{bits & pieces}
The weekly “little of this, little of that” feature here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!
(This will all look and work better if you click on the actual post and do not remain on the main page.)
I know that “themed” trees and decorations are a thing (and can be so pretty!), but for us, the special ornaments collected and made over the years are a significant part of the warmth we experience at Christmas. Our children have always loved getting them out and remembering where they came from or when they were made, and now our grandchildren are becoming familiar with them too.
These are a few — you can view more on Instagram where I thought it might be fun to round them up (hardly all, though — maybe I’ll do another post over there*!) and share. Christmas is not over! We are still enjoying our well loved decorations (and eating our treats!).
*If you are interested, my Advent and Christmas posts over the years have always featured our modest but beloved decorations!
On to our links!
Versailles from hunting lodge to Revolution aftermath, in virtual reality.
Flannery O’Connor reads A Good Man is Hard to Find (and a link to 900 free audio books).
Colorized photos of Ellis Island immigrants.
A site that organizes the writings of the Church Fathers according to various topics. Want to know what the early Christians virtually unanimously held on a given topic, for instance, Mary’s perpetual virginity? This site can help.
Christians of course must evangelize. There is a whole industry out there devoted to telling us how to do it, but I find that what is neglected is the understanding that we must live as persons who love God in order to make God’s love known. Cardinal Newman (to whom I have recourse often to escape the aforementioned industry) has some simple guidelines — very good for the New Year resolution trap too.
As we begin to turn from the Christmas mysteries towards the next days in the liturgical year, let us not go without another thought for Joseph. Very soon (I will try to remind you), we will begin the Seven Sundays devotion to that beloved figure (it always begins on Super Bowl Sunday, actually!). Perhaps a good book for spiritual reading, especially if you are suffering from what has come to be called a father wound (and our whole society, I think, is suffering in this way), would be this one, which I found of great value: Saint Joseph, Shadow of the Father. Sadly, it is now out of print; I’m linking to an image of it so you can snap it up if you see it at a sale.
And one more beautiful reflection on Christmas — and St. Therese’s “second conversion” — before we bid the season adieu.
An important book review about “trans” regret from Stella Morabito. Maybe there is someone in your life who is trying to “transition” — and you are being silenced as to the abuse and manipulation that is going on. This review and book can help — it’s real stories from real people. Behind any attempt to change a person’s sex (which after all is a genetic reality, no matter what anyone says) we will always find many issues that need addressing. The vast majority today are due to family disruption and are healed in short order when these underlying problems are brought to light and taken care of. Let’s support each other and help each other grow according to our natures, not against them. (If you click on the “transgender” tag on this post you will find lots of other resources.
Free books, periodicals, music, and movies now available online. Maybe the St. Joseph book will appear at some point!
From the archives:
Sometimes I think, “Oh, I should write a post about that” and then quickly I think, “I did!” Some posts came to mind this week:
Do you just not know how to give your children the gift of innocence and purity in today’s world, though you are desperate to heed admonishments that you try? Many will tell you to do it; only I will tell you how to do it and exactly what to do. (Only by the grace of knowing others who have figured things out — I’m the messenger, and an imperfect one at that!)
All set to make all the lists? But also feel a bit of planner commitment anxiety syndrome (PCAS)? My way; Deirdre’s way. My tidy desk (hmm… that was a while ago, need to revisit). Deirdre’s. Both of these involved thrifted/picked up on the side of the road items! BONUS: How to keep a binder to track your home school. Very old fashioned but I think it works for the reason that it’s something solid you can add to easily and flip around in later when another child comes up, also, and quite unreasonably you might be thinking, needing to be educated.
Want to simplify your life (and make it cleaner) but really feel like the advice is not geared towards a busy family that may or may not be homeschooling, working from home, and otherwise using every spare minute of their day trashing their house (vs. having few children and leaving the house untouched most of the day)? I have posts for that. A series, actually, which many people have found helpful. Just start at the beginning. I will help you. (That said, I need to watch those Marie Kondo videos that just came out!)
Today is the feast of St. John Neumann. He died from exhaustion, collapsing on the street at a young age as he ceaselessly made the rounds of his vast diocese, consumed with care for the souls entrusted to him. Pray for his intercession for our bishops as they continue their retreat and head into the “Vatican summit” on the current crisis.
While you’re sharing our links with your friends, why not tell them about Like Mother, Like Daughter too!
We’d like to be clear that, when we direct you to a site via one of our links, we’re not necessarily endorsing the whole site, but rather just referring you to the individual post in question (unless we state otherwise).
Follow us:
Follow us on Twitter.
Like us on Facebook.
Auntie Leila’s Pinterest.
Rosie’s Pinterest.
Sukie’s Pinterest.
Deirdre’s Pinterest.
Habou’s Pinterest.
Bridget’s Pinterest.
Auntie Leila’s Ravelry.
Auntie Leila’s Instagram.
Rosie’s Instagram.
Sukie’s Instagram.
Deirdre’s Instagram.
Bridget’s Instagram.
Habou’s Instagram.
The post {bits & pieces} appeared first on Like Mother Like Daughter.
