John Paul is fourteen. Repeat 5 times. Don't hyperventilate. These are the things I whisper to myself these days. All you mamas of littles, it happens faster than you think. I always love that I get to kick off a new year with a birthday letter to John Paul. Here goes, y'all. Dear John Paul, Since when are you an eighth grader? With Will it seemed like it took so long and with you, BAM, we're here. I must admit, though, I'm loving it. You're still working on getting the sarcasm down (don't worry, it will come), but you really are wicked funny. You have this little head tip, eyebrow raise thing you do without smiling and then we all crack up. You can make anyone in the family … [Read more...]
The Little Things
A few days ago, the regular hum of our household was in full effect. Scott was bathing Gianna, the boys were upstairs arguing over who was going to take the first shower and the girls were giggling in their room. Me? I was washing dishes. I do it every night. And not a single kid bothers me because they know if they walk into the kitchen I'll put them to work. As I stood there, with my fancy pink gloves in the familiar bubbly hot water, I heard it. It has been so long. God's voice was as clear as a bell. I was reflecting on the beautiful simplicity of the moment - the life that was buzzing around me - and I told Him how grateful I was to be in this house, with these people, at … [Read more...]
2017 in Review
I hope I'm not the only sucker out there for "in review" posts at the end of the year. Just yesterday I went down the Instagram rabbit hole. I guess I just love hearing how folks have grown, what they've learned, mistakes they've made and what they hope to accomplish in the new year. Believe it or not, this post marks TEN YEARS of blogging - a whole decade! My very first blog post sure is a chuckle. So as not to disappoint, this is for your New Year's Eve reading pleasure (assuming of course you aren't living the high life at some swanky party, but rather in your pjs on the couch, drinking a beer and watching Ryan Seacrest). Here is a recap of the "best of" in blog posts, Pinterest pins, … [Read more...]
Still Fa-La-La-La-Laing
Advent started off so great - SO GREAT. I was the keynote speaker at a women's retreat in Dallas that first weekend. Even though strep had hit our house, hard, the day provided me an opportunity to speak, spend time in Adoration, go to confession and sit and chat with the loveliest of women. Boy, did my heart need all of that. I arrived home, riding the cloud, and we were stoked to participate in our parish mission with the ever-hilarious, ever-faithful, ever-awesome Fr. Leo. May I just say how much I *love* that our parish has an Advent mission speaker? The proceeds benefit our youth group, but I keep finding how much they're strengthening me and my faith. Will was even on Fr. … [Read more...]
Taking Advent Back
Advent. The most beautiful time of the year. And also, for me, the most stressful. Where Lent is a paring down, stripping away the extraneous and taking a hard look at being a better disciple of Christ, the secular celebration of Advent is about busyness and consumerism and gluttony. The spiritual Kathryn knows the beauty of this season. I know the richness of sharing the birth of Jesus with my children. I understand that it isn’t about the gifts or the stuff, but what’s born in our hearts. But, man, it is so hard to see past the catalogs, the coupons, the flash sales, the twinkling lights, the baked goods and the loudness of the season to see that one, bright-shining star … [Read more...]
