Book Review: Courageous Love for Teens by Stacy Mitch with Emily Stimpson

Book Review: Courageous Love for Teens by Stacy Mitch with Emily Stimpson

This is a great bible study for any teen girl.  Each lesson has a theme and they are interwoven into the lesson. In the lesson the authors use bible readings, reflections, and a memory verse to help make it relevant in today's world. They use saint's lives and everyday experiences to help them see what the world sees and what God sees. It teaches how to be a Holy young woman and live in today's world. They use practical experiences and show how  to apply them in real life.  My daughter and I did this together.  We had wonderful, insightful discussions through this bible study.   I highly recommend for teenage girls and their moms.  

You can review the book here:
http://www.catholiccompany.com/courageous-love-teens-p1111857/?

Given book to Review by The Catholic Company
http://www.catholiccompany.com/

Graduation, where did the time go?

     This month has been a very emotional one.  My son graduated 8th grade. He is my youngest.  Last month he received his Confirmation.  Both huge events.  At the Graduation Mass I cried it was so beautiful.  He got an amazing blessing from our pastor the morning after. It was beautiful.  That I was tearing at. But this week I cried at a Court of Honor which I have never done. As the scoutmaster called the boys ranking up, my son went up.  I realized what an amazing young man he has become.  He has been in scouts since tiger scouts. I never questioned him going to boy scouts, but I never realized how much we needed it.  They take a young boy and through the years make wonderful young men of them. Scouts is a family not just an organization. I saw young men who I have known since they were young join the eagle ranks. Many of whom have helped my son get to his Star rank.
     I look at his picture when he was 3 and now he is 14.  Where did the time fly? We have had some amazing times. This past year has been rough.  We live in a shore community.  What Sandy did to our town I cannot describe it.  You have to live through it. But my son became my rock through it all.  I am so proud of him this year especially.  He soared like an eagle; took on challenges I wasn't sure he could do.  He did it with such ease and grace; I will never know how it happened. God has been his stronghold and ours.

Grateful for Sandy

     Yes you read that right.  I never thought I would say that ever.  I never fully appreciated this awesome town I live in until that day.  We had to evacuate and got damage.  Some is fixed and some hopefully in the near future will be fixed.  Coming home that day, I cried going through this awesome town I lived in for years.  It was like a war zone, but everyone came together.  People dropped boxes off, came and helped.  My neighbors I cannot thank enough for helping my husband screw down what was left of our roof. This town came together like I have never seen it, or maybe my eyes were just not opened.  God opened them through Sandy.  I am truly grateful for Father Bernandino helping us through that emotional/spiritual storm. He helped me see what God was showing me. I am very grateful for my family.  My rock, my husband helped me to see the glass half-full mot half-empty.  My son, my boy scout, did things he told me he learned in scouts.  Let just say, I am so grateful for scouts preparing him for a disaster such as this and smacking me into reality. My daughter, who was my venting board, she helped me go out for that Barnes and Nobles cafe break of coffee when I got too stressed. For all our family and friends who helped and prayed for us thank you for being there. For one of my friends who sent a care package of cleaners from Minnesota, and letting me vent anytime to her. I am very grateful for all three Catholic churches: Epiphany, Visitation, and Saint Dominic's who helped throughout this disaster.  
      My view on life changed with this.  I realized I was asked to make a change that  I was not certain I had the courage to make. I have always been a planner.  God certainly make me take a loop I was not prepared for. We are still not finished with this particular journey and I am not sure will it will land me. But I am truly impressed He thinks I am able to do it.