finding hope in a busy world
Surrounded by family and cats, I watched an 83 year old Pope Francis lift the Monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament and bless a dark, damp, and desolate St. Peter’s square. Three times, he lifted that heavy, shining vessel, raising it in the name of the Father, lowering it in the name of the Son, and… Continue reading looking for a leader
Are you still breathing? Good. Keep breathing. Slowly, deeply, nourishingly. Your spirit needs you right now. It needs your body and it needs your mind, working and playing together as one. For some of us, our minds have been too busy. Typically a voracious reader, I have been unable to read more than a page… Continue reading the why and the how
Our family's spring break trip was hijacked by the virus but instead of staying home, a friend graciously allowed us to use her cabin in the woods. We relocated our shelter in place a few hours North, enabling our vacation to truly feel like a vacation, and for that, for her, I am eternally grateful.… Continue reading viral hope
Disneyland is closed, schools are canceled and then, so must be life. Yesterday, I spent much of my day monitoring news and Twitter. I read from a woman who confidently shared her quarantine grocery list, which consisted of 5 Costco flats of eggs. Wait, do I need 5 Costco flats of eggs? People were lamenting… Continue reading prayer through fear
Are you ready to pick up something for Lent? How about a book? I'm hosting a Lenten book club both in-person and online this season! The online version will be hosted on the blog. Each week expect a short excerpt and a reflection, inviting you to share your own thoughts. We'll keep to a 3… Continue reading pick up a book for lent
Lent is coming. What are you giving up? This is the question heard across generations as we enter into the season of Lent. Innocent children and their experienced grandparents are curious, both about the question and its answer. We all want to know. What are you giving up? Before we crawl into one another's minds,… Continue reading a suffering lent
Do you have those days where your brain is buzzing? A day when multiple people need multiple things in multiple ways at multiple times? A day when the noise never ceases? Today was one of those days. I walked in the door after work, my brain filled with bees, unable to focus and yet still… Continue reading buzzing
The time for resolutions is now and I'm here for it. I'm a year-round resolver. As the seasons change, I resolve to change my life along with them. Autumn brings bursts of productivity, winter a growing TBR book list, summer is my anti-resolution season, unless catching up on shows and writing for fun counts, and… Continue reading listen to life
Christmas has become intimidatingly big. It begins in November and promises snow and presents and Santa and elves and lights and magic and nutcrackers and cookies and tinsel and Polar Express trains and hot cocoa and special movies and all of the things that bring the season's magic to children. But there are so many… Continue reading keeping the magic alive
Breathe, Holly, Breathe. These words have been yelled at me by coaches, whispered by concerned friends, and tapped out in a rhythm by my Apple watch. (I know Apple says these reminders are not heart rate driven but I simply do not believe them.) Under stress, our bodies return to primitive roots, constricting muscles and… Continue reading just breathe
god forever tries 