The object of a New Year is not that we should have a new year. 
It is that we should have a new soul.
G. K. Chesterton


A NEW YEAR, A NEW START...

Every year seems to begin with good intentions - we make resolutions with a sincere desire to fulfill them, but often they end up going by the wayside in our busy lifestyles.  Perhaps it's old habits we fall back into, we take on more than we can chew, or we don't arm ourselves with the resources to be successful and as a result give up the first time we fail - ouch!

Well, this year things are going to be different (oh, we've heard that before!).  Really - we've stumbled upon some great resources that will help, some suggestions for making every day Christmas, and finding your patron saint for the year!

FIND A PATRON SAINT FOR THE YEAR
Have you ever thought about choosing a special patron saint to help you throughout the year?  We saw this fabulous idea on another blog.  To find your  saint for the year, click here: random saint generator.   All of the saints  in heaven are waiting to help us, all we have to do is ask!
I got St. Jane Frances De Chantal - can't wait to find out more about her and ask her for her help!  



CHRISTMAS ALL YEAR
by Charles R. Swindoll

Have you ever thought about giving something away every day of the year leading up to Christmas? These daily gifts could be called our "Christmas projects," one per day, every day till Christmas. Just think of the fun of being able to say "Merry Christmas" in July!

Here are a few suggestions:

Mend a quarrel. 
Seek out a forgotten friend. 
Write a long overdue love note. 
Hug someone tightly and whisper, "I love you so." 
Forgive an enemy. 
Be gentle and patient with an angry person. 
Gladden the heart of a child. 
Find the time to keep a promise. 
Make or bake something for someone else. Anonymously. 
Release a grudge. 
Listen. 
Speak kindly to a stranger. 
Enter into another's sorrow. 
Smile. 
Laugh a little. 
Laugh a little more. 
Take a walk with a friend. 
Lessen your demands on others. 
Play some beautiful music during the evening meal. 
Apologize if you were wrong. 
Turn off the television and talk. 
Treat someone to an ice-cream cone (yogurt would be fine). 
Do the dishes for the family. 
Pray for someone who helped you when you hurt. 
Fix breakfast on Saturday morning. 
Give a soft answer even though you feel strongly. 
Encourage an older person. 
Point out one thing you appreciate most about someone you work with or live near. 
Offer to babysit for a weary mother.

Let's make Christmas one long, extended gift of ourselves to others. Unselfishly. Without announcement. Or obligation. Or reservation. Or hypocrisy.

This is Christianity, isn't it?

When you give yourself, the gift never has to be returned.

•  Seeking Union with God" - http://www.catholicspiritualdirection.org/csfsignup.html  offers a 12 lesson online series you complete at your own pace, in your own home!  They offer options for comments and feedback if you want to share ideas with others in the course.  
•  Catholic Spiritual Direction - http://rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/  - this is a fantastic site offered by several priests.  Here you'll find suggestions, answers to questions, information on journaling, busy-ness, spiritual warfare, finding a director, Brother Lawrence, and much more.
• Catholic Quiz of the Week - http://www.catholicquiz.com/pages/games/quiz_of_the_week.html  How much do you know about the coming Sunday's readings?  Have fun and learn at the same time with games, downloads you can print and more!   Great for families, RCIA, faith formation, Religious Ed classes! 
• The Sainthood Project -  http://www.sainthoodandsurrender.com/2009/05/joining-sainthood-project.html    Who me, a saint?  Yes, it is possible - and one young man shows you how.  
• The Sainthood Challenge - http://www.sainthoodandsurrender.com/2010/01/sainthood-challenge-ebook.html     A practical approach to our call to holiness!  Work on one concrete element a week to build habits that will help you grow in holiness.