I understand prayer a lot differently now, I think, in part, because I understand God differently.
What We’re Teaching Our Children About Prayer
Meet Saint (Maker) Savaryn! (& Reflections on 2020, too)
Because of this, one of my biggest take home messages of the year has interestingly been an intense reaffirmation of how often the most worth-it things are not the easiest.
When Saying “Yes” Hurts
The first yes that Mary gave to the angel found its fulfillment in the silent and continued yes of watching her son suffer for the salvation of all.
The First Day I Chose to Go to Mass
There was something very different about the first time I decided I wanted to go to Mass, the first time I chose it for myself.
Five Fun Advent Traditions to Try This Year!
If you're looking to add something manageable and meaningful to your own Advent season, this might just be the place to start.
Leaning into the Saints as a Catholic Convert
For some reason, the Saints seemed so out of reach. It was tough to think that people existed who walked this earth let God fill them so much that there wasn't room for anything else. Meanwhile, I felt so far from that. I lose my patience so easily, and tend to seek my own comfort, and am prone to anxiety and worry about things I can't control. I feared that I'd read something by a Saint and be frightened off...of what, I don't exactly know. But I didn't trust that it would be helpful, at least not for a while.
Why Didn’t God Just Take Away the Tree?
I love having conversations with the kids about our Catholic faith. Their insights and questions astound me and amaze me time and time again, and it's such an honor and a privilege to engage with them. Recently, while doing a short follow-up at bedtime to our most recent faith formation lesson, in which our six-year-old … Continue reading Why Didn’t God Just Take Away the Tree?
How Being Catholic Informs My Life as a Writer (AKA: I Have A Book Coming Out… Really Soon!)
When I think about the kinds of stories I want to write for kids, it always comes back to that underlying pulse of hope.
When Waiting Hurts
Her lace and ribbon white dress is hanging in the closet next to her veil. It is waiting. The Eucharist rests in the tabernacle behind the altar of our beautiful church, St. Rahael the Archangel. It is waiting. I've never been a person who does well when things don't go as planned. I've gotten better … Continue reading When Waiting Hurts
Happy Easter from the Savaryns 2020!
Though this year has taken a turn that I don't think many would have expected, our goal this Holy Week was to create some special memories for the kids even though our plans had very much changed. Our house is loud, and the noises aren't always happy, but overall we're hanging in there and doing … Continue reading Happy Easter from the Savaryns 2020!
