Published on CatholicMom.com

People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity to eat. So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place. People saw them leaving and many came to know about it. They hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before them.     (Mark 6:32-33)

Photo Courtesy of Pixabay.com

When I had to get a job last November, I tried to find one within a few miles of my house. If I was going to be away from my family for 30 to 40 hours a week, I didn’t want to extend that by adding a long commute. Lo and behold, I ended up at a job 25 miles from home. Depending on the traffic, that adds an extra hour each day.

But you know what they say: Who’s to say what’s bad or good?

Continue reading →

Your presence, O Lord, I seek!      Psalm 27:8

Jocelyn and I took a parent-child cooking class together a couple weeks ago. Now that I’m back to work and have less time to be with her, I was so excited about the quality one-on-one time we were going to have.

We did have a wonderful time, but it wasn’t the magical mother-daughter experience I’d hoped it would be. She got distracted by the other little girls, and was more focused on how they were rolling out their pasta dough, than on her and me bonding. For my part, I was too focused on capturing it all in photos so we’d remember the night forever. I wasn’t as present as I’d hoped to be.

It was just another reminder of the trap of expectations, and recognizing what real relationship is all about. Continue reading →

It was such an honor and a thrill to be interviewed on Catholic TV to promote my Lenten devotional, “With Our Savior.”

If you haven’t already ordered yours, log on to LivingFaith.com/Family. If you input code FM3TV, the booklet is only $2.99, with free shipping.

Here’s the link to the interview on YouTube: Continue reading →

Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.     Proverbs 11:29

I had this Monday off from work for Presidents’ Day. Naturally, I assumed my kids had the holiday off too. I couldn’t wait to have all that time together, and had excitedly planned how we’d spend it. It felt like Christmas!

That morning, when my husband came back from his run, he told me about all the kids he’d passed at the different bus stops on his route. I quickly jumped on the school website to discover it wasn’t a school holiday after all.

Feeling our time together slip away, I declared it a “Hooky Day!” Zack and Jocelyn cheered and hollered. Mason had a completely different reaction. Continue reading →

He sighed from the depth of his spirit… Mark 8:12

“Are you kidding me?” I asked my boys, after discovering them playing screens, despite homework not done and beds not made. “How many times have I said homework and chores before screens?”

“Oh…” they said, looking up with guilty faces. “We forgot.”

“Really?” I sighed. “You’re really going to say you forgot when it’s been the same deal for years?” Suddenly weary from it all, I turned and left the room. Continue reading →

… there is nothing I lack. Psalm 23:1

Photo Courtesy of Pixabay.com

Mason has been cast as Lord Farquaad in his upcoming school play, Shrek The Musical. I keep telling him how excited I am to see it because I know he’s going to be amazing. Each time I say that, he deflects, and says something self-deprecating.

It kills me to hear him doubt he’s capable of something I know he was born to do. This isn’t just a proud-mama thing where I’m bragging about his abilities. I’m just stating a true and complete fact: The kid is as creative as the day is long, and he transforms when he’s performing.

Sadly, though, I know far too many people who react like Mason does. Continue reading →

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.    1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Photo Courtesy of Pixabay.com

Lately, my kids have gotten into the habit of saying “I love you” when I say “Yes” to a request. It’s a sweet reaction to have, but something about it hasn’t sat right with me.

After thinking about it more, I realized it makes me feel as if their love is conditional. They only seem to say “I love you” when I give them what they want. I don’t think I’ve ever heard them once say it when I say “No.” I decided I needed to tell my kids the message I thought they were sending.

Of course they denied it, saying they love me no matter what. As they were claiming there were no strings attached to their love, it occurred to me I had some soul searching to do of my own. Continue reading →