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Month: July 2025

10 Books to Grow Your Family’s Love of Adoration

Published by CAstfalk on 07/29/2025
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Eli’s Quiet Friend

by Allison Regina Gliot, FSP

Eli's Quiet Friend

Adults and children are so accustomed to constant noise that we can fail to recognize the value of silence. For Eli, who is highly sensitive to noise, silence is valued but elusive amidst the sounds of modern life.

Eli’s Quiet Friend allows children to contrast the noise of daily living with the quiet peace found in God’s presence. It’s a valuable resource in introducing young children to the peace of Christ found in the Blessed Sacrament.

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Our Summer 2025 Reading Lists

Published by CAstfalk on 07/08/2025
Summer Reading List 2025

I’ve met with varying success for my summer reading lists over the years. (You can find those lists linked below.) Whether I I accomplish all of my summer reading goals or not, I’ve found these lists very helpful in finally getting around to reading books that I’d failed previously to make a priority.

This year, I asked other members of the family looking for more reading accountability to chime in with their goals. My 22-year-old son and 17-year-old daughter took me up on the invitation. (If my 13-year-old daughter made a list, it’d be outdated by the time I hit publish based on the speed with which she tears through books.)

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An Open Book

Published by CAstfalk on 07/02/2025
An Open Book

Welcome to the July 2025 edition of An Open Book, hosted both at My Scribbler’s Heart and CatholicMom.com!

I’m supposed to have more time for reading in the summer, right? I’m not working outside the home and the kids’ activities are diminished. Or they’re supposed to be. So far, my kids have had ample time for reading. Me, not so much, but I’m hoping to make room for more books as we ease into summer.

To Love a Beast

I quickly read Karen Witemeyer’s latest, To Love a Beast, a Beauty and the Beast retelling set in late 19th-century Texas. It read so smoothly and was such a pleasant diversion. While the plot and characters had nods to the classic fairy tale, it was infused with a realism I enjoyed. As always, Karen Witemeyer’s books are well-written and include faith themes that resonate.

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