FoC 161: Finding Bouquets of Freshly Sharpened Pencils in an Imperfect World with Laura Kelly Fanucci

Before we dive in to this episode’s details, don’t forget that WE ARE GOING TO ENGLAND next summer and we want you to come with us! Check out our previous episode or view the travel details here.

We’ve all found ourselves at the beginning of a new academic year–and we’re all still waiting for the light at the end of the tunnel. Things are not…ideal. We’re all facing another tough season. So how do we start anew and cultivate a new beginning even in difficult circumstances?

We knew just who to ask: our friend Laura Kelly Fanucci, a writer, speaker, and author who is wonderfully wise and who truly understands what it means to commit to a new beginning in the midst of trials. Laura joined us years ago to share her family’s story of losing their twin daughters, Maggie and Abby. Laura understands what it means to carry grief, navigate pain, and yet she always inspires us to thoughtful and intentional living.

Laura lives in the Twin Cities with her husband Franco and her five sons. She’s written multiple books including Everyday Sacrament and Grieving Together. And she has a nationally syndicated column for Catholic News Service. You may know Laura from the viral poem she wrote at the beginning of the pandemic or from her breathtakingly beautiful prose on her Instagram account. We love Laura for many reasons but especially admire her wisdom, courage, and tender kindness in the way she navigates the world.

In this episode we talk about new school years. bouquets of sharpened pencils, and why we’re all nostalgic at the beginning of the academic year. We get vulnerable about what makes this phase of the pandemic so hard, discuss cultivating hope while being honest with ourselves about pain, ways to intentionally turn a new leaf and why that matters and helps us move forward, and giving ourselves a lot of grace in the ups and downs.

We’re so excited to kick off our new season of the podcast with this episode. It’s a really beautiful conversation and we know you’ll love hearing from Laura!

Sponsor: Into the Deep

This episode’s sponsor is the new catechetical resource that parents have been looking for: Into the Deep!

The aim of Into the Deep is to not only help our children know about Jesus, but to know Him. So each lesson offers the child an opportunity to encounter the Person of Jesus Christ, and we always point to the sacraments. It’s a parent-led, open-and-go resource inspired by the Charlotte Mason and classical education philosophies.

This resource will help you teach your children about the Catholic Faith through beautiful art, music, poetry, nature study, and story.