Just a quick note to let you know that I’ve set up a Ning.com site for divorced, Catholic moms to talk with each other.

What’s a ning site??   It’s really a pretty great thing.   As you can see at the bottom of the right column of this blog, I belong to two ning sites already – SQPN and Faith and Family Live.  By clicking on those boxes, you can join those sites, too.  But first….join US at Divorced Catholic Moms!  (I’m still learning about how to customize that box, which ning calls a “badge”….)

I suggest registering with a first name only, for privacy purposes.  I want everyone to feel completely comfortable sharing in discussions and being safe in doing so.

Once you register, I will need to approve the request before you’ll be able to access the site.  I’ll approve requests as soon as possible.

Then, have fun!  Each member gets their own page on the site to customize to their heart’s content.  You can even blog there and I’ve added a chat box, so that members can talk in real time!  AND, discussions can be started in the forum.  If you have a question…ask it!  If you have an answer to a question…or some insight…or an experience to relate…or can offer a word of support, jump into the discussion!

So, please, head on over and register…I’m looking forward to seeing and talking with you there.

Blessings,

Manya

There are changes and other exciting things taking place for Divorced Catholic Moms (the blog, that is…and its author…and its readers, of which YOU are one )

First and foremost – THIS weekend is the Catholic New Media Conference in San Antonio, TX!! I’m SO looking forward to this. We’ll be leaving early Friday morning (just two days from now!) to fly to Texas. My daughter & I will arrive in the afternoon, get settled into the hotel and then take our first stroll through San Antonio. (BIG smile…I don’t have an emoticon for a BIG smile, so words will have to get the point across.)

I’ve been in San Antonio once before…shortly after my wedding. You see, my husband and I immediately moved to Austin, TX. Our honeymoon was the drive there…in July…no air conditioner in the car…ugh.  But we were young and having the adventure of our lives and it was great.

We went to Austin so my husband could start on his PhD at the university there. Being “poor” students, we couldn’t afford a “regular” honeymoon. However, seeing as our first six married months were spent completely on our own, thousands of miles from friends and family, it was kind of like we had a six month honeymoon! It was a good time…(even though we became terribly homesick)

The only (other) drawback was the humidity…! We were born and raised in California and really didn’t know the meaning of the word “humidity.”  Until we arrived in Austin – and I’m told it’s one of the less humid spots in Texas. lol

Hmmm….I’m veering WAY off topic. All I started to say was that, during our 6 months there (yes, only 6 months….my husband decided to switch his career course so we moved back to CA and to another university), we took a day trip to San Antonio. The most I remember of it was that the Alamo is SMALL (that’s it in the picture on this post)…and the drive back to Austin was LONG and HOT. I hope to gather more memories than that this time.

Thanks for your patience with my rambling…

Many Catholic bloggers and podcasters from around the world will be at the conference this weekend. I hope you’re familiar with some of the Catholic podcasts “out there.”  They’re truly delightful to listen to AND a great source of information and support.   SQPN.com is a great place to start your search.

By the way, I hear that the conference this weekend is going to be streamed live!  That means you’ll be able to hear and SEE some of what’s going on.  I don’t have any info on where you can find that but I’m sure it’s probably on (or will be on) the conference website.  Actually, I just looked at SQPN.com and there’s a video window in the right column which, currently, is Fr. Roderick talking about the conference, so I’m guessing that’s where the live video during the conference will be found.

I’m not only excited about the conference because I’ll get to meet the people whose words I’ve been reading and listening to and enjoying for a quite a while, but I’m also going to be learning new things (always fun to do!) and getting a fresh shot of motivation not only faith-wise but blogger-wise. 

For example – I just looked at the schedule for the conference and Father Roderick of  The Daily Breakfast podcast (one of my favorites), will be teaching how to podcast and how to make video for blogs.  I’ll definitely be at those sessions.

As for changes taking place for this blog….I very recently spoke with a couple of other divorced, Catholic moms who are interested in being guest authors!!  As you know, I have not been posting on a regular basis.  Quite honestly, being a single mom & business owner & daughter of elderly parents just doesn’t leave “extra” time.  SO…getting as many other single, divorced, Catholic moms together as possible to contribute to posting here is the PERFECT solution.  Plus, that means more stories and points of view.  I’m excited.

Are YOU interested in helping out?!  Oh, I hope so….  If you’re even just a little bit interested, please contact me at Manya@DivorcedCatholicMoms.com.

And, lastly, as you see in the side column, I’ve added a registration box for our newsletter!  This is still a project-in-process, but, just as with the blog, I’m going to need some help with it.  Article writers – people to find & invite article writers – creative input – suggestions – someone to add the content once it gets up and going – someone to find helpful resources to be shared….and the list goes on and on.  It’s going to be great!

I hope you find all this news as exciting as I do.

Be looking for my next post, sometime next week, which will have pictures from the conference and MAYBE even some video!!

Until then…have a wonderful week and weekend…and God bless you and bring you peace.

Manya