“For nothing is hid that shall not be made manifest, nor anything secret that shall not be known and come to light.” (Luke 8:17) I am so honored to be part of the blog tour for Secrets: Visible and Invisible, a new short-story anthology for Catholic teens from some of the best Catholic fiction authors around. There is definitely a little something for everyone in this collection. Each of the seven short stories is written in a unique genre and…
I am so honored to be part of the blog tour for Theresa Linden’s new adult novel, Anyone But Him. In one sentence, I can tell you that I LOVED this book! In a few more sentences, I will tell you why. But first, here is a brief synopsis of Anyone But Him: Caitlyn Summer had always followed the straight and narrow path. Her perfect husband would love Jesus more than her and love her because of her love for Jesus. He…
It’s Black Friday. I am sitting at my computer perusing all of the sales and deals that have appeared in my inbox. I am not one to venture out on this busy day, but I am getting excited to begin the season of Advent and prepare for Christmas. Advent doesn’t begin for over a week, though. Normally, this is the weekend I unpack our Advent wreath, take out our Jesse Tree ornaments, and decorate the house with a few hints…
As a mom of six, I am constantly on guard about what my children read, listen to, and watch. And yet, I cannot possibly monitor every word on every page or every lyric to the latest song. I rely on trusted reviews, recommendations from other parents, and my own research. In less than a month, I will have two teenagers, and the books and movies that the culture deems worthy of their attention seem less and less in line with my Catholic-Christian…
Every year, I look forward to watching those fun holiday movies on Hallmark Channel. Yes, they are formulaic and predictable, but they are sweet and light-hearted and just what I need to unwind after a busy day of Christmas prep. Well, I just read a book that surpasses any romantic Christmas movie I have ever watched. And it wasn’t predictable at all! It was quite a page turner that left me guessing what was going to happen next and certainly got…
When I was a child, my family did not gather around the dinner table to share life together. Sure we ate at the same time, but on most nights, it was at the kitchen counter with the evening news blaring on the TV. When I visited my aunt and uncle’s home, I savored the commraderie around the dinner table—dishes being passed around, conversation flowing, even clean up and the rotation of chores was a novelty that I secretly wished was…
This might sound cliché, but this spring truly has been busy! It is hard for me to even wrap my head around the fact that it is May 6, and my children will be done with school in less than one month! Of course, thoughts like this prompt anxiety to race through my mind and heart … I better get organized! What am I going to do to keep them busy for three months? Of course, it really doesn’t help…
Well, it’s Thursday already! And it is the Feast of St. Agnes. I attended Mass at the Church of St. Agnes today and received a blessing with her relic. It was the highlight of my week. This week was short, because of the national holiday on Monday. One my children was home sick on Tuesday and Wednesday. So, in some ways, the normalcy of the week feels like it is just getting underway. That’s OK, though. I am still able to see goodness and small…
Today, I am so excited to introduce you to Salutare, a wonderful greeting card company that is sharing the Catholic Faith through artwork, coordinating Scripture passages and thoughtful well-wishes. My dear friend, Anne, who is the company’s graphic artist, introduced me to Salutare, and once I saw these unique cards, I just had to share them with you! When I received a sample packet of cards in the mail, I was struck by the unique look of them. For example, the feminine…
One year ago, I had the privilege of interviewing Well-Read Mom founder, Marcie Stockman, for CatholicMom.com. I am reposting my article today (a day late for #WorthRevisitWednesday link-up), because Well-Read Mom is hosting an awesome giveaway now through Dec. 1. I have had the pleasure of being in one of these book clubs, and it is an incredible experience. Not only do you get to read some fabulous books, but you also have the opportunity to get together with other like-minded women. I…