Does our law condemn a person before it first hears him and finds out what he is doing?   John 7:51

My son, Mason, started middle school in September. As you would expect, he started copping an attitude at the same time. It’s gotten to the point where looking at him sideways puts him in a mood. He also can’t seem to focus on a task and follow it through from beginning to end.

After picking him up from an overnight at a friend’s, I asked him to unpack his bag and put everything away before he moved on to the next thing. Two seconds into the task, he was doing nothing but standing still and sulking. I assumed he was mad because I was forcing him to unpack. I lost my patience. Continue reading →

Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good… Proverbs 16:20

Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com

Although we have to cover Jocelyn’s eyes for the murder that happens at the beginning of every episode, my kids and I are addicted to the TV show Monk. In it, the freelance detective, Adrian Monk, is trying to earn his way back onto the police force. He lost his position when he had a nervous breakdown after his wife’s death.

Despite it sounding morbid and dark, it’s actually an upbeat and fun show. Monk is incredibly endearing with his OCD and 1,001 other quirks. He solves every case; and creates as happy an ending as you can get on a crime show. However, Adrian himself is never happy. Continue reading →

Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness. Luke 11:34

On Friday, I took my kids to see the light that was installed at the Prayer Path on the grounds of our church. It was one of those deep, dark nights with no moon shining through the clouds. It made the light that’s focused solely on the cross even brighter.

Despite it being in the middle of the woods, the illuminated cross seemed to cast a miraculous glow. Jocelyn, who’s only seven, and afraid of the dark, said, “It’s so beautiful! I’d even sleep there all night, at the foot of that cross, because it feels like God’s really there.”

Her words kept echoing in my head, drawing me to see the deeper meaning. Continue reading →

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Published on CatholicMom.com

A while back, I struggled with a recurring issue. I’d spent a lot of time and energy helping a family I know. Although I didn’t need the kindness reciprocated, the very human side of me wanted to be appreciated.

Not only was that not the case, but things crossed over to where I routinely felt taken advantage of. After months and months of feeling this way, I decided I was all done. I severed all ties. Then something happened this week. Continue reading →

I love the Lord, for He heard my voice; He heard my cry for mercy.             Psalm 116:1

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The other day, Zack was going on and on about a level he created in Geometry Dash. Pretending to listen, I emptied the dishwasher and thought about that day’s line up, at the same time responding with “aha,” “aha,” whenever it seemed appropriate. Jocelyn interrupted Zack and said, “Mommy isn’t interested in video games.” Zack responded, “I know. But she’s nice enough to pretend she is.” The exchange actually had me laughing out loud: First, because my seven-year-old completely called me out. And, second, because my thirteen-year-old knew I wasn’t really listening, but barreled ahead anyways.

It got me thinking… Continue reading →

“Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do?” Luke 17:9

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I read an interesting article the other day about how supportive parenting can be a detriment to our kids if we take it too far. As I read on, I realized I’m guilty of almost every bullet point in the article. The one that resonated the most was over complimenting my kids.

I was curious what my kids thought. So I asked them, point blank, as we were driving in the car the other day. It was such an interesting conversation. Continue reading →

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.    Romans 12:10

My kids come up with the craziest ideas. Although I nod my head and say, “Hmmm… maybe…,” I know it’s not feasible to box up their dinners and send them to the starving children in Africa. I also presume Taylor Swift is never going to come to a birthday party, no matter how much we want her to. And, despite appreciating their creativity, I’m positive that building a water slide from their bedroom window to a pool we don’t even have just isn’t feasible.

But every now and then, my kids come up with a great idea that’s actually doable. Jocelyn did just that for Valentine’s Day this year. Continue reading →