So nice to meet you!
After many unfulfilling phone conversations in which we mothers and daughters attempted (with little success) to describe with any accuracy our ongoing projects and domestic triumphs, this blog was born. We found that we also have something to say about making a home and maintaining the collective memory.
Take a peek at The Little Oratory: A Beginner's Guide to Praying in the Home, which I wrote with David Clayton, illustrations by Deirdre.
Like the blog on Facebook! Follow the blog on Twitter. Email us at LMLDblog (at) gmail (dot) com.
Remember, all the original content on this blog is copyrighted. Don't steal our photos or words! Please do not reproduce anything for publication without our consent — but DO feel free to link to anything here if you give clear credit, and we'd love to know that you did that. Printing things out for your discussion group is always fine!
Leila, aka Auntie Leila, aka Mom (to seven persons), aka Habibti* (to fifteen persons as of now).
For things you might have wondered about me, read my “Questions of Fleeting Interest” — they do not rise to the level of Frequently Asked Questions, other than maybe how you say my name: LIE-La. Lay-la is okay.
Follow me on Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram.
A few years ago The Chief** and I went on a vacation to Ireland (we took Bridget as well). Here we are at the Cliffs of Insanity Moher.
Your other blogging ladies:
Rosie, Marine wife to “Captain Pepper”, mother of Pippo, Molly, and Nora; singer, teacher, living in Oklahoma:
Rosie is my second child, first daughter. Follow Rosie on Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter.
Suzanne, wife of Army-doctor “The Quack” (also a captain), mother of Freddie and Desmond,;pianist, teacher, living in the greater DC area:
Suki (aka Sukie) is my second daughter, third child. Follow Sukie on Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram.
Deirdre, wife to “The Artist”, mother of Finnabee and Peabodee (not their real names); artist, writer, speaker, New Englander once again — She did the little drawings you find throughout The Little Oratory: A Beginner's Guide to Praying in the Home:
Deirdre is my third daughter, fifth child. Follow her on Pinterest, and check out her professional Instagram and website.
Bridget, college student, writer, fiddler, teacher:
Bridget is my fourth daughter, seventh child.
And Elizabeth, aka Habou*** — artist, teacher:
She is my mother. Follow her blog, The Corner Art Studio.
Here are most of the LMLD ladies at Deirdre’s baby shower back when she was expecting her first in 2013:
Here is our family so far [as of the date — there are more now!], and since Christmas we have added Freddie! Christmas is a great time to get a photo of everyone, except for the darkness and the inability to pry people away from sleeping/changing/napping/eating/playing the games they got. So sorry for a not very good photo.
My vividly imagined dream is to have a summer vacation where we are all together and can get a good photo in the bright sun!
Back row: Philip aka Captain Pepper, Molly, Will, John aka The Quack, Joseph, John aka The Artist.
Middle row: Pippo, Rosie, Bridget, Sukie, Finnabee, Deirdre.
Seated: Natasha (married to Nick, hmmm, we don’t have a nickname for her — must think about that!), Francis, Nick, Phil, Bright Yellow Tights Lady aka Leila/Auntie Leila/Habibti, Elizabeth aka Habou.
Our name is a bit girlie, but we love our boys:
Joseph (my fourth), Nick (my first), and Francis, Nick's little boy and my grandson, don't forget!
Bridget and Will (my sixth).
_______________________
*Habibti is an Arabic endearment, like “sweetie.” It means “my Habeeba” — my loved one. It’s what my father always called me and what some grandchildren call their grandmothers. It doesn’t mean grandmother, it just means sweetie!
**The Chief is Phil. We’ve now been married for 38 years (I keep having to update this! Go figure). You can read Catholic news and commentary by him at Catholic Culture and don’t forget his most recent book: The Faithful Departed: The Collapse of Boston’s Catholic Culture.
***Habou is another endearment — well, shortened from Habouba. Also meaning “dear” etc. Which is what I called my grandmother.
Rachel Meyer says
I just found your site and haven’t read much yet, but I had to tell you that Bridget is wearing the most beautiful bridesmaid outfit I have ever seen! She is lovely too, of course. The whole family is! Excited to read more.
Rachel says
I have been reading your site for ages, but it took me a while to realise that you are Leila LAWLER! As in Phil Lawler as in Catholic Culture! Ding! When that penny dropped it all made more sense. I am also intrigued that I only looked at this introductions page today and your only commenter commented yesterday! We are all busy looking at you now. Thankyou for the lovely descriptions of who you all are and the beautiful photos. I feel like one of the family now. PS, what is the Arabic connection? Do you have Middle Eastern ancestors?
Mary says
I just stumbled upon your website while looking for information on how to reuse clementine boxes. I could see right away that you offer so much more than craft projects. I have spent the last two hours totally absorbed in your website–two hours that I had planned to spend scurrying around finishing Christmas shopping. I believe that the inspiration and resources here will be a much greater gift to my family than anything I can wrap up and put under the tree. What a timely lesson! Thank you.
martina says
I was just recommended your blog by a friend and CANNOT wait to dive in and read more! You have a BEAUTIFUL family!
God Bless!
Traditional Homeschooling Mom says
Mrs. C from The Sincere Gift just directed me to you. Love your site! Are you Arab? My husband’s best friend is an Arabian Christian belonging to the Antiochian Orthodox, unfortunately not in full communion, but their liturgy!! Wow!!! They were baptized in the Jordan River at the spot where it’s believed Christ was baptized. Unfortunately, they felt it in their best interests to leave and get to the U.S….pray for our persecuted brethren.
Holly Denman says
Just heard you on Mater Dei radio! I typically don’t care for blogs yet something about your demeanor called to me….here I am..mother of five, grandmother of six (one in Saudi Arabia), survivor of two cancers, faithful Catholic. I have not yet mastered the art of putting duct tape over my mouth when it comes to grandchildren and parenting. I hope to learn something!
Christina A says
Hi! Sorry to comment here, but I ran across a couple posts in the archives that didn’t seem to be accepting new comments/replies. Anyway, I was intrigued by the link in b&p from 5/11/2013 about the Pevearsion of Russian Lit. My husband and I read aloud Th Brothers Karamazov in 2009, and I can’t remember which translation we used (checked it out from the library!). I’m thinking of rereading, but would love to get a good translation; can you recommend one perhaps? Also, it got me thinking about a couple other books I’ve read in translation, Kristin Lavransdatter and The Confessions by Augustine. Do you happen to have favorite translations of those? I read Tiina Nunnally’s for KL after starting a very stilted one (can’t remember the poor translator’s name!), and a book group friend recommended Frank Sheed’s translation of Confessions, though I read the one by Maria Boulding, OSB (which she said was a close second). Peter Kreeft described the Sheed translation this way: “Only once have I ever encountered a translation that made such a difference, that so opened up for me a previously closed book. That was Frank Sheed’s translation of Augustine’s Confessions, which I found to be as living as molten lava. The most widely used translation of the Confessions is the one by a Mr. Pine-Coffin, and it is worthy of his name. It is a dead translation. Sheed’s is living.”
I have a confession of my own: I’ve never finished Confessions, despite starting it 3 times, the last of which was for book group. I guess I really ought to get Sheed’s! Have you read it?
Ok, looooong comment almost done! Just wondering if you could share your focaccia recipe (you mentioned that wonderful bread in your phfr post on 5/16/2013). Thanks a bunch!
Julia says
I have been reading the Summa Domestica and even though I have yet to finish reading them and implement all the wisdom I have become a mush better wife and mother because I am more at peace with the constant new messes and working slowly to organize and beautify the home. I suggest it to every mother who will listen.
Ps. I spent two days planing how I would reorganize my kitchen and then spent a whole kid free day doing it. Thank you all for the Summa.
Brigitte keine Angabe Geisler says
Haben Sie mir vielleicht die Anleitung für die ärmellose Kinderwickel Jacke.
Würde Sie gerne meinem Enkelkind machen.
Das wäre super.
Gruß
Brigitte Geisler
b.geisler56@web.de
Leila says
Hi Brigitte! Auf welchem Beitrag ist es? kannst du da kommentieren oder ist es hier auf dieser Seite? Ich sehe es nicht