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	<title>Catholic Mothers Online</title>
	
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		<title>New Blog Roll Members: January 2012</title>
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		<comments>http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/2012/01/new-blog-roll-members-january-2012/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 26 Jan 2012 06:11:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Angie</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[new members]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/?p=1028</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[You may have noticed that it&#8217;s been a long time since I have posted a listing of new blog roll members.  I&#8217;ve been pretty busy with all of my blogs, craft shows, and blog and ebook design work.  Whew! As a matter of fact, I&#8217;d been so busy that I was pretty sure I was [...]<p><a href="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/2012/01/new-blog-roll-members-january-2012/">New Blog Roll Members: January 2012</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com">Catholic Mothers Online</a>
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]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-1029" title="hand_holding_rosary_button" src="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/hand_holding_rosary_button.jpg" alt="" width="125" height="90" /></p>
<p>You may have noticed that it&#8217;s been a long time since I have posted a listing of new blog roll members.  I&#8217;ve been pretty busy with all of my blogs, craft shows, and blog and ebook design work.  Whew!</p>
<p>As a matter of fact, I&#8217;d been so busy that I was pretty sure I was going to stop maintaining the blog roll.  After a phone call with <a href="http://catholicicing.com" target="_blank">Lacy</a> where she gasped when I suggested that I was thinking that, I knew that maybe it wasn&#8217;t time to stop it after all.</p>
<p>While I have decided that I want to start doing a new feature here eventually, I will still keep up with the blog roll.  However, I&#8217;m going to move to updating it once a month instead of several times a month.</p>
<p><strong>I&#8217;m happy to share with you the newest blog roll members.  Be sure to go visit a few and welcome them to the blog roll!</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://teresabcross.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Seaside Contemplative</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.thehappyresourcefulhome.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Happy, Resourceful Home</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.thebreadboxletters.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Breadbox Letters</a></p>
<p><a href="http://tutusandchoochoos.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Tutus and Choo Choos</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.therollingacresfarm.com/" target="_blank">The Rolling Acres Farm: From Our Farm to Yours &#8211; Homesteading and Homeschooling</a></p>
<p><a href="http://momonthegoinholytoledo.com/" target="_blank">Mom on the go in Holy Toledo</a></p>
<p><a href="http://auxilioabalto.us/et.al/blogweb/index.php" target="_blank">Cum Auxilio ab Alto</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.clan-donaldson.com/" target="_blank">Clan Donaldson</a></p>
<p><a href="http://tsahaylu.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Catholic Frontier&#8230;Promise of the &#8220;New Evangelization&#8221;</a></p>
<p><a href="http://carrotsformichaelmas.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Carrots for Michaelmas</a></p>
<p><a href="http://gracenchaos.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Grace in Loving Chaos</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.saintboundsinner.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Saintbound Sinner</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/2012/01/new-blog-roll-members-january-2012/">New Blog Roll Members: January 2012</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com">Catholic Mothers Online</a>
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		<title>Death Comes for Us All</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CatholicMothersOnline/~3/x1EOqYPt0-s/</link>
		<comments>http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/2012/01/death-comes-for-us-all/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:30:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Melissa</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[life lessons]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mortality]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/?p=947</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As we issue in the New Year, it is a time of renewal and fresh starts. Even as we enter early spring and the season of Lent, we know that the Easter season is soon to follow. Yet in the midst of it all, death still finds us. I am an English professor at a [...]<p><a href="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/2012/01/death-comes-for-us-all/">Death Comes for Us All</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com">Catholic Mothers Online</a>
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]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><div id="attachment_948" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 300px">
	<a href="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/IMG_0955.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-948" src="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/IMG_0955-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>
	<p class="wp-caption-text">Stations of the Cross; St. Andrew&#039;s, Roanoke</p>
</div>
<p>As we issue in the New Year, it is a time of renewal and fresh starts. Even as we enter early spring and the season of Lent, we know that the Easter season is soon to follow. Yet in the midst of it all, death still finds us.</p>
<p>I am an English professor at a local college, a job that I love with a passion. My students are family to me. I laugh with them, joke with them, listen to their stories, offer them advice, ponder their unique wisdom. <strong>Today, however, I cried with them</strong>.</p>
<p>One of my former students, Jason, came into my classroom this morning to tell me that his study partner, another dear student, had lost his mother this morning. I sat there for several minutes just looking at him, taking in the news. The mother hadn&#8217;t been sick. In fact, she was quite healthy just a few days ago. She wasn&#8217;t old, by any means. Fifty isn&#8217;t old enough to be considering death. No accident, no trauma. Nothing happened to her to suggest that today was the end of her life. She just&#8230;died.</p>
<p>I, of course, cried with those students who continued to stop by during the day, and Jason spent over an hour in my classroom just talking his way through the grief. His heart ached for his friend, and my heart ached for my students. Especially for Jason. Even though it wasn&#8217;t his mother that had passed, the news ate at his soul. It brought into focus the reality of life:<strong> we are all meant to die</strong>. It showed him that the anger he held for his own mother, while justified, was robbing him of the precious time he had left to spend with her. After listening to his silent regrets, I made him promise to call his mother and tell her that, despite the past, he still loved her. I knew I would call my own mother that afternoon to say the same.</p>
<p>At one point, after receiving a text message from his friend that read, &#8220;I really can&#8217;t believe she&#8217;s gone,&#8221; Jason looked at me and asked, &#8220;How do I respond to that?&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>How do you respond to that?</strong></p>
<p>I told him to let his friend know that we were all hurting along with him. I told him to say that we would worry about everything at home. I told him that I love you was appropriate at a time like this, even between two men.</p>
<p>I heard the words leaving my mouth, but I realized how hollow they must all sound. Death is a reality that is hard to grasp. We cling so desperately to this mortal life around us, all the while knowing that life cannot last forever. I knew that tonight, I would go to the parish and pray for my students, my little family. I would pray to Mary for comfort and to Jesus for peace. But as I looked at Jason, knowing that he had abandoned religion long ago, I couldn&#8217;t find the words that would comfort one who mourns without hope.</p>
<p>I don&#8217;t typically encourage physical contact between myself and my students, but I hugged Jason before he left class for the day. I told him that I was there to talk, to grieve, whenever he needed an ear. I told him that I would pray for him, knowing that he would smile a little at my &#8220;silly religious talk.&#8221; As he turned to leave the room, I saw the years that the past few hours had added to his features. He seemed so young yesterday. Today, life had taught him the most severe of lessons.</p>
<p><strong>Death comes for us all.</strong></p>
<p><em>Life is full of many twists and turns. Follow Melissa as she posts about birth, death, couponing, and motherhood at <a title="And Baby Makes Three..." href="http://gothangelblood.blogspot.com" target="_blank">And Baby Makes Three&#8230;</a></em></p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/2012/01/death-comes-for-us-all/">Death Comes for Us All</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com">Catholic Mothers Online</a>
<p>
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<p><strong><a href="http://www.greathomeschoolconventions.com" target="_blank">Great Homeschool Conventions</a></strong> - Incredible Speakers and Exhibitors! The Homeschool Event of the Year!</p></p>

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		<title>Comparison Kills Contentment</title>
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		<comments>http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/2012/01/comparison-kills-contentment/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 16 Jan 2012 05:30:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Misty</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[health and wellness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[life lessons]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[reflections]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/?p=944</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[(Editor&#8217;s Note: This was written in December, and published in January, hence the Christmas notes.  However, it is an important message for any time of year.) My sister just texted me from the airplane. She and her husband are on their way to Germany to tour the Christmas markets &#8211; for the fifth time. Bring [...]<p><a href="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/2012/01/comparison-kills-contentment/">Comparison Kills Contentment</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com">Catholic Mothers Online</a>
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]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p><em>(Editor&#8217;s Note: This was written in December, and published in January, hence the Christmas notes.  However, it is an important message for any time of year.)</em></p>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 480px">
	<img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ngz1tIFevrU/TtfBljtmBJI/AAAAAAAAC5U/qCKMkRkTDM8/s640/IMG_5208.JPG" alt="" width="480" height="640" />
	<p class="wp-caption-text">My sister in Venice this fall.</p>
</div>
<p>My sister just texted me from the airplane. She and her husband are on their way to Germany to tour the Christmas markets &#8211; for the fifth time. Bring me a<em> lebkuchen,</em> I think as I close my phone and open the mailbox. The first Christmas card of the season has arrived. I haven&#8217;t even made one yet and was thinking I might skip it this year altogether. Opening her lovely card, I read that my friend has moved to a new home and lost 35 pounds in the last year. I am happy for her. Really, <em>I am</em>.</p>
<p>Pouring a cup of coffee, I sit down at the computer and click around to my favorite blogs. A gorgeous kitchen remodel appears. On another, a family is pictured gathered around the candlelit kitchen table doing their evening Bible reading, <em>led by the father</em>. On to another and I see that I have forgotten to begin the Immaculate Conception Novena as well as the St. Andrew Christmas novena. Honestly, I had never even heard of the St. Andrew novena before. Even after 13 years as a Catholic, I think to myself, <em>I have so much to learn.</em></p>
<p>A slow gloom settles over me as I lean back in my chair to think. The past few minutes have been full of wonderful news and ideas from others, and yet my internal conversation has been one of comparing my life, my home, my faith to those for whom I am truly happy. Such a<strong> first-world problem</strong> it is to overlook the fact that I even have a home, a computer, a sister, a mailbox, a cell phone and the freedom to practice my faith as I wish. How selfish have I become that all this is still not enough to fill me with deepest contentment?</p>
<p>There is <strong>only one family worthy of my comparisons &#8211; the Holy family</strong>. They are the only <em>Joneses</em> after whom I need to model myself. The mother, a young woman ostracized for her unexpected pregnancy, riding a donkey and giving birth in a barn? Not exactly &#8220;pinnable&#8221; material there. What would our Holy Mother Mary have mentioned in <em>her</em> Christmas card? <em> &#8221;On another note, my son, Jesus, actually turned water into wine this year.&#8221;</em> I doubt it.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="aligncenter" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wXDkMVCjdWU/TtfBmwgHeSI/AAAAAAAAC6E/-b1yrRxxEKE/s640/IMG_5919.JPG" alt="" width="480" height="640" /></p>
<p>Still, in some ways, comparing helps us grow, change and become the people God means us to be. <strong>We are meant to live the lives God has given us. No more, no less.</strong> And to live them with contentment, even enjoyment. Who would have thought this would be <strong>the greatest challenge of our time ~ to learn be pleased with our lives</strong> as they are right now? But comparing material goods does kill contentment. My home will never look like the cover of House Beautiful, my body will never be worthy of a Victoria&#8217;s Secret ad. By the grace of God, most days I don&#8217;t even care. But when I sense that I do, I realize I must pull the electronic plug and turn my attention to the true source of my contentment &#8211; <em>the word of God.</em></p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><span>Hebrews 13:5 </span><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">ESV</span></strong></h3>
<div>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, &#8221;I will never leave you nor forsake you.&#8221;</em></p>
</div>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Luke 12:15 ESV</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong></strong><em>And he said to them, &#8220;Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.&#8221;</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>1 Corinthians 7:17 ESV</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches.</em></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Comparison kills contentment. In 2012, may I strive<strong> to be content with what I have and to kill all unhealthy comparisons when they surface.</strong>  Only those comparisons which bring me closer to Christ, make me more like Mary and lead me into deeper holiness will bring me true contentment.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Misty, mother of three boys, wife of 15 years,  and ever-learning Catholic, blogs at <em>mistysmornings.blogspot.com .</em></p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/2012/01/comparison-kills-contentment/">Comparison Kills Contentment</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com">Catholic Mothers Online</a>
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		<title>Sit Down, Shut Up, and Be Patient</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CatholicMothersOnline/~3/751iLtIkzYQ/</link>
		<comments>http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/2012/01/sit-down-shut-up-and-be-patient/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 09 Jan 2012 05:30:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Melissa</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[humor]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/?p=919</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[(Editor&#8217;s Note: This is a tongue-in-cheek, humorous post about patience, or a lack thereof.) I am a very patient person. I have to be. Every weekday, I drive fifteen miles through traffic, construction, and one major interstate to get to work. Apparently, people in the area think that the &#8220;big black hole&#8221; known as the [...]<p><a href="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/2012/01/sit-down-shut-up-and-be-patient/">Sit Down, Shut Up, and Be Patient</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com">Catholic Mothers Online</a>
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]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p><em>(Editor&#8217;s Note: This is a tongue-in-cheek, humorous post about patience, or a lack thereof.)</em></p>
<p>I am a very patient person. I have to be. Every weekday, I drive fifteen miles through traffic, construction, and one major interstate to get to work. Apparently, people in the area think that the &#8220;big black hole&#8221; known as the &#8220;tunnel&#8221; requires them to slam on their brakes and slow to 25 miles per hour.</p>
<p><strong>HELLO!</strong></p>
<p><del datetime="2011-12-09T00:21:36+00:00">Your little braking incident just backed up traffic for seven miles&#8230;and it&#8217;s not even rush hour! I can make this drive in ten minutes at 2 a.m. Why, then, does it take me thirty minutes at 12 noon?</del></p>
<p>But back to my main point. I am a very patient person. I have to be. Every five weeks, I teach and reteach fifty to seventy students the same basic writing and grammar skills that they should have (and failed) to learn in high school. Or elementary school. I constantly deal with the question, &#8220;Why wasn&#8217;t I taught this before?&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>*sigh*</strong></p>
<p><del datetime="2011-12-09T00:21:36+00:00">You were taught this before. Several times. You just didn&#8217;t pay attention during the first eighteen years of your life. I am sure that if this material had been a part of a video game, you would have memorized it.</del></p>
<p>But I digress. I am a very patient person. I have to be. Each week when I go to the grocery store, coupons in hand, I have to watch carefully as each item is rung through the register. Then I need to calmly explain, each week, why the coupon that says &#8220;Save $1 on five cans of Spaghetti-O&#8217;s&#8221; is valid on the five cans of Spaghetti-O&#8217;s that I just purchased.</p>
<p><strong>*facepalm*</strong></p>
<p><del datetime="2011-12-09T00:21:36+00:00">Can you count to five? Seriously? I mean, how hard is it to count to five? The three year old standing in line behind me with his mother can count to five! One.Two.Three.Four.Five. I&#8217;m not sure what is so difficult about all this. And no, I do not want to wait twenty minutes so that you can find a manager to help you count to five.</del></p>
<p>But I&#8217;m off-topic again. I am a very patient person. I have to be. At least one day a week, I arrive home to solve different household tragedies. Many of these household tragedies involve laundry. Missing socks, wrinkled clothes. But without fail, I spend one day a month answering the astounding question, &#8220;Why are my white underwear now pink?&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>ARGH!</strong></p>
<p><del datetime="2011-12-09T00:21:36+00:00">Red shirt plus hot water equals pink underwear. I know you are trying to help mommy, but if you don&#8217;t understand that concept, could you please not touch the washing machine? Or, at least, don&#8217;t put any white clothes in the wash. Yes, you are still going to wear the pink underwear, and I don&#8217;t care if they look like girly pants now. Next time, you&#8217;ll remember to not put a red shirt in with them.</del></p>
<p>But like I said, I am a very patient person.</p>
<p><img class="alignnone" src="http://getsocialwithamy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/woman_pulling_out_hair.jpg" alt="" width="283" height="218" /></p>
<p><em>Melissa recounts episodes of her enduring patience in her blog, <a title="And Baby Makes Three..." href="http://gothangelblood.blogspot.com" target="_blank">And Baby Makes Three&#8230;</a></em></p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/2012/01/sit-down-shut-up-and-be-patient/">Sit Down, Shut Up, and Be Patient</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com">Catholic Mothers Online</a>
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		<slash:comments>8</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Preschool Ponderings</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CatholicMothersOnline/~3/1FxifEVWP3c/</link>
		<comments>http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/2012/01/preschool-ponderings/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 02 Jan 2012 05:30:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Claire</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[children]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[education]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/?p=930</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#8220;I don&#8217;t think preschool is necessary&#8221;. In theory, I agree with this statement, even though I dislike hearing it. It&#8217;s a broad enough (and vague enough) generalization that it would be hard to disagree with it. Preschool isn&#8217;t necessary. For every child. In every situation. It probably isn&#8217;t essential under most, if any, circumstances. But [...]<p><a href="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/2012/01/preschool-ponderings/">Preschool Ponderings</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com">Catholic Mothers Online</a>
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]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p><a href="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/preschool.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-967" title="preschool" src="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/preschool.jpg" alt="" width="250" height="395" /></a>&#8220;I don&#8217;t think preschool is necessary&#8221;. In theory, I agree with this statement, even though I dislike hearing it. It&#8217;s a broad enough (and vague enough) generalization that it would be hard to disagree with it. Preschool isn&#8217;t necessary. For every child. In every situation. It probably isn&#8217;t essential under most, if any, circumstances. But that doesn&#8217;t mean that it isn&#8217;t beneficial for some children in some situations.</p>
<p>My son, who turned 3 last January, started preschool this past September, and attends two mornings/week. Many of the classroom activities are similar to things that I have done with him since he was around eighteen months old. We do crafts, painting, puzzles, boardgames, blocks, lots of books, playgroups, Story Hour at the library, etc. Which is probably why I am often confronted with the &#8220;I don&#8217;t think preschool is necessary&#8221; comment.</p>
<p>Technically, it&#8217;s true. Preschool isn&#8217;t essential to our situation. I work very part-time, when my husband is home, so I don&#8217;t have any need for daycare (and even if I did, the five hours/week that he attends wouldn&#8217;t go very far if that was my motivation for sending my son to preschool). I only have one child, so I&#8217;m not desperate for free time. (Even if I were, it really doesn&#8217;t provide much of a respite. Half the time I&#8217;m right there with him on field trips or volunteering in the classroom, and when I&#8217;m not, by the time I come back home and then head back out to pick him up, I only end up with a couple of hours to myself.)</p>
<p>Curriculum-wise, also, we could probably manage just fine without preschool. Even with his status as an only child, I could probably arrange enough social opportunities for my son without preschool.</p>
<p>My basic parenting philosophy is that for most children the ideal would be to spend most of their early years home with their parents, and to have a gradual transition from home to the outside world. (Again, I say MOST. I don&#8217;t believe that there is any one-size-fits all approach, and it is up to each family to discern what the best approach is for them. This is what we have discerned for our family.) The preschool that I have chosen shares my philosophy, and the amount of time he spends there fits in with my approach.</p>
<p>My primary reason for sending my son to preschool is that it&#8217;s fun! He has fun pretty much every where he goes; that&#8217;s just his personality. But for him to walk into an environment that is completely child-centered, with one station of another of interesting, age-appropriate and specially targeted toys, and child-size furniture galore, he might as well be walking into Disney Land. After half the school year has passed, he still has that response when he walks in the door.</p>
<p>I love the community activities that my son and I do together, and he definitely benefits from them. But they have their limits. They are usually crowded, and this can intimidate my son, who has a reserved nature. Being in a small preschool class and participating in group activities that are specifically targeted toward his developmental level has been a huge confidence-booster for him.</p>
<p>The final factor in my decision to send my son to preschool is socialization. Yes, I acknowledged earlier that we could probably manage socially without it. But it really helps. We don&#8217;t have any neighborhood friends. Our friends are a patchwork from various community activities, so he never sees consistent children on a consistent basis. This wouldn&#8217;t be as big an issue if he had siblings who he interacted with consistently, but since he&#8217;s an only child, I think he needs consistency in order to develop more meaningful friendships.</p>
<p>No, I don&#8217;t think preschool is necessary. I don&#8217;t question mothers who choose to forgo preschool (or even elementary school for that matter). I believe that life is the best classroom, and that can take many forms. But preschool does have its place and there are families, like mine, who benefit from it.</p>
<p><em>Claire is a regular writer for Catholic Mothers Online.</em></p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/2012/01/preschool-ponderings/">Preschool Ponderings</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com">Catholic Mothers Online</a>
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		<item>
		<title>Get it Together in 2012</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CatholicMothersOnline/~3/YlvaS5Js5co/</link>
		<comments>http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/2011/12/get-it-together-in-2012/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 26 Dec 2011 05:30:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kathryn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[household responsibilities]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/?p=937</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I’ve been known to organize a few things, alphabetize my spices, color code my closets and label my kids’ toy bins.  Mostly, I think it’s what happens to the gene pool when a school teacher and an Army man get married and have children.  To keep it all balanced, I never make my bed unless [...]<p><a href="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/2011/12/get-it-together-in-2012/">Get it Together in 2012</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com">Catholic Mothers Online</a>
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]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p>I’ve been known to organize a few things, alphabetize my spices, color code my closets and label my kids’ toy bins.  Mostly, I think it’s what happens to the gene pool when a school teacher and an Army man get married and have children.  To keep it all balanced, I never make my bed unless company is coming over, I wait until the dishes pile up in the sink before washing them and I loathe doing laundry every Monday.</p>
<p>Yin for the yang.</p>
<p>I’m a believer, though, that when there is order, there is peace.  The larger our family became—we now have five children 10 and under—the more I realized systems had to be put in place or I’d spend my whole day yelling at the kids and frustrated with myself.  I don’t, however, believe you have to be a big family to appreciate order.  The ideas I share are a combination of me, wonderfully organized<br />
bloggers in cyberspace, Pinterest, personal observation and sheer trial by fire.  Raise a sippy cup and a paper shredder to a more organized 2012!</p>
<p><strong>BOX THE KIDS’ PAPERS</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/school-box_inside.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-939" src="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/school-box_inside-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a>I’ll admit it.  I did have a box for each child where I stashed all their important papers from school.  Problem was, all those papers mated, multiplied and moved places.  It was a giant box of “are you kidding me?” I found a brilliant idea online and <a href="http://teamwhitaker.org/2011/09/hdydi-school-papers/">made it my own</a>.  Each child now has a hanging file folder box, marked P2 to Grade 12.  The cover of each folder has the school picture, the teacher’s name, school and grade.  Whether your children are homeschooled, go to public or private, these folders help you put it all in ONE, very ORGANIZED place.  Woo hoo!</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>PEGS ARE YOUR FRIEND</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/hooks.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-941" src="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/hooks-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a></p>
<p>Some baby book I read over a decade ago showed a sweet photo of four little pegs affixed next to the changing table.  They were there for “not perfectly clean, but not yet dirty” clothes that could be worn again.  Genius.  We’ve adapted the pegs and now have a set in each bedroom, along with our hallway by our mudroom.  The kids hang their jackets and backpacks there, now.  We no longer search for needed items, they are always easy to find.  It was an inexpensive and easy DIY that has paid dividends for the family.</p>
<p><strong>DON’T HIDE THE RECEIPTS</strong></p>
<p>When it came time to return something, I detested finding the receipt.  More than half the time, I gave up and ended up donating the item.  Enter a <a href="http://www.containerstore.com/shop?productId=10022663&amp;N=&amp;Ntt=accordion+file">$7 accordion file from the Container Store</a>.  It was already alphabetized and compact, but roomy enough for me to hold all those receipts.  Now, I pile them all up and at the end of the week, I take less than a minute to file them all.  The return process has been made easy!</p>
<p><strong>THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT</strong></p>
<p>Of course there is.  A few months ago, my husband and I discovered <a href="http://www.cozi.com/live-simply?redir=home">Cozi</a>.  It’s a free app where we can share calendars and, more importantly, grocery lists.  When he adds something, it automatically shows up on my app.  And, when I think of something, I just type it in and neither of us has to keep up with a pesky sticky note.  If it’s wrong to love an app, then I don’t want to be right.</p>
<p><strong>ONE IN, TWO OUT</strong></p>
<p>We live in surplus, really.  Most of us do.  Our children have more toys than they need.  When birthdays and holidays would come around, my husband and I would cringe.  Just how many more toys would we have to make room for <em>this</em> year?  We reached our breaking point and decided enough was enough.  We now abide by the “for every one toy that comes in, two must go out” rule.  Common sense might tell you that your children would soon be toy-less, but we all know the reality.  Toys mate.  You put the legos to bed and the next morning 20 more have joined the party.  This in-out rule has saved our sanity and taught our children a valuable lesson:  there are others in the world who live with nothing.  The lesson of stewardship can never be taught too early.</p>
<p>My best piece of advice is this:  find your biggest, peskiest hot spot in the house and tackle it first.  We all have one.  Maybe it’s your laundry room, your refrigerator, how your kids put up their laundry, whatever.  Revamp the system, find some alternatives and put a plan in action.  Your household will thank you for it.</p>
<p><em>When Kathryn isn’t organizing her own house, she’s mothering five great kids, ages 10 to 2, and setting up date nights with her husband on Cozi.  She knew the lessons were sinking in when her oldest recently said, “Oh mom, this organizing stuff just feels good.”  Find her online:  <a href="http://teamwhitaker.org/">Team Whitaker</a>.</em></p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/2011/12/get-it-together-in-2012/">Get it Together in 2012</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com">Catholic Mothers Online</a>
<p>
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		<item>
		<title>Stressed Out?  Try the four-S solution.</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CatholicMothersOnline/~3/jpAXanvDUFM/</link>
		<comments>http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/2011/12/stressed-out-try-the-four-s-solution/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 21 Dec 2011 22:02:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Misty</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Advent]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[motherhood]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/?p=960</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In talking with other moms in the schoolyard there has been one theme lately: THERE IS TOO MUCH TO DO IN DECEMBER! It&#8217;s unfortunate that this holy month of preparation and celebration becomes a burden rather than a delight for so many. But I confess, I feel the squeeze, too. Three children in school equals [...]<p><a href="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/2011/12/stressed-out-try-the-four-s-solution/">Stressed Out?  Try the four-S solution.</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com">Catholic Mothers Online</a>
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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p><img class="alignnone" src="http://i1093.photobucket.com/albums/i439/Miloosy/IMG_0383-1-1.jpg" alt="" width="429" height="286" /><br />
In talking with other moms in the schoolyard there has been one theme lately: THERE IS TOO MUCH TO DO IN DECEMBER! It&#8217;s unfortunate that this holy month of preparation and celebration becomes a burden rather than a delight for so many. But I confess, I feel the squeeze, too.</p>
<p>Three children in school equals five teacher gifts to buy, three classroom gift exchange presents to buy, one Christmas play, one choral concert, a classroom food drive competition, and three needy children forms sent home requesting everything from clothes to iPods. Phew. Now that it is nearly Christmas Eve, let me think about buying, wrapping, and shipping the gifts for my own family and friends who live far and wide. <em>Wait</em>, everything I want is sold out in stores <em>and</em> on-line. Time to rack my brain for new gift ideas and <em>fast</em>! This month alone makes the homeschooling option ever more attractive.</p>
<p>Whatever happened to those <strong>sugar-plum dreams I had of reading my daily Advent prayers</strong> by the fireplace? And that Advent wreath on the table? It has been lit but we have had too few family dinners at home to make it consistent. I see that my old frienemies <em>pressure and guilt</em> are keeping better company with me than I care to admit.</p>
<p>What can I do about it? Go along, rushed from event to event, panting as I press &#8220;confirm order&#8221; on one more on-line shopping spree? Or, does the church offer me an alternative?</p>
<p><img src="http://i1093.photobucket.com/albums/i439/Miloosy/IMG_0384.jpg" alt="Photobucket" width="426" height="216" /></p>
<p>Last week at Mass, Deacon Vern suggested that we try to find time for Silence, Solitude and Simplicity during Advent. How typical of the wiser one to know that<strong> what we need right now is the exact opposite of what the world would have us choose</strong>.</p>
<p>So, how can I find these three S&#8217;s right now? Through another <em>S</em> word I love. Sacraments. There is a penance service this week. It feels like the perfect time. Time to ask forgiveness and be forgiven. Time to lay down all the burdens I am dragging along through this harried month. The church in her wisdom has offered me a place to find silence, solitude and simplicity through confession alone.</p>
<p>There is also a quiet place reserved for my soul at morning mass. <strong>Silence</strong>.<br />
There is always a moment before I go to bed when I can be alone and could pray a decade, at least, and read those Advent prayers, too. <strong>Solitude</strong>.<br />
There is no need to say yes to every event, every request for my time and money during December. Stay home more. Shop less. Need less. Skip the Christmas cards this year. <strong>Simplicity</strong>.</p>
<p><strong>Silence, Solitude, Simplicity. Sacraments.</strong> Four S words that can keep those frenemies at bay, now <em>and all year through.</em></p>
<p><em>Misty blogs about her attempts to live the four-S lifestyle at http://mistysmornings.blogspot.com.</em></p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/2011/12/stressed-out-try-the-four-s-solution/">Stressed Out?  Try the four-S solution.</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com">Catholic Mothers Online</a>
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		<title>I Love My Husband More than the Kids</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CatholicMothersOnline/~3/VvyIEs8-sX4/</link>
		<comments>http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/2011/12/i-love-my-husband-more-than-the-kids/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 19 Dec 2011 05:30:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Bryn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[marriage]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/?p=916</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I am still totally smitten with my husband. We&#8217;ve been married over six years, and of course we&#8217;ve had bumps in the road, but we&#8217;ve still seen each other through everything. And we are more in love than ever. When we had our first child, it was instant and amazing love. Unconditional, in fact. There [...]<p><a href="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/2011/12/i-love-my-husband-more-than-the-kids/">I Love My Husband More than the Kids</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com">Catholic Mothers Online</a>
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]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p>I am still totally smitten with my husband. We&#8217;ve been married over six years, and of course we&#8217;ve had bumps in the road, but we&#8217;ve still seen each other through everything. And we are more in love than ever.</p>
<p>When we had our first child, it was instant and amazing love. Unconditional, in fact. There is nothing my children could do that would make me love them any less. They make my life joyful, fun, and full of laughter. The kids also challenge me to be a better person because they deserve a mother who is patient, loving, and helpful all the time. There is no doubt that I love my children. SO much.</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 211px">
	<a href="http://www.tarashayphotography.com"><img src="http://simplyfulfilled.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/tybrynforcmo.jpg?w=211" alt="" width="211" height="300" /></a>
	<p class="wp-caption-text">Me and my favorite. Photo courtesy of Tara Shay Photography</p>
</div>
<p>There are some who say, &#8220;I&#8217;m so in love with my baby.&#8221; And I&#8217;m sure I&#8217;ve said this before, but when I really stop to think about it, I&#8217;m not sure that&#8217;s true. The one I&#8217;m &#8220;in love&#8221; with (whether I feel like it or not) is my husband. Some of you will want to kick me for saying this, but I love him <em>more</em> than I love our children. More.</p>
<p>It definitely is a different type of love. When each of our children were born, we had the &#8220;love explosion,&#8221; the instant attachment knowing that this tiny person is a part of you, a decision made by the two of you to become parents. But my husband and I took our time falling in love. We had to get to know each other - <a href="http://simplyfulfilled.wordpress.com/2011/06/27/summer-love/" target="_blank">click here to read our story.</a></p>
<p>He&#8217;s the one God created for me. I am the flighty, high energy one, and he always keeps me grounded, makes me laugh with his dry sense of humor, and is honest with me, even if I don&#8217;t want to hear it. When I look at him, it&#8217;s like looking in an opposite mirror. The reflection is as familiar and comfortable as looking at my own face, but he&#8217;s the perfect compliment, the perfect opposite to me.</p>
<p>We were talking about marriage recently, and it went like this.</p>
<blockquote><p><strong>Him:</strong> You know, marriage is between two people.</p>
<p><strong>Me:</strong><em> Duh! We aren&#8217;t polygamists!</em></p>
<p><strong>Him:</strong> Yeah, two people. God and me and you.</p>
<p><strong>Me:</strong><em> What? Isn&#8217;t that three?</em></p>
<p><strong>Him:</strong> No, God is one, and you and I are one.</p></blockquote>
<p>See why I love him more than anyone? He and I are one. When we got married, we became one body in Christ. We are just one person now, and nothing can separate us.</p>
<p><strong>So, what is love for my husband and me?</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>Love is packing his lunch every morning, no matter how tired I am.</li>
<li>Love is my four-year-old son asking, &#8220;Are you thinking about Daddy?&#8221; when he catches me randomly smiling.</li>
<li>Love is attending Mass as a family, and always giving each other the sign of peace first&#8230; with a kiss.</li>
<li>Love is parenting together and acting as one unit when it comes to discipline.</li>
<li>Love is putting him above all others, even myself, and letting him do the same for me.</li>
<li>Love is growing together in faith through all means possible.</li>
<li>Love is respecting each other&#8217;s feelings and treating each other as equals.</li>
<li>Love is knowing that I&#8217;m his rib, the one God created for him.</li>
<li>Love is when he puts the kids to bed every night, prays with them, and reads them stories so I can have a few minutes alone.</li>
<li>Love is choosing to care, choosing to rely on him, choosing to put him ahead of everything else. Except God, of course. But that&#8217;s just a given.</li>
</ol>
<div><em><strong>Do you love your husband the most, forsaking all others? What is &#8220;love&#8221; for you and your husband? What do you do to show that love every day?</strong></em></div>
<p></p>
<div><em>When she’s not busy making googly eyes at her husband, Bryn enjoys photography and being a stay-at-home mom to their three children. She blogs about her journey of faith, her family, living simply, and recognizing God’s many blessings at <a href="http://simplyfulfilled.wordpress.com" target="_blank">Simply Fulfilled.</a></em></div>
<p><a href="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/2011/12/i-love-my-husband-more-than-the-kids/">I Love My Husband More than the Kids</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com">Catholic Mothers Online</a>
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		<item>
		<title>Reflections on the Mass</title>
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		<comments>http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/2011/12/reflections-on-the-mass/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 13 Dec 2011 03:30:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sheree</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Mass]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/?p=924</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[During November, I was teaching the new translation of the Mass to fourth, fifth and sixth graders for a few weeks. Our parish had been delving into the changes preparing us for a new beginning this Advent season. Preparing my lessons for my students has really taught me so much about our celebration. Diving into [...]<p><a href="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/2011/12/reflections-on-the-mass/">Reflections on the Mass</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com">Catholic Mothers Online</a>
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]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p><a href="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/6508452_s.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-926 alignright" src="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/6508452_s-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" /></a>During November, I was teaching the new translation of the Mass to fourth, fifth and sixth graders for a few weeks. Our parish had been delving into the changes preparing us for a new beginning this Advent season. Preparing my lessons for my students has really taught me so much about our celebration. Diving into the history, the Scripture, the structures and the music has really brought the Mass alive for me.</p>
<p>The first thing I learned was what the word Mass means. I don&#8217;t believe I was ever taught the meaning growing up, and when I read the meaning in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1592762697/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=manylittbles-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369&amp;creativeASIN=1592762697" target="_blank">Michael Dubruiel&#8217;s book, <em>The How-To Book of the Mass</em></a>, it turned on a light for me and illuminated a faith inside of me that I didn&#8217;t know had grown a little dim.</p>
<p>Mass is the English word for the Latin &#8220;missa.&#8221;  When the Mass was said in Latin it was ended with the phrase, &#8220;Ite missa set,&#8221; which means &#8220;Go, it is sent.&#8221;  The Great Commission given to us by Christ before he ascended, &#8220;..go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matt 28 19-20. We come to the &#8220;GO&#8221;. I love that. <strong>Right there in the name of the feast we celebrate together is the emphasis that it is not to stay contained within the walls of a church building.</strong></p>
<p>The next change that at first glance didn&#8217;t really peek my interest too much, was our new response to the opening greeting.  The priest greets us with a phrase of  the love and peace of Jesus Christ and we will now respond, &#8220;And with your spirit.&#8221;</p>
<p>I knew these words were found in many of Saint Paul&#8217;s letters:  2 Tim 4:22; Gal 6:18; Phil 4:23 and Philemon 25.  In a reflection on the greeting of the Mass, Mr. Dubruiel looks at Jesus&#8217; appearance on the road to Emmaus.  Two of Jesus&#8217; followers were walking along a road talking about the crucifixion, reports that the grave was empty and the angels who were said to have proclaimed Jesus alive.  All along their journey down the road with Jesus, they are filled with anxiety, sadness, confusion, fear and the smallest glimpse of hope that what the angels proclaimed is true.  Their eyes are not opened to the fact that the risen Jesus is with them on that road until he sits with them at a table, blesses the bread, breaks it and gives it to them.  All of their earthly distractions and fears were acting like &#8220;son&#8221; block.</p>
<p>When we come to the &#8220;GO&#8221; from whatever road we are on, we also bring with us all our worries, fears, responsibilities and confusions.  We are covered in &#8220;son&#8221; block.  We hear the priest say a blessing of Christ&#8217;s peace and grace over us but<strong> unless we let it settle down in our spirit, unless we allow it to penetrate more then skin deep, we may miss seeing the risen Christ at any time during our celebration.</strong>  Without peace you can not celebrate.  Our new response reflects this.</p>
<p>As parents, we add an extra heap of &#8220;son&#8221; block for every child we have and probably bring all their troubles with us as well.  This new response reminds us that the peace of Christ is with us.  <strong>It reminds us that Christ will work it all out.</strong>  It may be messy, it may take a long time and it may involve some pain and sacrifice but Christ is faithful and he is excellent at re-working our messes.  I am looking forward to using these words now.  I look forward to taking a deep breath to say them along with my community. As I exhale, letting all my &#8220;son&#8221; block be stripped away to be replaced by the peace of Christ in my spirit.</p>
<p><em>Sheree can be found writing at <a href="http://amothersepistle.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">A Mother’s Epistle</a>.</em></p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/2011/12/reflections-on-the-mass/">Reflections on the Mass</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com">Catholic Mothers Online</a>
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		<title>Fabulous Gifts for Catholic Kids (Plus a Nativity Cookie Cutter Set Giveaway!)</title>
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		<pubDate>Sun, 11 Dec 2011 05:31:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Angie</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[I may have mentioned before, but I just love Catholic Child.  Not only were they my go-to place when all my daughter really wanted was a Mary doll, but the family that owns the company is just so kind and wonderful.  Catholic Child is also a fabulous place to do some of your Christmas shopping [...]<p><a href="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/2011/12/fabulous-gifts-for-catholic-kids-plus-a-nativity-cookie-cutter-set-giveaway/">Fabulous Gifts for Catholic Kids (Plus a Nativity Cookie Cutter Set Giveaway!)</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com">Catholic Mothers Online</a>
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]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p><strong>I may have mentioned before, but I just love <a href="http://www.catholicchild.com/" target="_blank">Catholic Child</a>. </strong> Not only were they my go-to place when all my daughter really wanted was a Mary doll, but the family that owns the company is just so kind and wonderful.  Catholic Child is also a fabulous place to do some of your Christmas shopping this year!  (I love when there is at least one gift of a religious nature for such a wonderful Holy Day.)</p>
<p><em>Be sure to read until the end for a special giveaway from <a href="http://www.catholicchild.com/" target="_blank">Catholic Child</a>!</em></p>
<p><strong>Here are some great gift ideas (broken down by ages):</strong></p>
<p><strong>Ages Newborn-3</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholicchild.com/AMAZING-GRACE-CD/productinfo/16915/" target="_blank">Amazing Grace CD (Item #16915)</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholicchild.com/NOAHS-ARK-PLAYMOBIL-PLAYSET/productinfo/21922/" target="_blank">Playmobil Ark for Tots (Item #21922) </a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.catholicchild.com/NOAHS-ARK-PLAYMOBIL-PLAYSET/productinfo/21922/"><img class="size-full wp-image-951 aligncenter" title="playmobile_ark" src="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/playmobile_ark.jpg" alt="" width="373" height="288" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Ages 3-6</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholicchild.com/BEGINNINGS/productinfo/11443/" target="_blank">Beginnings (book) (Item #11443)</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholicchild.com/SAINTS-THEIR-STORIES/productinfo/10860/" target="_blank">Saints &amp; Their Stories (book) (Item #10860)</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholicchild.com/LITTLE-LAMB-PRAYER-PAL/productinfo/20670/" target="_blank">Little Lamb Prayer Pal (Oh my &#8211; look how cute this is!) (Item #20670)</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholicchild.com/WEE-BELIEVERS-LACING-TOYS/productinfo/21994/" target="_blank">Wee Believer Lacing Toys (Item #21994)</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholicchild.com/LITTLE-LAMB-PRAYER-PAL/productinfo/20670/"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-952" title="prayer_lamb" src="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/prayer_lamb.jpg" alt="" width="450" height="324" /></a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Ages 6-9</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholicchild.com/THE-STORY-OF-OUR-LADY-OF-GUADALUPEBREmpress-of-the-Americas/productinfo/10954/" target="_blank">Our Lady of Guadalupe, Empress of the Americas (book) (It&#8217;s just breathtaking!) (Item #10954)</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholicchild.com/COLORFUL-BRAZILIAN-SAINTS-BRACELET/productinfo/15148/" target="_blank">Saints Bracelet (Item #15148)</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholicchild.com/THE-STORY-OF-OUR-LADY-OF-GUADALUPEBREmpress-of-the-Americas/productinfo/10954/"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-953" title="OLOG" src="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/OLOG-300x203.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="203" /></a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Ages 9-12</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholicchild.com/THE-BLOOD-RED-CRESCENT/productinfo/10957/" target="_blank">Blood Red Crescent (book) (Item #10957)</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholicchild.com/CROSSBOWS-CRUCIFIXES/productinfo/10956/" target="_blank">Crossbows &amp; Crucifixes (book) (Item #10956)</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholicchild.com/HOLY-SPIRIT-TENNIS-BRACELET/productinfo/14240/" target="_blank">Holy Spirit tennis bracelet (Item #14240)</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholicchild.com/HOLY-SPIRIT-TENNIS-BRACELET/productinfo/14240/"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-954" title="holy_spirit_bracelet" src="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/holy_spirit_bracelet.jpg" alt="" width="392" height="288" /></a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Teens -Young Adult</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholicchild.com/HOLY-FATHER-3-BOOK-SET/productinfo/10964/" target="_blank">Praying with the Holy Father Series (book) (Item #10964)</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholicchild.com/THE-SHADOW-OF-THE-BEARBRTHE-FAIRY-TALE-NOVEL-SERIES-BOOK-1/productinfo/10871/" target="_blank">Fairy Tale Novel Shadow of the Bear (Item #10871)</a>, as well as the rest of the series</p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholicchild.com/BRAZILIAN-SAINTS-BRACELET/productinfo/15149/" target="_blank">Saints Bracelet (Item #15149)</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/shadow_of_bear.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-955" title="shadow_of_bear" src="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/shadow_of_bear.jpg" alt="" width="131" height="198" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Families</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholicchild.com/Puzzles/products/81/" target="_blank">Puzzles!</a> &#8211; Great for family fun!</p>
<div id="attachment_956" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 276px">
	<a href="http://www.catholicchild.com/NO-ROOM-AT-THE-INN-PUZZLE/productinfo/32037/"><img class="size-full wp-image-956" title="puzzle" src="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/puzzle.jpg" alt="" width="276" height="162" /></a>
	<p class="wp-caption-text">No Room at the Inn puzzle</p>
</div>
<p><strong>The Giveaway!</strong></p>
<p>When the people from Catholic Child asked me what I would like to be able to giveaway here on Catholic Mothers Online, I quickly told them that I would love to be able to giveaway a <a href="http://www.catholicchild.com/NATIVITY-SET-COOKIE-CUTTERS/productinfo/32110/" target="_blank">Nativity Set of Cookie Cutters</a>.<strong></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholicchild.com/NATIVITY-SET-COOKIE-CUTTERS/productinfo/32110/"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-957" title="cookie_cutters" src="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/cookie_cutters.jpg" alt="" width="374" height="288" /></a><strong></strong></p>
<p>How sweet is this, right?  (Ha &#8212; sweet!  Get it?)  Anyway, I do think it&#8217;s super cute, and I would love to have one of my very own.  So, I&#8217;m really excited to give one away.</p>
<p><strong>How to enter:</strong></p>
<p>Enter by Saturday, December 17th at 11:59 pm EST using one (or all!) of the entry options below.  (Open only to U.S. residents.  Other <a href="http://www.manylittleblessings.com/terms-and-conditions/" target="_blank">terms and conditions of giveaways</a>.)</p>
<p><strong>Ways to Enter (Leave a separate comment for each entry):</strong></p>
<p>1. Share an idea for a Christmas gift that helps to glorify the true meaning of Christmas.</p>
<p>2. Visit <a href="http://www.catholicchild.com/" target="_blank">Catholic Child</a> and share one item (not listed here) that you would love to have.<strong></strong></p>
<p>3. Follow <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/Catholic_Child" target="_blank">Catholic Child on Twitter</a>.</p>
<p>4. <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/CatholicMothersOnline" target="_blank">Subscribe to Catholic Mothers Online via RSS Reader</a> or <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=CatholicMothersOnline" target="_blank">through your email</a>.<strong><br />
</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/2011/12/fabulous-gifts-for-catholic-kids-plus-a-nativity-cookie-cutter-set-giveaway/">Fabulous Gifts for Catholic Kids (Plus a Nativity Cookie Cutter Set Giveaway!)</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.catholicmothersonline.com">Catholic Mothers Online</a>
<p>
<strong>Current Sponsor:</strong>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.greathomeschoolconventions.com" target="_blank">Great Homeschool Conventions</a></strong> - Incredible Speakers and Exhibitors! The Homeschool Event of the Year!</p></p>

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