It's that time of year again...

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We finally carved our Halloween jack-o-lantern yesterday. It's just over three weeks to Thanksgiving (a celebration not to be forgotten or rushed – giving thanks is so good for the soul!). But ready or not, before we know it, it's going to be Advent and time to prepare our hearts for Christmas.

One of my favorite holiday traditions is the sending and receiving of Christmas cards. In today's world, communication often consists of a quick text message or, at best, an email. A hand-delivered card in the mailbox? It's something special. I don't know about you, but when I get an envelope that is not a bill or junk mail, I am filled with joy!

Every year I look forward to receiving certain Christmas cards (The annual photo update from the family I used to babysit! A card from my beloved junior high choir director!). I know some families have a beautiful tradition of saving all the Christmas cards they receive beyond the holiday season. Then, throughout the year they pick one card each night at dinner, and they pray for the person or family that has sent that card. (I'm looking at you, Whitaker family!) Isn't that a great tradition? One of these years I hope to adopt it in our own family.

I look forward to sending Christmas cards, too. And my favorite place to shop for Christmas cards online is Minted. For our family, it is an investment to get our Christmas cards here, but to me it is an investment worth making. I love that there are some beautiful religious Christmas card options.

"all because of Him" card

I like the sentiment of this card – "counting our blessings." Yes! That's the true holiday spirit!

"grateful" card

We have no greater joy than Christ, our Lord, so I think this card is super sweet, too.

"greatest joy" card

I was also pleasantly surprised to see Minted offers a wonderful selection of non-photo holiday cards, in case adding a picture is not in the cards for you this year (pun intended!).

"nativity party" card

Well, I'm off to update my Christmas cards address list, and to try to pick my favorite Minted design for our own family's card! Which one would you pick?

G R A N O L A(including a pumpkin spice variation!)

Over the past several months, I have gotten into the habit of making granola on a regular basis. It's a delicious breakfast that both my husband and I enjoy served with milk or over greek yogurt. I have shared in my instagram stories about making it, and had some people asked for the recipe. Well, ask and you shall receive! Here's my standard granola recipe, followed by a scrumptious pumpkin spice variation to celebrate autumn.

// G R A N O L A //

// INGREDIENTS //

4 cups oats

1 cup unsweetened coconut

1 cup almonds

1 cup pecans

1/2 cup honey

2 Tablespoons coconut oil

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

1 Tablespoon cinnamon

Preheat oven to 300 degrees (Fahrenheit). Mix all dry ingredients in a large bowl. 

Meanwhile, in a microwave safe container, warm the honey and coconut oil for 45 seconds in the microwave. Mix well. Add the vanilla and almond extracts and stir until combined.

Pour the warmed honey mixture over the granola and stir until the oats mixture is well-coated.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread mixture evenly onto the lined baking sheet.

Bake the granola in your preheated oven for 7 minutes. Remove the baking sheet and gently toss the granola to ensure even baking. Return the baking sheet to the oven for another 7 minutes or until the granola is golden brown.

Remove the baking sheet from the oven. Allow the granola to cool completely before storing it in an air-tight container.

Serve with your favorite milk or top a bowl of yogurt with a few generous spoonfuls. We enjoy adding dried cranberries to ours - delicious! Fresh fruit would be yummy, too.

As for my pumpkin spice variation...

// PUMPKIN SPICE GRANOLA INGREDIENTS //

4 cups oats

1 cup unsweetened coconut

1 cup chopped pecans

3 Tablespoons flaxseed

1/2 cup pumpkin seeds

1/2 cup honey

2 Tablespoons coconut oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 Tablespoon pumpkin spice

Otherwise, simply follow the instructions as directed above. On a cool autumn morning, a bowl of this granola with a cup of warm coffee is enough to make me smile. Hope it will make you + yours smile, too.

Enjoy! 

That is enough for me

The gentle warmth of the May sun shines upon my face. I cannot help but smile. My heart knows a deep peace in this moment—that abiding peace which only Christ can give. God’s praises swell within my soul and I sing out in joy to Him with my pen on the paper of my journal. My voice does not ring out now—though it soon will. I have not spoken in six days.
Well, to be completely honest, I have spoken a little—once each day to my spiritual director, and the responses in Mass. Amen. Alleluia. And with your spirit. But otherwise I have spoken only to God in the quiet depths of my heart. It is one of the most profound spiritual experiences of my life.

The rest of my Blessed is She devotion can be read here.

All the pictures in this post are from my time on silent retreat at Manresa Jesuit Retreat House.

In my reflection, I share the Suscipe prayer from Saint Ignatius of Loyola. Below you can see a glimpse of my first encounter with this prayer while I was on retreat.

Amen.

Isn't it amazing to recognize that the fruits of Saint Ignatius' life are still being revealed today? His Spiritual Exercises and Ignatian spirituality have been such a gift to me. The holy Jesuit priests I have been blessed to know have played a pivotal role in my Catholic faith formation. I can't imagine how different my life would look if Saint Ignatius had not followed the Lord's call for his life! We may not even have our dear Jesuit Papa, Pope Francis! I am so grateful to God for the gift of the saints.

And to think we are all called to be saints! What can you do today to continue on your journey to becoming one? Might I offer a humble suggestion? (It's one I need to heed myself.) Start with silence. Put down your smart phone. Shut your laptop. Be still before the Lord. Quiet your heart. Practice listening. For it is in the silence that we can more clearly hear His voice. 

Saint Ignatius of Loyola, pray for us!

AMDG – ad majorem Dei gloriam – for the greater glory of God...

A Baptism Party for our Precious Boy

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It's high time I shared the sweet details from the celebration of our son's baptism. I figured the anniversary of that special day would be the perfect time, so without further ado, here we go!

"Children are a heritage from the Lord, 

they are a reward from Him. 

Like arrows in the hands of a warrior 

are the children born in one's youth."

// Psalm 127: 3-4 // 

The art print is a printable from Lindsay Letters. We also displayed his baptismal candle in a crystal candlestick holder (a wedding gift from my grandfather).

We decorated with all white flowers for the celebration - beautiful hydrangea, pictured below.

One of my favorite elements of the party were these prayer cards. The cards gave guests a place to write their prayers for our son on his baptism day. When he is older he will be able to look back and know the prayer intentions of his loved ones who were there for this sacred event.

The white afghan above and the booties below were knit with love by my husband's granny for the occasion.

The love is in the details...

We decided to serve all-white snacks and desserts for the party, too.

// M E N U //

powdered sugar mini donuts

freshly-popped popcorn

yogurt covered pretzels

sugar cookies with white icing

cake

I used this recipe for the sugar cookies (using this cookie cutter) and this icing recipe. Delicious!

"Peter said to them, 'Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ

for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'"

// Acts 2:38 //

It was such a special day celebrating one of the most beautiful moments in our son's life. Keeping the party simple kept the focus on the Sacrament, and the reason for our celebration.

Praying today that the graces of baptism may continue to be nurtured and lived out in the lives of all Christians, for the greater glory of God.

Blessings to you...