Big Hearted: Inspiring Stories from Everyday Families

By Patti Armstrong & Theresa Thomas

The Big Hearted book gives you an inside look into the triumphs, struggles, joys, and sorrows of ordinary families with generous hearts. It invites you to witness extraordinary love in ordinary moments like the simple cooking of a meal or the hug between a teenaged brother and his baby sister and other inspiring family stories. Just like your family, these families experience pain, setbacks, and challenges. And just like your family, they also experience love and immeasurable blessing through their commitment and care for each other. 

In this book, you will learn the stories of:

• A father of seven healthy boys who struggled to love his Down syndrome baby girl
• A mother of twelve who learned an important lesson about Christmas from her children
• A special relationship between a teenaged brother and his infant sister
• Two grandparents in their final days who inspired their grandchildren in simple ways
• Two orphan children from Kenya who prayed for adoption by an American family and got what they asked for!

It has been said that God cannot be outdone in generosity. The stories in these pages will show you how big hearted families experience this truth in a myriad of ways, sometimes miraculously.

Patti Maguire Armstrong is a correspondent for Our Sunday Visitor newspaper and the National Catholic Register , and works in marketing for Teresa Tomeo Communications. She is an award-winning author and was the managing editor and co-author of Ascension Press’ bestselling Amazing Grace series. Her latest book is Big Hearted: Inspiring Stories From Everyday Families . She has appeared on EWTN, Catholic TV, Fox & Friends, and numerous radio programs across the country. Patti studied a year of journalism at University of Detroit, has a B.A. in social work and an M.A. in public administration, and worked in both those fields before staying home to work as a freelance writer. She and her husband met in the Peace Corps in the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, were Jesuit Volunteers on an Indian Reservation, and spent 3 years as house parents of a group home for delinquent boys. They now live in North Dakota where they are still raising the tail end of their 10 children.

 

Theresa Thomas is wife to David and mother of nine who lives in northern Indiana farm country. She is co-author of Big Hearted: Inspiring Stories from Everyday Families, a family columnist at Today's Catholic News and regularly contributes to Integrated Catholic Life.

“The family is the place where the gospel is taught, observed, and shared—from generation to generation. In Big Hearted, you will be inspired by the faithfulness of everyday families. The possibility of your family walking in victory will come into an energizing focus.”
—Jeff Cavins, award-winning author, internationally renowned speaker, and creator of The Great Adventure Catholic Bible Study

“What’s the recipe for a happy family? While every family is unique, Big Hearted offers some of the ‘secret ingredients’ to creating a home that is happy, holy, and blessed. The authors blend their stories with personal accounts from other gifted writers to give insight into creating a home filled with love. Read this book and you’ll be inspired to look at what being ‘big hearted’ looks like under your own roof and beyond.”
—Lisa M. Hendey, founder of CatholicMom.com and author of A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms

“Big Hearted is a true gift to the world! The stories of real families sharing their struggles and triumphs will inspire parents, grandparents and anyone looking to bring the blessing of children into their lives. Big Hearted is countercultural, and that is a very good thing. In a time of broken marriages, dysfunctional families, and a growing disregard for human life, this book has the courage to share numerous examples of what love and faith in God can achieve in creating wonderful families. Be prepared—this book is likely to have a profound effect on you and will leave a mark!”
—Randy Hain, co-founder and senior editor of Integrated Catholic Life and author of Something More: The Professional’s Pursuit of a Meaningful Life

“For me, my family has been both the source of my deepest wounds and the most profound healing and moments of grace in my life. The stories in this book have been a joyous reminder of God’s ability to make all things new. If walls could talk in the homes where Christ is present and prominent, they would tell the story of human tragedy and triumph, of suffering and healing. Herein you will find a few of these beautiful stories of love and redemption where God, in spite of our human frailties, is alive and well in the hearts and around the hearths of homes where he is central.”
—Dan Burke, executive director of EWTN’s National Catholic Register and author of the award-winning Navigating the Interior Life

“At a time when families are being undermined and devalued in our society, here is a book that celebrates and supports families. It is reassuring as well as instructive, since families don’t come with instruction manuals. One of the values of strong families is their innate ability to impart wisdom and love to the next generation. Even if your own childhood was lacking or you are struggling to impart an example of unconditional love, these stories of love and overcoming hardships in the bond that is family provide a powerful example.”
—Teresa Tomeo, author, speaker, and syndicated Catholic radio talk-show host 

ISBN: 9781594171901 

Product #: 71901 

Size: 5.5 x 8.5 

Format: Paperback 

Pages: 140