View from the Domestic Church: Enjoying a family Autumn week end!

In addition to my books

I have written for the English edition of L'Osservatore Romano (Vatican newspaper)

The National Catholic Register, Catholic World Report, Our Sunday Visitor (national) newsweekly, Columbia Magazine, The Catholic Transcript, The News Times, The New Milford Times, Hearth magazine, Canticle magazine, Lay Witness magazine, Faith & Family magazine, CarbLite magazine, On the Web - many areas, including Catholic Exchange, Catholic Online, Catholic Lane, Catholic Mom, and a parenting column for Irish Family Press (print edition), a Catholic weekly newspaper published in Ireland as well as the online format. My work appears in many foreign publications as well (Nigeria, Singapore, Africa, Russia, and more).

A Catholic Woman's Book of Prayers

With all the mixed messages that women receive from society today, women can be distracted from--and even unreceptive to--the deep and abiding love that Christ has for them. Whether single or married, religious or consecrated, parenting children, or spiritually mentoring others, women need to know that the Lord understands the many challenges they face, their desire for inspiration, and, above all, their need to be affirmed as women.Through this book of original and traditional prayers from one of the top ten most fascinating Catholics of 2009 as rated by Faith & Family Live, women can realize God's divine Love, thrive in inspiration from Saints and the Church and rest in the affirmation of the "feminine genius." (order above by clicking book image at top of page)

First and foremost educator

"Since parents have conferred life on their children, they have a most solemn obligation to educate their offspring. Hence, parents must be acknowledged as the first and foremost educators of their children. Their role as educators is so decisive that scarcely anything can compensate for their failure in it. For it devolves on parents to create a family atmosphere so animated with love and reverence for God and others that a well-rounded personal and social development will be fostered among children. Hence, the family is the first school of those social virtues which every society needs."--Gravissimum Educationis (one of the documents of the Second Vatican Council)

Love for Laundry: Folding Hail Mary’s
Laundry: a never-ending task,
Looming over me, growing beside me,
Requiring my time and lots of energy.
How can a mother embrace this job?
Quietly, I pray.
Folding my family’s clothes,
I think of them and of you, Lord.
Thankful for this blessing;
The awesome privilege
Of caring for them!
Dear Lord, please grant me all of the graces I need to see the hidden treasure in housework and in caring for my family!
(excerpted from my book: Grace Cafe: Serving Up Recipes for Faithful Mothering, Circle Press)

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Enjoying a family Autumn week end!

I was in my glory with all of my ducklings in a row this past week end! I'll share some snippets with you.

It started out with an abundance of "bounty" as we named the organic vegetables brought to us by my daughter, Chaldea who works on an organic farm.

We cooked some of these this past week end and enjoyed many delicious meals.

Off to the apple orchard...

It was wonderful to get together for a family tradition...

Jessica and Mary-Catherine enjoying the day...

Three sisters checking out the photos...

It was great doing stuff together...

Cooking together...

Hanging out with our dog, Sweetpea...

A time for a friend's visit too...

Carving pumpkins with a dear friend...

We relished in our time together. The week end went by much too fast for me though - as quickly as we all came together, everyone had to go back to their colleges and homes. You can bet that I'll be counting the days until we can all be together again! That'll probably be Thanksgiving.

2 comments:

Barbara Cooper-SchonertOctober 18, 2009 at 10:32 PM
I'm happy that you had a beautiful weekend with your family!
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JenniferOctober 19, 2009 at 8:57 AM
Looks like you all had a great time! You have a beautiful family Donna! You must feel SO blessed!
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Be at peace

"Do not look forward in fear to the changes in life; Rather, look to them with full hope that as they arise, God, whose very own you are, will lead you safely through all things; And when you cannot stand it, God will carry you in His arms.
Do not fear what may happen tomorrow; the same understanding Father who cares for you today will take care of you then and every day.
He will either shield you from suffering or will give you unfailing strength to bear it.
Be at peace, and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations."
~Saint Francis De Sales