by

Look To The Cross

Published on CatholicMom.com

DSC02325The women in my MOSAIC of Faith network, and the parishioners of my church, just built a Prayer Path in the woods behind our parish center. The path is laid out in a labyrinth pattern, with only one way in and one way out. With no dead ends, there is no way to lose your way.

It is a walking prayer. The idea is to review all of your problems and related emotions as you journey in, sharing them all with God. At the center, you stop and stay as long as it takes to hand all those problems and emotions over to God. Once you’ve put it all in His hands, you retrace your same exact steps out, but you do so with a lightness of being, renewed hope, and joy.

Although labyrinths have been around in the Catholic Church since the twelfth century, there was some concern at my parish that it would be perceived as a pagan ritual. To dispel those concerns, a volunteer built a beautiful cross that was installed as the focal point of the space. Now, before entering our Prayer Path, and when we arrive at its center, we raise our eyes to the cross and meditate on it. Doing so roots us in Christ.
Continue reading →
by

Roll With It

In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith… may prove to be for praise, glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  1 Peter 1:6-7

9 28 17 with word overlayMy kids aren’t very good at accepting disappointment. It’s probably because I used to try and keep life easy for them, fun and trouble-free.

They’re older now. Like change, disappointment is one of those constants in life: it will always be there. If I don’t succeed in teaching them how to deal with it now, they’re going to struggle as adults.

I’m big into code words and catch phrases. Once I’ve taught my kids a big life-lesson, a catch phrase is a quick verbal reminder when they backslide. I’ve been searching for one for overcoming disappointment for a while now. I finally found it when commemorating the events of 9/11.  Continue reading →

by

Position of Power

“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I put my hope.”                       Psalm 130:5

9 21 17 with word overlayWith my boys’ beds pushed up against the wall, they were inclined to just stand on the other side to make them. They’d stretch and contort, trying to get the job done as quickly as possible. They completely overlooked the fact that they could also stand at the foot of the bed to make it.

Consequently, when I was teaching them, I called the foot of the bed the “Position of Power.” It’s from that vantage point that they can see if things are even, smooth underneath, and if the middle seam of the bedspread lines up with the headboard. Moreover, if they practice throwing and “flying” the bed sheets and blankets from there, everything falls into place faster, and they save time.

They don’t always listen to me. But when they do work from this Position of Power, I can tell. There are less wrinkles and lumps in their beds; the lines are cleaner.

My husband recently asked me to be a sounding board for an issue he was facing. In a roundabout way, my advice to him was a lot like my bed making lesson. Continue reading →

by

Broken Motherhood

I, I am He who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.    Isaiah 43:25

9 14 17 with word overlayI knowingly missed Mason’s Open House at school last week. That day, I had been hard at work, preparing the space for the Prayer Path we were building. I was also scurrying to repair the massive mistake I had made with the layout. By 4 p.m., my tank was completely empty. There was no way, in my washed out, exhausted, and dirty state, I could be at his school from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. that night.

I explained this all to Mason. Being the sweet and forgiving kid that he is, he understood and said he was okay with it. That is, until it came to his Chromebook.
Continue reading →
by

Depending Completely On God

… in every good work bearing fruit and growing in knowledge of God…    Colossians 1:10

9 7 17 with word overlayNext Tuesday, the moms in my MOSAIC of Faith network will be building a Prayer Path in the woods by my church. The outpouring of help and support has been amazing. I’ve been continually thanking God, and each and every person who has stepped forward to help out.

So I was completely unprepared for the obstacles I’ve had to face recently in this project.
Continue reading →
by

Determining Our Priorities

Published on CatholicMom.com

9 6 17 with word overlayDuring the summer, I found that magical place where people and relaxation mattered more than paper and to-do lists. Like Psalm 24:3-4 says, it felt like I did go up to the mountain of the Lord, and spent time in His holy place. I rested. I relaxed. I rejuvenated. I reconnected with my kids. It was heavenly!

I really wanted to slowly rev up, gently step back into the school year. I wanted to keep that same sense of peace I had discovered while relaxing on my back deck.

Instead, one day I was reading my Bible on comfy furniture out in the fresh air, the next I was driving around like a crazy lady taking my kids to the dentist and multiple schools to meet their new teachers. The teacher “meet and greet” was so utterly chaotic, one frazzled mom actually rear ended my minivan in the mania of it all. Continue reading →

by

What We’re Not Called To Do

“One day the trees went out to anoint a king over themselves. So they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’ But the olive tree answered them, ‘Must I give up my rich oil, whereby gods and human beings are honored, and go off to hold sway over the trees?'”   Judges 9:8-9

8 31 17 with word overlayOver the summer, I tutored an eighth grade boy in writing. We were working together to get him ready for High School.

Last week, when his parents asked me to continue with him through the school year, I was honored. But although I wanted to say “yes,” something inside of me said “no.” I couldn’t figure myself out. I told them I had to think about it.  Continue reading →

by

The Back-To-School Battle Plan

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provisions for the desires of the flesh.   Romans 13:14

8 24 17 with word overlaySchool begins for us next Wednesday. It’s been a great summer, but it’s time to transition, and prepare my kids and myself.

Like any mom out there, I worry a bit about Zack going into eighth grade and Mason going into sixth. We all remember how difficult Middle School can be with cliques, peer pressure, and bullying. Even though Jocelyn’s only going into second grade, I have similar concerns for her too. Sadly enough, in my entitled town, the “mean girl syndrome” starts early. I was shocked when we experienced it in kindergarten. No lie!

The harsh reality is: I can only do so much. From the moment they step on that bus in the morning, until the moment they step off in the afternoon, I am not there to protect them. That’s a very difficult thing to come to terms with.

But I recently read something in Living Faith Magazine that gives me great hope and peace.
Continue reading →
by

Missing The Whole Point

 “I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain and to be sent on my way there by you, after I have enjoyed being with you for a time.”   Romans 15:24

8 18 17 with word overlay

Every Friday in summer, our family gathers together on our back deck at 5 p.m. for pina colada smoothies. Despite all the fun adventures we go on throughout the week, I think we all cherish this time the most. It’s a chance to chill out, and just be together.

Zack just got a new game for his birthday. It’s all about quests and imagination. He and Mason asked asked if we could play it as a family during pina colada time. We said yes.

Half-way through the game, I lost sight of the whole point of our gathering. Thank goodness my kids set me straight.
Continue reading →
by

Mis-Placed Faith

Then the disciples approached Jesus in private and said, “Why could we not drive it out?” He said to them, “Because of your little faith.”   Matthew 17:19-20

Gospel-Reflections-800x800-gold-outlineBack in Chapter 10 of the book of Matthew, Jesus commissioned the twelve apostles. After giving them the authority to drive out unclean spirits and cure every disease and illness, He sent them forth to do His Father’s work.

Day in and day out, for seven chapters, they apparently did well. That is, until they come to the boy with the demon in this chapter. Suddenly, they can’t seem to carry out their mission and expel the demon. Not understanding why, they approach Jesus for the answer.
Continue reading →