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Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that arose because of Stephen went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch… Acts 11:19

In July of 2018, on the day I was to begin writing my first-ever book proposal, our AC died on the first floor. With all the upstairs bedrooms occupied, the only room left to be in to escape the heat was the master bathroom. I covered the jacuzzi tub with plywood and built a stand-up work station on top. Lo and behold, I ended up being more focused and productive, tucked away upstairs, than I ever would have been in my first floor, open-spaced office where my kids interrupt me every ten minutes. Continue reading →

My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways.               Proverbs 23:26

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When I come downstairs in the morning, and my kids pounce on me with requests and demands, I lose it. I haven’t even had coffee yet. Their rapid fire babble leaves my head spinning and my heart aching. I don’t want to be just a source for their needs to be met; I want to feel welcomed, loved and embraced for just being me.

So, I always step back, look them in the eyes, and ask to be greeted and hugged first. Once our connection is reestablished, then I’m happy to do what I can for them.

God doesn’t require this from us, but we should require it of ourselves. Continue reading →

Then when they saw the man who had been cured standing there with them, they could say nothing in reply.  Acts 4:14

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My friend, Pam, had a virtual birthday party for her son a few weeks ago. Leading up to it, I was busy gathering my little family together and logging on to the Zoom meeting. At the last second, I realized I needed to use the bathroom. So, I quickly ducked out to do so.

When I came out of the bathroom, the Zoom call was filled with the other families invited, but my kitchen was empty! Like a bunch of puppies with no attention span, every member of my family was in the backyard: my husband covering the grill, and my kids chasing a wild rabbit that happened to hop into our yard. Really?!!! Continue reading →

Jesus answered them and said to him, “Whoever loves me will keep my word.” John 14:23

A funny memory I have from childhood is this girl, Linda (a name changed to protect her innocence), always saying: “I’ll give you ___ if you’ll be my best friend!” The item in the blank changed depending on what new toy or treat she’d recently acquired.

Obviously, in her desperation to have friends, she was willing to use whatever bribe was necessary. It’s only now, looking back as an adult, that I see she put more value on her toys and treats than she put on herself. Continue reading →

I’m thrilled to announce that the Prayer Path has finally dried up and is ready to be used. For those not familiar with the Prayer Path: This walking prayer is a wonderful way to shed stress and tension, while growing closer to God. Located in the woods beside the Parish Center of St. Matthews, at 2 Searles Road, Windham, NH, the Prayer Path is open to visitors of all faiths during the daylight hours. Continue reading →

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And a man crippled from birth was carried and placed at the gate of the temple, called the Beautiful Gate, every day to beg for alms from the people who entered the temple. Acts 3:2

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We are living in a time of extremes. While some people are losing loved ones because of the pandemic, others are growing closer to theirs because of it. It seems that whenever the stakes are high, there’s no room for gray, just black and white. Continue reading →

With my kids on April vacation this week, and nowhere to go, I decided we’d go on a Virtual World Tour. For those of you looking for a way to shake things up while under quarantine, I thought I’d share the links and resources we used. Bon voyage! Continue reading →

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Thus says the Lord God: I will soon take the Israelites from among the nations to which they have gone and gather them from all around to bring them back to their land. Ezekiel 37:21

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In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, our landscape is shifting on a daily basis. We are all floundering about, trying to find somewhere solid and unchanging to place our feet. Some people are trying to stand on the stones of blame, pointing the finger at politicians, and God.

I, for one, have never thought God was, or is, to blame for any problem in our world. I do believe, however, that God always show up in the midst of the problem, hand outstretched, wanting to accompany us through to the other side. Continue reading →

Then they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him while we were asleep.'” Matthew 28:12-13

After reading a plethora of books about Hitler’s atrocities, going to the Holocaust museum, and visiting Dachau itself, I was shocked to hear that some people believe the Holocaust never happened. Imagine people being so desperate to forget a part of history that they erase it altogether?

Sadly, a good portion of us are guilty of the same thing. Without even realizing it, we alter small details in the retelling of things to deflect the blame: Our husband insulted us first so it was only fair to lash out at him. Our friend never told us to keep her news a secret and has no right to be angry. We were perfectly clear with our kids about our expectations. Shame on them for not meeting them! Continue reading →

My priest asked me to write a spiritual communion reflection for our parishioners to meditate upon in place of the physical body and blood of Christ we’d receive during the Mass. I’m honored by his request, and by the opportunity to share my reflection here, with you.

“… but on the third day He will rise.” Luke 18:33

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Forced to keep our distance from others, the sacred Mass, and Holy Communion, we find ourselves united with the first disciples. They were forced to go without Jesus after He died on the cross. Instead, on that Good Friday and Holy Saturday, they hid themselves in the upper room, locked away in fear, trying to protect themselves from the Roman soldiers who could come for them at any minute. Continue reading →