Radio Archive #9: Baby Fat Diet and Epic Church History

epicbabyfatCourtesy of Sirius 159/XM 117 (The Catholic Channel), it’s The Catholics Next Door podcast! Featuring segments from The Catholics Next Door and occasional extra surprises, you can get a full three hours of The Catholics Next Door, Monday through Friday from 10AM to 1PM EST, only from Sirius/XM. Sign up today!

In this episode: Monica Bearden co-author of The Baby Fat Diet and Steve Weidenkopf from EPIC: A Journey Through Church History.

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Sunday Outside

The trees we planted back in November truly. Have transformed our backyard. We moved a bunch of chairs to one of the dependable spots of shade and we’ve been wasting away the afternoon just hanging out in the backyard. It’s taken us 10 years to finally get to do this.

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5-Year-Old

Tommy turned 5 on Friday. Apparently we’ve started a new tradition of taking the birthday kid out for breakfast. Tommy wanted Waffle House.

Later on we did the obligatory cake thing and also had a special visit with Fr. Bill Kessler who was passing through town on the way home from Disney World.

Overall, Tommy had a good birthday. Happy Birthday, T-Bone Steak!

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Radio Archive #8: Comedian Basile and Fr. Leo and Friends

priestsCourtesy of Sirius 159/XM 117 (The Catholic Channel), it’s The Catholics Next Door podcast! Featuring segments from The Catholics Next Door and occasional extra surprises, you can get a full three hours of The Catholics Next Door, Monday through Friday from 10AM to 1PM EST, only from Sirius/XM. Sign up today!

In this episode: Greek Orthodox Comedian Basile (www.4Basile.com) and Fr. Leo (www.GraceBeforeMeals.com) and Friends join us on this episode. You can visit Msgr. Nalty’s parish website here and Fr. Hamilton’s website here.

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Kissing the Face of God

Every once in a while we get a surprise package in the mail and we’re not quite sure where it came from or who sent it.

Today during the program, FedEx showed up delivering a big ol’ box.

During a break I rushed down and got it, and during the next break I opened it up.

Inside was one of the most beautiful paintings we’ve seen. Whoever sent this – thanks!

It’s called “Kissing the Face of God” and was sent from “Lord’s Art” in New York.

Here’s a link, and below is a clearer photo of the painting from their website.

kissingface

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Sick Bay

Jennifer and I are both fighting head colds while also hosting the show. Here is what it looks like in the infirmary/studio.

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Four Tonsils

Yesterday we all got a very early start to the day as we had to have both Ben (who will be 7 in just a couple weeks) and Tom (who will be 5 in just a couple weeks) to the hospital by 6:45.

After dealing with strep throat in our house time and time again, they were both going to have their tonsils taken out.  After Walter had his tonsils removed last fall, both he and Sam seemed to have broken the cycle.  But Ben and Tom continued to have problems.

So the doctor recommended we get rid of them.

The tonsils, that is.  Not Ben and Tom.

To the left are the boys as we wait to be called back to the pre-op and recovery rooms.

Below are the last photos of their mouths before their tonsils were yanked out.

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Radio Archive #7: We Wish You a Merry Chrism Mass

cndpodcastrssCourtesy of Sirius 159/XM 117 (The Catholic Channel), it’s The Catholics Next Door podcast! Featuring segments from The Catholics Next Door and occasional extra surprises, you can get a full three hours of The Catholics Next Door, Monday through Friday from 10AM to 1PM EST, only from Sirius/XM. Sign up today!

In this episode: An overview of the Chrism Mass, held every year during Holy Week. Also, a visit with Fr. Leo who provides a unique perspective on the Triduum.

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Easter Lily

easterlilyThis morning we got an early start to the day as we headed out for Mass with the entire family, and our own Easter Lily got dressed up in her finest dress. Got to tell you, it’s still weird having a kid that wears dresses! But she already is turning heads, that’s for sure.

So here’s praying for a very happy and blessed Easter to all of our friends, family, and listeners of The Catholics Next Door!

What a wonderful Lent it was, and we’re so glad that we had the opportunity to share so many experiences with so many wonderful people throughout Lent.

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Interview with the Easter Bunny

Easter BunnyYesterday on The Catholics Next Door we had the excellent honor of interviewing the one and only Easter Bunny.

For your viewing pleasure, we set up remote video broadcasting to capture this very special moment. We hope you enjoy this video interview with Mr. Easter Bunny.

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Radio Archive #6: Catholic School Rejection and Bob Saget

cndpodcastrssCourtesy of Sirius 159/XM 117 (The Catholic Channel), it’s The Catholics Next Door podcast! Featuring segments from The Catholics Next Door and occasional extra surprises, you can get a full three hours of The Catholics Next Door, Monday through Friday from 10AM to 1PM EST, only from Sirius/XM. Sign up today!

In this episode: Greg and Jennifer talk about the recent rejection we experienced when a Catholic school turned our children away without even testing them. Also, Greg had a unique celebrity encounter while at the Sirius/XM studios in New York.

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New York Photo Album

What an outstanding time we had in New York. I’d hoped to post photos throughout our trip, but simply didn’t have any time. We went non-stop ever since we woke up Wednesday morning and we are exhausted!

Major thanks to everyone from The Catholic Channel for such hospitality.

The highlight of the trip? At first I’d say swapping shows with Lino on Wednesday would be the highlight, but then sitting down with all of The Catholic Channel hosts on Thursday along with Edward Cardinal Egan most definitely topped the list. Definitely a very humbling moment in our lives right then, and such a tremendous, tremendous honor to be included among such company.

But one thing, overall, that I’m most grateful for is the chance to spend so much time in person with our crew. Adam (our producer) and Jackie (our board operator) are the best.  Adam took us out for burgers and milkshakes Wednesday night, Jackie treated us to Italian on Thursday, Adam and Jared (Lino Rulli’s producer) took us out for pizza after the show on Friday.  On top of all that, Adam brought in the most amazing donuts in the world not just once, but twice.  Truly incredible baked delights.

So now here are all the photos I took with my phone while in NY. Jennifer has more we’ll post later on.

On the plane leaving Atlanta with my mom in tow to help watch Lily while we were on the air:

p-1600-1200-dffa1d83-a3d7-46f4-926f-5bdeb91279be.jpeg

Here’s us in the taxi on Wednesday, heading into the city.

Another cool thing was getting to spend some time joking around with Gus Lloyd. I don’t think I’ll ever again hear the theme to The Courtship of Eddie’s Father without thinking of Gus. Here’s Gus in the NY studio on Thursday morning.  This was the first time we ever saw each other in person:

Another one of Gus:

Jennifer and I during the broadcast on Thursday:

Things are going well.  Thumbs up!

Thumbs up from Adam and Jackie, too:

Jennifer during Thursday’s show:

Adam’s girlfriend, Brittany, brought in the first batch of donuts.  Seriously, the most amazing donuts ever:

Jackie being goofy during Thursday’s show:

The view from my mic in The Catholic Channel studio:

We stopped by the Channel on Thursday evening to be on Busted Halo with Fr. Dave Dwyer.  Robyn, his producer, was too awesome and took Lily for a tour around Sirius/XM while we were on the air with Fr. Dave:

On Fridays, like most other days, Adam doesn’t work during our show (joke! well, sort of):

The microphone.  I now want a boom-arm for our microphone.  I really, really, really, really (hey Rob, are you reading this?) really, really would love to have a boom arm to use in the studio instead of our regular headset.   Just saying.  I loved using this:

Jackie explaining to Adam how he was driving her insane:

The cast and crew.  Jennifer and Greg in the back, Jackie and Adam in the front.

In the taxi, heading out of New York through Times Square.  This is Friday afternoon right when the storms were causing havoc.

After several hours at LaGuardia, we learned our flight was canceled until Saturday morning, so we ended up staying at a different hotel near the airport and went and got something to eat.  My mom ordered the largest glass of wine ever served to a woman from North Dakota:

Saturday morning in the new hotel, checking email and hanging with the baby girl:


At the gate, waiting to board, Jennifer talking to her mom.

And now we’re home, exhausted, with an overgrown yard calling my name.

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