catholic mom – Prayers Over The Kitchen Sink

My Baby’s Going Viral for Calling Out to Jesus 🤍

My baby’s going viral for recognizing Jesus in the Eucharist.

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Backstory:

What a wild week! It all started in a comment section with trolls. I left an innocent comment on a post by @catholicsam on Instagram regarding the Blessed Virgin Mary saying “Don’t disrespect my Mama!” that triggered some relentless nasty comments about me and Catholicism in general that went on for days. But, faceless strangers’ opinions are easy to let roll off of my back. I practiced apologetics a lot in this way when running my storytelling apostolate.

The next day, however I was told by a gentler, more familiar voice out of the blue that Catholicism is a false religion and that I should leave so my family and I can follow Jesus and go to heaven. That one hurt more. I actually cried out of frustration and feeling so misunderstood.

How it Happened:

I will say firstly that this moment was purely organic. My baby does this all of the time. I went up to pray quickly in the back of the empty church sanctuary with a heavy heart from the conversation earlier that day. I sat her down and she began to laugh and smile, eyes sparkling and fixed on the tabernacle.

She began shouting Dada, which she often does at Mass and Adoration but I never record for obvious reasons. It felt like Jesus was speaking right to my heart, reminding me that He is here.

Christ at the Center: Our Domestic Church

Making a home for my family until we make it home to Heaven.

For several years the walls of my home had been the same tan color. Its neutrality and tone served us well, hiding the little fingerprints and scuff marks that come with family life. But, soon the little ones grew out of the toddler stage and it became painfully obvious that the house was long overdue for a refresh.

I knew where I wanted to start, the front living room, or parlor. It’s where we receive our guests and welcome each other home. Where the dog barks and kids run as soon as Daddy walks in. Where I draw back the curtains each morning to let the light in and set flickering candles to relax at night.

I flipped through paint samples for days, finally choosing the lightest blue for the walls and the brightest white for the trim. We splurged on the highest quality, cleanable, smudge resistant paint that promised to cover the old color in just one coat. I stirred up the beautiful hue and hoped for the best.

Sealed With a Cross

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Cait Winters tells the story of how her kids cheer her on through the Sign of the Cross.

It was lunchtime in the middle of a typically busy homeschooling day. We had spent the morning on a hike at nature co-op and still had math, cursive and reading to cover that afternoon. Homeschooling can be hard on a home (and a homemaker!) because most days, aside from my hardworking husband, everyone is here all day long. I wouldn’t trade this time serving my family for the world, but it often means cooking three meals a day and constant cycles of washing and drying to keep up our well-loved, humble home.

That morning I had overslept, being early-pregnant and tired and didn’t have a chance to unload the perpetual dishes. It was easy to leave and forget about the chores while on our hike but coming back to them was another story. The sink was half-full already, but I had hungry kids to feed, so I fired up the stove and sudsed up what I could. The smell of cooking was turning my stomach and everywhere I looked, my to-do list grew.

I did a swat-like Sign of the Cross, blessing myself as I caught my breath and forged ahead. The Sign of the Cross is a quick way for me to ask for heaven’s help without even saying a word. I broke a sweat but got through the chores, finally setting plates and drinks out for the kids and calling them to the kitchen table.

Catholic Books for Younger Kids: 7 favorites on our bookshelf right now!

catholic-books-for-kids-prayersover-the-kitchen-sink

As parents we know that reading with our kids is important & research has shown that even the youngest children benefit from listening to their parents reading out loud. Not only does it aid brain development & refine language skills, it also introduces important concepts to kids in an age appropriate way. I am always looking for ways to incorporate spirituality into our daily routine & faith-based books for younger kids are a great way to do just that!

With St. Patrick’s Day coming up & Easter just around the corner these seasonal picks are perfect companions for chocolate coins & Easter baskets. Without further ado, here are 7 favorite reads on our bookshelf right now (& links to get them on yours too!)

Continue reading “Catholic Books for Younger Kids: 7 favorites on our bookshelf right now!”