Welcome to First Mondays with Lisa! We're sharing our thoughts on the meditations from The Catholic Mom's Desk Calendar by Lisa Hendey. "First Mondays with Lisa" by Kate Taliaferro (CatholicMom.com) Courtesy of Word Among Us Publications. All rights reserved. Used with permission.[/caption] Self-care has become a hot topic in the mom blogging world. It seems like everyone has something to say about why self-care is important (which it is) and what self-care looks like. For some, the focus is on exercising and eating well -- care of our bodies. For others, it is centered around reading or hobbies -- care for our intellects and personalities. Still others look at daily routines and organization -- care for our homes and families. These are all such good, beautiful and necessary things that moms should be taking the time to do. We should be exercising, eating well, reading uplifting and challenging books, spending time on a favorite hobby and discovering how our families can function in a happy, healthy way. While all of these habits fall into the category of "self-care," I don't think they alone can truly fulfill our need to care for ourselves. None of these habits, no matter how well crafted or practiced, has the capacity to become our core purpose. Let's take self-care to the next level -- the spiritual level. Lisa Hendey's The Catholic Mom's Desk Calendar is perfect for anyone who is seeking this next level of self-care. Every day Lisa has chosen a verse from Scripture or words of wisdom from a saint to inspire your day. She has also created a short prayer or reflection to accompany each passage. Starting my days with Lisa and the wisdom of the Church has been like taking a bubble bath, eating a quinoa salad, and spending time with a cross stitch project for my soul. They bring me warmth, joy, challenge, encouragement, and honest self-critique. I keep my calendar right next to my planner. Though this may seem a little redundant, planner and calendar side-by-side, it has proven to be the perfect setup. The desk calendar only shows one day at a time, which helps me stay focused on the present moment. It also reminds me of what is truly important as I schedule my days and weeks. Because Lisa has chosen a wide variety of Scripture and words of wisdom, every day offers something new to think about, to try to focus on, or seek to grow in a specific area of life. The self-care, a.k.a. spiritual care, that The Catholic Mom's Desk Calendar is able to provide is incredible. Every morning it makes me smile. It reminds me of the blessings I have received, it reminds me to thank God for my family and orients my gaze to our Heavenly Father. When we care for ourselves spirituality it becomes infinitely easier to care for ourselves and our families. So indulge yourself. Indulge your soul with the words and blessings of the Scriptures. Fill your heart every day with the wisdom of the saints. I hope you find that when you take the time to care for yourself spiritually, the rest of your self-care will fall into the proper place. "First Mondays with Lisa" by Kate Taliaferro (CatholicMom.com) Background art courtesy of The Word Among Us Press. All rights reserved. Used with permission.[/caption] How can you get one? Purchase this calendar through Word Among Us Press and receive 20% off the cover price! You'll see the promo code listed on the product page. The Catholic Mom's Desk Calendar by Lisa Hendey  

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Copyright 2018 Kate Taliaferro