Yesterday was my birthday. It wasn’t a special milestone, but every birthday feels significant to me. And every birthday offers a chance to pause and reflect on who I am, why I’m here, and how blessed I am.

When the children are younger, you struggle with how to display their artwork because it’s all so personal and sweet. Then when they get older, it can be even harder to know what to do because their work is so beautiful.

Maybe this is not your parenting approach. You do what works for you. I’ll be over here watching a happy child lick his spoon.

I’ve long admired Father Joe Breighner’s work.

There wasn’t quite enough for another double-crusted pie, but I could maybe make a tart.

God is waiting patiently for each of us, loving us right where we are, recognizing that our path is uniquely our own.

Our boys have been participating in a robotics camp—one as a counselor and one as a participant. I had the chance to visit the camp briefly for a competition, and I was struck by how amazing it is to see your child move into that kind of leadership role.

Was I wearing a crucifix? Had a rosary slipped out of my purse? Then I realized she was looking at the reusable grocery bags I had brought along.

July is the cherry on the top of the ice cream sundae. It’s summer at its summer-iest. It’s when we will finally welcome the hotter days, when—if we’re doing it right—the children will start complaining about being bored, and when we will realize which popsicle flavors no one likes because that’s all that’s left in the freezer.

As it turned out, though, we didn’t need a superhero to make our eagle cheese ball.