Seven Quick Takes from Seattle

When I realized that we had a couple nights to fill in between our time in Idaho and the Catholic Women Rejoice conference the following weekend I sent an email to my Aunt/Godmother to see if we could visit. We arrived at her home just outside of Seattle on Wednesday night and stayed until Friday morning. She had a prior lunch commitment on Thursday, but the girls and I had some sightseeing and shopping plans to fill our day. Here are 7 Quick Takes from Seattle!

— 1 —

The first place we headed was to the Space Needle! I'm from a very small town and I don't think I'm ever going to get use to driving in big cities, but somehow we managed to find our way downtown, find a parking spot, parallel park on a steep hill, and figure out how to use the parking meter after searching all of our purses for some coins…

The girls were not interested in riding to the top, and we really didn't have time since it took us so long to find, but we enjoyed seeing it in person and visiting the gift shop.

— 2 —

The International Fountain was originally built as a modernist water sculpture in 1961 for 1962 World’s Fair, but it was completely replaced and expanded in 1995. With over 20 spouts, the fountain goes through programmed cycles of shooting water patterns, accompanied by recorded world music which is chosen to coordinate with the water patterns.

It was a perfect place to take some pictures with the Space Needle in the background! :) 

— 3 —

The Space Needle wasn't very far from North American Martyrs at St. Alphonsus Church and it was so nice that we were able to make it in time (or rather a few minutes late) for the 12:10 Mass. 

Fr. Gerard Saguto, the current Administrator at this parish, actually attended Christendom College at the same time I did back in 1997-1998! It was nice to see him again and visit for a few minutes after Mass.

— 4 —

Before we left the girls asked if they could light candles for a special prayer intention. ♥

— 5 —

We spent the afternoon shopping (more about that later) and arrived back at my Aunt's home for dinner around 5:00. She had invited my cousins, her four children along with all their spouses and children, over as well and it was so nice seeing them all again and meeting the new little ones!

— 6 —

Aunt Roxane made such a delicious dinner with all homemade lasagna, bread, and Oreo Cheesecake for dessert. Despite my dairy intolerance I couldn't resist a small piece of each. I found that sticking with a diet while traveling is so hard! 

— 7 —

Our last stop of Friday morning, before getting back on the road, was Snoqualmie Falls, another beautiful waterfall in the Pacific Northwest! 

{pretty, happy, funny, real} :: Road Trip with the Girls!

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life with Like Mother, Like Daughter. ~

{pretty}

One of the first places the girls and I visited our recent (2,000 mile!) road trip was Multnomah Falls, the tallest waterfall in Oregon.  Isn't it so pretty?! 

{happy}

It was such a blessing to be able to visit my brother-in-law and attend daily Low Masses and a Sunday High Mass at his parish.

Sean and the older boys visited earlier this summer, but the girls and I hadn't seen him since he flew out to baptize Bud, "Churching of Women" for me, and give the girls their First Confession and First Holy Communion nearly three years ago.  The girls were all so happy to see him again! 

This was actually the first time I've visited a FSSP parish, other than when we attended my husband's three brother's ordinations to the priesthood. It was so inspiring!  

We continue praying that someday we will be blessed with an FSSP parish within driving distance or that we are able to move to an area that already has one established… 

The girls also loved making new friends… 

… and so did I!  We all had such a wonderful time and didn't want to leave!

{funny}

Some of you may have already seen this picture over at Instagram, but one afternoon the girls and I spent some time downtown shopping. My favorite store was All Things Irish. Where else can you find saint stories, beautiful statues, and Guinness?! So awesome!

{real}

The floating boardwalk in Coeur d'Alene is really long! In fact, at 3,300 feet long, 12 feet wide, and 10 feet deep, with a 60-foot-long bridge on the west side, it is the longest floating boardwalk in the world. The girls and I stopped to check it out just before Mass on our way out of town!

I'll be back soon with some pictures from our next stop!

The Boys of St. Paul's Choir School: Christmas in Harvard Square {Christmas Gift Idea & Giveaway!}

I had a package arrive in the mail this afternoon, from one of my new sponsors, and just had the pleasure of listening to the beautiful sacred music created by The Boys of St. Paul's Choir School!

Christmas in Harvard Square was released today and is going to make a lovely addition to our home.  (affiliate links included in this post) 

I wanted to encourage you all to consider doing a little early Christmas shopping (It's always nice to have it completed by Advent, or at least try anyways!) and order either the CD or MP3 to give as a gift or keep for your family. Any orders now can help boost the initial sales so that they can make it onto the "Holiday" Billboard charts with something that actually has Christ in the title!

Note: When you purchase this recording you are also helping the The Choir School with their many funding needs.

To thank you for helping me promote and spread the word about this new recording I have three review copies to give away to my visitors here at Shower of Roses! Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter box below: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Feasts & Seasons :: Our October Book Basket

At the beginning of each month I fill a basket with books featuring the the various saints whose feast days will be celebrated during the month and place it in the living room. Throughout the month I will find the children curled up on the couch reading books they have chosen from the basket, either on their own or to their younger siblings.  I also choose books from the basket for some of our afternoon family read-alouds. Our collection started very small and we have continued adding additional books over the years which we have either purchased or have been given as gifts. Some are picture books, some are chapter books, and some are collections of saint stories. This post is a work in progress and I will continue adding links as I sort through our collection.

Month of October - Respect Life

• Angel in the Waters
• The Miracle of Me
• Life Is Precious Unit Study

October 1st, St. Thérèse of Lisieux (New) (Trad. – Oct. 3rd):

• Catholic Treasure Box Books  (also available from TAN)
• Therese (Around the Year Once Upon a Time Saints) by Ethel Pochocki
• St. Therese of Lisieux (Lives and Legends of Saints) by Carole Armstrong
• Saint Therese of Lisieux (More Saints: Lives and Illuminations) by Ruth Sanderson
• T - Alphabet of Catholic Saints by Nippert
• Saint Therese (Saints for Girls) by Father Gales (Neumann Press)

Picture Books

• The Little Flower of Jesus by Sister Julita (Neumann Press)
• Therese: The Little Flower of Lisieux by Sioux Berger
• Therese of Lisieux: Little Flower of Love by Barbara Yoffie
• God’s Little Flower: The Story of St. Therese of Lisieux by Chris Driscoll
• Saint Therese the Little Flower by Alice Joyce Davidson

Chapter Books

• Saint Therese of Lisieux: And the “little way” of love (Along the Paths of the Gospel Series)
• St. Therese and the Roses (Vision) by Helen Walker Homan
• The Little Flower by Mary Fabyan Windeatt
• The Little Queen of Lisieux (1959) by Mary Elizabeth Martin
• Olivia and The Little Way by Nancy Carabio Belanger
• Olivia’s Gift by Nancy Carabio Belanger

A Few of My Personal Favorites

• The Story of a Soul (Study Edition)
• The Story of a Family: The Home of St. Therese of Lisieux
• Therese and Lisieux by Pierre Descouvemont
• Archbishop Fulton Sheen’s St. Therese – A Treasured Love Story (also available in paperback)
• St. Therese, The Little Flower: The Making of a Saint
• Daily Journal: St Therese the Little Flower

Audio

• Praying the Rosary with St. Therese of Lisieux
• God’s Little Flower: The Story of Saint Therese of Lisieux (Glory Stories: Volume II - available from Holy Heroes) 

Movies

• Miracle of St. Therese
• Therese
• St. Therese of the Child Jesus

October 2nd, The Holy Guardian Angels (New, Trad.):

• Guardian Angels (Around the Year Once Upon a Time Saints) by Ethel Pochocki
• Guardian Angels (Saints and Angels) by Claire Llewellyn
• Catholic Treasure Box Books
• The Guardian Angel Prayer (Board Book) 
• The Angels by Father Lovasik
• A Book of Angels by Marigold Hunt
• My Guardian Dear: A Story of the Angels by Susan Brindle (study guide in Catholic Mosaic)
• Morning Prayer to the Guardian Angels (Saints for Girls) by Father Gales (Neumann Press - also available from TAN)
• Choirs of Angles Coloring Book
• Counting On Faith
• The Guardian Angels: Our Protectors by Daniel Lord

October 3rd, St. Thérèse of Lisieux (Trad.) (New. – Oct. 1st):

• See October 1st for Book list.

October 4th, St. Francis of Assisi (New, Trad.):

• Francis of Assisi (Around the Year Once Upon a Time Saints) by Ethel Pochocki
• Saint Francis and the Wolf (Legends of Saints and Beasts) by Ann Marie Jauss
• St. Francis of Assisi (Saints and Angels) by Claire Llewellyn
• St. Francis of Assisi (Lives and Legends of Saints) by Carole Armstrong
• Saint Francis and the Wolf (Brother Wolf, Sister Sparrow) by Eric A. Kimmel
• Saint Francis of Assisi (More Saints: Lives and Illuminations) by Ruth Sanderson
• St. Francis of Assisi: Preacher to the Birds (The Book of Saints and Heroes) by Andrew Lang
• Saint Francis (Saints for Boys) by Alma Savage (Neumann Press)
• F- St. Francis of Assisi (An Alphabet of Saints) by Robert Hugh Benson (Neumann Press - also available from TAN)
• F - Alphabet of Catholic Saints by Nippert

Picture Books

• The Good Man of Assisi by Mary Joslin (OOP but will be re-released April 2015)
• Saint Francis by Brian Wildsmith
• Clare and Francis by Guido Visconti
• Brother Francis and the Friendly Beasts by Margaret Hodges
• St. Francis of Assisi by Fr. Lovasik
• Saint Francis and the Wolf by Richard Egielski
• St. Francis and the Proud Cow by Bernadette Watts
• Francis Woke Up Early by Josephine Nobisso
• Francis: The Poor Man of Assisi by Juliette Levivier
• Brother Sun, Sister Moon by Katherine Paterson
• Adventures in Assisi: On the Path with St. Francis by Amy Welborn
• St. Francis of Assisi Coloring Book

Chapter Books

• Francis and Clare, Saints of Assisi (Vision) by Helen Walker Homan
• The Joyful Beggar: A Novel about Saint Francis of Assisi by Louis de Wohl

Movies

• Francis, the Knight of Assisi

October 5th, St. Faustina Kowalska (New/some places):

• Helen’s Special Picture: A children’s story about Saint Maria Faustina by David Previtali
• Jesus, I Trust in You!: The Story of St. Faustina Kowalska (Glory Stories: Volume IV - available from Holy Heroes) )

October 7th, Our Lady of the Rosary (Victory of Lepanto) (New, Trad.):

• The Holy Rosary by Father Lovasik
• Saint Dominic and the Rosary (Vision Books) by Catherine Beebe
• The Blood-Red Crescent by Henry Garnett
• Rosary Coloring Book
• Coloring Book about the Rosary
• Rosary Meditations for Children by Christine Henderson
• The Rosary for Little Catholics

October 8th, St. Bridget of Sweden (Trad.) (New – July 23rd):

• Saint Bridget of Sweden (More Saints: Lives and Illuminations) by Ruth Sanderson

October 12th, St. Wilfrid of York (Hist.):

• W- St. Wilfrid of York (An Alphabet of Saints) by Robert Hugh Benson (Neumann Press - also available from TAN)

October 13th, St. Edward the Confessor (Trad.):

• Edward the Confessor (Once Upon a Time Saints) by Ethel Pochocki

October 15th, St. Teresa of Jesus (Teresa of Avila) (New, Trad.):

• St. Teresa of Avila (Saints and Angels) by Claire Llewellyn
• St. Teresa of Avila (Lives and Legends of Saints) by Carole Armstrong
• Saint Teresa of Avila (More Saints: Lives and Illuminations) by Ruth Sanderson
• Saint Teresa (Saints for Girls) by Eve Rouke (Neumann Press)

October 16th, St. Hedwig (New, Trad.):

• Hedwig (Around the Year Once Upon a Time Saints) by Ethel Pochocki

October 16th, St. Gerard Majella (Hist.):

• St. Gerard (Lives and Legends of Saints) by Carole Armstrong
• To Heaven Through the Window (The Story of St. Gerard) Audio Available from Regina Martyrum Productions

October 16th, St. Margaret Mary Alocoque (New) (Trad. – Oct. 17th):

• Saint Margaret Mary (Saints for Girls) by Father Gales (Neumann Press)
• St. Margaret Mary by Mary Fabyan Windeatt

October 18th, St. Luke (New, Trad.):

• Luke (Lives and Legends of Saints) by Carole Armstrong
• St. Luke (Saints and Angels) by Claire Llewellyn
• St. Luke the Evangelist (Lives and Legends of Saints) by Carole Armstrong
• Counting On Faith (four evangelists) 

October 19th, Sts. Isaac Jogues, John de Brebeuf & Comps (New) (Trad. – Sep. 26th):

• St. Isaac and the Indians (Vision) by Milton Lomask
• Ondessonk: Priest of the Red Man (The Story of St. Isaac Jogues) Audio Available from Regina Martyrum Productions

October 21st, St. Ursula & Her 11,000 Comps. (Trad.):

• U- St. Ursula (An Alphabet of Saints) by Robert Hugh Benson (Neumann Press - also available from TAN)

October 22nd, St. John Paul II (New):

• A Boy Who Became Pope: The Story of Saint John Paul II
• Karol: The Boy Who Became Pope: A Story of Saint John Paul II (Neumann Press)
• Karol from Poland: The Life of Pope John Paul II for Children by M. Leonora Wilson
• Lolek: The Boy Who Became Pope John Paul II by Mary Hramiec Hoffman
• Our Holy Father the Pope: The Papacy from Saint Peter to the Present
• Blessed John Paul II: Be Not Afraid
• John Paul II: The Journey of a Saint 
• Pope Saint John Paul II “Be Not Afraid” (Glory Stories: Volume XI - available from Holy Heroes) )

Additional ideas and pictures can be found here: Commemorating the Canonization of Two Popes

October 23rd, St. Anthony Mary Claret (Trad.) (New – Oct 24th):

• Aflame for Souls Audio Available from Regina Martyrum Productions

October 24th, St. Raphael, Archangels (Trad.) (New – Sep. 29th):

• The Heavenly Helpers (Around the Year Once Upon a Time Saints) by Ethel Pochocki
• The Angels: God’s Messengers and Our Helpers by Fr. Lovasik

October 27th, St. Tekla:

• A Saint and His Lion: The Story of Tekla of Ethiopia

October 28th, Sts. Simon & Jude (New, Trad.):

• Saint Jude: A Friend in Hard Times by Michael Aquilina III
• Jude Thaddeus (The Twelve Apostles) by Marianna Meyer
• Simon (The Twelve Apostles) by Marianna Meyer

October 31st, St. Quentin (Hist.):

• Q- St. Quentin (An Alphabet of Saints) by Robert Hugh Benson (Neumann Press - also available from TAN)

October 31st, All Hallows’ Eve (New, Trad.):

• Father Phillip Tells a Ghost Story: A Story of Divine Mercy
• For books about All Saints see the November Book Basket

Other Links for October:

• Links for October :: Month Dedicated to the Most Holy Rosary

You can find links to all of our book lists here.