Your Handwriting Matters

Today is National Pencil Day, did you know? (There's a holiday for everything...) In honor of such a prestigious event, today was the day to finish up this post about loving and styling your handwriting- because it always starts with a pencil :).

I've been honored to lead a couple of workshops recently about lettering and handwriting.  Gathering my thoughts for the why of those events before I planned the how reminded me of just how important handwriting is to me.  I wrote about it a couple of years ago in this post, and revisited those ideas for the little book I put together for the workshop.

You can click over to read all the details, but here is the gist:
Your handwriting matters:
1. Not because it is perfect
2. Because it reveals your personality and emotions
3. Because it is Incarnational in an often impersonal world
4. Because it is sentimental
5. Because it connects us with the history of the past and creates history for the future
6. Because it is a witness and testimony to what you believe and think
7. Because it is a connection that binds our words to our actions

In the workshops I gave, we talked about things we like or don't like about our handwriting, tips for improving your everyday handwriting, styling lettering for something special, etc.  We had lots of practice paper to doodle on and try new things and then did a few make-and-takes as well.

Most of what I know and can do has come from years (I mean like starting back in junior high...) of doodling, trying new styles, imitating someone else's letter formation, etc. until I could create many styles on my own.  I am always trying new things and looking for new lettering inspiration.

Common questions included what some of my favorite supplies are.  I have.so.many.pens but always love experimenting with new tools.  The supplies that I use all the time for everyday writing as well as for special things like my #SundayReadingsScriptureDoodles are nothing super fancy.  Really the trick is trying out different pens and markers and finding what you like.  You can make art with anything.  Try out new supplies until you find what you are most comfortable with.

Here are some of the supplies that I use all the time: (affiliate links)
-Ticonderoga Pencils (the ONLY pencil with using in my opinion)
-Regular Sharpies (seriously great for practicing, cheap, last through lots of projects)
-Pentel White Erasers (a good eraser is a necessity- these are cheap and work really really well)
-Sakura Micron Pigma Pens (various sizes) (these are my absolute favorite for outlining and are the final tool for how I create most of the printables on this site.)
-Stabilo Pens (.88 Multicolor pack) (a little bit more of an investment, but they are high quality and so fun.  I use mine all the time and have had them for almost two years)
-Sakura Brush Tip Pens (I'm still working on this technique, but if you want to give brush tip pens a try I would recommend these pens)
-Papermate Ink Joy (these are my favorite everyday-grading-note-writing teacher pens.  They are so cheap, come in packs of 8 different colors, and write boldly and smoothly)

Do you have any favorites that you would recommend?  Let me know in the comments!

So if you're interested in why your handwriting matters, why you should use it more often, how you can style it, and more, you might like my short little ebook.
It contains:
-The seven reasons why I think handwriting is so important
-General tips for styling and loving your handwriting
-Sample manuscript and cursive fonts/styles
-Steps for creating the popular "fake" calligraphy that anyone can create
-Ideas for a couple simple banners/borders

Click here to get your copy of the Your Handwriting Matters ebook:

What do you love about your handwriting?  And what would you like to change?

Pray, Fast, Give: Print Giveaway (everyone wins!)

Hey friends, I just want to take a minute to say thank you.  We all know that social media has the potential to be a very negative place.  But this little blog and the people I've met through it have been nothing but lovely, gracious, and kind.  I'm so grateful to have a place to share ideas and creativity, give encouragement, and pray for each other.

In gratitude for all of you kind readers (and to celebrate a milestone of followers on Instagram!) I've partnered with Kayla Phillips Design to offer a little giveaway.  We are reaching the half-way point of Lent, and I know that this is a good time to remind ourselves of our focus- to pray, fast, and give as we come to know Christ deeper in these 40 days.  Kayla agreed, designed this sweet and simple handlettered print, AND then decided to offer it as a giveaway here on my blog.

But the best part?  This is a giveaway where everyone wins!  That's right, just click right here and you can download and print your very own Pray, Fast, Give print.  Kayla is offering this freebie to Look to Him and Be Radiant readers until March 31st.  AND you can also use code Lent2017 for 10% off anything in her Etsy shop through the end of the month!

I printed mine, put it in a pretty gray frame, and added it to my Lent table display.  It was a perfect addition to help me refocus during this (almost) third week of Lent.

After you print yours, Kayla and I would love to see how you display it!  Frame it, add it to a prayer journal, hang it on your mirror... there are plenty of ways to use this as a prayerful and pretty reminder.  Show us your print with a pic on social media using #PrayFastGiveLent.

And, as a thank you for Kayla's generosity, please go check her out and give her a follow!  Don't forget you can get 10% off any purchase in her shop using code Lent2017.
Kayla Phillips Design on Etsy
Kayla Phillips Design on Facebook
Kayla Phillips Design on Instagram
Kayla Phillips Design Website

Thanks again for being here!

Dear Moms: What Your Kids' Teacher Wants You to Know

It's a new school year.  My time is spent organizing school supplies and teaching routines, introducing new concepts and getting to know new kids.  This season of change is exciting, sentimental, and challenging not only for the students, but also for their teachers and parents.  Last year, I was asked to give a quick talk on thing teachers wished parents knew.  This post is the fruit of notes from that night of sharing and collected conversations, and it seems like a great time of year to share it.

Here are the seven things I wish every mom (and dad) knew:

1. You are the first and most important teacher of your children.
Nothing can replace your influence. We are your partners in this endeavor to help your child grow into the kind, loved, talented, responsible, intelligent person God created him to be.

2. If you are wondering what you can do to help your child's education: Read & Pray. 

Read to them, read with them, let them see you read.  

Pray for them, pray with them, let them see you pray. 

Both of these things, although they may seem simple, matter and influence every other part of a child's formation and education.

3. Love multiplies, not divides.  

Your child is everything to us, but she is also one of 25, one of a whole school. We strive to see every individual, to know her, to support and challenge her, and we also have to care for every kid in our classroom, each year, in every school.  

4. "Fair" and "Equal" and "Same" are not black and white words in our classrooms.  Please don't compare what has been determined to be the best educational plan for each student. I won't talk about another child with you, but you can be assured I won't talk about your child with another parent.

5. We appreciate your communication.  

A quick note, an emailed question, checking in during pick up- You are your child's best advocate, so certainly speak up when you have a concern or question. But please, in tough situations, don't assume the worst of us. Be willing to listen to another adult perspective before jumping to conclusions.  We are so grateful to be respected as partners in your child's education. 

6. To be honest and practical: 

A teacher will graciously accept the pinterest created/inspirational nik-nak/cutesy collectible as an appreciation/Christmas/end-of-the-year gift. But do you want to know our real love language?  Give us a handwritten card from you and your husband and/or a picture or letter created by your child- I will keep and treasure those long after I have to figure out what to do with this year's collection of gifts.  If you really want to spend money, buy us classroom supplies.  Ask us for a wishlist and stock up on all the things we love to provide for our students that don't fit in the school budget.  Or donate to a charity in honor of our class.  And if you must... Starbucks Gift Cards are always welcome :) 

7. Most importantly, it is a privilege for us to teach your children.  

We are blessed to spend time with them, to help form them and watch them grow. We are grateful to be a part of your family, even if it is only for a school year. Your children will always matter to us.

And a few bonus topics that came up in conversation as a result of my talk:

-When I spoke to several teachers from different schools and grades, ALL of them brought up communication as something they wished teachers and parents were on the same page with.  Here are a few of their thoughts:

Talk to us instead of your child's classmates' parents.
Expect a reasonable response time, especially when emailing outside of school hours- we respect your family time and appreciate the same consideration.
Take advantage of the many ways that most schools communicate- websites, social media, newsletters, etc.
As is age appropriate, have you asked your child first? Help him to be accountable and responsible.  

-How do you support your child when they have a teacher they don't get along with?
This is tough.  My thoughts are a balance between advocating for the well being of your child as well as helping them grow in the virtue of fortitude and the skills of navigating challenging relationships.  Your reactions could range from teaching your child coping mechanisms and helping them self-advocate to intervening on their behalf.  It all depends on the maturity of the child and the severity of the situation.  

-When do you intervene in your child's school social situations? (Building friendships, helping them learn to play with others, etc.)
Social growth develops so differently for each child and doesn't always follow a specific "grade level" trajectory.  Again, it's important to advocate for your child and keep the teacher in the loop with social situations that might be happening outside of school, but you also need to let the kids stretch their wings.  An intervention from a parent can end up being the worst thing when trying to foster social situations, especially as kids get older.  It is important to encourage your child to build lots of types of friendships in different situations, even with kids of different ages.  Play groups, activities, neighborhood friends, etc.- these all can help model appropriate social behavior and how to be a friend.  

-How can you encourage a more Catholic atmosphere in your child's classroom?
My suggestions for this are to help the teacher by "finding" great resources for them to make it easy to weave in faith throughout the school day.  Purchase a favorite Catholic book and donated it to the class.  Loan Catholic books or a DVD from your family's collection for an upcoming Feast Day.  Offer to come in to lead an art lesson or story time that relates to the Liturgical Season.  Email links to solid (educational, well made, age appropriate) Catholic printables/activities.  When you are involved in classroom parties, take advantage of the time to infuse the faith as you plan games and activities.  Invite the teacher to local retreats/studies/speakers to strengthen his/her own faith.  And super importantly- pray for your kids' teachers.  We all need your prayers more than anything! :)

So those are my thoughts.  Educators of all kinds, what else do you wish parents knew?  Parents, what do you want teachers to know?  I'd love to hear your ideas in the comments! :)

Catholic Schools Week 2016

It's almost Catholic Schools Week! To all Catholic educators, administrators, parents, volunteers, parish staff, students, and any whose lives are touched by Catholic education... thank you!  It is a blessing to be a member of this family.

"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it." 

~Proverbs 22:6

Here are a couple of previous posts I have about CSW:
Catholic Schools Week Thank You Card (printable)
Catholic Schools Week 2015 (bulletin board)

Catholic Schools Week 2014 (bulletin board & Fulton Sheen quote printable)

7QT: All the Fall & Teaching About Halloween

Congrats to Kelly & Jen on seven years of Seven Quick Takes!  This is only the 27th time that I have written and linked up, but it is always a great place to find new blogs for reading and making connections.  Hop on over to This Ain't the Lyceum and check out the celebration!

Because it is oh-so-wonderful right now in central Illinois, I am going to write about all the things that I am loving about fall.  But I'm not talking your typical sweater-wearing-pumpkin-spice-drinking-bonfire-sitting kind of list.  (trust me, I love all those things, too.) This is more of a list of an unexpected pieces from the season that I relish.

[1] I love that this is the only time of the year I actually want to see the colors red, orange, and yellow in my home and wardrobe.  Colors I hate strongly dislike December-September become mainstays October-November.

[2] I have just about as many decorations for fall as I have for Christmas.  Five fall wreathes too much for one apartment?  Say it isn't so.

[3] Fall is my absolute favorite time to be a farm kid.  The beauty of farm ground during harvest and the celebration of the yield of another year's work can't be matched.

[4] On that note, I love the way that my dad smells in the fall when I hug him.  It is a unique combination of corn dust, motor oil, dirt, and a slight hint of moth balls.  It's the best.

[5] I love the bounty of the harvest season.  Especially now with the trends of farmers' markets, food co-ops, and farm to table restaurants, even those whose feet have always dwelled on concrete can appreciate and understand what a good and abundant time of year this is and remember with gratitude God's provision.

[6] The dropping temperatures give me cause to layer on the hoodies and stack up the quilts on my bed.  I prefer to sleep with the windows open as long as possible, and will let my apartment stay cold just for the fresh air and the excuse to drink another cup of coffee while wrapped up in a blanket.

[7] And finally, my number 7 favorite thing about fall right now is looking forward to teaching my fifth graders about Halloween, All Saints, and All Souls Day.  Honestly, a few years ago I would not be including Halloween in that mix.  But ever since Bonnie started planning stellar Catholic All Saints/Halloween parties and asked/helped me create some resources for teaching about Halloween, I have so enjoyed sharing with my students the truth behind the traditions.

If you have kiddos of your own or teach or are a catechist, please click on the image below for several free printables including a mini coloring book and several coloring pages about the Catholic-ness of Halloween, All Saints, All Souls, praying for the dead, heaven, hell, and purgatory, relics and more:

So what are some unexpected things that you are all about in the fall?  And don't forget to go visit Kelly for more Seven Quick Takes!

Good To Me {September 11th, Sandy Hook, and Fear as a Teacher}

This is actually a repost from exactly two years ago.  I try not to recycle topics too often, but when I reread this recently, it the emotions and struggles struck me all over again.  There are a lot of hard, hard things happening in the world that of course trickle over into our schools.  Going through the procedures for a possible school intruder are now a part of our normal routines, just like fire and tornado drills. It isn't getting easier to be at the front of my classroom- the weight of the responsibility is something I have been made more aware of each new day.  All over again, it makes me so grateful for the hope we have in Christ at that I am in a teaching position where He can be the answer to all of our fears.

Today, I had to explain to 21 ten and eleven-year-olds what September 11th was.
A day that is forever imprinted in my memory happened before they were even born.

But after listening to this Presidential Proclamation over morning announcements at the beginning of the school day, I was surprised with, "Miss Bogner, what's September 11th?"  Amazingly, while a few students knew (or thought they knew) something about the events of 9/11/2001, many had only heard the date thrown around as the name of an event out of context to their lives and understanding. 

How do you talk to kids about such a tragedy?  How do you honor the sacrifices made without delving into darkness with ones too young to deserve a loss of innocence?  How do you tell the history without frightening them about the future?

It didn't help that memories and emotions I didn't expect came rolling over me as I listened to the proclamation and then tried to explain what had happened and why we need to remember.

The best that I could do?  I compared it to why we learn about the atrocities of WWII and the Holocaust.  "So you know that life is valuable, so that you know what happened in the past when people chose death instead, and so you can be the one to make sure it never happens again."

High walking orders for 5th graders.

It is interesting that last night I happened to read this article that has been floating around facebook.  Written as an open letter to teachers from the mother of a Sandy Hook victim, I cried through the whole thing.  When Sandy Hook happened, I avoided the media about it- switched off the TV, didn't scour the internet like most for survivor stories, changed the topic when friends wanted to talk about it.  I felt cold and unfeeling, but honestly, I couldn't handle it.  It is not that I was struck by fear that it could happen in my school, but more that you can't help living through a bit of that experience if you are a teacher.  A few days after the Sandy Hook massacre, I was on my prep period while my kids were at PE.  Sitting alone in my classroom, I glanced up at all of the empty desks, and started to cry.  I knew that my kids were safe, that they were just downstairs in the gym.  But I could help but think about a classroom of empty desks, and what it would be like if the students never came back to sit in them.  If even one was missing.  Something in the article that resounded with me was a statement by a teacher who went back after the shooting.  She said she did it because "They are my kids."  It is so true.  They may annoy me, challenge me, work me to death, disobey me, try my patience, and make my day difficult, but they are still my kids.  I would die for them, and that makes it even harder to talk about Sandy Hook, September 11th, and other times when life has been discarded like it means nothing.

And where was God in all of this, you may be thinking?  Now that I am at a Catholic School I don't have to talk around or avoid the real things that kids need to hear on a day like today.

They need to know that they can pray.  They can pray for the victims.  For the survivors.  For the sad souls whose actions hurt others.

They need to know that they can go to God in their fear.  They can be honest with Him about their feelings.  That they can put their trust in Him and know that He will carry them through any situation.

They need to know that they have adults who care about them and that they can talk to them about tragedy.  That there are good people who will always put them first, like their moms and dads and teachers, as well as people they don't know whose job it is to protect them.  Knowing that my brothers-in-law Steven and Luke, a firefighter and soldier respectively, have chosen to put their lives on the line for perfect strangers makes me love them more and reminds me of the selflessness of so many who strive to counteract evil working in the hearts of men.

And they need to know that God is good.  All the time.  God is good, no matter what the world around us is shouting, no matter what they see on the news, no matter the situation surrounding them.

So this song has been sticking with me lately.

"I steady my heart on the ground of your goodness.  When I'm bowed down with sorrow, I will lift up your name, and the foxes in the vineyard will not steal my joy, because you are good to me."

You can get this song (and a gorgeous version of Come Thou Fount) free right now on Noise Trade.   (Still there two years later!) And/or you can get Audrey's new album, too.  Your heart won't regret it.

"Surely your goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." ~Psalm 23:6

The Beautiful Giveaway

This week, I have featured some thoughts about why we make beautiful things. 

You can check out this week's posts here:

Why Make Things Beautiful

Granny's Closet- Wearing Vintage Clothing

Love is the Beauty of the Soul- Military Life & Hospitality

Simple Beauty in a Picture- Treasuring Family Photographs
God Cares About Skillful Design- Being Intentional with Graphic Design

I am in awe of the beauty of our world, which always points me to my Creator.  I am blessed to have friends to create and celebrate beautiful things.  And I am grateful for an online (and in-real-life) community like this with which we can share beauty, truth, and goodness.

So, in gratitude for you, dear friends and readers, and in celebration of my birthday later this month, I have collected some lovely donations of beautiful things that could be yours! 

Check out these seven gifts that could make your home and daily life more beautiful.  All the ways to enter the drawing are at the end of the post!

First up, we have some beautiful Scripture prints from Kayla Phillips Design.  She makes the most lovely and unique prints, and I want to hang one of everything that she has created in my home! (Which would be A LOT because of her One Hundred Verses Project!) Check out her three contributions to the giveaway:

You could have this whimsical 4"x6" of Deuteronomy 10:17- "For the Lord your God is God of gods, Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God."

Or there's this lovely 5"x5" design of Psalm 27:1 on special glimmery paper- "The Lord is my light and salvation."

And there's the fun design of Ephesians 5:8 on a 8"x10" peach paper- "Walk as children of the light."

Next up, Steph Zimmerman Photography has sent us two awesome photos. She is known for portrait and wedding photography (like these that I posted last week) but these project shots would look great in your home or at your desk at work!

You could win a unique matted 5"x7" photo to frame, like this one of a Midwestern farm at night (aka- my dad doing harvest a couple of years ago!)

Or there is this breathtaking photo of the Rocky Mountains, also in a matted 5"x7."

And finally a personal contribution from [un]common workbasket, my little craft-sale-hobby with a couple of friends.

We have a set of three pretty cards inspired by my girl St. Catherine of Siena, made using an old map.

And here is a Scripture print of a favorite verse- Exodus 14:14, "The Lord will fight for you," actually stamped on that page from an old Bible.  It is a ready to frame 8"x10."

Show some love, and please follow and like these ladies on social media:

***Kayla Phillips Design***
on etsy     on facebook     on instagram     blog

***Steph Zimmerman Photography***
                   on facebook     on instagram     website

***[un]common workbasket***
                   on facebook     on instagram    

I hope that there is something here that you love or that you would love to give as a gift.  The Beautiful Giveaway will be open until midnight on Saturday, June 20th.  Because I will have to mail the gifts, winners must have a US mailing address.

There are lots of options for how to enter- start by leaving a comment on this post about the beautiful item you would most like to win.  Then make sure to click the "I commented!" in the Rafflecopter widget to unlock five other ways to get more entries.  After the winners are randomly selected, I will contact you on Sunday, June 21st using the email that you share through Rafflecopter.

***I've heard that some people have had trouble leaving a comment on a mobile device.  If it doesn't seem to publish, you may want to try it on a regular computer.***

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Simple Beauty in a Picture~ Guest Post

Today's post was written by my younger sister Stephanie, who is very giving and a little sassy, happens to be my favorite coffee barista, and is the photographer extraordinaire behind Steph Zimmerman Photography. I'm so excited to share her thoughts with you today as part of my Why Make Beautiful Things Series!

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Beauty can be found in a simple photograph.  A photo not only captures a moment, but it is a constant reminder of the emotion that you felt in that moment.  The way your husband gazed at you on your wedding day. The photograph of that unforgettable family vacation.  A sweet moment captured of your little one.  It deserves to be preserved not on a CD, but on paper, to be shared with generations to come.

I've never received the compliment, "that photo looks great on that CD in your drawer!" Never.  Not once.  And I know that I never will.  I have, however, had guests in my home exclaim over the beauty of the family photos that are hanging on my walls.  One display in particular has received the most love.

This is a giant window frame that we displayed at our wedding.  I've never wanted to change out the photographs (after I added images from our own wedding to it).  The top row has photographs of our grandparents, the next row has photographs of our parents on their wedding days along with baby pictures of Steven and I, and the last row is of photographs from our wedding day. (Wedding photography credit to Seth Morris Photography)

I love it. Plain and simple.  All in one spot, we see the couples that have taught us about love and marriage, about being parents, about being faithful Christians, about life, about everything that matters.  There they are. Not on a CD that won't be able to be read by computers even in the near future. (Do you remember floppy discs? Me too, but when is the last time you used one?)  

On the other side of our living room I have a picture display rack (a thrift store steal).  I am so thankful that I found it, otherwise this wall would be held together by paint and putty only.  I constantly am changing these photos and this allows me to rearrange to my hearts content. New or used, its a great investment for your walls.

I have so many photos hung on our walls... they are what help to make our house a home. We're constantly surrounded by photographs of those we love and the memories we share with them.

The above frames hang in our bedroom.  The first image of Steven and I was taken shortly before our wedding ceremony. We were (and still are) so beyond happy to be with each other as husband and wife.  We were nervous, but didn't care because we were going to finally be wedded as one.  The last photo in that row is of my sisters and I line dancing at our wedding reception.  It makes me happy to remember in that moment, we were laughing hysterically at one another because we couldn't remember all of the steps. We struggled for a little bit, but eventually got it and danced to the rest of the song. Our wedding photographers nailed that moment perfectly.  The two photos in the middle were taken a few weeks after our first anniversary, and we had grown so much in those twelve short months.  I love them all. 

In our kitchen we have a couple of photos that I took of Steven and his dad during harvest two years ago.  Steven is a farmer, I come from a farm family, and we love agriculture.  The photos are anchored by a Zimmerman seed bag (random eBay find, no relation) and are the view from our kitchen table where we share meals together.

I've adorned my daughter's wall with images of us as a family and images of her as she grows.  I know she could care less right now. But I love them now. She will love them later.  And my grandchildren will probably love them even more.  

 Really... who wouldn't want a series of faces they they made as a baby? 

I have one canvas hung in our little hallway.  It is of Garden of the Gods in Colorado.  I think it is a lovely image; but to me, it's not just a pretty picture. I remember Steven and my brother-in-law, Luke, having a great conversation and enjoying one another on the balcony outside of the visitors' center.  Not all of your prints have to have people in them to remind you of your loved ones and those treasured memories.  

Having your pictures beautifully (or not so beautifully) organized on your computer is a lovely thing, but please print those photos.  With technology today, we take photos all the time but often never print them. We share photos on Facebook, in blogs, on Instgram, etc. and they are buried behind other posts the next day.  Be that person that prints the photos.  Hang them on the wall. Add them to an album.  Print them for your children. Print them for your grandchildren. Print them for you. Believe me, your family will love you for it.   We love to go through our family photos from previous generations.  It's a blessing to see those moments captured of our grandparents at a time when we did not know them.  It helps us to learn more about them and their time here on earth.  It helps us relate to them at a time they may have been the same age as we are now, in the same stage of life.  

I honestly wish I had a bigger house, a main reason being to have more wall space for more photographs.  The moments that are captured and printed on paper will always be treasured.  You won't always have (or in my case, fit) into the t-shirt you got on your 8th grade trip to Washington, D.C.  I do however, have the pictures (lacking in quality, as they may) of my friends and I touring the city and visiting the historical monuments. I was awkward and didn't know how to do my hair, but I still treasure those goofy photos.

As mom and photographer, I understand the importance of printing the photographs that I take. I hope that this little post has encouraged you to do the same for your friends and family.  Add some extra beauty to your home and life with beautiful photographs. Whether they are professional or a snapshot, please print them. I promise you won't regret it.  

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Steph's post is part of my Why Make Beautiful Things week.
-Read my thoughts on the seven reasons why making things beautiful matters here.
-Visit my Granny's Closet post to see pictures of the beautiful and fun vintage dresses (which used to belong to my Granny!) that I have been wearing this spring.
-Go read Emily's thoughts on hospitality, beauty, and home through the lens of being a military wife in her guest post Love is the Beauty of the Soul

-AND come back on Sunday, because I'll be hosting a special giveaway with seven beautiful items that I know you are going to love from Kayla Phillips Design, Steph Zimmerman Photography, and [un]common workbasket.  You don't want to miss it!

Honoring Mary: A Collection of Ideas

Happy Mother's Day!  In honor of the Mary-like Mother's heart in every mom, homeschooler, teacher, catechist, and DRE, I've collected a whole series of posts with tons of ideas for teaching kids about Mary- and through her, modeling Christian life, prayer, generosity, and virtue.

Click on any of the pictures below to take you to a post with more info, ideas, printables, and pictures.  I'll spare you more descriptions...and let the posts do the talking!

And, to every woman reading this, thank you for all of the ways that you mother each soul you meet: the kind word, the smile, the caring touch.  You are what the world needs.  Keep on living that call to be what God has made you to be!

"A woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised." ~Proverbs 31:30