Timeless Toys for Girls
Posted by Rachel Balducci in Family on Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Yesterday we discussed tried and true toys for boys. Up next: girls!
I am especially interested to hear what you have to say because I am in the severely-disadvantaged category here. What do girls like? What do they reach for time and again?
In our own daughter, we’ve noticed an intense love of dolls. Right now, that’s at the top of her list. That and my make-up drawer (yowzah!).
So what do you recommend... READ MORE
Advent Reading ... Mom Style
Posted by Lynn Wehner in Faith on Thursday, December 09, 2010
We all have family-favorite stories and picture books that we read each Advent season with our children.
Those special books that light up the kids’ eyes and prompt zealous squeals of, “Oh, I remember this story! Do you remember this story? I LOOOOVE this story!” Those special books that touch our own hearts, too. Don’t even get me started on The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey. I merely picture... READ MORE
Sharing Advent Hymns
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Just me on Monday, November 29, 2010
As part of our family’s resolve to keep Advent, we’ve replaced the Christmas carols to which we used to listen during December. I’ve amassed a decent playlist of Advent music (including the appropriate portion of Handel’s Messiah) and we’ve grown to love the sound of it during the weeks leading up to Christmas.
But before I made a concerted efforted to collect Advent songs, I knew very few of them.... READ MORE
Crossing Genres
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Just me on Monday, November 22, 2010
Like most dedicated readers, I’ve got favorite genres. And for the most part, I stick to them.
I like realistic fiction, including historical fiction, romantic comedies (clean, obviously), and most of the classics. I generally enjoy stories about everyday life, and I don’t mind if they’re written for younger readers. (The Betsy-Tacy high school stories come off my shelf on a regular basis, for instance.)... READ MORE
Don't Spring Away
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Just me on Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Today my sister and her kids came to our house to play. We stayed indoors because it was in the 40s and rainy. The forecast for the rest of the week doesn’t look much better, with highs barely in the 60s by Friday.
Normally it’s nearly summer-like weather by mid-May, but the past few weeks have been unseasonably chilly. My sister remarked that it’s a shame that it’s not getting warm more quickly. ... READ MORE
In Search of Picture Books
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Family on Wednesday, January 13, 2010
The children’s section of our local public library has a special area reserved for board books, a cute little structure that looks like a house and has shelves all over the outside. For a long time we would head right to it when we got to the library, and Camilla would happily fill our bag with the sturdy little reads.
But Camilla is three now and I’m pretty sure we’ve checked out every board book... READ MORE
An Advent Hymn
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Faith on Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Rebecca’s post about “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” has me wanting to share my new favorite Advent hymn.
I heard it for the first time at Mass during Advent last year, and this year when I decided I was going to focus on learning Advent music, I knew I had to find a recording of it. I found one, and I’ve been listening to it and singing it non-stop this Advent. It has really enriched me during this season.
The hymn is called “Comfort, Comfort Ye My People.” It dates from the seventeenth century. You can see the text and hear the tune here at the Oremus Hymnal (warning: clicking that link will cause music to play) and you can buy an mp3 of a beautiful choral arrangement here
And you can imagine my delight, on the Second Sunday of Advent this year, to recognize my new favorite hymn in the Old Testament reading at Mass! The words are straight from Isaiah 40.
I hope you’ll love this one as much as I do.
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