Emergency Prayers Please!

I am writing from the waiting room of the hospital in Tennessee.

My mom was rushed into the ER on Mother's Day with chest pain. They discovered that she had a substernal thyroid goiter that is wrapped around muscles and arteries. Its serious. They won't know if its cancerous until after the surgery.

They had to take a few weeks to find the three specialist that would be needed for her surgery...here we are now.

She got to see all of her children and grandchildren in the past couple of weeks. She is at peace with what ever God wills to happen, but we are praying that God allows Mom to be with us for many more years (she's only 62).

The past several weeks have been very difficult. My parents don't have insurance and it has only added more stress to an already difficult situation.

We are doing a novena to Blessed John Paul II for a miracle. If you would like to join us in praying the prayers right now as she is in surgery, you can go to the website that one of her friends created http://www.susanbrindle.org/

Thank you for your prayers!

Please keep my family in your prayers and especially pray that the surgery will be a success

Down on the Delta

We had a fantastic trip down to Memphis for the 11th Annual Catholic Homeschool Conference and Curriculum Fair at St. Louis Catholic Church. It was so wonderful to meet so many wonderful homeschool families and all the amazing vendors who travelled to be there!

This year's theme was "The Restoration of the Catholic Culture in the Home". Because this was a some what smaller event, all of the vendors had the chance to listen to almost every single speaker. What a blessing! Within minutes of the first speaker beginning, I was scrambling to find a pen and scrap paper to make notes on. I gleaned so many new insights into the faith, parenting and teaching. Once again I was a student and soaking up everything!

Susan Brindle enjoying listening to the speakers from behind the Precious Life Books booth in Memphis.

I thought some of you might enjoy some of my random bullet point notes that were so hastily scribbled onto multiple scraps. These are NOT quotes! Just notes loosely based off of the speakers points.

Tamar Hugoboom spoke about the importance of teaching children the importance and sacredness of the Mass. She also suggested:

- Teach children the prayers found in the Baltimore Cathechism to be recited during the Elevation of the Eucharist.

- Give children and family special prayer time after Mass. Include family prayer and silent personal prayer.

-Use a rosary or string of beads to teach little ones to recite simple praises to Our Lord when they aren't old enough to say rote prayers.

- Teach your children to bow there head at the name of Jesus.

- Use a special Mass bag for little ones with wholesome (quiet) Catholic material. Make it special by ONLY using it during Mass.

- Help your children to realize the sacredness of The Mass by never allowing it to become too familiar or too ordinary.

- Explain the importance of kneeling before Our Lord.

Tamar Hugoboom (left) with Ann Coakley

Alicia van Heckey, of Love2Learn.com, shared some ideas including:

-The importance of allowing children to help with things. She pointed out that we should challenge them while being aware of their capabilities. She also stated that it is important not to be condescending.

- It is important to expose children of all ages to culture. This should include Classical music, Gregorian Chant and Traditional Catholic hymns.

-Families should spend time with consecrated and religious persons. Children should learn the beauty of religious vocations by getting to know people who have been called to the religious life. This can include making a visit to a convent as a family or having a priest or seminarian over for dinner. (I personally have fond memories of having priest come to dinner and then playing board games with our family when I was growing up.)

-Celebrate the liturgical seasons and Catholic traditions within the home as well as within the parish community.

- Most importantly: Do not try to do it all. Take things one step at a time and do as much as you can.

Alicia also spoke about Hope. She shared that some of the effects of hope include:

-Hope allows us to embraced our littleness.

-Perservance

-Joy... "Joy is the gigantic secret of Christians." G.K.Chesterton

-A willingness to suffer

How do we cultivate hope?

- Through prayer. Hope practiced through patience, humility and trusting in times of darkness. Especially by reciting The Lord's Prayer and night prayer from The Liturgy of the Hours.

- By not taking ourselves too seriously.

- Give- Luke6:38

-Help others and pass hope on to others.

- Stay engaged! Get out, shake things up. You can't eliminate suffering, so don't withdraw to avoid pain. That will only lead to emptiness.

- Turn off the news if it becomes a source of despair.

- Rejoice in good and make a list of the things you are thankful for.

- Slow down and enjoy the process of daily things.

-Enter into your children's daily lives.

- Study the saints and teachings on hope in books and movies.

She shared a beautiful quote from our dear Pope.

"To have Christian hope means to know about evil and yet go to meet the future with confidence. The core of faith rests upon accepting being loved by God, and therefore to believe is to say Yes, not only to Him, but to creation, to creatures, above all, to men, to try to see the image of God in each person and thereby to become a lover. That's not easy, but the basic Yes, the conviction that God has created men, that He stands behind them, that they aren't simply negative, gives love a reference point that enables it to ground hope on the basis of faith." Cardinal Ratzinger, Salt of the Earth

Check out Alicia's blog! http://www.studeo.blogspot.com/

Even the amazing Nashville Dominican's were represented! Sister spoke about her own experiences growing up on a ranch in a small town in Texas and how her understanding and love of education were formed. She shared about the importance of education in St. Dominic's teachings and the balances between prayer and formal education.

I HEART THE NASHVILLE DOMINICANS!!!

This was a wonderful conference and we met so many wonderful families! Alicia van Heckey's daughter drew the name of the winner of our book giveaway and the winner was Cassandra Poppe of Oklahoma!

The Poppe family have their own wonderful ministry where they offer amazing, downloadable Catholic material to families. Visit their website at http://www.intercessories-fm.com/ !

If you were unable to attend this last conference, I would highly recommend trying to make it next year. It was a very uplifting experience for everyone. We hope to see everyone at next year's conference!

Many Easter Blessings to you!

Ann Brindle Coakley

Helping Children (and Adults!) Understand Suffering

Holy Week is almost here.

How is it that Lent always seems to fly by so quickly? Do you feel like your heart is prepared to walk with Christ during the grace-filled time of Holy Week? What about your kids? Do they struggle with understanding why Christ suffered for them? How do you help them understand why there are times in their lives when they too suffer? Children's Stations of the Cross is a blessing for people of all ages who need a short and sweet reminder of why suffering is a beautiful part of life.

This is the story of two Irish boys and their Grampa. Together they travel to the parish church to make the Stations of the Cross together and learn about the meaning of suffering. The story is set against moving artwork and reflections on the Stations that are powerfully simple.

This book is available by calling our toll free number 1.800.728.5945 or by clicking here.


Matthew 19:14 "...Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

A New Miracle!

Precious Life Books author, Susan Brindle, and her husband, David, are excited to share with the world that they became grandparents this past week!

The newest member of the Precious Life Books organization ia a healthy, handsome little man often refered to as "Little Dude" He weighed in at 8lbs 11ounces and was 21 inches long. He has long, lean, strong arms and hands- he takes after his daddy!

Since the models for all of the pictures in our stories are based off of family and friends, you can be sure that you'll be seeing Little Dude in our upcoming books! Keep an eye out for this handsome fellow- he is already a family favorite around here! :)

On a special note, we would like to ask our readers to send up a special prayer for Paul Coakley's sister, Christiana. Christiana is expecting her third baby and is having a very difficult pregnancy. She was just released from a multiple day stay at the hospital and is on complete bedrest and is receiving daily IVs. Any and all prayers are greatly appreciated for Christiana, her husband and all of their children. Thank you, dear prayer warriors!

Thank you, Lord, for the miracle of life!

We'll be there! Will you???

The 11th Annual Catholic Homeschool Conference and Curriculum Fair is taking place this weekend (March 19-20, 2010) at St. Louis Catholic Church, 203 South White Station Rd, Memphis, TN 38117. This years theme will be "The Restoration of the Catholic Culture in the Home" How perfect and exciting!


My mother, Susan Andrews Brindle, and I (Ann Coakley) will be there to promote Catholic and culture education by offering our books to families who are working hard to educate their children at home.


We will be autographing books for any one who would like. This is a very special opportunity, especially if you are giving the books as an Easter, First Penance, First Communion or Confirmation gift this Spring.


If you are interested in attending, you can check out the conference website by going to http://www.blessedsacramenthomeschool.org/ and clicking on the "Conference" button in the sidebar. For those who are able to attend, we will be holding a drawing to giveaway one of our books. What a wonderful way to put something that truly reflects the beauty of Christ's Selfless Gift in your child's Easter basket this year?


For those who are unable to attend (or for anyone who doesn't win the drawing at the conference and would like another chance!), we will be holding another contest here on our blog in the coming weeks. Keep checking back here to see when we are holding giveaways or where we will be heading next!


Everyone here at Precious Life Books is praying that you and your family have a beautiful Lent. May God give you the strength to stay strong in your commitments to Christ during these final weeks!


In Jesus through Mary,

Ann Brindle Coakley

Welcome to the Precious Life Books blog!

Welcome Readers!


For the past 15 years Precious Life Books has been helping parents, grandparents and teachers share Christ and His teachings with children in the same way Christ taught in scripture- with parables. As we celebrate our 15th year we are also growing in new and exciting ways while sticking by the truth and beauty that have made our books so popular.


This blog will allow you, our reader, to find out about all of our exciting changes first. Look forward to being the first to get in on our exciting giveaways, beautiful new products, craft ideas and teaching tools. We will be announcing which conferences and book signings we will be attending in the upcoming months so that you can come meet us! There is so much to look forward to!


Please join us for an exciting year! We hope to be of service to you and your family as you, the first educator of your children, lead your children ever closer to Christ!


May God bless the work of your hands!

The Bell, Brindle, Lademan and Coakley Families