Countdown to the CNMC!

THREE!!!

 

TWO!!!

ONE!!!

 

We're on our way to the SQPN Catholic New Media Conference!!

Back to School with St. Monica

Back to School Praying with St. Monica

When I realized today is not only the first day of school in Texas, but also the feast day of St. Monica, I smiled. St Monica is the patron Saint of Mothers and Married Women, but for me, St. Monica is my patron Saint for Modern Mothers, for motherhood today. Living during the 3rd century, Monica struggled with a difficult son who turned away from God.  Rather than giving up or giving in to the tough times she faced as a mom, St. Monica persevered through it all with a devotion to God and constant prayer. 

For my family, the spring school semester was filled with difficulty and turmoil as my oldest daughter struggled with anxiety related issues.  As a mom, it was extremely difficult to comprehend what my child was going through but not be able to “fix it” for her, and the doctors couldn't provide a simple solution to make it all better either.  And then there is the mommy guilt.  As her mom, I felt I must have done something wrong for my precious gift from God to be hurting. I know that guilt feeling is inevitable and not always logical, but it is a tough one to swallow.

In the end, the best I could do is to give her patience, time, understanding, love and constant prayer.  Prayers and tears got me through the school year.  That’s probably why I feel so close to St. Monica because she is known for praying and weeping over her child through the difficult times and never giving up.   After many years of constant prayer and devotion, her son finally was baptized into the Church becoming not just a Christian, but eventually a Bishop and then one of the early Doctors of the Catholic Church - St. Augustine of Hippo. 

Thankfully, this summer appears to have brought some healing for our daughter and more peace of mind for her and the family.  But, with the start of school again,  I am concerned that all she's gained over the summer months will be lost.   The thoughts about what a return to school could mean for her keep running through my mind.  Will the new teachers be beneficial to her continued recovery?  Will the academic schedule force a return of her anxiety? Will she end up back where she was in the Spring?

How can I keep my own anxiety as her mom in check?  I tell myself… Just breathe.  Breathe and pray.  I need to pray for my child in the model of St. Monica - constant prayer, a devotion to God and weeping is ok.

Today, on the first day of school, I pray for the intercession of Saint Monica for all Mothers and their children who return to their studies.  May we be granted the same fortitude, patience and trust in the Lord as dear St. Monica. 

Lisa Jones

Experience Catholic New Media Conference from Home

Attend the Catholic New Media Celebration with a Virtual Ticket

A few weeks ago, I shared with you what makes the Catholic New Media Conference different than other social media conferences, but if you can't get yourself to Arlington, TX this next week, did you know that you can enjoy more sessions and workshops with the Virtual Ticket than you would if you attended in person? Crazy, I know. Unless I can figure out a way to clone myself, I can only attend one of the two  concurrent sessions, but with the Virtual Ticket, you get the audio to each and every session at the CNMC. 

With the Virtual Ticket, you won't have to choose between attending a panel discussion moderated by Fr. Roderick and a panel discussion led by Matthew Warner, or between SMAS friends Dorian Speed and Sarah Reinhard. You will get to hear all of them! And don't forget these amazing sessions:

• "Telling the Catholic Story: What Mormons, Protestants, and Atheists Can Teach Us About Evangelizing Online" - Brandon Vogt
• CNMC Tech Summit: "What makes a great organization website?" - Josh Simmons
• "Being the Bearers of the Good News within a Digital Culture."- Bishop Christopher Coyne
• "New Media, New Evangelization: Cogs in the Wheel of God's Orderly Chaos" - Elizabeth Scalia
• "How Catholic Bloggers Can Change the World"- Jennifer Fulwiler
• "A Catholic Presence on Youtube" - Rob Kaczmark of Spirit Juice Studios

Shelly & Lisa

And the best part of all *wink, wink* you will have the audio of Shelly and I presenting a workshop at the International Catholic Bloggers' Summit titled "Go Out In The World: Engaging Community." Our session will focus on five non-technical strategies designed to help the average blogger amplify their faith filled message in New Media. This is the first time Shelly and I will bring our speaking experiences together as a team. I'm sure it will be a "see it to believe it" event. 

Use Promo Code "Spirit"

If you can't get away to DFW in person, the Virtual Ticket is the best way to experience the CNMC from your computer, at your leisure. And the best part, this Virtual Ticket is half the cost of in person registration for the CNMC. So, for the first time, you get access to the audio recordings from EVERY session, speaker, and workshop, exclusive extra interviews with speakers and attendees, without the cost of travel and hotel fees at half the price of a normal ticket! 

When you purchase your Virtual Ticket, use promo code "Spirit" to let them know you are a friend of Of Sound Mind and Spirit and to receive the bonus Catholic New Media Masterclass Series – A collection of presentations by the world’s leaders in the field of Catholic New Media.  This collection is full of some of my favorite speakers from past Catholic New Media Conferences. 

Shelly and I will hate not seeing you in Arlington if you can't come, but we still wish for you to experience the Catholic New Media Conference through the Virtual Ticket.

How do Moderates Pick a Candidate?

What do Indepedent Voters want in a candidate?

In less than three months, Americans must decide which direction our country will go. It’s as simple as that. Our country’s two major parties are separated by a gulf of ideological differences.

What’s fascinating to me is that there are roughly 20% of American voters who declare themselves independent, that is purposefully unaffiliated with either of the two major parties. Very simplistically, if about 40% of voting Americans are registered Republicans and another 40% are registered Democrats, then there are approximately 20% of voters who pride themselves on not belonging or subscribing to one particular view of either party will decide my future.

That got me to wondering how independents discern the appropriate candidate in this election? How do they decide which candidate meets their idea of what’s best for our country? Perhaps they don’t like the hard line of the left or right so they choose to be centrists.

I’m very curious what issues appeal the truly important independent voters.

What core values do they honestly believe in?

What are they looking for in a candidate?

Because I also honestly know that there is no one candidate who is going to be a perfect match for every belief valued by all people in every state, town, community, and sometimes even every member of a family.

If you are an independent voter, what is important to you? The economy? Social Issues? Likeability?

What are you looking for to help you make your decision this November?

What's on your Bookshelf? Writing to God

This week Lisa wrangles 100+ children and 50+ volunteers for our parish's very first Vacation Bible School (VBS) so she invited her friend Wendy Wharton to kick off today with a look at the book "Writing to God" by Rachel Hackenberg, provided to us by Paraclete Press in exchange for this honest review. Thank you Wendy!

Teaching children to give it up to God

As a Christian mom I'm always looking for ways to encourage my children and strengthen their relationships with God. In writing this book, the author, Rachel G. Hackenberg gives a child a realistic approach to connecting with God and seeing both herself and her world the way God sees them.

Often times a child might keep a journal to express herself but Writing to God goes beyond a simple journal. I feel that the author not only wants the child to see life through God's eyes but to use all of her senses to experience God's creations. This out-of-the-box approach opens the child's mind to noticing the world she's in and to really experience all of the wonders God surrounds her with each and everyday.

By encouraging the child to write about "things I am thankful for smelling" (#1) The child takes time to remember the simple pleasure in the smell of warm cookies or mom's perfume. By asking her to write about the feel of a soft blanket or the sound of the rain, Hackengberg shows the child that God can be appreciated in every little thing.

The stories from other children and the prayer examples throughout the book, showed my daughter that others had her same concerns and shared her same worries. These examples also showed her that her prayers don't have to sound rehearsed or perfect, that simply being in His presence and praying in her own words is what matters most.

My daughter age 10, enjoyed the book very much. She felt that writing prayers to God gave her a way to hand her troubles to Him and in doing so took the worry off of her. She felt that her praises to God seemed more meaningful because she was taking the time to sit and write to Him.

In Writing to God, Hackenberg has given children wonderful prayer tools that they can continue to use as they grow both in the world and in His word. Creative and well-written with the loving care of an encouraging mom, this book has something both children and their parents can truly benefit from.

Catholic VBS - Trusting God

In 2 days, my parish begins its first Vacation Bible Study, SKY Totally Catholic VBS from OSV.  Back in May when the idea of a VBS was tossed around, I volunteered to lead it, even though I've never attended one.  Crazy!

Totally Catholic VBS from Our Sunday Visitor

As we come down to crunch time, it has hit me that taking on this big project is a lesson for me.  The main scripture for our VBS is "For God All Things Are Possible" Mark 10:27 and the main bible point is "Trust God!"  Does that sound prophetic or what?  I stepped into this role unsure of what I was getting myself into and the last three months really have been a lesson in Trusting God.  

In this home stretch, I am attempting to turn it all over to God.  To take myself out of it and remember the real reason we hold VBS is to bring the children and us closer to God.  Not to see how many decorations we can put up!  

Do you, veteran VBS volunteers or planners, have any last minute advice on how to remain God centered and joyful throughout this next week?  And is there something you wish someone had shared with you before your first VBS?  

VBS Theme - Trust God

I ask for your prayers for our 101 children and 62 volunteers who will spend the week soaring through the SKY and learning to "Trust God!!"

Invited to pray the Hail Mary

Way back in January, about the same time that I returned to work and decided to change jobs, I received an email from Catholic author, Sarah Reinhard, inviting me to contribute to her word-by-word reflection on the Hail Mary prayer. It would start during Lent and my deadline wasn't until the end of June.

She assigned me the word - OF. 

Seriously.

For weeks I contemplated "of".  I looked it up in the dictionary. I prayed about it. I lay in bed at night and thought "of"... "of"... "of."  What could I possibly write about "of"?  Once the series began, I read the other contributions and had several moments of doubt. Eventually I felt called to write what I submitted, though I fretted it was too short, too inconsequential. But Lisa reassured me that it could stand with the others, and I've learned to trust her when it comes to writing.

I'm still a little overwhelmed to have been included in this project. The experience came during a busy and difficult time in my life, but it helped sustain me when I felt low. Thank you Sarah.

If you didn't read these essays as they became available online over the past months, I invite you to read them now. Sarah posted links to all of the meditations. It will change the way you think about this prayer. It will change the way you pray the Hail Mary prayer.

Looking Closer at the Hail Mary at SnoringScholar.com