I originally set out for this post to be a birth story of sorts. But the would-be narrative about a most blessed and holy event is simply not going to happen here and now. I guess I’m running with C.S. Lewis’s advice here: “Life is too deep for words, so don’t try to describe it, just live it.” Right on, chief, right on. This little babe has brought new hope and true healing to our family — hope and healing I didn’t even know we (read, I) needed. So I’m not even attempting here and now to put words to all this spiritual goodness percolating within me. I’m simply trying to live, learn, soak it up, and hopefully continuing to grow into the mom God is calling me to become … the mom I want to become, too. So for now, enjoy some photos of Lydia’s first hours of life — {pretty, happy, funny, real} style. . . . → Read More: Welcome to the World, Lydia Ann!
Sunday, October 27th, 2013 | By Joel & Lisa Schmidt
A day of holy distractions for us here at Das Schmidt Haus! Meet the newest edition to our family, Lydia Ann, and head on over to CatholicStand.com to read our latest post titled Holy Distraction: The Case for Sacred Art & Architecture. . . . → Read More: A Day of Holy Distractions
Several have stopped by our digital space looking for a labor and delivery progress update, and we apologize for going AWOL. For now, an update … sort of. God’s orchestra is still playing this concerto in a minor key. Stay tuned for the final resolution. . . . → Read More: An Anniversary, A Past Due Date, Decisions and a Plethora of Emotions
While cleaning my home office recently, I found a stack of papers I brought home with me after retiring from the workforce. Before pitching, I thumbed through them and had a great chuckle at one piece hidden away in that mess. It was a flyer titled “How to Stay Stressed” and it satirically proposed that we humans must really enjoy constantly feeling at our wit’s end because we are really good at inviting stress into our homes. The “self-help” flyer’s author was even so kind to offer strategies for how to stay crazy stressed out. It provided a much-needed laugh because, you see, I’ve done a fine, yes a very fine, job of welcoming stress into Das Schmidt Haus the past month. So I got to thinking about how I could stay stressed out as our family continues to dig in and pull up our homeschooling boot straps. In the event you, too, are looking for tips and strategies for how to lose your marbles, here are a few suggestions. . . . → Read More: 10 Ways to Stress Out During First Month of Homeschooling
It’s been an interesting week here at Das Schmidt Haus. As I reflected late last night, I keep ruminating on a phrase from sacred Scripture — a couple of words Peter said after Jesus took him, James, and John up the high mountain: Lord, it is good that we are here. Hornets, homeschooling cheers and fears, an interesting recipe that appeared in our mailbox, an invite to be interviewed on Sirius/XM, and whiskey tasting — all part of this week’s Quick Takes. . . . → Read More: Lord, it is good that we are here
Friday, August 16th, 2013 | By Joel & Lisa Schmidt
August 12, 2013, marked the third anniversary of this blog. We’ve grown up a lot in three years time. Well, we’re three years older, anyway, and hopefully a bit wiser. We would like to take this opportunity to welcome our newest followers and formally introduce ourselves. Feel free to introduce yourself; we look forward to hearing from you. . . . → Read More: Just who are these Practicing Catholics anyway?
“Lord, please send me Mary Poppins! I can’t get through this without her.” It’s time once again for Joel’s deacon formation summer school at Conception Abbey in Missouri when we pack up all of Das Schmidt Haus, kids too, and live with the Benedictine monks for the week. . . . → Read More: Prayers Please: Going Back to the Abbey
Hot diggity! I’m on a “Pinisher” role lately. I recently spotted a few ideas on Pinterest for how to assemble a family May altar in your home. Given the month of May is dedicated to Mary, I set out to create an altar to honor Mary. Now the next logical step is to actually gather the family around the altar and pray a Hail Mary or two. So here are some tips for praying the Rosary with kids. . . . → Read More: May Altars and Tips for Praying the Rosary with Kids
My friend Dorian came up with an awesome link-up idea called “Pinisher” — a movement to get Pinterest-slackers like me to actually finish something I’ve pinned. How many of you have actually baked, crafted, decorated, repurposed, reused, bought, planned, played, etc. anything you’ve pinned? Really … all of you?! Well kudos and more power to you because this meme pretty much sums up my success with Pinterest. . . . → Read More: Go ahead, call me a Pinisher. I dare you!
Care for the earth is not just an Earth Day slogan; it’s a requirement of our faith. Here are a few goals for Das Schmidt Haus in response to “Care for God’s Creation,” one of seven key themes at the heart of Catholic social teaching. What are some lifestyle behaviors you practice in the spirit of Care for God’s Creation? . . . → Read More: Rightsizing Das Schmidt Haus
Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold. In that hour, vouchsafe, O my God! to hear my prayer and grant my desires (mention your intentions here), through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother. Amen.
The absence of the “hard facts” of history is not necessarily an obstacle to the popularity of saints, as the devotion to St. Nicholas shows. Both the Eastern and Western Churches honor him, and it is claimed that, after the Blessed Virgin, he is the saint most pictured by Christian artists. ... […]
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