Like any mother, I love to hear my family laugh.
Category: Everyday Faith
Trusting God’s plan is better than our own
The camping trip was going to be great. For months our family had been planning to go backpacking for a few days in the Porcupine Mountains.
Building bridges in a divided world
“Ow! You twisted my arm!” my son complained to his sister.
Learning to embrace our crosses
“Ohhh,” my teenage son groaned as he clambered like an old man into the car at the end of the school day. “I’m SO tired!”
Appreciating invisible grace of the Eucharist
Ever since our children were little, I’ve strived to explain to them the mystery of transubstantiation — the point at which, under the appearance of bread and wine, the substance of the Eucharist becomes the Body and Blood of Christ.
Cleaning out dressers of our hearts this Lent
One time long ago, I found my husband contentedly reading in bed, unknowingly wearing a paint-smattered art smock as a pajama top.
Humility before God should direct songs in our hearts
Freezing outdoor temperatures make for some interesting interactions between siblings who are stuck indoors together for long periods of time.
Preparing our hearts for Jesus
For children as well as adults, it’s these little acts of self-sacrifice, of striving toward virtue, that help prepare our hearts during Advent.
Turn your worries into prayers
When asked what I do best, my immediate answer is an unfortunate habit: Worry. One should pray instead of worry, but since worrying is my very special talent, I must admit that I’ve honed and perfected it for many years.
Regaining the clarity of childlike gratitude
When I was a young girl, my family frequented a farm produce stand down the road from my house. The produce there was beautiful, bright, and bursting forth throughout the summer and fall: Shiny red strawberries, sweet yellow corn, juicy orange muskmelons.