#OpenBook for April 2025

 

 Welcome to #OpenBook. I'm joining up with Carolyn Astfalk who hosts an #OpenBook Linkup on CatholicMom.com. Here's what I've been reading this past month. The dates indicate when I finished the books. Thanks for stopping by!

3-8-25 When God Speaks - Hunter Leonard - This is a lovely picture book designed for children ages 4-8 about how God speaks both in the stories of Scripture and in our lives today.

 

3-9-25 Hope: The Autobiography - Pope Francis - I had requested this book from the library long ago, but it happened it come in in the midst of Pope Francis's current illness, which made it all the more poignant to read. I knew only the very basics of his life before reading this, and I found the story of his life, beginning with his grandparents, very interesting. It helped me to understand where his mindset comes from. He also preaches against war and the devaluing of human people a great deal in this book. One passage in particular struck me in light of his current illness. He wrote about facing the end of his life, saying he asks the Lord, "Look after me, let it happen whenever you wish, but, as You know, I'm not very brave when it comes to physical pain . . . So, please, don't make me suffer too much." The Holy Father needs our prayers.   

3-10-25 Unshaken - Shelley Shepard Gray - When Stephanie, a young Amish woman, witnesses a teenage gang member kill someone, she has to go into hiding at a secure ranch in Kentucky managed by Hardy Anderson, who is ex-military. He does everything in his power to keep her safe and they begin to fall in love, but the gang knows where she is and is determined to make sure she never talks. This high-stakes romance kept me eagerly turning pages. (Read for a book review publication.)

 3-11-25 Blazing the Trail: A 4-Week Personal Retreat with American Women of the Church - Vinita Hampton Wright - This personal retreat features one week each dedicated to learning from the life and work of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, St. Frances Cabrini, Servant of God Dorothy Day, and Servant of God Sr. Thea Bowman. I enjoyed learning more about these remarkable holy American women and reflecting on the lessons they have to teach. Scripture passages and reflection questions add to the value of this book.

 

3-20-25 The Lord is My Shepherd: A Novel of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton - Anne Faye - Speaking of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, this is a short novel in which the famous saint tells her own story of being a young woman in New York society, marriage, motherhood, losing her husband, converting, and ultimately beginning the first order of women religious in the United States.
 

 

 3-22-25 The Dog Who Loved Too Much - Dr. Nicholas Dodman - This one was recommended to me by my vet because my new dog has separation anxiety. It was interesting to read about the psychology of dogs and the way that this vet works to help them. 

 3-23-24 Chronically Dolores - Maya Van Wagenen - This is a YA book I read about in Catholic Library World. I wanted to read it because the main character, a fourteen-year-old girl, suffers from interstitial cystitis, a painful bladder condition I've had since I was twenty-nine. Fortunately, I am mostly able to control it with diet, although it definitely flares when I am stressed or inadvertently eat something I shouldn't. In any event, as miserable as it is, I am very thankful I did not have this as a teenager. This was the first time I've ever seen anybody write about it (the author has it). As for the story itself, Dolores is struggling with family issues and friend issues, and turns to a priest in a confessional as her confidant, even though her only religious upbringing was being baptized by her devout aunt in an "emergency." As an FYI, Dolores' brother is gay and there is a minor storyline related to that. Overall, though, it is a book about finding hope and embracing life even when everything seems hard.

3-24-25 To Die Well - Dr. Stephen Doran - I purchased this book over a year ago, and it has been my purse book ever since - to read when I am waiting someplace. I'm a bit embarrassed that it took me this long to get through it, but I finally did. I purchased this to be informed about end-of-life issues for my parents, who are in their eighties. I also want to be informed about my own end of life, because none of us know when life might change and we might have to face these decisions. It was a helpful book about making Catholic decisions about all things related to death. It isn't a cheerful read, but it is something we all need to be informed about.

3-27-25 The Lawyer and the Laundress - Christine Hill Suntz - Sara O'Connor was disowned by her wealthy father when she married a stable boy. Now a young widow, she works as a laundress. When she befriends a young girl who attends lessons where she works, the girl's widowed father is intrigued by the laundress who acts like a lady, but he doesn't want his daughter to be friends with her. His tune changes after Sara saves his daughter's life, but having Sara in their life threatens scandal. This was a fast-moving historical romance set against the Canadian rebellion of 1837, which I knew nothing about before reading this book. (Read for a book review publication). 

3-29-30 Old Town in the Green Groves - Cynthia Rylant - I grew up reading and loving the Little House books and then read them to my children. I've also read many of the "other" Little House books written by authors other than Laura Ingalls Wilder about other members of her family, yet somehow I had missed this one! Written by Newberry-Award Winning Author Cynthia Rylant, it takes place between the events of On the Banks of Plum Creek and By the Shores of Silver Lake. It contains some sadness as Laura's younger brother dies and Ma is sick, but the writing is very much in the style of the original books and reading it felt like revisiting old friends. 

3-30-25 Expect Great Things: How the Katharine Gibbs School Revolutionized the American Workplace for Women - Vanda Krefft - I enjoy reading about women's history and institutions of higher education, so this really appealed to me. I had heard of the Katharine Gibbs Schools but knew little about them before reading this. Katharine Gibbs was a 46-year-old widow when she started the first school in 1911. Krefft offers a biography of Gibbs, illustrating how her financial fortunes were in the hands of men who repeatedly failed her (sometimes simply by dying without a will). She was determined to take matters into her own hands by finding a way to make her own money and wanted to give other women that same opportunity. She provided women, some straight of high school while many had already earned college degrees, with solid marketable skills to help them make their way in the business world. The book profiles several of these women, tracing their career paths in various fields and how their education helped them. I found it very interesting. 

Since spring of 2019, I have been making my way through the Great Books Curriculum of Thomas Aquinas College (I'm currently working on the readings for junior year). 

3-4-25 Phaedra - Jean Racine - Racine lived from 1639-1699. He was a French dramatist who primarily wrote tragedies. In his work, he explored Greek and Roman mythology. In this play, Phaedra is the wife of Theseus, legendary king of Athens, but she is secretly in love with Hippolytus, her stepson. 

3-27-25 An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, Vol I - John Locke - John Locke was born in 1632 and attended Christ Church in Oxford. He began writing this in 1671, but it wasn't published until 1690. This first volume was primarily concerned with the concept of ideas - he was exploring how we get ideas and categorizing various types of ideas.

 

My fourteen-year-old daughter and I read the following book this month:

3-31-25 Coyote Lost and Found - Dan Gemeinhart - This is the sequel to The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise that we read previously. This one is set during the early days of COVID in March 2020 (although some of the details of that time are incorrect). Coyote and her father, Rodeo, set out to scatter her mother's ashes where she wanted them to be spread, except Coyote gave the book away that her mother had written that information in to a thrift store, so Coyote is actually out to find the book (without telling her father), leading them on somewhat of a wild goose chase across the country. While I know that as Catholics, we aren't supposed to spread ashes, this was still a good story about finding joy and friendship amidst the mess of life. 

 

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New Novel about St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

 Wife, Mother, Founder of Religious Order, Saint

St. Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton (1774-1821) grew up in the early years of the United States. She was a New York socialite, who lived on the same street as Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr and met many of our country’s Founding Fathers. She was raised Episcopalian, worshipping at New York City’s famous Trinity Church, and she and her husband, William Seton, raised their children in that faith until tragedy struck. An eventful trip to Italy would change her life forever. As a result, she would help chart the course for Catholic religious sisters in the United States.

When she was canonized on September 14, 1975, by Pope Paul VI, she was the first native-born American to be named a saint.

Discover this remarkable woman and her life of faith in The Lord is My Shepherd.

Take an At-Home Retreat with Holy American Women

 

In Blazing the Trail, Vinita Hampton Wright invites you to go on a personal four-week retreat with four holy Catholic women. One week each is devoted to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, St. Frances Cabrini, Servant of God Dorothy Day, and Servant of God Sr. Thea Bowman. Whether you are already familiar with these remarkable women of faith or not, you will come away with a greater appreciation of their lives and work. You will also have the opportunity to reflect on the lessons they have to teach you.

Four Amazing Holy American Women

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774-1821) was a wife, mother, widow, convert to the Catholic faith, and founder of the first religious order of women in the United States.

St. Frances Cabrini (1850-1917) founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Italy and was sent by Pope Leo XIII to minister to Italian immigrants in New York City. The sisters spread across the country and Mother Cabrini was on hand to establish each new mission.

Servant of God Dorothy Day (1897-1980) rejected Christianity by the time she was out of college, became a single mother, and ultimately returned to the Catholic faith. She cofounded the Catholic Worker movement, lived in solidarity with the poor, and worked for social justice.

Servant of God Sr. Thea Bowman (1937-1990) was the first Black women to join the Franciscan sisters in Wisconsin. Throughout her life, she bore witness to the Black Catholic experience, urging the Church to embrace its multiculturalism.

Retreat Format

Each week-long retreat begins on Saturday with a brief biography of the featured woman along with resources to learn more about them. On Sunday, you reflect on what you have learned so far and on a selected Bible passage. There is also a prayer for the week.

Monday through Friday provide more in-depth reflection. Each day focuses on a different aspect of the holy woman’s life and work. For example, the first week on St. Elizabeth Ann Seton covers conversion; loss, suffering, conflict; spiritual growth, motherhood, and confidence in God.

This retreat is designed to be used throughout the day as it includes both a morning and evening prayer, scripture passages, short readings, and several reflection questions.

Holy Lessons

You are not called to be an imitation of any of these extraordinary women. You are, however, called to follow their willingness to accept God’s will in their lives while embracing our own personal gifts and challenges. Reflecting on their example of faith, perseverance in the midst of difficulties, and bold actions can inspire you to be the holy person God wants you to be.

Blazing the Trail offers the opportunity to learn about these remarkable women and grow in faith. Whether you complete the retreat over four weeks or spend a longer amount of time with each woman, it is a spiritual gift to yourself that will help you discover your own gifts and the work you are being called to in the world.

 

This post contains Amazon affiliate links. Purchases made after clicking a link help support this site. Thank you! 

#OpenBook for March 2025

 Welcome to #OpenBook. I'm joining up with Carolyn Astfalk who hosts an #OpenBook Linkup on CatholicMom.com. Here's what I've been reading this past month. The dates indicate when I finished the books. Thanks for stopping by!

 

2-9-25 Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism - Barry M. Prizant - I honestly don't recall where I saw this book mentioned, but my oldest son (age 23) is on the spectrum and I still find learning about autism to be interesting and helpful. This book looks at the "why" behind so-called autistic behaviors such as repeating certain phrases, talking at length about what they are currently enthusiastic about, and meltdowns. It was very enlightening. I recommend it for anyone with a child on the spectrum or who works in education. 

2-10-25 Biblical Heroes: Stories of Faith and Courage - Mark Hart - I really enjoyed this book aimed at middle-schoolers. Hart introduces children Abel, Isaac, Joseph, Miriam, Ruth, David, Josiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Esther, Mary, The "Loaves and Fishes" kid, and Timothy. Each chapter starts with an anecdote from the author's life showing how he screwed up in some case when he was young. He then shares the story about the scriptural person as well as lessons young people can learn from them. This was an informative, interesting, and practical book that would be great in a religion class.   

2-12-25 The Angel of Second Street - Barbara Tifft Blakey - This was an enjoyable story set in 1880s Eureka, CA. Ida Dempsey is an orphan raised in comfort by her aunt and uncle. Her main desire is to spread the good news of Jesus Christ to all who need to hear it, especially the prostitutes on Second Street and the Chinese in her community. Her love interest, Blaine, is eager to support her, but her family is against it, and his family wants him to have nothing to do with her. (Read for a book review publication). 

 

2-16-25 The Heirloomist - Shana Novak - I believe I heard about this book in Country Living, where Novak writes a column by the same name. She takes photos of people's treasured objects and tells the stories behind their meaning. This features 100 such objects and stories. Some of them made me cry. It also made me think about the objects I treasure and the stories behind them.

2-27-25 The Shop Down the Lane - Leslie Gould - This is a delightful Amish story in the vein of You've Got Mail (the wonderful movie featuring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan). Lois Yoder and Moses Lantz had history together when they were young, but they haven't seen each other in five years. Now, Moses has bought out the shop Lois works in and they do nothing but get on each other's nerves. However, they both join a birding circle letter under assumed names and begin a correspondence, growing quite fond of each other, at least until they plan to meet and Moses doesn't show up because he realizes who his new friend actually is. (Read for a book review publication)

2-23-25 How to Be Enough: Self-Acceptance for Self-Critics and Perfectionists - Ellen Hendriksen, Ph.D. - I've struggled with a very poor sense of self-worth most of my life. My interior voice is downright cruel. This book wasn't going to fix me, but I felt seen reading it. There is a certain comfort to knowing I'm not alone and I now know more about the reasons for this tendency. The author herself suffers from the same problem and wrote it because it was the book she needed.

2-24-25 A Beautiful Second Act: Saints and Soul Sisters Who Taught Me to Age with Grace - Maria Morera Johnson - The author was retired from teaching, had an empty nest, and needed a sense of purpose. She went searching for saints and other strong women who had a meaningful second act of life. She shares her own very interesting story along with highlighting the lives of women such as Servant of God Elisabeth Leseur, Marie Curie, Dorothy Day, St. Jeanne Jugan, Dolores Hart, and more. It's a fascinating book, one that brings some hope to women of a certain age (such as me) who wonder if life still has any promise or possibility.

 2-27-25 Legends of Gold - Mary Connealy - One of the downsides of being a book reviewer is that sometimes I get handed the second book in a series and I feel completely lost in the story. This is one of those books. That being said, it features an adult orphan whose family appears out of the blue, a tender romance, and a treasure hunt, so it was an interesting story set in 1874 California. If you are interested, I suggest reading Whispers of Fortune first. (Read for a book review publication)

3-2-25 The Heart of Winter - Jonathan Evison - This is a beautiful, honest novel about the life of marriage, with all of its ups and downs. In the present day, Abe and Ruth Winter are 90 and 87 and facing Ruth's cancer diagnosis. They have three children eager to help in their own ways, but Abe and Ruth are struggling to hold on to their independence and their dignity. Interspersed through that contemporary tale are scenes from their life together, from their unlikely courtship through all the ups and downs of life. I loved this book and highly recommend it. 

 

3-3-25 God's Superheroes Amazing Catholic Men Vol II and God's Superheroes Amazing Catholic Women Vol II - Mary Bajda - I loved the first set of these books and was so exited to see there was a new set. Each book features 36 holy individuals. I love learning about saints / blesseds / venerables that I haven't heard about before and these books feature many of those. These books are geared to preteens / teens, but adults can appreciate them as well.

Since spring of 2019, I have been making my way through the Great Books Curriculum of Thomas Aquinas College (I'm currently working on the readings for junior year). 

2-16-25 Paradise Lost - John Milton - This is one of the great books that I would venture to say most people have heard of, even if they haven't read it. It tells the story of Lucifer's refusal to serve, the battle in heaven, the creation of Adam and Eve, the first sin, and the promise of a Savior. Milton, who was blind, dictated it over the course of five winters before it was published in 1667. An updated version was published in 1674. Milton subscribed to the Arian heresy, that the Son of God was first among creatures, but he wrote this epic poem to tell a story, not argue doctrine. In general, I am not a big fan of epic poetry. It just so happened that as I was reading this, the creation story was included in the liturgical readings for each day, so I was getting a double dose of it! In my opinion, the Bible tells it better, but there is a reason this is a classic and Milton did an admirable and creative job of expanding the tale. 

2-23-25 Le Cid - Pierre Corneille - This is a play first performed in Paris in 1636 or 1637. According to the introduction, it was a "big hit combining youthful love, heroic daring, tender lyricism, and violent declaration." It reflected conflict between two modes of life - individualism and refinement of court. I think like most plays, this would be better seen performed than read. 

 

My fourteen-year-old daughter and I read the following book this month:

 

3-3-25 Ella Enchanted - Gail Carson Levine - This retelling of Cinderella features a twist - the young Ella was given a "gift" at birth of obedience and has to do whatever someone tells her to do. I had seen the movie years ago but had never read the book. We both enjoyed it!

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A Beautiful Second Act

 

I turned fifty a couple of months ago, and while I accept my age and the grey hair and hormonal changes that go with it, I admit I cried quite a few tears over my birthday. Fifty. It’s a big number. I couldn’t help but look back at my life, both at what I have accomplished and what I’ve failed to do. I also thought about the future. Is there anything to look forward to? Do I still have anything to offer the world? That’s why I jumped at the chance to read a review copy of A Beautiful Second Act: Saints and Soul Sisters Who Taught Me How to Age with Grace by Maria Morera Johnson.

Johnson was retired from teaching, had an empty nest, and needed a sense of purpose. She started to search for saints and other strong women who “embraced the second half of life with courage, making the world a better place in the process.”

The women Johnson profiles include Servant of God Elisabeth Leseur, Marie Curie, Mother Teresa, Grandma Moses, Dorothy Day, Dolores Hart, St. Jeanne Jugan, St. Faustina, and more. You will learn about scientists, leaders, artists, social justice warriors, caregivers, and more whose lives took a surprising turn, leading to a meaningful second act.

Each chapter features a personal story from Johnson, who has had a very interesting life, and the lessons she learned from the two women profiled. The author comes across as a dear friend you’d love to sit down and share a meal with while discussing life. She, along with the women she highlights in this book, all have a lot to teach us about growing old with grace and embracing whatever path God puts us on in this stage of life. A Beautiful Second Act offers some hope that maybe there is something to look forward to after all.

If you are interested, CatholicMom.com is offering a book club centered on A Beautiful Second Act. Learn more here: https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/join-catholic-moms-beautiful-second-act-book-club.

 

This post contains Amazon affiliate links. Purchases made after clicking a link help support this site. Thank you!

Neurodiversity is Not a Threat

 I published this article on Today's Catholic Homeschooling, but I feel it is worth sharing here as well.

 

On February 13, 2025, the White House issued an executive order: Establishing the President’s Make America Healthy Again Commission. While the order does include some helpful initiatives, such as investigating environmental toxins, its characterization of neurodiversity, in particular ADHD and autism, is deeply flawed and insulting to all those who live with or parent those with these neurodifferences. The following is an excerpt from the order:

Autism spectrum disorder now affects 1 in 36 children in the United States — a staggering increase from rates of 1 to 4 out of 10,000 children identified with the condition during the 1980s.  Eighteen percent of late adolescents and young adults have fatty liver disease, close to 30 percent of adolescents are prediabetic, and more than 40 percent of adolescents are overweight or obese.

These health burdens have continued to increase alongside the increased prescription of medication.  For example, in the case of Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, over 3.4 million children are now on medication for the disorder — up from 3.2 million children in 2019-2020 — and the number of children being diagnosed with the condition continues to rise.  

This poses a dire threat to the American people and our way of life.

Those with autism and ADHD are not a threat to the American people. Instead, they are people who see the world differently and bring a different perspective to the table. Are there challenges? Certainly. But those challenges often come from trying to fit into a world that doesn’t value their gifts or thinks there is only one correct way to function. They have unique God-given gifts and have much to contribute when they are nurtured and accepted for who they are.

In response to this order, The Autistic Self-Advocacy Network states:

Autism is a developmental disability—and disability is a natural part of human diversity. Autism is something we are born with, and that shouldn’t be changed. Autistic children should get the support they need to grow up into happy, self-determined autistic adults. For many people, diagnosis is the first step towards accessing those supports. Increased diagnosis is a positive thing; it indicates the many, often multiply-marginalized, autistic people who are gaining access to autism diagnoses and receiving the supports they need. 

Those with ADHD often emphasize both the gifts and challenges. ADDitude Magazine shares:

ADDitude readers tell us they wouldn’t trade away their ADHD traits if they could. They insist that their ADHD brains are unique, creative, unbridled, and often inspired. And they aren’t wrong.

Of course, every strength has its weakness. Curiosity is challenged by distractibility. Spontaneity is challenged by impulsivity.

Those of us who homeschool often do so because our children are neurodivergent in some way. For whatever reason, they didn’t fit well into the structure of the traditional school system. We have learned that understanding and accommodations can go a long way in helping our children thrive.

As Catholics, we are called to be pro-life, to recognize the inherent dignity in every person, regardless of their abilities from conception to natural death. 

Neurodiversity has existed long before it had a name or official diagnosis. Unfortunately, people who were different in previous generations were often simply treated poorly and discriminated against. We must stand up against those who consider people with neurodiversity as less worthy than others or as problems to be fixed. Neurodiversity is not a threat.  

 Image from Freepik.com