Page 493 – Archdiocese of Baltimore

Merry Christmas! Ready or not, Christmas has come. And at least half of our family has been awaiting this moment for 364 days. As I write this on Christmas Eve, I am wondering what time I will wake up on Christmas morning.We put a clock in our boys’ room with

Looking back with gratitude and forward with hope: My top ten blogs for 2015 and a prayer for the new year 2016

1. Remembering Mark Pacione: Part I: Stories from youth who were impacted during his local ministry

We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called “Opportunity” and its first chapter is New Year’s Day.” —Edith L. PierceHappy New Year:It is a mystery as old as life itself when we realize how quickly the~

“We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called “Opportunity” and its first chapter is New Year’s Day.”

—Edith L. Pierce

Happy New Year:

It is a mystery as old as life itself when we realize how quickly the years go by…

The older we get, the quicker time flies.

2015 has held lots of memories for my family… including good times spent between our homes in Bel Air and on Singer Island in South Florida, retirement adventures with my husband George, visits from family and friends, and a deeper understanding of the circle of life.

As for me, I have kept busy in many ways. Bereavement and prayer outreach with many families extends my ministry beyond retirement. My days are also packed with writing this “God is in the Clouds” blog for The Catholic Review, doing social media promotion for the Singer Island community, and writing and preserving the archival history of John Carroll, the school where I served as campus minister before my retirement in 2014. I am often laugh and wonder how I ever found time to work.

Some of the highlights of 2015 for my husband George and me include:

1. The joy were shared when our daughter Katie was married on April 25:

2. Overcoming with God’s grace a major medical challenge this past summer;

3. Seeing Pope Francis this September in Washington, DC with my friend Rita Buettner from Open Window;

Photo by Patti Murphy Dohn

4. Our trip to Paris in October, which was my first time visiting the City of Lights:

See our photos and read more in “Praying for Paris: Our pilgrimage to the City of Light”

George and I at the Montmartre Sacre-Coeur Basilica in Paris

5. The arrival of our newest grandson, Peyton Thomas, last Tuesday, just in time for a visit from Santa Claus!

Our newest grandson was born on December 22

My top ten blogs for 2015:

2. The importance of a Catholic high school ring: Sharing memories and traditions with the John Carroll Class of 2016

3. The Blessed Mother is in the window: Praying for fine weather for my daughter’s wedding day

4. The legacy of Mark Pacione: Part 2: Archdiocesan colleagues and national Church leaders share their treasured memories

5. Why the praying couple’s pre-wedding photo captured our hearts

6. Prayers for Austin and Perry: Two young sons missing at sea

7. St. Anthony of Padua: More testimonies and prayers to the patron saint of lost items

8. “Be Not Afraid:” The making of the memorial tribute for Mark Pacione from the artists at Spirit and Song

9. Shark alert: Hammerhead sculptures beneath South Florida’s Blue Heron Bridge turn fear into fun

10. Annie’s Playground ten years later: Reflections from Annie’s family and friends on turning their sorrow into the laughter of children

Three posts from my “oldies but goodies” that still attract lots of readers:

1. One of the top Google searches for prayers said when something is lost, this post attracts readers from all over the world, many of whom send me emails about how St. Anthony has interevened for them in times of need with lost and stolen items:

Praying to Saint Anthony: Patron saint of lost items

2. Another post which is high up on the Google search, this time for those seeking the patron saint for those taking exams:

I get emails from thousands of students and their families requesting prayers for success in exams of all kinds in:

Saint Joseph of Cupertino, Patron Saint of Exam-Takers

3. My favorite quote inspired me to write this popular post: “Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.”

Looking ahead to 2016:

What does the new year have in store for you and your families?

I am extending my warmest wishes to all of you and your families!

May the Jubilee Year of Mercy brings rich blessings of faith and hope to each of you.

Let’s start 2016 by praying for the grace to enter more deeply into our faith journey this year:

Prayer for the new year:

Loving God, thank You for this new year.

May everyone in our family be willing to begin anew with a clean slate.

We know that You are always ready to forgive us. Help us to be willing to forgive ourselves and to forgive one another.

As we begin a new year, remind us of our truest values and our deepest desires. Help us to live in the goodness that comes from doing what You want us to do. Help us to put aside anxiety about the future and the past, so that we might live in peace with You now, one day at a time.

Amen.

Count your blessings with me:

7 Quick Takes: Happy New Year, setting reasonable goals, a patron saint, advice, Rudolph’s Chinese New Year, and some of my favorite blogs from 2015

Happy New Year! It’s a leap year, too! So very exciting. I only know two people with Feb. 29 birthdays, but this year they will get to celebrate on their birthday for the 10th time. That means I am turning 40 later this year, but let’s not dwell on that,

7 Quick Takes Friday: A houseguest for the week, reading at night, a little Shel Silverstein, trains, shorts, and children’s behavior at Mass

Just when I was starting to miss our Elf on the Shelf—and I say that with no sarcasm because I actually do miss the morning hunt for Skylander—a new houseguest arrived for the week: Pete the Cat!Pete is the stuffed friend in our son’s kindergarten classroom who paid us a

7 Quick Takes Friday: Solving mysteries, genius baby clothes, the best place for dinner, a first fishing rod, Pete the Cat’s visit, and a dragon delivery

A few days ago I wrote about my frantic search for our younger son’s baptism photo and I referred to the “anonymous family member or friend” who had taken it. That’s my thumb covering our son’s face, just to add to the general confusion. The actual photo

7 Quick Takes Friday: Preparing for a blizzard, friendly procrastinators, cooking with kids, a monkey piñata, when your children want a dog, and more

A blizzard is coming.This will be our first real snow this winter, and our children are so excited. And, of course, schools are closed even though the snow hasn’t started. About 39 flakes fell from the sky on Wednesday night and the schools were delayed two hours the next morning.

7 Quick Takes Friday: How to survive a blizzard, a lost tooth, fishy valentines, why I actually ironed, and how you know you have a fantastic sitter

Have I mentioned that it snowed last weekend? The snow is still here, although most of it has been shoved aside. Here are a few tips on how to survive a blizzard:Bake cookies.Live close to a teenager with a snow clearing business.If it’s too cold for outdoor play or you’re

7 Quick Takes Friday: Preparing for Lent, excitement about Chinese New Year, signs your children are growing up, Catholic Schools Week, and more!

Suddenly Ash Wednesday is next week. How did that happen? Are you ready? I am still figuring out what I want to do for Lent. Right now my plan is to give up buying things online and to try to go to daily Mass at least once a week. I like

Catholics converge on Annapolis; opposing assisted suicide big draw for some

7 Quick Takes Friday: Being called mom, snow days, Chinese New Year in the classroom, not quite 100 days of school, our little hedgehog, and Lent

Suddenly I am “Mom.” I have always been “Mama”—which is also the Chinese term—but suddenly I have become “Mom.” I am not sure how it happened, but here I am. And it’s our younger son who is calling me “Mom” instead of “Mama.”I knew it would happen at some point.

7 Quick Takes: Can we put this winter on ice, the quest for summer day care, biographies for children, cousin fun, and more

It snowed this week. Again. I’m feeling the effects of the lack of routine. Our children really should be in school now and then. But the snow and ice just keeps coming.Have you ever read The Monster at the End of This Book? I feel a little like Grover as on page

7 Quick Takes Friday: Why our van is wet, a lost-lost tooth, Shamrock Shakes, unusual bedtime prayers, and a new car key