It has been seven years since my brother-in-law Eric died. It doesn’t feel that long, and yet it also feels like longer. Time can be so odd. Today, as we are missing him, I am thinking of how we never really lose the people we love. But I also know that there is an Eric-shaped […]
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St. Thérèse: We have only today
Over the years, I have come to marvel at St. Thérèse’s “little way.” I love the idea of taking simple, small steps on the road toward sainthood.
A Trip to the Book Barn
The books I brought home may have had one owner or 10. They may have passed through dozens of children’s hands or been treasured by a single person who kept them intact.
Angels Surround Us
There’s something truly special about your guardian angel, your own personal companion through life.
A Little Less Like Me
Sometimes when a message comes my way, I don’t know whether God really means to send it to me.
Pray and Do Not Worry
It was late afternoon, and my son and I were running late for an appointment—again. As we walked across the parking lot, a woman approached us. “Would you help me?” she said. I could see the distress in her eyes, and I could tell she really did need help. She pointed to her car, which […]
Sadness after the closing of adoption from China
I learned last week that China has closed its international adoption program. The closing is a blow to a program that has brought so many families together.
10 tips for new working moms
The other day I was chatting with a colleague who is a relatively new mom. We were talking about the challenges of working while raising a child. Her baby boy had started walking while they were on vacation, and she was relieved not to have missed seeing that happen for the first time. She mentioned […]
Holding Onto Summer
Summer is my favorite time of the year. I love everything about it—the heat, the long sunny days, and the lack of routine. This summer we didn’t plan much for our teens, and that only enhanced the time off. It was a season of freedom—no bedtimes and no early mornings. It was glorious. And we […]
Keep the faith, parents
That is part of being a parent—offering, inviting, hoping, and loving, and recognizing that your child might take a different path.
No warranty needed
’Tis the season for back-to-school shopping, and last week I found myself at the computer store, picking up a laptop. The store employee behind the counter rang up the purchase and then looked at me. “Do you want to get the warranty on that?” “No,” I said. “It costs almost half the price of the […]
Food for the Back-to-School Journey
Each of us needs nourishment today and tomorrow. We need something to sustain us through the challenges and obstacles along the way.