Fighting for Marriage, One Conversation at a Time
You can fight to save the whales, dolphins, and baby sea turtles, but if you fight to save traditional marriage, you will be called a “bigot” and be compared with hate groups. Thus, we should expect...
View ArticleU.S. Supreme Court Considers the Fate of Marriage
The challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) argued before the U.S. Supreme Court last week was about a complaint by a woman who was not able to get a federal marriage estate tax exemption when...
View ArticleHope and Promise
When I first found it, I wasn’t even sure what it was. I was going through a trunk of personal items that had belonged to my dad when I ran across a little brown jewelry box. Dad passed away when I was...
View ArticleBook Review: “Dear God, I Don’t Get It”
They say that the measure of a good children’s book—or a young reader’s chapter book, as the case may be—is that both children and adults find the story compelling, that it stirs within them a desire...
View ArticleWhen Quantity Trumps
The Mister and I just had a romantic dinner in the basement, served by two little girls. The main course was Fisher Price peas and pizza, real water from a sturdy, plastic teapot and Cheez-Its. We...
View ArticleA Letter to my Children
Have you ever experienced regret in your life because of something you did not share with a loved one? Do you ever reflect on lessons you wish you had taught your children as they make avoidable...
View ArticleLabor Relations with Children
How important do you think it is for children to help around the house? And how can I get my kids to do more? Sometimes it’s easier on my nerves if I just do the chores myself. Chores are loaded with...
View ArticleTaking a Vacation WITHOUT Taking a Vacation from the Faith
There are times in my past when a vacation would apply to all areas of my life: leave from work, leave from routine, leave from Sunday Mass. Growing in my faith has taught me a vacation is the...
View ArticleCounting Them All
When people ask me how many children we have I answer nine. It’s true of course. My husband and I have nine living children. Well, some of my children are actually grown ups but you know what I mean-...
View ArticleSeven Lessons Fathers Should Teach Their Children
Who Introduced You to the Lord? The first question I would like to pose, is simply this: “How did you come by your faith, whether it be weak or strong, new or old? Where and when did you first come to...
View ArticleKeeping Teens Involved in the Practice of the Faith
I spoke to a group of teens who were preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Confirmation is generally administered to 10th graders in the Atlanta Archdiocese. The format of the talk was “Stump...
View ArticleWorks of Mercy in the Workplace
The Gospel of Luke gives us a clear definition of who our neighbor is, and how we are called to love our neighbor, illustrated by Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan. What a great reminder that our...
View ArticleHonoring the Gift of Children
“Unless the Lord build the house, they labor in vain who build…” (Psalm 127:1). After the love of God and a holy spouse, is there any greater blessing in this life than children… and holy parents? I...
View ArticleTo My Children: 8 Things I Want You to Remember this School Year
Dear Patrick, Meaghan, and Mary Bernadette, Over the last few weeks, I’ve spent hours ordering uniforms and supplies and schoolbooks. I’ve nagged you at least 556 times to finish your summer reading....
View ArticleYour Children are Watching YOU Watching TOO Much TV
It is always fascinating, as well as disappointing, how much time we adults spend with our technology verses each other. This is so apparent to me as I travel frequently and have the opportunity to...
View ArticleOf Wedding Bells and Baby Booties: 10 Reasons to Have Kids Early in Your...
It’s amazing how you can go from normal gal to alien life-form in a microsecond when you announce to others that you are pregnant after being married for a year or less. Some people go as far as to...
View ArticleThe Treasure and Value of Family Storytelling
One of the best ways to keep your family close as it grows and adds members, either by birth, adoption, or later on with your child’s own marriage and children, is to integrate storytelling into the...
View ArticleSmall Steps as the Foundation for an Integrated Catholic Life: An Interview...
I remember eight years ago, when my oldest daughter was still a surprise human being in my home, alarming me and delighting me in equal measure. Nothing, nothing, prepared me for motherhood. As I...
View ArticleFive Steps to Better Parenting
“Dad, can we throw the football?” The fall football season is in full swing and this is an almost daily request from my 12 year old son during the week when I get home from work and it is repeated...
View ArticleI’m Not Heavy, I’m Their Mother — On Being a Burden
When I was a kid, my grandfather used to sing He ain’t Heavy, He’s my Brother by The Hollies as he tinkered in his garage. I never understood why someone would name her son “Heavy” or what the song...
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