaging pictures and a sweet story that the kids love.  It also has a message that I love.  A message about the rules you need to live by as the son of a King.  Rules to guard your hearing and your sight, to walk on the firm path, and not to stray from the good and pure.  These are messages that are perfect for the forming of our own young knights.

A nod to another book by the same author for our princesses and daughters of the King...

The Princess and the Kiss