Faith and Family Live! and Featured Articles

My Saintly New iPad Case

Lisa Hendey — 2012-05-24T19:38:33+00:00

Lisa Hendey: Check out this treasure! | I have shared with you in the past the amazing work done by my friend Gail Seymour of Gaila Designs. This week, Gail gifted me with this fantastic new iPad case, designed especially for me! Watch the video below to see all of the special features! Gail sells not only her cases and covers, …

Latest Catholic Digest

Rachel Balducci — 2012-05-24T18:27:45+00:00

Rachel Balducci: my thoughts on this issue | My copy of the June/July Catholic Digest came in the mail this week and I’ve been working my way through the issue. My thoughts thus far: the story on Eduardo Verastegui is very interesting, and I can’t wait to see his latest movie For Greater Glory. Are you planning on going? Also, the …

Just the Two of You

Danielle Bean — 2012-05-24T11:00:03+00:00

Danielle Bean: Coffee Talk: Marriage | (Join each day’s Coffee Talk discussion: Mon: Parenting; Tues: Open Forum; Wed: NFP; Thu: Marriage; Fri: Education; Sat/Sun: Homemaking) Struggling in your marriage? Have some relationship advice to share? Have a marriage success story to share? Have a man/woman question? This weekly thread is the place to do it. Come on in and join the …

Faith & Your Fertility

Danielle Bean — 2012-05-23T11:00:10+00:00

Danielle Bean: Coffee Talk: NFP | (Join each day’s Coffee Talk discussion: Mon: Parenting; Tues: Open Forum; Wed: NFP; Thu: Marriage; Fri: Education; Sat/Sun: Homemaking) This weekly thread is a place where you can share your struggles, triumphs, links, resources, concerns, and questions about all things related to Natural Family Planning. Please join the conversation!

Feed The Hungry

Rachel Balducci — 2012-05-22T20:09:33+00:00

Rachel Balducci: Let's share how! | Summertime is upon us and for me, that means five hungry boys will commence to eating us out of house and home. Every day. It’s already started and I am amazed. One teenage son has recently started an afternoon workout regime that leaves him STAR-VEENG. As in, he was so hungry when he came home …

Called By Name

Rebecca Teti — 2012-05-22T17:00:04+00:00

Rebecca Teti: an interesting take on personal vocation | My archdiocese transferred the feast of the Ascension to this past Sunday. There was a choice of Second Readings and in my parish we heard a passage from Ephesians four that concludes thus: “he gave some as apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, to equip the …

Children's Book Book Club

Arwen Mosher — 2012-05-22T16:00:30+00:00

Arwen Mosher: join our first discussion! | I love the idea of online book clubs, but in practice they’re hard. Typing up my thoughts about an entire novel takes too much time. Still, talking about books is fun, and last week as I listened to my sister reading aloud to my children, I realized: children’s books are full of insights, but …

Second Child

Lisa Hendey — 2012-05-22T13:00:25+00:00

Lisa Hendey: How has your parenting style changed? | “Second Child’s Mom” wrote me this past week and shared this photo of a golden-haired cutie snacking off of the floor. To protect the innocent, she shall remain nameless, but I will say that I personally know this mom well and can totally vouch for her parenting skills. The photo made both …

Come For Coffee

Danielle Bean — 2012-05-22T11:00:18+00:00

Danielle Bean: Coffee Talk: Open Forum | (Join each day’s Coffee Talk discussion: Mon: Parenting; Tues: Open Forum; Wed: NFP; Thu: Marriage; Fri: Education; Sat/Sun: Homemaking) This is the Open Forum Coffee Talk. That means ... anything goes. Ask a question, make a suggestion, share a story, offer some advice—the floor is yours!

Be a Part of Catholic Media Promotion Day 2012

Lisa Hendey — 2012-05-21T19:45:51+00:00

Lisa Hendey: What impact has Catholic media had on you during the past year? | World Communications Day 2012 was commemorated yesterday, Sunday, May 20. The 2012 Catholic Media Promotion Day will follow on Wednesday, May 23 and Thursday, May 24. Last year, on Catholic Media Promotion Day, we asked you to promote your favorite 3 blogs, 3 podcasts, 3 other …

The Truth About Stem Cells

Rebecca Teti — 2012-05-21T14:49:56+00:00

Rebecca Teti: | The secular world seems at last to be catching up to the Church in recognizing the limits of embryonic stem cell research. In a recent interview with ABC News, Michael J. Fox, ESCR’s most prominent celebrity advocate, admits such research isn’t looking very promising. He still doesn’t see the moral objection, nor has he recanted his previous support, …

Parenting Pointers

Danielle Bean — 2012-05-21T11:00:53+00:00

Danielle Bean: Coffee Talk: Parenting | (Join each day’s Coffee Talk discussion: Mon: Parenting; Tues: Open Forum; Wed: NFP; Thu: Marriage; Fri: Education; Sat/Sun: Homemaking) Terrible toddlers? Trying teens? Something in between? This weekly forum is the spot to share your questions and struggles about all things related to parenthood. Please join us!

Sibling Revelry

Rachel Balducci — 2012-05-21T01:25:16+00:00

Rachel Balducci: grateful for the gift of family | We had a feast at my house the other night. It felt like a billion of my closest friends dropped by for dinner, but when I sit and actually count heads I realize there were only about twenty-five of us. But still, twenty-five. Twenty-five is a big number when you consider all …

Never Too Late to Learn

Arwen Mosher — 2012-05-19T14:00:17+00:00

Arwen Mosher: an inspiring story | “The richness is in me, in my heart and head, not in my pockets.” This story about a 52-year-old Albanian refugee who earned a bachelor’s degree from Columbia University - while working as a janitor there - gave me a smile and a lift today. Maybe it will do the same for you. image credit …

Coming Clean

Danielle Bean — 2012-05-19T11:00:00+00:00

Danielle Bean: Coffee Talk: Homemaking | (Join each day’s Coffee Talk discussion: Mon: Parenting; Tues: Open Forum; Wed: NFP; Thu: Marriage; Fri: Education; Sat/Sun: Homemaking) Our weekend forum is for discussing Homemaking. Have a great craft idea? Want to share your favorite cleaning products? Have a super recipe to share? Want to ask a question or share a strategy for meal …

We Have a Winner!

Rachel Balducci — 2012-05-18T17:59:39+00:00

Rachel Balducci: book giveaway results | Thanks to all who entered to win a copy of Sarah Reinhard’s Catholic Family Fun. The winner is MR, who said: Posted by MR on Monday, May 14, 2012 11:22 AM (EDT):Reply Sounds great! If you get your hands on a copy, be sure and check it out. It’s really a great resource! …

Twins Are One!

Arwen Mosher — 2012-05-18T13:00:40+00:00

Arwen Mosher: A celebration for them and some reflection for me | My husband had a countdown on his phone for months. Every so often he gave me an update. It was a big deal when we hit the halfway point, and three-quarters, and less than two months left. Last week, with mere days to go, I didn’t need updates. I …

School Rules

Danielle Bean — 2012-05-18T11:00:54+00:00

Danielle Bean: Coffee Talk: Education | (Join each day’s Coffee Talk discussion: Mon: Parenting; Tues: Open Forum; Wed: NFP; Thu: Marriage; Fri: Education; Sat/Sun: Homemaking) Whether your children attend school or are homeschooled, this is the spot to ask questions about curricula, religious education, parent-teacher relationships, or academic concerns of any kind. Please join us!

Dear Mike

Rebecca Teti — 2012-05-17T20:50:37+00:00

Rebecca Teti: from President Reagan to his son | Do you know Letters of Note? As the name implies, it publishes interesting correspondence. I love it because of the window it provides into the interior lives of public people. Here’s a lovely note the late Ronald Reagan sent his son Michael before his wedding. Click over to read the whole thing, …

Quitting Facebook? Not Me.

Lisa Hendey — 2012-05-17T14:09:00+00:00

Lisa Hendey: Are you into social networking? | Facebook buzz has reached a fever pitch this week as everyone’s favorite (or most detested) social network launches its initial public offering tomorrow. Some have questioned the skyrocketing value of Facebook, and plenty of others have questioned whether it has any merit at all and is not simply a collossal time dump. This …

Just the Two of You

Danielle Bean — 2012-05-17T11:00:43+00:00

Dropped Coverage

Rachel Balducci — 2012-05-16T14:23:54+00:00

Rachel Balducci: thanks to Obamacare | Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio says it can no longer offer a popular (redacted, and then un-redacted) healthcare program to its students because of Obamacare, the health care overhaul of the Obama administration. The changes to the healthcare program include a mandate of contraception, which goes against church teaching and thus the principles of this …

Does The Contraceptive Mentality Exist?

Rebecca Teti — 2012-05-16T12:00:40+00:00

Rebecca Teti: | Oh, have mercy, not another internet NFP debate. Well, yes, except I’m not trying to stir a debate necessarily, but to learn something. Two things, actually. A couple of my friends posted this nicely balanced reflection on why Catholics need not use NFP. I like the article, but I’ve never heard anyone suggest NFP was required so am …

NFP FAQs

Danielle Bean — 2012-05-16T11:00:30+00:00

Saw Those Logs

Rachel Balducci — 2012-05-15T17:30:30+00:00

Rachel Balducci: Another reason to sleep tight | Your sleep habits may be contributing to unwanted pounds around your waist, says a recent study cited over on NPR. According to German researcher Till Roenneberg, the disconnect between our social calendars and our biological clocks is creating a kind of jet lag — he’s dubbed it “social jet lag.” And the consequence? …

Journey of Jesus Hits Facebook

Lisa Hendey — 2012-05-15T15:00:46+00:00

Lisa Hendey: Would you play or let your kids play? | This morning, I received a press release in my inbox about a new social game on Facebook called Journey of Jesus. The creation of a company called Lightside Games, Journey of Jesus is being called “the first ever video game about Jesus”. Journey’s launch comes simultaneous to the launch of …

Long Life Love

Arwen Mosher — 2012-05-15T13:00:11+00:00

Arwen Mosher: a long branch of a family tree! | This weekend I had the joy of being with both my mother and my paternal grandmother (as we call her, “Nana”) on Mother’s Day. I thought it was pretty neat that - with my children present - we had four generations in the room. But imagine if we had two more …

Be Heard

Danielle Bean — 2012-05-15T11:00:05+00:00

How Was Your Day?

Lisa Hendey — 2012-05-14T20:26:56+00:00

Lisa Hendey: Did it go as you'd wished? | I still remember my very first Mother’s Day like it was yesterday. I went the majority of the day, expecting my wonderful husband to surprise me at any moment with some heartfelt token of appreciation for the amazing job I was doing as a new mom. I lingered a bit in bed …

Catholic Family Fun

Rachel Balducci — 2012-05-14T12:49:09+00:00

Rachel Balducci: a new book to encourage and inspire -- and a giveaway | Just in time for summer, a new book by Sarah Reinhard wants to encourage you and inspire you and help you calm your bad self down. Catholic Family Fun is filled with ideas that will help families have adventures together and help kids learn to pass the …