Balancing Resources

Faith and Family Live! | Posted by Arwen Mosher in Just me on Thursday, December 04, 2008

Our discussion on my frugality post from last week has me thinking about resources.

It’s easy to talk about money because it’s concrete, but there are other resources that are just as important for completing the tasks of our daily lives, like time and energy.

Psalm 127 says,

In vain is your earlier rising, your going later to rest, you who toil for the bread you eat, when he pours gifts on his... READ MORE

Comments (3) | Filed under balance, discernment, resources, vocation

Homemade Stock

Faith and Family Live! | Posted by Arwen Mosher in Food on Wednesday, December 03, 2008

There are lots of liquids that are wonderful to have in the kitchen, but for a low ratio of cost and effort to taste-per-ounce, one of my absolute favorites is homemade poultry stock.

A good turkey or chicken stock made on your own stove tastes noticeably better than canned stock or broth, and there are lots of ways to use it.

Homemade stock makes gravy into something special.  It forms an excellent... READ MORE

Comments (6) | Filed under economy, homemade, poultry, stock

Anticipation/Apprehension

Faith and Family Live! | Posted by Arwen Mosher in Family on Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Since our new baby is due around the beginning of February, we have just approximately two months to go until he is born.

This gives us two months to convince Camilla that we are not going to name him “Sister,” which I’m not sure we’ll be able to do, since she is very insistent that that must be his name.  Almost as insistent as we are that it is *absolutely not* going to be his name.  I guess she’s... READ MORE

Comments (14) | Filed under babies, experience, parenthood, pregnancy

Waiting for Christmas

Faith and Family Live! | Posted by Arwen Mosher in Faith on Monday, December 01, 2008

I am determined to celebrate Advent this year.

I know, I know.  Coming from a practicing Catholic, that statement doesn’t sound particularly strong.  Of course I’m going to celebrate Advent; we all do.  It’s not like I’ve been simply ignoring the liturgical season in years past.

But the thing is that in a certain way, I have been.

Concentrating on Advent is a challenge in a culture where the... READ MORE

Comments (18) | Filed under advent, liturgical seasons, personal devotion

Finding Five

Faith and Family Live! | Posted by Arwen Mosher in Just me on Wednesday, November 26, 2008

I’ve heard from more than one person that it’s risky to pray to God for patience, because He will give you more opportunities to develop it, and generally these opportunities are not things you would have wished upon yourself.

Two days after I wrote it, I’m feeling a bit rueful about my post on Monday where I talked about making a resolution to ask God to help me rejoice in all circumstances, including... READ MORE

Comments (2) | Filed under challenges, grace, illness, thanksgiving

Un-Frugality

Faith and Family Live! | Posted by Arwen Mosher in Homemaking on Tuesday, November 25, 2008

In case anyone’s been wondering how my laundry project turned out, I am officially declaring it a success.  Today I emptied my laundry room floor of piles for the second week in a row, and I’m confident that I’ll be able to keep this up for the foreseeable future, barring any unexpected catastrophes.

(And yes, okay, the birth of our new baby in February is probably going to put a temporary crimp... READ MORE

Comments (15) | Filed under budgeting, choices, compromises, homemaking, money

Daily Joy

Faith and Family Live! | Posted by Arwen Mosher in Faith on Monday, November 24, 2008

We attend a parish named for Christ the King, so yesterday’s feast is a special one there.  Our usual Mass was very spirited yesterday, and as an extra treat there was a brand-new transitional deacon there.  He grew up in the parish and also happens to be one of my college classmates.  He read the Gospel and gave the homily, and if his homily was any indication, this man is going to be an incredible... READ MORE

Comments (6) | Filed under grace, joy, lessons, personal devotion

Peanut Brittle

Faith and Family Live! | Posted by Arwen Mosher in Food on Friday, November 21, 2008

Yesterday I made peanut brittle for the first time ever.

I’d always thought of peanut brittle as something you buy in bags at tourist-y little fudge and candy shops.  It’s always overpriced but worth it since it tastes so good.  (I don’t have much of a taste for candy in general, and really don’t enjoy fudge, but the salty-sweet crunch of brittle is addictive to me.) I’d buy some and enjoy it a... READ MORE

Comments (6) | Filed under candy, cooking adventures, peanut brittle, recipes

How Do You Video?

Faith and Family Live! | Posted by Arwen Mosher in Family on Thursday, November 20, 2008

Bryan and I, like my parents before us, do not have a TV set in our house.  Ten years ago we probably would have chosen to own a TV and VCR, but these days we can watch DVDs on the computer and keep up with a couple current TV shows online, so we’re perfectly happy not having an actual television.

We’ve discussed it and decided that we are fine with our kids watching a certain amount of video, amount... READ MORE

Comments (24) | Filed under children, decisions, parenting, television

Cleaning, Baby!

Faith and Family Live! | Posted by Arwen Mosher in Homemaking on Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Life with one toddler and one in utero baby is many things by its nature.  Fast-paced is not one of them.

My sister had her second child in July, and watching her deal with two kids has made me realize: I have a limited amount of time during which my life is going to be as simple as it is now.  I should take advantage of it.

During the first months of my pregnancy I took advantage of it by spending... READ MORE

Comments (3) | Filed under challenges, chores, parenting, toddlers

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