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Though I didn’t blog the second half of 2012, the WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for my blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

600 people reached the top of Mt. Everest in 2012. This blog got about 8,400 views in 2012. If every person who reached the top of Mt. Everest viewed this blog, it would have taken 14 years to get that many views.

Click here to see the complete report.

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Dear friends of Mother’s Musings,

A big *thank you* for your support of my blog. I’m incredibly grateful for your readership, comments and feedback.

I’m taking some time off to enjoy summer with the family, focus on my (paying) job and simply ‘unplug’ a bit more often. Maybe I’ll actually even finish one of the six books I’m reading right now!

God bless you and yours, Julie

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I’ll leave you with a few stats I found interesting…

Most-read posts
Holy Innocents
Home page / Archives
Motherhood Disney-style
Let your conscience guide
Is my path to heaven littered with Kleenex?
About me
Sorry, Tebow
An uplifting Ascension
Where I’m coming from
Embarrassed. Already?

Least read posts
God shed his grace on thee
Winners! Winners! Everyone’s a winner!
Most important day ever
Gratitude: big and small
Reading Olympics
911? This is Jesus
In the fine print
Carving through confession
Thank You Hour
Illuminate the season

Most commented-on posts
Win “A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms”
Embarrassed. Already?
Enter to win: A must for *your* nightstand
Sit on a tack
One of ‘those’ questions
Blessed Mother rallies bless’d mother
Gimme Five
10 Things Jesus Would Never Say
Top 10 Things I Heard this year
Is blogging bad for you?

Some of my favorite posts
The Church wasn’t meant to be the “cool mom” 
What if there were no working moms?
My kids aren’t perfect. Yours may not be either.
In a funk? Here’s some expert advice
Praying outside
10 Things Jesus Would Never Say
Unexpected, not unwanted
Daughter Time
Top 10 Things I Heard this year
Comfort in loss

Number of views by year
2009: 434
2010: 2,567
2011: 5,772
2012: 4,424

Number of countries that visited this year
92!

This summer, spend time with a friend

School’s out! Time to leave homework and strict bedtimes behind [well, maybe],  and enjoy more time playing, swimming, traveling, and all those fun things that go along with summer.

In my last of four columns during May for the “Husband & Wife” section of the Knights of Columbus’ initiative, Fathers For Good, I suggest another activity to consider adding to your family’s summer lineup.

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by Julie Filby

Perpetual adoration chapel at STM

May 29, 2012 – This Friday will be my children’s final school Mass of the year – June 1!

It will be a happy occasion of prayer and reverence, with kids so excited they can barely sit still in the pews. During the homily, Father Andrew will give the students three assignments for the summer… [read more]

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Silence Speaks: You need not say much to communicate

Most of us have pretty noisy lives: some of that noise we could reduce and some we simply can’t avoid—but Lord knows we could all benefit from a little more silence:

“In silence, we are better able to listen to and understand ourselves; ideas come to birth and acquire depth; we understand with greater clarity what it is we want to say and what we expect from others; and we choose how to express ourselves.”
   —from Pope Benedict’s “Silence and Word: Path of Evangelization” 

I’m happy to share my third in a series of four columns during May for the “Husband & Wife” section of the Knights of Columbus’ initiative, Fathers For Good. The Knights [and I] welcome your comments!

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by Julie Filby

Some studies show that, on average, men say about 6,000 words a day, and women close to 9,000 (it may come as no surprise to many of you that the tally is higher for us ladies).

Too many? Too few? Just about right?

Last Sunday marked World Communications Day, an initiative proposed by the Second Vatican Council and launched May 7, 1967. It’s a day the faithful are asked to reflect on how we, specifically the media, communicate the Good News of the Gospel.

As a member of the Catholic media, writing for the Denver Catholic Register… [read more]

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As busy mothers with spouses, kids, jobs, responsibilities, we’re all bound to fall into a funk from time-to-time — a phase when we feel dejected, overwhelmed, ungrateful, unappreciated or just plain blah, sometimes for no good reason.

So what can we do about it? Ride it out? Throw up our hands? Yell at our kids? Kick the dog? Drown our sorrows?

What to do?

I presented that question to 10 people I consider spiritually grounded, wise, virtuous and generally upbeat; while at the same time, in touch with the real world, including priests, parents, a religious sister and a psychologist and here’s what they said… [read more]

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After you read their advice, share it!

God’s timing: Mothers know how, but God knows when

When we become mothers we magically know “best” right? Now if we only knew “when” [don't even get me started on who, what, where and why].

I’m happy to share my first in a series of four columns during May for the “Husband & Wife” section of the Knights of Columbus’ initiative, Fathers For Good. The Knights [and I] welcome your comments!

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by Julie Filby

After breakfast in bed or brunch out on the town next Sunday, many families will celebrate Mother’s Day by planting flowers together.

While I can’t speak for the rest of the country, here in Colorado there’s a rule of thumb that flowers simply *should not* be planted any sooner. Up until that time, the chance of snow or a hard freeze remains a real possibility (last year we had “measurable snow” in Denver on May 11). But usually by the second Sunday in May, the threat has diminished, and a day spent digging in the dirt should provide a season of colorful blooms.

I’m reminded it’s all about timing: the beauty of God’s timing… [read more]

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Happy Mother’s Day!

Try and Try Again: Keeping at the Family Fun Thing

Sarah A. Reinhard: she looks pretty fun right?

I don’t think anyone would acuse me of being adventurous or creative, but I can say with certainty that I’m usually overwhelmed and often clueless.

For those and other reasons, I’m excited to share a guest post today from Sarah A. Reinhard, author of the newly released “Catholic Family Fun: A Guide for the Adventurous, Overwhelmed, Creative, or Clueless.”

Sarah’s book is a fabulous resource for moms like me: ones who remember a time when they *used* to be fun, but not-so-much anymore.

Don’t get me wrong, I *like* fun. I’m up for fun as much as the next gal, but sometimes I need that little push—a simple reminder—that fun isn’t just for kids, it’s important for us grown-ups as well.

No matter how your family defines fun, Sarah’s book offers a jillion ways you can have fun together, from scavenger hunts in the great outdoors, to arts and crafts, to what sounds like an insurmountable task: making a *family rosary* fun. (Did I mention she’s tested the activities with her own family?)

To help narrow down some of the best choices for your gang, at the beginning of each activity, she provides how much prep time is needed, the duration of the activity itself, and what you can expect to spend (if anything). She also suggests “faith angles” for activities you may already be doing together, like going out to eat, or visting the library. These tips allow you to sneak in little faith lessons when it otherwise may not have occurred to you.

Enjoy Sarah’s post below on perseverance in seeking out fun, no matter how “un-fun” you’re feeling some days. Then click here and buy her book. Then get out there and have some Catholic family fun!

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by Sarah A. Reinhard

I fail. A lot. Especially when the word “family” is combined with the word “fun.” Add “Catholic” to the front and you not only have a great book but also a bit of a nightmare for me.

So how is it that I came to not only author a book (with a subtitle that explains at least four of my personalities), but also to convert to being a huge proponent of this thing called “Catholic family fun”?

It has to do with that failure I continue to experience. With failure comes a need for encouragement, for support, for motivation. You can do it! You know how I know that? Because *I* can do it.

It’s easy the first time. It might even be easy the second time. But at some point, I assure you, there will be something that flops. You might not want to call it a failure, but you’ll know that sinking feeling, that observation that things could have gone better, that discouragement that  comes from a few frowns and maybe a few tears.

Next time, try something simpler. Next time, have them pick what you do. Next time, pray an extra Hail Mary to fortify you.

This idea of family fun isn’t new. This idea of integrating our Catholic faith into everything we do isn’t original. Somehow, though, we all continue to look for a magic answer, as though we can make their Friday nights flutter with giggles and delight.

It’s no small thing to raise a family. You’re sure to have your hard times, and I know you want to have some good times. Don’t give up! Try and try again. Lean on God and know that if anyone’s cheering for you, it’s him!

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Sarah Reinhard writes about marriage, motherhood, the Catholic faith, books, and life on a farm at her blog: www.snoringscholar.com. She is also a frequent contributor to other blogs, podcasts, and websites such as: Catholic Mom, Faith & Family Live, Catholic Foodie, and Catholic Writers Guild. Sarah lives in central Ohio with her husband and their three children. To buy her book “Catholic Family Fun: A Guide for the Adventurous, Overwhelmed, Creative, or Clueless” click here!

10 Things Jesus Would Never Say

While it appears the threat level has diminished enough to downgrade mommy wars to mommy skirmishes [see "Mommy Wars Are Soooo 1990s"], I continue to be surprised the battle ground is active at all.

When reading some rather emphatic comments on the subject the other day, I thought, Wow, I just can’t imagine Jesus saying: “Working moms are self-centered and neglect their kids.” Just like he’d never say: “Stay-at-home moms are lazy and have never worked a day in their lives.”

But we’re human. We judge, we spout off, we react without charity at times. Not only when it comes to opinions on motherhood, but in regard to other social issues, as well as all-around simple Christian principles.

I suggest there’s a long list of things we’d never hear Jesus say…

10. If it feels good, do it.

9. Nah, it’s not a baby. It’s just a blob of cells.

8. Marriage is easy. But if it’s not, move on.

7. Support people once they prove they really need it.

6. Craft your apologies carefully or I may not accept them.

5. If enough people say something wrong is right, go along with it.

4. Only befriend people who look like you, act like you and think like you.

3. Accept nothing less than perfection.

2. WWID [What would "I" do?]

1. Good moms have spotless houses and never feed their kids McDonald’s.

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What would *you* add to the list?

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Congratulations to Carol—winner of the giveaway of Cardinal Dolan’s talk from the 2011 Living the Catholic Faith Conference: The Four Pillars in the Life of Pope John Paul II.

I’d like to share Carol’s comment about Blessed John Paul II:

Unfortunately, I was not “in-tuned” with my faith when beloved John Paul was pope, so I feel like I missed so much because of my ignorance. I now know what a great, and truly special Pope he was. An amazing man, really. I would LOVE to learn more about him. You know, to make up for lost time. Just say’n!

I feel exactly the same way. I wasn’t tuned it either. I regret not paying closer attention when JPII was alive, and missing the opportunity to attend World Youth Day 1993 in Denver [I was only 9 hours away, in Kansas City!]. But we’re fortunate his legacy of love and discipleship lives on, and we can all continue to learn from him today.

Thank you, Carol, for your comments, and to Santhe and Deanne for sharing yours as well! For anyone interested in listening to the talk [which is awesome, by the way, you will LOVE it], I’m happy to loan you my copy, or you can purchase one here. {{FYI, the talk title listed on the website is incorrect, though that *was* his originally-planned talk.}}

Wishing you all a “holy” Holy Week and Easter!

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Read my 2011 interview with then-Archbishop Dolan here
[it's brief, his schedule allowed 3 minutes!]

Read a recent Newsweek article about Cardinal Dolan here

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Cardinal Dolan, a guy you'd just like to hang out with

Last year during Lent, I attended my first Living the Catholic Faith Conference in Denver. It was a great experience, I highly recommend it.

One of the highlights was the “performance” of Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York and head of the U.S. bishops. I say performance because this man is not only blessed with faith, intellect and charisma, but the gifts of a stand-up comedian. He knows how to keep an audience engaged with humor, drama and interesting stories.

His talk was titled “The Four Pillars in the Life of Pope John Paul II.” No doubt we all know a thing or two about this beloved pope, after all, he led the Catholic Church for nearly 28 years. But to hear details of his difficult childhood in Poland, his influential visit there 1979, and his gift for converting individual hearts from world leaders to drug-addicted prostitutes, was eye-opening for me. It made me laugh, made me cry, made me think.

John Paul II is said to have changed “Church?” to “Church!” And I believe Archbishop Dolan is one of our Church leaders on course to do the same thing today with his leadership, clarity, and openness.

I’m giving away a a copy of “The Four Pillars in the Life of Pope John Paul II.” To enter, simply leave a comment below. It might be related to John Paul II, or not.

My comment: I do, sort of, remember the day he was installed: our 5th grade class from Holy Name got to watch it on TV at the Sisters of St. Joseph convent across the street from school. Very exciting. Classrooms didn’t have TVs in the 70s, not in Coffeyville anyway.

I’ll draw the winner from all entries next Tuesday, April 3, during Holy Week, in hopes of the CD arriving before Easter.

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Read my 2011 interview with then-Archbishop Dolan here
[it's brief, his schedule allowed 3 minutes!]

Read a recent Newsweek article about Cardinal Dolan here.