A Well-Built Faith - A Catholic's Guide to Knowing and Sharing What We Believe

One of my Lenten resolutions every year involves learning more about my Catholic faith.  If you also like to use this time to deepen your faith, you should definitely read A Well Built Faith, A Catholic’s Guide to Knowing and Sharing What We Believe by Joe Paprocki and published by Loyola Press.

I initially chose this book because of the title and description in the Loyola Press catalog, which states in part, “A Well-Built faith … makes it easy for Catholics to know what they believe and to feel confident in sharing those beliefs.”  No matter how much I know about my faith, there is always a hunger to learn more.  This book presents the faith of our Church in a practical, easy to follow style with nice everyday language.  The chapters are cleverly organized around a construction theme that adds nice structure to the book.

Though much of the information presented in this book is not new to me, it is presented in a new way that made it interesting to re-learn and absorb.  The author addresses our faith in four sections: Creed, Sacraments, Moral Life, and Prayer.  The last section on Prayer: Praying Faith really spoke to me.   Mr. Paprocki defines prayer as “…our awareness of the divine presence in our lives.  Prayer is our response to God’s undying efforts to reach our hearts.”  A simple statement; so beautiful to mediate on.   This section does a great job identifying the different types of prayers used by Catholics and offers practical examples to help you recognize all the various ways we answer St. Paul’s call to pray without ceasing.

In my opinion, this book would be a wonderful gift for anyone interested in the Catholic faith or entering RCIA .  It is also a great tool and resource for all of us cradle Catholics who want to brush up on the “why” of our faith or learn things we’ve missed along the way.  A Well Built Faith gives you the knowledge and confidence to be able to share your faith with your friends, family and children.

This book will remain on my nightstand for a long time as a valuable resource as questions of faith arise or when a refresher is needed.  

As a reviewer for Loyola Press, we have received a free copy of this product in exchange for our honest review.

Another Planned Parenthood Abortion Center Violating Child Rape Laws

LiveAction has exposed yet another Planned Parenthood abortion center violating child rape reporting laws.  This 10th case documented by the young pro-life group take place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  In this recent video, a 14 year old presents herself for an abortion and is counseled by the Planned Parenthood health worker to not tell anyone else that her boyfriend is 31.  She was then instructed how to get around the parental notification laws to obtain her abortion. 

Planned Parenthood's official response to this video was they would have followed the law and reported the sexual abuse had the young woman given them her name; however, the undercover camera recorded the young woman doing just that.  Their response would be considered a weak attempt at justification of violating state reporting laws, except their official statement is patently false leaving them with no defense to their inaction.

In response to a another Live Action video, authorities in Birmingham, Alabama put a Planned Parenthood clinic on probation earlier this month, after the undercover video by LiveAction revealed 9 violations of sex abuse reporting laws in the clinic. Alabama joins several other states who have initiated investigations into clinics after viewing an unedited Live Action undercover video.

This youth led pro-life nonprofit group has unearthed a disturbing pattern of non-reporting child sexual abuse in Planned Parenthood clinics across the country.  After 10 documented cases in different Planned Parenthood abortion clinics, when will Planned Parenthood open their own investigation into their dangerous and potentially illegal counseling practices? At what point will they make the health and welfare of minor children a priority and enforce the laws that protect the most vulnerable of women?

Distracted Driving

"Ultimately, a day we envision a few years down the road is when we all look back and say, 'Remember those days when we used to talk on the cell phone while driving. Boy wasn't that a stupid thing to do',”

This statement comes from David Teater, whose son was killed six years ago by a driver who ran a red light while talking on the phone. David is part of a new national advocacy group called FocusDriven that aims at changing the way the American public thinks about using cell phones while driving.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood promoted FocusDriven, calling them an “army of advocates” whose mission will be to persuade people to put away their cell phones. “We’re going to push for public education, personal responsibility, and enforcement. Enforcement comes with laws.”

One law that FocusDriven advocates hope to see uses GPS technologies that can literally block a person from making and receiving calls or sending texts while in a moving vehicle.

Secretary LaHood told CBS' "The Early Show" he will push “very hard” for a nationwide ban on cell phone use while driving.

Currently six states have banned using hand-held cell phones while driving. Nineteen states have banned texting while driving. Texas recently passed a law prohibiting hand-held cell phone use or texting while in a school zone.

I remember using a cell phone in the car for the first time back in graduate school in 1993. Do you remember those clunkers? We had one “mobile” phone in our family that I borrowed three nights a week for my hour-long commute to/from campus. Even then, what began as a contingency for emergencies evolved into amazing convenience. Call home if you’re stuck in traffic and are going to be late. Receive a call if Mom wants you to pick up something on the way. It’s often hard to remember now that not too long ago we didn’t have 24/7 contact with each other.

Also, using the mobile phone then was not as flippantly casual as it has become today. Back then it was a very serious thing to take my eyes off the road long enough to pick up the phone, punch the numbers in, and hold the phone on my ear.

I don’t think there is any argument that driving while on the telephone is distracting, but so is driving with another person talking to you whether it’s the radio, your children, or a passenger. Even with the radio or kids in the backseat, I’m able to recognize when I need to focus more attention to what I’m doing. I’ve purposefully turned down the radio or said to my daughters, ‘Be quiet – I need to really concentrate for a minute” while getting on the highway or looking for a place to turn in. This judgment is invaluable when using the telephone as well. I’ll admit I’ve been on the phone (hand-held) and had to say “I’ll call you back” or literally just put it down entirely to concentrate on driving.

Texting is a different matter. Personally, I’m firmly against texting while driving. It’s a whole different level of distraction. Texting takes your eyes off the road and requires a specific concentration. If I receive a text while driving, I wait until I’m sitting at a stoplight to read or answer it. I’ve also asked one of my daughters to read it to me.

Earlier this year Ford introduced new features utilizing Microsoft Sync technology in their cars that will allow drivers to access their tweets, emails, and other social media via hands free voice-command. When I first heard about this, I immediately thought of the first time someone tried to install their home radio in their early automobile, and how Motorola took the idea and began installing one of the first commercially available car radios in the world.

So I have mixed feelings about pushing through new laws, especially ones that might block cell phone providers from allowing information (text, internet, calls) to be accessed while in a moving vehicle. Actually, the more I think about it, having a law that prevents a call from being made or received while the unit is “moving” could never be passed. There just isn’t any tangible way to limit application of the law to a person engaged in the act of driving and not riding as a passenger.

I believe that education, not legislation, is the key to making us all better drivers. We need to stop and remember that driving is a responsibility; we are responsible not only for our own safety, but also our passengers and others on the road.

First Anniversary: A Milestone

Last week, while I was sick at home for two days, I realized that Thursday marked the one year anniversary since Lisa and I started Of Sound Mind and Spirit. It’s hard to believe it’s already been a whole year.

Writing a blog has been a real learning experience for both of us and provided us with new and interesting opportunities. For the first few months we worked to find our voices. When I look back at our early posts I remember how we struggled occasionally to keep the message positive, faith-based, and on point.

The catalyst for change occurred in June, when we attended the Catholic New Media Celebration and met many other Catholic bloggers and podcasters using the web to express our common faith. The experience opened our eyes to how much we’d been growing in our faith over the past two or three years, and as a result of the CNMC, we began to write more with our faith in mind.

And now, a confession.

Blogging every day often feels like a job, but it’s not my full time job. And I know Lisa stays really busy taking care of her family. So if we miss writing a day or two each week, please understand. We’re writing what we're passionate about and other various experiences. I would rather be struck with a great idea to share with you than feel forced to put up a post every day.

I'll admit I think about writing in everything I do. I wake up in the morning thinking of topics. I jot down notes and start posts at odd times of the day (even during Mass), only to find myself desperately searching for the time to carefully choose my words and craft a well-written post. I wonder if I might be a better editor than writer, because I really enjoy it when Lisa sends me her musings and I tweak them for her.

What do we hope to write during the next year of Sound Mind and Spirit? We want to continue developing our voice and sharing news as we see it. We plan to continue reviewing a wide variety of the books we read, share those little moments where we hear God speaking to us, and reflect on our differing perspectives as mothers and sisters.

We also want to say thank you to everyone who reads what we write here. We invite you to continue to leave us feedback and let us know how we're doing. It's a real blessing to have company along on the journey.

More Lenten Aids

Even though Lent has already started this year, it is never too late to add new resolutions to aid to your Spiritual journey through these 40 days.  There are so many wonderful ideas and ways to enrich your Lenten season that I want to share a few specific ones I am embracing this year.

40 Days for Life has started their Spring campaign to run through Lent.  People in 167 cities are physically joining to focus on their mission of prayer and fasting for an end to abortion.  If you don't live in one of the locations, you can always join their email list to receive daily updates and a daily devotional.  It is amazing to see the power of prayer working in our communities.

40 Bags in 40 Days is a great Lenten challenge for those of us surrounded by STUFF, as I recently wrote about.  You simply commit to  ridding your home of 40 bags of “stuff” during the 40 days of Lent.   You choose what size bag and whether to give it away or throw it in the garbage.  Call me crazy, but this might be one of the easier things, but really necessary things, that I commit to doing this Lent.  Faith and Family Connect has even created a group for those needing extra support and reminders to stay motivated for all 40 bags.

1 Million Pillowcase Challenge is a new one I just discovered but must join.  This challenge is not specific to the Lenten season, but a great way to give some of your Time, Talent and Treasure to others. They ask you to sew a new pillowcase and donate it locally to a charity of your choice.  Some of their suggested charities are Catholic Charities, a nursing home, Child Protective Services, a hospice or a cancer center or a battered woman's shelter.  I must give credit to my friend's blog, Karamat - A Sewing Boutique, where I first read about the Challenge.  She has posted a wonderful picture tutorial for making a pillowcase and is herself committed to making one pillowcase a week  to donate during Lent.

Consoling the Heart of Jesus: A Do-It-Yourself Retreat comes highly recommended if you are looking for a new spiritual book for Lent.  I ordered this book for myself after reading the wonderful review by Danielle Bean on Faith and Family Live and then visiting the author's website.  Danielle's review in part states, "This book is a flexible retreat, a conversation with Christ, and a personal call to greater holiness."  Her words, "This flexible and forgiving book meets you where you are and nudges you toward greater holiness—almost before you even realize it." sound like something I could use this Lenten season.

Please share more Lenten resolutions, challenges or aids in our comments.  I'd love to hear what you and your family are doing this year.

Whatever you choose to do this special time of year, I pray you are successful and your choices move you closer on your journey to Christ.

Too Much Stuff

Today while secretly purging my oldest daughter’s room, I remembered boxing up almost all of their toys, clothes and books three years ago when my husband and I put our former house on the market.   Facing the impossible task of keeping my house in show condition with a 5 year old, 3 year old and 6 month old, I boxed up a majority of our possessions to simplify our lives.  Closets were emptied, cabinets lay bare and toys no longer littered the family room.  It was a glorious few months.  I was able to keep the house picked up and clean with minimal frustration.

In the kid’s rooms, most everything was removed from books, stuffed animals and toys.  With very few toys to play with in the house, the kids surprised me with no complaints.  In no time at all, they adjusted to fewer things and focused on what remained.  Their favorite new thing to play became "Shoe Store" with all the various footwear they could find.

As I stare at my children’s rooms and playroom today, I look around and wonder what would happen if so many of their toys disappeared once again, either into the garage, attic or to the women’s shelter?  If it all disappeared tomorrow, would they miss them or would they react like they did three years ago? 

Are you ready for Lent?

As we prepare for Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent tomorrow, I have been prayerfully reflecting on my personal list of resolutions.  Lent is one of my favorite times of the liturgical calendar because we are preparing to once again turn our lives completely over to Christ.  It is a time of reflection, sacrifice and conversion, as we leave behind our past sins and behaviors to embrace new life in Christ.

To help you prepare and participate in Lent this year, I'm including resources that I have found useful with my own Lenten preparation and experience.  

Aggie Catholics: Lent 2010

Forty Lenten Resolutions by Sherry Antonetti

How to Observe Lent as a Catholic

CatholicMom Lenten Resources

Faith & Family Live! Lenten Blogs

And if you are not Catholic, please know that It's not just for Catholics anymore.

Washington's Birthday now called Presidents Day

Today is the third Monday in February meaning the banks are closed, the post office won’t deliver, all federal agencies are closed, and maybe the kids have a holiday from school. (Lisa’s do, mine don’t.) But what do we call this holiday?

For nearly 40 years, advertising agencies and calendars have promoted this day as “Presidents Day,” in honor of all our U.S. Presidents; however, the federal holiday is legally and officially still “Washington’s Birthday” honoring our first President.

Congress declared Washington’s Birthday—February 22—an official holiday on January 31, 1879, though Americans honored Washington’s Birthday for many years before, including special Congressional centennial festivities in 1832.

So why this confusion between Washington’s Birthday & Presidents Day?

In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Law creating more three-day holiday weekends for families. The 3rd Monday of February received the designation to honor Washington’s Birthday, ironically eliminating any possibility that the holiday would actually occur on February 22.

Also, federal holidays only apply to federal employees and the District of Columbia. States are not bound to observe the federal holidays; they set their own holidays. Since some states also observed President Lincoln’s February 12th birthday--not a federal holiday--and the new law caused the two to be celebrated so closely together, many states chose not to use the federal holiday title. In 1971 when the law went into effect, some states renamed their state observance as “Presidents Day.” However the federal holiday is still officially “Washington’s Birthday.”

For more detailed information about this national confusion, please read By George, IT IS Washington's Birthday!! by C.L. Arbelbide in the National Archives publication from Winter 2004.

Green Police

Did you see the Audi Super Bowl commercial that satirically promoted the “Green Police” arresting people for using incandescent bulbs, requesting plastic bags, and not composting or recycling their trash?



The alarming thing is that those laws, aimed at forcing a cultural behavior change, aren’t satire. They already have a foothold in our country.

Three years ago San Francisco became the first major US city to ban plastic grocery bags. Ironically, the plastic bag was actually introduced as an environmentally friendly alternative to the paper bag to protect America’s forests from destruction. Last year San Francisco toughened up their mandatory recycling laws to include composting. That scene in the commercial where they’re going to arrest the guy for putting an orange peel in the garbage disposal? While you might not be arrested in San Francisco, you could be fined if you are found to be deliberately flouting the law. The current mayor of San Francisco actually twittered, “Ok .. That "green police" Audi commercial hits home..”

Closer to home, this past Monday, I received a letter from my hometown stating that we are no longer allowed to use traditional plastic trash bags for our grass clippings or leaves. Instead, we may only use specially designed biodegradable bags bearing a seal of approval from the city. These bags cost twice as much as the decent garbage bags we currently use. Non-compliance will earn you a fine of $50 to $2,000.

I believe there’s a line between educating people on the many personal ways we can help our environment and encouraging or motivating them to be enthusiastic about participating versus passing laws mandating their behavior and forcing them to change.

Hearing the Call

Wendi is a normal mom, with four young children. For several years, we were neighbors. Our older kids used to play together in front yards and driveways while we stood around and talked. We were even pregnant with our third babies at the same time, delivering weeks apart.

Even though my family moved out of the neighborhood over two years ago, I have kept up with Wendi and her husband, Sam through mutual friends, Christmas cards, Facebook and our family blogs. I have been aware of Wendi and Sam’s dedication to helping orphans in Africa and their involvement with philanthropic organizations like HopeChest and Red Letters Campaign. But I hadn't fully realized how sincere they were in their dream to live their lives out loud as a testament to their faith in God.

Last year, Sam left a nice job so they could start a new microgiving organization named, HopeMongers to fight poverty, address human rights issues and encourage adoption overseas.

We all like to pass on information about helping others and donating money, but those who very drastically change everything to dedicate their lives to helping others are rare and special.

And yet, one reason I’ve been so inspired by Wendi is that she is not perfect. By her own admission, she is a normal mom who sometimes struggles with raising four small children, keeping house, and juggling the normal daily duties life throws at you. On her blog, she admits her own failings and how she turns to God for strength and guidance. Even in the midst of doing good works, she shares the same vulnerabilities as the rest of us. What makes her stand out is that through her love of Christ and her husband, she is following the path the Lord has laid out for her.

Recently, Sam and Wendi returned from an extended visit to Ethiopia to make connections, deliver supplies and work hard for those people in need. And if that alone wasn’t what many of us would consider a challenge, they also brought their four young children, ages 6, 5, 3 and 1 with them on this adventure. Reading her descriptions and seeing pictures of their trip had me in awe. I find it difficult enough to take my children on a trip across the state; the idea of taking them to a third world country blows me away.

But this is who she is. God has called her and Sam to this work and they not only listened to the call, they also have the faith and courage to follow it wherever it leads them.

Mega Millions Winner Donating to Retired Nuns

An amazing story of selflessness.  William Kiefer, winner of the largest prize in Texas Lottery history is donating 60% of his after-tax prize to charity.  Kiefer said this win is an opportunity to be an example for others regarding his faith and raise awareness for worthy causes such as abused children, relief for Haiti and support for retired nuns.

“To see him want to be generous with women who have spent their life trying to be generous to others is a good thing,” Sister Deneen Hubbard, of the Sisters of Charity of Incarnate Word, said. “Whatever it is that the sisters did for him before he won the lottery, it worked.”

What an amazing gift that will be greatly appreciated by many.Mr. Keifer proves that there still are wonderfully good people in the world.

Winner of $144 Mega Millions jackpot announced
Mega Millions Winner donating bulk to charity

Celebrate Family: Team Tebow Tackles Super Bowl

When Focus on the Family purchased 30-seconds of Super Bowl advertising to run a commercial starring Heisman trophy winner Tim Tebow and his mother highlighting the theme, “Celebrate family, Celebrate life,” the controversy began almost immediately.

Even before the commercial could be seen, a coalition of women's feminist groups began a protest campaign against the ad. The president of Women’s Media Center lambasted CBS "for inserting an exceedingly controversial issue into ... America's most-watched sporting event." One vice-president for NOW said, “"This ad is frankly offensive. It is hate masquerading as love. It sends a message that abortion is always a mistake." Planned Parenthood went so far as to release a petty preemptive “response” to the as-yet un-released and un-seen commercial spot.

Meanwhile Gary Schneeberger, a spokesman for Focus on the Family, accurately suggested that opponents "...will be quite surprised at what the ad is all about.”




Indeed, the commercial completely failed to mask the overwhelming unconditional love Pam Tebow has for her award-winning son. And when the "miracle baby" surprisingly tackles his mom right out of the picture, the laugh is on us. There’s even a little “gotcha” at the end as she reminds him, “You’re not nearly as tough as I am.”

This sweet & funny commercial allowed a mother to say to the nation how much she loves her child. Clearly, the message was not controversial, not offensive, and didn't force any judgement on others. Instead those organizations who were so quick to accuse may have publicly unveiled their own controversial bias when it comes to women's best interests and "choices."

To get the full message behind Pam Tebow’s choice to allow her son to be born, you are invited to go to the Focus on the Family website, where she & her husband tell their moving story.

Watching Miss America

Over the weekend, I watched half of the Miss America Pageant.  Having not watched it in several years, I found myself pleasantly surprised at the quality of the pageant.  To start, the opening number was not about flashiness, clothes, hair or makeup, but simply about nice looking young ladies making a lasting impression in their 30 seconds at the microphone.  Gone was the heavy makeup, big earrings, over sprayed hair and super tight clothing of years past.

They do still have the swimsuit competition, but the focus seems to have shifted towards physical fitness and self confidence.  When I heard that self confidence was a major component to the swimsuit competition, I was surprised.  That idea has never occurred to me, but I can imagine that it would take an awful lot of self confidence to walk across a stage and pose in a two piece swimsuit on national television.

The judges were each asked what they were looking for in each candidate and  Rush Limbaugh's response stuck with me.  He said the winner must, have "Poise. Confidence. Articulation. And she must like herself."  In a Miss America press conference earlier Rush had said, “These girls are wholesome, solid, dependable and pursuing excellence…They are the best of what the USA is.”   Rush hit the nail on the head.  That is exactly what I saw of these young ladies while watching the pageant.

I believe we should embrace these contestants as role models for our daughters, not the reality stars that pop up frequently on tabloid magazines for their latest scandal.  These 53 Miss America contestants are smart, articulate, beautiful, amazingly talented, academically ambitious and community oriented.   They possess a keen ability to work very hard to accomplish their rather large goals.  Many young women involved in Miss America, including the state and local pageants, go on to become very successful in their career fields.  Examples include Gretchen Carlson, Delta Burke, Cloris Leachman, Mary Hart, Heather Whitestone and even Sarah Palin.  

After watching parts of the pageant, I am reminded that the Miss America organization is the world’s largest provider of scholarship assistance for young women.   In 2009 they made available more than $45 million in cash and scholarship assistance!  There are many knock off pageants out there that do not embrace the same positive role models for young girls and instead perpetuate the crass culture that is so prevalent in our society.  Unlike these knock off pageants, the Miss America Organization attracts a quality of young woman that the younger generations can look up to. 

Next January, you will find me in front of the television with my daughter watching 53 amazing women who all posses poise, confidence, articulation and like themselves.

We just lost the Moon

Space. The Final Frontier.

These are the voyages of the Starship..... Terminated?

What if there had been no Apollo program? What if President Kennedy had not been assassinated; if his presidency had simply turned lackluster; if he had faltered in the polls and lost an election. What if the next president had cancelled the Apollo program for budgetary reasons?

Seems impossible to imagine now: a world without the infamous Apollo 8 Earthrise image that inspired the global environmentalism movement, and no Apollo 11 lunar landing heralding the greatness of the human spirit.

Those of us under-40 have no memory of the lunar landings. Our dreams for great space exploration lived in NASA’s Constellation program – our Return to the Moon, to Mars, and Beyond. Our dedication and focus continued to be inspired by Kennedy’s words: “We choose to go to the moon...and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too.”

By now you’ve heard the news. President Obama’s proposed FY11 Budget terminates the NASA Constellation Program. When the aging Space Transportation System AKA Shuttle program ends later this year, the United States will be completely Earthbound, with no vehicle in active development in which to return to space and the Station.

We knew it was coming. We could see the writing on the walls. Former NASA Administrator Michael Griffin may have introduced Orion as “Apollo-on-steroids” but around here it was not so affectionately called “Apollo-on-Food Stamps.” Constantly under-budgeted, the teams did their best in building the next heavy lifting rocket and crew exploration vehicle to supply the Station and offer us a return to the Moon and Mars.

The Augustine report released last fall addressed the crux of the issue with sobering words. "Space operations become all the more difficult when means do not match aspirations. Such is the case today. The human spaceflight program, in the opinion of this Committee, is at a tipping point where either additional funds must be provided or the exploration program first instituted by President Kennedy must be abandoned at least for the time being,"

Current NASA Administrator, Charlie Bolden, a Shuttle veteran, choked up while speaking to reporters on Tuesday, saying "To people who are working on these programs, this is like a death in the family," All week, Twitter conversations about the termination of Constellation capture the various emotions as workers experience the stages of grief, face uncertain futures and prepare for massive layoffs expected this summer.

• Hubby said atmosphere at work today was like being at a funeral.


• Co-worker told us his friend at KSC Fire Dept said they responded to 12 anxiety attacks after Constellation cancellation


• 40k US jobs lost with Constellation program.

If you’re not very familiar with Constellation and the amazing progress that’s been made in the past five years, watch this video that being passed around via twitter by NASA supporters. (While the beginning is dramatic, it gets peppy at 1:28 and is worth watching the entire 8+ minutes, especially if you're into rockets.)

These are my neighbors. My friends. My colleagues. It affects every one of us here.

"We just lost the moon." - Tom Hanks (as Jim Lovell) Apollo 13.

The Handbook for Catholic Moms Contest

Lisa Hendey, founder of CatholicMom.com, is releasing her first book, The Handbook for Catholic Moms, this month. We met Lisa at the CNMC last June and she has been a supportive friend to Of Sound Mind and Spirit during our first year. We couldn't be happier to help promote her book!

The great people over at The Catholic Company are running a cool contest to help spread the word about Lisa's book.

"Just send us your favorite, best working, or funniest piece of motherly advice you’ve heard from your Mom, Grandmother, etc. We’ll compile all the entries and pick our Top Five Favorites to win a signed copy of Lisa’s new book! We’ll post all entries online and share the Top Five on YouTube, Facebook, CatholicSpotlight.com and more.

Email your entry to Catholic Moms Giveaway; please include your full name, email address, and mailing address. No purchase is necessary. Submissions will be accepted now through February 14, 2010. Only one entry per person. Participants must be 18 years of age or older as of the time of submission. This contest is open to legal residents of the 50 United States and Washington, DC except for employees of The Catholic Company and Trinity Road, LLC, and all companies contributing prizes, judges, and members of their immediate families."

Lisa also filmed a short video to promote the contest.



Our copies of The Handbook for Catholic Moms are already on pre-order. You can order your own copy today!

Wanted: Prayer and a Miracle

Nearly eleven years ago, when I was pregnant with my first child, I went to the internet for answers to some questions. It's hard to believe now, but in 1999 Facebook or MySpace didn't exist. Social networking consisted of bulletin boards on a variety of sites. I signed up for a ParentSoup.com board titled "Expecting in September 1999" and met a number of ladies going through the same stages of pregnancy. The friendships I've developed over the past 11 years are as real and intense as any others in my life. Together we've supported each other through every developmental stage of our pregnancies, births, and babies' lives. We've cried after a stillbirth, prayed during spouse deployments, and offered support during divorce and death. Some ladies I've met in person, and some I haven't. These women are some of my very best friends. They know so much about me and accept me for who I am.

One of my Sept99 Mommies is going through every mother's worst nightmare this weekend. She has four sons (her youngest is the 99-er.) This past Friday night, her oldest and second youngest sons were involved in a terrible car accident. Her younger son, Spencer, is currently in a trauma hospital ICU with a severe brain injury. The last update I had from her on Sunday is "critically ill, stable" which sounds like improvement from the previous 24 hours. They have a very long road ahead of them and I would like to invite you to pray with me for her family.

I have come here asking for prayers before. In the past three years, I have twice witnessed the very real power of prayer resulting in what can only be called a miracle. It does exist and I know that it is within God's power to give this family the strength, peace, and healing they need to get through this. We may not understand why bad things happen, but we can put all our faith in the Lord to move us forward.

Please join me as I pray for God to heal Spencer. To give strength, hope, and faith to Kathleen & Mike. To reach Luke with His love. To embrace Tyler & Ryan in this time of fear and doubt.