It’s a Bean family tradition to stop for a seafood dinner after we spend a summer day at the beach. Past years have found me here in this very spot, nursing sandy, cranky babies. But this year, THIS was my baby. And he just enjoyed the fish. And then his dinner.

That makes me both happy and sad at the same time. In a way, I suppose, that only a mother could understand.

Since Rachel is sharing a couple of her favorite photos from this weekend’s CNMC in Boston, I thought I should add this one of my favorites (stolen from @robynlee13‘s twitter feed):

This was Rachel and I sitting together at a book signing where we wound up doing more gabbing/laughing than book signing.

But that was cool with us.

A blog tag thing? After all these years? Really? When I hardly even keep up this blog and even when I was posting here regularly I pretty much always refused to do blog tag things?

Well, sure.

The Anchoress has tagged me, after all, and one does not ignore an Anchoress tagging, I don’t care how sorry a blogger you consider yourself.

Besides, this is pretty simple. I just need to list, in no particular order, my five favorite Catholic devotions. So here goes:

1. Memorare. I pray it. I calm down. That simple.

2. Morning Offering. Covers a lot of territory for me. I even “re-pray” it throughout the day, especially during moments where I need to remind myself that my sacrifices have value and have already been given to God.

3. Novena to Our Lady of Surprises. I used to pray this with my mom for special intentions and it was always very effective. Mostly, I love to be reminded of Mary at the wedding at Cana and her special, motherly love for each of us. I also love the cute, simple title of “Our Lady of Surprises.”

4. Chaplet of Divine Mercy. It feels like a “cheater’s rosary” doesn’t it? I love that.

5. Praying to St. Anne, mother of Mary, grandmother of Jesus. St. Anne is my go-to saint for all things motherly and painful. She has gotten me through eight labors and successful nursing experiences so far. That’s a lot to me.

And now … I tag you! Answer on your own blog or right here in the comments. Please share your favorite Catholic devotions.

But maybe I just needed to do that.

No really. This is hilarious stuff.

If you are a reader or commenter at Faith & Family Live, I hope you will take the time to read our reality check today:

Comments, Conflict and Criticism

That my kids are enamored with this video.

I’m heading to the Catholic New Media Celebration 2010 in Boston this coming weekend. I love to turn online relationships into real-life ones. If you are planning to be there too, please drop me a note so we can be sure our paths cross.