A book I’ve been looking for

Over a year ago, I started searching for Catholic business resources, specifically books. I found seven, but I felt like there was something missing. Something current, for one thing.

My husband suggested I pitch an idea or two to write such a book. I shook my head and gave him a few reasons why that wouldn’t be feasible for the publisher or for me (platform, anyone?). I also admitted that my heart wasn’t in writing such a book. It was in reading it.

It was a delight then, to have my review shelf sprout not one, but TWO, Catholic business books recently. (I wrote about the other one, The Catholic Briefcase, by Randy Hain, a while back.)

The book is one that I enjoyed immensely: Faith at Work: Finding Purpose Beyond the Paycheck, by Kevin Lowry.

(Kevin was around here quite a bit last week: focusing on WOMB as part of Looking Closer at the Hail Mary, answering my questions in 140 characters or less, and reviewing my book.)

Yes, but does it apply to ME?

Working from home, juggling small children, writing, and doing laundry and dishes and other such makes me sometimes wonder if there’s any point to reading business books.

Yes, I’m still interested, but shouldn’t I focus on my faith life?

My reading time is so limited, shouldn’t I read the novels and fiction I long for?

There’s usually nothing new or life-changing in the business books, and I can’t help but be cynical about many of the premises: is there any point?

The answer was on page one of Faith at Work:

My goal in writing this book is to encourage you along the path of conversion. Whether you are a CEO, a homemaker, a clerk, a teacher, or a laborer, I want you to think about your work just a little bit differently. Work is an opportunity, not only to earn a living but also to live your faith in its fullness. The only way this is possible is to completely integrate your faith and your work.

Making it real

This book is high on practical advice, even as it doesn’t compromise the high ideals. After each chapter, there are action steps that you can read and ignore or attempt. There are questions for reflection that are low on the eye-rolling touchy-feely stuff and high on the “examine yourself and make a tiny step RIGHT NOW” element.

We all work, period.

I love the fact that Lowry acknowledges the work of everyone–and not just in the introduction. The fact is, we all work. Even if you’re blessed to have your work look a lot like play to the rest of the world (guilty), it’s still work.

Our work is from God–or it can be. It can be for God, too, no matter where or how or when we work. We can bless it and use it to achieve holiness (or get closer, anyway).

Humility, gratitude, patience, oh my!

Through insightful and humorous anecdotes from his years of work and home life, Lowry weaves a few lessons that always seem to hit me close to home. In fact, having a spirit of humility, gratitude, and patience seems about as possible to me most days as climbing the big oak tree in the back yard.

It takes humility to be a team player, and what team is closer to home than the one that begins in your own home? Without gratitude, you miss a lot of beauty in life, but it requires you to look beyond yourself. Patience might seem impossible to some of us (me), but when it comes right down to it, patience is about trusting God.

Faith is inseparable from work.

I knew that, I know I did. Faith at Work, though, reminded me that it doesn’t have to be shoved down anyone’s throat, it doesn’t have to be un-fun, and it doesn’t have to be old news. The beauty of our faith is part and parcel of everything we do, who we are, how we live. Lowry gives us all a resource for being more intentional with our efforts.

Want a copy of your own?

I happen to have a copy here on my desk that you could own. Leave a comment by Friday, May 25 at midnight PST with the biggest work challenge you face, and you’ll be entered to win. I’ll notify the winner sometime next weekend.

There are more Quick Takes, just as there are every week, at Conversion Diary.

— 1 —

You know what makes me happy? This conversation from Facebook and the subsequent picture I have in my head because of it.

Anyone know where I can find a statue of Mary on a HORSE? Huh? I think I need one.

Well, come to think of it, I probably need two. My four-year-old is sure to claim one to play with. (You know, like she did with the Holy Family.)

— 2 —

If you’re reading this in a feed reader, I’ll spare you the necessary click-through and just show you how the window view at the top of my blog has changed, thanks to Dorian and her amazingness.

— 3 —

In case you have an interest in my latest obsessions, it has involved dirt, flowers, and mulch, transforming my front view to this:

— 4 —

That streak of motivation also led to this:

— 5 —

In other news, I just confirmed, this week, that I’ll be in Dallas at the end of August. For this:

and this:

I’m a weeeeeeee bit excited, especially as I’m going to be stuck like glue to her:

(and a few other people too, but Julie and I have a special plan, mwahaha)

— 6 —

This week, my phone (which is not “smart,” and that’s part of the reason I love it so), has been spending a lot of time in rice:

It had an unfortunate meeting with some coffee and then, as I was watering my hanging baskets, I leaned over to water some of the planted stuff and forgot all about the Truth of Watering Hanging Baskets: They will drip on you if you are under them.

To this I say: I’m glad I have rice in the house!

— 7 —

And here’s something pretty I just wanted to share, and which the artist, Michelle Paine, gave me permission to share (it’s copyrighted):

Used with permission; copyright Michelle Arnold Paine

She shares about her painting of this “transciption” of Fra Angelico’s original and the story behind it on her blog. She’s doing a whole series on the Annunciation and I’m moved by them.

It reminds me of how I used to love going to the Museum of Art in Toledo with my mother, and how she would stand beneath the panel of Monet’s Water Lilies and just gaze. I never understood that stopping and looking, that pausing to savor, that slowing down.

But maybe I do, just a bit, now.

Michelle Paine is doing some amazing work. Her figurative paintings on Mary just make my heart beat harder and tears well up in my eyes…and I have no ability to explain why.

Quick Takes can be found this week at Betty Beguiles. Please pray for Jen from Conversion Diary.

— 1 —

My favorite Nativity Set is part of my decor.

— 2 —

Since Christmas, my four-year-old has had an interest in arranging them. And rearranging them.

And now…they play hide-and-seek.

— 3 —

It took me a week or so to realize they were missing from their usual shelf.

Turns out, Mama Mary, Joseph, and the shepherd were with the Holy Family statue on an upper shelf (let’s not think about how she GOT to that taller shelf, ok?).

— 4 —

The donkey, being quite creative, hid in the printer.

— 5 —

The goat was tucked in between the tissues and my recipe box.

— 6 —

And the oxen? I missed him COMPLETELY in front of the fishing lodge.

I found him days after I thought I had everything reassembled on the correct shelf.

— 7 —

What all this says about my decorating and my ability to ignore things that are under my nose, I don’t know. OK, I DO know. There is room for humor ALL. THE. TIME.

Visit Conversion Diary for more Quick Takes!

— 1 —

I’ve been a fan of Greg and Jennifer Willits since their podcasting days. It’s been a delight to see them get bigger and better…now they have a show on Sirius/XM and also a new book, The Catholics Next Door: Adventures in Imperfect Living.

— 2 —

I wasn’t sure what to expect from their book. Would it be a how to? Advice? Just silly stuff? Or would it be a memoir type of book?

And, even more importantly, would I love it as much as I wanted to?

— 3 —

As it turns out, YES.

— 4 —

It’s equal parts laughter, insight, and advice. You get perspective from a couple who admits their imperfections with a smile and a humility I can’t help but admire.

— 5 —

Every chapter, except the parent-specific chapters, is written in a back-and-forth conversational style. Greg might start, Jennifer will pick it up, and Greg continues a few paragraphs later. I often felt like I needed to pass the chips and refill some coffee as I was reading…it’s reading that’s casual and relaxed, even though it deals with some of the heaviest topics in Catholicism (read as: NFP).

— 6 —

There’s a lot packed into 141 pages. There’s sex, marriage, kids, parenthood, sacraments, prayer, schooling, and technology, to name a few.

Some of these stories will be familiar to those who have followed the Willits through the years, but there are others that, if you don’t or can’t listen to their daily radio program, will be new to you.

— 7 —

Bottom line: highly recommended. It’s a quick read and you’ll leave it a better person.

You’ll find more Quick Takes over at Conversion Diary.

— 1 —

Today’s the first official day of the Catholic Family Fun Book Tour! Yay!

Jen Fitz, she of the “I hate Cute Jesus, but Sarah’s book is good” endorsement, is the hostess at her blog, Riparians at the Gate, today.

I have no idea what she will say (because she hasn’t told me), but I’m sure it will be at least:

a. complimentary

b. entertaining

c. inspiring

d. worthy of quoting

So, with that, let’s all head over and see what she said, shall we?

— 2 —

While I’m sending you to other places, this is your friendly reminder that, if you like the idea of Catholic Family Fun, there’s a Facebook page to like, too! On it, I am trying to share (and hoping other people will too) ideas, encouragement, and tips.

— 3 —

I’m going to be updating the book’s website with new activities each month.

In case you were wondering, that TERRIFIES me. I feel like I maybe stretched myself to max capacity on the “family fun idea” pool, is a bit.

“Every good idea I could have had is already in the book,” I whined to a friend.

“You’ll be fine,” she replied, not even batting an eye. (She was one of the poor people who had to deal with my frantic phone calls when I was writing the book. Pray for her.)

— 4 —

I just loved this post at Catholic Vote: The Glories of Being Weird, by Emily Stimpson.

Incidentally, we’re giving away a copy of Emily’s book over at CatholicMom.com. You can read my rave review and enter to win, simple as that.

— 5 —

Here’s something cool: National Pro-Life T-shirt Week, Tuesday, April 24, 2012 through Monday, April 30, 2012. They have t-shirts for $8 (plus S&H) or buttons.

— 6 —

I’ve been working my way through the Hunger Games trilogy. I finished the second book last week, and am hoping to start the next one in the next couple of weeks.

I’m a little ashamed to admit I like them. Kind of a LOT.

To offset that lingering feeling that I should hate them (which is crazy, I guess), here’s a link to some brilliant commentary by Fr. Robert Barron, with videos below, courtesy of Brandon Vogt and Karen Edmisten. (Be warned: spoilers included.)

(click here to see embedded video on YouTube)

(click here to see embedded video on YouTube)

— 7 —

Here’s a bonus (via the link above from Fr. Barron’s written piece): the Shirley Jackson short story “The Lottery” is in the public domain.

Visit Conversion Diary for more Quick Takes!

Jen at Conversion Diary isn’t hosting Quick Takes this week, but…well, it’s become something of a habit for me. Happy Triduum and Easter, everyone!

— 1 —

Thank you for all the prayers when I posted my request here on the blog and on my social networks Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Our family has been truly lifted up. I can’t share any details (and maybe I won’t be able to ever), but we do thank you, and humbly ask you to keep them coming.

— 2 —

My book has a Facebook page, at the publisher’s suggestion, after I asked if we could have an interactive element to the book’s website.

I’m trying to get to 100 likes by Saturday…can you do me a favor and LIKE it if you haven’t already?

Thanks!

— 3 —

And since we’re talking about my book already…next week kicks off the Book Tour.

I’m excited about it, though I’m also bracing myself. Hearing about what others think of my work is sure to be humbling.

What’s not to love, though, when the logo for the Book Tour is so stinkin awesome? I am using it every chance I get. It was designed by Amber Fabian, who was very affordable and extremely easy to work with. If you need any design work done, she’s your person!

— 4 —

I’m way behind on my 30K for Christ (#30K4JC on Twitter). I’ve logged about 2400 words. Think I can make 30K in April?

Well, I’m not giving up yet.

— 5 —

Shameless self-promotion:

This week’s Tech Talk highlights one of my new favorite apps, Angelus Pro.

I’m part of the Lenten Journey Series with a reflection on Lent becoming personal.

I spend a few minutes raving about Hallie Lord’s Style, Sex, & Substance and we’re even giving away a copy at CatholicMom.com!

It’s important to remember our priorities, whether we’re writers or moms or even just humans, so that’s what I wrote about at the Catholic Writers Guild blog this week.

Over at New Evangelizers, I’m considering the definition of New Evangelization.

Jeff Young and I talk Holy Week and family fun on this week’s Catholic Foodie (and Jeff has a great show beyond that, too!).

— 6 —

My pick of the week: CatholicApps.com.

It’s a website of just Catholic apps!

If things are suddenly quiet for me and I seem to disappear altogether, it’s because I have decided to forsake all my other endeavors and just immerse myself in the coolness that is there.

I wish.

Anyway, check it out. Serious awesomeness!

— 7 —

Today starts one of my very favorite devotions, but which I always forget (not this year, though!): the Divine Mercy Novena. You start it on Good Friday and end it the Saturday before Divine Mercy Sunday (which is the 2nd Sunday of Easter).

I’m going to be praying for a very special intention, and I hope you’ll join in with your own intentions.

If you’re like me and you tend to forget, you can get it delivered right to your inbox thanks to the awesome work of Pray More Novenas.

— 1 —

I get quite a few review books, which is a slice of heaven for me. I’m buried in them, right now, wishing I could read faster, more often, faster, more often…

Recently, an author asked me if they could send me their novel. I said yes, with the caveat that I may or may not get to it in a timely manner (which means in the next year).

The author has been very gracious about that, and even shared a joke with me by email.

Because you might need a smile too, here’s the joke:

The Pope gets off his plane in DC and into the limo. He says to the driver, “Joe, its been years since I drove a car. Can I drive?”

The driver says, “Sure, Holy Father,” and then jumps into the back seat and raises the screen between them.

After a few miles, the Pope gets pulled over for speeding.

The cop is in an awkward posiiton, so he calls dispatch and says, “Hey, I got a really important guy here that I really don’t want to ticket…don’t we have a VIP program?”

The dispatcher answers, “Whaddaya got, the Mayor or somethin?”

The cop says, “No, way bigger than that.”

Dispatch says, “A Senator?”

“Nope, even bigger,”  says the cop.

Finally the dispatcher says, “Don’t tell me you pulled over the President?”

The cop finally whispers. ”No, I think it might Jesus, cause the Pope’s drivin His car!”

— 2 —

Speaking of review books, there’s a great pile of books for the younger set that I am reviewing at CatholicMom.com this week, including one that I gave to my sister-in-law for her birthday.

Also, at CatholicMom.com this week, in my Tech Talk column this week, I review a great new app that might help you to pray the rosary by teaching you a whole new approach to it.

— 3 —

Exciting news about Catholic Family Fun:

• The book’s website is up. Check it out! New content going up monthly, and April’s the kickoff for that!
• There’s a book Facebook page. Would you please, PLEASE “like” it?

I’m trying not to post three times a day about book-related stuff, but it’s hard.

There’s a weeeee bit of excitement.

Case in point: best friend got her copy the other day. She read it in all its early draft ugliness, so there was no surprises for her. And yet, she told me, she had forgotten how good it was.

Humbled, folks. Truly, honestly humbled.

Not that this project hasn’t humbled me all to pieces already. You only have to look at what other people are saying to know that I am put in my place and completely bewildered how this came from me.

— 4 —

I love-love-LOVE spring, don’t you? My latest Mary Moment on iPadre is all about loving spring and loving Mary.

I also love-love-LOVE Saint Joseph, and so does Jeff Young. The latest Catholic Foodie is all things Joseph, including great information about Saint Joseph altars. My Mary in the Kitchen is a tribute to Joseph, too, and a bit of reflecting on this new role of mine as boy-mom.

— 5 —

Thanks to Steven McEvoy for interviewing me over at Book Reviews and More. He sent me the most extensive interview I’ve done to date. He asked me what I’d do if I wasn’t a writer, how I knew I’d be a writer, and he even asked how my writing process goes. He pointed out that I’m in a lot of different places and I told him how I do that. And then he gave me a chance to explain my typical day.

If any of this interests you about me, stop over and give it a read!

— 6 —

I promised winners today, so here you go!

Since no one entered in the actual giveaway for a Snoring Scholar SurPrize Pack (we’ll chalk that up to a marketing FAIL), I pulled names from random comments I’ve received in the last week.

Colleen Spiro

(commented on The Beauty of Spiritual Direction)

Salome Ellen

(commented on The Mighty Macs Review & Giveaway)

Christie

(commented on Leading Me to Jesus)

Each of you will receive a Snoring Scholar SurPrize Pack, which will have a copy of my new book, Catholic Family Fun: A Guide for the Adventurous, Overwhelmed, Creative, or Clueless, as well as a book from my giveaway box (there are some good titles in there, I assure you).

The winner of the Table Grace Die is:

Jen Steed

Winners, send me your address (contact info is on the sidebar of my blog), and we’ll get everything mailed right away.

Thanks to the folks at Catholic Family Gifts for sponsoring the Table Grace Die giveaway.

— 7 —

There’s still time to enter my giveaway of THE MIGHTY MACS (which my girls will probably try to get us to watch again this weekend).

Have a great weekend!

More Quick Takes at Conversion Diary.

— 1 —

A reader sent me this picture a week or so ago, and then gave me permission to use it.

Is your family using Welcome Risen Jesus? I’d love to hear how it’s working for you.

As for my family, well. Let’s just say I’m having a lesson in parental humility and big failures this Lent. There’s always next year…

— 2 —

Last week, I came home from a conference and within two hours had a puking kid and a very sick husband.

I had a talk scheduled for Tuesday with a local moms group, but I canceled it, sadly.

I couldn’t leave them in the lurch, though, so I recorded a little intro (which is verrrrry bad, click through at your own risk) and my Mary for Moms talk.

Then after they listened to my talk, we connected via Skype.

It was an awesome work-around, and in November, I’m looking forward to actually meeting this group of ladies in person. Don’t they look sweet?

(My boy was reaching out across the computer screen to a few of those other little guys. It was very sweet.)

— 3 —

On Wednesday last week, I went down with some virus thing.

Turns out maybe it wasn’t food poisoning for the sick kid and the husband.

— 4 —

And, in more delightful news, I have hard and fast proof that Catholic Family Fun: A Guide for the Adventurous, Overwhelmed, Creative, or Clueless is in the publishing house.

See that? That is someone AT Pauline, holding my book in their hot little hands.

(It’s actually Holly in marketing, and she is every bit as much of a cutie patootie as I thought she’d be.)

— 5 —

And check THIS news out…

The book is available on Pauline’s bookstore! Yay!

So let’s have a contest!

Order a copy and leave a comment by next Wednesday, March 28, and I’ll enter you in a drawing for a Snoring Scholar SurPrize Pack.

My kids will draw names out of a basket next Thursday, March 29 and I’ll announce the winners as part of next week’s Quick Takes.

You can enter once for every copy you purchase. Let the FUN begin!

What ‘s in the prize pack? How many winners? Well, that’s a surprise.

— 6 —

So, how about a plug for my other writing, too? It’s not like there’s grass growing under my keyboard.

For one thing, there’s my ongoing series at New Evangelizers. This week, I’m talking about how balance doesn’t always mean giving something (like the internet, say) up. In fact, giving it up would be, in some ways, easier than my current, ongoing struggle with balance.

There’s also my post at Amazing Catechists about calling in sick, something that’s oh-so-hard for a perfectionist-who-loves-her-volunteering to do. Unless there’s puking and passing out involved. Then it gets easier. I simply couldn’t move.

I took the week off from posting at CatholicMom.com and recording a Mary Moment for iPadre, but I’ll be back next week as usual.

I also have a book proposal I promised to get to my editor by March 31. Since she follows this blog (in theory, anyway), I’m going to just smile and keep quiet about the status. (It’s in God’s hands, folks, GOD’S HANDS.)

— 7 —

This week, I’ve been teaching two blogging forums for the first week of the two-week Catholic Writers Conference Online. It’s such fun! More about it next week or the week after, when I have time to gather my thoughts a bit. (The interacting there is keeping me hopping, and I feel like I’m not doing as much as I should.)

It’s great to get together with other writers and encourage each other, even if we can’t do it often in person.

Which brings me to this bit of awesomeness: 30K for Christ!

You’ve heard of National Novel Writing Month (aka NaNoWriMo), right? Those of us who don’t write fiction watch in wonder as those who do attempt to complete an entire novel in the month of November.

30K for Christ is for the rest of us (and hey, we let fiction writers in, too), and it has a Christian focus. You write 30,000 words during the month of April (any kinds of words–novel, blogging, book, journaling, whatever), but you do it for Christ and with Christ.

If you’re on Twitter, join in with the hashtag #30K4JC.

Visit Conversion Diary for more Quick Takes!

— 1 —

As you read this, I’m probably on my way over to the Behold Conference.

Not to brag, mind you, but I am a LOT excited.

I’m going to be spending a LOT of time with Elizabeth Duffy and Mrs. Darwin. I also plan to harass pursue follow around like a puppy dog see Danielle Bean, Jennifer Fulwiler, Hallie Lord, Arwen Mosher, Kate Wicker, and many, many more of my favorite online friends.

Hoo boy!

— 2 —

In the latest Catholic Foodie, Jeff’s talking fishy Fridays, and I’m sharing a Mary in the Kitchen that reflects on just why Lenten failures are good for me, every single year.

On the newest iPadre, Fr. Jay Finelli is awesome, as usual, and I’m on with a Mary Moment that’s B16-inspired.

— 3 —

Got a new iPod, iPad, or iPhone? I share my 13 Essential Catholic Apps in this week’s Tech Talk at CatholicMom.com.

Got a few minutes to talk New Evangelization with me? Over at New Evangelizers, I’m talking about how we’re all in this together.

— 4 —

You’ve probably long suspected there’s something “not quite right” about someone who names the voices in her head. But did you know I have multiple personalities online too? I talk about my dilemma over at the Catholic Writers Guild blog this week. If you have ideas for how I can reconcile myself…well, I’m all ears/eyes.

— 5 —

“Would you review my new book, Getting #Married: Using Social Media to Celebrate the Sacred?”

I was too curious to say no when the request came into my inbox.

For one thing, I think very highly of Meredith Gould, who is an author, a blogger, and one of my favorite people to follow on Twitter.

For another, when you put both “social media” and “sacred” in the subtitle, it makes for irresistibility as far as I’m concerned.

Read my review over at CatholicMom.com.

— 6 —

I’ve been tempted to start posting links to our priest’s homilies here on my blog. He’s such a talented homilist–he can say more in seven minutes than I can say in a half-hour. Last weekend, his homily inspired a whole column idea for me, among other things. (I need to listen to it a third time to get all my notes down so I can bug him with my uber-nerdy theology questions.)

— 7 —

This is a classic case of saving the best for last, don’t you think?

Visit Conversion Diary for more Quick Takes!

— 1 —

Less than a month until we can all have our hands on this:

Join me in a happy dance, will you?

It’s not available yet for pre-order, but just as soon as it is, I’ll be sure to let you know!

— 2 —

Have you seen the great work Greg and Jennifer Willits are doing over at New Evangelizers? I have meant to mention it, and I never have. (Bad me.)

As it turns out, I’m now writing there weekly, about the New Evangelization. I’m finding this to be a topic that, like so many other topics I’ve started writing about, turns out to be FAR BIGGER than I imagined in the beginning.

My first post, “In the Silence of the Internet,” starts with a plug for the Pope’s message for World Communications Day and then a few words about how the internet inspires silence in me.

The Pope’s Message for the 46th World Communications Day has struck a deep chord with me and it speaks to each of us who are involved in spreading our Catholic faith.

For one thing, there’s the title: “Silence and Word: Path of Evangelization.”

In my years of interacting on the interwebs, there is silence of a sort, at least when I’m not yelling at my screen or ranting about what some fool (whose name may or may not be Sarah Reinhard) has said or done.

Continue reading at New Evangelizers –>

— 3 —

In my Mary Moment on iPadre this week, I share how Mary Poppins inspired me to think about Mama Mary.

In case you want to hum along with me, here you go:

— 4 —

At CatholicMom.com this week, I’m talking tech with an idea I have for an app that would take off like wildfire. Or not. Anyway, if you’re curious, you can read it and let me know what you think.

I also share a detailed review of the collection of Chesterton essays I mentioned on earlier this week.

— 5 —

I don’t really have a good entry at the Catholic Writers Guild blog this week, though I do open it up for questions (no takers so far). If you head over there, check out the other good stuff…I really liked Ebeth Weidner’s piece on tending the garden and learned quite a bit about developing theme from a writer’s standpoint from Leslie Lynch. (I may write nonfiction, but wow! I learn so much from my fiction writing friends!)

Those are just the things that went up THIS week. If you have an interest in writing, I highly recommend at least following that blog…and why not consider a membership to CWG?

Hoping to see you at the Catholic Writers Conference Online later this month, too! (Registration is closed now. And wow, it’s going to be a great and intimate group this year!)

— 6 —

I found this bit of awesomeness via Danielle Bean. I have shown it to everyone I can think of, but whether you have seen it yet or not, I MUST post it on my blog. MUST.

See why?

— 7 —

I’m pretty sure this is one of my all-time favorite pictures of my girls:

Yes, my four-year-old is now riding by herself unassisted! She takes lessons, too. A year sooner than her sister. By our calculations, that means the mancub (who is 16-months-old!) will be riding at age three.

I took this picture to show how tall my seven-year-old’s horse was next to the pony my four-year-old rides.

Have a good weekend!

Be sure to stop by Conversion Diary for more Quick Takes and lots of goodness!