For many years now during Lent our parish has had a program to help the congregation grow in faith and in communion. Separating into individual groups those participating in the “small Lenten faith groups” then studied the same book or bible study as the other small groups. It has been a way to foster faith and community within our church throughout the 40 days of … Continue reading A Lenten Journey to Rediscover Jesus
As Lent approaches I thought it would be nice to share a craft that my children and I did last year. Because we have little ones, making it to the Stations of the Cross on Fridays is difficult. This craft allows us to meditate on the path that Christ walked during His Passion and reminds us of why this season is so reverent and penitential. … Continue reading A Lenten Craft: The Stations of the Cross for the Home
A warning for my more delicate readers: this post talks about my experience, both the good and the bad, culling our rooster on my own. While it is not too graphic, if you are squeamish you may want to pass on reading. Two years ago when we first got our chickens I knew that the day would come when we may have to cull one. … Continue reading The Day I Culled the Rooster
Several months ago a thought began to take hold in my mind. It weighed heavily on me. While I understood the general context of what God was asking me to do, I couldn’t for the life of me figure out how He wanted me to implement the plan. However, as I took part in our local Stand for Life with fellow pro-life advocates, holding a … Continue reading Mission to Inspire
Why do I stand for life? I stand for life in thanksgiving to Mike’s mother who chose life for him instead of abortion and then selflessly gave him a new life through adoption. I stand for life for my children, especially for Leo who I was told I should abort. They bring so many people joy and hope. I stand for life for my children … Continue reading Take a Stand for Life
Once upon a time when I only had four kids, a woman from church came over to drop something off. She asked to use our bathroom. When she came out she questioned me on whether or not my bathroom was always that clean and “perfect”. I told her it was. She laughed and said it was ok to tell her that I had cleaned it … Continue reading Letting Go of Perfectionism
Last spring my 6 year old broke her leg. She fell off the top bunk and her leg caught in the ladder. She broke both bones in her lower leg. She was in a cast up to her thigh for part of her recovery. Because of the cast she couldn’t sit in her regular seat in the van. Instead, she sat on the front … Continue reading Change Your Perspective by Changing Your Seat
There are many days over the course of our lives that we can look back on and say that they were turning points for us. For me one of those days happened 6 years ago. That day changed me profoundly. I questioned my faith; I questioned the goodness of people; I began to guard my heart and not be so open with people, to trust … Continue reading To Know Grief is to Know Love
What comes to your mind when someone asks you to define “great”? If we look at the definition of greatness we see that it is defined as “exceptionally high quality; the quality or state of being large in size; the quality of being great, distinguished, or eminent.” Greatness, therefore, has to do with power, size, and quality. To be great means to be the best, … Continue reading To Make America Great Again
Good morning! I wanted to share with you something that happened here yesterday. In a fit of anger over something I have been upset about many, many times at my house I exploded and said something to one of my children that I really didn’t mean. I immediately felt terrible and I could see that I hurt her by my words. I knew that what … Continue reading Prayer of the Day: To Ask for Forgiveness
tales from the side of the tub 