The weekly “little of this, little of that” feature here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!
(This will all look and work better if you click on the actual post and do not remain on the main page.)
The babies, they are raining down on us!
Here is little Odelia Day, born to Deirdre last week. I left the house, midwife in charge, to take the older children on an errand, and half an hour later I popped up to the birthing room to find this darling in Deirdre's arms!
That was easy! (This picture isn't of that, though. It's a day or two later, just so you don't think it's actually magic!)
The stork was quick this time!
Isn't she beautiful? She's as good as gold. Lots of nursing, lots of sleeping, lots of sweet little baby faces.
Just to remind you, last month this little guy, Nicholas Fitz, was born to our Nick and his wife Natasha! Getting big! Also as good as gold. Maybe this is “calm baby” year?
You too can have your own little dynasty of cuties someday — just stay in the fight. Don't give up! (Odelia is grandchild #14 — I have friends who have literally dozens of grandchildren — one has something like 60! So I'm just getting started. God is so good.)
On to our links!
- I don't think evangelization means what we think it means. Fr. Heilman lays out what a good parish ought to begin to aim for, in order to do its best to offer true worship, the foundation of evangelization, from which it flows, never to be packaged or programmed. Perhaps you have a pastor who is open to thinking this way and just needs a little encouragement as to particulars.
- I appreciated this article, Moms at Mass and Other Heroes, not only because I've done my share of kid-wrangling, but because the “other” heroes he mentions are the dads who bear the burden of provision so that the moms can wrangle.
- St. Francis — do you know him? “One of the most striking elements of this biography is the revelation that the dominant theme in Francis’ spirituality is not activism, but devotion to the Mass and to the Body of Christ.” “The issue he found most pressing was not poverty, not obedience, but proper reverence for the Eucharist.”
- Matthew Mehan (author of Mr. Mehan's Mildly Amusing Mythical Mammals) on Wonder.
From the archives:
- Dating rules for teenagers? (Remember, this is a post about TEENS. Here's another about dating in general.)
- The first in a series of posts that attempt to read Romano Guardini's Spirit of the Liturgy, a short book (available for free online) that will jump-start your spiritual life like nothing else. The whole series is linked here (at the end of the second series reading Cardinal Ratzinger's Spirit of the Liturgy).
- If you wanted to start a St. Greg's Pocket, these Liturgy books could be a great place to start, since I've guided your reading for you. You'd have both — something good to read and the meeting point of the shared interest in our blog.
- Not from the archives here, but from my Facebook page: my “top 10” movie recommendations — actually more like top 100! I will try to make this into a post at some point, but if you are on FB, you can maybe get some ideas (I have them roughly categorized) and leave comments as to your faves!
Today is the feast of the Archangels. The 1st is St. Thérèse, and the 2nd is the Guardian Angels!
We’d like to be clear that, when we direct you to a site via one of our links, we’re not necessarily endorsing the whole site, but rather just referring you to the individual post in question (unless we state otherwise).
Ken H says
Congratulations to Deirdre and John and all of your family on the new arrival! And for the other new arrival, too! God bless you all!
Rozy says
Oh you blessed, blessed woman! Children and grandchildren are so priceless. Thanks for sharing your joyful news and adorable photos.
Diana says
Congratulations to all involved!!! Beautiful!!
“You too can have your own little dynasty of cuties someday — just stay in the fight. Don’t give up!”
I loved that.
meditationsandmiscellany999229906 says
Thanks for posting the “Moms at Mass and Other Heroes” article. I’d seen it earlier in the week, and found it to be so encouraging. The author clearly has an understanding of what it’s like taking the wee ones to Mass. I only wish others would be so, too.
Your grandbabies – Odelia and Nicholas – are just exquisite! Really, I always love to hear about new babies being born.
God bless you and yours!
Melisa
Kate says
Congratulations! My mother has 47 grandchildren. I have none,yet, as my kids seem to be late bloomers.
I was reading Elizabeth Goudge”s “Pilgrim Inn” last night and this passage reminded me the mission of LMLD:
.. Bu they were talking about the deplorable state of the world, about that terrible bomb, about famine and inflation and chaos and death, and her mind shied away from their talk like a terrified horse. She couldn’t do anything about it now, at eighty-six, except pray, and even in between her prayers, now that the war was over, she wished they would let her forget sometimes that things had not turned out as well as one had hoped, and enjoy the things that were left…
“Don’t” she cried to them suddenly. “It’s this that matters – this!”
… Nadine, without words, stretched out a hand and gently touched her mother-in-law’s. They had both been married and borne children. Lucilla knew always, and Nadine knew in her more domesticated moments, that it was homemaking that mattered. Every home was a brick in the great wall of decent living that men erected over and over again as a bulwark against the perpetual flood in of evil. But women made the bricks, and the durableness of each civilization depended on their quality, and it was no good weakening oneself for the brick-making by thinking too much about the flood.”
meditationsandmiscellany999229906 says
Kate, Those passages from the Elizabeth Goudge novel are lovely. I am awaiting the arrival of an Elizabeth Goudge novel (Green Dolphin Street) at the library – it’ll be my first of hers. Now I’m even more excited to delve into her writing!
Melisa
Sara says
I love that book and I remember reading that passage. It is lovely.
Habou says
What a beautiful quote. I must read that book again. And, Green Dolphin Street is the best with a wonderful ending.
Ingrid says
Congratulations and blessings! 🙂
Erin says
Congratulations on being a Grandma again. Wow 60 grandchildren, how wonderful.
I just love that picture of your son in law with the baby, shines with love and awe.
Sara says
Congratulations, Dear Auntie Leila! Perhaps you should change your name to Grannie Leila!? 😉
Adele says
Congratulations on the new little ones. I also enjoyed the Moms at mass article, even if I’m not a mom who can make it to daily mass at the moment. My children were so excited to see their church in the article by Father Heilman. Thank you for your encouragement.