Dead Dog Trumps Catholic Authors; Gets Donuts

Last updated on: March 10, 2015 at 7:01 pm By Simcha Fisher

In today’s Shine, Perishing Republic! news: Image books isn’t going to be taking on any new authors. Image Books, the Catholic-interest imprint of Crown’s Christian Publishing Group, will cease acquiring new titles, the company announced March 9. In a statement, Tina Constable, senior v-p and publisher of Christian Publishing, said, “After careful review, we have decided to focus our resources and creative energies to continue to maintain and nurture the deep Image backlist…..we have made the difficult business decision to... Read more

I chose . . . poorly.

Last updated on: March 10, 2015 at 11:18 am By Simcha Fisher

As he mopped up something unspeakable, my husband remarked that shredded wheat might not have been the breakfast for a kid with the stomach flu. I actually think it could have been a lot worse. Anything with red dye #40 in it, for instance. Anything with beef. Anything with corn. Or, what one of the other little pukers ate, and then quietly deposited in the middle of our bed: hard boiled eggs, unchewed. Quem deus vult perdere, dementat prius! Which, if I... Read more

“Well, excuse me if I care more about innocent babies than criminals!”

Last updated on: March 6, 2015 at 11:04 am By Simcha Fisher

Catholics who are in dissent from the Church — those who reject Church teaching on contraception, or male priesthood, or whatever — often say that the Church is right about everything else, but regrettably wrong about this one issue. And those of us who are not in dissent respond incredulously, “How could that be? How could the Church be right about the resurrection, and transubstantiation, and eternal life, but wrong about this one issue? How do you even swallow that... Read more

Four major Catholic journals: End the death penalty

Last updated on: March 5, 2015 at 11:52 am By Simcha Fisher

I used to favor the death penalty. It feels right, bracing, and perfectly just. When people commit intolerable crimes, they should be removed from society, cleanly and permanently. It just feels right. But as civilized people, the powers we grant to the state must be based on facts, not on feelings. Here are the facts about the death penalty in the United States: It does not decrease crime. It does not bring closure to the families of victims. It is... Read more

Happy one week old!

Last updated on: March 4, 2015 at 12:22 pm By Simcha Fisher

Dear Corrie slept last night. Not all the way through, but enough that I don’t have clear memories of what happened last night, which is a very good thing! Here are a few views of the little lady at one week old: Happy birthday week, sweet Corrie! We’re so glad you’re here. Read more

Service-based family trips?

Last updated on: March 3, 2015 at 10:15 am By Simcha Fisher

Great question from a reader: I appreciated your article in Catholic Digest about worthwhile charities. I was wondering if, in your research, you may have come across any charities that encourage families to get involved? I am desperately looking for an organization that encourages families to come, maybe for a week or two during the summer, to engage in service in a supportive Catholic environment. I used to volunteer with such a group in rural Appalachia (the Passionist Volunteers, but... Read more

Life with darling Corrie

Last updated on: March 2, 2015 at 12:01 pm By Simcha Fisher

She’s five days old and doing great! We’re all doing fine. Lots of ups and downs as usual (hint: it’s wonderful to be back at Mass after missing last week, but I wish I had remembered to bring tissues for the reading about Abraham and Isaac. Yeesh), but she has figured out how to nurse, I remember how to put onesies on babies, and we’re all settling in. Here are a few pics of the last few days. ... Read more

Introducing Cornelia Roxane Fisher!

Last updated on: February 27, 2015 at 1:54 pm By Simcha Fisher

Born Wednesday morning, 10 lbs., 1 oz., 22 inches long, nice and pink: She is exquisite. Here she meets Benny: Here she is joining some of the rest of the sisterhood (note how Benny is the first to discover her charming little toes): And here is a little video where nothing much happens except a little, little girl does her elegant, anemone ballet. She is about twelve hours old here, and this is her basic daytime personality, calm and... Read more

Plumeria, pomegranate, sandalwood rose . . .

Last updated on: February 23, 2015 at 4:01 pm By Simcha Fisher

My dear friend Robin, owner of Robin’s Soap Shoppe, has put several of her beautiful, lush, spirit-lifting soaps on sale for five days. Here are a couple of the soaps I have my eye on — each discounted to only $5 for a generous-sized bar which lasts about four to five times as long as a typical store-bought bar (I’m not making that up. The delicate, moisturizing goat milk soap bar that we opened around Christmas is still chugging along!):... Read more

What we’re up to, besides not having babies

Last updated on: February 23, 2015 at 11:37 am By Simcha Fisher

Just a personal update on things around here. I’m a few days shy of my due date. Don’t usually make it this far. I’ve been in early labor/false labor/stop-and-start labor/end stages emotional purgatory since Friday or Saturday, and have no idea what to expect for the next hour or week. Yay! This is the first day of a week of school vacation, so it would be great to give birth ASAP, while our schedule is as simple as it gets. The... Read more