Catholic Fire

This has been a busy, but fun fall for me. Here is a photo guide to how I have been spending this fall season, when I am not writing, speaking, blogging, or ministering. 1. Riding on hay wagons with my husband: 2. Picking Apples: 3.  Walking the Trail: 4.  Making New Friends: 5.  Visiting Toy Train Museums: 6.  Enjoying beautiful works of art at our diocesan cathedral: 7. Admiring God's beauty in nature: All photos copyright Jean M. Heimann 2016. Have a beautiful weekend!   God bless you! Jean For more Quick Takes, please visit Kelly at This Ain't the Lyceum.

1. I hope you had a Happy 4th of July!  Here are a couple of photos of me wearing my Lady Liberty t-shirt and of a cool, sugar-free dessert I made for Independence Day. 2.  This has been a short, but very busy week! Let's take a look at a book I have been reading -- Jeannie Ewing's From Grief to Grace: The Journey from Tragedy to Triumph . I highly recommend it! Read my review. This is my only bumper sticker. 3. I am already getting a Study/Rosary Group together for the Fall. This is what we parish ministers/ stewards work on during the summer. I have been doing lots of reading and research for the group. 4. It's not too late to start the novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel , which began on Thursday. Her feast date is July 16. 5. How does my garden grow? Check out the photos below. May 20, 2016 June 7, 2016 Here is the first blooming gladiola from our garden, which is falling over. 6. Now a word from o...

1. This has been a week filled with both consolations and desolations. On the day when I was feeling most discouraged, the knock-out rose bush, which my husband gave me for Mother's Day last year had its first bloom. I took it as a blessing and as sign from St. Therese of Lisieux that my prayers were being answered. ( particularly since there were no blooms on that rose bush last year). Indeed, a few days later, more than one prayer was answered. Thank you, St. Therese for your intercession. 2. We were blessed this past week to be visited by the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. We attended the Thanksgiving (for Ordination) Mass of a newly ordained Franciscan priest of our parish, Fr. Xavier, who gave us his first blessings. The Friars also had Eucharistic Adoration with a talk and Confession. That was the best confession I have had in years! During the music at Adoration, I felt as if God was personally speaking to me through the Friar's voice. I yearn to have a pri...

1. This has been a very busy week! My new book, Learning to Love with the Saints: A Spiritual Memoir officially launched on the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima exactly one week ago today. My shipment of books and new business cards arrived on Wednesday along with a second shipment of books  on Thursday. There have been speaking requests plus book signings and more... Whoa! It's exciting and exhausting all at the same time. In addition, I have been conducting a book blog tour this past week which extends until Tuesday, May 24. Today, on day 8 of the blog tour, the sweet Jeannie Ewing interviews me at Love Alone Creates . She asked me some very intelligent and insightful questions, so go check it out! Be sure to enter to win a first edition, autographed copy of Learning to Love with the Saints: A Spiritual Memoir. If you would like to learn more about Learning to Love with the Saints and enter to win a free book,  here is the blog tour schedule: Friday, May 13 -- Ellen G...

1. Spring is my favorite season. It speaks of new life. To enjoy the beauty of spring, my dear husband Bill and I visited the Botanical Gardens in Wichita. Here are just a few of the living, growing things we saw there: 2. Here is "Granny Jean", about to visit her Tree House in the children's section of Botanica: As you can tell, it was a windy day, but the temperature was comfortable. 3.  I hope you have been praying the Divine Mercy Novena with me. Bill and I will be making our Divine Mercy consecration this Divine Mercy Sunday, based on Fr. Gaitley's excellent book, 33 Days to Merciful Love. 4.  This coming Sunday, March 27 is Divine Mercy Sunday, a very important day. Matthew Coffin at Big C Catholics writes about the great graces we can receive on this day, as well as the plenary indulgence that we can attain in this Jubilee Year of Mercy. 5. Mother Angelica has been a big influence on me over the years in ...

1. Valentine's Day -- Here are the cards we shared with one another. Bill's is on the left and mine is on the right. 2. We decided rather than go out to eat in.  Here is what I prepared for our Valentine's Day meal: shrimp cocktail,  keta salmon with a tasty rub, asparagus, and baked potatoes. It is so easy to prepare and super healthy as well as delicious. 3.  Here is my Valentine's Day gift from Bill -- a diffuser which is so relaxing at bedtime. I combine lavender essential oils with absolute rose and it produces a heavenly scent! 4. What have you been reading this Lent? Here is what has been on my night stand: The Autobiography of Dina Belanger (a French-Canadian Blessed), The Lenten Magnificat, Magnificat Year of Mercy Companion, and The Word Among Us -- Lent 2016. I am really enjoying reading about Blessed Dina, but am taking my time reading this volume, as there is much to savor here. 5. Lenten music -- For Lent, I tend ...