Monthly Archives: December 2012

Blog of the year awards

Posted on December 31, 2012 by Connie Rossini

Nancy Shuman at The Breadbox Letters was kind enough to name me one of her favorite bloggers of 2012. This is my first award for blogging. Thanks, Nancy! Below are the rules for this award. “The ‘rules’ for this award … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Awards, Blogs | 5 Comments

Christmas greetings from our contemplative homeschool

Posted on December 28, 2012 by Connie Rossini

(This is an edited version of my annual Christmas letter to friends and family.) A few years back, the boys would sing their own versions of familiar songs, with original rhymes. That Christmas, D proclaimed, “We three boys are traveling … Continue reading →

Posted in Christmas, Education, Parenting | Tagged Carmelite, Catholic, Education, Electronic Media, homeschool, Reading | 8 Comments

Silent night, silent God

Posted on December 25, 2012 by Connie Rossini

Silence can be beautiful at Christmas. Picture the quiet of a night with new-fallen snow, or the hush in which only the breathing of an infant can be heard. But silence, when unwanted, can also be painful. Silence can mean … Continue reading →

Posted in Christmas | Tagged Carmelite, Catholic, Dark Night of the Soul, Silence, Suffering | Leave a comment

Beg, borrow, or steal buy: Introduction to the Devout Life

Posted on December 21, 2012 by Connie Rossini

In this occasional series of posts, I recommend resources for you and your family in 100 words or less. More detailed reviews may come later. By St. Francis de Sales. The classic spiritual guide for lay people. Practical and specific … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Prayer, Saints, Virtue | Tagged books, Christianity, Francis de Sales, Prayer, review | 2 Comments

YOU are your child’s model of prayer

Posted on December 18, 2012 by Connie Rossini

Why do I talk so much about prayer on a homeschool blog? First, because prayer is the way we communicate with God on earth. Although it is not the only aspect of the spiritual life, it is the “one thing … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Parenting, Prayer | Tagged Carmelite, Catholic, leisure, Openness | 3 Comments

Fr. Barron at the tomb of St. John of the Cross

Posted on December 14, 2012 by Connie Rossini

Today, December 14, is the feast of St. John of the Cross. Watch this video Fr. Robert Barron made about the saint a few years ago.

Posted in Saints, Video | Tagged Carmelite, Catholic, John of the Cross, Robert Barron | 4 Comments

St. Therese’s astonishing trust in God

Posted on December 13, 2012 by Connie Rossini

The other day, I read this passage from one of St. Therese of Lisieux‘s letters, in Jacques Philippe’s The Way of Trust and Love: “[A child who has sinned] throws himself into his father’s arms, telling him that he is … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Saints, Virtue | Tagged Carmelite, Catholic, Christianity, Confession, mercy, repentance, Thérèse of Lisieux, trust | 9 Comments

Peter Rabbit and the fall of man

Posted on December 11, 2012 by Connie Rossini

This post is part of an occasional series called Finding God in Children’s Literature, in which I look at children’s books in light of the Bible and Sacred Tradition. All correlations between these books and the Christian faith are my … Continue reading →