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A busy week for the Betts as they welcome a house guest, celebrate a birthday, prep for a First Communion, and head out on the water for some first-time Scout canoeing. Plus, Pentecost’s question for us: What are you going to do now?

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In the nine days between Ascension and Pentecost, the Betts discuss how we are called to ready our “empty vessels” to receive the Holy Spirit. They also talk about Falcon & Winter Soldier, Without Remorse, a great sweet and sour pork recipe, and more.

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It’s our 100th episode! The Betts note the milestone and then discuss a COVID scare in their family; what’s fresh from the farmers market; Melanie’s interesting literary take on Wandavision; Dom’s take on Secrets of Skinwalker Ranch; and how mothers are our first experience of God’s love.

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The long-delayed Pinewood Derby is finally here, the farmers market is back, and the Betts fix all the broken things. Plus sourdough vs. levain; Star Wars books; a new British cop show; Dom finishes This Is A Robbery; Melanie finishes Marvel Phase 1; and staying grafted to Jesus the Vine.

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On World Penguin Day, the Betts deal with broken bikes and appliances; discuss hammock camping and whether you can sleep; the virtuous merits of superhero movies; and Good Shepherds and their very dumb sheep.

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This week, the Betts get outdoors to a beautiful, new wildlife area; try a new ribs recipe; Melanie watches more Marvel while Dom watches a Netflix doc on an art heist; and they discuss what seem like arbitrary and confusing rules about what you can and can’t do at Mass these days.

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This week, the Betts are vaccinated; the girls went fishing; we discuss lamb leftovers; Melanie gets insight into Iron Man and his PTSD; and then they discuss the novel of early Christians in Rome called Quo Vadis and as what it has to tell us about Divine Mercy.

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It’s Easter and the Betts discuss their Triduum, including memories of why not to take 5 small children to Easter Vigil; what special foods they made for Easter dinner, and why Dom ended up at Urgent Care on Easter Sunday. (It involved a cleaver.)

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On Palm Sunday, the Betts discuss palm crosses; a future big trip; setting a date for First Communion; explaining how TV used to work to children who only know streaming; and more.

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What’s more romantic than a date to get vaccinated? The Betts get their shots, celebrate two great saints with Irish and Italian meals, build a shed, go on a cleaning binge, and talk about looking death in the face each day.

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Halfway through Lent, the Betts see where they fall short and how Jesus reaches out to them; discuss how they assess books the kids want to read; and talk about a repertoire of recipes that use up leftovers.

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This week, Dom takes the Scouts camping in below freezing temps while Melanie entertains the others at home; they discuss why Confirmation requires proof of 1st Communion; make Peruvian steak and baked potato soup; and talk about cleaning our own temples of the Spirit.

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This week, the Betts bought a new deep freezer and Dom is excited; a shelf collapses out of the blue; visit Dom’s parents; celebrate the last Lucy’s allergies going away; read the latest Dresden Files book; and find Abraham on the Mount of Transfiguration

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This week, the Betts celebrate a birthday; discuss the Texas snowpocalypse; offer an excellent, quick Mexican rice hack; watch Good Will Hunting; review The Memoirs of Peter and Death Comes for the Archbishop; and begin Night Prayer with the kids for Lent.

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This week, the Betts clear another allergy hurdle; discuss why they don’t do much for Valentine’s; try to figure out what to do about summer vacation; explain why they’re staying home on Ash Wednesday; and talk about new books they’re read: Peace Talks and The Space Between Worlds.

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The Betts talk about winter when you’ve grown up with snow versus coming to it later; why Melanie doesn’t want to move to Florida (hint: falling iguanas!); a great fish and chips recipe; and Dom watches The Godfather, Part 2 for the first time.

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In the midst of the winter doldrums, the Betts go for a very cold winter hike with the Scouts; overcome another food allergy; Melanie dives into the world of Star Wars novels and find they’re good; and Dom gets nostalgic over the Breakfast Club.

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The Betts discuss Good Discourse, which was the name of a conference where Melanie gave a talk on humility and writing; talk about sharing their music and memories with the kids; discover the magic of potato starch; and enjoy British TV detectives and a Russian novel.

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You could tell from our intro music and podcast tagline, the Betts are big into sea shanties and so we discuss the new TikTok sea shanty trend; sing the praises of dehumidifiers; love our huge, new Dutch oven; and identify with poor Eli being woken up by Samuel in Sunday’s reading.

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As the kids are getting older, Dom and Melanie switch up the evening routine; they go for a hike on a cold, but beautiful winter’s day; remember a friend from her humorous obituary; talk about the Friendship of Christ; and consider St. Gregory Nazianzen’s take on temptations and our baptism.