Minnesota Mom

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Asleep on the Job

by Filed Under: Honest Blogging, Lent, Letting Go, Minnesota Me, Spiritual Growth, Unemployment 48 Comments

Just checking in to…check in, I guess.In other words, this is not the post I should be writing but the post that I should be writing is taking longer than I’d like.Oh, for heaven’s sake. Enough of this procrastination.Have you ever taken, as your Lenten penance, the desire to embrace whatever God sends? In other words, you don’t choose something … [Read more...]

Letting Him In

by Filed Under: Lent, Minnesota Me, Spiritual Growth Leave a Comment

Hello! I’m back again because I’m aching to chat.I’m back again, not for me but for Him.(At least, I hope so.)How is your Lent going? How has your Lent gone? Mine has been filled with hills and valleys—hills that were verdant, green and fresh, and valleys that were dusty, dry and cold. I’ve tried to embrace both—in my extremely imperfect way—and … [Read more...]

Midpoint

by Filed Under: Lent, Letting Go, Minnesota Me, Spiritual Growth 28 Comments

The Laetare Sunday EditionMy Lent has been wonderfully fruitful so far. I am growing spiritually by leaps and bounds.April Fool’s!I wish I could say that it’s been easy. I wish I could say that I feel strong.When I decided to set my blog aside for Lent, I meant just that—my blog. Unfortunately my 11-year-old son (surely the most literal of human … [Read more...]

Mind the Gap

by Filed Under: Blogging, Lent, Minnesota Me Leave a Comment

We interrupt this blog break with the following: The blogger formerly known as a person who blogs will be taking a break from her blog break tomorrow.And how many times can a person use the word “blog” (or its derivative) in a single sentence?Gosh. You’d think she actually missed it.See you tomorrow. … [Read more...]

T.G.I.S.

by Filed Under: Just Me, Lent, Minnesota Me, Reviews 6 Comments

This past week found me in the possession of:A uncooperative, unrepentant computer that went on the blink not once but twice;An extremely demanding toddler who was (by all accounts, just ask his siblings) never not nursing; andA persistent God Who, on more than one occasion throughout the time leading up to Ash Wednesday, said "Yes, Margaret, you … [Read more...]

Macro

by Filed Under: Family Fun, Gratitude, Lent, Minnesota Me Leave a Comment

We just returned from a trip up north, where we got to see my extended family and where I tried to look at life more “up close” than usual.It was really, really fun. It was also the perfect prelude to Holy Week, which is a very good time to reexamine our life, our loves, and our daily choices.Post to follow? I hope so. Until then, have a blessed … [Read more...]

A Lenten Reflection

by Filed Under: Lent, Minnesota Me, Spiritual Growth Leave a Comment

In Three PartsRead Part I here.Read Part II here.~ Part the Third ~ I’d worked my way across the store and the woman’s temper had not improved. When I saw her at the end of Aisle 9 (baby food & kids’ toys) I knew I had to say something—anything—to try to defuse her anger. The little girl was shrieking now; she had been hanging out the side of … [Read more...]

A Lenten Reflection

by Filed Under: Lent, Minnesota Me, Spiritual Growth Leave a Comment

In Three PartsRead Part I here.~ Part the Second ~ One of my Lenten resolutions—the main one, actually—is to live in the moment and respond with love to the people and events that God sends me.This is much harder than it seems.As you well know.Usually this goal is put into practice among my family—i.e., the seven other people with whom I share a … [Read more...]

Ambassadors for Christ

by Filed Under: Lent, Living Liturgically, Minnesota Me, Moments of Incredible Joy 13 Comments

Seeing those pink rose-colored vestments at Mass this weekend did my heart and spirits no end of good. I cried, this time for joy.We are halfway there!If this isn’t a rose-colored vestment smile then I don’t know what is.As hard as the past four weeks have been—and I’ll tell you, it seems as if we Minnesotans have not had sun for all that time—they … [Read more...]