Take a breath. In and out. This is a busy time of year, yes. But it’s also a beautiful time of year. A time of anticipation. A time of joy-filled wonder, and icing-covered cookies. A time of cold, starry nights and warm, tightly-stitched quilts. A time when the wood stove is filled with crackling logs, […]
Category Archives: Articles
How to be Kind and Merciful to Yourself in 5 Steps
Someone recently published a little poll, asking people what they thought about the words “self-care.” I think this is a dangerous word in our world today. While we certainly need to take care of ourselves, far too often, I think we are quick as a society to justify comfort and luxury items in the name […]
5 Quick Ways to Kick Anxiety to the Curb (without chocolate…)
We are currently potty training with our 3-year old, and I keep heading to the pantry to eat some of the m&m reward candy, so I’m writing this as a reminder for myself today just as much as for anyone else! Anxiety is no joke. Sometimes we don’t even realize how tense and uptight we […]
5 Reasons to Say No & 1 Reason to Say Yes
Life is full of decisions. New situations and opportunities present themselves constantly, requiring us to continually examine where and how we should devote our time and attention. And our primary focus of course should always be on keeping our priorities straight – serving God, serving our spouse, and serving our family, in that order. But […]
3 Ways to Snap Yourself Out of Negative Self-Talk
Our pastor Father Winslow once told a story once about the time his friend visited a monastery. The man had been discerning a vocation as a monk, so he went to live with the monks for awhile. It reminds me of P.J. Funnybunny who decided to be a bear, so he went to live with […]
Why Chastity Talks Are Not Enough
*Some names and details have been changed to protect privacy. She sat in a chair facing us and smiled nervously. We asked each person at youth group that night to share about something in particular, though I cannot for the life of me recall what they were supposed to share. Mikaela chose to speak about […]
The 17 Day Anger to Mercy Challenge
St. Francis de Sales once said, “Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, not even if your whole world seems upset. If you find that you have wandered away from the shelter of God, lead your heart back to Him quietly and simply.” Quietly and simply. This is much easier said than done […]
5 Steps to a Capsule Wardrobe that Works for You
Yesterday I shared some benefits of a minimal wardrobe. Here are 5 steps that I routinely take to ensure I’m maintaining a simple and merciful capsule wardrobe. And I highly recommend using this 5-step process to create your own! 1. Identify your style and what type clothing is comfortable and appropriate for you. Is your […]
Benefits of a Minimal Wardrobe
I love the concept of owning just your essential items of clothing, which is also known as a capsule wardrobe – but not necessarily just for the reasons you may think. Sure, owning less makes things easier on us, but it also makes things easier for others. That’s because capsule wardrobes are: a. simple, and […]
Merciful & Simple Meals
Our family has certainly been on a journey over the past few years! The Gospel call of living mercifully and simply has permeated every facet of our lives in new and exciting ways. Food has certainly been an integral part of this transformation in our lives. You know what was the turning point? When we […]
