tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38839700927653123182024-03-18T03:48:00.982-06:00fountains of homeLiving a life of faith overflowing with babies, books, laughter, and scattered thoughts.Christy from fountains of homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130888193737436970noreply@blogger.comBlogger672125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3883970092765312318.post-91175820864570947642018-12-04T14:48:00.003-07:002018-12-18T12:20:05.224-07:00Christmas Novels That Tell Good Stories<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3oKrg8YHuW2TqdnyQ_pnAVn1vTMwTacnH0XRWpXUvc2tKbMBQ7PoYn1sC1juhfQzpMuUSOyv5jTZw6CLyxESCjD58eSmtO2mN2lLPtD8BSDhkt1FlAd80xHdzZLIG5tHQahIrZYldTrs/s1600/christmasbooks.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3oKrg8YHuW2TqdnyQ_pnAVn1vTMwTacnH0XRWpXUvc2tKbMBQ7PoYn1sC1juhfQzpMuUSOyv5jTZw6CLyxESCjD58eSmtO2mN2lLPtD8BSDhkt1FlAd80xHdzZLIG5tHQahIrZYldTrs/s640/christmasbooks.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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I have to admit I'm not a big Hallmark Christmas movie fan. I just can't get past the excessive cheese. Or the bad acting. Or the terrible writing.<br />
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But I get why people love them - because they're cozy, and conjure up those feelings of the holidays which make us all feel so great. So in my effort to make myself feel as cozy and festive as I can without the use of Hallmark movies, I've tried to read some cozy and festive books!<br />
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I read all these books last December when I realized that I owned a bunch of books that took place around Christmas but had been saving to read. Once I started I had to keep the streak alive so I took some flyers on some other titles and some recommendations from friends. It turned out to be just what I needed to enter the holiday season while I was personally going through some difficult things. Escapist reading can be really therapeutic!<br />
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I think this list has something for everyone so I hope one of these books will make your holidays brighter this month.<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Birds-Air-Common-Reader-Editions/dp/188817384X/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1543958580&sr=8-2&keywords=the+birds+of+the+air+alice+thomas+ellis&linkCode=li2&tag=fountainsofcarrots-20&linkId=8c44610a2cec7e580cbda13fe87e6712&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=188817384X&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=fountainsofcarrots-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=fountainsofcarrots-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=188817384X" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<b><a href="https://amzn.to/2KWs2JG" target="_blank"><i>The Birds of the Air</i> by Alice Thomas Ellis</a></b><br />
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This novel of a woman who's grieving the death of her son while she celebrates Christmas dinner with her mother and sundry guests sounds as if it would be a downer. But Ellis has such a unique writing voice and style that she brings about a profound vision of life through her often biting wit and observation of the ordinary. If you're dealing with some big stuff while feeling like everyone else is having a postcard holiday this book is for you, the beauty of Christmas seeps through even the most difficult of seasons.<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Half-Sick-Shadows-Flavia-Luce-Mystery/dp/0385344023/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1543958723&sr=8-1&keywords=i+am+half+sick+of+shadows&linkCode=li2&tag=fountainsofcarrots-20&linkId=41441bb668e24101d8d6d90369d533a8&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0385344023&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=fountainsofcarrots-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=fountainsofcarrots-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=0385344023" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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<b><a href="https://amzn.to/2E1DL8v" target="_blank"><i>I Am Half-Sick of Shadows </i>by Alan Bradley</a></b><br />
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A Flavia deLuce mystery which if you know me, you know I'm always up for. This was one that I had been saving on my shelf and it really is the perfect cozy read. (I do think that the coziest of books are English manor mysteries, however.) These mysteries centre around the main character who's a precocious, murder solving, chemistry loving, 12 year old who lives in an old English manor so these are never dark and depressing. This story brings the entire town plus a film crew to Buckshaw. Flavia has to solve a murder while trying to trap St. Nick on the roof on Christmas Eve, so there's a lot of fun in the solving.<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Comfort-Joy-Novel-Kristin-Hannah/dp/0345483790/ref=as_li_ss_il?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1543958803&sr=8-3&linkCode=li2&tag=fountainsofcarrots-20&linkId=3ad69e12d16ebb7f572b8882f0e2d410&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0345483790&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=fountainsofcarrots-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=fountainsofcarrots-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=0345483790" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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<b><a href="https://amzn.to/2zGYGuJ" target="_blank"><i>Comfort & Joy </i>by Kristin Hannah</a></b><br />
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I know Kristin Hannah has a DEVOTED fan base, but I always like to point out that she got her start writing romance novels. This is a sweet romance that doesn't get too racy and has an element of amnesia which helps it feel a bit more substantial than a Hallmark movie. Hannah draws two random characters together while putting them in a "festive" setting to make you want to keep turning the pages to see if they couple will get together in time for Christmas. A light read if you're looking for something to fit in on a flight or road trip this Christmas vacation, but definitely not something that's well written - full disclosure!<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Winter-Solstice-Rosamunde-Pilcher/dp/125007746X/ref=as_li_ss_il?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1543958882&sr=8-2&linkCode=li2&tag=fountainsofcarrots-20&linkId=18b6691cc8a6c7ca2447bb06d3b19d2a&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=125007746X&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=fountainsofcarrots-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=fountainsofcarrots-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=125007746X" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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<b><a href="https://amzn.to/2PgaUiV" target="_blank"><i>Winter Solstice </i>by Rosamunde Pilcher</a></b><br />
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Every once in a while you need to read an old lady novel. I firmly believe this to be true, and Rosamund Pilcher always delivers. This story brings together two older characters, one of whom has lost his wife and daughter. The two set up a house for the winter in Scotland and strangers become friends as they help others and themselves heal from devastating losses.<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Party-Seasonal-Mystery-Envious/dp/1492644706/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1543958942&sr=8-6&keywords=a+christmas+party&linkCode=li2&tag=fountainsofcarrots-20&linkId=c6b938c9dd68839e1b1c464d872f87d9&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1492644706&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=fountainsofcarrots-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=fountainsofcarrots-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=1492644706" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2zDErxS" target="_blank"><b><i>A Christmas Party </i>by Georgette Heyer</b></a><br />
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A mystery by Georgette Heyer who we all know and love for her regency novels. This novel hits all the cozy marks for taking place in an English country house in the 30's over Christmas, and no one can leave because everyone's a suspect! While I thought this moved fairly slowly for a mystery, it did have an atmospheric quality that's festive even though murder is involved.<br />
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<b>And a bonus non-fiction pick:</b><br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Man-Who-Invented-Christmas-Dickenss/dp/0307405796/ref=as_li_ss_il?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1543959015&sr=8-3&linkCode=li2&tag=fountainsofcarrots-20&linkId=f09e71c675f5a0618af5a2be41b1349b&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0307405796&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=fountainsofcarrots-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=fountainsofcarrots-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=0307405796" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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<b><a href="https://amzn.to/2rm5vxa" target="_blank"><i>The Man Who Invented Christmas: How Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol Rescued His Career and Revived Our Holiday Spirits</i> by Lee Standiford</a></b><br />
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A nonfiction book on Dickens and his writing of A Christmas Carol was perfect for me who eats up biographies of authors. I enjoyed learning the fun tidbits like Dickens was going broke and really needed to make some quick money, and the immense cultural impact this story had upon publication. A short read, just like the classic story it pulls the curtain back on.<br />
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Hope these reads bring you a very, merry Christmas!<br />
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<i>follow along:</i><br />
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<i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/FountainsOfHome">facebook</a> ~ <a href="http://instagram.com/ciaochristy">instagram</a> ~ <a href="http://pinterest.com/ChristyIsinger">pinterest</a></i>Christy from fountains of homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130888193737436970noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3883970092765312318.post-64032675178217513322018-07-06T11:15:00.002-06:002018-07-06T11:15:29.615-06:00Seven Quick Takes and some catching up!<br />
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And suddenly it's been more than a month since I posted anything! That means it <a href="http://www.thisaintthelyceum.org/" target="_blank">7QT time with the Kelly MToan!</a><br />
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<b>Let's do some catching up! </b></div>
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Hope your June was as beautiful as mine! I don't know if it has to do with getting older and wiser and appreciating time flying by at the speed of sound, but I seem to really appreciate the seasons more and more with each passing year. Our spring was of course, too fast and almost got missed completely as we went from having a foot of snow on the ground to 85 degree temperatures within a few weeks. But the warmth and long days are not going by unnoticed by me! I can ignore many snowy days, but spring and summer days I legally obligated to notice. </div>
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<b>June was a packed month</b>, just like May was, with activities of every kid, family gatherings and sacraments on every weekend(ok, that last part was just May). We spent a couple days in the mountains and with friends on a little holiday which was lovely. The kids had a great time even though we made them hike multiple days in a row and got to enjoy the city, the zoo, and the circus! </div>
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So far travelling with my children has evolved to alternating between "Traveling with kids is so great, they love seeing new things, show all the people that kids can travel to!" and "Why on God's green earth can we not even buy ice cream for less than $100! And could you all just be quiet!" But this is all an improvement to my previous thinking of having to be in the same car and then hotel room with all my children for days on end as unthinkable torture. So. Baby steps, guys.</div>
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<b>Which is my way of making the official</b> announcement that in the fall we're going to be going out of the country for the first time with everyone to go to...Disneyland! Trust me, I never thought I'd be saying those words either. Because before kids I thought people who took their kids to Disneyland were selling their children to the corporate machine in order to stand for hours for overrated rides. Oh, how the tables have turned.</div>
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Things just all pointed to doing this thing this year. And I will probably survive. We're going to the park for three days and then spending a couple more days in California. It'll be a huge deal as no one has been on a plane before and it's one of their collective dreams. We also haven't told any of the kids yet, mainly because I just can't imagine having the next four months of my life dealing with how long till Disneyland questions! </div>
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I'm fairly sure none of them read my blog.</div>
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<b>Luke celebrated his First Holy Communion</b> in May and it was a lovely day and beautiful occasion. I can't believe three of my kids have already had their first communion. I distinctly remember having the thought when Gemma was a baby that it was practically decades before I would be celebrating, preparing, and seeing her receive her first communion. And now three. We've got a two year break till our next sacramental child! </div>
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<b>Since its Summer, Glorious Summer</b> I've been trying to change up our daily routine as much as possible. I used to think year round schooling was the bomb, but I've come to realize I need a complete break where I don't even think about school for a good two months of the year. I just like the complete freedom to not have a long list of School Things I Need To Make Sure Get Done and just have the regular mom list of Things I Need To Make Sure Get Done. To the untrained eye it looks like not so big a deal, but to the homeschooler of more than one child it's a giant difference! I think it's a general challenge for homeschool moms to differentiate the seasons. I want my summer to feel somewhat summer like, so that means less schedule, more reading, more doing things that I've let get to the bottom of my list, and generally letting the kids go their merry way and for the love to stop fighting. The kids still are reading everyday, doing some science, and of course we're still doing read aloud time because THAT'S MAH THANG. (I need a way of saying that so it doesn't make me sound like a giant loser.) Other than that the kids are obviously outside 500% more than winter and I spend most of the day asking where's soandso?? Which is a nice change from, "Why hasn't Soandso done their spelling? And where's your handwriting page I asked you to do three hours ago?" </div>
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<b>I wanted to give an update</b> on house stuff I've done lately, and then I realized that I've done nothing lately! Which has been a nice change. But then last week the septic backed up AGAIN in the one room of our basement and I literally wanted to burn down my house. I spent the entire day mopping, disinfecting, and disinfecting again because it was a nightmare. We ended up having to rip up a good chunk of carpet because it was unsalvageable, and it's not a huge loss because the carpet is tragically old and I'm fairly emotionally detached from the basement in general, but now we have flooring questions for the basement which I'm trying to summon the will to deal with. </div>
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Last week I got to be part of a Q&A panel with Matt Fradd and Jason Evert at a Catholic conference and it turned out to be a lot of fun. It was nice to have a casual atmosphere to talk with big speakers and hear their answers to various questions. I hope that I seemed relatively coherent when I answered a few questions but who knows! These things always feel like a blur and I lose all memory of what I actually said -- which is probably for the best!</div>
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Hope you all have a wonderful summer weekend! </div>
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Christy from fountains of homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130888193737436970noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3883970092765312318.post-35568672473836658362018-05-23T11:48:00.000-06:002018-05-24T13:31:21.547-06:00On the Royal Wedding and Longing for Tradition <br />
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You know I love royalty. I was born with both British and monarchist blood flowing through my veins. My family never turned their noses up to the latest tabloid scandals afflicting Charles, Diana, and Fergie while I was growing up. Opinions were expressed about the royals as if they were neighbours down the street whose lives actually affected ours, who needed our personal advice. I have an almost endless fascination with the royal family, but also carry a large dose of cynicism. I don't idolize them and I know that they are fully human and have a lot of not-so-great qualities. I understand that just as the rest of the world have given into modernity and its casting away of moral and cultural restraints, so too has the royal family of Britain.<br />
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Needless to say of course I watched the royal wedding of this past weekend, I DVRed all six hours of live coverage, I suffered through so much mindless commentary, and I also loved seeing the beauty of a wedding take place in such a historic setting. Like everyone else in the world, I found the romance was impossible to turn away from. There's also the fairy tale motif of the American girl becoming a princess which is so attractive, but I think there's a bit more to why so many were enthralled with this matrimonial pageant.<br />
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I think people are attracted to the <b>tradition</b> of the pageantry, the wedding service itself, and the host of other royal trappings that surround a royal wedding. We may joke about it, approach the whole thing as if the royal family are stuffy and out of touch, but we can't deny that they've hung on to traditions like no one else. We're a tradition starved world that is drawn to tradition, if only to gawk.<br />
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For the past couple of hundred or so years there has been an almost ceaseless campaign to eradicate tradition, solely because it is tradition. The value of something being passed on from another generation is not simply rejected it's completely denied and abhorred. We've severed tradition and any passing on of wisdom or custom from one generation to the next with remarkable success.<br />
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But we can't completely disregard that human longing for what has passed, to reflect on history and it's meaning, to carry on what our grandparents once did. We long for the connection to people who have lived before us. It is very much a spiritual connection with spiritual effects. As our world has gotten more and more materialistic and denied more and more of the eternal and unseen realities, we act as if there is no meaning from the lives of those who lived before us. Ceremonies, traditional language and liturgy have all but been exterminated from our regular lives. What institutions can we say carry on much tradition from the past?<br />
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The longing for tradition is similar to the longing for true beauty, for beauty that isn't defined by trends, likes, and tweets. Objective beauty stands the test of time and penetrates the souls of people separated by centuries. Queen Victoria's children were baptized in St. George's chapel at Windsor in the same place Harry and Meghan stood this weekend and I can bet that their guests were equally awed by the surrounding beauty as Oprah.<br />
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We long for tradition and beauty just like we long for the transcendent. It is facet of how we were created. I think our world is desperate for tradition when so many things feel topsy-turvy and out of control. What I'm not sure the world is aware of is that tradition has meaning, and it's meaning points to so much more than dresses, titles, and a picture perfect wedding. Tradition points to the fullness of humanity; of being connected to those who've lived before you, the wisdom, knowledge, faith and custom that those who have lived before you, and most importantly the reality that we are not simply made for this world.<br />
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Christy from fountains of homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130888193737436970noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3883970092765312318.post-50182972056703648702018-04-06T13:50:00.000-06:002018-04-06T13:50:03.667-06:00Seven Quick Takes, bb <br />
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<a href="http://www.thisaintthelyceum.org/" target="_blank">Hi, Kelly</a>!<br />
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That's it. I need to do some quick takes. I am fiercely loyal to Seven Quick Takes and I wish I could do them every week. It's also beens so long since I've blogged that I feel like I should have a grand post here instead of just ramblings, but too bad, I can't wait any longer for real inspiration to strike! Seven Quick Takes needs me!</div>
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Guys, I know I complain about the weather. A lot. I mean, it's somewhat of a hobby at this point. But I sincerely wish to revoke all previous complaints so I can allocate them to this truly, terrible, God-forsaken "spring" we're having. We've honestly had probably 3 days of real melting. It was -27 when my husband went to work this morning on April 6. There is still a good three feet of iced, blown over, crackling banks of snow in the fields with no bare ground even visible! And it would be almost tolerable if the long term forecast had predicted temperatures above 10 degrees in the next two weeks, but no, we're going to be lucky if it gets above freezing and we'll probably have more snow. It's just too much. Shoot me now!</div>
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March seemed to go by in a flurry of different things this year. I was working on various projects that had to get done, we had birthday parties, Holy Week, I did a modicum of spring cleaning because I truly haven't cleaned much all winter, and we started painting our main floor. It went by quickly which was good because....the weather!</div>
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I got shamelessly sucked into the new cult documentary series on Netflix called Wild Wild Country this week. I almost appreciate the wackiness of the cult more than the production value of the documentary, but the filmmaking is just really good. Cults are crazy, but endlessly fascinating. It's just really a blatant example of how humans are religious creatures who honestly can worship pretty much anything. We always think the Israelites in the desert were so dumb for worshiping that golden bull, but cults...they don't have a lot of substance for the amount of worship they illicit either.</div>
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I've also been trying to catch up on my reading because March sucked up all my reading time, but I still somehow managed to start new books so I'm reading approximately 6 books right now. That's too much even for me. I feel like I need about 4 solid days of reading to get things under control! Not that 4 straight days of reading is a remote possibility or anything...</div>
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Easter this year was a lot of fun even if it was under a lot of snow and colder than Christmas was this past year. I remember that Easter and holidays in general really used to stress me out for some reason. I just always was worried I wasn't doing things the right way, and wondered if all the extended family thought they were getting their time, and if my kids were going to be happy with what was in their Easter baskets, and were we doing enough traditions and going to enough liturgies and did I make enough desserts! It just felt like so much and it felt so important because it was a special holiday and I felt stressed about the whole thing. Which isn't really like me to be stressed out about non-life-threatening issues, but it just did! But the past couple years, maybe having bigger kids, have just felt easier and much more relaxing. I do really hate change and really love routine, so now that we've got more holiday rhythms things seem so much easier. </div>
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This Easter week has been hard to get back into the swing of things. I'm fairly confident it's a symptom of extreme cabin fever and the fact we've been around each other in close confines without the ability to just get outside in so long, but it has been a struggle. Just my lack of patience and frustration with what seems like the endless repeating of the same things every. single. day. can get me down. I know it's a part of motherhood, but a very big part of me just wishes for that breakthrough where kids just got through that somehow huge hurdle where they could just GET stuff without me repeating it day in, day out ad nauseam. It's a motherhood struggle. Here's hoping for a relaxing weekend! </div>
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Christy from fountains of homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130888193737436970noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3883970092765312318.post-78401684917412216922018-02-19T11:15:00.000-07:002018-02-19T11:15:15.712-07:00The February Post<br />
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Oh, February.<br />
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A time for questioning. A time for contemplation.<br />
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Like questioning why I don't work full time. Why I continue to live in the actual boonies. Why people ever settled in this winter wasteland. You know, just the little questions.<br />
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Because February is rough.<br />
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I can't speak for you, but for some reason, be it the weeks on end of extreme cold, the tiny house I live in with my own offspring who in their own right are irritable and frustrated at constant confinement, and the always being around said offspring with the homeschooling business, February seems ridiculously hard.<br />
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It probably isn't the hardest winter I've experienced, but it does feel eternal when the temperatures haven't felt above -10C for the complete calendar month. It's sorta like a marathon of days after days looking the same, feeling the same, and people getting more and more on your nerves. A mental olympics for which there is no winner!<br />
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The perspective is that it does eventually end. Even though I can't realistically imagine it. It would be really nice if it ends by Easter...but I can't get my hopes up because we had snow for all of April last year...and I'm still feeling the effects/traumatized!<br />
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Difficult seasons for me can take on a very literal meaning. It is hard to keep going and plugging along when you know there is not quick fix in sight. There's no way of rushing spring or cold weather along. And that all goes exactly contrary to the very human desire to hurry the bad stuff up and stop languishing in the hard.<br />
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I'm getting older and maybe a bit better at realizing that we don't have to fix things or rush things or conquer difficult seasons. Firstly, because it's usually completely out of our control, but also because it's a part of life. Our human powers can't make things completely easy just be willing it enough or working hard enough. Difficult seasons are simply a fact.<br />
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Which isn't to say we can't get better at dealing with the difficult, at offering up our suffering, at changing our attitudes to embrace the hard. But that doesn't change that the hard is there and to be lived. It's just that slice of life we wish we could shrug off, which our culture and every social media channel tells us we need to ignore and/or conquer with positive thinking.<br />
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Difficult seasons happen. Our lives are composed of difficult and easier seasons and we've got to hold on to the fact that even in those difficult times when we feel bleak and frozen that we're still alive underneath it all. And hopefully will come back to life again in the spring.<br />
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Christy from fountains of homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130888193737436970noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3883970092765312318.post-79492398750553970232018-01-31T13:47:00.000-07:002018-01-31T13:47:38.048-07:00My best piece of self-care advice<br />
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I've got some words to say about self-care. And quite possibly my number one tip when it comes to self-care. The number one, easiest, most impactful piece of advice! My life changing piece of advice. Because I think we tend to talk about "self-care" as some vague term that means only big things and not simple daily practices that better our mental health. I want to stick to the simple and practical. But first, walk with me back in time. (insert wavy lines across the screen now)<br />
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I had 5 kids in less than six years. I had a brief couple months in between all five where I wasn't pregnant and/or nursing. There were constant diapers, bottles, naps, diapers, messes, and diapers. It was a constant barrage of needs to be met and lots of crying from kids and myself. Those days are really blurry and as difficult as they were, I really learnt a heck of a lot about myself and my husband in those difficult times. I had patches of postpartum depression and anxiety, and at times felt positively drowning and that my life would only and forever be overwhelming. It's not a great mental space. But this is what happens when human beings are in stressful situations, and raising five mini-humans is a stressful situation.<br />
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Because our life felt like it was hurtling along at 100 mph with babies coming every year my husband and I talked about our mental health often, if only to check in to make sure our heads were above water. But we learned very quickly that neither of us could handle the stress by ourselves, without talking it through with each other, and asking for support from each other. A couple of kids in when I felt like all I did was change diapers, feed, and soothe babies my husband realized that for the sake of my sanity we had to plan time for me to get out of the house. He realized the need and firmly told me that was what was happening even when I made excuse after excuse about babies needing me and being exhausted. So I would leave the house every week if I could for an afternoon, and sometimes every two weeks, but it was a standing thing that had to happen. Because it happened and I made it through a stressful, and very demanding time without completely losing my mind or myself.<br />
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It wasn't every day, it was every so often, sometimes for longer, sometimes for shorter. But I'm telling you, getting time for yourself is the biggest and best thing you can do for your mental health. Right now. Today. No matter what season you're in.<br />
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We've all been in times of survival mode where self care can't happen for whatever reason, but the first step to getting out of survival mode is to carve time for yourself to be alone. You can't get a mental break when someone is asking for something every five minutes. You don't recharge your own batteries by hiding in the bathroom while the kids watch Paw Patrol. You can't realize what would truly be live giving self-care if you don't even have time to realize what you personally need because you're always on baby duty.<br />
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<b>Sometimes you don't know how much you need time alone if you've gone too long without it. </b><br />
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If you're feeling at lose ends, like you don't know how to fix issues with your marriage or family or how to reignite the passions you had prior to having kids, it may be because you never have time alone to even fully ruminate on these very important things. Having that time for yourself creates space where you can begin to figure these things out. It allows you to listen to what your own needs might be, how to best meet them, what areas of your life need work and addressing, and maybe more opportunities to look at your life a bit more objectively rather than in the emotional throes of witching hour when the whole world feels like it's falling down around you.<br />
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I know some moms feel that in order to be a "super mom" or even a "good mom" that that means being available to their children all. the. time. But would we ask any other person of any other profession or vocation to never have time alone? Would we ask our parish priest to not even take an hour out of his daily schedule for himself? Do we think that people who work full time should come home from dinner and immediately get back to work with only intermittent breaks for sleep during the night? Then why as moms who are truly working 24/7, being completely emotionally and physically available to their babies and children think that they don't need time alone? We need to recognize that that mindset is deeply unhealthy and detrimental not only to our own mental health, but to our children, to our marriage, to the way we live our lives.<br />
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I want this advice to be simple. Find alone time for yourself. It may be before the kids wake up if you have an extremely active lifestyle or are blessed to be a morning person. It may be when kids nap simultaneously. It may be after your husband gets home from work before the kids go to bed. It may be after the kids go to bed. Find what time best works for you and your family. If your husband really and truly can't give you half an hour to an hour kid free because he's superman or some equivalent, don't feel guilty about asking for some babysitting time from family and friends, or just a regular ol' paid one, and spending that time not on errands and grocery shopping, but yourself. (Unless grocery shopping is deeply restoring for you, in which case you're probably a hero who doesn't need any of my advice!)<br />
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Also, this time you spend alone has to be spent doing what you want. Not what you need to do, not what you "should" do. Spend it blissfully bingeing The Crown. Spend it with a book. Spend it running or taking a gym class. Spend it alone at a coffee shop with tea, or strolling the aisles of Target. Don't forget to give yourself the gift of going out for lunch by yourself - that can change your damn life!<br />
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It can be out of the home or can be in your home. Just make it uninterrupted time, alone. It doesn't have to happen every day, but it does have to happen consistently and as often as possible. I think the most important step in trying to make big life changes like crawling out of survival mode begins with committing to small changes in our routine. Especially as moms, I think one of the biggest aspects of our lives for better or worse is our routines and how we utilize them. We aren't out of control of our lives just because we have small kids, we're still in control but change comes in little steps.<br />
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Just humour me if you don't think this one step will change your life. Commit to it for a week or two and see if you notice changes in how you feel, in how you think, in how happy you are. Let me be your life coach!<br />
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Christy from fountains of homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130888193737436970noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3883970092765312318.post-16680533773524461392018-01-18T13:38:00.001-07:002018-01-18T13:38:35.436-07:00Living off the grid - time wise<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've been thinking lately how my daily routine as an at home mom has changed over the years. And it has changed a lot over the years but at the same time it hasn't. I sometimes have deep questioning thoughts if I'm a truly boring person who abhors change, or if I'm using routine because that's life with a bunch of kids.<br />
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I think I question because, frankly, I live really oddly. Living in a rural area and homeschooling means I don't actually even see a town some days. I don't have to get kids to school, I don't have to pick them up. I don't run errands, I don't hop in the car to grab coffee or see people. Which I'm sure makes me seem like a complete anti-social hermit. I get out of my house by walking down the road every day I don't go to town/the city to see my parents.<br />
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My schedule isn't made by anything outside of my own home and mostly, me. I'm the boss of me! I decide when I get up, when my kids get up, when school and sit down work gets done, what activities we go to and when, and usually when choosing these things they fit into my general routine. As in we focus on school most every morning barring a weird doctors appointment, make most activities fit into afternoons, and if not we have the flexibility to work other things around to make the things that don't fit perfectly work. I choose how to spend my time after I've dealt with school and kids. I decide when to cook and eat dinner. There are short periods of time where things get disrupted for one thing or another and I can feel the difference and stress it creates. I feel maxed out and rushed, but at the same time very unproductive.<br />
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Obviously I'm only speaking for me and my own weird existence, but whether it's from living this way for so long or not, I feel like I would really not enjoy living according to outside schedules. I mean, I would have to adapt, and I know I could do it, but I really don't want to! And I mean this in a very general way, because we all have appointments, and Mass, and activities, and meetings and lots of things that we have to show up for at certain times, but not having the daily rhythm of my day determined by outside factors is pretty swell.<br />
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But that's so odd! I'm so weird! It's so distinctly un-modern and uncommon. As a society we're so used to being told what to do, where to go, and when to be there. Which happens for very important reasons, but have we thought about the overreach of them all in our lives that much? Do we ever question "school" and work and the myriad of things we think we have to do? We really do have control over our own time.<br />
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I think I partly took to routine and making sure I'm making choices of how and when I fit all the things of life into my day because I had a bunch of babies in a short amount of time! Babies and their routines make you figure out that there should be a routine to your day, that you function better if you sleep, eat, and play on a regular schedule. As an adult this is still true. And as the adult of a bunch of babies, your way of survival is to get all babies on the same routine as to not lose your mind completely. As the fiftieth caveat of this short post; of course my babies weren't perfectly scheduled every day of their life, but the general rhythm of routine in our days was something that over time I learned really helped everyone including myself. Knowing that most days I'd have nap times to get a little time for myself was hugely relieving. Knowing that when babies woke up, I would nurse, then they would play put in perspective that their needs needed to be met before mine. And the list goes on and on.<br />
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I would never tell anyone to live as weirdly as I do. But I do think that intentionally looking at how we spend our time and how to use it valuably for ourselves; what we want to spend our time on, instead of the other way around and being forced to live in the leftovers of time the outside world dictates, can change our perspectives on how we're living our lives.<br />
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Christy from fountains of homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130888193737436970noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3883970092765312318.post-38997067836982747742018-01-03T12:22:00.003-07:002018-01-03T12:22:28.828-07:00Hello 2018<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #111111; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: nowrap;">Photo by </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/MVriaJOjgp8?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #999999; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start; transition: color 0.2s ease-in-out, opacity 0.2s ease-in-out; white-space: nowrap;">Sam Beasley</a><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #111111; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: nowrap;"> on </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #999999; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start; transition: color 0.2s ease-in-out, opacity 0.2s ease-in-out; white-space: nowrap;">Unsplash</a></span></div>
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I'm alive, but Blogger doesn't know it and asked me for my password. Which felt so uncomfortable. Like seeing an old high school acquaintance in a crowded bar, you should know them and they should know you, but you both don't really want to dredge up ancient history.<br />
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Thankfully, Google, unlike deadbeat high school friends, remembers your password, or at least resends it to you when you forget.<br />
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I feel like I forget how to blog to be quite honest. Which also feels kinda crumby because I think I used to be good at it. I definitely have always enjoyed it. And somehow in all the busy-ness I've let this drop which was not intentional. I am definitely a creature of habit so once I was out of the habit of blogging it seemed so impossible to pick up again. I've never had a sole purpose to the blog other than it for me to be an outlet to post whatever I want, whenever I want. I'm not a good documenter of everything my family does, and I hope my children's memories suffice. In these post-blog days we're not really defined by "niche" or "audience" or "sponsorships" much. Which is all alright for me, because I really just enjoy the practice of writing, the exchange of thoughts and lives of other women online. You're all a treasure for reading!<br />
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I've been busy elsewhere doing fun, creative "work" that really brings me life that I'm so grateful for. I love <a href="http://www.fountainsofcarrots.com/" target="_blank">podcasting</a>. I love writing and contributing to <a href="http://www.blessedisshe.net/" target="_blank">Blessed is She</a>. They've both been richly rewarding for the amount of time I put in, which at times is definitely not as much as I wish I could put it.<br />
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But 2018, I'm going to blog. It might not be often, or earth-shattering, or well-curated, but dang it, it's going to be published. And if that's not a rousing endorsement to follow the heck out of this space, then you're a far more discerning reader than I!<br />
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Christy from fountains of homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130888193737436970noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3883970092765312318.post-36522305753643833172017-08-01T11:10:00.002-06:002017-08-01T11:10:36.259-06:00Blessed is She Blessed Conversations Study Guides<br />
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I'm so excited to share with you a project I worked on a few months ago with the lovely Blessed is She team - <a href="https://blessedisshe.net/shop/" target="_blank">the Blessed Conversations study guides</a>. These guides are short, but deep dives into the Catechism on various topics of the Faith that are meant to bring you and your small group, large group, couple of girlfriends closer together in great discussion.<br />
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I contributed the reflections for <a href="https://blessedisshe.net/product/blessed-conversations-ten-commandments/" target="_blank">the guide on the Ten Commandments</a> and boy, did it challenge me as a writer and a daughter of God to explore what the Ten Commandments mean for us on a daily basis. The Catechism offers so much wisdom into what the Ten Commandments mean for us as Christians and I was surprised to learn how many aspects of our life the Catechism explores through the lens of the Commandments. I really hope that this guide helps you to understand that the Ten Commandments are foundational to our lives and part of God's direct word to us in how to live.<br />
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The guides are downloadable so the price point stays low and you can print them off at your convenience, and you can also choose between the different guides as to what best appeals to your group of ladies. I think these guides will give so much to groups that are already formed, but also a great way to start a group if you aren't in one already.<br />
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Hope you can jump over to <a href="https://blessedisshe.net/shop/" target="_blank">Blessed is She</a> and grab a guide for yourself and your small group today!<br />
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Christy from fountains of homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130888193737436970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3883970092765312318.post-57346401308185209452017-06-21T11:24:00.004-06:002017-06-21T11:30:49.345-06:00What I've Been Reading Lately (or six months ago) <br />
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I desperately need to get to my quick book reviews because I'm about 30 books behind! But on the other hand...blog post material! Have you read any of these? Am I nuts? Let me know all your bookish thoughts.<br />
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<i><a href="https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01A5VQUKM/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=B01A5VQUKM&linkCode=as2&tag=fountofhome-20&linkId=c69871b9eeeb792d39f77bf7ae0b32bb" target="_blank">Today Will Be Different</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=fountofhome-20&l=am2&o=15&a=B01A5VQUKM" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> </i>by Maria Semple<br />
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This book didn't land for me, and I'm still trying to pinpoint why exactly. It's written in the same quick, witty style as Semple's first novel, <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B006L8942U/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=B006L8942U&linkCode=as2&tag=fountofhome-20&linkId=1ac53009609cfb74dd93314684c3f202" target="_blank"><i>Where'd You Go, Bernadette</i></a>, which I enjoyed so much. It tells the story of one day in the life of a Seattle woman, her family quirks are delved into, a funny child comes along for the ride, and a marital mystery is solved. But for some reason this story didn't feel as emotionally poignant or compelling as <i>Bernadette</i>. I didn't love the anti-Catholic jibes on every other page, and I'm just not sure how I should feel about the ending. I just feel conflicted about the entire book and I'm not sure why!<br />
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<a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51T5F%2B9DUuL._SX327_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="329" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51T5F%2B9DUuL._SX327_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0140143505/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=0140143505&linkCode=as2&tag=fountofhome-20&linkId=27dddbf3bec66dc1836e189903d7e961" target="_blank"><i>84, Charing Cross Road</i></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=fountofhome-20&l=am2&o=15&a=0140143505" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> by Helene Hanff<br />
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This is a slim book compiled of the letters between a book buyer and a book seller separated by the Atlantic. It's perfectly charming and the fact it's the real letters between two people make it even more enjoyable. I just love books of letters, I love the by-gone culture of letter writing, and I definitely love buying books so I loved this book. If you're not a lover of any of those things though, I'm pretty sure you wouldn't love it as much.<br />
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<a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41oCFZg5sDL._SX318_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="320" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41oCFZg5sDL._SX318_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="205" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0141198990/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=0141198990&linkCode=as2&tag=fountofhome-20&linkId=f998ab94a8d847b1f2e87a2525111b8a" target="_blank"><i>The Warden</i></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=fountofhome-20&l=am2&o=15&a=0141198990" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> by Anthony Trollope<br />
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My Trollope book of 2016, it was a often times hilarious introduction to the Barcetshire chronicles, Trollope's masterpiece series. Trollope is an acquired taste. Or maybe not so much acquired, but a practiced taste. He's so rich in societal commentary, character studies, and witticisms that reading his books is worth it. But it does take time to get used to the Victorian prose, the lengthy development of plot, and being transported to another world. Now I want to go read more Trollope.<br />
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<a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51g3d3qpFAL._SX318_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="320" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51g3d3qpFAL._SX318_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="205" /></a></div>
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<i><a href="https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/160945233X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=160945233X&linkCode=as2&tag=fountofhome-20&linkId=9865255a47951d573ed40d9d59466892" target="_blank">Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay</a> </i>by Elena Ferrante<br />
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The third instalment of the Neapolitan Novels, this book was intense. I still don't know if I should be making judgements on the characters yet, but I found this novel to be so packed with emotion and conflict on so many levels it really held my attention. I totally get why these novels aren't some readers cup of tea, but to me they are just un-put-down-able. I'm even putting off reading the last book because I don't want them to end somehow, maybe for fear of being disappointed that all this complex story telling will have an unsatisfying ending. I'll let you know!<br />
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<a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41%2BJKpNXNJL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="307" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41%2BJKpNXNJL.jpg" width="196" /></a></div>
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<i><a href="https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00GVFY0WM/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=B00GVFY0WM&linkCode=as2&tag=fountofhome-20&linkId=e71a1e4b43049813407536fbd70c9781" target="_blank">Bury Your Dead</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=fountofhome-20&l=am2&o=15&a=B00GVFY0WM" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> </i>by Louise Penny<br />
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The sixth book in the series and I think the novel that I enjoyed the most. The setting of Quebec City was so perfectly set that I loved each scene. I also thought that structurally this is Penny's finest work in the series yet. The only negative comment I would add is that I feel Penny's Canadian history is pretty biased and it stuck out to me like a sore thumb within the story. But the pacing was perfectly done, an almost-perfect mystery!<br />
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<i>This was quick. I'm going to post more soon! Until then I'm linking this up with <a href="http://modernmrsdarcy.com/quick-lit-june-2017/" target="_blank">Modern Mrs Darcy and Quick Lit!</a></i><br />
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<i>follow along:</i><br />
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<span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 193px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 90px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 193px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 90px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 193px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 90px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 193px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 90px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span>Christy from fountains of homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130888193737436970noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3883970092765312318.post-19133322156076910962017-06-16T12:26:00.004-06:002017-06-16T12:33:04.608-06:00Seven Quick Takes vol. 159<br />
After a long absence, I'm hitting the SQT's hard with <a href="http://www.thisaintthelyceum.org/" target="_blank">Kelly</a>.<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Been painting my front door!</span></i></div>
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<b>Well, two months really goes quickly doesn't it guys?</b></div>
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It's been over two months since I've blogged and it feel like a blur because things have been so busy. </div>
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Here's a quick catch up for you though: April was a big, fat mess of weather. So much snow over Easter, it never left, I was such a complaining basket case I wouldn't let myself blog at all because I was so negative. </div>
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May: We did a million things, birthdays, travelled, sucked up the finally snow-less weather.</div>
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June: Soccer practices, extra games, fun things on every weekend, it's half over and I could cry!</div>
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<b>But what really impacted</b> my very limited time to scribble and type up some bloggity blog business was an extra writing project I was working on. It still shocks me how little spare time I have until I try to take on even one more extra, not that big, project. I really enjoyed the writing though once I got into the swing of writing more often and under a deadline. </div>
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In further shocking news I was asked to speak at an NFP fundraiser dinner last week in Calgary! I'm not a speaker but it is a topic that I have a lot to say about, so after I finished the writing project it was straight to working on a talk. I think it turned out alright and although I'll never be a professional speaker I'm proud of myself for doing it. I didn't faint from fear so I've gotta be proud. If the talk is ever put online I'll try to share it with you if you're interested.</div>
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<b>We've done so much</b> in the last two months it's hard to know what to share! </div>
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We did go on a quick family road trip to Calgary and Drumheller at the beginning of May and we all had a really great time. The kids saw the dinosaur museum for the first time, enjoyed the luxuries of a waterslide and the endless fruit loops of a chain hotel's continental breakfast, we enjoyed no crowds and nice weather. </div>
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It's still shocking to me how we have to schedule even short trips away a ways in advance or they will never happen with things coming up every weekend. But we had a really nice time!</div>
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<b>The kids have been</b> in swimming and soccer during April, May, and June so it has made my week's feel packed even though it's just me driving them places. The life of a mother, amiright? They've all had a great time, and the time's of the practices have made my life a little less exhausting than past years, but I'm driving a lot. Because everything's at least half an hour away - if I'm lucky! </div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Rhonda.</span></i></div>
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<b>May and June have been so lovely!</b> Especially after the world's worst April! It's been so nice to have things growing and green and kids outside. We planted our garden the week after May long weekend, and it's coming up sporadically which is always a pisser-offer, but fingers crossed we get some produce before September. I still have to hold myself back from buying an entire greenhouse worth of flowers every spring and all the funky planters I see. I did however, buy the best planter in the world; Rhonda. A Greek bust that's been turned into a planter. Best HomeSense buy I've ever had and it still makes me ridiculously happy. </div>
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<b>We officially finished all school </b>this week and it could not come any slower. Math has been sucking the life out of me while simultaneously making me an angry gargoyle. I'm basically done for the rest of my life. Unfortunately, next school year I'm going to have 4 kids needing instruction so we are shaking up the curriculum for sure. The rest of the school year was pretty successful actually. The kids are going to still be doing workbooks and Latin over the summer, and hopefully some more nature journalling. But really, I could go for a nanny this summer. I know regular moms are freaking out because they've got their kids home all day everyday since school's out, but it's even more bitterly disappointing when your a homeschool mom and basically nothing changes as you go into summer! I'm feeling a bit burnt out and exhausted, but I think that could be the culmination of the last couple busy months. My solution is a nanny. It's not going to happen but I'm going to try for at least a morning a week off, if I can make it happen somehow! Pray for me and a miraculous nanny to fall from the sky!</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.fountainsofcarrots.com/" target="_blank">The podcast</a> is still up</b> and kicking and we're planning on new episodes into July! Because we're organized?? I know, I can't believe it either. We've had so many excellent episodes the past couple months because of the great guests who have been gracious enough to come on and chat with us. I've really enjoyed talking to each and every one of them and I hope they've been as awesome to listen to.</div>
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It's off for another busy weekend this weekend with a First Holy Communion for Dom and Father's Day, but I'm going to be getting back in some kind of blogging groove next week...probably because that magical nanny is going to drop by any time Mary Poppins style. Dare to dream! </div>
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<span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 97px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 108px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 97px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 108px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span>Christy from fountains of homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130888193737436970noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3883970092765312318.post-76496366234547387592017-04-07T12:24:00.003-06:002017-04-07T12:24:55.265-06:00Seven Quick Takes vol. 158<br />
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Joining <a href="http://www.thisaintthelyceum.org/" target="_blank">Kelly</a> for a couple quick ones...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8tRWCyB027Kd3Gv3xKdBb3ysHA90Cv_3K3q5w8KlIvO1Yr1l34LS3sXizI9KX_cuEH6l1KgBJSzwXpOqgPO8NQ4sWeW7nhP3qOARdNLHiY3plNa5ve_bVeb3TbTHBwi-WhAOYaCM0vH4/s1600/IMG_8894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8tRWCyB027Kd3Gv3xKdBb3ysHA90Cv_3K3q5w8KlIvO1Yr1l34LS3sXizI9KX_cuEH6l1KgBJSzwXpOqgPO8NQ4sWeW7nhP3qOARdNLHiY3plNa5ve_bVeb3TbTHBwi-WhAOYaCM0vH4/s320/IMG_8894.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>The snow has melted, guys!</b> I figure you deserve to be informed after all my complaining. It's now a quite unimpressive brown everywhere and will be at least a month until we see leaves on trees, but the mud and dirt are worth it. It will probably snow at least one more time, but having all the existing snow gone feels like a giant improvement. And you should see my entryway - covered in mud, a million muddy boots, and more mud. Spring has arrived. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJ87iWnqkxe8Gpzd_M57B1704_ebwwZaVfODVAVXd6sFp2pF86-pDUZG7xNhqYI_FKosdlcEWLw34MEf6xfkZpnGJb_9QraOGabTc0s0WgyCOrScTQnXmQd0O8LhSmHqvjPFSKtwiNig/s1600/IMG_8931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJ87iWnqkxe8Gpzd_M57B1704_ebwwZaVfODVAVXd6sFp2pF86-pDUZG7xNhqYI_FKosdlcEWLw34MEf6xfkZpnGJb_9QraOGabTc0s0WgyCOrScTQnXmQd0O8LhSmHqvjPFSKtwiNig/s400/IMG_8931.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Just a regular, grocery shopping with small children expression.</span></i></div>
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<b>This week we've been busy</b> with swimming lessons starting up again and my husband working lots of long hours. He's working through the weekend too, so I've basically resigned myself to some survival standards around here. I think we'll watch a lot of movies this weekend. And I've decided next week is going to be spring break around here! I like the idea of Holy Week being slower and focused on Holy Week, and we've just reached a point where a lot of curriculum is finished up and we're ready to switch things up, which will be fine after a break. I also figure if my husband's working a ton it's the perfect time for a break.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1TMGAzUqf-_1t7S7T1N7iH2lm_vkhYb1iAO_E8Qv3c-KnqgdyUobqc9s4etIWqAweVrLIzE7aUl6kuGe46xM5xcKKgu4_fvn5VV4wejl56cJamwrE1iciMLc3nUJtUs7OOS6uDBohh8/s1600/IMG_8924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1TMGAzUqf-_1t7S7T1N7iH2lm_vkhYb1iAO_E8Qv3c-KnqgdyUobqc9s4etIWqAweVrLIzE7aUl6kuGe46xM5xcKKgu4_fvn5VV4wejl56cJamwrE1iciMLc3nUJtUs7OOS6uDBohh8/s400/IMG_8924.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>They've grown in two years. Weird.</i></div>
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<b>Although Lent has felt</b> like it's been happening forever, it seems like Easter has come upon us quickly. I'm not doing too much for original Easter baskets, it's the usual mix of a Easter book, garden tool or outside toy, and chocolate eggs. But all of our big kids need new bikes this year so I feel like we missed a good opportunity to give those as Easter gifts since only Gemma has a spring birthday. But we probably won't be able to get new bikes at the same time for everyone so it probably worked out for the best. I can't believe that I'm continually surprised at my kids needing newer and bigger things, but I always am. I can't believe the boys have grown out of the bikes they got two years ago...but TWO YEARS and kids grow like crazy! </div>
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<b>I didn't do 40 Bags in 40 Days this year</b>, but I've tried to use Lent to intentionally clean and declutter my house. Mostly because I find cleaning and decluttering a good thing to offer up because I have no desire to do it most of the time. And I feel pretty good with what I've accomplished even though it's mostly normal cleaning for most people. I only have a couple big ticket items left on my list and one of them is my closet! It's been a while since I intentionally capsule-ed and paid attention to what I have in my closet, so it'll be good, if I get that done.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSAqxKCBmtI8yV5Esk43MGU-HsXjhrhyOfDzaainDJuhCn35xIKWx6OEDTfPa-kMYTz806xTVuhnkX18De5YBosBVf4HMavNgOp1LCOt-StSqQvX6vYXUHrP87mG8Ya1fnY0GjJ6nXRIk/s1600/IMG_8886.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSAqxKCBmtI8yV5Esk43MGU-HsXjhrhyOfDzaainDJuhCn35xIKWx6OEDTfPa-kMYTz806xTVuhnkX18De5YBosBVf4HMavNgOp1LCOt-StSqQvX6vYXUHrP87mG8Ya1fnY0GjJ6nXRIk/s400/IMG_8886.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Collector.</span></i></div>
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<b>Do you have any kids who are "collectors"?</b> Max is my little hoarder and will collect all kinds of things and stash them in all sorts of places. This week he found a hair clip that had been run over by a car at least once in the parking lot at the pool, gleefully picked it up, and said "For my collection!" It was gross and dirty, but I just didn't have the heart to take it away because he's so sweet and enthusiastic about it. He also found two random rocks while we were out for a walk yesterday, brought them home, washed them, and I think they're now in his under the bed storage container. I don't even want to know what's in that container. But I assume once it's completely full I'm going to have to go through it with him. A scary thought!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc87NRMpVK-sA3ViB2WB1aNzCguRP3QrNmh3eFTZfRPan1llT-genS6KSfNQ5uEbxACD57rAOQKFQGU7OaRWf0XZHN3Ermwmfz78Ej4D7pH1G23CL5GR2Mz1c7gdhNyCCuTadz12jjCeg/s1600/episode64.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc87NRMpVK-sA3ViB2WB1aNzCguRP3QrNmh3eFTZfRPan1llT-genS6KSfNQ5uEbxACD57rAOQKFQGU7OaRWf0XZHN3Ermwmfz78Ej4D7pH1G23CL5GR2Mz1c7gdhNyCCuTadz12jjCeg/s320/episode64.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><a href="http://fountainsofcarrots.com/foc-064/" target="_blank">This week on the podcast</a> </b>we had the amazing <a href="http://www.motheringspirit.com/" target="_blank">Laura Fanucci</a> sharing her inspiring story of the lives of her twin girls. It's heartbreaking, inspiring, and miraculous. I was overwhelmed hearing her speak and add nothing to the conversation, but I really encourage you to listen because I can't imagine you listening and not coming away inspired. </div>
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<b>I hope you </b>all are looking forward to Holy Week. It's such a sacred time and there's really nothing like it. I'm so grateful for it each year. </div>
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I'm off to cut strawberries into certain approved shapes so a certain four year old will eat them...so this weekend is off to a roaring start!</div>
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<i>follow along:</i><br />
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Christy from fountains of homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130888193737436970noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3883970092765312318.post-82584092432768395292017-03-30T10:48:00.000-06:002017-03-30T10:48:56.296-06:00Is Rural Catholic Life Possible? <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilcHmnGT1sybdcwW7v0kG8vWftq0mojotb4toJ-Z7WrFucPbHTVIPXK4_SCXS8bTQuQ6ShwjeC9ExF3SgGAWuk9rSZM8zNpCbpJp9cCSlRj8K68xIV25DitTBuohctXzSdcbQrF8xnQDU/s1600/harry-miller-106042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilcHmnGT1sybdcwW7v0kG8vWftq0mojotb4toJ-Z7WrFucPbHTVIPXK4_SCXS8bTQuQ6ShwjeC9ExF3SgGAWuk9rSZM8zNpCbpJp9cCSlRj8K68xIV25DitTBuohctXzSdcbQrF8xnQDU/s640/harry-miller-106042.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-09d6b84a-1b28-0801-3690-a077970474af" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There's a lot of talk surrounding the Benedict Option these days. At its most general, the idea of the Benedict Option promotes a concerted effort on the part of Catholics and Christians to form like-minded communities to support each other and keep the faith alive. As the idea of forming intentional and authentic Catholic communities that strive for orthodoxy gains a foothold in Catholic parlance, I've been thinking about how I feel that this has already happened to some degree organically when it comes to where Catholics live. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As someone who has lived the majority of her life in rural areas I want to sometimes shout from the rooftops that the Benedict Option of sorts has already happened; because most of Catholic community is found in enclaves of urban cities. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We all know the reasons why; the increasing urbanization of our populations in general, the lack of priests to serve rural communities and small towns, the shrinking of cultural Catholicism, the complete absence of Generation X and younger at Mass. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If you think you feel the reverberations of these problems in the Church in your city that has a population of more than 10,000 people, imagine how keenly felt this must be in small communities?</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Let me give you a peek at what Catholic life in a small town looks like. It looks like sharing one priest with 3 other parishes spread over 100 miles. It looks like no daily Mass or standing confession times. There is ONE option for Mass each weekend. There are no ministries. There is no religious education for children or adults alike. There is no other family with young children who attend weekly at our parish. There is a Catholic school the next town over. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There are no plethoras of religious orders of which to affiliate. There are no small groups for men or women. There are no ministries to moms, divorced people, those struggling with addiction or same sex attraction, or grief. There are no dinners or fundraisers. There are no options when it comes to finding a liturgy you prefer. There are no other Catholics your age in which to build local community. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In other words, I want you to imagine a Catholic life where there is only the Sacraments, a parish that is barely scraping by, and the constant threat that your parish may be shut down by the diocese due to lack of attendance, financial support, or both. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I think most of us believe that in order to live a fully Catholic life we've got to have some form of Catholic community. We all are striving for authentic local connections. We know how difficult it is to remain faithful to the teachings of the Church in our culture when we are without any support from real people in our lives. We've seen on a parish level how hard it is to evangelize and bring people in when there are hardly any faithful in the pews to begin with. All these difficulties come to a head in a small community where there are hardly any Catholics to begin with, with even fewer attending weekly Mass, and where there are in turn little to no outreach and ministries to the community. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Vibrant, vital, and orthodox parishes are out there but finding them in a small town is the exception to the rule, and doesn’t even approach a fraction of the parishes that serve rural areas. Parishes with resources, both in parishioners and cold hard cash, are found in cities. If you're looking for good, life-giving ministries you may have to search your city to find one, you may have to drive across town, but they will exist. There are no ministry options in small towns. As we see orthodox parishes with a focus on beautiful liturgy grow, it is within a city that offers options when it comes to liturgy and the few who know it's value to support it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We know our families are the domestic church, and that the beauty of family life is a great gift as we lead and guide our children in faith. But it is increasingly difficult in today's world to bring up children in a religious vacuum so to speak, where there is so little evidence of faith in their hometown and home parish. Small towns are not just drained of Catholics, they’re drained of believers of all denominations as increasingly our society of “nones” erodes cultural faith. As it seems to be increasingly difficult to even become friends with our neighbours, it's even more challenging to find friends who share the faith at a local level.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I don't think there are easy answers to the problem of rural Catholic life just as the Benedict Option isn't an easy answer to our troubled Church as a whole. As Catholics we value the land, the connection with the land that we live on, the ability to provide for ourselves, to nurture that connection with creation, but as more and more people move to cities, rural towns are emptied of faith. How can we preserve a connection to the land, agriculture, self-sufficiency, and still be part of authentic Catholic community? Is the answer that the Ben-opters start communes in small rural towns? Are there economic opportunities enough for them? Does everyone become farmers? </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I can't help but feel that many rural Catholics are faced with the difficult call to live an almost heroic level of faith based on their isolation from vital Catholic community. Unfortunately in many cases people are in the position between choosing the land and lifestyle they know and love or moving to a more urban environment that provides even a slightly better opportunity for Catholic community. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whether the Benedict Option takes off or not, there’s no denying that the light of orthodoxy in the North American Church shines from urban enclaves and that rural Catholics are going it alone. </span></span><br />
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Christy from fountains of homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130888193737436970noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3883970092765312318.post-50614035244775119612017-03-24T12:21:00.001-06:002017-03-24T12:21:58.812-06:00Seven Quick Takes vol. 157<br />
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Don't give <a href="http://www.thisaintthelyceum.org/" target="_blank">Kelly</a> up for Lent.<br />
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I know, I should be blogging about Lenten things, but how many complaining posts about all the things can you really read?? I thought I'd just do a quick rundown of stuff I've been watching. It's Fluff Friday, if you will.<br />
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<b>Trapped</b></div>
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This is a dark Icelandic detective series that was completely atmospheric and moody and everything I needed to watch in February/March. If you need to make yourself feel better about your endless winter and craptastic weather, you should watch a television show that takes place in weather that is WORSE than yours! I didn't believe it was possible, but this show had the worst weather, and we relished that it was worse than ours. Which is sort of proof that bad weather really warps your mind in dark ways...hence the popularity of the Scandinavian crime series these days.</div>
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But the actual series, Christy! An unidentified torso turns up in the waters outside a small town in Iceland. The extremely tiny police force consisting of three people and their giant, teddy bear-like chief with a complicated family, must try and solve the murder without any outside help because of the ensuing horrific weather. It's very well crafted, with great performances from most of the actors (some are poor and stick out like sore thumbs), and does a great job of making you feel like you're part of this small town. You know me and small town mysteries - a total sucker! But if you don't mind subtitles and like being riveted by the Icelandic language this is worth your time.</div>
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<b>Jane the Virgin</b></div>
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Finally on Canadian Netflix, Jane the Virgin offers the perfect mix of soap opera dramatics and tongue in cheek humour that makes for compelling binge watching. I had pretty low expectations but the characters are really great. The humour and way it pokes fun at the telenovela genre are spot on. The second season was so good that it will inevitably go downhill. I'm only beginning the third season and it's more than evident it's on the downswing. I'm not endorsing any of the lack of various morality in the show, and if you have no sense of humour about soap operas this isn't for you, (I, of course, have NO experience with soap operas - she said sarcastically) but if you want some easy entertainment give it a shot. </div>
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And Rogelio for life!</div>
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<b>{three}</b></div>
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<b>Hell of High Water</b></div>
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We do not watch a lot of movies. There seems to be nothing that appeals to both me and my husband when we are gifted with enough time to actually watch a movie together. But because <a href="http://www.happycatholic.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Julie</a> so wholeheartedly recommend this Oscar-nominated movie we gave it a shot. An almost modern day western, Hell or High Water tells the story of two bank robbing brothers in Western Texas. It's well written, well acted (Hello, Jeff Bridges!), and has a lot going on that makes you understand the characters much more than you thought. </div>
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<b>{four}</b></div>
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<b>Life in Pieces</b></div>
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Sometimes you just feel like a funny sitcom and there's nothing wrong with that! This series is pretty hilarious and well written. It doesn't smack of disingenuousness like Modern Family but retains many characteristics of people you know. The writing is really well done as it combines four different short stories in each episode, that's like writing four different episodes each episode when you think of how much time and dialogue is usually wasted in sitcoms. The second season is airing now, but the first season is on Netflix (up here anyways!)</div>
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<b>{five}</b></div>
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<b>The Bridge</b></div>
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Since we got roped into Scandinavian crime series with Trapped we thought we'd try an older series called The Bridge which was really popular a few years ago. It's almost the exact opposite of Trapped in that it takes place in an urban setting, involves a complete psychopathic serial killer, and has a very unique detective at the centre of the investigation. It's a mystery that begins with a body found on the border of a huge bridge joining Denmark and Sweden and a detective from each country must work together to solve the increasingly bizarre crimes. It was well-paced and well done, but I just didn't like it as much as Trapped. And I didn't become conversational in Swedish. </div>
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<b>Arrival</b></div>
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Such a good movie! I still don't understand how an alien movie can so deftly rip out my mother's heart, cut it into a million pieces, then put it back together. I don't want to give any of it away really. But go watch it and try not to cry, I dare you!</div>
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And Jeremy Renner. The only problem I had with this movie is that Jeremy Renner would never do anything wrong!! Never!</div>
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<b>{seven}</b></div>
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<b>Moana</b></div>
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We also finally watched Moana. And I watched the entire thing and didn't want that hour and a half of my life back, so basically it was an animated movie win. I'm not saying it's life changing or a classic, and the demigod stuff I didn't even begin to hash out with my kids, but the music and characters were perfectly entertaining. </div>
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As usual, I will be eternally grateful for your recommendations dear readers with better taste than I! </div>
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Happy Weekend!</div>
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Christy from fountains of homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130888193737436970noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3883970092765312318.post-27766741271518923242017-03-21T12:27:00.000-06:002017-03-21T12:27:00.485-06:00What I've Been Reading Lately <br />
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I've got a good mix of books this week! Some great fiction, nonfiction, even parenting! I love hearing if you've read them too and what you thought.<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01CWZFDM0/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=B01CWZFDM0&linkCode=as2&tag=fountofhome-20&linkId=2d42fe83d28f700392a1a216bcb6f4d1" target="_blank"><i>Homegoing</i></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=fountofhome-20&l=am2&o=15&a=B01CWZFDM0" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> by Yaa Gyasi<br />
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This beautiful novel tells the stories of the descendants of two sisters in Africa, some of whom are taken as slaves to America, and those that remain on the continent. They are such varied stories told with such an honesty through beautiful prose that I can't think of anyone I wouldn't recommend this book to. It was one of the best books I read last year, even if it is oftentimes difficult to read, it's beauty stays with you and the characters remain very much alive in your mind.<br />
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<i><a href="https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0345507983/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=0345507983&linkCode=as2&tag=fountofhome-20&linkId=ec18af537c66b6f506751ea5bfa3a887" target="_blank">Simplicity Parenting</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=fountofhome-20&l=am2&o=15&a=0345507983" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> </i>by Kim John Payne<br />
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This book was great in that it basically reaffirms my parenting style/philsophy. I felt supported in the different reasons simplicity is so important and foundational to our kids, but I mostly skimmed it. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a good parenting book, and even if you too end up skimming it, it really can't hurt and you might pick up some more good ideas!<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0062563203/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=0062563203&linkCode=as2&tag=fountofhome-20&linkId=7ffc16c6a03169786b8770cd583da84a" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">Commonwealth</a><i><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=fountofhome-20&l=am2&o=15&a=0062563203" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i><i> </i>by Ann Patchett<br />
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It's a book about dysfunctional families growing up and living their lives, but Ann Patchett's eye for story and ability to create such believable worlds and characters even when you're not sure if you should be believing them, makes for an interesting read. I wonder how much is autobiographical, and I truly hope some of the traumatic moments aren't, but I felt this book had the honesty about family life and how the choices of parents impact their children that wasn't in <i>The Nest.</i> If not my favourite Ann Patchett novel, I still felt that <i>Commonwealth</i> had a lot to say.<br />
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<a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41eDHeqaqbL._SX322_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41eDHeqaqbL._SX322_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
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<i><a href="https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1612789668/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=1612789668&linkCode=as2&tag=fountofhome-20&linkId=85b255bab7ec96d29612ebed6b04b3cb" target="_blank">On the Other Side of Fear: How I Found Peace</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=fountofhome-20&l=am2&o=15&a=1612789668" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> </i>by Hallie Lord<br />
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Hallie's honest writing brings to life so vividly the fears and anxieties we all experience and how God speaks to those fears in our lives in a concrete way. It really is foundational to our experience of faith no matter where you are in your relationship with God; life involves these fears in one way or another and it's really the place where faith makes a tangible difference to our lives. Hallie shares her personal stories in a way that is so accessible to the reader that this book can really speak to anyone no matter where they are spiritually. There is so much richness to understanding God's love in our lives when it comes to peace and fear that we all need to be reminded to see and experience God in our lives. A great book to read yourself, or to give as a gift!<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00GW4P364/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=B00GW4P364&linkCode=as2&tag=fountofhome-20&linkId=6a919eea00d4c5d71ad989cbfda9361f" target="_blank"><i>The Brutal Telling</i></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=fountofhome-20&l=am2&o=15&a=B00GW4P364" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> by Louise Penny<br />
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The fifth Armand Gamache book in the series involves the murder of a virtual hermit in the town of Three Pines. The regular cast of townspeople continues to be entertaining, and the twists of this one are at times a bit far fetched but still engrossing. I thought the ending left the reader hanging, but it does make a lot more sense once you read the sixth instalment!<br />
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<i>Linking up with <a href="http://modernmrsdarcy.com/quick-lit-march-2017/" target="_blank">Modern Mrs Darcy for Quick Lit</a>! </i><br />
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<i>follow along:</i><br />
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<i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/FountainsOfHome">facebook</a> ~ <a href="http://instagram.com/ciaochristy">instagram</a> ~ <a href="http://pinterest.com/ChristyIsinger">pinterest</a></i>Christy from fountains of homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130888193737436970noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3883970092765312318.post-28365394304250862312017-03-17T14:39:00.001-06:002017-03-17T14:39:38.402-06:00Seven Quick Takes vol. 156<br />
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Happy St. Patricks Day to <a href="http://www.thisaintthelyceum.org/" target="_blank">Kelly</a> who clearly has the luck of the Irish without being Irish...<br />
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<b>Well hellllooo. </b>It's been weeks since I blogged. Again. It's just crazy how I start out my day with the greatest of intentions to get so much done, to write, to blog, to plan, and for there to never to be time to carry out all these good intentions! I really feel kinda snowed under lately just by the sheer amount of things I need to get done in a day and have no spare minutes. And then when I do have spare minutes I'm interrupted every two minutes. Or I'm just so fried I really do need to rest, read, watch Netflix. I'm trying not to feel hopeless about this situation but it's feeling like only giant lifestyle changes are going to solve this problem. I don't know, I'm praying about it. And trying not to be my completely regimented, allergic to change self.<br />
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<b>The reaaaallly big news </b>was we got away for a really quick trip to Texas sans kiddos and kiddets! All the jazz hands!! I always stress about leaving, have anxiety over leaving the kids for so long, wonder if it's worth all the work, effort, coordination, and money to go away with just my husband for such a short time and then am always completely convinced and proven wrong; that it is completely worth it to get away even if it's for a short time. It always surprises me. Because leaving 5 kids, even when it's in the cushiest situation we've got going, is always so much work before hand. But then we go and relax and do what we want and hardly even end up talking about the kids. It's a really good break and just the change of pace is so good. I'm really grateful for it!<br />
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<b>The highlight of the trip </b>was seeing Haley! Haley and her family drove down to San Antonio to meet us and it was so much fun to see her again and to meet her family in person after all these years of just knowing them through the internet! We went out for Mexican food at the greatest place, drank huge margaritas, saw the wonderful light show on the San Fernando Cathedral, then got to go to Mass together the next morning at the beautiful San Jose Mission. It was just so lovely! Our husbands met each other. It was completely bonkers! I mean, they got along of course, it just felt so surreal but awesome.<br />
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<b>We really loved San Antonio.</b> It's a great mix of history and culture that's unique to us, as well as having some fun touristy things, fabulous food (which is one of the primary reasons we travel it seems), and beautiful weather for March! We ate barbecue, walked the beautiful river walk at our leisure without worrying kids were going to fall in (because I had that thought often), drank a lot of margaritas, toured the Alamo. Basically, had such a wonderful time!<br />
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<b>We were so glad</b> to have even a slight reprieve from the weather because March weather has really stunk around here. And the last two weeks of February. Only the last couple days have been above freezing -- finally! I just think I'm hitting the winter wall and desperately need some sunshine and no more snow. The kids have been cooped up and I swear each day they do crazier things. Yesterday a boy ate half a slice of uncooked bacon which he later confessed to me at bedtime. Why?!?! Whhhhhyyyyyy?!?! Winter's gotta end.<br />
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<b>Since I haven't been blogging</b> lately I just wanted to <a href="http://fountainsofcarrots.com/foc-062-the-saints-time-travel-and-pursuing-our-passions-with-lisa-hendey/" target="_blank">mention our newest podcast episode with the wonderful Lisa Hendey</a>. She shared her new books the Chime Travellers as well as some great words of wisdom for moms who still want to pursue their passions and why it's so important. I really appreciated hearing from her and felt a bit star-struck talking to her! She was lovely! </div>
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It's also #trypod month! If you know someone who might enjoy our podcast but has no idea what podcasts are - let them know about it, and maybe install a helpful podcast app for them. And if they're your mother you'll probably have to teach them how to search and subscribe for them too. I keep meaning to teach my mom how to listen to podcasts come to think about it...<br />
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<b>It's been a rough week for me.</b> Mostly just parenting wise. Or job wise. Or life wise. It's all related in the SAHM game. I think that's sometimes part of the trouble trying to work things out. It's hard to see what's parenting, what's down to a particular kid or phase, what could be something that's bothering you, if it's a time issue, if it's just a bad week. It's hard to figure out when your one job, place of work, and people you work with are all your own offspring to figure out what the problem is when it's not easy to spot. Should you make changes or is it something the kid will work out? Do you need to just continue with what you're doing and consistency will help fix things or do you need to change directions? Are things just hard because it's just a tough week and you don't need to rethink things? I guess I just wish that in tough weeks that there was a more objective checklist I could work and analyze somehow that could tell me exactly what I need to change or fix. I do sometimes wish that my place of work was outside that home and if that were bad I could place blame on that job without guilt. Or if things were frustrating at home that at least time at the ol' job would give me some time doing something completely different and get some mental break. It's just tough when it's an all consuming, full time deal yo. </div>
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I'm sure most of you dear readers get this. Whether you're full time at home or not, you know where I'm coming from mamas! </div>
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Hope your weekend isn't full of leftover green beer...or maybe I do??</div>
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<i>follow along:</i><br />
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Christy from fountains of homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130888193737436970noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3883970092765312318.post-15321198784473282232017-02-24T12:19:00.002-07:002017-02-24T12:19:33.992-07:00Seven Quick Takes vol. 155 <br />
Hi <a href="http://www.thisaintthelyceum.org/" target="_blank">Kelly</a> and your fabulous February weather!<br />
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<b>Well, February hit me guys. It hit me.</b> Like a giant pile of grey shit that just won't leave you alone even though you've hinted, sworn at it, and physically tried to remove it from your life. I was doing so well surviving it until this week. If anything, having it hit me so hard this week makes me a bit madder if only because I was doing so well. I was on a roll! But this week was a perfect storm. It made me question my life choices, want to quit everything, and basically just move to Mexico. #screwthewall </div>
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I mean. Nothing horrible happened. I'm fine. There's less than a week left. I'm dramatic.</div>
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<b>It's been a while since I've done some takes so I'll catch you up! </b></div>
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I went to the opera with my sister and it was a great night out! </div>
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The superbowl happened and I want it to burn in the fires of hell for eternity and never have it mentioned again.</div>
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We took the kids to the Batman Lego movie...or is it Lego Batman? Could I be less cool??? It was entertaining if a bit seizure inducing, or that could just be me because I'm old and haven't played video games in a while. The kids all loved it.</div>
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And then last week I did this....</div>
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<b>I got my hair dyed purple!</b> It's more a deep violet with more shocking purple at the ends which will wash out to a nice light purple (hopefully) but it's a giant change. I just wanted a giant change. And I'm also definitely not married to my natural colour. It's mousey. It's boring. Hair colour feels like my limit of crazy things to do. I can't go any further, this is as crazy as I get.</div>
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<b>The kids have been living it up.</b> Ice fishing, going on sleepovers, going to plays, and yet still seem to be driving me insaner by the day. Yesterday my oldest child dumped the entirety of her dirty laundry <i>on the floor beside the basket</i>. I mean, I know I'm stuck in the Februarys, but back me up here, is there anything that makes you want to scream more?! I've dealt with tantrums and discipline issues and whining all week so when these little things happen I feel like I'm going to blow. </div>
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<b>I've bought a couple new cookbooks in the last month</b> or so because I can't quit the cookbooks, and hopefully I'll write up some kind of review? comparison? post soon. I always want to cook more interesting and exciting recipes and always time and energy defeat me. At least having the physical cookbook gives me that extra boost to try at least a couple, or one or two, new recipes every now and again. I also want all your favourites.</div>
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<b>Lent is upon us</b> and I still have no clue what to give up, if I'm supposed to give anything up, what would be the most fruitful. I'm always comforted in knowing that Lent is much more a journey towards someone instead of simply following rules. It's just so much easier to myself gaining in progress (read: holiness) when I'm doing something and following rules! Even if they're my own rules. So it's always tricky. It's also good for me to remember it's 40 days, and part of the process of can mean figuring this stuff out as I try to fast and pray more. I also really need my spiritual director to get back from Rome.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSaVdl-n9IuCc3AsxLGL9PJaePvXrVSpd_4z4kZOkt-OMRzqvdCEroAtKoxYgDOQaYhvVMDTreCq44RhAGBVE_RjDfCigyrQFytMeyQX1kiveEut-BiEryzz-p_wFPOJO98zwO419JCIk/s1600/episode61.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSaVdl-n9IuCc3AsxLGL9PJaePvXrVSpd_4z4kZOkt-OMRzqvdCEroAtKoxYgDOQaYhvVMDTreCq44RhAGBVE_RjDfCigyrQFytMeyQX1kiveEut-BiEryzz-p_wFPOJO98zwO419JCIk/s320/episode61.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Speaking of Lent</b> - <a href="http://www.wholeparentingfamily.com/" target="_blank">Nell</a>, internet cheerleader extraordinaire is giving her extraordinary wisdom on <a href="http://fountainsofcarrots.com/foc-061/" target="_blank">Lent this week on the podcast!</a> If you need some inspiration that's right up your Lent alley, give it a listen.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCOMB0paSRsg2l5rhXkaA3NdLaDWmZNg_hgU2fN8S_XRYpFU5IJLoix2vcLsGyN_R5PZejFZJIPe9ckVJ30egoZMnk1QvRaKFiKol57nZDM4Hj2P6lA-wLFO2of1vjlqPYQU_GcoFtthY/s1600/episode60.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCOMB0paSRsg2l5rhXkaA3NdLaDWmZNg_hgU2fN8S_XRYpFU5IJLoix2vcLsGyN_R5PZejFZJIPe9ckVJ30egoZMnk1QvRaKFiKol57nZDM4Hj2P6lA-wLFO2of1vjlqPYQU_GcoFtthY/s320/episode60.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Also on the <a href="http://fountainsofcarrots.com/foc-060-transformation-and-hope-through-adoption-with-shannon-evans/" target="_blank">podcast</a> from a few weeks ago that I failed to mention over here was our interview with <a href="http://www.weagreatparade.com/" target="_blank">Shannon Evans</a> about adoption and building a culture of life which I found so honest and amazing. I hope you listen to it sometime. </div>
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And that's all I've got. I hope you're surviving February and have a great weekend planned! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAqWVz9V5bZZ4mbieLQwN4qt1HSk3Bayf10HGpJDPhiuY96CXm5vm1YjCfDcCDP2boUIYBspZM_HzucY0UXEABE-ehEqC3_aHQmbGBnRrrJCW1X806HNJ2Ym1_mo9Jb2W1brtw2Gslj0A/s1600/whatI%2527mreading.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAqWVz9V5bZZ4mbieLQwN4qt1HSk3Bayf10HGpJDPhiuY96CXm5vm1YjCfDcCDP2boUIYBspZM_HzucY0UXEABE-ehEqC3_aHQmbGBnRrrJCW1X806HNJ2Ym1_mo9Jb2W1brtw2Gslj0A/s400/whatI%2527mreading.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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It's been so long guys. I know it doesn't feel like it to you because you feel like I write about books every other day, but it's been a loooonngg time and I've read 20 books since I last wrote!<br />
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The catching up begins now!<br />
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<a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/511P-FbTAGL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/511P-FbTAGL.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B008BD6QRY/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=B008BD6QRY&linkCode=as2&tag=fountofhome-20&linkId=8d57541c0cd038244b8dbe35a4a9172b" target="_blank"><i>Helena</i></a> <img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=fountofhome-20&l=am2&o=15&a=B008BD6QRY" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />by Evelyn Waugh<br />
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This was my Waugh pick of the year and if the title doesn't describe it enough it's the fictionalized life of St. Helena. I love Waugh. I love saints. I didn't <i>love</i> this book. The story is well done of course, and the writing is impeccable, but I didn't love it like I thought I would. I wish I had read this one with a book club (I know it's a Well-Read Mom book club pick!) I feel like I missed the heart of it somehow and St. Helena just didn't grab me like I assumed I would. I remember reading <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B008AUGW7W/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=B008AUGW7W&linkCode=as2&tag=fountofhome-20&linkId=6a3556330bd578537d51e1c2a56e089d" target="_blank"><i>Edmund Campion</i></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=fountofhome-20&l=am2&o=15&a=B008AUGW7W" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />, also by Waugh, and was blown away! That book probably remains the best novel of a saints life I've ever read. If you've read <i>Helena</i> please tell me what I'm missing. It's still a wonderful book I wouldn't hesitate to recommend because it's a good story, but I just feel like I'm missing what makes it really great.<br />
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<i><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u>Sweetbitter</u></span><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=fountofhome-20&l=am2&o=15&a=B014NZJOF4" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> </i>by Stephanie Danler<br />
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This was probably the book I hated the most last year. And I don't like writing about books I hate...oh wait...I sorta do. It's the chronicle of a young, soon-to-be-disillusioned, woman moving to New York City and working as a server at a top restaurant and the ensuing drama of the staff and those who come to the restaurant. This book is pretty much everything I detest about our generation. The lack of meaning and integrity, the willingness to do whatever it takes to get ahead, the random sex, the lack of principles, the disillusionment that gives us pseudo-wisom. The writing is ok, I like the setting of a restaurant which is why I wanted to read it in the first place, but the story is just....nauseating? It was genuinely hailed as a great first novel and a defining novel for millennials which further depresses me.<br />
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<a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51nMI7TdXFL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51nMI7TdXFL.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<i><a href="https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00BAXFDBC/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=B00BAXFDBC&linkCode=as2&tag=fountofhome-20&linkId=4eb15f328a5d4ca8df9c5fc2e385a37b" target="_blank">Burial Rites</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=fountofhome-20&l=am2&o=15&a=B00BAXFDBC" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> </i>By Hannah Kent<br />
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The story of a woman accused of murder in nineteenth century Iceland is just as dark and morose as you would expect! But somehow it's captivating and conveys a real empathy as well as a good story. The atmosphere was also one of the best parts of this book and somehow rural and rugged Iceland becomes a character. It somehow reminded me of <i><a href="https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00GGWEPFM/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=B00GGWEPFM&linkCode=as2&tag=fountofhome-20&linkId=810f3a2e185f83851b3d85672c096714" target="_blank">The Light Between Oceans</a> <img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=fountofhome-20&l=am2&o=15&a=B00GGWEPFM" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i>because of how much a part the sense of place took in the book as well as the emotionally challenging story. If you liked that novel then you might want to pick this one up too.<br />
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<a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51xDLsiYkpL._SX322_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51xDLsiYkpL._SX322_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
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<i><a href="https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1400078202/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=1400078202&linkCode=as2&tag=fountofhome-20&linkId=c24052410591f1973a8a61d2974af761" target="_blank">Climbing the Mango Trees</a> </i>by Madhur Jaffrey<br />
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I was on an Indian memoirs kick last summer and this was part of it. Although this memoir of the author's childhood in India as it gained it's independence was descriptive of life in India at the time, it didn't dive deeply into the authors own thoughts. I felt it was a perspective I had never heard before, and I enjoyed it for that reason. India still fascinates me so if you've got any good titles send them my way!<br />
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<a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41fsy7NdcwL._SX310_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41fsy7NdcwL._SX310_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1609451341/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=1609451341&linkCode=as2&tag=fountofhome-20&linkId=cb1b9b7f639305ed361645ff8049b3f4" target="_blank"><i>The Story of a New Name</i></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=fountofhome-20&l=am2&o=15&a=1609451341" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> by Elena Ferrante<br />
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The second of the Neapolitan novels was more compelling than the first. I think what helped me in reading this book is that I read it in large chunks on a flight and it really helped me enter into the story better. These novels aren't for casually reading five minutes here, five minutes there. I think they are best read by immersing yourself in them as best you can, then you can really see how far you are falling into their world and how well written they are. I was alternatively shocked and proud as the characters entered adulthood and it just pulled me in again. I wish I could more articulately express how well these books delve into feminine psychology. If you've read them let's talk!<br />
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<i>Linking up with <a href="http://modernmrsdarcy.com/quick-lit-february-2017/" target="_blank">Modern Mrs Darcy for Quick Lit</a> once again.</i><br />
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What's saving my life right now is just...pretty dramatic for me.<br />
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But at the same time hyperbole is pretty popular these days.<br />
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Let's just say these are good things in February that I like. Which sounds so much less dramatic. And let me tell you I still really need these things because it's been -20 with a windchill of -34 all week! I'm not including Netflix on this list, but it's doing it's fair share around here too.<br />
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Tulips<br />
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February needs fresh flowers. I have a hard time saying no to tulips when they're at Costco. They're just so pretty they trick you into thinking it's almost spring. Or they trick me. Either way!<br />
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<a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71TQF9GebwL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71TQF9GebwL._SL1500_.jpg" width="261" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Breville-BMF600XL-Milk-Cafe-Frother/dp/B004RCNJ9Q/ref=sr_1_1?s=appliances&ie=UTF8&qid=1486581509&sr=1-1&keywords=revile+milk+frother" target="_blank">This Milk Frother</a><br />
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I guess it's official I'm a coffee snob. I got this milk frother for Christmas and it's magical. It perfectly froths and steams your milk in a minute or two at the push of the button. It creates velvety foam and makes normal coffee taste like a cappuccino. It feels a bit frivolous to own, but then you use it and it makes the world make sense.<br />
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Wine<br />
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Do I feel obvious for putting this on the list? Yes. But at the same time I'm gonna put it on my list because I'm a BA.<br />
Specifically I can't stop drinking Spanish wine. I go to the fanciest liquor store I can find because shopping for alcohol is almost my favourite thing to shop for. This fancy liquor store has aisle upon glorious aisle of wines from every corner of the world. They have samples of all the wine that's on special and let me tell you who is an easy sell when it comes to selling wine?? This girl! I love the samples, I will always buy a bottle of the sample. Bam! And although I buy wine that tastes good and is on sale from any part of the world, I keep buying Spanish wines. They're delicious. Go buy some.<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Loritta-Womens-Vintage-Winter-Knitting/dp/B01MQPPAYD/ref=sr_1_4?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1486581947&sr=1-4&nodeID=1040660&keywords=wool%2Bsocks&th=1" target="_blank">Wool socks</a><br />
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Once upon a time in my youth I thought wool socks were lame and I couldn't understand why people would want to make their feet sweaty and itchy. But then I bought real wool socks and the comfort and warmth is basically the greatest thing ever. Old lady fo life!<br />
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<a href="http://www.sephora.com/" target="_blank">Sephora</a><br />
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I am not a big buyer of make up. Even though I wish I were. I just buy basics but I continue to try and buy quality make up because it really makes a difference, lasts way longer, and is amazing. Sephora has free shipping over $50 (and if you can spend LESS than $50 at Sephora I'll eat my hat) so I can shop online to my hearts content! I keep a running tally of stuff I will need in the future, things recommend by <a href="http://www.thesmallthingsblog.com/" target="_blank">Kate from The Small Things</a>, and whenever I get an email saying they've got an awesome extra sample deal I grab myself a little something. It's a treat, and it comes in the mail. Two awesome things to keep you going in February. But go for the extra sample deals, the extra samples are the best part!<br />
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Those are the things off the top of my head that help a February. But it's only February 8 so...??? I hope I make it, I hope you make it.<br />
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I'm back! <a href="http://www.thisaintthelyceum.org/" target="_blank">Kelly probably didn't notice</a> I was gone for two months, but I can't quit the takes!!<br />
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<b>I love quick takes! </b>I think it's the extremely old timer blog reader in me that loves to read the random and ordinary bits of people's day and I will forever be loyal to the 7QT format. Part of me writing and posting more has to include the little, the ordinary, the very non-click-bait worthy. I have to fight the idea that in order to write anything I've got to have a fantastic idea that's been thought out for weeks and perfectly edited. Because it never happens. Not right now anyway. And I make no money from blogging so I have to stop thinking about each and every post as appealing to the completely imaginary masses. But all that being said, I do value you as a reader. I can't believe you still read this corner of the internet but I'm so glad you do! I trust you that if things are too boring you'll skip a post and come back next time, because you're really the best.</div>
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<b>We have a very ordinary week around here. </b>We got through school work at an appropriate pace, even learned some times tables - which better be memorized by now or I'm going to eat my hat - and had an alright week for weather. An "alright" week of weather means I can bundle the kids up to play outside for half an hour but I'm not going out unless I have to! It was windy most days and around -10 for the most part. No skating or ice fishing since last weekend in other words.</div>
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<b>A funny, sweet thing that happened </b>this week is Dom wanting to watch the entirety of Hamlet with me. He's been really into Shakespeare this year (we memorize some passages from a couple plays, then read overview/kid versions of a couple plays per semester). So when he discovered a copy of Kenneth Branagh's Hamelt at my mom's he asked to watch it but I thought it would be about 15 minutes before he found the language too complicated and the whole movie a bit boring. But we're still watching it! He kept telling me what was going to happen next, and it's pretty hilarious. We're watching about half an hour a day, and I'm fast forwarding any "mature" scenes. We're cultured.</div>
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<b>It's February! Before we all dump on February,</b> I'm going to give myself a pat on the back for making it relatively unscathed through January! I don't know what the difference was exactly but it seemed that January went by fairly painlessly in comparison to past years. I just want to keep this magical positivity moving through February!</div>
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<b>What have you been watching?</b></div>
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Of course I've been watching Victoria and it's been good. I don't love it as much as The Crown because I have a deep, abiding love for The Crown that probably isn't completely healthy. But British costumes dramas are kinda my kryptonite! </div>
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I also watched Shetland on Netflix which I really enjoyed although I really liked the first season and was kinda left cold with the second. I just wish mystery/detective shows were happy solving small town crimes. Why does it always have to graduate to elaborate, mob-connected, serial killers? Why can't it simply remain ordinary people committing crimes in small towns?</div>
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Oh, wait. Because that's really challenging to write!</div>
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<b>I've read a lot of stuff on immigration </b>and refugees this past long week and have uncovered some interesting stuff. I don't think hysteria from any side helps anyone and found that <a href="https://www.firstthings.com/blogs/firstthoughts/2017/02/vetting-the-executive-order" target="_blank">this article</a> was a really great compendium on facts from a person who knows how the system works which seems next to impossible to find in major media outlets these days. I'm just passing it on because I found it a nice source of facts, even though I feel like I'm going to make myself stop sharing anything political because I want to be part of the solution not the problem. Or some such catch phrase. </div>
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<b>I'm going out to the opera tomorrow night and I'm so excited!!</b> I'm getting dressed up and I'm going to drink cocktails and have a glorious night out.</div>
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Then on Sunday I'm going to cheer with every fibre of my being for my new favourite team the Atlanta Falcons. I just want the Patriots to never win a game again. Until I'm dead. Is that so much to ask?? </div>
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I know, I'm crazy. Go Falcons and Happy Weekend!</div>
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Christy from fountains of homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130888193737436970noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3883970092765312318.post-50421019832466009202017-02-02T12:39:00.001-07:002017-02-02T12:39:11.890-07:00Boy Mom-ing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yesterday as I stepped out of the house and checked to see where the kids were playing I couldn't see the boys. I heard their voices, shrieking and laughing at each other but I had to double take as to where they were coming from. The voices were coming from about 15 feet in the air near to top of our big fir trees in the yard. I was a bit shocked at how high they had climbed, then a bit scared when I realized Max the 5 year-old had climbed the highest and seemed perfectly happy about it.<br />
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It got me thinking about being a mom to a bunch of boys. Three boys in a row, separated by all of 3 years. It can sometimes feel like parenting a small gang, until you realize that they have three starkly different personalities.<br />
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One is strongly opinionated and willful, competitive, smart, but not one for emotional outbursts or displays of affection. The next is everyone's best friend, caring, generous, able to figure anything out on his own given five minutes, and prone to emotional ups and downs and cuddles. The third is quiet, deeply observant, hard to satisfy, and determined. They're all uniquely themselves and not quantifiable simply as "boys".<br />
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They are extremely active to varying degrees. One prefers to be moving when doing reading and spelling lessons. They all enjoy weapons. They love Legos. But they also love books and music.<br />
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Sometimes I feel like they don't seem to be so different from my girls and other days I can't even begin to understand why they do the things they do.<br />
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And sometimes I feel like boys are so much easier than girls. They're straightforward and headstrong but don't hold a grudge. They forgive me most of the time for my mistakes. Sometimes I just feel like there's less to worry about with the makeup of boys than girls even though I know that's not how it works.<br />
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I think it really all comes back to the fact that we don't parent ourselves. It doesn't matter if they're boys or girls; they're foreign individuals whom we don't completely understand even though we desperately want to at times. I think this is both challenging and a gift. I'm glad that the things that bother me don't bother them, I'm glad they don't have the same struggles I do, I'm happy to see the world through their fresh eyes.<br />
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It's a weirdly human experience to grow up and know our parents don't understand us, then to become parents and realize we don't completely understand our children. It's really not a bad thing. It opens us to the reality that we can know more through being in relationship with others and not just living for and within ourselves. It's a gift that gives us new discoveries through other people, it expands our minds and hearts, it's exactly how we become more human and less only ourselves -- alone.<br />
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I love sneaking in little hugs and kisses when the boys are moving so quickly and don't want to stop for mom. I love knowing that these wild, unique, can't-hold-back boys are part of me.<br />
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Christy from fountains of homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130888193737436970noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3883970092765312318.post-89217559260434781302017-02-01T12:35:00.001-07:002017-02-01T12:35:59.547-07:00Confessions from the margins of time<br />
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In the midst of this blogging break I've been wondering, "Where in the actual have the margins of time gone where I used to blog??"<br />
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I ask the question because I have only and ever blogged in bits and pieces here and there. The 20 minutes the kids are watching a cartoon, the spare minutes in nap time where I wasn't cleaning something or doing laundry or cooking, a couple minutes after dinner. If I ever have gotten more than an hour to devote solely to writing I can't remember it! Even if I was writing for an hour chances are that I was interrupted at least 10 times.<br />
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And I'm not sure if how I spend my time has actually changed. My kids are a little older, most are very self-sufficient, but there are still requests on a minute-ly basis, umpteen fights to break up, more questions to answer, and the pressing need to find whatever someone has lost in the last five minutes. They're doing some chores around the house but I've still got to do things to keep things at a bare minimum of cleanliness. So there's that.<br />
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All told I think we do on average between 3-4 hours of school work a day. But this is broken up throughout the day. And on top of actually doing the school work it's the mental energy that's required to make sure school gets done, what's going to be done today, and who's doing it that seems to make it feel much longer.<br />
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We're around the house most days of the week depending on the season. When we have activities it easily takes up the entire afternoon at the very least because of the driving time to get anywhere. So all things being equal I don't feel overly "busy" or over scheduled. Which is good. Focus on the good here, Christy.<br />
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I think the difference comes in the mental space I have. There is not a lot of mental space for a homeschooling mom in the day! And on top of making sure school work is done I feel almost an added burden to make sure I'm just spending "mom time" with my kids aside from school which is difficult some days when I am burnt out of patience and energy just by doing school. I think too as my kids grow older it takes a more concerted effort to make sure that connection happens each day, that I'm really listening to them, that I'm really answering their questions, that I'm really present for the little ones when they want attention, and on and on it goes.<br />
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It just all takes up so much mental energy that those 5-15 minutes where I used to be able to tappity-tap something that was worth writing and/or reading are 5-15 minutes where I have to just take some time for a complete break. I know you get this. I know you know this feeling!<br />
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I wish there was just a smidgen of more margin in my day. Like an 8 hour break where the kids were supervised and taught by other people kind of break, wink wink, I'm just joking...or am I?...no, I'm pretty sure I'm just joking. And I think it's going to be a couple more years before that becomes a reality of my day-to-day. The other answer is that I schedule or organize or figure my ish out enough to make myself a couple hours a week where I just write sans interruption. Which is something I'm trying to figure out. I believe all things are figure-out-able, but it sure can take a while to get there.<br />
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So that's my not too exciting story for today. I thought I'd blog these thoughts and get them out of the way, if I'm missing something really blatant - go ahead and tell me what to do, be my life coach! If not, then solidarity because you're probably in this same spot.<br />
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Christy from fountains of homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130888193737436970noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3883970092765312318.post-82516977305783617602017-01-30T13:21:00.001-07:002017-01-30T13:57:46.816-07:00Well, hello there<br />
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It's been two months since I posted which is by far the longest I've ever gone without blogging in over 5 years. I'm sure you've gotten along fine without me because Lord know there has been plenty of crazy to read on the internet!<br />
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There's no real reason why I stopped. I wish I had a big announcement that warranted so much virtual silence, but no pregnancy, no moving, no sending kids to real school, no new job. Heck, there's nary a new outfit around here.<br />
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I am just so hesitant to add to the noise I think. Which isn't quite rational because I still believe everyone else's thoughts and writings are worth reading and I still enjoy reading them. People's thoughts and contributions don't become less valuable just because the supply is disproportionately higher than demand. I feel often that I have nothing interesting and new to add, which is true, but I still love writing and want to get better at it, and of course the catch is you've got to practice a thing to get better. I still also really love the idea of sharing our ordinary days and lives with each other through blogging. It's still a meaningful way of communication.<br />
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We have been busy with all the regular "life living" over here! We had a really lovely Christmas season full of family and presents and chocolates and company coming over. Our January hasn't felt too snowed under and grey, we've stuck to the school routine but my big kids keep getting bigger and have so much fun skating and ice fishing and trying new things.<br />
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We're most definitely living with a three year old tyrant as all three year olds must be at some point. She's pulled some pretty epic tantrums in the last little while over things would previously not bothered her in the least. If you ask me a nap would fix this problem, but apparently that's a completely BONKERS idea according to the three year old. Shocker!<br />
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And other than that I've been over here doing those boring things like feeding 7 people 3 times a day without meal planning because meal planning is the worst. And still producing a <a href="http://fountainsofcarrots.com/foc-059-whats-working-for-us-right-now-organization-and-prayer-in-the-everyday/" target="_blank">really fun podcast</a>! And watching a lot of British tv, reading a lot of books, occasionally cleaning my house, and crocheting for stress relief.<br />
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So same old me, but trying to jump back into the blogging game.<br />
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Christy from fountains of homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130888193737436970noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3883970092765312318.post-13400346747386336252016-11-23T10:13:00.001-07:002016-11-23T10:14:32.449-07:00Perfect Catholic Children's Books for Shoes, Stockings, and Under the Tree<br />
I love children's books on a good day. But I may have a full blown obsession with children's Advent and Christmas books! I love them!<br />
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I love that I store them away all year and that my collection keeps growing. I dream of the day when I'm a grey old grandma who has a whole bookcase devoted to Christmas children's books. They're amazing.<br />
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I know a lot of us are shopping for our own little ones, or nieces and nephews, and godchildren this Christmas and that good quality Catholic books are always a good option if you can find them, so I wanted to share these books with you because they're great options for a variety of kids in your life.<br />
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Thanks to <a href="http://www.ignatius.com/" target="_blank">Ignatius Press</a> for sending them my way for review, I squealed with glee when I opened the package.<br />
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<a href="http://www.ignatius.com/IProducts/279045/the-christmas-star.aspx" target="_blank"><i>The Christmas Star</i> by Maite Roche</a><br />
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I'm Maite Roche's biggest fangirl. I'm not sure if this is officially a new title this year, or if I've just never bought this particular board book, but I have all the other books in this series so I was happy to keep my streak going with this title. Along with Roche's stunning artwork, the story of the three wise men is told simply through this book that's perfect for toddlers. But every other kid will stop to read it because of how beautiful it is. A great gift idea for all those godchildren on your list.<br />
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<a href="http://www.ignatius.com/IProducts/279046/my-little-catechism.aspx" target="_blank"><i>My Little Catechism</i></a><br />
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I wasn't sure how approachable and how deep a child's catechism could be presented but I think this one hits the mark quite nicely. The illustrations themselves are well done and fit the topic that is being discussed, and the book goes through the aspects of the Creed just like the format of a regular Catechism which I really appreciate. Definitely not dumbed down which is fabulous, but simplified and straightforward for young readers. This is a perfect book to have lying around the house for your elementary age kids, or those preparing for their First Communions as it gives short answers to great questions of faith in an age appropriate way which is a hard thing to find in Catechetical resources it seems.<br />
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<a href="http://www.ignatius.com/IProducts/279040/a-missal-for-toddlers.aspx?bCategory=TCH" target="_blank"><i>A Missal for Toddlers</i></a><br />
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A completely darling bubble board book for the toddlers in your life! It even has illustrations of kid's fighting in Mass - it doesn't get more realistic or accurate than that. The writing and prayers are sweet and the artwork bold and colourful. It grabbed my 4 and 3 year olds attentions right away and they seem to love it so far. A perfect godchild gift and also a perfect book to take to Mass for your little...fighters?<br />
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<a href="http://www.ignatius.com/IProducts/279073/a-gospel-advent-calendar.aspx" target="_blank">A Gospel Advent Calendar by Maite Roche</a><br />
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Maite Roche Advent Calendar?! Yes, yes, yes.<br />
A beautiful, large, sturdy foldout calendar with sweet little windows to open everyday till Christmas, as well as extra boxes to open for the feast days after. It also comes with a great booklet that has a story from Scripture, and a little prayer for each day to read to your children that goes along with each window they open. I think it's a beautiful and simple way to journey through Advent with your kids.<br />
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Hope these help you check off your lists for St. Nicholas Day and Christmas!<br />
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text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 3612px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span>Christy from fountains of homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130888193737436970noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3883970092765312318.post-3494764309709998942016-11-21T08:12:00.002-07:002016-11-21T08:37:15.327-07:00Little Traditions, Big Rewards: Living Liturgically to Grow Faith<br />
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I can hardly believe yesterday was the last Sunday of the liturgical calendar.<br />
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Maybe it's my kids getting older and wiser, or maybe it's me getting older and....tired-er?...but each passing year seems to fly by faster. And it's equally true for observing the liturgical calendar. I could swear we just made it through Lent, celebrated a joyous Easter, lived it up with the great feast of Pentecost, and now we're here just having celebrated the Feast of Christ the King.<br />
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Just the other day I completely missed the boat on Martinmas. Completely. Like, it was November 14 and the thought of St. Martin of Tours and lanterns just began to dawn in my mind. (The feast of St. Martin of Tours is November 11...3 days before I even contemplated it.) It is hard to keep up with all the major feast days.<br />
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I would love a personal liturgical assistant (I would also love for this mythical personal liturgical assistant to be <a href="http://www.catholicallyear.com/" target="_blank">Kendra</a>) who would prep, shop, craft, cook, and decorate for me prior to the actual feast day. I would love to wake up and have a kid's craft completely prepared for the kid's to work on without me having to even click into Pinterest. Or a gourmet ethnic meal simmering on the stove while I leisurely sip tea and eat bonbons.<br />
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But I'm living in a world where my mornings are devoted to school with my kids, the afternoons fly by with everything else that needs to get done, and by dinner time I am booking it to get some food on the dinner table. I have very, very little margin in my regular old, real, everyday life to be planning anything or decorating anything. I just still feel very maxed out. I'm out of survival mode, and living fully in maxed out mode.<br />
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But that doesn't mean that making memories with my family and instilling a love of the Church through observing the liturgical year is not a really important goal and value in my life. I am so glad that the little things I have done have cemented their way into my kid's little brains.<br />
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And let me tell you if you're currently in survival mode and/or just enjoying your baby or toddler, start now with the little traditions you want your family to love! Set up those Advent candles, celebrate your family's baptismal days with store bought cupcakes, let your little boys dress up as knights on the feast of St. George, whatever it is you like doing that is tied to the liturgical year, do it and start small.<br />
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You will be shocked at how quickly kids notice things that happen every year and start asking for them themselves. And the best thing is that little kids are so easily impressed! Take advantage of this and aim low. My kids love the special St. Patrick's books we own and love being able to find them in March. They love special nights when we just light candles while we say evening prayers for their baptism day or name day. Roasting marshmallows on the feast of Pentecost or the Nativity of St. John the Baptist is low work on your part and high excitement reward for littles!<br />
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I have been blown away with how traditions grab little hearts. <b>We think that we should constantly be trying new things, entertaining our kids with the new and exciting, but what little hearts crave is tradition. They long for stability, to know they can expect and trust in things in their lives. The little things we do to celebrate tradition, which is really what the liturgical calendar is all about, are what build the trust in the love of God that we are really trying to give to our children. </b><br />
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So we might not be able to do it all. We might not be able to celebrate all the feast days we want to, the way we want to. But I am telling you that the little things add up to big things in the eyes and hearts of our kids. So start small and start today.<br />
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And hey, maybe one day I'll be able to make lanterns for St. Martin and an Indian meal for St. Teresa of Calcutta -- I can dream!<br />
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<b>The best news I've got for you today is <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/CallHerHappy" target="_blank">Jenna's</a> new book. If you're looking for simple and straightforward ideas for the liturgical calendar <i><a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/CallHerHappy" target="_blank">The Lazy Liturgical</a></i> has got you completely covered. Jenna goes through the entire year, emphasizing the important feasts of the Church and different saint days and gives simple ideas that don't involve complicated crafts or tons of sugar. It's a great way to not stress about the liturgical year yourself, but to start traditions with your kids now. Head over to her <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/CallHerHappy" target="_blank">Etsy shop</a> to pick up your copy today!</b><br />
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<b>Today Jenna is generously giving one Fountains of Home reader a hard copy of her book, just enter away, you've got till Advent! </b><br />
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