Free Great Saints Coloring Book

Download our special "Great Saints Coloring Book" for your kids and tune in to Relevant Radio for our special radio event "Great Stories about Great Saints"!

Kids can learn about the great Saints of the Catholic Church and have fun coloring. Plus as an added bonus you can listen to a great, faith-filled, radio show! You can even listen online if they aren't on your local radio dial!

Two Great Links

Here are two incredible blogs that you'll want to make sure you stop by and check out:

First, our adoption agency has started a blog. It is a blend of all of their country programs as well as their humanitarian work throughout the world. You especially will want to read this touching story of an "older child" adoption.

Second, dear friends of ours (whose adoption blog you might recall) just recently gave birth to their fourth child. Despite the diagnosis delivered to them while their daughter was still in utero, family and friends have come together to support, encourage and hold this family up in prayer as they begin the journey of a lifetime. Please stop by to read about this awesome, family of strong-faith and to send a kind word their way.

Praying The Divine Mercy Chaplet Online

Finding yourself stuck at your computer during the day?

Looking for a simple way to follow the Divine Mercy Chaplet?

Want to encourage a tech-saavy kid to give this beautiful prayer a look?

Look no further.

This site is designed to pray the Chaplet right at your desk (or laptop)!

Explaining Pro-Life Beliefs

If you've been reading here a while, you most definitely know where the Ark falls in its beliefs on the sanctity and dignity of life.

All life.
Little lives.
Big lives.
Old lives.
New lives.
Rich lives.
Poor lives.
Our lives.
Your lives.

You may share our beliefs, or, perhaps, not.

But, if you do and you've ever struggled to explain your beliefs to others, you'll definitely want to check out this wonderful free resource to help you share your perspective with others.

What Can You Do With A Bad Valentine?

I'm don't think I've ever received a bad valentine. And in the words of Tomie DePaola, from The Legend of the Poinsettia, "a gift is a gift because it is given", leaves me quite certain that there is truly no such thing as a *BAD* gift.

But, there sure are some pretty comical ones.

If you have a great *BAD* Valentine gift, don't leave it sitting in your closet. Share it here at Talbots for a chance to win a $1,000 shopping spree! (Second and Third prizes aren't too shabby either).

Politics, Corruption and a Biblical Worldview

The state of Illinois seems to be reeling from political corruption. What does this type of scandal mean for a Christian? What does the bible say about politicians, power and its abuse?

Check out the awesome Fr. Robert Barron's commentary on these timely topics.




You can find out more (and hear more of his talks!) at his site Word on Fire!

Love the American Girl Movies?

Or do you know someone who does? My neighbor (thanks, Denise!) tipped me off to this great deal on the set of the first three American Girl movies on Amazon.

Not Too Early to Start Thinking About Advent

From the great folks at Holy Heroes:

If your family life is anything like ours, it seems that Advent comes at the most hectic time of the year. It is easy for your children to get caught up in the commercialism, materialism, and the me-ism of the culture's pre-Christmas (or should I say “holiday”?) frenzy. Instead of the frantic activity of “Only XX shopping days left until Christmas!” the Church prescribes something different: prayerful, conscientious, joyful preparation for the days approaching our celebration of birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

But, you’re really busy. You have a lot to do to prepare for the wonder of Christmas Day. So, this year, how can you prevent your Advent plans from being overcome by the hub-bub of what the world tells you is the proper way to spend “the Christmas season”?

Take your family on the fun and easy “Holy Heroes Advent Adventure!” It’s free, it costs you nothing, nada, zilch. And you'll get 22 daily fun, easy, free activities for Advent. Click here to sign up.

You’ll find that we have done all the work for you, so you can also enjoy the Advent Adventure with your family. And you will all--from youngest to oldest--actually learn something during Advent which (we pray) will help you on your way to heaven.

It’s free. Click here to sign up. Oh: and when you sign up, you will also receive a 20% discount on all orders you make on our website until Epiphany (which is AFTER Christmas)!

Sign up by clicking here and we’ll tell you all about it. Nearly every day, 22 times during Advent, we will send you an email with a link that takes you to that day’s activities. You’ll see short videos, listen to short audio selections, download coloring pictures, word searches and games, take quizzes to see what you’ve learned, and more.

It’s free, it’s for children of all ages, it’s fun AND educational, and all you have to do every day is open the email we’ll send (and save 20% on any orders you make on our website).

Free Shipping from The Catholic Company!

Chris "the reviewer dude" Cash at The Catholic Company sent word of this great deal being offered through the 28th. If you are interested, here are the details:

1. Simply place an order. You can place this order through our website, by phone, by fax, or by mail.

2. Use this coupon code: BLOG

If you order online you will type in the coupon code during checkout. Simply type BLOG in the coupon code box located at the bottom of the payment page.

If you order by phone simply tell the coupon code BLOG to your customer service agent.

If you order by mail or fax simply include the coupon code BLOG on your order form.

*Terms and conditions: This offer cannot be combined with any other offers. Applies to U.S. delivery addresses only. Applies to standard shipping only. Cannot be used on orders already placed or on backorders. Offer expires at 12:00 midnight, Eastern Time on Sunday, September 28, 2008.

Job's Tears

You probably all know the story of the suffering of poor Job (if you don't, there may not be a more poignant account out there than this one by Regina Doman) but, do you know the story of Job's Tears? I didn't until I read about them while looking at the beautiful rosaries on Barbara's site.

Late last winter, or maybe it was early last spring, I stumbled upon Barbara's rosary quite by accident. My eyes welled with my own tears as I read the name for her rosary and believing I was being given a sign of some sort, I contacted her to purchase the beads.

To be continued...

I Can't Believe It's Over

Don't believe me? Go see for yourself.

Free Resource--Celebrate Urban Birds

As a part of the Cornell University Cooperative Extension Center, you can learn everything you ever wanted to know about Urban Birds!

From their website:

"Learn about city birds, watch birds for science, get involved in projects to “green” up your community, and increase conservation awareness."

Click here for information on this free resource.

Link Round-Up

Why have I never heard of the Freebie O' The Day site? How is it that I almost missed out on free Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit facial scrub? Thanks to Faith, that won't be happening again!

Looking to make your own Frappuccino? Craving a Cherry Slurpee? How about an Orange Julius? These yummy, FREE recipes were also courtesy of Faith! She sent us this excellent link to the Everyday Cheapskate's Icy, Cold Summer Drinks.

To go along with these tasty frozen treats, why not stop over at The Catholic Company for these Family Friendly Movies and DVDs? If you haven't seen it, I can't recommend Champions of Faith enough. Our family loved it!

In case you missed it in my Google Reader in the sidebar, this week's Catholic Carnival is over at A Catholic Mum Climbing the Pillars! Ebeth has done a fantastic job of hosting this week and there are several wonderful, inspiring entries. Definitely make a stop there!

Before it's next Wednesday, here's our belated Wordless Wednesday picture! Can you even stand the little ham hocks on her little legs?! And to think that this baby was failing to thrive! That was before her name went straight from our lips to God's ears! What a miracle!


For more Wordless Wednesday, click here.

Faith and Family Live!

Don't miss this new and much improved site for Faith and Family magazine. On this site, you can even find our cheerleading party article! There is such an extensive amount of information available, you'll have to watch the clock to remember to stop to feed the children--or you could just throw a package of juice boxes and an economy sized box of goldfish crackers their way. They're happy, you're happy. Sounds like a win-win situation to me!

Customer Appreciation Week at The Catholic Company

If you needed a reason to click on over and check out the prolific inventory at The Catholic Company, here it is: order by July 21st and use the code JULY to save 20%. The code is good on all purchases made online, by fax, phone or mail!

Extraordinary Moms Network!

Wondering what that new button over there in the sidebar is for? Go ahead and click on it. Come on, you know you want to...did you click it yet? You did? Okay, good.

Then you don't need me to tell you that it takes you to a great new site designed specifically to:

"offer encouragement and guidance for adoptive mothers and foster moms, those considering foster care or adoption, and all women who invest their lives in other people’s children."

The lovely, Heidi Hess Saxon, adoptive mom and writer/editor/all-around good guy is the creator of this new site, and I'll be participating there as her Ethiopia "expert". Check often for news and inspiring stories to encourage an adoptive/foster mother's heart. And coming soon, the inaugural Extraordinary Moms Network Carnival on August 1st! See you there!

Book-It! for Homeschool

For the upcoming 2008-2009 school year, Pizza-Hut has changed their popular Book-It! program to allow parents to self-register their home-educated children . You can register by phone, by fax/mail or by clicking here.

Party Planning Tools

You might like to know that you can now download a free Island Party Planner from the editors of Disney's FamilyFun magazine. Just visit FamilyFun 's page on Amazon.com to find the link to your free party planner.

In the Island Party Planner , you'll find pages full of great ideas for throwing a fun island-themed party, with activities before and during the party that families can do together. Learn how to make a hot dog octopus, an island cake, a luau skewer, and much more.

Planning for the Fourth of July

From FamilyCorner.com, check out these adorable and easy crafts and recipes for the Fourth!

Patriotic Rice Crispy Star Sparklers

Patriotic Cake Balls

Patriotic Water Bracelets

Patriotic Bubble Wands

And much, much more!

Catholic Exchange Presents...

A new site, devoted exclusively to the teachings of "Theology of the Body".
Here is the description of the site:

Catholic Theologians have just begun to study and fully understand this rich body of work left for us by John Paul the Great, but it is already bearing fruit in thousands of lives touched by the Divine "One Flesh" vision for men and women. Here is the loving answer of the Church to a society that devalues the human person and tries to pit male and female against each other.

Leading us in this exploration are over a dozen writers and teachers who will be regularly contributing to this channel as well as talented and thoughtful guest columnists.

A list of these outstanding authors can be seen by putting your cursor over the "Columnists" link on the on the white navigation bar at the top of the TOB channel. Coordinating the contributors to this new channel is Steve Pokorny. Steve has an MA in Theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville, received training from Christopher West, and will be completing his studies at the John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family Studies in 2009.

Assisting him will be Kevin Whelan a business professional, who shares his personal reflection through the lens of a married man and demonstrates that the message of Theology of the Body is relevant to older men.

Columnist Fr. Thomas J. Loya will be known to many CE readers as a weekly host and guest on Relevant Radio. He offers a prospective of Theology of the Body from the rich tradition of Eastern Christianity. Another religious contributor is Sr. Mary Paul Friemel, OSF, who both teaches and studies theology at the Franciscan University of Steubenville. She brings a dynamic, young consecrated woman's view to the subject.

Monica Ashour and Annie Vining of the Theology of the Body Institute bring with them the experience of teaching this material to thousands of Catholics of all ages and walks of life. They join Dave Sloan, Christopher West, Dan Spadaro, and a number of other writers obeying the call of Pope John Paul to use the media to reach the world with the gospel of life.

Since this new channel will make Theology of the body accessible to all kinds of readers we have designed this channel to sort the articles according to various topics. Put your cursor on the "TOB for All" link on the white navigation bar at the top of the channel and a drop down menu reveals the rich selection of topics

• TOB for Consecrated Lives
• TOB for Men
• TOB for Spouses
• TOB for Women
• TOB for Young Adults
• The NFP Way to Love
• The Pornography Trap