My Scribbler's Heart Archives - Page 64 of 80

#5Faves: Driving With the Windows Down Songs

Published by CAstfalk on 02/24/2016

fivefaves

Spring is just around the corner, so saith the illustrious Punxsatawney Phil. At this time of year, when 55 degrees feels balmy rather than chilly, I’m eager to roll down the car windows at the first glimpse of forsythia – long before the parking lot snow piles have melted. Granted, rolling down windows held more excitement when there was actually rolling to do and my vehicle was something other than a minivan, even if it was my parents’ Chevy station wagon. These are five songs that, to me, are the perfect accompaniment to the windows-down ride.

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Reading Link-Up: An Open Book

Published by CAstfalk on 02/22/2016

An Open Book CatholicMom On Wednesday, March 2, I’ll be reviving a reading linkup, and I’d love for you to join me!

#OpenBook will be a monthly link-up each first Wednesday of the month.

My post for linking will go up at 5:30 a.m. and remain open until midnight the following Tuesday. So, say life happens and your kids get sick, crunch time hits at work, or a deadline prevents you from finishing your post until Friday – no problem. Link when you can.
Post every month, every other month, or whenever you feel like. No commitment or regularity is required, although I’d love it if you’d join us each month.
The dates for the remainder of 2016 are: March 2, April 6, May 4, June 1, July 6, August 3, September 7, October 5, November 2, and December 7.
Content is flexible. Simply write about what you’re reading. You can make it personal or, as I plan to do, extend it to the whole family. Your post can be as simple as a few lines about the book or as in-depth as a 700-word review. That’s entirely up to you. You can even forego writing all together and record a video or simply post cover photos. Here’s what my first post (under another title) looked like.
You are welcome and encouraged to copy and use the custom graphic above, but it’s not mandatory.
Don’t have a blog? Share what you’re reading in the comments.
Invite your friends and fellow bloggers.

24 Comments

Relevant Fiction Reviews: Conquering Fear and Worry

Published by CAstfalk on 02/15/2016

In my totally unqualified opinion, worry and anxiety are epidemics in modern culture. Fear, worry, anxiety – they all separate us from God’s love. “Be not afraid,” the first words of Pope St. John Paul II’s pontificate, appear frequently in the Gospels. (I’ve found references to those words or a variation appearing from 120 times in the Gospels to 365 times throughout the Bible.) And yet, our lack of faith and our pride prevent us from taking those words to heart. From letting go and letting God.

Within the space of a few days last month, I read two stellar books that address exactly these issues: one a contemporary romance and the other biblical fiction.

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Small Success Thursday

Published by CAstfalk on 02/11/2016

Why small success? Because that’s the only kind I know! Even the big ones come in small steps. Here’s my paltry offering for the week:

Greeting Cards Organized and Replenished – I like to send greeting cards for birthdays, anniversaries, and other occasions. Rather than spend my days and nights selecting expensive greeting cards from the rack, I buy them in bulk from Current. This means that aside from unique special occasions, I need only stock up once or twice a year. Last week I went through my box of cards, reorganizing and assessing what I needed to purchase.
Continue readingSmall Success Thursday

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The Importance of Wasting Time

Published by CAstfalk on 02/08/2016

Parents, can you “waste time” with your children? It is one of the most important things that you can do each day.

— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) October 27, 2015

I’m good at wasting time. One might call me an expert. Yet, I need to be reminded, by the Pope no less, to do that with my kids.

When I had only one child, I spent loads of “wasted” time with him. Four and a half years. I pushed Thomas trains around the wooden track. I sang and danced to silly songs in the backyard. I lay in the grass and watched the clouds pass.

Then I had another baby. And another. And another. And my time divided amongst the little people in my life.

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#5Faves: First Communion Ideas

Published by CAstfalk on 02/03/2016

fivefaves

My oldest daughter will be making her First Holy Communion this year, and we just purchased her lovely dress last weekend! Early in our marriage, before I’d ever been pregnant, I longed to see my children receive their First Communion. It’s such a special day, not only spiritually, of course, but also as a happy family celebration. Here are five items for gift-givers that can make the grace-filled day even more special!

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Journal

My First Holy Communion Keepsake Journal is the most inventive First Communion gift I’ve discovered. If your daughter likes to write, doodle, and dabble in journals, this is the perfect gift! This isn’t primarily a spiritual journal, more a journal to help remember the details of the day. Recall who came to your celebration, design a dress, color the rosary, etc. *

What She REALLY Wants for Valentine’s Day

Published by CAstfalk on 02/01/2016

Guys, only six weeks out from Christmas, and again you’re called on to find the perfect gift. Are you fresh out of fresh ideas? Wondering what the woman you love really wants?

I asked my female Facebook friends what gift they’d really like from their significant other. I’ve sifted through the responses, and here’s what I’ve discovered:

The love of your life wants a break from her everyday duties and responsibilities.

It may be a little time alone, it may be romantic time with you or even an outing with the whole family, but she wants undistracted time – no planning, no clean-up, and unless she’s alone, no distracting devices.

Category: My Scribbler’s Heart

#OpenBook will be a monthly link-up each first Wednesday of the month.

Social Media Edition

Journal

The love of your life wants a break from her everyday duties and responsibilities.