The Zelie Group Kickoff

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The-Zelie-Group

St. Zelie was the mother of St. Therese the Little Flower.  Somehow, simple Zelie Martin raised a Doctor of the Church.  It wasn’t because she was extraordinary– quite the contrary.  She seems especially ordinary from what I’ve read.  But she had faith.  She did her motherly duties with great love even in times of frustration.

Does that speak to you the way it does to me?  I can’t tame dragons or found a new religious order.  But I can kiss boo-boos, peel oranges, and read stories.  I can pray with my kids and take them to Mass.  I can cultivate my garden with patience, trusting that God will help my little flowers bloom in His time.

dandelion

The Zelie Group is a community to share this journey of Catholic motherhood with others who are trying to raise saints in the modern world.  I love that how that looks for each of us is different!  Check out the other bloggers in the Zelie Group:

Kerry @ Fishbowl Fortune
Jessica @ Pinot Noir and Prayers
Amy @ PrayerWineChocolate
Kirby @ Under Thy Roof

In order to get to know one another, we in the Zelie Group are beginning a weekly link up called “Just Enough Info.”  It’s an interesting paradox that in a time when people overshare on social media (TMI!), many are struggling to fit in and connect.

Perhaps it’s time to start sharing JEI:  Just Enough Info.  I’d love to get to know you!  Feel free to link up below if you’re a blogger, or you can share in the comments.

The theme of the first week is something near and dear to my heart:  books!

(all the heart emojis)

1. What are you reading right now?

The Unstoppable Writing Teacher by M. Colleen Cruz.

I’m taking an online class to renew my teaching license, and this is the required text.  I haven’t been great at imparting writing wisdom to my kids, so I’m looking forward to digging deeper with this course.

 

 

 

 


We just started From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler out loud.  It was on all the lists, so I scooped it up when it appeared on a library book giveaway.  So far so good.  It’s about a little girl who runs away from home, which makes me nervous.

 

 

 

 

 


I juuuuust picked this one up from the library, so technically I’ve only read the title.  I can’t wait to have a spare moment to dive in!!!

 

 

 

 

 

I don’t have any spiritual reading lined up right now, so I’d love suggestions.  🙂

 

 

2. Which of your kids books do you wish would magically disappear?

I’m on the fence about Five Minutes Peace by Jill Murphy.  (You can watch a youtube video of the book being read in a lovely British accent.)

On the one hand this elephant mom, Mrs. Large, gets me.  You know?  Like really gets me.  I’m not really sure what a “spirit animal” is, but I’m pretty sure Mrs. Large is my spirit animal.  She hides in the bathroom occasionally with leftover cake.

All she wants is five minutes peace in her chaotic life with three little elephants.  That bubble bath she’s enjoying on the cover?  Spoiler alert:  It’s about to be joined by a reader, a musician, and a fully-clothed baby.

I love being a mom, but much of my day is spent hoping to scoop up five minutes’ peace.

But- -I’m not sure I want to reinforce the idea that my kids are irritating in their minds.  I want them to feel loved and appreciated, not resented.  So we’ve read this a few times, and now it’s hiding while I consider my options.

If you watched the video, what do you think?  Should I return or disappear it?


3. What was your favorite book when you were little?

 

It’s a tie!  I’d like to say that I understood the deep vocational theme of Put Me in the Zoo as a child, but I think I just liked the rhymes.  As an adult I value the message that what you want and where you belong don’t necessarily overlap.  Happiness is found in following a calling.

 

 

 

 

 

I loved (and still love) the illustrations of Eloise Wilkin.  My grandma used to read to me from this gem.  I can hear her singing “Baa, baa blacksheep…”  It’s only $1.74 on Amazon now, so I might have to spring for it, just for the memories.

 

 

 

 

There you have it!  I’m excited to read your bookish answers to the three questions above.  You can comment below or add your link.

Zelie-Group-Link

Normal Linkup Guidelines:
  • Please check out the hosts and other linker-uppers.
  • Link the individual post, not the main page of the blog.
  • The post that you are submitting must be on topic.
  • Please put the link up button or a link back to this page in your post.


 

If this is your first time stopping by, welcome!  Be sure to follow along via facebook, bloglovin, or email (above).  🙂

If you like to plan ahead, here are the questions for next week:
1. What is your best school memory from your childhood?
2. Do you have any back-to-school family traditions?
3. Markers or colored pencils?

This post does contain affiliate links.  If you make any purchase after using the links, I receive a small credit.  Thanks!

10 Comments


  1. // Reply

    Mrs. Basil: I read this as a novel unit in school in fourth grade and fell in love with it. I read it last year and my older boys loved this book. I did edit a few things out, can’t remember what now… But I think in the last chapter there is a quote that I love and want to copy it down (dealing with learning.)

    5 minutes peace: my boys LoVE this book. They think it is hilarious. I think they love most of all that the craziness happening in the book often resembles our own house and they can relate (yes our babies get messy). I love it because I totally understand the mother. There is nothing wrong with wanting just five minutes peace. I don’t think my boys associate their own mother with elephant mother, because I certainly never take bubble baths.

    Oh have to go. Baby is awake


    1. // Reply

      Thanks for your input! My kids have thought it was hilarious, as well, especially anything the baby does. Do you have a book you wish would disappear? 🙂


  2. // Reply

    I like your book list! I will have to check them out. Also, seeing the Mother Goose book brought back some memories for me too!


  3. // Reply

    I LOVE Eloise Wilkins’ illustrations, and just picked up Miss Prim from the library, too. Not far along but so far, so good!


    1. // Reply

      I hope it’s as good as the hype! I think I remember hearing that Fountains of Carrots is going to have a podcast on it coming up, and I want to be able to listen and nod along. 🙂



  4. // Reply

    Would the Zelie group be open to a raised-Catholic-but-raising-her-girls-Jewish member? St Therese is my patron saint and I’ve always connected to the humanity of the saints and Jesus. I would love to focus on this connection. Let me know!


    1. // Reply

      The Catholic Church is rooted in Jewish tradition, after all. 🙂 It would be lovely if you’d participate in the Zelie Group link up!


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