I am preparing for my annual silent retreat weekend, and I have been thinking about my past retreat experiences. Sometimes I doubt that they are doing any good. Have I really grown spiritually in the past 2, 4, 6 years? I know that discouragement can be normal in the spiritual life, which is why I’m trying not to pay too much attention to the nagging voice. Still, as I reflect back on the post I wrote for CatholicMom.com three years…
It is hard to believe it is already June! This spring was so busy with softball, musical performances, choir concerts, final exams … And those are just the things involving my kids! But when something involves a child, it involves a mama, too. And I am grateful for the honor of being part of the events and activities my kids are involved in. It gives me a bird’s eye view into how God has created them so uniquely and where He…
This was first posted on March 2, 2015. It some ways it surprises me that this is still so applicable to my life, and in other ways, it does not surprise me at all. Life is funny that way. Our struggle—our cross—may take a lifetime of carrying, and yet how often do I just wait for it to disappear? Sure, our cross might look differently from year to year, decade to decade, but often it is the one way God has invited us…
Well, today is my 40th birthday! I don’t have a profoundly deep post all planned out. Life lately has been a bit too zooming fast for me to think ahead, let alone ponder. I know that sounds like an excuse, but it also is reality. Lent has not been slow and reflective, not with a trip to Florida right in the middle of it! Which is why I am embracing these last three weeks as best as I can. What I…
One of the last things Jesus did before he died was give us His mother Mary to be our mother. From the Gospel of John, “‘Woman, behold your son.’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his home” (19:26-27). Jesus’ final words not only pertained to Mary and John, they also included me and you and allof humanity. “Jesus Christ, after having given us all he could give, that…
As we reach the mid-point between the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Aug. 15) and the Feast of the Queenship of Mary (Aug. 22), I thought it would be a lovely tribute to post something about Our Lady for this week’s #WorthRevisit link-up. I originally posted this on May 22, 2009—six years ago! This was before I was enrolled in the Brown Scapular, before I made my Consecration to Jesus through Mary, before our family started praying…
I woke up and saw something I didn’t like. Piles of clothing lined one wall of my bedroom. Two bins stacked on top of one another sat right next to my door. Ugh. Over a month ago, I took on the monumental task of switching my children’s clothing from winter to summer. It is one of my least favorite tasks, because it never feels complete. There is always the stray pair of pajamas that show up two weeks later in…
July is zooming by, isn’t it? When I was in Target last week, I noticed the school supplies are out already. I don’t think my kids are ready for school, but we definitely love checking out the school supplies! I just found this price comparison list, which will come in handy when we do start our supply shopping. Outside my window … Today, July 13 is going to be warm! The high might be 90! We had an awesome rain last night, which…
It was a long but satisfying day. My oldest daughter was in her final performance as Earthworm in a stage adaptation of Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach. I attended the final show and cast party with her and two of my other girls. It was fun, but after an intense month of rehearsals and a long week of performances, I looked forward to a relaxing evening at home. When I walked into my bedroom, though, what I encountered was…
I wrote this post six years ago! What’s funny is that I still wrestle with some of the same things! Will I ever figure it out? Or is it an ongoing lesson in surrender, patience (especially with myself), balance and letting go? *** Do you ever have a day when it’s simply OK to let the kids stay in their pajamas until swimming lessons at 1:30 p.m.? When it’s simply OK to let their playtime extend beyond the allotted time, because…