I really love the practice of picking a "one word" for each year. Some prefer choosing a word to making new year's resolutions. I like to do both because I usually lose steam with my resolutions (around March) and having a "one word" helps me re-focus on my goals. In 2015 when Daniel left his job in Florida and we were selling our house there to live at the farm in Texas for his livestock … [Read more...]
How I’m Organizing My Life Right Now
The other day I was thinking, "If I had to choose my 'one word' for 2017 it would be 'organize.'" The idea of organizing is obviously not anything new or exciting, but for THIS GIRL--the one who doesn't make lists, doesn't stick to a calendar, doesn't organize anything ever--well, friends, it looks like we're in new territory. I think that after two years of upheaval (quitting jobs, selling a … [Read more...]
Baptismal Traditions (And Giveaway from CheruBalm!)
Today I’m partnering with CheruBalm to chat baptismal traditions (and offering a great giveaway at the end of the post!). As we’ve been unpacking in our new house, I uncovered the box with the kids’ baptismal candles and special mementos from their baptismal days (such sweet memories!) and I've received a few questions about baptismal traditions so lately so it just seemed timely. Baptism days … [Read more...]
Links for Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day
image source Today, October 15th, is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. It's a difficult day for so many families because miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss are not uncommon. For most of my life I pushed the possibility of these painful events far to the edges of my mind. Probably out of fear because losing a chid is every parent's worst nightmare. But after walking with so many … [Read more...]
I Took a Month Off from Being a SAHM. Here’s What I Learned.
photo source This summer I was feeling “sort of stretched--like butter spread across too much bread” in the words of Bilbo Baggins. And I was trying to figure out where my discontentment and general worn-out-ness was coming from. Because Daniel had a month off of work between his internship and his new job, we had the rare opportunity to switch around our family responsibilities. I left … [Read more...]
Earning My Grey Hair (And Feeling Weird/Great About My 30s)
This month I turned 31 and birthdays always make me want to pause and reflect on life. Last year in the midst of moving across the country I was too busy to think, so I’m doing my reflecting this year. Here’s a true confession: I was NOT expecting turning 30 last year to be a big deal. But honestly, it kinda was. My identity is shifting. I’m no longer the super young mom that gets asked if … [Read more...]
European Living in the Heart of Waco
I couldn't be more in love with our new location. It truly warms the cockles of my heart. Our parish is close enough that we can not only walk to Mass, but we can hear the church bells from our bedroom. And we can hear them loud and clear if we're playing in the yard. I feel very medieval getting dressed for Mass and walking past little houses with the bell tower in … [Read more...]
The Conversation We Have to Have with Our Kids
This post is sponsored by Covenant Eyes. My oldest child is seven years old. In a perfect world, I would not have to worry about protecting him from pornography. But, this is not a perfect world and I absolutely have to worry about it. But at age SEVEN? Surely, I don’t have to worry til my kids are teenagers, right? Recently, my friend Jenny shared a great series on her blog about porn … [Read more...]
This Year’s Homeschool Plans with a 2nd Grader, a Preschooler, and a Toddler
Summer is quickly coming to an end! Can you believe it? I get a lot of questions about our homeschooling methods and curriculum so I thought this might be a good time to share on the topic since lots of homeschooling parents are putting their plans for the year together. Since it's an inferno outside in Texas in August, I decided to just go ahead and start doing school most mornings since it's … [Read more...]
How Marriage Fuels the Creative Life: The Chestertons, Hamilton, and Chef’s Table
Give a warm welcome to today's guest poster, my dear friend and Fountains of Carrots partner in crime Christy Isinger! Like all beautiful, mysterious, and true things in life marriage is a thing that never fails to disappoint in providing surprisingly new and interesting revelations. And I'm not just talking about my own marriage. Lately I keep seeing a common trait of marriage appearing … [Read more...]
