Faith Finds Me

Set a simple yet sweet table for tonight. Probably having something easy but it’s nice to have the table set anyway. Right now the kids are both asleep right now AT THE SAME TIME. Cue that lovely little second cup of coffee. . . Instead of on our actual anniversary, we typically dress up a bit and go out to dinner on Valentine's Day. We have done it that way for years. Valentine's was our very first date back in 2010, to an Italian restaurant. I was quite shy then. But he kept asking me out, so. Now here we are two kids and a house later. Since A was born, we have not gone out so this is the year we're bringing back the tradition. Ten years seems like a big milestone. I bought him a gift yesterday. We will exchange small tokens on Feb 14. I decided to get him something he will be excited about and want to use. So I decided on a Lego set. I know, that sounds terribly lame. But it was a fairly expensive set and a particular one he has been talking about trying to find. He wil...

The month of January always seems to drag on but it is finally February. I like February. It's the month of our anniversary, Valentine's Day and some interesting feast days. Feb 1-3 is what some call the "triduum of fire" because of St. Brigid, Candlemas and St. Blaise's feast days. Each of these days is marked by fire. So grab your candles and head to Mass to get them blessed, and also your throats. I am all about Catholic weirdness. The traditions that have helped keep the Church alive for so long are endless and fascinating. I feel like I am learning something new about our beautiful faith on a regular basis.  Today is St. Brigid's Day. There are many traditions about her. She was baptized by St. Patrick, converted people with crosses made of rushes and established a monastery in a pagan land. The one I like is about a perpetual fire at the monastery she founded that burned for hundreds of years. Then some dummies put it out, more than likely Protestants. I...

I am definitely one of those new year's resolutions types. I set one or two each year. It's usually some achievable goal like run my first marathon (did it), visit a major city like Chicago (did it) or even the age old "lose weight". For this year I chose something a little bit different. I am reading the entire Bible, cover to cover throughout 2023. Father Mike's Bible in a Year made me think of it but I can't keep up with podcasts. I would much rather read on my own. Then I came across Meg Kilmer's "A Year in the Word, Catholic Bible Journal" the very last week of December 2022 and I thought, that's it! Let's just get into the Bible and write about it each day. The schedule is 15-20 mins per day, usually one OT reading and NT reading, along with one of the Psalms or part of a letter from Paul. I am also reading the Catechism in a year, but I have listened to the podcast maybe twice. Again, I do better on my own. The Catechism is somethi...

Been reflecting quite a bit on my marriage. Our anniversary is next month and it will be ten years. I first met him in January 2010 at a place we both worked. I was not looking for anyone and had my heart completely broken only a few months prior. But I knew after we met that day...he was it, the one. He was different from anyone else I had ever met. I felt pretty early on that I could trust him with anything. And he really has been that person for me, the one I can always rely on.  I haven't always been the best wife to him. For a long time, I didn't take my marriage seriously. I took it for granted and that is such a big mistake. It's the worst way to treat a person. He called me out on it a lot over the years and eventually I realized things needed to change, that I needed to confront what was going on with me internally. Now I pray very frequently about my marriage and for simply the ability to better understand him, what he needs etc. I will never forget one time many ...

  This is what I have been eating recently each morning. The pomegranate juice is going to be cut out because it's too carb-y and today I am starting keto. I'd like to lose a lot of weight by my birthday. I have done keto many times before and it has always been successful. It's a great regimen to do after having a baby because if you are diligent about it, the weight will come off quickly.   I'm still taking iron, though I am feeling worlds better. This last pregnancy really took it out of me and I don't know if it was my age or the amount of stress we were under, or maybe both. Having children really is no easy feat, any way you cut it, and I am very grateful my body was able to bring two beautiful new people into the world. But I am also happy to not be pregnant anymore and begin focusing on recovering. I'm also taking a multi that absolutely tears up my stomach, even with food, so I usually end up splitting it in half. The white pill is biotin, for my hair. ...

Many people will ask themselves, "Have I lived well enough?" The better question is "Have I loved enough?" From the Catholic perspective, the true definition of love means to will the good of the other, as stated by Aquinas. And it is oftentimes so difficult to love another person, despite really loving the hell out of them. One must learn to forget yourself, to empty yourself, to give the very gift of self.  I have a three month old baby boy. It is not uncommon for me to be awoken at some horrible hour of the night to the sound of him crying. It is an aspect of motherhood I struggle with the most; lack of sleep on a constant basis. This happened recently on a night when my entire body and perhaps even soul wanted just one more minute under the covers. Do I ignore his desperate cries? Or do I peel myself out of bed and pick him up?  So I cradled him close to me and felt him settle down. I check my phone for the time - 3:49 AM.  I think we will all be faced with this...