I've never been one to make a big deal out of Valentine's Day - I just don't particularly care about it beyond getting good deals on candy after the holiday's over. And it's like a sucker punch to the gut when it falls during Lent! All that candy, and no way to eat it... (Although Valentine's Day is on a Sunday this year, so if you're like me and indulge on Sundays, you're good!)

So, in an attempt to provide a product for an austere, penitent market that I know you readers are, I thought I'd make a niche product that seems to be missing:

Lenten Valentines!

Right click to download, or just screenshot them and share with friends. Hope you get a laugh out of one or two of these!

(And if you need *real* Valentines to print, Micaela and Kendra have you covered!)

Fasting PSA for Pregnant & Nursing Mamas

Every year around this time I notice a common thread of questions in various facebook groups and online forums - "I'm pregnant/nursing - do I have to fast? Is it really that bad if I do? Should I just do it anyway even though I'm exempt?"

Zelie & Co. Charity Auction

Many years ago, when I was just about to graduate with a very expensive degree from a highly-ranked college, it seemed obvious that my future husband and I would wait the appropriate 2 years before having children. We were married the week after I graduated, he was in law school, and I was jobless.

God had other plans. Four months after we were married, I was pregnant.

A Belated Virtual Christmas Card

Happy Candlemas! The Christmas season is officially over, so we really have no excuse other than laziness for the fact that all our Christmas stuff is still out... Weekend plans, anyone?

Meanwhile, I realized I never actually posted our Christmas card pictures here. Want to know why?

Because we only *just* sent the last of the Christmas cards out on Monday.

Yikes. And I know we forgot some people, because that's what happens when you do half in December and the other half a month later. You don't mind, right? I hope not!

It all started one warm December day... I grabbed everybody an outfit with as much blue in it as possible and told them all we were taking Christmas card pictures. What could possibly go wrong?

Well, for one thing... We have five kids. Whoops.

4/52

Peter (14.5 months) loves to climb onto our battered Ikea children's chairs and smirk at me while he bounces up and down and refuses to get off. Hence the blurry picture.