A few weeks ago I was having lunch with a dear friend. We were talking about summer and she shared that she had created a daily schedule. "This is brilliant!", I thought and lamented that I wasn't more organized. I asked her if she would be open to sharing it with me...
*Riley has given me permission to share part of his testimony.* Sometimes the most beautiful stories begin at the end. I sat in a church service in Montana last Sunday. Just a few minutes earlier, I had surprised Riley in person to tell him that he had graduated from...
Our creative, sweet, spunky, empathetic Mary Alice turned 10 in April. In true Mary Alice style, she chose a birthday party at a park and wanted everyone invited. Yes, the entire 4th grade class. We had cupcakes and water and played two loud and glorious hours at one...
My dearest Sebastian, you turned eight in March. What a huge year for you! As a 2nd grader you received your First Communion and you won your first pinewood derby for your age group. John Paul and dad helped you build and design the car and we all cheered with happy...
My phone lit up with a soft glow-messages arriving one after another. “Habemus Papam!” We have a new pope. I paused, letting the moment settle in. Right now, the world is watching the Catholic Church. Even friends who have never invited Christ into their homes are...
An easy, Easter trifle - Let your kiddos present Easter dessert this year! The cutest, easiest trifle you ever did see! Years ago, when we lived in Scottsdale, we made an Easter trifle for dessert. I had seen the chocolate carrots at World Market and thought this...
In October of 2024, Brian, Riley, and I took in the sights of Montana. I had never been there before and now I will tell everyone and anyone that they should visit. It is one of the most beautiful, expansive, friendly places I've ever been. . Fall had just begun...
I can be really good about racing ahead into the next thing. I like to get all the boxes checked and watch items fall off my to-do list. But as I get older, I realize when I do that, I miss the good stuff. I miss seeing all of the times He showed up in ways I didn't...
I signed up to make cookies for the PTA teacher cookie exchange. I was feeling festive and joyful, and in a moment of holiday delusion, I said 'yes' to adding another thing to the final week of Advent and the weekend of Sebastian's first communion. Alas, myself...
Join me as I talk with Rob Kaczmark, CEO at Spirit Juice Studios, about Saint Joseph! Rob had so many mic drop moments during this interview. I know you will feel encouraged and inspired! About Rob Kaczmark: As the co-founder and CEO of Spirit Juice Studios, an...
At the beginning of the year, I quietly told God that I would really like to be published this year. Of course I had a book I've been working on in mind - about our dear Saint Dymphna. In March, on my birthday, I was assigned an editor at a major publisher and we...
Brian and I celebrated 25 years of marriage this summer. Have you ever approached a special date and you just weren't sure how to really celebrate it? Do you plan a weekend just for you? Do you invite your community to celebrate with you? Do you celebrate with family?...
Sometimes, I like to wander. Most of the time, I prefer to drag someone along with me, with a convincing soliloquy about how much they will adore, said wandering. Ever so often, my desire to see the beauty outweighs my fear of being alone with my own thoughts. I feel...
Ever so often I read an article about the state of the world - doomsday, fear, and basic complete destruction with a side of hopelessness. I'm here to share a little light and a lot of cuteness. Every year, our church holds an All Saints Day Trunk or Treat. Sebastian...
Mary Alice loves to hear stories about "when she was little" at bedtime. So, here we go again - my best efforts at writing down memories for these amazing children. We have amazing neighbors that live across the cul-de-sac from us. Mandy is also a photographer, so...
Have you ever let go of something, maybe a beautiful dream, because the Lord prompted you to? Then, after you let go, you found reasons and ways that you could still do it with your own strength, so you snatched it back up and told yourself that the timing was right...
In my never ending love for garden analogies, I see the little tiny roots taking shape - finding water and hope in ways we don't see. Thursday was a good day. An unusually good day. I think it was Katie McGrady who said earlier that her "Lent was very Lent-y" this...
Choosing my word of the year this year proved harder than in years past. Do your words come easily? Do you know before the calendar even turns to January? I don't. I'm usually well into the first month before I truly have peace about letting Him choose my word of the...
Tonight we attended Mass at the church in Lake Jackson, where the Lord showed me my word of the year for 2022. The scaffolding is gone and the antennae tower stands tall outside of the window. I smiled when I realized what I was looking for outside of the window. It...
It was almost a year ago, now. She hid the dress in her closet so everyone would be surprised. The year before, Brian had hurt his knee (we found out it was actually broken), but he took her to the dance with crutches and a smile. This year, she was ready to dance the...
“We were together. I forget the rest.” ― Walt Whitman Did I tell you that I want to New York?! Julia lived there last year as she served as a Seton Teaching Fellow, so Mary Alice and I took a girl's trip! We filled the weekend with wandering and amazing food - you...