Mother's day contest!

CONTEST! In honor of Mother's day, you can win a copy of YOUR CHOICE of one of my books! Tell me about a sweet childhood memory involving your own mother or grandmother or a mother figure and you will be entered into the contest. It doesn't have to be elaborate and you won't be graded on your grammar, so no worries about that. :) Send your entry to: DMCOBoyle[at]aol[dot]com with "Mother's day book contest" in the subject line. But, do so right away - contest ends April 30th. God bless!

Something fun!

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

Grace Cafe: Serving Up Recipes for Faithful Mothering

Frances Butek is reading my Grace Cafe: Serving Up Recipes for Faithful Mothering book right now. She recently shared with a friend...

"Honestly, every time I pick up my 'Grace Cafe' book and open it up, I seem to
find the most perfect quote, comment, story or suggestion to help me be a better
parent, and to draw closer to God (which is where I should have been in the
first place!). I hope you are enjoying this book as much as I am. It actually
irritates me that I can only read it in short spurts. I want to just curl up in
a quiet corner and read it straight through just like a juicy novel!
*laugh*...! "

Frances and her husband run Illuminated Ink. I hear from her friend that "Frances's husband is a phenomenal artist, and their products are simply lovely. I especially like the Way of the Cross project, but many people really like the First Holy Communion banners.)" she said.

All kinds of good Domestic Church stuff...

Take a look at what's going on over at Raising Little Saints

God bless your day!

Donna-Marie

My book is the "Book Pick" at the National Catholic Register

My book, Grace Cafe: Serving up Recipes for Faithful Mothering was chosen as the "Book Pick" by the National Catholic Register this week...

A Casual Encounter With Grace

BY Father Walter Schu, LC

June 14-20, 2009 Issue | Posted 6/5/09 at 10:05 AM

"Grace Café is an aptly titled book. How does one discover grace — that sublime reality so distant from most people’s vocabulary today and, sadly, so often absent from their lives?

Within these pages, seasoned author Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle makes that elusive encounter with grace seem as casual and natural as a mid-morning rendezvous with an old friend at the local café.

Fyodor Dostoyevsky once said, “Beauty will save the world.” If that is true, then Grace Café — addressed specifically to mothers — could bring many mothers one step closer to salvation.

Even, and especially, in the midst of the daily trials of raising a family, such as being confronted with a steadily growing mountain of unfolded clothes, the beauty of motherhood alights from the page to capture hearts...." (Go to Embracing Motherhood for entire review)

(National Catholic Register)

The winner is...

I'll announce the winner of the book give-away this afternoon. Your comments are amazing and beautiful! There's still time if anyone else wants to submit a comment. Take a look here and leave a comment about what gives you joy in your "domestic church" within your vocation as a mother if you are interested.

God bless your day!

Donna-Marie

Laundry - more laundry!

While this blog is not all about laundry, (it may seem so at this point!) I thought that while we're on the subject, I'd offer a couple of prayer verses today about that never-ending but grace-filled chore.

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)

In my Laundry Room

As I carefully fold my sheets,
Smoothing out the wrinkles,
Bringing corner to corner...
Lovingly, I think of You, my Lord.

The pile of laundry seemingly grows beside me,
As I strive to keep up
With this never-ending chore.

But, in my laundry room...
I thank You, my dear Lord,
For loving me and allowing me
To serve You in my family.

(Excerpted from my book: Catholic Prayer Book for Mothers, Our Sunday Visitor)

I'll be bringing you a home-made laundry soap recipe that I use, a bit later on today and maybe some other goodies as well. Stay tuned!

Enjoy the day and maybe you'll even get in some Hail Mary's as you tackle some chores. Go have some fun too!