Congratulations to Anne and Haley - and our listeners! - for completing 24 episodes in 2024! How often do we set a goal or resolution and accomplish it? And what are you resolutions for this year? Both Anne's and Haley's include reading, boundaries, and a (re)commitment to our faith. It's also playoff season, both in college football and the NFL - including Fantasy Football. Lots to chew on in the Stew and our final episode (for 2024) of Faith Fondue!

The third week of Advent begins with Gaudete Sunday. We light a rose colored candle to signify JOY and remind us that Christmas is near. Haley offers a joy-index. Where are you on a scale of 1-10?

Anne encountered joy at a fundraiser celebrating a new school community that has a wonderful name: Nativity. The keynote speaker Father Mike Schmitz is naturally effusive and engaging…bring joy to the world and the Bible in a year! I

He reminded the audience and now all of us to prepare our hearts and our homes for Christmas! You wouldn’t run a marathon without training. What are we doing, what faith training has we exercised this Advent? No time to taper, there’s still one week to go!

Both Anne and Haley traveled south for the long Thanksgiving weekend; Haley avoided the cold by escaping to Florida to be with family, while Anne ventured into enemy territory with friends to see Notre Dame play USC in a season-defining game. But hey, did you know there is a new Catholic Church/Center on USC's campus? Hear what Anne has to say about.

After digesting football (college team won; NFL teams not so much), we enter into Haley's favorite time of year: no, not Christmas - it's ADVENT folks. And the theme this week is HOPE.