Old Thoughts in a New Year
I belong to a local exercise facility in our town. It is notable and smile-able to see the large uptick in people showing up for classes and workouts following the Christmas and New Year holidays. A...
View ArticleSplinter of the Mind
Like most people, I try to relate the Sunday Mass readings to my life. This week’s readings talk about Jesus coming to fulfill the law. I must confess that I was having trouble finding an application...
View ArticleCF 143: Pie!
In this episode: David and Allyson celebrate National Pie Day, Green Tip: Recycle/Gift Bags, Hannah’s bird feeder, timeout for the girls (all day!), a discussion about the changes in the Roman Missal,...
View ArticleWas Jesus Green?
Often, I’ve wondered if Jesus was green. So I broke out my electronic bible the other day and started searching. Sure enough, there is tons of support for this theory. Here are twelve examples of green...
View ArticleI Can’t Afford Jesus
You might have noticed a change in the Catholic Family’s website recently. Our website has traditionally been a landing page for our audio podcast. Most of our traffic (i.e. listeners) comes through...
View ArticleCF 144: The Gauntlet
In this episode: Texas Independence Day, Kids Cooperating? St. Joseph Altar, Starting is the Hardest Part, Better Window Cleaner, The Gauntlet, Mail Bag; Diana in Mission Viejo. Checkout the New...
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Getting to Yes
The title of this article may have misled you. I’m not talking about the well known book Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In. But rather, I want to talk a minute about saying ‘yes’...
View ArticleTen Things to Learn from Japan
A priest friend of mine in China sent me the following. The authorship was listed simply as “Sunita.” I thought it was quite remarkable, especially when compared to what we usually see in the United...
View ArticleCF145: Bird on a Stick
In this episode: The Sweeneys visit the Barrons, Mattie Claire gets ashes, Kathryn gets her driving permit, Bird on a Stick, Mail Bag: Coley from Florida, Petra from the Netherlands, Debi in Texas,...
View ArticleCF146: Rabbit Stew
In this episode: Austin burns the table, Mattie her hand, David and Austin make rabbit stew, Allyson reviews Half-a-Hundred Acre Wood, David reviews Catholic Stuff Podcast, Allyson launches a peanut...
View ArticleFamily Tools
Recently, I attended a conference put on by the guys from the Manager Tools Pocast. I’ve been listening to Mark Horstman and Mike Auzenne for years. They are truly innovators in the world of actionable...
View ArticleCF147: A House Divided
In this episode: Austin’s questions about leadership, Unschooling, Allyson reviews the Crafty Classroom, Austin reviews Heroes Over Europe, the “Church” situation, Catholic Crossroads by Patrick Denny....
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CF148: Cry Baby
In this episode: scout camp, praying the Angelus, Catholic Lifetime Reading Plan, benediction, lots of mail: Patrick, Chris, Mac and Katherine, A Little Way of Homeschooling, Melissa Wiley and Tidal...
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CF149: Dry Bones
In this episode: Getting into the swing of the semester, volleyball, scouting, hazardous kid, dove season starts, musical instruments, Allyson’s meltdown, Texas Wildfires, Review of “The Help”, Whole...
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CF150: Thunderwear
In this episode: Trip to Philadelphia, Darlene at Barklay Prime, Larry at Big Green Earth Store, Building A Chicken Coop Alpine A-Frame, trees and thunderwear, 180 Holocaust and Abortion, Congrats...
View ArticleChange for a Dollar
This video speaks for itself. Take 10 minutes and give it a peek. You’ll be glad you did.
View ArticleCF151: And Also With Your Spirit
In this episode: homemade gifts, making soap, household cleaner, grocery bag holder, the 5 best toys of all time, chicken coops, green onions, bankrupt churches, the new missal, A book of Saints for...
View ArticleIs Marriage Becoming Obsolete?
I read an article today that cited a Pew Center survey reporting that 40% of Americans believe that the institution of marriage is becoming obsolete. Obsolete! In 1972, the rate of marriage in the...
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CF152: The Nativity of the Lord
The Sweeney kids record the Christmas Eve gospel reading from Luke, Chapter 2. It’s poignant that the Sweeney kids did the same reading in 2007 with much smaller voices and minus a little sister...
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CF153: PET Project
In this episode: Caramels, National Youth Leadership Training, Christmas Eve mass, visiting the family, when Christmas gets radical, PET Project, Miss Marjorie Smoot, Kathryn’s Birthday. Jenny Crook...
View ArticleThe PET Project
Refer to CF153 for a full discussion of the significance of this video. This YouTube video explains the PET (Person Energy Transportation) Project:
View ArticleDo You Love or Hate Religion?
Take a look at these two videos, but PROMISE us that you will look at both of them. Comments?
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It Ain’t About the Pill, Baby!
The title of this post is taken from Kathleen Parker’s excellent editorial on this topic which was published yesterday. My father has a saying. When 20 people say you’re drunk, it’s time to lay down....
View ArticleCF154: Speedcleaning
In this episode: Speedcleaning, Homeschool for High School, Austin gets his Life Scout, Mattie Claire and the eggs, Kathryn talks about the ambry, David dissects the recent Obama healthcare debate,...
View ArticleIn Exile
Recently, I’ve been reviewing Hillsdale College’s Constitution 101 course, which is offered online for free. This is a great introduction not only to the Constitution but also to how the founding...
View ArticleCF155: Murder, Suicide and Massacre
In this episode: the chicken saga, catechetical moment, Appalachian Trail, Small Things Blog, Titanic birthday, Dave Ramsey for kids, Holy Trinity Co-op, summer activities, CREED, Dinner with the...
View ArticleCF156: Lipstick Mattie
In this episode: traveling Sweeneys, Lipstick Mattie, supreme court ruling on the Affordable Healthcare Act, Fortnight for Freedom, Catholic Summer Reading Program, what is a thurible, dress at...
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CF157: But…But…Butt!
In this episode: Allyson’s summertime drink, Mattie turns 3, pouring set, review of Brave, swim season ends (sort of), the boys at summer camp, audio feedback from CJ, Allyson paints the boys’ room,...
View ArticleCF158: Amazon Woman
In this episode: Amazon Woman, National Youth Leadership Training, The dreaded mobile phone, The Dreaded Driving Test, Holy Trinity Coop, catholicicing.com, vote – whether you have binders or not,...
View ArticleCF159: Mine Is Bigger!
In this episode: our own private highway, toddler-friendly advent wreath, Kathryn is confirmed, Christmas play, caroling, mailbag: Bob from Georgia, Dee from Catholic Vitamins, and Sean the Ducktape...
View ArticleCF Bonus: Holy Thursday
Repost of the Catholic Family’s Holy Thursday instructional podcast.
View ArticleCF Bonus: Good Friday
Repost of the Catholic Family’s Good Friday instructional podcast.
View ArticleCF Bonus: Holy Saturday
Repost of the Catholic Family’s Holy Saturday instructional podcast.
View ArticleCF160: Chicken Plucker
In this episode: the best daddy in the world, chicken plucker, mattie moment, Sweet Brown Cold Pop Escape, CCE field trip, papal lap book, cheap date, mailbag: Chad asks about the recent Boy Scouts of...
View ArticleCF161: God’s Country
In this episode: Del Lago and the TV headache, Philmont and Lost Pines, Qatar, leaving Christ Our Light, the vacuum cleaner ponytail, Rediscover Catholicism study group, Archdiocesan Youth Conference,...
View ArticleA Catholic Family Haiku
The Catholic Family is back! Checkout this little promo and stay tuned for all new episodes.
View ArticleCF162: The Catholic Family WHO?
OK, we took a break. Hopefully, you may remember our little podcast about Catholic family life with our five kids, aged 18 to 5. With older kids come new challenges. We hope you will join us on this...
View ArticleCF163: Mud Bugs
In this episode: Cleaning the yard, crawfish boil, Austin’s eagle project, MC interrupts, CREED (Catholic REligious EDucation). email us [at] catholicfamilypodcast (dot) com or call our comment line at...
View ArticleCF164: Rotating Menus
Call our comment line at 844-251-1723 or email us [at] catholicfamilypocast <dot> com In this episode: Happy Father’s Day, Rotating Menus, Day Camp, Austin and the End of the Beginning, MC and...
View ArticleCF165: Waiting for Marshmallows
Call our comment line at 844-251-1723 or email us [at] catholicfamilypocast <dot> com In this episode: invasion of the tree frogs, Mattie and the tablet, Kathryn is bossy, cradle Catholics vs....
View ArticleCF166: The Catch Up Episode
Call our comment line at 844-251-1723 or email us [at] catholicfamilypocast <dot> com In this episode: A word from our sponsor, Sweeneys on vacation, the silver anniversary, Mattie describes...
View ArticleCF167: More Updates
Call our comment line at 844-251-1723 or email us [at] catholicfamilypocast <dot> com In this episode: The bear, in the wilderness, Austin’s Eagle and Philmont Rayado trek, dead chickens,...
View ArticleCF168: Back to School
Call our comment line at 844-251-1723 or email us [at] catholicfamilypocast <dot> com In this episode: Back in the podcast studio, Mattie Claire and Allyson talk about going to public school,...
View ArticleCF169: Prepare to Launch
Call our comment line at 844-251-1723 or email us [at] catholicfamilypocast <dot> com In this episode: Kathryn, the #1 Catholic Kid Young Adult talks about graduating, roommates, waiting for...
View ArticleCF170: Lessons Learned
Call our comment line at 844-251-1723 or email us [at] catholicfamilypocast <dot> com In this episode: The statuary anniversary, Hannah’s last swim season, Austin’s college entrance experience,...
View ArticleCF171: The Big Question
Call our comment line at 844-251-1723 or email us [at] catholicfamilypocast <dot> com In this episode: Mama Mia, David’s Mom’s passing, Archdiocesan Youth Conference #AYCHou2018 highlights, The...
View ArticleCF172: Segue
Call our comment line at 844-251-1723 or email us [at] catholicfamilypocast <dot> com In this episode: David’s question, Allyson back to work, David’s done with graduation, scout picnic,...
View ArticleManaging Expectations
Recently, I read a blog post about managing expectations. In it, the author points out that the nostalgia many of us feel for the “golden age” of the 1950s is not based upon any objective measure of...
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