This week, we had the second anniversary of the day we lost my aunt to suicide. It was something I had been dreading... the lead up to that date is always tough, and then figuring out how to navigate the day itself and the days surrounding it hasn't been easy. We have a few anniversaries... … Continue reading Not Watching the Clock
Lent is always an appropriate time to reflect on suffering, and over the past 12 months, This Catholic Family has had some rough times. I've shared a few times about the loss of my aunt to suicide in February 2018. The grief from that, and the slow path toward healing, has been a part of … Continue reading Emerging From the Fog
Breathing Hope So much of my life is framed by hope. I hope the kids will sleep well, I hope the weather will be nice, I hope I'll have time to drink my coffee. Hope, hope, hope. Little things like that. And big things, too. I hope I'll be a published author some day. I … Continue reading The Inescapable Beauty of Hope
Well, we've made it to Illinois! Though the move wasn't too far, mileage speaking, it was far enough that we are having to reset many aspects of our life. In the next few weeks, we will be finding new doctors, dentists, playgrounds... pretty much everything. We keep checking things off the list, but new things … Continue reading Donuts After Mass and Other Hopeful Things
The Swells and Crests of Life We had a period of time this fall into early winter where things were relatively calm. I remember thinking to myself during that time, Remember to appreciate this. Be thankful for this. Because I've been around at least long enough to know that life comes in seasons, in swells and … Continue reading Strong But Not Superhuman
It's been a bit quiet over here on the blog for the past few weeks. A great sadness entered into my family's life on February 4th, and it's taken me a while to figure out exactly what I wanted to say. It didn't seem right to write about anything else besides this, and I felt … Continue reading Walking Through Lent During A Time of Loss
The Prayers of a Child My kids, well the ones old enough to talk, talk to God like he's a friend. They just tell him what they hope for in their own lives, and who they want to intercede for. Felicity for the longest time prayed for her preschool teacher who had a bothersome tooth. … Continue reading The Prayers of My Children
Just when ya think you're in pretty good shape... something comes along and reveals the sin in your own life very clearly. JP made a mistake this week. A very honest mistake. It ended up costing us $100. Which isn't the most money in the world. But, it was enough to provoke a reaction in … Continue reading Laying Down My Rights
One of the biggest things I've learned through my own journeys through postpartum depression and anxiety is how good we humans can be at looking like we are okay. That's partly why if I know you, and you have had a baby recently, there's a good chance I will do my best to check in … Continue reading The Invisible Struggle: My Journey Through Postpartum Depression and Anxiety, Then and Now
