Traveling
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7 Quick Takes: San Sebastián With Kids
It has been another crazy week. There has been a lot of controversy on my Facebook feed as of late, and I even went so far as to write an entire post in response to what I have been reading. Then I just wasn’t sure if it was the right tone, so I decided to throw it into my drafts folder and pull it out when I’ve had more time to think about it. Any who, I’ve decided to keep it light this week and post something very non-controversial. It just seems like the perfect time for it. How about 7 Quick Takes on San Sebastián with kids? Before I…
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On Pilgrimage: One Day in Fatima
Why go to all the time, effort and money to go on pilgrimage? Certainly that money could be given to the poor or spent on the many practical needs of every family — so how can a person justify the time and money spent on such a trip? Fortunately for John and I, traveling with our six kids has helped to purify our motives a bit. Let’s be honest, traveling with 6 kids for two weeks can be akin to traveling in the dessert for 40 years with the Israelites — complaining, moaning, hunger, thirst, wondering if the agony will ever end — and did I mention complaining? So, yeah,…
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Fatima & Getting Schooled by My Kids
It’s been one of those weeks. I’m just holding on by a thread, but I just can’t let this day go by without commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the last apparition at Fatima. Do you ever wonder why Mary chose 3 simple children to carry her important message to the world. They were just simple shepherds — and yet, they were entrusted with a message that was vitally important for the entire world. It was a message that was also incredibly frightening — they actually witnessed Hell — and yet, she still chose children to carry that message. Why is that? Jesus’ own words seem to affirm her choice,…
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Beach Struggles, Hugh Hefner, and Teaching Our Kids to Navigate a Sex-Saturated World
This past week, Hugh Hefner, founder of the Playboy enterprise, died. May God have mercy on his soul and on all the souls who have been hurt by his legacy. Though I don’t dare suggest I know Hugh Hefner’s motives, I found it surprising that some people have tried to raise this man up as a sort of hero. Are you kidding me? Please somebody tell me any good that has come from Hugh Hefner and the pornography industry? Porn isn’t about helping people — it’s about enslaving people for selfish gain. Men, women, and children are being bought and sold as commodities to feed the insatiable thirst it creates…
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San Sebastian: Walking the Camino and Fighting Resistance
Somebody please explain to me why anybody would be tempted to skip a beatiful hike through the the Spanish mountains, surrounded by views like these: For me, it came down to resistance. Resistance: it’s become a popular term among Catholics, but it’s roots reach all the way back to the earliest days of Christianity. Perhaps St. Paul put it best, “I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” (Rom 7:15) I often face resistance in my own life: resisting evil, yes — but even more so, I resist doing the good. Maybe it’s because I…
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San Sebastián: Facing our Fears, Weddings, and Finding Hope Again
It’s hard to describe that feeling after making it onto the train. As we stumbled into our seats and the train pulled away from the Barcelona Sants Station, John and I both looked at each other and breathed a sigh of relief. It felt like we had dodged a bullet — and in some way, maybe we had. Within a few hours of our departure, Barcelona experienced a terrible terrorist attack. Thank goodness we had run our tails off to make that train! As we looked at our baby laughing with our oldest son — with Barcelona fading into the distance — we could only feel grateful. Grateful for everything we didn’t…
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Barcelona: Gaudi, Works in Progress and the Sacrada Familia
“A church is the only thing worthy of representing the soul of a people, for religion is the most elevated reality in man”. ~Antoni Gaudi~ Gaudi is arguably one of the most famous architects of modern times. No doubt, his greatest work of architecture is the Sacrada Familia. It is one of the most thought-provoking, awe-inspiring churches I have ever visited. If you ever find yourself in Barcelona, it is a must-see for the Catholic and non-Catholic alike. Gaudi was not the original architect, but he quickly became chief architect and visionary for this ambitious project. No doubt, Gaudi was the man for the job. He was highly sought…
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Barcelona: Gaudi, Failure, and Being the Light
My last post was not a very pleasant picture of Barcelona. Stolen wallets, the darkness we felt, and a close call with terrorists isn’t likely to be linked to by the Barcelona tourism board any time soon. 🙁 So it might surprise you that if asked whether or not I would recommend a visit to Barcelona, I would most definitely say it is a worthwhile place to visit. Honestly, the darker moments were really good moments for all of us. They left us with the conviction that we must try our best to be the light in the world. And let’s be honest — often our best is pretty darn…
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Barcelona: Stolen Wallets, Terrorist Attacks, and Making Sense of It All
We recently returned home from a family pilgrimage to Spain, Portugal and Fatima. Gotta say, it did not disappoint. It was an amazing journey from beginning to end. So let’s begin at the beginning: Barcelona. Our time in Barcelona began with us deciding to travel as pilgrims do: hoofing it with all of our bags, taking public transportation, and making our way to our hotel off of Las Ramblas. There we were, jet-lagged beyond belief, trying our best to make sure we didn’t lose a child or a bag, navigating the very busy metro system of Barcelona. It was going pretty well — until we found ourselves literally split into…
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7 Things that Make Family Travel Easier
I know that school is beginning soon enough for most of us, but as I’m preparing for a family pilgrimage to Spain and Fatima, I thought I’d share some of those things that have made traveling with the whole family far more manageable — dare I say, even enjoyable? To be honest, I love the adventure of traveling with my kids — but it’s not easy. A few years back, we made a little shift in our mindset about traveling and it has made all the difference for us. It’s hard to believe, but just recognizing that family trips aren’t easy or relaxing has helped tremendously. Honestly, if you keep…
