We recently watched the documentary TINY: A Story About Living Small on Netflix and can't stop thinking about it. No, not contemplating packing up and moving into a tiny house like the one pictured above any time soon. But we are left pondering how to live “small” in the space we occupy. It's the topic of my latest post at CatholicMom.com. I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic. Head on over here to read and ponder with me. … [Read more...]
Joel and I were recently reviewing stats from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' 2013-14 study of permanent deacons. Take a guess --- what's the average age of deacons in the United States of America? How many are in their 40s like Joel? I won't spill the beans here, but if you're curious, head on over to my latest post at CatholicMom.com where I've provided a snapshot of the age demographics. I also reflect a bit on how we've even gotten through this journey with small kiddos at … [Read more...]
Some political issues remain simply political until they visibly impact the lives of those around us. Then suddenly we recognize them as issues of human dignity. My latest column for CatholicMom.com, a "World View Wednesday" post, revisits one such situation about a most serious political issue of our day: immigration reform. Truth be told, immigration reform was once just a bunch of talking points that affected a group of people. But then something happened to shake that up. Immigration … [Read more...]
It's two days late and several dollars short of anything worth value, but hey, here's another round of 7 Quick Takes Friday Sunday. --- 1 --- Flashback, May 2011 --- riding donkeys in Lindos, Greece to get to the top of the city and tour the acropolis during our Footsteps of St. Paul pilgrimage. Why do I share this photo here and now? Well I found a way to weave our donkey riding experience into a post about Palm Sunday and my favorite Lent/Easter children's book for a guest blog post over … [Read more...]
“Christians who are afraid to build bridges and prefer to build walls are Christians who are not sure of their faith, not sure of Jesus Christ,” Pope Francis. Bridge building can be hazardous, huh? Just take a look at what happened to the peace doves Pope Francis released while, ironically, praying for peace in the Ukraine where violent protests have raged since late November. The moment provided a bit of inspiration for my latest piece at CatholicMom.com, Even Papa's Peace Doves Get … [Read more...]
Is there a hobby, gift, or talent that has changed your life? Ever had to let it go only to discover God was calling you to share the gift differently? It's the question I pose at the end of my latest column for CatholicMom.com titled Am I Playing My Drum for Jesus or Myself? I would be honored if you clicked on over and joined the discussion. … [Read more...]
I had this post 90% finished last night. When the last 10% just wasn't coming together, I shut down the blogging process in order for a good night's rest. After a few prayers for inspiration to complete the remaining 10%, my plan was to hit the computer hard this morning and finish before the kids got up. The best laid plans ... When I woke up, rather than hitting the computer hard, life hit me hard. One thing after another, and I was in no mood to finish a post about small successes. Bah … [Read more...]
#smallsuccess 1: On My Own Joel's two-week paternity leave ended last Friday (yes, I'm spoiled and grateful!) so this marked the first week on my own with three kids. And the survey says ... ? So far, so good. And I was even able to wash, fold, and put away a couple of loads of laundry (only having two pair of pants that fit helps tremendously with laundry motivation, doesn't it?!) A few months back I read a story about how American moms feel three children is the most stressful number. I … [Read more...]
What am I grateful for today? Many things, but this in particular: to be a member of the CatholicMom.com family and work alongside women like Lisa Hendey and Sarah Reinhard. I am also honored to host the blog tour kickoff for the newest book in the CatholicMom.com Book series, Small Steps for Catholic Moms, by Danielle Bean and Elizabeth Foss. It's a perfect prayer companion for busy moms. More on that in a moment. First, a favor. Can you Think, Pray, and Act with me today? Will you join me … [Read more...]
Over the past few weeks, I have received what I consider rare treasures --- beautiful handwritten thank you notes from a few family members and friends. These notes got me thinking about the value of a handwritten thank you note and inspired my latest column at CatholicMom.com, The Lost Art of the Handwritten Thank You Note. Head on over here to read the post. … [Read more...]