As another year comes to a close, many of us are looking ahead at the new year with hope and resolution. We dream of what 2018 could hold for us and we set meaningful goals. And with the beginning of another new year, sisters, we invite you to join us once again for our annual Prayer Pledge! What is the Prayer Pledge? Every year, as the Blessed is She sisterhood, we dedicate the first month of the year to daily prayer. We want to begin the new year in union with Our Lord and to set Him as the center of our year and our lives. Ultimately, this daily prayer can be whatever you desire - the rosary, Eucharistic adoration, time with your Journaling Bible, time reading your favorite prayer book, reading the daily devotions, praying from the heart - whatever helps you communicate with Jesus and learn more about Him. We also invite you to join us in this year's Prayer Pledge theme. [bctt tweet="I'm participating in the 2018 #prayerpledge! Are you? #BISblog //"] This Year's Theme: Forms of Prayer To kick off 2018 in a spirit of prayer, we will be diving into the four different forms of prayer: adoration, contrition, thanksgiving, and supplication. These form a handy pneumonic "ACTS" to help us remember. The forms of prayer are useful for all of us. They help us make the prayers of the Church our own, they show us how to communicate with God when we don't know what to say, and they allow us to participate more fully in the Church's life and mission. The Different Forms of Prayer Each week, one writer will take us through one form of prayer. Every day, we will look at a different prayer from Catholic tradition that illustrates that particular form of prayer. We will reflect on that prayer and how we can incorporate the form of prayer into our relationship with Christ. Week One: Adoration Adoration is the first attitude of man acknowledging that he is a creature before his Creator. It exalts the greatness of the Lord who made us and the almighty power of the Savior who sets us free from evil (CCC 2628). Week Two: Contrition The first movement...is asking forgiveness... It is a prerequisite for righteous and pure prayer. A trusting humility brings us back into the light of communion between the Father and his Son Jesus Christ, and with one another... (CCC2631). Week Three: Thanksgiving Thanksgiving characterizes the prayer of the Church which, in celebrating the Eucharist, reveals and becomes more fully what she is... every event and need can become an offering of thanksgiving. (CCC 2637-2638). Week Four: Supplication When we share in God's saving love, we understand that every need can become the object of petition. Christ...is glorified by what we ask the Father in his name (CCC2633). How Do I Participate? Ready to pray with us?! The first step is to sign up below to receive the prayer pledge posts to your email each day. Then, pray and reflect in community with your BIS sisters: Facebook Regional Groups - We will be chatting about the Prayer Pledge throughout the month of January in our Facebook Regional Groups. If you haven't joined us there yet, find your region here. Selah Journal - The Selah Journal gives you lots of space to journal and reflect on the daily prayers. Participate on Social Media - Use the hashtag #prayerpledge to connect with new sisters and to see how everyone else is beginning their new year with prayer Instagram Live - Speaking of social media, every day during the prayer pledge, a different BIS writer will be going LIVE on Instagram to chat about that day's prayer and reflection. Printables - With each week, we will be offering a free downloadable resource that corresponds with that week's form of prayer. You can sign up below for today's free printable, which outlines the basics of the forms of prayer and offers some simple suggestions for prayer. Sisterhood of Prayer We're so excited to unite with you in prayer as we begin another blessed new year. Sign up below to make sure you don't miss any of the Prayer Pledge posts during January. We pray this month will be spiritually enriching for all of us as we strive to know, love, and serve the Lord. Come, Holy Spirit! [bctt tweet="Learn about the 2018 Blessed is She #PrayerPledge #BISblog //"] Written by Olivia Spears. Find out more about her here.

And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. // Colossians 3:15 Download and share this beautiful wallpaper from Erica of Be a Heart. Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

Holy Family of Nazareth, grant that our families too may be places of communion and prayer, authentic schools of the Gospel and small domestic churches. Holy Family of Nazareth, may families never again experience violence, rejection and division; may all who have been hurt or scandalized find ready comfort and healing. Holy Family of Nazareth, make us once more mindful of the sacredness and inviolability of the family, and its beauty in God’s plan. Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Graciously hear our prayer. Amen. -Pope Francis (source) Reflect For every believer, and especially for Christian families, the humble dwelling place in Nazareth is an authentic school of the Gospel. Here we admire, put into practice, the divine plan to make the family an intimate community of life and love; here we learn that every Christian family is called to be a small "domestic church" that must shine with the Gospel virtues. Recollection and prayer, mutual understanding and respect, personal discipline and community asceticism and a spirit of sacrifice, work and solidarity are typical features that make the family of Nazareth a model for every home. Pope Saint John Paul II (source) Listen For musical inspiration for your restful Sunday, listen to our BIS Rests playlist. I recommend praying with “Holy Family” by Danielle Rose. [bctt tweet="BIS Rests: Holy + Family //"] Curated by Elise Howe. You can find out more about her here.

The first Christmas I remember receiving Christmas cards addressed to me personally was the year I moved to Denver. Delighted by this very adult practice of sending and receiving Christmas cards, I tore them open with delight when I got home from work each evening, savoring the familiar faces in the pictures and scripts in the margins. The only one I can remember anymore was a hand-drawn depiction of a young, brown family, holding their infant son under the shelter of a graffiti-covered bus stop. It was blank on the back, no further explanation provided. The friend who sent the card was living in the St. Louis Catholic Worker house. She shared that this was the image one of her youth group students drew when asked to create a picture of a modern-day Holy Family. An Unlikely Savior As Catholics, we lean hard into the story of the Incarnation — God made flesh, physically delivered into the muck of everyday life, in the midst of poverty and vulnerability. Perfection amidst imperfections. We reverence every aspect of this story: the Annunciation, the Visitation, Joseph’s dream, the stable, the manger, the swaddling clothes, the unlikely family who received the Savior into their lives with complete humility and trust. On the Feast of the Holy Family, our relationship with this family is certainly worth some further thought. Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and Us At this point, our churches are bedazzled with crèches, poinsettias, glittering gold and white garments, cloths, and vestments. Our noses detect the lingering smell of incense. Choirs are singing out the joyful news, all because our God chose us. He chose to come to us in a way that we might understand. Born in a body that we would recognize. Born into a family we could relate to. In our own ways, we re-create the beautiful scene of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus with live nativities, posadas, our mantle crèches, the carefully-chosen designs on our Christmas cards, and in our illuminated yard decor. This practice of remembering is the sacred, holy work of our souls. Our participation in these traditions put us back in touch with the story that reminds us who (and Whose) we are. And yet there is a temptation to perfect the scene, because we are talking about Jesus and family after all, and because we are uncomfortable with the idea that Jesus’ family might have had an un-photogenic moment. In our own ways, we dress up the one who arrived bare. We can focus only on the story’s beauty and neglect the coinciding rawness of the Christ-child’s arrival. In the same way that imagery can distract us from the core of the Holy Family, I have found that it can also call me back to it. Would We Recognize the Holy Family Today? Personally I have found that Salesian Brother Mickey O’Neil McGrath is an artist worth keeping an eye on during this season, especially when my own depictions of Christmas become too glamorous. A talented iconographer, Brother Mickey creates a new icon of the Holy Family each year, many based on events occurring within the year. Some of his most notable works are Syrian Mary, Joseph and Jesus or Resting in Flight. The images are both playful and stirring in their vibrancy and depth. They give a tangible identity to the vague characters we have imagined in our mind's’ eye. The question his work poses is an important one: Who is it that personifies a family on the move? Ostracized? One for whom we might just not be able to make an exception? How are we imagining Jesus’ unexpected arrival this year? Truthfully, I don’t know exactly who this is for me. Are they the ones closest to me in my own family, or those I’ve kept at a distance and struggle to see in a "holy light"? I have a hunch that follow-through on my part with any of these individuals would be both a welcomed gesture and an offering that the Incarnate God might find pleasing. We are only four days into the Christmas season. As we savor this week of celebration, the Spirit seems to be nudging each of us to recognize the Holy Family not in their perfection, but in their flesh. Are there people in my life toward whom I’ve struggled to make an exception? Extend hospitality? Who have arrived inconveniently? Unexpectedly? These are our opportunities for life-altering, unscripted, living nativity moments. Who are the unlikely blessings in your life? [bctt tweet="Unlikely Blessings: Looking for the Holy Family Today #BISblog //"]

The word scrupulous is usually used to describe someone who is extremely thorough and attentive to detail. It’s meant to be a compliment. However, for many Catholics, being scrupulous is something else entirely. What is Scrupulosity? Scrupulosity is a type of religious OCD which is becoming more and more common. For those who have never experienced this themselves, imagine a dose of “Catholic guilt” on steroids. It’s more than having a guilty conscience; it’s having a crippling conscience. A person who is suffering from scrupulosity becomes obsessed with their most insignificant weaknesses and sins, so much so that it becomes their primary preoccupation. With this mindset comes an intense fear of failing God, which results in the inability to make even minute decisions. More than anything, these persons desire to please God and follow His commandments, yet they remain convinced of their constant failure. Because of this, it’s hard - almost impossible - to have a loving, personal relationship with God. Prayer and the sacraments put them face-to-face with anxiety and despair. [bctt tweet="Scrupulosity is more than having a guilty conscience; it’s having a crippling one. #BISblog //"] My Experience with Scrupulosity My scrupulosity manifested when I was eighteen years old, the end product of a manipulative relationship. Because of the abuse, I couldn’t function properly. I didn’t trust my own understanding of reality enough to make decisions. At the same time, I was growing in my faith and wanted so badly to be the woman God wanted me to be. My life centered around being sinless. I only wanted to please God, but I was convinced that any little mistake would have a cosmic impact on my personal salvation. I became diligent, thorough, and attentive to detail with every single aspect of my life. I couldn’t stop myself. If I failed to meet my own standards I became paralyzed with guilt. I was sure that every single failure on my part was a mortal sin. Even mishaps that weren’t my fault had a crippling effect. Once, knowing that I wanted to attend the noon Mass on my college campus, I made sure that I finished my lunch within the time frame needed to keep the fast. Halfway through Mass, a piece of spinach dislodged itself from in-between my teeth. Without thinking, I swallowed it. Looking back now, I know that I had done nothing wrong and I still could have received Communion. Unfortunately, the sickness had too strong a hold on me. I was convinced that I had violated the fast. I panicked and had a full-blown anxiety attack because I was unable to receive Him. Scrupulous Saints If you’re someone who is struggling with scrupulosity (and maybe you didn’t even know it until now), please know that you are not alone. Many canonized saints have struggled with scrupulosity and self-condemnation. St. Maximilian Kolbe’s scrupulosity was so severe that his superior assigned a fellow priest to accompany him throughout his day. Anytime Maximilian had a condemning thought, he was required to voice it to his brother priest. This priest would then show Maximilian where his feelings had led him astray. St. Alphonsus di Ligouri, bishop and Doctor of the Church, is said to have exhausted every confessor in Naples in his search for relief from his own condemning thoughts. Other scrupulous saints include St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Katherine Drexel, St. Francis de Sales, and St. Ignatius of Loyola. They are proof that with the help of God’s grace, we can truly find relief from this burden of scrupulosity. Healing from Scrupulosity In addition to the example of the saints, here are five things that assisted me on my own path to healing. 1. Total Consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary Convinced that I was a hopeless sinner, I turned to the Blessed Mother. I had heard good things about consecrating oneself to Our Lady, but I was most interested in her protection. Since I was fairly certain that I was going to hell, I thought that “buddying-up” with Mary might increase my chances of making it to heaven. Ironically, I almost didn’t follow through with the consecration. I didn’t feel as though I had been zealous enough in my prayer. I was ready to redo it all but my confessor forbid it. Out of obedience to him, I finished my consecration. In all sincerity, I felt a change in myself the very next day. It was no fix-all, but I was no longer in the depths of despair. 2. The St. Benedict Medal Self-condemnation is a symptom of scrupulosity. After my consecration, I started to be able to decipher between God’s voice and the voice of the enemy. Around the same time, I was also introduced to the St. Benedict medal. Containing many different blessings and prayers, my favorite aspect of the medal appears on the back. The Latin reads, “Vade Retro Satana, Nunquam Suade Mihi Vana — Sunt Mala Quae Libas, Ipse Venena Bibas.” In English this means: Be gone Satan! Do not tell me your lies. Evil are your words, drink your own poison! Whenever critical thoughts began to surface, I found myself repeating these words and I experienced some relief. [bctt tweet="Be gone Satan! Do not tell me your lies. Evil are your words, drink your own poison! #BISblog //"] 3. The Grace of the Sacraments When you’re dealing with scrupulosity, church might be one of the last places you want to be. However, because you’re in need of healing, church is exactly where you need to be. For me, frequenting the sacraments despite my intense fear of God was my greatest act of faith in God’s mercy. Monthly confession helped me to trust in God’s clemency. It also made it clear to me that many of the things I was confessing weren’t actually sins. Once, as a penance, the priest even told me to “stop doing that” in regards to my self-condemnation. It worked. After all, I had to obey him if I wanted to be forgiven. The Eucharist became my life-blood, and gave me a whole new understanding of the sacrifice of the Mass. Never in my whole life had I prayed these words so fervently: “Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.” After four months of receiving the Eucharist daily, I realized a change had taken place in me; I was far less anxious throughout my day. Lastly, asking a priest to administer the Anointing of the Sick was one of the smartest things I did. Scrupulosity is an illness, and this sacrament exists specifically to help those individuals who are struggling because of physical and mental ailments. It helped me to accept my cross and unite my sufferings with Christ. I actually felt better physically because of these graces. [bctt tweet="Frequenting the sacraments...was my greatest act of faith in God’s mercy. #BISblog //"] 4. Personal Prayer This is one of the most beneficial things I did for myself. By spending time talking with God intentionally every day, I learned to recognize His voice. A personal relationship slowly blossomed. I learned that He is good and loving, not Someone who is waiting to judge my every move. 5. Professional Help Unable to find a licensed medical professional in my area, I sought out a spiritual director. He was able to help me see that my scrupulosity was the result of incorrect patterns of thought that had been ingrained as habit. For me, these thought patterns had developed during that abusive relationship. Without the assistance and affirmation of this priest, I would not have been able to move forward as quickly in my healing process. Spiritual directors and mental health professionals are trained to specifically help individuals who find themselves in these types of situations. If you have access to a priest or religious who is also a mental health professional, that would be the ideal. If you find yourself in a similar situation, do not be ashamed to reach out for help. If you’re someone who struggles with scrupulosity, please do not despair. There is hope. There is relief. You can beat this. Just stay close to Jesus. [bctt tweet="If you struggle with scrupulosity, do not despair. There is hope. There is relief. #BISblog //"] Have you ever struggled with scrupulosity? How did you overcome it? [bctt tweet="Scrupulosity: When Catholic Guilt Goes Wrong #BISblog //"]

One late spring evening in 2015, I found myself curled up in a recliner at my father’s bedside watching It’s a Wonderful Life. For those of you who haven’t seen the film, it is the classic Christmas story of a man named George Bailey. He loses the meaning in his life and then finds it again through the help of his guardian angel (Clarence), the steadfastness of his wife (Mary), and the lasting friendships within his small town of Bedford Falls. For my dad and me, this off-season viewing - with the windows open to the spring breeze and the crickets chirping outside - had a much deeper meaning. Dad was just two days from death, and the Jimmy Stewart classic was one of his favorites. Though his eyes were closed, I knew he knew the voices of George and Mary Bailey, Zuzu, and Mr. Potter nearly as well as he knew those of his own family. Gratitude Isn't a Feeling (Thankfully) Years earlier, as an angsty teenager, I would roll my eyes when the classic would return to television at Christmastime and my dad would insist that we stop channel-surfing and watch It’s a Wonderful Life to the very, very “Hark-the-Herald-Angels-Sing” end. I didn’t understand why that film meant so much to him. That is to say, I didn’t understand until I watched him carry the crosses of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease and I started to see in him a little of what I saw in George Bailey: a sacrificial heart who gave to others and perhaps wondered at times what the meaning was in the life he lived. Perhaps he asked, like George, why certain parts of life were so very hard. Maybe he, too, asked, “What have I to be grateful for?” In a particular way this time of year, this question about gratitude can be a difficult one to ask, and even more difficult to answer. Sometimes it feels next to impossible to acknowledge the things for which we are grateful when harder things rise up and seem to bowl us over with their intensity. Our hearts tend to beat in sync with George Bailey’s. His burden in the film was financial, but it could have just as easily been our crosses of infertility, our losses of loved ones, our marital strains, our children separated from the Church, our mental and physical illnesses, our overwork, our underwork, our longing for our vocation, and our broken relationships (not to mention the things that break our hearts anytime we simply open the newspaper). It’s hard to be grateful. As I approach 2018, a full 2½ years after my Dad’s death, I’m still aware of this struggle for gratitude. Tears come to my eyes when I take note of the “fingerprints” he has left on my childhood home - like the coat hooks at our front entryway that he made for his grandchildren before his memory began to fail, or his work bench in the basement still cluttered with varnishes and saws and nails for every job under the sun. Sometimes it’s hard to be grateful when I feel that loss so acutely. If I’m being honest, sometimes I’m really sad about entering into another new year without him. I believe in heaven and I love our God. I have faith that my dad is interceding for me and my family from heaven, and yet I still wish he was here with me. It’s that simple. Ending with Gratitude So in the midst of the sadnesses that all of us experience in one way or another, what can we do to honor the year with gratitude? Acknowledge the small blessings. Take a moment to write down at least one thing you are grateful for as you enter 2018. It doesn’t have to be big. It’s easy to forget the small things in life when you are waiting on some big change in life, but our God is a God of small things: Who showed you kindness this Christmas? What song at the Christmas Mass gave you the most peace? What is one beautiful memory you have from all of 2017? In my first Christmas after my dad’s death, I didn’t feel like anyone could possibly understand my grief. My one gratitude was found at midnight Mass when we sang “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”. The third verse made me weep: “Hail the heav’n-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of righteousness! Light and life to all He brings, Ris’n with healing in His wings: Mild He lays His glory by, Born that man no more may die; Born to raise the sons of earth; Born to give them second birth…” I had never paid any attention to anything beyond the first or second verse, but it was as though verse three was meant for me! It was our Lord’s way of saying, “I came, Karen, that you might know that your dad’s death is not the end.” It didn’t make my hurt go away, but it did make it easier to bear. Verse three was one thing I could look back on and be so grateful for. Be honest about your hurt. A friend of mine acknowledged on Facebook recently that 2017 “had not been his favorite.” Acknowledging a hard patch in your life doesn’t mean that you are ungrateful or unfaithful. Sometimes the ugly and the beautiful go hand in hand - just look at the Cross! My dad taught me that sometimes the greatest of gifts come in the most unexpected of places. I’m grateful I got to curl up next to his bedside and watch It’s a Wonderful Life one last time with him. I’m grateful for the beauty and the difficulty of that. I’m grateful that I’ve learned to say, “This year was really hard, Lord. Help me to know Your closeness as I begin again.” Look forward with hope. Remember the words from the Book of Revelation: “Behold, I make all things new.” 2017 may have been hard, yes, but in a few days we begin anew. What are your hopes? Whisper them to our Lord. And if you are too weary to hope, ask Him to plant His hopes for you in your heart for the new year. [bctt tweet="If you are too weary to hope, ask Him to plant His hopes for you in your heart. #BISblog //"] The Fruit of Gratitude is Hope Sisters, I know exceedingly well how hard it is to practice gratitude at year’s end. The truth is we won’t ever receive the gift that George Bailey received; that is, to know this side of heaven the impression our presence has on the world. But we will see the gifts of grace and mercy abound as signs of His love for us. As this year draws to a close, I will yet again watch It’s a Wonderful Life in memory of my dad. As George Bailey discovered the gifts of broken banisters, and Zuzu’s petals, and the gift of friendship within his town of Bedford Falls, I’ll be thinking about the the parallels in my own life and hope that I might see them with greater attentiveness. As you reflect on your own gratitude for 2017 (and perhaps your own viewing of It’s a Wonderful Life), I simply want to offer you the reminder, as angel Clarence did for George, that your presence, your life, is a sheer gift. The Lord sees you, cherishes you, upholds you, and calls you His own. Know, too, that the Blessed is She team is grateful for you and grateful that you are here, reading this now, as we prepare to welcome the new year together. May we all find, like George Bailey did, that there is much to be grateful for. What’s a small thing for which you are most grateful? [bctt tweet="What My Dad (and George Bailey) Taught Me About Gratitude #BISblog //"] Karen Schultz hails from the Land of 10,000 lakes, where she is often found in or near one of them. As a doula, lactation educator, and FertilityCare Practitioner, she finds joy in helping women to embrace the gift of their bodies. Downtime is found in quiet adoration chapels, farmers markets and gardens, listening to bluegrass music, and embracing the diversity of Minnesota’s seasons. You can find out more about her here.

My hope is that you are leaving this year with a sense of love, gratitude, and inspiration, and that you are energized in mind, body, and spirit for all that the coming months have to offer. Many of us exit the holiday season in a flurry that's equal parts chaos and merriment - hands raised here! - and it can take a moment (or a month) to feel grounded again. I've outlined a few of the guidelines I employ to set meaningful new year goals. Meaningful New Year Goals 1. Clean Your Spirit This means different things to different people, but can start by carving time into your day for prayer, reflection, and self-love. I've found prayer journaling and "brain-dumping" before bed an incredibly helpful way to ground myself. I encourage you to find 10 minutes at some point in your day to breathe deeply and focus on the truth that you are worthy. You are loved. You are enough. Focus on gratitude. Schedule time every month for service work. This could be anything from preparing meals for a local homeless shelter to volunteering at a nursing home or community center. Life is busy and if we don't make the time to shift focus from our own needs for a bit, we're less likely to take the time to actually do so. I've started to plan each month's service work a month in advance, so that it gets priority in my schedule. 2. Clean Your Space Take holiday decorations down and stow them for next year (after the Epiphany, of course!). Is anyone else guilty of keeping those lights up well into February? Not this year! By choosing to head full-tilt into 2018, you're more likely to feel excited, empowered, and resolute in the potential the New Year has to offer. Do a quick inventory of what's come in over the holiday season, and what needs to go out. It can be easy to shove old items into the abyss of your closet and put the new items in daily reach, but I challenge you to be honest with yourself about what's essential and what's not. If you received a gift that serves the purpose of an old item, consider donating the old one to someone who could use it more than you. Don't wait for spring to deep clean your space. While it's incredibly satisfying to throw all the windows open and beat your rugs on the back porch (do people actually do this anymore?) at the first signs of spring, it's just as fruitful to keep your space clean year-round. I do a "Spring Cleaning: Lite Version" every other weekend in our apartment by choosing one room or closet that really needs some love and going to town. If that's not reasonable for you, choose the room you spend the most time in or that you use most for productivity (like an office, your kitchen, etc.) and deep clean and declutter it. I assure you, if you create a space that allows your mind to be restful and your spirit full, you'll find it easier to remain focused and resolute. [bctt tweet="Be honest with yourself about what's essential and what's not. #BISblog //"] 3. Clean Your Slate I know there are mixed feelings about putting emphasis on a "New Year’s Resolution" as some say that you shouldn't wait for January 1st to begin working toward your goal. And I don't disagree! There really is no better time than "now" to begin making a change. That said, I have always found it extremely helpful to set detail-specific goals in a measurable way. While frequency, pounds, dollars, etc. are all ways to measure a goal, my favorite measuring stick is time. Why? Because most goals are achieved only through a pattern of consistency - and sometimes just "showing up" is the most important box to check. Time is one of the strongest indicators of success and highlighters of improvement. You can find dozens of Bible passages that stress the necessity of perseverance; so by setting a goal that can be measured over time (if even secondarily), you are setting yourself up for success. The time will pass anyway, you might as well use it to grow. Give yourself grace. It's easy to focus more on what we have not (yet) accomplished than on what good we have already done. For personalities like mine, that's not always a bad thing, as it serves as motivation to continue working, to continue progressing. However, I encourage you to challenge yourself to see the glass as half-full and to strive for progress, not perfection. Remember: if you've already identified an area for growth, you've begun the process of growing. What are your goals for the new year? Share in the comments below! May you have a happy and blessed New Year! [bctt tweet="Setting Meaningful New Year Goals #BISblog //"] Written by Erin Lowrey. you can find out more about her here.

Today... the Church contemplates the Holy Family. At the school of Nazareth every family learns to be a workshop of love, unity and openness to life. // Pope Saint John Paul II Download and share this beautiful wallpaper from Tara of Frameworthy Designs, and Merry Christmas Eve, sweet sisters. Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

She was five, sure of the facts, and recited them with slow solemnity convinced every word was revelation. She said they were so poor they had only peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to eat and they went a long way from home without getting lost. The lady rode a donkey, the man walked, and the baby was inside the lady. They had to stay in a stable with an ox and an ass (hee-hee) but the Three Rich Men found them because a star lited the roof Shepherds came and you could pet the sheep but not feed them. Then the baby was borned. And do you know who he was? Her quarter eyes inflated to silver dollars, The baby was God. And she jumped in the air whirled round, dove into the sofa and buried her head under the cushion which is the only proper response to the Good News of the Incarnation. -John Shea, The Hour of the Unexpected Reflect The incarnation began with Jesus and it has never stopped…God takes on flesh so that every home becomes a church, every child becomes the Christ-child, and all food and drink become a sacrament. God’s many faces are now everywhere, in flesh, tempered and turned down, so that our human eyes can see him. Ronald Rolheiser, OMI Listen For musical inspiration for your restful Sunday, listen to our BIS Rests playlist. I also recommend listening to "The Gift" by Aselin Debison. [bctt tweet="BIS Rests: Born + Transformed //"]

If my bookshelves could talk, they would tell you of my love of books. Yes, I am a bit of a bibliophile, and I enjoy reading a good book with a steaming cup of tea. And while I have read many good books over the years, very few enter the category of “best books.” You know the ones. The books that are more highlighted than not, the ones you return to again and again, the ones you praise from the rooftops. When a book like that comes around, I can’t put it down, but I also don’t want it to end. This fall, I read such a book, and it has earned a prominent spot on my list of “best books.” Jesus Approaches Review Jesus Approaches: What Contemporary Women Can Learn about Healing, Freedom & Joy from the Women of the New Testament is the newest book by Catholic author and speaker, Elizabeth (Liz) Kelly (you can find it here). In it, she writes lovingly and directly to the woman’s heart. In each chapter, Liz shares familiar stories of New Testament women who encounter Jesus in a very personal way. And through their encounters, Jesus heals, transforms, and sets them free to flourish. She also incorporates moving accounts from her own life and stories of women she has met along the way. Throughout the narrative, Liz writes with an openness, honesty, and vulnerability that few books contain. Jesus Approaches begins with the story of St. Mary Magdalene. Liz expands on her possible life before encountering Christ and on how her life blossoms fully and completely after Jesus heals her - so much so that He appears to her after the Resurrection! Healing and Restoration From the story of Magdalene, Liz draws readers into a conversation about the reality of the deep and painful wounds we experience throughout life. She is courageous enough to share her own story of woundedness and the process of healing through which Jesus led her. She goes on to explain that in order to heal, we need to completely surrender our wounds to Jesus, and that can be hard. "It can be the hardest thing when intuitively it should be the easiest… Our pain is precious to us… It defines us and marks us and tells us what matters. And to let it go can feel like saying, ‘This doesn’t matter to me anymore.’ But that’s not what Jesus is asking. He is not asking us to let go of our identity or to deny what is precious to us or to say that our pain is unimportant… Instead, he is asking us to give him this most precious pain so he may put comfort in its place. He is asking us to anchor our identity in him, he who is able to redeem all pain, make it worthy, powerful, transformative, a force for good in the world and in us, to give it a proper and eternal horizon.” From a place of pain, Jesus meets us and calls us by name, just like He did with Magdalene. And from that place “he draws us into the fullness of our true identity as redeemed by the resurrected one.” While the book openly discusses the reality of suffering—because we all experience it in some form or another—Jesus Approaches is profoundly hopeful. Liz even lends readers her hope, when ours may seem diminished. “If your hope has vanished, you can borrow mine.” [bctt tweet="From a place of pain, Jesus meets us and calls us by name... #BISblog //"] Real Hope for Real Women In the proceeding chapters, we meet other Biblical women who encounter a very approachable Jesus, such as Jairus’ daughter, the woman with the hemorrhage, St. Martha, and the Blessed Mother. Some topics within Jesus Approaches include motherhood, single life, chronic illness, forgiveness, and perfectionism. Liz’s thoughtful planning of this book and her heartfelt writing style reflect her genuine understanding of women’s gifts, struggles, joys, and sorrows. She writes with compassion and reverence for women and our personal (and shared) experiences. More than any other theme in Jesus Approaches, Liz writes with conviction about how deeply and passionately Jesus loves us. And He shows us His love through the stories of the New Testament women. To Jesus, women were (and are) essential to Salvation History. Women intimately witnessed two of the most important events in history—the Incarnation and the Resurrection. He befriended women at a time when we were considered second-class citizens (or worse). And today, Jesus still invites women into relationship with Him. “The world needs us—it needs you, needs me, needs us to be the people we were created to be… This is an era that desperately needs a faithful Christian woman, not a perfect woman, not a woman who has never failed nor fallen, but a woman who has fallen in love with the truth, a woman in love with Jesus… Jesus is not waiting for you to be perfect; he is waiting for you to say yes.” [bctt tweet="Jesus is not waiting for you to be perfect; He is waiting for you to say yes. #BISblog //"] An Opportunity for Community Jesus Approaches is more than a book to read or study. With guided mediations at the end of each chapter, it also invites readers into the practice of praying with Scripture. In addition, it provides discussion questions, making this a great book for a small group to read together. Yes, Jesus Approaches is one of the best books I have ever read. I praise it from the rooftops (or at least from this blog), and I know I will return again and again to my well-loved and highlighted copy. For more information about Elizabeth Kelly’s writing, please visit EMK Books. Blessed is She readers can receive FREE SHIPPING on any of Liz's books by entering code "BlessedAmI" at checkout! What have you been reading lately? [bctt tweet="Jesus Approaches Review: Learning from Women in the New Testament #BISblog //"]

Let’s be honest here. The holidays can be hard. Sometimes Christmas is really not "the most wonderful time of the year.” In fact, this season can be a very painful and overwhelming time for many people. Perhaps this is the real reason that Jesus comes to us at Christmas. We need Him. We need Him in the difficulty and in the pain that often arises during this time. We need Him to help us through loneliness and loss during the holidays when we are supposed to be in the happy, cheery, perfect “Christmas spirit” all the time. Joy and Pain Coexist Christmas truly is a beautiful time of year. There are so many special experiences with family, time with friends, the beauty of decorations and lights, and the mystery of the Incarnation, and the gift of celebrating with one another. But what about when these days of celebrating love, unity, and togetherness brings up the reality of spaces in our lives where we have not experienced love, unity, and togetherness? Those spaces where we feel quite alone? What about when Christmas cheer can be painful in the face of pain or loss? This season seems to shine light on the dark places where we are not feeling the joy and unity that the Christmas songs keep singing about. It can bring to the surface those painful spaces of loneliness and loss during the holidays which we try to hide or deny during other times of the year. Maybe That's You? I’m thinking of the woman who has lost a child, and so the joy of opening presents on Christmas Day is tinged with pain over the one who is not present. I’m thinking of the woman who longs to find that special someone, and although everything is fine on the outside, she experiences the loneliness of another Christmas and New Year without being in a relationship. I’m thinking of the woman who is struggling in her marriage or romantic relationship, and true love and connection seem impossible right now. I’m thinking of the woman who longs for a baby, and the talk about Baby Jesus being born can worsen her silent grief. I’m thinking of the woman with the less-than-ideal family, who uses all her strength to keep it together in the midst of all the drama, disconnection, and dysfunction of family gatherings. I’m thinking of the woman whose husband (or friend or family member) is deployed and will not be able to see them. I’m thinking of the woman whose health gets in the way of truly celebrating the season as she’d like because of weakness, dietary restrictions, physical pain or lack of energy. I’m thinking of the woman who is so stressed about finances and the reality that she may not be able to buy Christmas presents for her family this year. I’m thinking of the woman who is caring for her ailing parent or sick child, who is saddened by the uncertainty of how many more Christmases they will spend together. I’m thinking of the woman who, although she has people around her, doesn’t feel like she really belongs amidst all the small talk and forced smiles. I’m thinking of the woman who is really blessed, but who is also really overwhelmed with all the busyness, preparation, and responsibility. I’m thinking of any woman who just needs a little space of peace, quiet, and rest this season. If you are that woman experiencing some type of loneliness and loss during the holidays, I am with you, and you are not alone. I do not know what kinds of challenges you might be experiencing this holiday season, but I do know that whatever you are feeling and experiencing, it is OK. If you are hurting this season, it is OK. If you are in the Christmas spirit this year and doing great, that is OK. If you find yourself not completely happy on Christmas Day, if it's really not "the most wonderful time of the year," it is really OK. If you are that woman, consider these steps. How to Cope with Loneliness and Loss During the Holidays 1. Accept. Accept the truth that Christmas is not always an easy time. In moments of discomfort, allow yourself to be honest about the fact that you are feeling pain. It’s fine if you are hurting. It’s also fine to feel that. Simply acknowledging that we are hurting can be a great support in time of discomfort or pain. 2. You are not alone. Despite smiles, toasts, and Christmas cheer, many others also find the Christmas season to be challenging. You are not alone. Perhaps you can share with a friend the truth that you acknowledged to yourself. Is there someone you could let know if you feel you are struggling? Remember, your Blessed is She sisters are here for you, too. You can always reach out for prayer, support, community, and friendship. 3. Ask yourself: What can I do to take care of myself? In times of stress and busyness, self-care can often be the first thing to go. But taking care of yourself is really the most important thing if things are rough for you right now. Loneliness and loss during the holidays can take a toll on us. What is something little or big you can do for yourself today and this week that might help? 4. Practice gratitude. What are you grateful for? Sometimes simply taking two minutes to list a few things you are grateful for can have amazing effects to help switch our perspective into a positive attitude. Consider writing down 3-5 things you are grateful for during this season. (Perhaps a gratitude journal can become a new practice for you in 2018 as well.) Tell a friend what you are grateful for. Tell God what you are grateful for as well. Thank and praise Him for the good things, even if you are not feeling it. Practicing gratitude can often work miracles. 5. Consider Mary, Joseph, and Jesus. Christmas was not necessarily "the most wonderful time of the year” for Mary and Joseph either. Of course there is great joy of the birth of Jesus; however, Mary was nine months pregnant and had to ride on a donkey to Bethlehem. Once she was there, she didn’t even have a comfortable or very safe place for her to give birth to her son, the Son of God. Then after Jesus was born, Herod ordered a decree that all baby boys under two years of age be killed, and Mary and Joseph had to immediately flee to Egypt to keep Jesus safe. Even for the Holy Family, this season was filled with great stress, loss, and trauma. Whatever you are experiencing this season, you are not alone. Whether this is a joyful or painful time for you, or any combination in between, may Jesus’ presence fill all the spaces of loss and loneliness during the holidays, however great or small. [bctt tweet="Whatever you are experiencing this season, you are not alone. #BISblog //"] Are you experiencing loneliness and loss during the holidays this year? We're praying for you. How else can we support you? [bctt tweet="Not the Most Wonderful Time of the Year: Loneliness and Loss During the Holidays #BISblog //"] Mary Catherine Craige enjoys spending her time creating art, writing, and playing her Irish harp. As a life coach, she encourages and challenges women in all walks of life to more deeply discover their purpose and live their full potential. You can find out more about her here.

Let me tell you a little story. Maybe you’ve heard it before, but stick with me. There once was a lovely couple expecting a baby. For reasons beyond their control, they had to go on a long and difficult journey right before the woman was to be delivered. Now, this couple knew no one in the town to which they were traveling and, due to the woman’s condition slowing them down, they were pretty late to the gathering and couldn’t find anywhere to stay. Again and again, they reached out to people, hoping that they would find a welcome and that their needs would be met. It was getting later and later, and they were losing hope. Enter a humble innkeeper. He was taking care of the guests already overflowing his small establishment when the man and woman knocked on his door. At first, he told them that he, too, had no vacancy. There was no more room in his inn. But then, he saw the woman’s condition and was moved to help them. He had a stable. It wasn’t very nice or clean, but it was shelter. If they were willing to overlook the inconveniences, he was willing to extend his hospitality to these weary travelers. He did this without formality and without concern about how the type of lodging might reflect on him. He saw a need and he generously gave what he had to the strangers. I think we all know how the story ends. What is Christian Hospitality? Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed you, for the glory of God (Romans 15:7). What do you think of when you hear the word hospitality? Maybe you think of dinner parties or a beautiful home. Restaurants or hotels might come to mind. You’re not wrong! Webster’s Dictionary defines hospitality as "the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers." So, what is Christian hospitality? I’d venture that it is exactly as Webster describes, but done for the greater honor and glory of God. In other words, it’s all about your motive and purpose. Any time you welcome people into your home - no matter how messy or neat, large or small, informal or formal - you are sharing Christian hospitality. But how should you spend your time while others are there? Martha, Martha My husband and I recently hosted a birthday party for a friend. About thirty people attended the gathering at our home. I was constantly flitting around tending to this and refilling that while everyone else ate and talked and laughed. One of our guests, a very sweet deacon, approached me and said, “Have a seat, Martha. Don’t you see that everything is going well and people are having a good time?” Message received. I was so busy trying to make things perfect (and inadvertently placing the focus on myself and how my home was to be perceived) that I had lost focus on the Christ-centered reason for our party (making our friend feel special and enjoying fellowship together). As they continued their journey he entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary [who] sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her (Luke 10:38-42). The Pros and Cons of Entertaining Not everyone is given the charism of hospitality in the classic sense, and that’s fine! However, we are all called to show love to our neighbor. Jesus told us that whatever we do to the least of his people, we do to Him. Shouldn’t that always be our goal? Sure, welcoming people into our home can be nerve-wracking. Doing so during the joyous chaos of the holiday season can be even more difficult. And what if you are an introvert? Or a tiny army of toddlers makes it impossible to keep your house clean? Maybe you think your home is too small, funds are too tight, or your capabilities in the kitchen are less “Julia Child” and more just “child.” These are all valid concerns; but don't let them stop you from extending Christian hospitality. Just in case the thought of welcoming people in during arguably the craziest time of year makes you break out in hives, let me give you a few easy, helpful hints: Keep some cookie dough in the fridge to bake on a last-minute basis (storebought is just fine, ladies!). Company dropping by? Neighbors bring you a holiday treat and you need to reciprocate? You’re covered! Find a candle or essential oil combination you think smells divine and have it at the ready. Candlelight and homey smells are great for making your house feel welcoming. Keep tasty beverages on hand. Pick up some holiday coffee, tea, and creamer and a nice bottle of wine. That way, you’re prepared to offer any guests refreshment no matter what time of day surprise visits happen! Take just a few minutes each day to clean up your entryway. It’s so much easier to open the door in a confident and loving way when you don’t have to kick seventeen pairs of shoes out of the way. Opening your home during the holidays is an excellent opportunity to practice the corporal works of mercy. You’ll get the chance to feed the hungry and give drink to the thirsty, sure. But did you think you might also get to provide shelter to the homeless or visit the imprisoned? [bctt tweet="Opening your home is an excellent opportunity to practice the corporal works of mercy. #BISblog //"] Who and How Who are the homeless and imprisoned in our lives? Who are the people - the ones we see every day in our neighborhoods or at Mass - we could offer shelter and love through a simple invitation? Take a look around you. Do you see a new family down the street or in that pew two rows ahead of you? Do you know of someone at work or in your small group that has no family in town? What about the elderly man or woman whose spouse recently died and whose children live far away? Maybe you live on military installation and yours is one of many families who are new to the area. All of these situations offer us the opportunity to extend Christian hospitality to others. None of us needs to feel, though, that inviting others into our home means that we need to be the sole provider of food and entertainment. Here are some ideas of easy ways to open our homes without breaking the bank. Host an intentional open house. This is a great way to reach the margins. Select an afternoon or evening to open your home for people to drop by. Be specific in who you invite and concentrate on one group of people in particular. Some to consider would be the elderly, new families to the school or church, brand new moms, or newlyweds. You can work together with a friend to host it and everyone can bring an appetizer or dessert to share. Host a brunch. Have all of your evenings filled up with parties and concerts and other obligations? Consider an event earlier in the day. Maybe host a Blessed Brunch or invite everyone on your street over for coffee and donuts. Plan a cookie/gingerbread house decorating party! This is a great one for families with kids. Make or buy a bunch of cookies. Set up some tables and chairs (and maybe a drop cloth or two). Ask everyone attending to bring decorating supplies. There will be tons of sugary fun! Really, the possibilities are endless. It just takes some imagination. And remember, when all else fails...Pinterest! Entertaining Angels Think back to the innkeeper. He didn’t have a perfect place for the Holy Family to stay. It wasn’t the cleanest or the fanciest. There wasn't any extravagant entertainment planned in their honor. What he did have was a willing heart and an open door. Jesus asks nothing more and nothing less from us this Christmas. [bctt tweet="What the inkeeper had was a willing heart and an open door. #BISblog //"] Take the time, take the chance, and open yourself to the beauty of Christian hospitality. In showing love to others, you show it to Jesus himself. And, like it says in the letter to the Hebrews... Do not neglect hospitality, for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels. (Hebrews 13:2) What are some ways you practice Christian hospitality during the holidays? Let's share ideas in the comments below! [bctt tweet="Entertaining Angels: Christian Hospitality at Christmas #BISblog //"]

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. // Luke 1:46-47 Download and share this beautiful wallpaper from MJ of Pars Caeli below for this third week of Advent. Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

O blessed Jesus, give me stillness of soul in You. Let your mighty calmness reign in me. Rule me, O King of Gentleness, King of Peace. Amen. -St. John of the Cross, Prayer of Peace Reflect Learn to abide with attention in loving waiting upon God in a state of quiet. Contemplation is nothing else but a secret, peaceful, and loving infusion of God, which, if admitted, will set the soul on fire with the Spirit of love. St. John of the Cross Listen For musical inspiration for your restful Sunday, listen to our BIS Rests playlist. I recommend praying with “Be Still My Soul” by Page CXVI. [bctt tweet="BIS Rests: Stilliness + Waiting //"] Curated by Mwamba Bowa. She was born and raised in Zambia. She moved to the United States after high school and is currently a Master's Candidate at the University of Tennessee. She loves Jesus, books, and coffee shops.

Christmas is built upon a beautiful and intentional paradox; that the birth of the homeless should be celebrated in every home. - G.K. Chesterton Do I know the poor? Do I talk to the lonely? When is the last time I actively sought out the poor? These are three questions I ask myself throughout the year, but especially during the Advent and Christmas seasons. I know I am called to minister to the poor and to give my best to them. A Practical Way to Serve Those in Need A beautiful way to serve the poor this Christmas is through the gift of Blessings Bags. A Blessings Bag is a little care package filled with everyday items and food that is gifted to the impoverished, homeless, and needy. It is a simple yet profound way to actively help those who are needy in our communities. Most of the items that can be included in Blessings Bags can be found within your own home. Fill a gallon ziplock bag with the items, or challenge yourself and fill a favorite bag that you own. Reflect upon your own day and the necessary items you use frequently. Compare your needs to the needs of the homeless. Ask yourself, "If I were homeless, what items would I need to live?" Fill your bag with those items. A Communal Outreach Include those who live with you in making your Blessings Bags. Ask your roommate what she would like to donate. Invite your spouse to pick out their favorite scarf, hat, or gloves to place in the bag. Tell your children the story of Christ's birth and that everything we do for the poor, we do for Him. Have them place the items in the bags for Baby Jesus. Blessings Bags are an opportunity to evangelize those within your own home, as well as those within the streets. How to Make Blessings Bags Once your Blessings Bag is filled, find a way to give it to someone in need. Call your pastor, seek out a homeless shelter, or keep your bags in your car to have on hand. If you want to make a greater impact, organize an event in your parish for people to donate, assemble, and distribute Blessings Bags. Here is a list of ideas of items to include in your Blessings Bags: Breakfast bars, cereal bars, protein bars Bottled water Combs Lip balm Face towels Hand sanitizer Toothbrush Toothpaste Plastic utensils Sunscreen Gallon sized ziplock bags Hat Gloves Scarves Socks Beef jerky Dried fruit Raisins Bag of quarters (for laundromat) Notes of love and encouragement Prayer cards of your favorite Saints Rosaries $5 to a coffee shop, grocery store, or sandwich store How do you bless those in need during the Christmas season? [bctt tweet="How to Make Blessings Bags for the Homeless #BISblog //"]

Fuzzy blankets, hot chocolate, falling snow, and merry movies. To me, this is an ideal way to spend a December evening while snuggling with my cuddle bugs that disguise themselves as dogs and my obliging husband. Since life has lead us to a temporary home in Georgia for the next few years, I think I can pretty much rule out snowfall when it comes to this year’s Christmas experience. But our apartment thermostat is set to a brisk 66 degrees, so blankets, warm drinks, and snuggles are still on the menu. If you’re looking for Christmas movies to watch this December, I’ve compiled a list of the most wholesome holiday movies (with little to no questionable content) to get you in a warm, cheerful, and loving mood with your whole family. 1. Holiday Inn I’m a sucker for old movies (there’s a few on this list), and in my opinion, this film from 1942 outshines most. The plot revolves around two friends (played by Bing Crosby & Fred Astaire), an inn that is only open on major holidays, and a pretty girl (played by Marjorie Reynolds). A successful performer who is ready for a quiet life, Crosby buys a farm in Vermont and plans to settle down. He’s heart-broken by his fiancee who leaves him for Astaire, his supposed best friend. In a twist of fate, Astaire shows up at the farm after she leaves him, too. Once again, these two friends find themselves vying for the affections of the same woman (Reynolds). Charming, old-fashioned, wintery drama unfolds, but at the end, their issues are all resolved and everyone remains friends. Irving Berlin wrote twelve original songs for the movie, including the song “White Christmas,” which would later be used as the title for another Bing Crosby Christmas movie about a decade later. It’s light, it’s warm, it’s funny, and the whole family can watch it together. 2. Little Women Maybe it’s because I have four sisters of my own, but this merry movie reminds me so much of my own childhood. Based on the autobiography of Louisa May Alcott, Little Women follows the life of Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy March as they grow up during the post-civil war era. Because the March girls are both sisters and best friends, watching them interact with each other always deepens my own feelings of sentiment toward my family. The March sisters are fiercely loyal, generous with what little they have, and true to themselves. Perhaps my favorite aspect is that these sisters are not perfect. The movie displays very authentic vice (vanity, pride, jealousy), but also growth and forgiveness. It’s filled with snowy scenes, ice skating, sledding, Christmas carols, and lots of love - all the ingredients in a perfect Christmas delight. 3. Meet Me in St. Louis In 1904, the World’s Fair came to St. Louis. In the year prior, the whole city of St. Louis is abuzz, including the Smith family. Full of pride and excitement that the whole world will be coming to them in their very own hometown, the four Smith girls (played by Judy Garland, Margaret O’Brien, Joan Carroll, and Lucille Bremer) learn lots of lessons about life that year, including falling in love. Unexpectedly, their father gets transferred and they discover they must leave behind their beloved city. Tears and heartbreak erupt, sparking Garland to sing “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” to calm her five-year-old sister Tootie on Christmas Eve. What would our modern-day Christmases be like without this staple holiday melody? If you need a good cry and an uplifting of emotions, this merry movie should be able to accomplish that in about 90 minutes. 4. The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe At first, you may not think of this book-turned-movie as a Christmas film. Sure, Father Christmas makes an appearance, and the world is caught in an eternal winter thanks to the White Witch. But this story isn’t really about Christmas…or is it? When Christianity began, there was no annual celebration of Jesus’ birth. It wasn’t until a few hundred years after Jesus’ Ascension that this practice began. Some wise former-pagans made a connection between their old traditions and Christian truths. Every year, pagans would hold a feast after the Winter Solstice to celebrate the “turning of the tide.” From that point in the winter season, the amount of light and warmth during the day increases. Pagans used to attribute this to the coming of their gods. It was converts who then attributed this celebration to Jesus’ birth, which brought “Light” into the world. In this story, Jesus is represented by the lion Aslan. It is upon Aslan’s return to Narnia that the evil White Witch’s power lessens and winter begins to end. It really is a Christmas story! Just as Christ came in the darkest days of humanity and saved us from sin’s brisk coldness and Satan’s firm grasp, Aslan returns, bringing spring, freeing the creatures from the power of the White Witch, and dying in the traitor's place. 5. Miracle on 34th Street Six-year-old Susan does not believe in Santa Claus. This dis-belief was instilled in her by her mother, Dorey, who does not think it’s healthy for her young daughter to believe in fantasy. When tasked with hiring the Santa who will pose with kids at Macy's during the holiday season, Dorey enlists a man by the name of Kris Kringle. Kris claims to be Santa himself, but Dorey and Susan remain skeptics, even though they are intrigued by the “magic” he seems to work for all the people around him. When a Macy’s competitor sets a trap to make Kris look mentally unstable and threatening, Kris finds himself institutionalized. A young lawyer, along with Susan and Dorey, comes to his defense. These acts of love result in a little Christmas miracle and a new, happy family. 6. Babes in Toyland If The Wizard of Oz and Once Upon a Time had a baby born in December in the 1980s, it would be this movie. By means of a magical Christmas Eve blizzard, eleven-year-old Lisa finds herself transported to the world of Toyland, a place where toys and fictional characters are real people. Lisa learns to embrace the importance of imagination and make-believe (which she had previously thought of as pointless) as she works alongside her new friends and the “toymaster” to save their home from the evil Barnaby Barnacle. 7. It’s a Wonderful Life This movie was considered such a flop by the studio when it was released in 1946 that they actually let its copyright lapse. By the 70s, there was a festive Frank Capra film available for networks to screen for free. Thus the story of George Bailey was played over and over and over again on multiple channels. It’s because of this that people fell in love with the film and it became the holiday classic it is today. Thank goodness because, let’s be honest, Christmas is not always an easy time of the year. Finances can be tight, family can make things stressful, and other shoppers might inspire us to lose our faith in humanity. This movie is a good reminder of the effects a generous and sacrificial life has on others. No matter how bad things may seem at the moment, life really is wonderful! 8. New in Town Even if you live somewhere it never snows, the amount of fluffy white precipitation in this film really transports one’s mind into the winter season. The scenes are filled with ice fishing, Minnesota manners, and tapioca pudding, which at first doesn't seem too enticing. This is exactly how Lucy, played by Renee Zellweger, feels when her corporate job in Miami sends her to check on their plant up north. Knowing she’s there to restructure the factory, many of the employees go out of their way to make her task more difficult. Never one to back down from a fight, Lucy retaliates and becomes wildly unpopular. It’s not until a near-death experience when Lucy is rescued by the handsome, head-of-the-union widower (played by Henry Connick Jr.) that everyone’s icy attitudes towards one another begin to soften. 9. The Muppets Christmas Carol I have a confession to make: I’m a bit of a scaredy-cat, and all the other Christmas Carol movies actually kind of frighten me (go ahead and laugh). I love the original story - it’s a true classic! However, my sensitive self prefers the story told to me by the friendly muppets, whose silly antics soften some of the spooky parts and make it more bearable for myself and very young children. 10. Radio City Christmas Spectacular I’ve always wanted to go to Radio City Music Hall, and since my husband’s family lives right outside New York City, there’s a good chance that at some point I will be able to cross it off my bucket list. Until then, I’m grateful to Netflix for adding their Christmas spectacular to their queue of holiday movies so that those of us who can’t make it to the Big Apple in person can still watch the snazzy Rockettes sparkling amidst the glow of Christmas lights and music. What's your favorite Christmas movie? Share your picks in the comments! [bctt tweet="Fa La La La Films: 10 Merry Movies #BISblog //"]

My husband, Stephen, and I wanted a honeymoon baby. We joked about it at first, then talked about it excitedly, planning how we might share the news with friends and family. We jumped into life together, hand in hand, ready to add a new person to our tiny tribe as soon as we’d said, "I do." Expectancy Today, we are three years and six months from that very first moment of possibility. We’ve watched days stretch into weeks, hanging onto every symptom and sign, saying, “This will be the month!” with a confidence only the ignorantly blissful possess. We named our daughter, we named our son. We talked about them like we knew personally the little souls who had yet to arrive. We prayed and prayed. A few months into our marriage I was diagnosed with PCOS. Specifically, I was not ovulating at all. It was something I had expected as I’d been dealing with symptoms for a long time. But putting a name to it made it feel more real. As we approached Advent that first year of marriage, we began fertility treatment. I was filled with the same hopeful, expectant waiting that parallels the beating heart of the Church as she waits for the birth of Christ. It was easy to embrace the spirit of Advent and Christmas that very first year. But as months passed by without a positive pregnancy test, I found myself increasingly discouraged in the heart of a physical and spiritual winter. So much of my time, energy, money, and spiritual life was poured into trying to conceive that year. I began to harbor resentment toward God for not rewarding me with what I desired. My prayer turned from a patient pleading to an anxious tallying of my readiness, as if I was owed something in return for my good behavior. "Lord, don’t you see that I am open to life? That I saved myself for marriage? Do you see that I am ready? I can be selfless. I want a child. I deserve a child.” I felt abandoned by God for the first time in my life. The cross of infertility was not one I felt willing to bear. As that year turned the corner and we approached Advent, again I was hesitant. I kept God at arm’s length, content to float near the shoreline instead of trusting Him enough to cast out into the deep. But by the third Advent of our marriage, I began to come around. Bearing the Cross of Infertility through Advent Advent is a beautiful season in our Church. The tender, hopeful waiting that surrounds the birth of Christ fills the air with a palpable joy. But how can we connect with that joy while we carry the cross of infertility? How do we prepare ourselves emotionally for difficult conversations during family gatherings? How can we fully enter into and embrace the season when we feel detached from our prayer life? Today I’d like to share a few things that have helped me throughout my own experience of carrying the cross of infertility through the season of Advent. Being Rooted in Prayer I know this is not new advice. It may be something that is already part of the process for you, but I cannot emphasize what prayer has done for me during this unpredictable journey. Even when it was the last thing I wanted to do, even when I thought the Lord wasn’t listening, I persisted. It wasn’t always profound or even joyful. But continually giving the cross of infertility over to God, sometimes multiple times a day, truly brought me out of the depths of my darkness. Last year during Advent, Stephen and I committed to memorizing and reciting the St. Andrew Christmas Novena (also called the Christmas Anticipation Novena) each night before bed. We began on the feast of St. Andrew (November 30th) and continued until Christmas Day. It is such a beautifully visual, meditative prayer, and it did so much for our prayer life. I love this beautifully lettered version from Erica Tighe. I keep it with me on my phone throughout Advent as a reminder to pray it daily. Maybe infertiltiy has caused a fault line in your prayer life. I encourage you to take everything to God and lay it down at His feet. No matter where you are on this journey, He will not turn you away. He knows your aching heart and He wants to help you carry the weight of this cross. [bctt tweet="No matter where you are on this journey, He will not turn you away. #BISblog //"] Calling It by Name After my initial diagnosis I spent a lot of time trying to avoid the reality of my infertilty. I didn’t want to admit it because I was afraid to appear broken, to seem like less of a woman. I spent a lot of time wondering what my life’s purpose would be if my desire for motherhood was left unfulfilled. I struggled with body image issues and the side effects related to PCOS, but I didn’t want to attribute them to my health for fear that others would think I was using it as a crutch. When I finally stopped being afraid of the word and all its implications, I was free to begin moving forward. This realization was especially helpful during the Advent season, when so many acitvities and events are family-oriented. Calling out the lies tied to my worth, recognizing the gifts and blessings that God had given me, and using those gifts to serve others helped me unite deeper with Mary’s fiat. I no longer felt disconnected from the beautiful moment when Mary says, “Let it be done to me according to you word," because I understood what it meant to be open to God working in my own life even if the outcome wasn't what I expected. [bctt tweet="I was afraid to appear broken, to seem like less of a woman. #BISblog //"] Deciding How and What to Share After the first few months of our struggle with infertility, I felt called to share my experience through blogging. I know this is not for everyone, but I felt so isolated in my silence that I needed to speak out. I wanted to shed light on a topic that is often tip-toed around because of its inherent difficulty. I wanted other women who were dealing with this same cross of infertility to know they weren’t alone. Although it was initially difficult to be vulnerable and open about our struggle, I truly believe it has helped make the entire process easier. I no longer wait anxiously for family or friends to unknowingly ask, “When are you going to start trying?” I have found that those who are aware of our situation have been so supportive and present. Confiding in a Trusted Friend Maybe sharing with the whole world is not what is best for your individual journey. But finding a person you trust who is willing to listen is so essential. I love being able to talk to my husband, and he is always the first person with whom I discuss my struggles; but sometimes I also need to talk to a girlfriend. I am grateful to have the support of beautiful female friends who have helped me during exceedingly difficult days. Although I wish it weren’t the case, a few close friends and family have struggled with the cross of infertiltiy as well, and being able to lean on one another for extra prayers, laughter, and solidarity makes a world of a difference. I have also found great support from groups online like the Catholic Women with PCOS Facebook group. Spiritual direction and attending therapy are also worth considering. Even the most supportive friends and family may not be able to be offer the type of guidance provided by a professional therapist or trusted spiritual director. Preparing for the Unexpected There are days when a pregnancy announcement overflows my heart with joy, and days when the start of my cycle completely wrecks me. Learning to expect either outcome has helped me prepare for these moments, especially as it relates to the holiday season. Be gentle with yourself and know your limits when it comes to these situations. Pray about the difficult questions you might face during holiday gatherings and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in how to respond charitably. [bctt tweet="Be gentle with yourself and know your limits. #BISblog //"] Trusting in the Lord If trust is not the most difficult word in my spiritual journey, I don’t know what is. But I know that its difficulty is precisely why it is so important, especially in relation to the cross of infertitly. I cannot do this alone, and I don’t want to, but that requires an insane amount of trust in God’s faithfulness. This has not been easy for me. It is often a daily struggle. But making every effort to put my trust in the Lord has done wonders for my anxieties about infertility. I know that my life is a beautiful story written by a loving Creator, and I take comfort in that when nothing else can satisfy my heart. [bctt tweet="I cannot do this alone, and I don’t want to, but that requires an insane amount of trust. #BISblog //"] Allowing Christ to Carry the Cross of Infertility with You Today I am in a very different place, emotionally and spiritually. It has taken years to get here and I would be lying if I said I don’t have any more dark days. But my hope has been renewed. Stephen and I have offered up our sufferings, uniting them with Christ on the Cross. It is difficult to have hard conversations, to watch friends and family detach from their own hopes for you, to pray when it feels one-sided. But God is sovereign, and there are no limits to His love and His grace. And because of this truth, I finally felt the light on my face as the Lord bent down to pull me from my darkness. It is because of this truth that I look to Mary's example when I step into this season of Advent and proclaim, “Let it be done to me according to your word.” Those of you carrying the cross of infertility, too - if you're comfortable sharing - how do you cope during this season of expectation? [bctt tweet="Carrying the Cross of Infertility Through Advent //"] Katie Waldow is a wife, youth minister, and blogger living in Ocean City, NJ. You can sometimes find her sipping lattes, often corralling her dog and two cats, always on Instagram. She loves praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet and dreams of one day buying an old house and converting it into a coffee shop. You can find out more about her here.