I’m only 16 weeks pregnant, but for the past few weeks I’ve been experiencing some major lower back pain. I am prone to experiencing back labor, but I’m not sure if there is any connection or if this is a separate issue. I also realize that this is my fourth pregnancy in six years – not unique among the ladies who read this blog, I know 🙂 – so perhaps my body is giving out on me a bit? In... Read more

Courtesy of Tex’s sweet boys, my Maria is now making this lovely noise whenever she wishes to greet someone enthusiastically. Most people think it is endearing, but some have wondered if Maria is trying to spit on them 🙂 Read more

MaryAlice’s last post is both full of wisdom and a very practical blueprint for aiding our marriages. I wanted to expand a bit on #1 When you want or need something from him, ask for specific things using nice language, because I think many women don’t ask for things they want or need out of fear that in doing so, they will not be “submitting” to their husband, or out of fear that they will appear pushy and demanding. Instead... Read more

In the comments of a recent post, we were discussing what “being submissive to your husband” might mean in practical terms, and especially how to live this teaching when it feels like your husband is not the “head of the family” that you might like him to be. The thought was this — what if my husband is not a bad guy, but just sort of “ok”? It might be easier to be submissive if I felt like he was... Read more

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building others up…” Ephesians 4:29 Isn’t it great to be backed by The Almighty as we battle whining, backtalk, sibling arguments, etc.? This verse was just posted in our kitchen and will be referenced daily, if not hourly! Read more

Now that I am (finally) through the first-trimester yuckiness that so many of us face – yes, I am pregnant (15 weeks) and we are very happy! – I feel that it is my duty to share a wonderful revelation that I had about 6 weeks ago. Truly, I should have figured this out about three babies ago, but perhaps by sharing I can help some of our readers who are still trudging through those difficult first few months of... Read more

This summer, I have had a bounty of healthy green tomatoes which have rotted on the vine while turning red. This may be a blight, too much rain, or the fact that the fruit are low to the ground and not well staked. There are still about 20 green tomatoes left in my garden. Does anyone know if I would be better off just picking them now, while they are green? Will they ripen on the windowsill? Do you have... Read more

Once every year, my husband leaves for a week-long theology course and week of fellowship with other great Catholic men. That one week a year, and only that week, I am guaranteed some exciting new pest or rodent infestation. Two courses ago the mice moved in and set up shop for a year and a half. This year it’s yellow jackets swarming my kitchen. Since yesterday evening, the bee body count has reached approximately 30. My husband’s leather sandal is... Read more