Favorites
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Chickens and Kids (2020 Revamp)
Once upon a time, I decided I really, really wanted chickens. I spent countless hours perusing Pinterest to find out everything I needed to know about chickens. Then I spent countless more hours convincing my husband that chickens were an amazing idea and we could weekend warrior a coop–no problem. Finally, I had him convinced, and the weekend warriors became embattled, broken down, over-worked, embittered serfs, subject to the chicken empire we had established. And on a dark night, just when my husband had lost the will to live, the coop was finally finished! How peaceful it was to watch them scratch and peck, lay beautiful eggs, and come…
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Apparently, My Catholic Blog Was Banned From Facebook and Instagram
Hey guys, as some of you may know, the powers that be banned my Catholic blog from Facebook and Instagram. As you also may know, almost all of my activity was banned from Instagram unless I removed the link to this blog. So the other day, I had to ask myself, do I dig in and continue to fight — or do I give up? And believe me, I’m a fighter by nature. Just ask my inner circle — they could tell you some stories — and Joan of Arc is my patron Saint for Heaven’s sake. Do I think it’s unfair that I was given no explanation for why…
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When Beauty Broke Through
“Beauty will save the world” Fyodor Dostoevsky This is a story that didn’t begin so well. It begins with a family of 8 on a bus, weaving around narrow highways to reach the top of a mountain. Don’t get me wrong. The views were fantastic, and it was the only way to get to the top of this mountain without paying an arm and a leg for a 5 minute cable car ride. But I happened to be in the front of the bus with the little guy and the rest of my family was in back — growing ever more nauseous as the bus twisted and turned around the…
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True Devotion to Mary A.K.A. Mary’s Got Your Back
We are back from our family adventures in Croatia. It was an amazing trip! Let’s just say I am left with an overwhelming sense of gratitude for our time there and the graces received. If I were to sum up the spiritual theme of the trip, it would be “True Devotion to Mary”. I returned with a strong sense that Mary really is our Mother and, like any good mother, she adores us and wants to better equip us to fight the battles of our life and overcome our enemies. And I know that some people reading this will feel a repugnance at that idea — because maybe it seems…
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Some of Your Favorites
Hey guys, can you believe that I’ve been blogging for 3 years now?! Hard to believe! So this week’s post is a look back at some of your favorites: the ones that have been shared the most, read the most and (hopefully) enjoyed the most. Thank you for being a part of this little corner of the internet! You have no idea how much you have helped to keep me going when I begin to question whether or not I should keep doing this crazy thing called a blog. So a great big “Thank you!” to all of you who read and share and comment. It means a lot to…
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Is Abortion Really About Freedom for Women?
I am going to be honest. I didn’t want to write this post. Nope. I wanted to write a nice post about capsule wardrobes or decluttering your home. But then I got writers block and as I sat staring at a blank screen, I spontaneously said, “Lord what do you want me to write about?” (Warning: don’t ever do this if you just want to write a puff piece and call it a day.) And then it just popped into my mind, “Abortion is the new slavery”. “Um, no. I won’t be writing about abortion. That’s sooo controversial and not pleasant at all”. But darn it, then I went off…
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Love Your Enemies: The Forgiveness Dare
This Lent, I decided to do something different. I decided it was time to start working on loving my enemies: both past and present. I was inspired by the words of Cardinal Robert Sarah in his book The Power of Silence: “The devil invites mankind to rebellion and disorder…he sows discord and incites us to pour out our hatred upon each other…(but God) teaches us to pray for our enemies. He constantly murmurs, ‘The disciples of my beloved Son have no enemies. Your heart must not have enemies either.'” Cardinal Sarah The words, “Your heart must not have enemies either” were especially challenging to me. The dialogue began, “Really, Lord, no enemies?” What about (fill-in-the blank?) surely you weren’t talking about that guy? Surely he deserves my hatred. And don’t get me…
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Showing Our Kids The Place Their Story Began in Glendalough
“Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one. Lock it up, safe in the coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.” ~C. S. Lewis~ Some would say it is a stroke of sheer madness to settle down and marry just one person — just one — when there are so many people in this vast world of ours. I like to think that John and I are a little bit mad. We were crazy enough, 19 years…
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Hiking the Cliffs of Moher… a.k.a That Time We Almost Died (Twice)
If we knew then, what we know now, we likely wouldn’t have made the hike up to the Cliffs of Moher. Don’t get me wrong, it was breathtakingly beautiful and invigorating and every step made you appreciate the grandeur of God’s creation. I mean, look at these views! Granted, there was a wee bit of danger involved — eventually the only thing separating you and your kids from a 700 foot drop to the ocean was good sense and a little bit of skill. Truth be told, we did almost die once on the hike — though some on our adventure claimed it was twice — so reservations when undertaking…
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The Day Mary Inspired Me with the Perfect Prayer
How’s your May going? Ours has been full of birthdays and family visits and lovely weather and it’s been quite enjoyable. Sometimes I find myself just surviving May — like I almost die in the middle of it — but this May has been a little less hectic. I think it has something to do with having another driver in the home. So yay for teen drivers! This post is scheduled to publish on my oldest son’s birthday. I have to say, he is turning out to be a wonderful young man, and I can’t help but think that it has something to do with the way he entered into this world. Bear…
