Andrew’s been waking me early every morning. A little nudge and a “Were you going to pray?” I croak “Mm hmm.” He goes to a corner of our room, Bible in-hand, and spends time with the Lord before the monkeys get up. We’ve been talking about this – how we should “parallel pray” before the kids wake, before we start […]
The Missing Component of Failed Resolutions
It’s here and now at TCW that we chat resolutions. There’s something so freeing about a fresh start – who doesn’t love a chance to shed the weight, start using a planner (for real this time), up water intake, become a better listener, or say no to snooze? A new year stirs the soul and invites change, but though […]
Monday Morning with the Saints {no. 41 – Revelations}
The Holy Spirit has been hitting me over the head with this verse for a couple of weeks. I was in the middle of a talk and took a sharp turn off my outline to quote it without thought. I cracked open the soul-changing Unbound to find it in the first couple of chapters. A priest […]
Catching Up: The Where-the-heck-have-YOU-been Edition
Two weeks after we tied the knot in ’08, Andrew and I packed a Uhaul, drove from my home state of Nebraska, and landed in Louisiana. New marriage, new state, a totally new culture, new jobs, new food (I’m hooked on Tony Chachere’s, sweet potatoes, and sweet tea). Eight years later and almost as quickly, […]
A National Solemnity
Every year I return to the idea of Memorial Day, wondering what I could further say beyond what I’ve already posted; and truly, every year, I find I have little to add. From the archives, written Memorial Day 2012. Despite growing up an Air Force brat with instilled, unfailing pride in America and the Flag, […]
Monday Morning with the Saints {no. 40 – St. Colette}
Christian suffering is one of those mysteries I don’t fully understand – the whole idea of joy amid pain is abstract and soulfully deep and it’s especially hard to live. I’ve been there myself a time or two. My father’s illness and passing, hopelessly low lows in our marriage, anxiety and depression. No sir, suffering is […]
Monday Morning with the Saints {no. 39 Bl. Basil Hopko}
So the whole idea of “prison” might seem a little strong for our purposes, but as a loose analogy, it works. Because though I’ve never felt imprisoned in my life, there have been times when I felt trapped. Stuck. As a wife, as a mother, as just me. There’s that moment when we realize that […]
Monday Morning with the Saints {no. 38 – St. Bonaventure}
A friend of mine recently pointed out that she didn’t have any “extracurriculars.” No blog. No part time work. No side business. “I’m just a mom,” she said almost insecurely. “Should I be doing something else?” I don’t think being a mama is “just” anything, but that’s another post. Conversely, I’ve lately heard from those […]
Radio Interview with The Catholic Foodie! {audio inside}
I had a fantastic time talking with Jeff Young this week on his show The Catholic Foodie! Jeff read my posts on anxiety and that amazing line from St. Teresa of Avila {no. 37 for Monday Morning with the Saints} and invited me on for what was such a fun and hopeful conversation. We covered […]
MMWS {No. 37 – St. Theresa of Avila}
I can whip through the dishes without too much strife. Bowls, plates, funky shaped kid cups are no challenge because loading is just grown-up Tetris. I find space where there was none and can work some serious magic. It’s…fun? No. That’s too far. The psychological mountain comes when I gaze across the counter at the mess […]
