Saturday, November 29, 2014

It's the .:Most:. Wonderful Time of the Year! 10 of Our Traditions for Advent and Christmas~ Wreaths, Trees, Recipes, Crafts, Stories, Santa, Science & Savoring w/LINKY



Despite the ads and commercials telling us that the Christmas season is here, 
we actually have this wonderful, preparatory, redemptive span of time
that tends to get "lost" amid the hustle of December....: advent.

So as we began to decorate the house and strategize the calendar
for December, I decided  to gather ideas in a roundup of sorts of  our family's 
advent-ish and Christmas-y  traditions.
This advent's schedule looks a bit different than it did in  previous years.
As the kids get older and their outside commitments and extra curriculars,
 even within the parish community,
  cast a wider net  and fill more boxes than I'd like on the calendar
I find I have to guard our
family's most precious commodity....time...even more than ever.
Numerous invitations and opportunities will have to be declined
 this month in order to do so......
in order to  widen the margins and crate more white space...
in order  to pray over the advent wreath and read our
Jesse Tree verses. 
Just a few minutes of prayer per night, as a family.
That's all I can hope for and write in on our calendar.
Here's my collection of rituals and reflections
....I can assure you, friends,
especially given my less-is-more rant, above,
that these activities are simple and require little to no prep.
Maybe an idea or two will speak to you
 to adapt into your'own domestic church!
I'd love to get an advent idea exchange going! 
You're welcome to share in the combox a ritual or anything, really
that your family loves!!
Here goes~~~




Celebrating the Great  O Antiphons~  
Resources for Simple and Meaningful Activities 





and the post which stirred a great deal of controversy and deleted comments.....
Hard to believe


























This post is an anchor/host of the
 Catholic Bloggers' Network advent 2013  linky...
TONS of awesome posts are linked!





For a concise and awesome
summary of this beautiful liturgical season within our Church,
I'm going to send you over to my friend, Tracy's, blog.
And of course, while you're there, 
peruse some of Tracy's beautiful family traditions as well.
Pin away and then come back for more, okay?
You.Will. Love. Tracy's. Advent. Collection.

 Friends, as always,  
thank you for stopping over and 
spending some of your precious time 
here at my home on the web!
And hey:

Have you signed up to receive my posts in your email inbox?
   If not, just click here to 
subscribe to Campfires and Cleats by email 
quickly and easily  so we can be in touch regularly!
You might wish to follow on Facebook as well.....



This post contains amazon affiliate links....
If you are shopping at  amazon this Christmas season,
would you consider clicking through my link? 


In this way, I will receive a small commission on the purchase.....
a few pennies per dollar.
If YOU are an amazon affiliate, please send me
your link and I will do the same!
THANK YOU!


Until next time,

~Chris


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It's the .:Most:. Wonderful Time of the Year! 10 of Our Traditions for Advent and Christmas~ Wreaths, Trees, Recipes, Crafts, Stories, Santa, Science & Savoring w/LINKY



Despite the ads and commercials telling us that the Christmas season is here, 
we actually have this wonderful, preparatory, redemptive span of time
that tends to get "lost" amid the hustle of December....: advent.

So as we began to decorate the house and strategize the calendar
for December, I decided  to gather ideas in a roundup of sorts of  our family's 
advent-ish and Christmas-y  traditions.
This advent's schedule looks a bit different than it did in  previous years.
As the kids get older and their outside commitments and extra curriculars,
 even within the parish community,
  cast a wider net  and fill more boxes than I'd like on the calendar
I find I have to guard our
family's most precious commodity....time...even more than ever.
Numerous invitations and opportunities will have to be declined
 this month in order to do so......
in order to  widen the margins and crate more white space...
in order  to pray over the advent wreath and read our
Jesse Tree verses. 
Just a few minutes of prayer per night, as a family.
That's all I can hope for and write in on our calendar.
Here's my collection of rituals and reflections
....I can assure you, friends,
especially given my less-is-more rant, above,
that these activities are simple and require little to no prep.
Maybe an idea or two will speak to you
 to adapt into your'own domestic church!
I'd love to get an advent idea exchange going! 
You're welcome to share in the combox a ritual or anything, really
that your family loves!!
Here goes~~~




Celebrating the Great  O Antiphons~  
Resources for Simple and Meaningful Activities 





and the post which stirred a great deal of controversy and deleted comments.....
Hard to believe


























This post is an anchor/host of the
 Catholic Bloggers' Network advent 2013  linky...
TONS of awesome posts are linked!





By the way, if your kids are fans of hands-on science and


The $10/ month  offering is good through the end of October. 


Also--don't forget: just a few hours remain
 in the Ultimate Homemaking bundle sale!


Interested? Check it out here--
100% money back guarantee!



Thank you for spending some of your precious time today
here at my home on the web! 

Have you signed up to receive my posts in your email inbox?
   If not, just click here to 
subscribe to Campfires and Cleats by email 
quickly and easily  so we can be in touch regularly!
You might wish to follow on Facebook as well.....



If you are shopping at  amazon and Target. 
or shopping for Halloween costumes, 
why not consider clicking through my link? 
In this way, I will receive a small commission on the purchase.....
at no cost to you.
THANK YOU!

Until next time,





~Chris

BTW, I'm offering photo services and customized
photo packages for your blog or business!
< Subscribers receive a deep discount! > 

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Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Grace of Yes:Eight Virtues for Generous Living ~ How Do We Say YES to God? #GraceofYesDay


If anyone had told me, even a handful of years ago......
that friendship can happens in the middle of the night,
or on a computer monitor 
or  that I'd consider  a true friend someone I'd
 never even "met" in person,
I don't know that I'd have believed it.
Well, as you know, it is true, this thing called friendship
 and its transcendence through the virtual world, 
across time zones and sustaining us year after year.
 I'm honored to call many friend who 
who  encourages and prays for me,
helps me through disappointments,
 cheerleads my kids through small victories 
from across the state or the other side of the continent


Well, for me, one of these very dear angels
 is also friend to so very many others.
The inspiring yet grounded and practical Lisa Hendey,
 who's without a doubt, touched and changed lives.
Lisa, who's known by so many around the globe
by her special quality of gospel interpretation at her
 warm and welcoming site, Catholic Mom.com,
who's penned the popular 
  Handbook for Catholic Moms
and A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms
 and who now offers a  brand new "guide" if you will,
to Eight Virtues for Generous Living  in her new title,
.The Grace of Yes


It's clear that I'd be a bit biased upon cracking open my
copy of Lisa's new title........
Of course I'm excited about my friend's
latest success and of course I share her enthusiasm for 
the New Evangelization.
But, wow, this book, friends.
I can guarantee yours will  be read, reread, dog eared and pondered.
Mine already is. 
It's a gold mine....
Once I delved  into The Grace of Yes, 
I was captured by the practical wisdom, personal anecdotes
and re-living of the Gospel messages  that Lisa weaves through her virtues.


 Here are Lisa's own experiences which spoke to me,
called out to me and caused me to really live
 in the virtues she outlines in The Grace of Yes:
Chapter 1. The Grace of Belief
"Journeying toward a common spiritual goal with my spouse
 has also taught me to judge neither our family's domestic church nor my own holiness by anyone's measure."

Chapter 2: The Grace of Generativity
"Learning to give of myself generously in love is a skill that is as old as it is new."
and I looooove this:
"Today, my yes as a Mom means avoiding the urge to cyber-stalk, 
to make their decisions for them or to wish them back into the nest."

Chapter 3: The Grace of Creativity
"The smartest thing that I do work-wise every day is  include among
 my morning prayers  a plea to accurately hear  and respond 
to God's agenda for my work."


Chapter 4: The Grace of Integrity:
"On my best days, my avatar represents some of the aspects of my life
as I wish they were more consistently."

Chapter 5: The Grace of Humility
"Humility, like fame, rarely grows to full bloom overnight."

Chapter 6: The Grace of Vulnerability
"I'm also reminded to look  to mentors of my own and to 
increasingly hear and value their perspective."

Chapter 7: The Grace of No
"..the more I live in a yes mindset, the more I realize the mandatory
presence of a few well-timed no responses along the way."

Chapter 8: The Grace of Rebirth
"As weak as I am, God who is mighty and all-powerful has 
begun a  good work in me."



Lisa closes each chapter with a set of questions "To Ponder"
as well as a prayer relative to building and growing that specific virtue.
If there is anyone who exemplifies generous living to me,
  as her subtitle suggests, it is my friend Lisa.
It's been a privilege  for me to be introduced to The Grace of Yes
and to share it here with you and an honor to be have Lisa in my life,
to call her friend.
Here's how you can stay connected with
 Lisa's Catholic Mom.com  and The Grace of Yes on social media:


Would you like details on #GraceofYesDay??
and how we can all promote Ave Maria's campaign
on our own social media platforms and throughout the blogosphere!



Thank you for spending some of your precious time today
here at my home on the web! 

Have you signed up to receive my posts in your email inbox?
   If not, just click here to 
subscribe to Campfires and Cleats by email 
quickly and easily  so we can be in touch regularly!
You might wish to follow on Facebook as well.....



If you are shopping at  amazon and Target. 
or shopping for Halloween costumes, 
why not consider clicking through my link? 
In this way, I will receive a small commission on the purchase.....
at no cost to you.
THANK YOU!

Until next time,





~Chris

BTW, I'm offering photo services and customized
photo packages for your blog or business!
< Subscribers receive a deep discount! > 
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