So last week, as I was jumping up and down about the cover of my newest book, I neglected to mention one key thing:
It’s not available for pre-order yet.
Don’t you worry. I will let you know when it is!
I have a whole pile of Lenten books to review, and the first of them, Simplifying the Soul: Lenten Practices to Renew Your Spirit, by Paula Huston, blew me away. (I reviewed it earlier this week.)
So if you can buy only one Lenten book, buy that one.
If you have room for another book or you’re looking for something for your family to use during Lent, could I suggest Welcome Risen Jesus?
It’s available at your local Catholic retailer or in a number of other places.
I’ve been thinking already about my Lenten plans. For whatever reason, my New Year didn’t ring in with any resolutions. I still feel sort of flat about it.
But Lent, LENT! I am formulating a plan.
(A plan, it should be noted, is almost always destined to fail. I know this. And yet I continue to persist, because it helps me to have a starting point, at least. Or that’s what I tell my planning-obsessive self.)
The crazy idea came to me to go offline during all of Lent.
It’s made even more crazy by the fact that the work I do means I have to be online at least some almost every day.
AND I have a book I’ll be promoting.
AND…well. You see where this is going, right?
Was that the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit?
So being a bit more conscious of my online time is definitely part of the plan.
Do you have Lent reflections to share? I was thinking of doing a series of guest posts here on my blog, and if you’re interested, feel free to email me your ideas at blog -a-t- snoringscholar .d.o.t. com.
In the “too cool not to share” category: My husband came home from work the other day and shared this with me. It’s a video of a baby’s reaction to hearing his mother’s voice for the first time. We watched it about four times in a row, and our almost 14-month-old just loved it. And so did I. (I’m going to go watch it just one more time…)
Here’s my pick of the week (an idea shamelessly stolen from Catholic Weekend, where, rumor has it, I’ll be appearing tomorrow morning!): Catholic Family Night.com. The idea is that you spend some time each week with your family studying the upcoming Mass readings.
From their website:
Want a fun and simple way to bring the Sunday mass readings alive? With just a few minutes’ preparation, your family can enjoy fun activities, discussion time and even a creative snack, but best of all, your family will remember the time spent together learning more about God.
After hearing the interview with Jeff Cavins on The Catholics Next Door podcast for January 3, I think this is something my family can actually handle. Maybe we’ll start it during Lent…
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Lent plans…lent plans…oh, I should get some of those soon. As for reflections, I should really think harder about that. I remember last year, Easter was toward the end of the semester, and by the time it rolled around, I was so busy with deadlines that I didn’t even bother with what I had given up!
Ah yes, the “Lent sneaks up on me even when I know it’s coming” thing. I know that ALL TOO WELL. Will pray for you!
I just got Donna Marie Cooper O’Boyle’s Bringing Lent Home with Mother Teresa and I just bought your Welcome Risen Jesus. Book-wise, I think I’m set for Lent for this year. I haven’t given Lent too much thought yet. I’ve been trying to figure out how to deal with the remaining 4 1/2 weeks before Lent. Ordinary Time really stunned me this year for some reason. I do know, though, that I do want to do some sort of offering jar with my kids this year.
Katherine, I have Donna-Marie’s book coming to me soon, and I can’t wait to review it! That other book you have…hmm. Don’t know about THAT one. 🙂
Offering jar…great idea! We might use that here too!
And I’m with you. Ordinary Time this year feels…NOT ordinary. Not in the least. Or maybe it’s just the wacky January weather we’re having (it’s finally acting like January, though, so maybe that will help).