How I missed a special feast day

and the change that I made

Dear friend,

Just a few weeks ago, I was sitting in Mass when the priest mentioned the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Suddenly, it hit me—I had completely forgotten about it!

Normally, this day is extra special to me because it falls right between mine and my grandmother’s birthdays.

For years, we’ve used this time to celebrate not just our family, but also the Blessed Mother.

It is that time, that a few days after my birthday I can focus on what is important as I get older each year.

Missing it felt like I had lost a piece of something dear to my heart.

Usually, we bake something sweet in Mary's honor and say 15 decades of the rosary.

But this year, because I didn’t plan ahead, the day slipped right by us.

We had been at a 2:30pm mass, so it was too late in the day to pull anything together.

It was in that moment, sitting there in Mass, that I made a promise to myself: I wouldn’t let another special feast day go unnoticed if I could help it.

Since then, I’ve gone back to a habit I used to do routinely; checking the calendar at the beginning of each month and highlighting the important feast days, especially the ones close to our family traditions.

This simple act of planning ahead keeps me grounded and ensures we’re able to celebrate the moments that mean the most to us.

That’s exactly why I created this planner in the first place.

It was to help me remember and celebrate the liturgical year, even when life is full of distractions.

It includes feast days on the monthly layout and on the weekly layout.

I left space just below the feast days to plan celebrations and to note special traditions.

Now, I’m able to mark these sacred days in advance and make sure they don’t get lost in the shuffle of everyday life.

Here’s to knowing that while I will do my best to never miss a feast day again, I know life can still get chaotic.

But…

with the right tools and a little planning, I can celebrate the ones that matter most to me and my family.

That’s what this planner is all about for me bringing faith into the heart of our busy lives.

Warmly,

Melissa

P.S. What’s one area of your faith or family life that you’d love to be more intentional about? I’d love to hear how I can support you!