Catholic Sprouts

A Community For Catholic Families

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How to be a Better Mom

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As a modern mother we are constantly struggling between two extremes: Trying to be a Super Mom and failing, and then falling into guilt and self-loathing.

But, this is not the vocation we are called to as mothers. There is a better way for us Catholic Mothers and the model for this better way is St. Therese.

The Little Way of St. Therese is path to holiness for the rest of us. Instead of climbing a mountain to holiness, it is like riding an elevator, which is the very arms of Jesus Christ.  And the little way is really the KEY to being the mother you were created to be!!

The little way to holiness is a reminder that if God put the desire for holiness–and to be a good mother–then because he is a good and just God there will be a way to do this. In order to walk this Little Way of Motherhood, we need to stop trying to be and do everything and instead, Let Go and Let God.

The little way also reminds us that the little things matter–and as mothers our live is FULL of little things like diapers and dishes. Each of these little things is an opportunity to love.  And to God, nothing is little. Everything matters and everything is important to God.

To help you really take this message to hear, I invite you to download a FREE COLORING PAGE to reflect on the little way of St. Therese, head here:
https://pages.convertkit.com/30f283e8bf/20db6eab1b

I also SERIOUSLY encourage you to look at your priories. Are they in order? If you feel a little out-of-whack, I encourage you to take this FREE EMAIL COURSE. It is simple and has changed so many lives already. Sign up here: https://www.catholicsprouts.com/reclaim-the-day

Make sure to listen to the DAILY PODCAST FOR CATHOLIC KIDS!
https://catholicsprouts.com/catholic-sprouts

And, join us on Facebook!!!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2125545047685401/

Thanks for being here–and don’t worry! Motherhood is HARD! We are all making mistakes each and everyday. But keep fighting, keep working, and keep praying!

Your sister in the small things,

How to Live Liturgically as a Catholic Family

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Do you wish that your Catholic Family lived more liturgically, but struggle to do all that you think is required to live liturgically as Catholics?

Well, it is time to stop feeling guilty, and instead embrace these simple ideas to start living in tune with our beautiful Catholic Church.  In the video I share some simple, doable ideas that ANY Catholic Family can embrace right now. Don’t stress about living liturgically. It can be done, and it can be done easily.

Here are a few ideas.

1. Start Reading the Daily Reading.

This will keep you in tune with the church. To get the daily readings consider using the Laudate App, or going to the USCCB website.  Simply reading the readings can REALLY help you stay in touch with the liturgical season.

2. Take advantage of free resources.

I like to read the daily reflections from Bishop Baron (Word on Fire). I also read the daily reflections from Blessed is She.  There are lots of other options, and they are all free.

You can also take advantage of free resources for KIDS!!  Make sure to listen in to the daily podcast for Catholic Kids!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm7nk3SkLtg0bYbSkXF6qTQ
This is a super easy way to help your kids stay in season with the church.

3. Finally, pick out a few feast days and plan ahead! it is good to celebrate and often times kids need so activities to pull them into the harder seasons like Lent and Advent.

Join the private Facebook group for Catholic Parents!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2125545047685401/

Thank you so much for being here! And don’t worry, do what you can. There is no need to celebrate EVERY feast day. In fact, if you did that you would be celebrating everyday, and that is not how we are called to live! But, with some simply planning you can live in rhythm with the church, and living this way is fun, and a great gift for you children.

J1ST 073: A Year in Review//Embracing Weakness

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LISTEN ON ITUNES

LISTEN ON ANDROID

I am big on looking back…and then looking forward at the end of the year. I know this is way over done right now, but I find it helpful since I usually am to “stuck in the moment” to really understand what I am experiencing when I experience it.

So, today’s episode is a little personal as I look at the ways I have changed and grown and struggled this past year.  I hope you find it helpful!

With the help of a great book, Fire and Light by Fr. Jacques Philippe, I have been reflecting a lot on why this year of spiritual growth has been also so hard and even a little painful.

I fell like this year, more than any other, I have been forced to confront some hard truths about myself. I know I have taken a few steps in my spiritual life, but I also feel like I have seen, more clearly then ever, just how long the spiritual path is, and how far I have to go.

I was finally able to make sense of all of this with Fr. Jacques Philippe’s book. He wrote an incredible section on the need for spiritual poverty. I read directly from the book, and when I read that something clicked.  Yes, the closer you get to God the more you see your failing…and although I KNEW that, actually living it has been harder than I thought it would be!!

I also have been reflecting on what exactly it means to be hopeful and why hope, rightly understood, is so tightly linked to humility.  Lived through lots of humility this year!

Thanks for letting me share from the heart this week and I hope you are doing some similar self-searching!

Links mentioned in this episode:

Have a blessed final couple days of Advent!

Nancy

3 Ideas that will TRANSFORM Your Prayer Life!

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Ready to have your prayer life utterly transformed? Well, this video will do just that with three (simple) ideas that will transform the way you think, feel, plan and live-out your prayer life.  I can’t wait to share these things with you!

As promised, I’d love to give you a free (beautiful!) bookmark to help you pray through scripture with the ancient practice of Lectio Divina. To grab it, just head here: https://pages.convertkit.com/5428892208/322070dc12.

Here is a brief summary of the three ideas that will transform your prayer life:

1. Don’t make prayer more complicated than it is!

Prayer is simply being in the presence of God, and you can do this ANYWHERE, at ANYTIME. Just do it.

2. Prayer should be your #1 priority when you plan your day.

Think of it this way: for daily prayer you have made a daily appointment with God and you should treat that very seriously. Never stand Him up!!  There is very very little that is important enough to justify standing up God for your daily time together.

3. Anything (and I mean anything) that stands in the way of you getting time to pray is evil.

The devil will try to distract you with all sorts of good things, but ignore him! He wants to keep you from having a good prayer life because if you do, he won’t be able to tempt you!!  He will use “good” things, like laundry and cooking and calling a friend, to keep you from your daily prayer time. Don’t let him win!

I hope you found these ideas helpful and that you really do take the plunge into DAILY, DEDICATED prayer.

Make sure that you are tuning into the DAILY PODCAST FOR CATHOLIC KIDS! https://catholicsprouts.com/catholic-sprouts

Please come and join other lovely Catholic Parents on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2125545047685401/

And, I’d love to connect with you on Instagram!!
https://www.instagram.com/catholicsprouts/

Your sister in the small things,

The Hard Truth About Prayer

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The hard truth about prayer is that just going to mass and saying prayers with your family at night is NOT ENOUGH. Yes, God loves you and sees your effort, but He is calling you to something more that He can only give you in personal, quiet time.

We all need to spend daily time in quiet prayer.

There are many reasons why Personal Prayer is so important. Here are just a few:
1. God’s primary language is silence.
2. God wants to know you in a personal way, and reveal Himself to us in a personal way.
3. We show our love through time spent. When we refuse to spend time in personal prayer with God we are really telling Him that he isn’t that important to us.

So, how do we jump-start a personal prayer life?

Well, I suggest starting with reading scripture and using Lectio Divina to pray. Not familiar with Lectio Divina (don’t worry, it’s simple!)? And, I have a handy bookmark you can print and carry with you to help you with this wonderful form of prayer.

Download the free Lectio Divina bookmark here:  https://pages.convertkit.com/5428892208/322070dc12

And finally, what can you expect from a daily private prayer time? Well, you can expect God’s grace.

Of course, God’s grace can manifest itself in a million different ways, but they are all good and all infused with love because the come directly from God.

And so, sister, I encourage you to breath new life into your personal prayer life because it is super important!!

Now please watch the next video for ideas that will help you claim and maintain your personal prayer life!

Ready to have your prayer life utterly transformed? Well, this video will do just that with three (simple) ideas that will transform the way you think, feel, plan and live-out your prayer life.  I can’t wait to share these things with you!

As promised, I’d love to give you a free (beautiful!) bookmark to help you pray through scripture with the ancient practice of Lectio Divina. To grab it, just head here: https://pages.convertkit.com/5428892208/322070dc12.

Here is a brief summary of the three ideas that will transform your prayer life:

1. Don’t make prayer more complicated than it is!

Prayer is simply being in the presence of God, and you can do this ANYWHERE, at ANYTIME. Just do it.

2. Prayer should be your #1 priority when you plan your day.

Think of it this way: for daily prayer you have made a daily appointment with God and you should treat that very seriously. Never stand Him up!!  There is very very little that is important enough to justify standing up God for your daily time together.

3. Anything (and I mean anything) that stands in the way of you getting time to pray is evil.

The devil will try to distract you with all sorts of good things, but ignore him! He wants to keep you from having a good prayer life because if you do, he won’t be able to tempt you!!  He will use “good” things, like laundry and cooking and calling a friend, to keep you from your daily prayer time. Don’t let him win!

I hope you found these ideas helpful and that you really do take the plunge into DAILY, DEDICATED prayer.

Make sure that you are tuning into the DAILY PODCAST FOR CATHOLIC KIDS! https://catholicsprouts.com/catholic-sprouts

Please come and join other lovely Catholic Parents on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2125545047685401/

And, I’d love to connect with you on Instagram!!
https://www.instagram.com/catholicsprouts/

Your sister in the small things,