It's All About Me

Renee, LSWA

I'm the mom of a teenage daughter.  Thanks for your sympathy!  She's a great girl-beautiful, talented, smart, kind (most of the time)!  She's really a good kid and I'm so very proud to be her mom.  But even my "good kid" can become easily caught up in the "Me, Me, Me!"  pit.  Last summer, she won a Go Phone at a Bingo.  You can imagine the excitement of the first cell phone.  I was wary at first about the whole thing but her dad and I decided she could have it, but she had to earn the money to keep it stocked with minutes.  She did odd jobs for friends of the family and her aunts and uncles and she did earn the money.  She was never without the phone, waiting for the next "bzzz" to notify her when someone was trying to communicate with her. 

Much to my dismay, it became a constant companion and we began to see more of the top of her bent head and less of her beautiful face.  As she turned more inward, communication with my daughter changed drastically.  I didn't like who my daughter was becoming and I didn't like who I was becoming with her. 

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Girl Interrupted

By Michelle (Graceful, Faith in the Everyday)

Obedience. What do you think of when you hear the word obedience? My dad was a sergeant major in the Army for 37 years, so for me, the word obedience conjures images of obeying the barked command, “Michelle! Get your head outta your duffle bag!”

St. Benedict, I’m learning, had a different view. As I methodically make my way through a book called St. Benedict’s Toolbox: The Nuts and Bolts of Everyday Benedictine Living, by Jane Tomaine (stay tuned for more on this topic; during Lent I’ll be writing a Blogging Benedict series), I came across an intriguing interpretation of the word obedience.

"I read somewhere a long time ago that life happens in the interruptions," writes Tomaine. "Interruptions are opportunities to practice obedience."

As a mother to two young boys, my life is a constant stream of interruption. No matter what I’m doing – writing, reading, cleaning, cooking, dressing, eyebrow plucking – I am interrupted. "Mommy! I’m thirsty!" "Mommy, can you wipe my bum?" "Mommy, come look at the cardinal!" "Mommy, can you read me a book?" Frankly these endless interruptions make for a fragmented, disjointed existence.

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Life Is Funny: I Don't Know Where She Gets It...

By MAD21

As you all know, when you bring family and friends together all kinds of things can happen. I guess you could say my job is comic relief considering it seems I'm always (unintentionally most of the time) finding something to say or do that makes people laugh... I'd like to say with me, not at me, but you know how that goes.

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A Few Things I Have Learned About My Heavenly Father From Being A Dad

By Kevin (Shooting the Breeze)

I love being a dad. I have three wonderful daughters. Each day is so exciting watching them grow, mature and learn. Since becoming a dad almost 11 years ago I have learned so much about God. Since becoming a dad my understanding of God has grown immensely. Here are a few things I have learned about my heavenly Father from being a dad:

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Moments That Touch Your Soul

Everyone has a daily routine they follow, for the most part, from the moment they get up in the morning, until they go to bed at night. One of my most favorite times of day is in the evening when we put our girls to bed. After trips to the bathroom, brushing teeth, and reading stories snuggled in bed, we turn the lights off. At that point, we talk about the events of the day and the things we are thankful for (which is especially important on the bad days!)

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