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An Unexpected First Communion and “Becoming” Greek Orthodox — Part 2
If you haven’t read Last weeks post to understand the background and the differences between the Greek Orthodox Mass and a Roman Catholic Mass, you might want to go back and check that out. In a nutshell, we found ourselves with no Roman Catholic masses available on the Island of Santorini, but a very active Greek Orthodox church. In this scenario, a Roman Catholic is allowed and encouraged to attend the Greek Orthodox services and even to receive communion — if the Greek Orthodox priest will allow it — as we share this Sacrament in common with the Greek Orthodox. The only catch is many Greek Orthodox will not allow…
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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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Why We Travel With Our Kids
Summer is here and the living is easy. It’s time to start thinking about your next family adventure. Yeehaw! Don’t get me wrong. There is most definitely a time and a place for couple getaways and weekends with friends — but what if you began to see your family as the best partners in any travel adventure? Please note that I didn’t say they are the best partners in a relaxing or spa-like getaway — no, no, no — anybody who has ever traveled with a bunch of kids knows you will likely come home exhausted and ready for another vacation. So get words like “relaxation” and “spa-like” out of…
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That Time We Went to Killarney (With Kids)
Happy last day of Summer! Does anybody else approach Fall with the bittersweet feeling of what is to come — a long, dark winter? As the days get shorter, I always find myself contending with what doctors refer to as Seasonal Affective Disorder, abbreviated SAD. Um guys, could you have possibly come up with a worse name?! So, not only do I experience a lack of energy, general melancholy and difficulty in focusing at this time of year — I now have to be reminded I’m SAD? Heck no! From now on I will refer to it as HAPPY, Having A Pity Party (about the weather) Yessiree. It’s all in…
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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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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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That Time We Went to Positano… (Part 1)
It’s a sludgy, gray day in the Midwest — can you tell winters aren’t my favorite? I thought rather than dwelling on the fact that I’m working hard to love all the seasons — and currently failing 🙁 — that it would be a good time to finally share about that time we went to Positano. Maybe you’re in the midst of equally horrid weather — or just plain sick of all the political posts in your news feed — if so, I hope this will be a cheerful break from reality! I know I always love looking at pictures of far off places and dreaming of being there. How about you? Actually, it’s the first…
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Washington, D.C. (With Kids)
Well, it’s been an intense week. Time to lighten things up a bit, shall we? I thought I’d offer you my tips on visiting D.C. with kids. Obviously, it’s a worthwhile place to visit — for so many reasons — but it is also a very child-friendly city, and we really enjoyed it. So don’t be afraid to bring everybody along for a crazy family road trip. Here’s a few tips and and tricks to make for a more memorable trip. ~1~ The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception I have said it before, but we have found making at least one spot on your journey a pilgrimage site tends…
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7 Quick Takes: One Night in Rome
Rome was hot, very hot. And I was often wearing a baby, so multiply that by 10. 🙁 So, needless to say, we were sweating all.day.long. But something really wonderful would happen each evening –there was a coolish breeze and the scorching sun went away –so an evening walk was a great way for us to end our time in Rome. Honestly, Rome by day is impressive — but by night — it’s kind of amazing! This is true for cities all over the world, but especially the cities of Italy. At night, families come out and spend their evenings in their favorite little piazzas. The old and the young, romantic couples…
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On Pilgrimage: Rome with Kids (Part 1)
I have been slowly making my way through our recent pilgrimage to Italy. Please forgive me if it takes until our next family trip to finish this series of posts, but life –just life. I’d love to write every day, but I’m still trying to find the balance between blogging and living. Since my return, we have slowly transitioned back into the ordinary rhythm of life. Usually I return from a family vacation feeling empty and exhausted — the shell of a person I once was. Don’t get me wrong — I love our family trips — but I usually need to hide away for a few weeks to recover from them. This…
