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Jan 2, 2016
Catholic Influencers· Faith· Life· The Little Things

When New Year’s Resolutions are Out of Your League . . .

Do you make New Year’s Resolutions?  What’s your take on “giving something up for Lent”?  Personally, I don’t even bother making New Year’s Resolutions.  As for Lent, I think I gave up Facebook a couple of times, but have been “lazy” with truly reflecting on and persevering with either.  I can honestly tell you that I have never, ever said,”I will eat less chocolate”.  This year will be no different when it comes to chocolate.january2016res1

However, I do want to improve my life, health, soul, marriage, skill as a mother, and so on and so forth.  In an attempt to do so, I’m going to make some January resolutions.  We’ll see if I make February ones . . . I will make no commitment on that now.  This perpetually disorganized girl is trying this as a baby step.  I need to make sure that this list is attainable, so I am only putting four “resolutions” on it.  They are:

  1. Go to adoration. I was about to type once a week, but again, baby steps.  Before we were a family of three, my husband and I (or at least one of us) went once a week.  When our son finally came home, we needed to adjust, so we gave that up.  I feel like I’m strongly being pulled back.  Not only for my spiritual well-being, but my mental health.  As a teacher of Psychology, I stressed how important meditation is for people.  I need to listen to my own advice.  Wish me luck!
  2. Make “Playtime with Xavier” the first thing on my to do list every day.  I ask my mom friends all the time “how do you do it?” Meaning, how is there household clean and organized and how do they balance all the chores with children.  Several have told me that they get all their chores done in the morning, then they have the rest of the day with their children/family.  I tried.  It doesn’t work.  I’m never done, ever.  I don’t why I even bother trying to clean anything, ever.  So, with that, I have decided that playing a board game or building with blocks, or whatever I find on Pinterest to do with my 3 year old, will come first.  Then I will do chores.  This is going to be a challenge for me, because everywhere I look I see things that need to get done, but, I know that Xavier needs that time, love and attention.  I also know these days will not last, and I always think of that country song, “You’re going to miss this”.  So here I come hide and seek, chutes and ladders, puzzles and paint!January2016snow
  3. Make healthier choices – See what I did there.  I always say I’m going to run more . . . and I usually wait until the warmer weather to say it.  So I’m making this broad in the hopes that I do SOMETHING healthier.  Like eat some fruit and vegetables every day.  Tonight I ate some cucumbers.  I think that’s a win.  Again, baby steps.
  4. Go on at least one date with my husband – Before I was married, I was all,”when I have a husband he’ll take me on at least one date a month”.  Make sure you read that really sassy and with my chin up in the air being quite a “know it all”.  Well, I’m married . . . *insert hysterical laughter here.  My husband is an amazing man and probably a saint for putting up with me.  But, he’s not a planner. After almost ten years I think I am just accepting it.  I’ll plan the date, and we’ll go on it, and we’ll both be very happy to do so!

And that’s it for January.  Of course I can think of a ton of other areas in my life that need improvement, but I don’t want to overwhelm myself. What do you think?  Do you make New Year’s Resolutions?  Monthly Resolutions?  None at all?  Do tell!

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Comments

  1. Paige Wolf says

    January 4, 2016 at 10:54 am

    Good idea to take it month by month! 🙂

    • Amy says

      January 4, 2016 at 12:24 pm

      Thanks! And blogging about it makes me more accountable! I’m struggling with the healthy choices – ugh!

  2. Tiffany @ The Crunchy Mom Next Door says

    January 4, 2016 at 3:36 pm

    I love this and your resolutions rock, too!

    • Amy says

      January 4, 2016 at 4:45 pm

      Thanks Tiffany!

  3. Trina O'Boyle says

    January 4, 2016 at 4:25 pm

    Great ideas! I love the calendar idea to keep things organized too. Date nights for us are a MUST!

    • Amy says

      January 4, 2016 at 4:46 pm

      Thanks so much Trina! I hope you have a fun date night planned for this weekend 🙂

  4. Carrie Higgins says

    January 4, 2016 at 9:57 pm

    Love this approach! Makes it easy to see how well you did each month and tweak as needed. 🙂

    • Amy says

      January 5, 2016 at 7:42 am

      Thanks Carrie! We’ll see how well it goes 🙂 Some of these are easier than others!

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Dear Lord, help me to be who you want me to be and Dear Lord, help me to be who you want me to be and set the world ablaze!!!
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On vacation; just happen to be staying in a house On vacation; just happen to be staying in  a house next to a church that organizes an incredible celebration for the feast of the Assumption every year! 

My mother once mentioned to me that being near the ocean on this holy day is extra special.

And the day was extra special because I ran into an old friend… Sister Lisa!

20 years ago I went on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic with Sister and a lovely group of high school girls. I hold those 2 weeks in a very special place in my heart.
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There is so much I’d love to tell you about the There is so much I’d love to tell you about the 12 year old girl who colored these pictures. 

But, I hear in my heart those moments in Scripture where “Mary pondered these things in her heart”. 

What I was assured of this week by the example of more than one “junior high student “ is this…. 12 year old girls still love to color.

I mean, let’s be honest… I still love to color.

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the 20 coloring pages from the girl’s Be Yourself Journal are on sale this week!
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You and I both know that the Rosary is not just fo You and I both know that the Rosary is not just for white haired Grandmas… but how do we convince our friends and loved ones to embrace this powerful prayer and meditation on the life of Our Lord Jesus?

Honestly, with me in my 20’s… it started by being a gathering of broken hearts.

I was lonely, another friend was going through infertility, another was stuck in the past so much it affected her daily life… another found herself facing an unplanned pregnancy.

When you hit rock bottom, you grasp at anything that could possibly pull you up.

For us, that was the Rosary.
How? One friend suggested it because her Mom had a rosary group she attended for years. Another (me) said “yes, let’s do it”.

If you have a friend who is deep in sorrow… go to her with a Rosary and offer to pray with her.

If this is a person who may be reluctant, bring wine. Offer one glass and two listening ears.
The Lord and His Mother will do the rest.

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Do you have dietary restrictions but would like to Do you have dietary restrictions but would like to attend the Prayer Wine Chocolate Retreat?

In the past I have received messages inquiring about the food that is included in the registration cost of the retreat.
This year, I’m happy to announce that the vineyard serving our lunch is extremely accommodating for those who have strict diets.

Here’s what’s on the menu for the 2022 Prayer Wine Chocolate Retreat:

The 'standard' lunch is a duet of sandwiches -- half turkey wrap with lettuce, tomato, muenster & honey mustard, and half a baguette sandwich with tomato, mozzarella, and basil oil. 

Accompanying the sandwiches is a seasonal mixed greens salad with dried fruit and cheese (and sometimes nuts are included as well). 

If anyone has an allergy to nuts or cheese we serve their salad without it of course. 
Also, for dairy allergies, they would receive a full turkey wrap WITHOUT cheese (and none of the tomato-mozzarella baguette).

Gluten-free guests receive tuna salad on a bed of greens.

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God created so much for us to enjoy! How amazing i God created so much for us to enjoy!
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When I was writing the first Be Yourself Journal, I came across this in the catechism and I had to include it in both the girl’s and the boy’s journals:

“God created everything for man but man in turn was created to serve and love God and to offer all creation back to him…

the heavens and the earth, the sea and all the rest of creation exist for him.”

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In what ways do you enjoy God’s creation? Share your favorite ways to enjoy nature in when comments!
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God's love for each of us is unimaginable. It's so God's love for each of us is unimaginable.
It's so intense.  It's so real.  It's just as much for you as an individual as it is for any other person.

When I was in my early 20's, I would often to go a neighboring parish for daily Mass before I went to work as a camp counselor.

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Just sitting here laughing at my own jokes 🤪 Al Just sitting here laughing at my own jokes 🤪
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The first Prayer Wine Chocolate Retreat was held i The first Prayer Wine Chocolate Retreat was held in 2016.
That year participants visited the place where Saint Katharine Drexel lived, worked and prayed for most of her life. Shortly after that retreat the property was sold and Saint Katharine Drexel’s Shrine was moved into Philadelphia where it continues to be today.

Since 2016, Prayer Wine Chocolate Retreats have been held almost every year. We’ve visited the National Shrines of Saint Gianna, Padre Pio, Our Lady of @czestochowa_shrine and have participated in an out door Mass on the grounds of a vineyard.

In the past, we have visited one shrine and two vineyards.

This year, we will visit two shrines and one vineyard.

So far, each person who has registered has been to a previous Prayer Wine Chocolate Retreat.
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So excited… REGISTRATION is now open for the Pra So excited… REGISTRATION is now open for the Prayer Wine Chocolate Retreat!!!!
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Be Yourself: a Journal for Catholic Boys is a grea Be Yourself: a Journal for Catholic Boys is a great way to encourage your son to write this summer!!
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My husband Matt gives each of our children a bless My husband Matt gives each of our children a blessing before they go to bed at night.
I asked him if his parents did that … and he said, “no”.

He said that his father would bless him with holy water in church, so he was doing that with our son one day and the priest who said Mass saw him do it. The priest then told Matt, “you know, a parent blessing his or her child is one of the few blessings a lay person has the authority to give.” 

Since then, he has given them a blessing almost daily.
The words he uses as he makes the sign of the cross on their foreheads are:
“God bless and protect my son (daughter)
Keep him (her)safe, good and holy and protect him (her) from all evil, Amen.”
I might have to ask him or the kids what I’m missing or if I messed that up a little… but you get the idea.
Bless your children!

I read that a blessing realigns our world with heaven by acknowledging all is a gift.

Do you bless your children? Did your parents bless you?
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Type the next line of the prayer in the comments! Type the next line of the prayer in the comments!
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Hi there!!!! I am so happy you are here and we ar Hi there!!!! 
I am so happy you are here and we are connected on “the gram”!

My name is Amy Brooks… and I started the Prayer Wine Chocolate blog with the intention to share how my husband and I grew our family through adoption-without signing up with an adoption agency.

I also wanted to create gift guides that had Catholic gifts on it.

I share this today because my word of the year is “laugh” and when I thought of posting a “Friday introduction “ I immediately recalled the saying:
“Want to make God laugh? Tell Him your plans!”

What starting this blog has led to- through the grace of God- has been amazing!
I realized that I had what @jenniferfulwiler would call a blue flame inside of me - writing.
Once again, I have to laugh because my English grade in 8th grade was so bad my dad pulled me off the soccer team and when I started college I had to take a remedial English class. God has reminded me over and over again that through Him all things are possible!

One of the greatest experiences in this journey has been meeting incredible people who love the Lord and who are truly kind and compassionate. It was through meeting @windhovering Jerry Windley-Doust that motivated me to write the Be Yourself Journals that our now published by @osvcatholicbooks . I also have been extremely blessed by the community of Catholic Social Media now known as @catholicsonline . If you are trying to evangelize or minister with the help of social media, I invite you to join us! 

I’m the oldest of 5. I asked my brother to give a speech at my wedding reception because I think he’s so funny that he truly could be a stand-up comedian. He ended up giving a speech so touching, I published part of it one boy’s Be Yourself Journal. He also cracked everybody at the wedding up 😂.

Somewhere in this group of pictures there is a picture of my parents. In that picture, my dad has his face painted. One of my siblings overheard him talking about him having this done as a “once in a lifetime experience “! 😂 He’s 72… apparently last weekend was his first opportunity to have this done.

Ps. My younger son recently asked me if I had water when I was a kid. He then asked me if soap was invented yet.
SUMMER JOURNALING can be fun!! I have 2 Be Yourse SUMMER JOURNALING can be fun!!

I have 2 Be Yourself: a Catholic Journal for Girls in stock and only a handful of the boy’s journals in stock!

I’m jumping on the #smalloverprime specials and anyone who purchases (or donates) a journal in the next 24 hours will get the coloring pages download for free!!!
That’s 20 inspirational quote coloring pages!!!! And trust me- they are fun for all ages!

Plus… this is the last day you can get the Plan Your Own Prayer Wine Chocolate Retreat Guide for over 40%off! 

Links are in my bio!
Happy Summer 😎🍉🕶🌻☀️!
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