Today is Day 16 of Resetting the Rhythms of Life, and I would like to continue refocusing our attention on what we do to take care of our bodies, minds, and spirits. Yesterday, we focused on sleep. As you recall in the first week, we entered into a spiritual rest in the Lord. In a way, these two types of rest go hand in hand. We need both. And when we enter fully into the rest we need, we are…
Welcome to Week 3 of Resetting the Rhythms of Life. We have reached the halfway mark of this series, and I pray it has helped you renew your prayer life and reclaim time with loved ones. I hope you feel well on your way to resetting the rhythms of your life. I will admit, often the weariness, imbalance, and overwhelm that I feel results in a sense that I can’t think straight. My brain feels foggy, and I have a…
“Some of us would be surprised if they knew what God could make of them if, in the decisive moments of their lives, they gave ear to the voice of grace!” —St. Ignatius of Loyola This summer, I checked something off my bucket list. I went paddleboarding for the very first time with eight women from my running group. Many of these ladies run marathons, and all of them workout way more than I do. I have not run longer…
Opening my inbox, I saw the email waiting for me. I knew what it would entail, before I even read it. Your deadline is approaching. Please submit your article ASAP. Panic set in. I could not even think about adding one more thing to my overflowing plate. In addition to the panic, I noticed that sadness set into my heart, too. I wanted to write that article. I wanted to do it, more than anything on my to-do list. And…
The vocation of motherhood is a beautiful one. In Mulieris Dignitatem, St. John Paul II writes, “Each and every time that motherhood is repeated in human history, it is always related to the Covenant which God established with the human race through the motherhood of the Mother of God.” Wow! To think that every pregnancy points to the Incarnation is nothing less than amazing! As beautiful as motherhood is, it also can be difficult and even painful. [Motherhood] is constituted more…
This space has been quiet lately. I’ve been quiet lately. We recently journeyed through the Passion of our Lord and celebrated His Resurrection. My focus has been on my own journey and where God is leading me. It is not away from writing, but my journey has taken me on a bit of a detour. I can relate very closely with the disciples on the road to Emmaus, from yesterday’s Gospel reading. After Jesus’ death, they returned to their hometown…
It was January 1, and I was gung-ho to begin my New Year’s resolution. My plan was to start a rigorous elimination diet in the hope of feeling better. I purchased ingredients to make healthy meals, and I set aside time to cook for the week. I knew it was going to be hard, but I reached a tipping point in my chronic illness and knew I had to try more drastic measures. After a week, I started to regain…
Have you ever felt a little lost? Have you ever wondered what your God-given purpose really is? A few months ago, that’s how I was feeling—lost and wondering about my purpose. Then, an amazing opportunity came my way. It was a dream come true, and I was excited! I was going to have the opportunity to pursue my heart’s desire, and I couldn’t wait to dive in. But soon afterward, it became quite obvious that the timing was not right. I…
I am on Day 6 of the Whole30, and I have to say, “So far, so good.” Thanks be to God! I have reached a point with my Hashimoto’s where I am fed up with unexpected weight gain, swollen ankles, and chronic fatigue. As in, “I’ll try anything, if I think it might work.” Hence, the Whole30! But it took me awhile to get here. The first time I attempted the Whole30, I made it to Day 13. I got off track…
It’s 6 p.m., and I am running around the kitchen, putting the finishing touches on my family’s dinner. I ask Anna to set the table and Olivia to fill the water glasses. As I call my family to dinner, I fill up my water bottle and lace up my running shoes. I call out to my family, “Save some for me!” And I head out the door. I am very much in favor of family dinner, and I strive to…