Changes and Challenges
Faith & Family Fall 2011
by Danielle Bean
in News
on Monday, October 10, 2011 10:27 AM
[This is my editor’s note from the Fall 2011 issue of Faith & Family magazine. If you are a subscriber and haven’t yet received your copy, it will be arriving soon. If you are not a subscriber ... let’s fix that today!]
Early this past summer, we took a family kayaking trip on the Saco River in Maine. Before we hit the water, the company that rented us the kayaks needed to schedule our pick up, by bus, further down the river later in the day.
“We have pick up stations after four, seven, and eleven miles,” the young woman explained.
My athletic husband answered without hesitation: “We’ll be going eleven.”
Some of us looked at the 4-year-old “baby” of the family and the 8-year-old “diva” of the family and raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. Eleven miles it would be.
There is something instantly exhilarating and bonding about being on the water as a family. There were no cell phones or television screens to distract us. We were surrounded by only green grasses on the river banks and blue skies above us. The ten of us paddled and chatted, splashed and laughed, until we took a short break for lunch.
After lunch, we continued our manual labors under the growing heat of the day. Eventually, the “baby” grew cranky, the “diva” grew whiny, and some of the older kids grew resentful of pulling their siblings’ dead weight down the river.
Dan pulled a soggy map from his pocket and determined that we had gone about six miles. As enjoyable as the day had been, it was time to admit that the fun was over and it was time for a change of plans. We pushed ourselves to the seven mile mark and arranged for the bus to pick us up there. We bumped along dirt roads on the way back to our vehicle, sunburned, exhausted, and thoroughly pleased with the outcome of our family day.
Sometimes, despite our own goals and plans, life has a way of pulling us in a different direction. That “pull” can be God’s voice, inspiring us with a better plan.
Abby Johnson knows this. If you don’t already know Abby Johnson, former Planned Parenthood director turned pro-life activist, read her inspiring story (page 54) to learn about the astonishing ways God has nudged her life in new and unexpected directions.
The new directions God is nudging you toward this fall might not be as dramatic as Abby Johnson’s, but even smaller changes can be challenging. We hope that parents who are facing the challenge of college decisions this school year will find our annual college guide (page 63) an encouraging and helpful resource. In addition to offering updates on some familiar Catholic schools, we also profile some non-Catholic schools where Catholic students find ways to feed their faith.
If the back-to-school season has you stressed, you won’t want to miss the feature on homework by veteran mom of ten Sherry Antonetti. For inspiration toward nurturing your marriage, read one couple’s dramatic story about overcoming addiction and renewing their relationship in this issue’s Marriage Matters “I Married an Alcoholic” (page 43). Daria Sockey’s article on childhood anxiety (page 26) is also both practical and encouraging for parents of stressed-out kids.
It my hope that whatever changes and challenges this fall has in store for you, you will find some time to enjoy the beauty of the season with those you love. Our What’s Cooking feature (page 49) will inspire you to make seasonal treats with traditional fall ingredients of apples and pumpkins. In Entertainment (page 58) and The Season (page 31) you will find even more ideas and activities for observing the liturgical year and enjoying the autumn season as a family.
What kinds of changes challenge you during this fall season? How can Faith & Family support and encourage you during the seasons that lie ahead? Drop me a line at editor@faithandfamilylive.com and let me know—I would love to hear from you!
May God bless you and your families with love and joy through all the big and small changes that lie ahead!
Danielle Bean, Editor
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