We are.

Here’s what happened. And what is happening. And what will happen in the near future.

Change can be challenging. It is hard for me to let go of what we did for years at Faith & Family Live, but we plan to continue much of that same work at CatholicDigest.com. I hope you will stick with me on this newest endeavor.

[Removed the embedded document from this post because it kept messing up the blog page]

You guys! I totally forgot to tell you about this awesome episode of The Gist, featuring The Gist‘s mascot, a sweet seeing eye dog named Betty Lou. Oh, I guess we also talk about family health and diversity in the Church, but THE DOG! Look at the talented DOGGIE!

Watch more episodes of The Gist, on demand at CatholicTV.

So I can spend 10 minutes writing here … so here goes …

1. I should be working on my talks. I will be in Pittsburgh, speaking at a couple of different Catholic Charities events this weekend. But no Steelers for me! They are playing out of town (on Thursday) this week and I am going to be in Pittsburgh all of 24 hours anyway.

I need to “tweak” my talks. Meaning, I need to sift through the piles of notecards I pulled from a cabinet and placed on my bed earlier today and put together two coherent talks. After all this time, you would think I would be more organized about this and actually keep my talks from previous events for immediate re-use. But I’m not. Whenever I go back through previous talks’ notes, I always want to change things. I guess that means I am growing and changing. (I hope in the right directions.)

2. Math Team! Eamon is participating on the school math team this year, and I cannot get over the thrill of calling my son a “math-lete.” Over and over again. This does not get old for me. Freaks and Geeks, anyone?

3. 5K update. I am excited to be preparing for my next race, in mid-November, using this training program. I find that running on a track more often than the road is lots easier on my joints, but kind of boring also. This training regimen might just help me stay focused and un-bored.

4. VP Debate. Will you be watching tomorrow night? I would like to, but I think those aforementioned Steelers might just be hogging the airtime around here tomorrow night. Will you be watching? I “watched” the last debate via other people’s comments and quotes on twitter. That was kind of an educational experience. Maybe I will live tweet the debate and the game at the same time. I got an email from PF Chang’s earlier today, offering a special deal for people getting take-out for the debate. Something about making it into a party appeals to me. Maybe because so much of the political season feels ugly (Hmmm, Facebook?) to me.

5. Hating on the Rach. Don’t you kind of hate Rachel for having the nerve to admit that she never ever never ever (no really, never!) fights with her husband? Yeah, me too. I am scheming something, though. If we all put our internet minds together, we can totally get those two to fight. What do you think? Send her flowers, from him, with her name misspelled? Sneak into their house and leave ugly lipstick prints on his shirt collars?

Seriously. All this happy marriage stuff is obnoxious. The time to act is now.

Ooooooor … we could all just admit that every marriage is different and every spouse has a different temperament, and all of that adds up to an infinite number of different combinations, some placid ones and some more potentially explosive ones. That means that some couples might need to work harder at “not fighting” than others, but comparing and contrasting our own relationship with others is an exercise in futility and unhappiness. All of us need to work hard and pray hard for our marriages, so let’s focus there.

And on Project Balducci Marriage Bomb, of course. They’ll never know what hit them.

6. Whoops! I’m a minute over. Story of my life. See you next week!

— 1 —
Live! From The Gist!

We’re in Boston today (and yesterday) taping the remainder of the second season of The Gist. It’s terrifically fun, as usual, but also exceptionally exhausting. I have a couple of my girlies along with me this time and the three of us fell into bed for deep deep sleep while watching Kung Fu Panda 2, at an embarrassingly early hour last night. Good bonding stuff.

Also, we are doing a Christmas special for the show! Such fun and so pretty — wait till you see our Very Merry background. Look for it this December!

— 2 —
New Babies

Did you hear the good news that Hallie and Jen have recently shared? I am so happy for these two sweet ladies who are enjoying pregnancy together this time around. Please join me in praying for them and their families.

— 3 —
Year of Faith

At Catholic Digest, we are observing the Year of Faith (October 11, 2013 – November 24, 2013) with some short reflections on the Catechism by the ever-awesome Pat Gohn. Make sure you are a subscriber so you don’t miss out!

Also, for the Year of Faith, I am participating in an Ascension Press newsletter project, called Faith in Action. This newsletter features weekly reflections from Catholic authors that will be sent out during the coming year. I am honored to be a part of it and hope you will sign up to receive the free newsletters. Get all the information you need to subscribe to Faith in Action right here.

— 4 —
Hot Stuff

Is it warm in here? Or is that just me? Or is that … oh, don’t be silly. I’m only 40! It’s definitely not that.

(right?)

— 5 —
5K Update

I was happy with my finish in my recent race, but even happier (and prouder!) of Ambrose’s performance that day. He won his age group! He came in 11th overall! I am so impressed with that big, fast, hard-working boy of mine. He’s even too manly to wear the pink ribbon he won. Way to go, Ambrose!

— 6 —
Planning for Christmas

Maybe it’s the taping of the Gist Christmas special, but for some reason, I have Christmas on my mind. I long ago accepted the fact that I will never be one of those hyper-organized women who gets all her shopping done by November 1, but a little pre-planning/brainstorming can’t hurt.

Inspire me! What’s the very best Christmas present you ever gave or received?

— 7 —
Family Movie Night

I sometimes like to torture my immediate family members by announcing a mandatory Family Movie Night. I say “torture” because choosing a movie that is equally liked and appreciated by everyone, from age 6 to 41, is a tough task. We inevitably wind up catering to the younger crowd, at the older crowd’s expense. I try to make up for it with decent snacks, but it still would be nice to have a list of whole-family movies that have been successful for others to draw from.

What movies have you enjoyed as a family? Ones that meet the usual requirements for decency, but aren’t a total snooze-fest for older kids?
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That’s all for now! Hope your weekend is great! (Go see the lovely and pregnant Jen for more of these!)