We’ve been hearing from so many people that they prefer to add something for Lent, that “giving something up” “misses the point.” The truth is, I think that it is easy to miss the point whether you add or subtract during Lent, because the point is to be INTENTIONAL in a SPIRIT OF SACRIFICE. As we proceed through Lent, checking our intention can help to make sure that whatever we do is truly meaningful. Here are my reflections on a... Read more
Good morning, friends! Recently, our school newsletter had a great column about how we can build the quality of “Grit” in our children, which is another way of saying “persistence” or “perseverance.” The column included a link to a Ted Talk by Angela Lee Duckworth, which I found to be excellent. It is only 6 minutes long and well worth your while. I have included some of my favorite quotes below: …what if doing well in school, and in life,... Read more
My sweet baby turned the big “1” on February 23. *Gasp!* A few days ago I was sitting on the floor in her room watching her dart — yes, practically dart — from toy to toy, giggling, bobbing to music, waving at the dogs, and looking up to me for approval. I smile back always at times like this. She is so full of life and I love it! While in one sense it is so hard to believe that... Read more
From our BC archives, here is a piece I wrote in 2010: “As Fat Tuesday drew to a close this year, I could not deny the overwhelming sense of gloom I felt. The next day was Ash Wednesday and with it meant forty long days of suffering. Really long ones. It hasn’t been easy living through Ash Wednesdays and Lenten seasons of the past. During my first as a mother, my child was 4 days old and a month premature. We... Read more
As I have spent many hours the last few days rocking a feverish 2 year old, I realized how easy it is for everything to come to a grinding halt when your little one really needs you. There is nothing I would rather do than put my cool cheek against his warm one as I rock and sing quietly to him. Instead of doing playdough, unloading drawers, or climbing bookshelves, he wants me to hold him and to be quiet... Read more
Dear ones, Lent is upon us. It is time to set aside the Ordinary Time of winter and embrace the beauty and simplicity of the Lenten season. Did she really just refer to Lent as beautiful?? I did. Naturally, I will have plenty of groan-worthy moments during Lent. We all will. Lent is beautiful, but not because of it’s glitz and glamour; not because of an ease with which we perfectly perform. Lent is beautiful because it is an opportunity... Read more
A few weeks ago, I was trying to explain to my son that I try to give all of my children what they need, even though they don’t get everything the same, so what I view as “fair” might not look fair to them. There are even times when things are totally “unfair” because I need other kids to sacrifice in order to provide a special situation for one child at one time, but that it will all even out... Read more
Yesterday, we celebrated the 4th birthday of a very excited little girl. She couldn’t wait to try on her new party dresses, and even wore one of them to nursery school this morning. Honestly, I think that our youngest is just excited that she is closer to being one of the “big kids,” although I’m not sure that the rest of us are quite ready for that yet! Our big decision for now is whether to send her to Pre-K... Read more
Our two year old has a new tactic to prolong dinner time. It is particularly effective. He’ll pick up a roll or a large bite of food in both of his hands, whisper a few words over it, and then slowly raise it over his head. Remind you of anything? Perhaps a particular moment at Mass? Once the bite/bread roll returns to his plate, I ask our son, “are you going to take a bite, Buddy?” “No, no, Mommy,” he’ll... Read more
Any guesses on what it is depicting?? Read more
Building Cathedrals
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