Quote of the day 2017-09-16 Habits

Quote of the day 2017-09-16 Habits

"The things we repeatedly do determine our character and destiny."

Matthew Kelly 
The Four Signs of a Dynamic Catholic

This was one of the devotions in my inbox this morning. It is all about habits. We become what we do consistently. In all areas of our life, mind, body and spirit. 

Books by Matthew Kelly:
I Know Jesus
The Long View
Decision Point: The Workbook
Decision Point: The Leader Guide
The Four Signs of a Dynamic Catholic
The One Thing
Off Balance: Getting Beyond the Work-Life Balance Myth to Personal and Professional Satisfaction
Why Am I Here?
Perfectly Yourself: 9 Lessons for Enduring Happiness
Perfectly Yourself Discovering God's Dream For You
Building Better Families: A Practical Guide to Raising Amazing Children
The Dream Manager
The Seven Levels of Intimacy: The Art of Loving and the Joy of Being Loved
The Rhythm of Life: Living Every Day with Passion and Purpose
Building Better Families - 5 Practical Ways to Build Family Spirituality
The Book of Courage
The Shepherd: A Modern Parable about Our Search for Happiness
Mustard Is Persecution, Matthew Kelly Foundation
A Call to Joy - Living in the Presence of God
The Rhythm of Life: An Antidote For Our Busy Age
Words from God
Resisting Happiness
The Narrow Path
Our Father
Beautiful Hope
Beautiful Mercy
The Biggest Lie in the History of Christianity
Why I Love Being Catholic
Good Night, Jesus

Coach: 365 Days of Inspiration for Coaches and Players 

I Heard God Laugh: A Practical Guide to Life's 

Life is Messy

Difficult Teachings

The Rocking Chair Prophet

33 Days to Eucharistic Glory

Best Christmas Ever - Worst Christmas Ever

The Three Ordinary Voices of God

Slowing Down to the Speed of Joy

33 Days to Divine Mercy

33 Days to Eucharistic Glory for Kids

The Seven Pillars of Catholic Spirituality 

The Forgotten Way 

33 Days of Miracles, Wonders and Grace 

...

Rediscover Books by Matthew Kelly:
Rediscover Catholicism: A Spiritual Guide to Living with Passion & Purpose
Rediscover Advent
Rediscover Lent
Rediscover Jesus: An Invitation
Rediscover the Rosary: The Modern Power of an Ancient Prayer
Rediscover the Saints

Audio by Matthew Kelly from Lighthouse Media:
Becoming The Best Version Of Yourself
The Best Way To Live
Don't Just Try, Train
Faith At Work & The Holy Moment
The Four Signs Of A Dynamic Catholic - Excerpt
The Jesus Question
My Spiritual Journey
Our Lives Change When Our Habits Change
Raising Amazing Children
The Seven Levels Of Intimacy
The Seven Pillars Of Catholic Spirituality

Hail Mary's and Dirty Socks

Hail Mary's and Dirty Socks

One of my pet peeves is dirty laundry on the floor. Especially socks. With three young children I found them all over the house. The stairs, the entranceway, the living room, and sometimes even just thrown down the basement steps. And it really bugged me. A few weeks ago I started saying a Hail Mary whenever I picked up laundry off of the floor. I just prayed 8 on the way down to the computer in the basement.

So now in a way I am thankful, for I am praying more. I find I am praying for the child whose laundry I am picking up. I pray to conquer my frustration. I pray to learn and live more joy. And I can be assured there will be a number of random prayers a day as I encounter these out of place pieces of laundry. I pray not to change God, but to allow God in to change me.

Lord I Am Not Worthy

Lord I Am Not Worthy

At mass we pray "Lord I am not worthy that you should enter my house but only say the word and my soul shall be healed."  When I was younger the wording was slightly different we said, "I am not worthy to receive You, but only say the word, and I shall be healed."  I have been thinking about these words a lot lately. My son who is almost 10 started praying this before bed every night. I pray for him, we pray the Angel of God, and then he prays this.

I think on Jesus entering our house, and being part of our life. I think about his healing. And the earlier implication that it was all encompassing and the newer language that focuses on the spiritual healing. I think about the simple faith of my children, and hope and pray it persists better than mine did as a teen and young man.

Author Dan Burke recently asked "What is the difference between the mentality of a Saint and the mentality of a Victim?" I have thought about it for almost two weeks. My short answer is a victim asks 'why me?' the saint asks 'why not me'? 

I pray that no matter what storms life throws at my children they will trust and shelter in God. I pray that they will live and grow in God and his ways. I pray that they will maintain their devotion to Mary. That they will love the mass. And I pray that I will trust in God and learn to live with more joy in my day to day life.

Note: Photo from Sault Ste Marie Ontario Spring of 2017 used with permission.

A Pocket Full Of Murder - R.J. Anderson - Uncommon Magic Book 1

A Pocket Full Of Murder
Uncommon Magic Book 1
R.J. Anderson
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
A Division of Simon and Schuster
ISBN 9781481437714
eISBN 9781481437738
ASIN B00TBKYIWG

I read book two, A Little Taste of Poison, in this series a year ago. It took me a while to get back to book one. I loved both books and think they are a great series. Having read book two first I had some ideas about this book. But that did not detract from the reading. I was introduced to R.J. Anderson and her works at a local book launch. I am very thankful for that. I have loved both books in this series, and hope there will be more. I am also looking forward to trying some of Anderson’s other writings. 

In some ways this book is a bleaker story than book two. For in this book after her father is accused of murder it seems like Isaveth and her sisters are on their own to fend against a world that dislikes them because they are poor, and because they are Moshite, a religious minority. But Isaveth is full of surprises. She is finding a strength inside herself that was not evident previously. She has strange encounter with Quiz, who appears to be a street kid who takes an interest in her, her family and her father’s plight. Soon the two of them are trapesing all over Tarreton to find out who really killed head master at the sage academy. 

This is a mystery story written in a world of magic. But there are two classes of citizens and two classes of magic. There is common magic and also sagery. It is a story with political intrigue, double dealing, and a bit of a family feud. It is very well written. Once I started reading this book I did not want to put it down. I loved reading about the brave Isaveth, her growing friendship with Quiz as she learns to trust, he maturity in trying to look after her sisters. And most of all her determination to get to the truth. I love reading books with strong female characters and look forward to reading them again with my daughters. This one has added to my reading list with my oldest for this year and in a few years with my youngest. 

In this series we have a world powered by magic, but there are two types of magic, common magic that is baked and can be used by almost anyone and sagery which works with charms and often only works for those who make it. This magic is used for heat, light, transportation and more. 

I loved this book and hope there will be more in the series. And the highest prase I can give to a children’s book, is my desire to read it with my children. This book scores top marks in that category. I look forward to reading other stories by Anderson, and I can highly recommend this book.

Books by R.J. Anderson:
Faery Rebels Series:
Knife
Rebel
Arrow

Ivy of the Delve Series:
Swift
Noman

Ultraviolet Series:
Ultraviolet
Quicksilver

Uncommon Magic Series:
A Pocket Full Of Murder
A Little Taste of Poison

Howard Wallace, P.I. - Casey Lyall - Howard Wallace, P.I. Book 1

Howard Wallace, P.I.
Howard Wallace, P.I. Book 1
Casey Lyall
Sterling Children's Books
ISBN 9781454919490
eISBN 9781454919957
ASIN B0751J58M5

I originally picked up a signed copy of this book at the book launch. But I struggle with getting around to reading physical books. It sat on my bed side table for a year and I picked it up a few times got through the first chapter and sat it down again. I so much prefer eBooks. When I bought the hard cover the eBook was not available.  I picked up the eBook edition a few days ago, and could not stop reading once I started. I ended up devouring the book in three sittings. And have already read a third of book two in the series before sitting down to write this review.

The writing in this book is very tight. It is a middle grade or tween read. But in many ways it reads like a young Spencer for Hire. Or like Mike Hammer in print. Reading this book took me back to my own days in school, but also when I was older and started watching detective TV shows with my father. I love the character’s, the setting and the pace in this novel. I have already told my oldest two children how much I loved it and why. My oldest and I have added it to our to be read list of books we read together. And my son has asked if we can read it after we finish our current book in The Great Mistake Mysteries from Sylvia McNicoll.

We have two main characters in this novel, to start the obvious Howard Wallace, who fancies himself a P.I. wears a bath robe as a trench coat. Chews gum, and often talks like he if from a classic movie or older TV show. And then we have Ivy mason, the new kid in town, her father is a cop, she is pretty smart and she wants in on this detective agency gig. The main mystery in this volume focuses around missing signed student council checks, and blackmail. Not only is the client being blackmailed but soon Howard is being threatened and his ‘office’ is ransacked a couple of times. And the tires on his old but faithful bike Big Blue get slashed. There is also some smaller cases on the go around this main investigation. We have some of the typical school cliques in this book, jocks (though on the periphery), student council, drama club, band kids. And some kids that are just trying to make it through primary school. It certainly is a lot of drams for some grade 7 and 8 students.

This is one of those books that I finally got around to reading that I really wish I had read earlier. There are so many people I would have recommended this book to over the last year. It is also great that Casey is a local author. Her live reading from the book at the launch was excellent. I can highly recommend this book and the series. At the end of this book is a plug for the second book. I really hope there will be more adventures of Wallace and Mason Investigations to come in the future.

Books by Casey Lyall:
Inky's Great Escape: The Incredible (and Mostly True) Story of an Octopus Escape
...

Howard Wallace, P.I. Series:
Howard Wallace, P.I.
Shadow of a Pug
Sabotage Stage Left
...

Gethsemani Abby A Photo Essay

Gethsemani Abby A Photo Essay

A number of years ago I had the chance to spend an afternoon at Gethsemani Abby. I would love to go back for a retreat some time. Here are a few of the pictures I took that day, in the fall of 2002.

Related Articles:
Thomas Merton, The Man, the Monk, on Monasticism
May Crowing, Mass and Merton: And Other Reasons I Love Being Catholic by Liz Kelly
The Wisdom of the Desert: by Thomas Merton

St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church Waterloo Ontario - A Photo Essay

St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church Waterloo

This was the parish I attended predominantly when a student at The University of Waterloo. It has changed a lot since these pictures were taken. The alter has been redone, marble flooring. icons. But these were the pictures I took back in the day. These photo's were all taken in the summer of 2002.

Other posts about Saint Michael:

St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church Waterloo Ontario - A Photo Essay

St. Michael The Archangel: History, Lent and Prayers - Maria Alinne Costa

Nine Days with Saint Michael - Andrew Offer, O.P. and Jonah Teller O.P.

Saint Michael the Archangel Through the Ages - Fr. Frederick Schmit O.Praem and Fr. Peregrine Fletcher O.Praem

…

Prayer of the Day Prayer to Saint Michael

Prayer of the Day A Litany of St. Michael  

Prayer of the Day Litany in Honour of St. Michael 

Prayer of the Day A Saint Michael Prayer

St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church Waterloo Ontario - A Photo Essay

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