Today’s post is the second in a four-part Advent series. To read the first post in the series, click here. I am blessed to be over on the WINE: Women In the New Evangelization blog today, too! *** I open my planner and see all of the “to-dos” on my list, many more than usual. Each task, in and of itself, is a delightful privilege to do for my family. As a mom, I know I am instrumental in making the…
This summer, I attended a three-day silent retreat. I entered into the retreat with an agenda! I anticipated receiving very clear direction for the next phase of my life as a wife and mom. You see, my family was about to begin a new school year, and it was going to be the first time in 14 years that all six of my children would be in school. I was going to be a stay-at-home mom with no kids at home, and I…
How are you spending Black Friday? I am looking toward this Sunday—the first Sunday of Advent! This weekend, my family and I will set up our Advent wreath, Jesse Tree, and manger scene. But as much as I am looking forward to Advent, the season of hopeful waiting, I am starting to feel a bit anxious about my growing holiday to-do list. Maybe you are feeling the same way—a bit weary before the busyness of Advent and Christmas even begins? The…
I am so excited to be part of CatholicMom.com’s 2016 Advent Guide, a collection of articles and reflections to help you prepare for the Advent season. Today, I shared An Advent Plan for the Weary Woman’s Soul. *** Sitting across the table from a friend, she sensed my tension. After making small talk, she asked, “OK, what are you holding back?” As she invited me to be real and honest, it all came pouring out. How life just seemed really hard,…
A wave of discouragement rushed over me, as I walked out of the doctor’s office. News of another health issue left me down and discouraged. I felt tired of following the breadcrumb trail. I wanted to be done with diagnoses, recommendations, feeling fatigued and in pain. The sadness lingered as I pulled myself out of bed the next morning. It was business as usual for this mom. The children needed me, whether I felt good or not. As I pulled…
When my daughter was first struggling with reading and school work, I didn’t know what to think or do. I felt rather helpless that I couldn’t help her understand that cat rhymed with bat. The whirlwind of having six children, eight years apart, is that I didn’t act too quickly to help her. Every child needs some sort of attention all of the time, and this can leave moms and dads feeling overwhelmed, especially when something like a diagnosis of…
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2) Today’s Scripture quote can take on many personal meanings within the theme of Dyslexia awareness. I like to think that these amazing kids who don’t quite fit the mold can transform the world with their amazing minds! To think that Dyslexia just might be God’s way of…
I anticipated another Scripture Sunday today, but I had the privilege of attending a Decoding Dyslexia Minnesota event with my husband and three of my children. It was a chance for the kids to play at a ninja warrior park while parents talked, networked, and learned about Dyslexia and how to help our children who are living with it. Being at the event helped me remember that I’m not alone in this journey. Not only is it a family affair,…
Today’s post was first published on CatholicMom.com. Looking back on her preschool years, I now recognize the early warning signs, such as difficulty hearing rhyming words, like cat, hat, and mat. Throughout Kindergarten, I saw her struggling, but I wasn’t worried, until I started receiving notes from her teacher that she falling behind. In Kindergarten? Really? No amount of phonetic worksheets would catch her up, though. Nor would a repeat of Kindergarten. You see, my daughter has Dyslexia. She is the one…
“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind; and if you think differently about anything, this too God will reveal to you. Only let us hold fast to what we have attained.” (Philippians 3:14-16) In many challenging circumstances, this verse from Philippians provides strength and encouragement. The challenge of Dyslexia is no different. There have been many times on this…