Carolyn Astfalk's Blog, page 47

Faith, Family & Freedom: Fight For Liberty Available Today!

When the sparklers have fizzled, the grill has cooled, and even the lightning bugs have taken to their beds, I have the perfect book for you! The final installment of Theresa Linden’s Liberty Trilogy is available today. You’ll want to start with the first book, Chasing Liberty. (I interviewed Theresa about the book when it was first released.) Now that the series is complete, you can read straight through Testing Liberty and then Fight For Liberty, because, believe me, you’ll want to!

Because it’s a holiday and your concentration may be sapped from fun and sun, I’ll make this simple.

Top 5 Reasons You Should Read the Liberty Series:

Liberty. She’s strong, brave, and bursting at the seams with heart and integrity. Which makes up for her tendency to be impatient and impulsive.
Dedrick. A gentleman through and through, he’s had his eye on Liberty for a long time. Chivalrous, courageous, and can also kick some butt when the situation warrants.
The Evil Villain. Dr. Supero is the guy you love to hate as he doggedly pursues Liberty. [Insert maniacal laugh.]
Edge of your seat. That’s where you’ll be throughout this fast-paced dystopian series.
American as apple pie. Rather than letting that burst of patriotism dim with the last flickering firework, take a little time to reflect on the foundations of the United States. Good fiction deepens your understanding of concepts and values in a personal way. Let Liberty remind you of the importance of faith, family, and freedom by showing you what a world without them might look like.

Liberty has gained a deeper understanding of true freedom, but having it for herself is not enough. Prompted by the inner voice that has guided her for years, Liberty is compelled to bring the freedom she possesses to others in Aldonia. While unsure of how to carry out this mission, she is willing to risk all to accomplish it. Threats from outside the Boundary Fence and threats closer to home cause chaos and confusion that have everyone questioning what direction to take. Troubled by Liberty’s risky choices, Dedrick wishes he could convince her to leave for the colonies. But Liberty has chosen Aldonia over him. When faith, family, and freedom have been squashed, what can one person or even a group do to reclaim the culture?

If you have not read both Chasing Liberty and Testing Liberty, but think you might enjoy this dystopian trilogy, Theresa Linden has a special offer:

If you purchase Fight for Liberty in the month of July, email her a copy of the receipt at theresalinden[at]oh.rr.com.
Tell her which one of the first two books you would like to have for FREE. 


This will be an ebook. She’ll give you a coupon code and you can choose the eBook format you want.

Fight for Liberty by Theresa Linden

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Some regimes go out with a bang, others with a whimper. In Fight for Liberty, Theresa Linden takes the reader on a wild ride as Aldonia and its surrounds descend into chaos. Despite the seismic changes going on around them, Dedrick’s love for Liberty is steadfast. With each risky mission she undertakes, Liberty must consider where and how can she do the most good and whether her future will include Dedrick. Should she commit herself to bringing freedom to Aldonia, or are there other, more subtle ways she can make a difference? The final book in the Liberty Trilogy includes all the action and intrigue you’d expect along with the resolution of Liberty’s seemingly paradoxical quest to both be free and to belong.

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A Taste of Summer (with Recipes!)

by Guest Blogger Barb Szyszkiewicz

Happy summer! Happy Fourth of July! In honor of this summer holiday, Carolyn invited me to bring along a few of my favorite recipes. She knows that I love to cook for my family and friends! Since I can’t cook for all of you in person, sharing these recipes is the next best thing. They’re all easy to make, and both the salad and dessert are definitely picnic-worthy.

Summer recipes to savor: corn & tomato salad, shrimp scampi & CMP brownies. @franciscanmom Tweet This

Let’s start with the salad. I’m a Jersey girl, and this is the time of year when the corn and tomatoes are ready to go, fresh and flavorful. This warm salad uses your garden-fresh corn, tomatoes and herbs. If you don’t have any grilled corn, you can bake it in the oven–directions are at the bottom of the recipe.

JERSEY FRESH CORN AND TOMATO SALAD

2 ears corn on the cob

1 1/2 cups chopped tomato (any type of tomato works in this dish)

3 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 cup chopped onion

olive oil

salt and pepper

1 cup fresh basil leaves

1/4 cup fresh oregano (or 1 TBL dried oregano)

Grill or roast corn on the cob and allow to cool (directions for oven-baked corn are at the bottom of the recipe).

Stand corn on its end and cut kernels off the cob.

Saute onion in a little olive oil. When it begins to brown, add garlic and cook 2 minutes more. Add corn, tomatoes, salt and pepper to pan. When everything is heated through, add basil and oregano and toss until basil wilts. Serve warm.

Makes 8 side-dish servings.

BAKED CORN ON THE COB:

Shuck corn and remove silk. Pour 1 TBL olive oil on a square of aluminum foil. Place corn on olive oil and roll it until entire ear is coated. Wrap corn in foil. Each corncob should be wrapped individually. Bake 20 minutes at 450. Allow to cool 10 minutes before unwrapping.

*****

Now that you’ve enjoyed your salad, let’s move on to the main course. Carolyn specifically asked me to share this recipe. I wouldn’t feed it to the whole Fourth of July crowd, because shrimp is an extravagance, but it’s a simple dish that tastes like you fussed over it!

SHRIMP SCAMPI WITH PASTA

1/4 cup olive oil

1 lb peeled and deveined medium or large shrimp (raw, tails on)

3 TBL minced garlic

1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper

1/2 cup dry white wine

2 TBL fresh lemon juice

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

5 tablespoons butter

cooked linguine for 4

Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté shrimp, turning over once, until just cooked through, about 2 minutes, and transfer with a slotted spoon to a large bowl.

Add garlic to oil remaining in skillet along with red pepper flakes, wine, lemon juice, salt, and pepper and cook over high heat, stirring occasionally, 1 minute.

Add butter to skillet, stirring until melted, and stir in shrimp. Remove skillet from heat.

Toss with cooked pasta and serve. Serves 4

If desired, sprinkle some chopped fresh parsley and lemon zest over the dish before serving.

*****

Did you save room for dessert? I hope so, because I’ve got a real treat for you: CMP Brownies. A CMP is a chocolate-marshmallow-peanut ice cream sundae that was a local favorite in Scranton, PA, where I went to Marywood College. It’s a great combination, so I decided to re-create it in a brownie. This is a dressed-up box mix, which makes these brownies easy to put together. These brownies are rich, so a little goes a long way.

CMP BROWNIES

Makes 24 brownies.

1 box chocolate fudge brownie mix, prepared as directed

3/4 cup peanut butter

1/3 cup milk

3/4 cup marshmallow créme

1/2 cup chocolate chips

1/2 cup dry-roasted peanuts

Preheat oven as directed on box of brownie mix. Line a 13×9 baking pan with foil and spray with nonstick spray (I like to use the nonstick foil and skip the spray.)

Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 20 minutes (less than directed on package). Remove from oven and allow to set 3 minutes.

Mix peanut butter and milk until smooth. This will take a few minutes of vigorous stirring. Spread on top of brownies with a wide icing spatula.

Dollop marshmallow créme on top of the peanut butter. Allow to soften a bit, then spread across the top of the brownies.

Sprinkle chocolate chips and peanuts on top.

Return pan to oven for 8 minutes more.

Cool completely before serving.

About Barb Szyszkiewicz

Barb is a wife, mom, Secular Franciscan, freelance writer/editor, and editorial consultant at CatholicMom.com. Her three children range in age from high school to young adult, and she enjoys writing, cooking, and reading. Barb volunteers at the school library and is a music minister at her parish. She is also an avid Notre Dame football and basketball fan. Barb blogs at FranciscanMom and shares her family’s favorite recipes at Cook and Count.

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Small Success Thursday

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:

Finished a novena – This is a fairly large success for me. I’m notoriously bad at completing novenas, which are simply nine days of prayer with a particular intention, usually through the intercession of a particular saint. I’ve tried all sorts of tricks, and remembering to spend about two minutes with a prayer nine days in a row is barely shy of miraculous for me. But, with the help of the free Pray app, I did it! And I’ve even begun another novena. The app is simple and clean. Choose a novena and tick off the days as you complete them. You can even invite friends to pray with you. A once-daily reminder is the key for me. I could do with more nudges, but apparently the reminder and seeing a little notice by the app icon is enough.

Pray: The Catholic Novena App

Moved the chaos westward for five days – Our planned vacation to Lake Erie was nixed after our youngest son broke our flat-screen TV by hitting it with a plastic tackle box. It left no exterior damage, but the screen displayed only an eerie-looking crack-like image with bolts of pixelized damage emanating from the epicenter. Thankfully, my friend allowed us to use her basement as home base for five days while in Pittsburgh visiting family and using our pass for the museums and science center. (Our friends didn’t even flinch when we delivered the visit damage report at the end.) When we were newly-married, the handful of vacations we took seemed like adventures. Now vacations seem more like barely-managed chaos away from home.

My girls playing a giant game of Operation at Highmark SportsWorks at the Carnegie Science Center.

The email – After being gone, but not out of touch, for five days, I had about 500 emails to attend to on two devices and a desktop computer. I had kept up with the messages by phone, but not in other locations. So much spam. So many subscriptions. Just so much. It was only five days. And I was online the entire time. At this point, I only owe a few remaining people return messages. Whew! When did life get so complicated?
 Signed kids up for swimming lessons – In my mind, this should be as simple as filling out a one-page form and writing a check. However, because a couple of my kids take lessons at the local Penn State campus, it is task of Herculean proportions. Registering a child for a half-hour on-site course for eight mornings during which I am present the entire time is no different from an adult registering for a 19-credit semester. Once I establish multiple usernames and passwords, I must provide social security numbers, health histories, immunization records and four (count ’em, four) emergency contacts. It’s an exhausting process wrought with glitches that always involve at least one frustrated email message and one slightly-frantic phone call. But, it’s done.
Wax off – I finally took five minutes to try to get the candle wax off of my son’s leather loafers. Somehow I hadn’t gotten to ironing the wax onto a brown paper bag after he spilled some as an altar server during Good Friday services. Finally done. I wondered whether the process would work as well on leather shoes as it does on carpet. The wax came off, but some stains remained.

That’s all I’ve got. Celebrate more small successes over at CatholicMom.com.

Have you had any small successes this week?

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Seeing the Fruit of Grace In Parenting

by Guest Blogger Jeannie Ewing

My oldest daughter, Felicity, is newly fascinated with how babies grow in their mother’s wombs. Shortly after she turned five, she would muse aloud, “Tell me about when I was in your tummy, Mommy.” Without thinking, I shared the story of when my husband and I first saw her on the early ultrasound, when she was about eight weeks old. I was considered “high risk” for pregnancy, so my husband and I were relieved when we saw our “little bean” and heard her heartbeat on the Doppler.

Felicity’s eyes widened as I demonstrated how small she was at the time – “about the size of my thumb nail,” I told her. “Is that how small I was to begin with?” she inquired. “No, sweetheart,” I lovingly replied, “you were so small when you began that we wouldn’t be able to see you, almost like a period at the end of a sentence.”

Photo by Juan Galafa, unsplash.com

Recognizing this as a teaching moment, I continued, “Do you think you weren’t a baby, just because we couldn’t see you?” She shook her head without hesitation, as if to say, “Duh, that’s a no-brainer, Mom!” In fact, her response was appropriate, even though she was speaking from a five-year-old perspective, yet I was listening as an adult jaded by over three decades of life.

“Remember, Mommy, ‘a person’s a person, no matter how small,’ just like Horton said!”

I offered her a knowing smile. “Yes, Felicity, you are right.  I just wondered if you knew that, but I can see you know a lot more!”

So imagine my amazement when, a few nights later, my husband and I were attempting to discuss the latest horrific news regarding abortion. Our attempt at spelling apparently failed, but the rationale was noble – we didn’t want to corrupt our daughters with such violent truths.

But Felicity, being the sensitive and perceptive child that she is, piped in with something I wish every person in the world could have heard. It was not some form of indoctrination she’d picked up in our home. It was nothing we’d ever explained to her. It was, quite simply, the Holy Spirit’s inspiration in her heart because of her purity and innocence.

“A good mommy would never want to kill her baby.”

With that, Ben and I hugged and affirmed her statement of truth. But we wanted her to know that some moms are scared when they learn a baby is growing inside of them, so we pray for these moms and for their babies.

Being pro-life in our family isn’t just about being anti-abortion, though that is necessarily at the core of our worldview. Being pro-life, for us, extends beyond the labels and into recognizing the dignity of every human person, no matter how small or disabled or elderly or infirm. We try to live as pro-life witnesses – without uttering a word – because both of our daughters have special needs, and our youngest was born with a rare genetic condition that will require numerous surgeries over the course of her lifetime.

Sometimes it’s the children who speak truth with clarity, honesty, & logic.Tweet This Sometimes – oftentimes – it’s the children themselves who speak such truth with resounding clarity, honesty, and logic. If my five-year-old knew something that many adults in our modern culture convolute with complicated thinking, then my husband and I are grateful for God’s grace in moments like these. We rely on His grace for all aspects of parenting – from feeding to sleeping habits and catechizing or teaching life skills.

At the end of the day, my prayer is, “Thank you, Lord, for the ways Your grace has compensated for my lack.  I see the fruits of Your grace in our girls, and I am humbled with Your goodness and love.”

About Jeannie Ewing

Jeannie Ewing

Jeannie Ewing believes the world focuses too much on superficial happiness and then crumbles when sorrow strikes. Because life is about more than what makes us feel fuzzy inside, she writes about the hidden value of suffering and even discovering joy in the midst of grief.  Jeannie shares her heart as a mom of two girls with special needs in Navigating Deep Waters: Meditations for Caregivers and is the author of From Grief to Grace: The Journey from Tragedy to Triumph.  Jeannie has been featured on National Public Radio’s Weekend Edition and dozens of other radio shows and podcasts.  For more information, please visit her websites lovealonecreates.com or fromgrief2grace.com. You can connect with Jeannie on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, and Pinterest.

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#5Faves: Summer

While summer technically only began two days ago, it’s felt like summer since the kids got out of school and the temperatures have stayed consistently above 60 degrees. Here are five of my favorite things about summertime! It’s a bit tough to narrow the list to five. Even lightning bugs didn’t make the cut.

–1–

Less Laundry

With fewer (if any) pairs of blue jeans in the wash, loads are smaller and lighter. No sweat shirts, no pants, and praise God, fewer socks. Despite the fact that summer trips to the swimming pool mean more towels, I will take summer laundry over winter laundry any day.

Huge load of summer laundry, neat and tidy.

–2–

Dining Outside

Since my husband built us a beautiful patio with landscaping, we eat outside every chance we get. We invested in a table large enough for our family of six plus company, and finally found a large, sturdy umbrella. Not only do we enjoy dinner outside each night (unless it’s raining) but weekend breakfasts and many lunches are eaten outside as well. Our outdoor dining space is much, much nicer than taking meals in our cluttered, overcrowded dining room.

A snail’s eye view of our patio dining area.

–3–

More Daylight

I know lots of moms hate Daylight Savings Time, but I’m not one of them. I’ll take a few days of kids with altered sleep schedules in exchange for long, drawn-out summer evenings. I treasure the hours or minutes spent watching the kids play in the yard after dinner, occasionally enjoying an adult beverage while I do so.

–4–

Fresh Summer Fruits & Vegetables

The summer produce is beautiful and bountiful this year, and I enjoy preparing dinners made with the delicious contents of our CSA box.

My daughter’s first 4H project: a garden. She’s growing cucumbers and tomatoes.

–5–

Loose Schedule

We’re plenty busy in the summer, but the busyness is according to our whims, not a pre-ordained schedule. No organized sports and minimal lessons of any sort. Lots of time is spent outdoors and at the library. Life is always better when we’re spending time in nature. And, or course, with books.

 ###

For more Five Favorites, visit the Koala Mom.

What are your favorite things about summer?

Thanks for stopping by! Stay a while and look around. Leave a comment. Share with a friend. If you like what you see, please sign up from my author newsletter to keep up-to-date on new releases, extras, and hot deals!

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Relevant Fiction Reviews: Troubled Childhoods

Without intending to, I read a lot books in a short period of time in which the main characters either endured or were removed from traumatic childhoods. (Except in the case of The End of the World, in which the characters moved from bad to worse in moving from home to foster care.) I suspect fictional characters experience rough childhoods at a higher rate than the real-life populace. At least I hope so! After all, childhood trauma makes a great back story and provides the motivation needed for a strong character arc. The older I get, however, the more I see what profound effects a family origin has, even well into adulthood.

You may notice I removed the stars from my Goodreads ratings below. Truth be told, I hate star rating systems. I get that they’re a simple snapshot that indicates the reader’s satisfaction with a book, but, most of the time, I struggle with assigning stars. And looking at the books below, I don’t think my assigned stars correlated to how well the books were written when you look at these books side by side. (I had assigned them all four and five stars, but still . . . ) I’d rather let the written reviews stand on their own.

In looking over this list of books, I have to say, months later, the one that still makes my heart clench is The End of the World.

Her One and Only by Becky Wade

Despite the fact that Becky Wade sits atop my short list of must-read authors, I feared I wouldn’t love this book. At the outset, I didn’t particularly like either Gray or Dru, who is my diametric opposite in nearly every way. Overconfident, completely non-domestic, and beautiful, there are very few ways for me to relate to this gun-toting, risk-taking vet. I feared I could never buy a woman as a bodyguard for a burly NFL player. And (very minor, but . . .) the cover model doesn’t fit my image of gorgeous Dru.

In the end, this is probably my least favorite novel of the Porter Series being that I could actually put it down when I needed to. That said, I still sailed through and can happily give it 4 stars because despite all the aforementioned obstacles, Becky Wade made me care about these characters, especially Gray, who beneath his cocky superstar player veneer, is a solid, honorable guy with tremendous strength of character.

The chemistry and banter between “Revengeress” and “Big Football Player” was great. I liked that unlike a lot of books in this genre, it actually addressed (the struggle of) premarital chastity outright. The suspense aspect of the plot was well done and held my interest as well.

The secondary storyline involving Bo and Meg was a nice way to tie up the series. I very much enjoyed seeing how the other Porters were doing, although an early chapter felt a little too much like it should’ve been tagged, “Previously in the Porter Series . . .”

In sum, solid end to a great series. I’ll miss the Porters.

(I received a complimentary advance review copy from the publisher for my honest review.)

I’ll Be Yours by Jenny B. Jones

I’ll Be Yours is so smooth and polished that I found it nearly impossible to put down. Sadly, the small people in my house expect food, clean clothes, fresh diapers, etc., so the reading dragged out for a whole day rather than a single sitting.

I don’t read a lot of young adult novels, but having never had a high school romance, I have a soft spot for this type of story. Every character is vivid and well-drawn. As always, Jenny B. Jones’s wry sense of humor shines through her main character, the strong but scarred Harper O’Malley.

Harper’s past trauma and present drama were skillfully interwoven with handsome football star Ridley’s scars and secrets.

In sum, a heart-warming pleasure to read filled with the hope that only love can create.

(I received an advance copy for my honest review.)

The Marshall Plan by Olivia Folmar Ard

I enjoyed the second book in the Bennett series even more than the first! Olivia Folmar Ard delivers a hard-to-put-down follow-up to The Partition of Africa that would work as a standalone novel. Those who have read the first book, however, will enjoy following Hattie and seeing how her life has changed since Cameron’s (second) proposal.

This well-written story is essentially a portrait in self-centeredness and the ways in which it keeps us from loving fully and freely. With the exception of Hattie, every character exhibits an element of selfishness, but none more than Molly Marshall. Whether it’s her belief in that soulmate “hogwash” or her mistaken notion that love is a feeling rather than a decision, her life has become all about her. From her floundering career to her less-than-ambitious fiance, Molly’s attitudes are all about Molly – until she’s confronted with information that could change not only her life, but Hattie’s as well.

The Marshall Plan is the kind of book I wish I’d read as a young adult, when my sense of justice was impervious to mercy and when ambition tends to override empathy.

I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!

(The author is a fellow member of 10 Minute Novelists, and I received a complimentary copy for my honest review.)

Broken Things to Mend by Karey White

This book had the distinct disadvantage of being read in the shadow of a book that about ripped my heart out. That said, it was an enjoyable novel and a sweet romance. The innocent love story created a stark contrast – almost a dissonance – with the trauma in Celia’s past.

I liked the book and its gentle love story well enough. The author captured the essence of the small town well. I’d recommend it for a light read although it’s not shallow. The characters have depth, but not the kind of magnetism that would incline me to re-read.

The End of the World by Amy Matayo

If you’re looking for a light-hearted romp of a romance, keep moving. If, however, you’re looking for heart-wrenching emotion that splinters your heart into almost as many pieces as Cameron and Shaye’s damaged souls, look no further.

The love story you’ll find in End of the World is steadfast and etched in pain. With evocative imagery and vivid introspection, Amy Matayo draws rich characters that will evoke an empathetic ache deep in your chest. Dealing with the painful realities of abandonment and abuse, the story is bleak yet retains just enough hope, enough love, to pull you through to the end. (A satisfying, beautiful ending befitting the power of love and resilience of the human spirit.)

End of the World isn’t so much a story with a message as it is a portrait of love and healing. One that happens slowly, taking one step forward and two back over the span of more than a decade. Though it is a secular, mainstream novel, it brought to mind the verses in 1Cor 13:7-8: “[Love] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.”

(I received an advance copy for my honest review.)

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Top 10 Tuesday: Most Anticipated Releases

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I’m linking up with The Broke and the Bookish (which describes me quite well) for my most anticipated releases for the second half of 2016. Some covers are available, some are not. Some are already listed on Amazon, some are not. Some I’m not quite sure of the release date. (And one is a wee bit into 2017).  I’m just going to link to whatever’s available, sans covers. Here they are in no particular order.

Just a Kiss by Denise Hunter (September)

Unclaimed by Erin McCole Cupp (June)

Fight for Liberty by Theresa Linden (July)

The Promise of Rayne by Nicole Deese (November)

The Thirteenth Chance by Amy Matayo (September)

This Dread Road by Olivia Folmar Ard (December)

The Firstborn by Quenby Olson

Still Life by Dani Pettrey (January)

My Hope Next Door by Tammy L. Gray (September)

(Okay. It’s nine. I could only think of nine. I know I’m forgetting books. And authors. And I know I’ll read whatever book Julie Lessman releases next. And probably Katie Gansert. But, I’ve had an off day. And I spent a lot of it speed reading through my own novel that I just sent to beta readers. And I’ve never published a blog post this late in the day. So there it is. Top 9 Tuesday.)

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Lover of Virtue, Lover of Christ

by Guest Blogger Virginia Lieto

I am a lover of virtue! There I’ve said it! I know that I am in a minority, because most people do not even think about virtue as they traverse throughout their day. I, on the other hand, live for virtue, because it is virtue that draws me near to Christ. I can’t think of a better place to be than near Christ. Maybe that is because I am also a lover of Christ: I want to be like Christ! I look up to Him; He is my role model.

Jesus calls us to be like Him. That is one tall order! Jesus is perfect and without sin. In contrast, we humans, having been born with original sin, struggle our entire earthly lives with a tendency to sin, as a condition of our humanity. Nonetheless, we are called to be perfected, and that happens through the embrace of virtue. For when we embrace virtue, we embrace Christ. That also means that we turn our backs on sin, as Christ and sin are polar opposites.

The virtues are our tools, that . . . help us to grow closer to Christ. @virginialieto #inspirationTweet This

The virtues are our tools, that when exercised (like muscles), help us to grow closer to Christ. For as we embrace the virtues, we become more Christ-like, and less sinful. As we become more Christ-like, we begin to live happier lives. Who doesn’t want that? I know that I do, and that is why I embrace the virtues to live a happier life.

Think about this for a moment:

Don’t you love that feeling that you get when you’ve given to the needy; whether it be clothes or food; knowing that someone will get some use out of your clothes, or eat a decent meal because of you? That’s Generosity!
Don’t you love that feeling that you get when, because of your actions, you have been able to minimize someone else’s suffering? That’s Compassion!
Don’t you love that feeling of relief that you get when someone else cuts you a break? That’s Mercy!
How about when someone else helps you out in a pinch? You can’t thank them enough, can you? That’s Gratitude!

Bottom line: Virtue makes us feel good! If you would like to take the first step toward embracing virtue, and move away from sin, to become more Christ-like, then start with a prayer.

Today happens to be the Feast of Saint Anthony of Padua (my favorite Saint). It just so happens that there is a prayer we can all say for St. Anthony’s intercession, on our behalf, asking God to grace us with virtue.

St. Anthony,

You know how weak I am

and how easily I fall into bad habits.

But I don’t want to be this way.

I know that God is calling me to be a better person.

Please intercede for me to God

so that he might shower his grace upon me.

Show me the way to virtue.

Amen.

You have now begun your journey toward living a more virtuous, happier life! If you would like to learn more about virtue, then stop by to visit my website.

My thanks to Carolyn for allowing me to guest post and visit with you today.

About Virginia Lieto

Virginia Lieto

Virginia obtained her Master of Arts Degree in Pastoral Theology from Saint Joseph’s College of Maine, where she is now an adjunct professor for the undergraduate online Theology program. She is also a Catholic blogger, dedicated to writing about the virtues at virginialieto.com. Virginia is also a public speaker on the Catholic faith. In her spare time, she writes children’s books centered on three sisters named Faith, Hope and Charity who learn the virtues from their parents. Her first in the series is Adventures of Faith, Hope and Charity – Finding Patience, a 2016 National Indie Excellence Award Finalist for Children’s Religion books. Her second book in the series, Finding Acceptance is in the works. Virginia is also in the process of writing a book on the virtues for those adults seeking to grow closer to Christ. Virginia is a member of the Catholic Writers Guild, as well as the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. You can connect with Virginia on Facebook, Google +, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Goodreads and Amazon.

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Seven Quick Takes

Child-Wrangling Olympics Edition

Promotions for the upcoming Summer Olympics are beginning to appear, and while some may be excited for the return of golf to the worldwide sporting events, I’ve noted the gaping chasm where parental competition should be. Let’s face it, most of us slogging through day jobs, home maintenance, and child rearing have little time or energy left for Olympic-caliber competition. Schlepping through the grocery store and scrubbing the toilet are taxing enough. Sadly, our society ignores the skills honed during those years when mothers and fathers nurture and safeguard their wily, wiry offspring on minimal sleep and some combination of coffee, wine, and adrenaline bursts. Should parenting be incorporated into the next Olympics, these are my recommended events. (This post enhanced by simultaneously listening to the Chariots of Fire theme music.)

–1–
Strip Search

Not what you’re thinking. This event involves stripping a bedwetting toddler and his/her bed. Medals to be awarded for fastest time for aforementioned stripping, cleaning, and resettling toddler and bedding – in the dark. Use of disposable wipes permitted.

Thomas the Tank Engine/Disney Princess mashup courtesy of a middle-of-the-night sheet change.

 –2–
Vomit Capture

This event requires intimate knowledge of your child’s emetic tells. Medals awarded for preparedness, speed, and effectiveness. In other words, it all needs to be in the bucket. Bonus awarded for the ultimate sacrificial act of using your own body to prevent spillage.

–3–

Swipe and Snap

Another competition that rewards speed, this event involves changing the diaper of an (over)active 8-month old and redressing in a snap-crotch sleeper consisting of approximately 6,042 misaligned snaps on either leg. (Use of duct tape or excessive force prohibited. )

–4–

One-Handed Ninja

This event rewards skill over speed. Competitors must complete a variety of tasks with the use of only one hand. The other will be occupied by a small child, who frequently hurls its body weight in a variety of trajectories and flails at your other hand. Tasks may include: meal preparation including vegetable peeling and hot surfaces, household cleaning/maintenance, and a protracted customer service phone call that incorporates voice-activated responses. (Competitors will be disqualified for using expletives.)

–5–

Lost In Translation

Participants will be required to translate the urgent ramblings of a two-year-old. Easy peasy, you say. But wait. One-hundred percent accurate translation must be rendered amidst the following background noise: incessant whining of a female preschooler, 20 decibel explosive sound emanating from a gaming device, and ambient electronic noise (i.e., microwave timer, washing machine spin cycle, the humming of an ancient air conditioning window unit, etc.) Subject to intermittent interruption in the form of a ringing phone, the wail of an injured child, or newborn crying.

–6–

Sleep-Through

This event more than any other relies on sheer natural talent. Competitors’ biophysical markers will be monitored at all times. Medalists will successfully sleep soundly through TV/video game noise, 1-2 toddlers jumping on their back, and one wildcard disturbance to be determined at random: major weather event, elementary or middle school-aged children engaged in fisticuffs, and the ranting of a dissatisfied spouse/friend/adult family member are all being considered. Pregnant mothers are ineligible due to their extreme level of fatigue giving them an unfair advantage. Points deducted for sleeping through a true emergency involving blood, broken bones, vomit, or imminent bodily harm.

–7–

Stitches or No Stitches

Experience plays a big role in this event although diligent study may increase odds of success. Competitors must assess whether an open wound does or does not require stitches to ensure proper healing and minimal scarring. Use of hands prohibited as the patient will screech in fright and/or agony. Must make assessment amidst mitigating circumstances such as having to tote at least three other pajama-ed children to the emergency room/urgent care center, absence of assistance from other adults, and excessive blood spatter. (Medical professionals ineligible for competition.)

My husband made the correct call on this one: stitches.

What event would you add to the Child-Wrangling Olympics?

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#WorthRevisit: When Does Itching Signify Danger?

I’m linking up with Theology is a Verb and Reconciled to You for #WorthRevisit Wednesday Linkup.

June is ICP Awareness Month, the perfect time to re-share about the rare condition I experienced with some of my pregnancies. In hindsight, pregnancy seems like such a short time, a blip on the radar of life, especially as compared to the many years spent nurturing a baby and raising a child. But as you’re experiencing it, pregnancy can seem endless, especially if you’re enduring pain, nausea, discomfort, or severe and relentless itching.

Please take a few minutes to read. Your knowledge of this rare pregnancy condition could help save a baby’s life.

During the third trimester of my first pregnancy, the soles of my feet began to itch. In frustration, I would rub my bare feet over the claw feet of our dining room table during meals. I scrubbed them over bristling carpet. Finally, my husband bought me a foot massage tool that I could rub my feet over, offering some relief from the relentless itch.

I consulted my pregnancy books, which told me itching during pregnancy was normal. Dry skin, various rashes. Just another one of the many weird side effects of pregnancy. Labor was induced at 38 weeks due to pre-eclampsia, and I delivered a healthy, baby boy.

My second full-term pregnancy passed with nary an itch.

During my third full-term pregnancy, the itching came at night. On my hands and on my soles.

I’d experienced some intense nighttime itching in the past due to a reaction I have to certain insect bites, but nothing like this.

The itching woke me as I scratched and rubbed against any surface that had the potential to offer relief. I tried sticking my hands in the freezer or clutching ice packs. I’d always thought of an itch as an annoyance, but this itch was so intense and relentless, I would have gladly traded it for pain.

I reported my symptoms to a nurse/midwife at my ob/gyn practice, and she immediately suspected Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy (ICP) and sent me for blood work. My bile acids indicated that, yes, I had ICP.

According to ICP Care, “Often, the only symptom noticed is itching. The itching can vary from person to person on the palms of hands, arms, legs, soles of feet or all-over itching. ICP carries an increased risk of fetal distress, meconium staining, spontaneous preterm labor, respiratory distress and stillbirth.”

My first official little itch, a girl. (Sept. 2011)

You can read a comprehensive overview of ICP, but in a nutshell, it’s a liver disorder that occurs during pregnancy. In the United States, 1-2 of every 1,000 pregnancies is affected by ICP. I had relatively mild cases and was treated with medication and early induction of labor in both my third and fourth full-term pregnancies. (ICP is likely to recur.)

ICP is nothing to be trifled with. I’m blessed that my doctors,  nurses, and midwives quickly identified my problem and treated it appropriately. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. I’m astounded to read the stories of other moms who have complained to their medical practitioners only to have their concerns dismissed or minimized, even when they go with printed information on ICP in hand.

My second official little itch, a boy. (Feb. 2013)

If you experience unexplained itching during pregnancy, consult your doctor. If you know a woman suffering with it, let her know about ICP. The ICP Care website and its Facebook group are a wonderful source of support and information for pregnant women suffering with ICP.

Don’t ignore the itch;your baby’s life could depend on it. #worthrevisit #icpawareness #fighttheitchTweet This


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