So, we have established that we don’t want a “sweet and sassy” girl, but does anyone have any suggestions for better tween fashion options? My oldest daughter is 9, but quite tall, so she wears a size 10 or 12. For school she can wear khakis or jeans and a cute top, it’s still pretty easy to shop at Old Navy or Land’s End for her casual clothes, but she needs some outfits or dresses for mass and other dressier... Read more
Our school year routine is beginning this week, and it has made me realize that I am totally out of practice. It has been three years since we had a baby in this home school, and we had moved so far out of survival mode that we do not have the habits required to get through this very intense time with sanity intact. After a messy couple of days, here are some of the things that I will be working... Read more
Check out this video clip in which author Jason Evert discusses a Princeton study on the effect of a bikini-clad woman on the male brain. Read more
I don't want my daughter to become a salon girl, and you shouldn't want yours to either. Here's why. Read more
I’ll let you in on a little secret: I love to be organized. Like really, really love it. I think it has something to do with my inner control freak and my outer chaos, which results in the freak trying desperately to rein in control on the chaos whenever possible. If my environment is under control, then I can be more in control as a mother and homemaker. Same was true in college–I could not study for a test unless... Read more
A few months ago I signed up on the “Pray More Novenas” website to receive reminders to, well, pray novenas. The man who runs this website, John Paul, does a great job of reminding me of upcoming novenas, and then emailing the prayers to me on the nine days of the actual novena. This is so great for me, since I often begin a novena and then forget to pray some of the days! By having the reminders sent to... Read more
So many of us are at a crossroads these few weeks. Schedules and routines are shifting, children and parents are adjusting. Things do not always go smoothly. This short sermon from Audio Sancto is a beautiful reminder of what the point of all this is: holiness, sanctity and, ultimately, heaven. While the title is “Why Homeschool”, the content applies to any person, whatever their state in life. My favorite line: Peace in the home is not always possible, but peace in the heart... Read more
We’ve had a really nice summer, and I’m just not ready for it to come to an end. For starters, my big girl is finally getting to go to Pre-K, a day that she has been anticipating for a very long time. I know that she is ready, and thought that I was ready, but now I’m not so sure. Life will be so different without her around – our youngest will no longer have her favorite playmate around during... Read more
Our Littlest Princess arrived on Monday, wrapping up a historic Builder Boom. Seven “Builders” who blog here, and seven new babies, in eight months. Praise God! And we remain both heavy-hearted and blessed to have Katrina’s treasure, Anastasia Rose, as the sister and patron in heaven of all our little Boomers. Here’s our daughter, surrounded by welcome home gifts from her four siblings: Read more
I just read a headline saying, “Tips to Alleviate Separation Anxiety,” and truly thought (until I opened the article) that it was aimed at mothers struggling with sadness on their child’s first day of school. Of course, they were talking about the kids being sad. I’m going to be a mess on Monday morning! Read more
Building Cathedrals
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