Two Dimensional Wooden Figures

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atriums use 2-D wooden figures to portray parable figures. Why not 3-dimensional? Because 3-dimensional figures represent real people who lived in a real time in a real place - parables represent many situations, while describing one particular situation, they actually have many levels of truth and can be universally applied; so we leave them 2-dimensional without facial details to leave room open for those other layers of reality to shine through.

And we never reveal to the child what those truths are - we may guide them along a path towards proper doctrine, but the child almost always come to a deeper truth than we could have told him or explained to him.

For a limited time only, the 2-dimensional wooden figures of the atrium will be available at 2-Dimensional Wooden Figures. Available additional items include the liturgical calendar, the Cosmic Cross puzzle and more. If you don't see something you'd like to order, send a request and it can be probably be done! :) Figures will need to be painted by you and inserted into their (included) bases.

Unintended Consequences

I watched this movie once (well, I've seen it several times). A man is leaning against a wall at a school. He hears this bell ringing and he's wondering why the children aren't coming out if the bell is ringing - he's looking around. The fact is that while he is "just leaning against the wall" - that is *all* he is doing - the result is that by leaning on that exact spot, he is actually leaning on the school bell. But he's not *ringing* the bell, he's leaning against the wall.

Many people can be doing a particular thing, but the outcome can still have unintended results. Good and bad. And we must be responsible for those results, because we are the ones who committed the initial action.

I might just be working on the computer or sewing all day, but the result, if I'm not totally careful, is that my housekeeping falls apart and my children get no time with me.

I might just be driving totally legally but if I'm not watching for the sides of the road too, I might hit a deer. Unintended result - even when watching for the things.

If I were married and I spent a few hours with a man who was not my husband, perhaps someone from church who doesn't have a car or can't drive and needs help with errands or getting to/from work, my husband might not be happy with that and other people in the community may have other thoughts about the situation. Regardless of community opinion, I wouldn't be meeting the needs of my husband and children.

If I have a beautiful gift from God before me and I choose to act as if it doesn't matter, or act as though it will always be there, or act as though I'm not focused on it out of fear that the gift might distract me from God, or treat that gift poorly because it's just a material thing, if that gift can provide me with something that God wants me to have and I choose to look elsewhere for what that gift was intended to give - well, I'm not honoring God, though my intention *is* only to honor God.

I might just be swinging my arms around and spinning around - and then the vase of flowers falls over and shatters with flowers, water and glass everywhere. I didn't intend for that result, but it happened, and I am the responsible party.

Every action has consequences. Good and bad. We are responsible for them.

Think before you act.

The Israelites were just walking around the walls - while they intended to defeat Jericho, they had no way of knowing that *just* walking would knock those walls! They still take full responsibility for knocking down those walls, although *all* they were doing was obeying God's command to "Keep Walking!""

Spring Cleaning at Kitchen Stewardship

Spring Cleaning - Get the Junk Out Carnival



I am spending so much time reading this blog - she described everything I am and want to be in the kitchen and around my home. I'm not the only weird one like me! What a great feeling! There are other people who actually care about what goes into and onto their bodies.

Visit the carnival, learn some things and maybe win some prizes!

Over at Garden of Francis, we are adding more products - primarily educational. Throughout the month of May (and maybe before) we will also be expanding our homemaking selection, including the posting of our "soy-free vegan cookbook" which can be used by anyone wishing to expand their cooking repertoire, as well as those looking for Eastern Rite fasting, Orthodox fasting and generally soy-free vegan foods.
Please note that gluten is included in several recipes, but many of the recipes are easily adapted for those requiring gluten-free foods (but then, if you learn anything about gluten from the Kitchen Stewardship site, you'll learn about soaking those grains to reduce gluten - and using naturally aged wheat rather than that which has been forced open prematurely will also reduce gluten....)

Hope to see you in both places :)


Spring Cleaning - Get the Junk Out Carnival

A Wonderful, Believeable, Piece of Teenage Catholic Literature

The book Awakening by Claudia Cangilla McAdam addresses questions almost every Catholic teenager faces at one time or another. At the heart of these questions is the reality and value of the sacrifice of Jesus.

The book is about a young lady attending a Catholic school who wants to spend the weekend with a school friend’s family – the problem is, they are not Catholic (despite attending a parochial “for the academics”) and this is Holy Week.

She is ultimately thrown back into time, into a family situation very similar to her own, doing what many of us only dream and sometimes beg to do: speak to Jesus face to face, be held by Him, receive *the* First Eucharist from him (“the brown morsel He held blended with His hand; I couldn’t tell where His fingers ended and the fragment began. It was all the same. The Body of Christ.”), kiss His feet as He dies on the cross, hold onto hope during His time in the tomb because we *know* what will happen.

The character, as well as the reader are faced with many realities:
Even face to face with Jesus, it can be hard to understand one’s path in life.
Death is ultimately life.
We can never know the state of one’s soul at the moment of death – all we can do is have hope – and PRAY.
While free will is a key factor in determining one’s life, some events are necessary for others to follow (death leading to eternal life; charity towards a neighbor despite harm to oneself ultimately leads to even greater charity in the world).

While some artistic liberty was taken (Jesus knows this girl is an American from the future; the roles of certain figures in the Biblical narratives are expounded and greater connections made amongst them – all of which are SO interesting!) the historical & cultural details are quite accurate and the entire story is, quite frankly, believable.

The writing style is light – this is not heavy literature; older middle schoolers would find this very easy reading and usually very topic-appropriate; most middle schoolers would be able to easily understand it, but for some middle schoolers the topics may not be appropriate. A bit of a spoiler for the sake of choosing the appropriateness for a particular child: the main character loses her father and brother in a car accident; she holds a lot of anger and doubt in God primarily due to the events surrounding this death; there is a physical attraction to the boy next door with which some more innocent middle schoolers will find confusing, with some references to “six-pack” and an incident the main character describes as embarrassing when she enters her bedroom from the shower, and her towel slips before realizing that her bedroom window is wide open. The language is entirely clean and I would read this *with* my own middle schoolers, incorporating discussion, inviting their responses to “what if they were there”, etc.

Sophia Institute Press sent me a complimentary copy of this book for me to review. All opinions expressed in this post are solely my own.

Can we learn something from the Shakers?

The shakers lived so simply. Everything they did was a gift to God; practical and perfect – they sought to do everything with the perfection Christ requires of us: Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.

What can we pull from this?
What can we apply to our lives that will bring us closer to God?

No, the dancing doesn't do it for me (but clearly they had extravagance somewhere in their lives - it wasn't all hard corners and frugality (and rhyme & reason!)).

No, the lack of marriages doesn't do it for me.

But their way of life.
They depended on one another - a true community.
They didn't turn anyone away.
They were always prepared for seasonal changes and other climatic possibilities.

While I do not agree with several tenets of their faith (anything that is radically different from the previous 2000 years and can't accord with that history is questionable in my eyes - there is always some sort of preparation for anything new and different), I can appreciate their devout lifestyle. They truly lived what they believed, in a way that put them in harmony with those around them.

Wisdom for Everyday Life

While reading Wisdom for Everyday Life From the Book of Revelation, I am literally holding a treasure trove of life-affirmation in my hands.

The author, Fr. Richard Veras, classifies this book as an introduction – and oh my! What an introduction!

Right away, Fr. Veras sets the context of symbolism in both history and in current culture, ending with the words “As you read the book of Revelation along with me, my hope is that you will discover Jesus anew and thus discover who you are as one of His disciples. You will be amazed at how important your life really is!” (bold is mine)

With these words, my expectations for this book sky-rocketed. They were not left unfulfilled. This book is truly an introduction, but what depth it contains. Portions (lines, paragraphs) beg to be read again, revealing greater richness each time.

The author breaks the Book of Revelation into small chunks (1-5 chapters) and addresses the symbolism in each one, applying it historically to the Old Testament as well as to instances in current culture and even in his own life. We are led through the chapters towards a deeper and deeper understanding of our role as a Christian – as a disciple of Christ.

My only complaint is that I want a sequel! I want to delve even further into this climactic Book of the New Testament and how they apply to our lives, my life, right here, right now.

Portions of Revelation and other Scripture passages are quoted directly in the book; other Scripture passages are referenced. I strongly suggest having the Bible next to you so as to review the referenced Scriptures.

Physically speaking, this book is easy on eyes – the lines are spaced apart enough that the relatively small font is not a strain on my eyes, even as I read by night-time lamplight (I couldn’t put the book down, except to go get my Bible!)

This review was written as part of the Catholic book Reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Wisdom for Everyday Life From the Book of Revelation. All views expressed are my own honest opinions.

How Love Acts

How Love Acts, by Jeff Cavins


This is an excellent CD providing hope and inspiration to those in the trenches of daily life and stuck in patterns of mediocrity and sin.

I expected more "do this, do that", but instead Cavins provides an historical context of why we have the patterns we have, before moving into the reality of Jesus living within us. He explains the philosophical and theological reasons behind the loving actions that are required of us as Christians - emphasizing the inward movement of the heart, from which the outward actions will flow. In the end, the listener is given a great deal of practical advice, because it springs from the heart, rather than a by-the-book list of things of how love acts.


He does not address issues that stem from childhood patterns, instead focusing on how embrace one's cross, love as Jesus loves in the moment, here and now, with whatever set of tools we have at our disposal at this very second. While this CD may not be complete for all persons, it is an inspirational tool in the arsenal of fighting sin and living the redemption that Jesus has already given us.


This review was written as part of the Catholic book Reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on How Love Acts (CD).

Divine Mercy for Young Hearts

This DVD is an excellent introduction the Divine Mercy devotion for children and adults of all ages. Overall the presentation is geared for elementary age and with limited exception (noted below), it is entirely appropriate for children even down to age 3. The videography provides a great deal of input without feeling overwhelming or overstimulating. There is some light music, images of the Stations of the Cross, the Shroud of Turin and other visual images, as well as video of the children receiving the presentation.

The main menu offers the options of watching the entire video (57 minutes) or watching in segments. For the youngest children and for anyone new to this devotion (whether in a school, religious education or the home), the segments are best done at separate times with prayer, and review discussion in between to maximize what a child will take away from the presentations at hand.

The video starts out with a brief introduction to the Holy Father (JPII - having been initially presented shortly after his death), dating it a bit, but places emphasis on the reality of the events surrounding this devotion, placing it in a physical place and time.

Because it covers a wide range of children's ages, some topics are meant for older children (some trivia-type information and apologetics that are not necessary for the very young child). Geared for children, there are moments that are most appropriate for adults. While the speaker states the difference between children and adults beforehand, it was disconcerting to hear the specific sins listed in a presentation to children who are still in a state of innocence and hope. Other than this slightly awkward moment, anything directed to the adults was appropriately done for the children. And the items directed towards the older children slip by the younger children.

The main menu offers the options of watching the entire video (57 minutes) or watching in segments. For the youngest children and for anyone new to this devotion, the segments are best done at separate times with prayer, and review discussion in between.

The additional features contain information on the ministries involved, for the edification of the adults.

Overall, this is an excellent video with the caveats mentioned above.


I wrote this review of Divine Mercy For Young Hearts for the Tiber River Blogger Review program, created by Aquinas and More Catholic Goods, your source for First Communion Gifts. For more information and to purchase, please visit Aquinas and More Catholic Goods.

Tiber River is the first Catholic book review site, started in 2000 to help you make informed decisions about Catholic book purchases.

I receive free product samples as compensation for writing reviews for Tiber River.