Good morning! I feel like God has been whispering something in my ear recently. I felt this confirmed on Sunday and then again last night as we sang the hymn, “Here I Am, Lord” at Mass. If you are not familiar with the song, the refrain says, “Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord? I have heard you calling in the night. I will … Continue reading Prayer of the Day: Here I Am, Lord
Have you ever noticed that there are rarely any articles written about parenting teens or adult children? It seems as if the internet and social media are almost silent on the subject. I will admit that I haven’t shared much in this arena either. It’s difficult to tackle many of the issues that our teens and young adult children face and yet we need advice, … Continue reading The Secret Life of Parenting Teens and Adult Children
It’s hard to believe that three years ago today I didn’t know if I or the baby I was carrying would live or die. I remember waking up and praying that God would be merciful and would spare us both. As we headed to the hospital and I kissed each of our other children goodbye, I prayed that whatever happened, God would also be merciful … Continue reading A Shared Day: The Ultimate Mother’s Day Gift
Here in the South honeysuckle is in bloom. I remember as a child picking them and sucking out the sweet nectar they had inside. My kids love to do the same and are so excited when the honeysuckle finally begins to arrive. The scent is heavy in the air and they pick as many as they can off the vines. Each time they are outside … Continue reading Honeysuckle for Sale
I remember the day like it was yesterday and yet it was 21 years ago. And while I wish I could forget, I suppose shame has a way of burning a memory deep into your soul so that you never forget it. I stood in the checkout line of the grocery store- a buggy full of food, my one year old on my hip, and … Continue reading The Scarlet Letter
It’s January 1, 2016 and you may have resolutions on your mind. It’s a new year and time to create a new you. Right?! You want to be better, do better, and have more in life. It’s time to change who you are! But I don’t plan to change a single thing about myself this year. I know, it sounds pretty cocky doesn’t it? It’s … Continue reading Why I’m Not Changing Anything in 2016
A few years ago I was going through some boxes I had packed up and stored in the closet. They were filled with things I didn’t know what to do with. As I opened the boxes and went through them, I was overwhelmed at all the Christmas cards I had saved. Pictures of friends and their children smiled up at me. I read through old … Continue reading Spreading Christmas Blessings and Graces All Year Long
It’s the middle of the night, about 4 am, and a little one cries out. I roll myself to the edge of my bed and slide out. It’s hard to walk because I am so tired. As I make my way across the hallway to go see why Leo is crying, I try my hardest to avoid stepping on the toys that have somehow made … Continue reading The Late Night Adventures of a Tired Pirate Mama
It has been 5 agonizing years since we lost William. There isn’t a day that goes by where my heart doesn’t long for him. I often feel guilty that out of the 14 children I have lost, he remains constant on my mind. I suppose it was the manner in which I lost him that makes it so hard to heal. It’s not that I … Continue reading The Pieces of My Heart
Our lives are crazy. I am the first to admit that most people would run away screaming if they switched places with me for a day. But to me, this is paradise. Even when I am about to pull out my hair, have yelled more than a few choice words at the kids (and then felt horribly for doing so), and have a countdown to … Continue reading Quick Take 7: A Week with the Tribe
tales from the side of the tub 