Minnesota Mom

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by Filed Under: Hearth & Home, Minnesota Me, Motherhood, Spiritual Growth 4 Comments

Part IThank you for all the feedback in my Puppies by Paula post. Wow. I wish I could say that it’s helped me to reach a decision, (my husband’s been in favor of getting a dog all along), but it hasn’t.This is a big decision—a huge decision—and it is up to me to make it.No pressure there or anything.Getting a dog is not like, say, getting a board … [Read more...]

Ten Years Ago Today: Part II

by Filed Under: Gratitude, Minnesota Me, Special Events, Spiritual Growth 4 Comments

Ten years ago today I was lamenting the fact that I’d worn a dress that buttons down the back to my 9-day-old baby’s baptism.What kind of crazy, nursing momma wears a dress that buttons down the back? To a formal event? Followed by a reception at your mother-in-law’s?!A clueless nursing newbie, that’s who.Oh honey, you have taught me so much about … [Read more...]

Happy Feast of the Assumption!

by Filed Under: Living Liturgically, Minnesota Me, Special Events, Spiritual Growth 4 Comments

“The ark which God has sanctified,Which He has filled with grace,Within the temple of the LordHas found a resting-place.”The Assumption of Mary is one of those feasts that the world would gladly diminish. We know better though, don’t we?Still, I also know that I myself see so dimly the eternal truths of this proclamation.Oh, to be holy, as Mary was … [Read more...]

The Grace of Losing It: Part II

by Filed Under: Minnesota Me, Motherhood, Spiritual Growth 12 Comments

“Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me.You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” (Mt. 16:23) Week Two of Swim Camp and things are going well. My four older swimmers are progressing and my two-year-old tag-along is behaving.Which is to say, she’s still a handful. But she hasn’t, like, thrown herself into the pool in … [Read more...]

Famous Last Words

by Filed Under: Living Liturgically, Minnesota Me, Spiritual Growth 12 Comments

Today is the feast of that much-loved martyr, St. Lawrence.So! If you’re planning to fire up the grill this evening for a nice little piece of salmon or something, consider sharing with the kids the words of our dear deacon, who, on his death “bed”, (aka the gridiron), said to his executioner:I’m finished on this side. You can turn me now.I should … [Read more...]

A Shout-Out for St. Ignatius

by Filed Under: Living Liturgically, Minnesota Me, Spiritual Growth 5 Comments

"God's will is what happens."anonymousThis is Margaret in Minnesota coming to you live from my sister's farm in North Dakota, where the kiddie pool is refreshing and cool; where the cows are gently lowing (There are, like, dozens of them. They're very cute.); and where the computer's located temptingly right off the kitchen.You know me. I caved. … [Read more...]

The Sweetness of a Distant Shore

by Filed Under: Blogging, Minnesota Me, Special Events, Spiritual Growth 14 Comments

Turning 40 was, in my mind, the perfect opportunity to hit my husband up for a dream vacation: Hawaii. This former North Dakotan grew up land-locked; I had never been anywhere tropical before; I had always, always longed to.My husband considered my proposition. “Will I have to throw you a surprise party, too?”I pretended to consider. “Um….no?”“It’s … [Read more...]