Six of my six at-home kids are sick, falling like flies to the stomach flu. Poor sweeties. As I was setting out their Valentine's treats this morning, 16-year-old Cate smiled weakly. "Thank you for the puke ammo!" I laughed. This post will be heavier on photos than on words, I think, mainly because I've been taking pictures daily but … [Read more...]
My Mom, my Sisters, and the Brothers Karamazov
A Reflection on Death and Dying I'm just going to cut to the chase here: I finally finished The Brothers Karamazov! In record time, only four short months! Okay, I'll stop gloating now. My husband asked me how it went. "Did you enjoy it or did you basically just slog your way through it?" "Both," was my answer. "I loved it and … [Read more...]
Habits, Hope and Classroom Help: Part II
Or: How to Choose When You Feel Buried Prologue: I had the best of intentions for this 3-part series, as in, posting more frequently than every three weeks! Hopefully you'll forgive me after reading this post, and understand that while I really love to blog, sometimes I must choose other things. Because... "How to Choose" is a big theme … [Read more...]
On Finding and Facing the Lies in our Life
In other words: This isn't the post I was planning to write. I have all sorts of resources that I want to share, most of which I discussed in yesterday's post, but then YESTERDAY unfolded and my focus shifted. I didn't expect the day to wear me out as it did, and I certainly didn't expect to nearly hit a woman and her children with our … [Read more...]
A Polish Ode to My Friend Tina
Reflections of an Overthinker on Love, Hope & World Youth Day in Krakow... ...with Just a Touch of Envy to Keep Things Real “Do not wish to be anything but what you are, and try to be that perfectly.” ― St. Francis de Sales First off, I blame this post on my son and St. Martha. This is why. We were driving along on … [Read more...]
My #StreamTeam Review for the Month of June
Alternately Titled: How to Survive in Trying Times Yes, I'm a month behind (AGAIN) in posting my Netflix #StreamTeam review. Why? Because I have a love/hate relationship with my Netflix app and I'm either all-in or avoiding movies, depending on the day...my mood...and recent acts of senseless violence. In other words, I overthink … [Read more...]
One Day…One Good Habit…at a Time
Part III of The VERY Hard Work of Lasting Change (You can read Part I here and Part II here.) Sometimes you just have to choose, and it can be really hard to choose. That's when good habits come into play. They help you to do what's BEST to do. For example... Right now we are living in chaos. It's a happy chaos, for the most … [Read more...]
A Trip to India…to France…to Jail.
My #StreamTeam Post for the Month of May Alternately Titled: There's an ep for that! Let's talk about traveling on a budget. Let's go to India. Let's have fun. Let's love. Guys, I just watched two movies via Netflix and really truly loved them both. Coincidentally (or not), they were both about the Indian … [Read more...]
Grief, Grace and Unbelievable Goodness
I know you have plenty to read and do today, so I'm going to keep this very brief. It's Good Friday, emphasis on that first word "Good." Today is the day--the day of days. Our Lord has triumphed over sin! He will continue to triumph over sin. Praise Him for that. Thank Him for that. To God--and Jesus--be all the glory. Yet … [Read more...]
Truth. Beauty. Holy. Week.
St. Patrick’s Day, 2016, and I was gifted unexpectedly with a trip to see my family. Have I mentioned that I love North Dakota? And that my sister’s home is a retreat for the soul? Yes, I have. Repeatedly. Anyway, there’s a lot more I could say about this trip but all that has to wait. For … [Read more...]
