"After Miscarriage"

Author Karen Edmisten's new book arrived today: After Miscarriage: A Catholic Woman's Companion to HEALING and HOPE.


It's just lovely. Karen writes about miscarriage sharing her personal stories and other's stories about their experiences with miscarriage. She shares parts of her personal journal, offers inspiration, practical and endearing advice, as well as suggestions for commemorating the life of your miscarried child, and she ends her sweet book with a bunch of useful resources.


My endorsement is in the front of the book and my review is on Amazon: 


Author Karen Edmisten has done it again! She knows precisely what is necessary to bring hope, healing, and inspiration to today's Catholic Moms. This lovely and sorely needed book will powerfully and tenderly touch your soul with abiding comfort and blessing. I highly recommend it for mothers who have miscarried, family members, priests, deacons, Religious, Catholic medical staff, and those in ministry.


Scattered throughout her book, Karen includes little sections called, "Did you Know?" Here's one: 


Did You Know?


Making a list of healing moments--gifts, sympathy cards,phone calls,meaningful prayers, caring words, acts of kindness, shoulders to cry on--can help you recall God in this time of grief. Try to keep an ongoing list of people, events, and things for which you are grateful. Refer to it when you're feeling especially sad. (page 83)


From the Back Cover:


Offering solace and wisdom. Karen Edmisten shares her own thoughts and those of other women who have miscarried. Passages from Scripture and soothing words from other sources enrich these pages. A helpful resource section provides practical guidance for women seeking help after miscarriage.


I have a feeling that this book will bring much HOPE and HEALING to countless mothers an their families.


Karen's wit and warm words can be found at her blog: http://karenedmisten.blogspot.com/

Embracing your motherhood!

Jennifer Send, a Catholic mother recently stated that she has been pondering something I said in my new book, Embracing Motherhood. 


She said she's been reading the book, 

"and one thing that really got me thinking and I wanted to share was: She asked: 

Where would you be now if you weren't mothering your child or children? What other choices might you have made if you weren't compelled to remain on the straight and narrow road to Heaven because of the children in your life? It's very possible that you could have veered off the path because of poor or selfish choices. Being a parent prods us to be selfless and focused on the welfare of our children. I believe that our hearts grow with each child. Each child teaches us to love more, if that could be possible. God has it all figured out![from Embracing Motherhood]


Further, Jennifer said, 

"This is something I think about frequently and wonder what my life would be without children. I know I would probably be more materialistic and not as strong in my faith. Going through different trials with the children or with a pregnancy has helped my husband and I grow in our faith and strengthen our bond in marriage. I often wonder why God chose us to have a large family, but I know He knows what's best and what will ultimately lead us to Eternal Life with Him. It's something the 'world' doesn't understand, but those with eyes of faith see the beauty of accepting children lovingly from God. We must surround ourselves with like-minded people, who will support us in our openness to life and help us on our journey to Heaven!"

So, dear reader, what are your thoughts about this? Do you ever wonder where you might be if you weren't mothering your children? Please share your thoughts in the comments. I hope I hear from you. :)


God bless!
Donna-Marie

Here's a new book for your kiddies!

Dear God, I Don't Get It!

By Patti Maguire Armstrong

"This is the perfect story for 3rd through 6th grade Catholic kids and classrooms with excellent writing, vocabulary and thinking activities incorporated at the end of the book. It combines a great story with age-appropriate apologetics and is endorsed by best-selling authors Emily and Jeff Cavins as well as Bishop Zipfel.

Mary Kochan, Senior Editor of Catholic Exchange and homeschooler, endorses 'Dear God, I don't get it!' and explains, 'Sixth-grader, Aaron Ajax is happily comfortable, with not much more than the annoyances of a little brother to disturb him and he takes his friendship with God for granted. When a sudden change in family circumstances uproots him from the home and friends he has known his whole life, Aaron wonders what has happened to his relationship with God. Through this true-to-life story we follow the journey of a young boy coming to grips with a lesson we all need - that real friendship with God means God is in charge.'"
(From the publisher's website)

My endorsement is here:

"Dear God, I Don't Get It is simply delightful! Intended for a second to fifth grade reader, the story entertains and engages as the main character, fifth-grader Aaron Ajax, grapples with everyday life in a family and his faith in God. The story is very relatable, taking us through Aaron’s upheaval when his family is transferred to another state and his journey to eventual acceptance of God’s will in his life. Throughout it all, you will come to love Aaron and his family. The world needs more books like this one!" ~ Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle

I really enjoyed reading this book before endorsing it. You can visit Bezalelbooks.com to order a copy for your children or someone you know. It sells for $12.48.