Sharing married life with the one she loves
Posted on August 9, 2022 Leave a Comment
By Charlotte Phillips
Today, my husband and I celebrate our 14th wedding anniversary. Sometimes it’s hard to believe it’s been 14 years since we’ve said our “I dos” on that unseasonably cool (who are we kidding, less hot!) August night. But, most of the time, it’s hard to imagine life before we were together. Read More
Immersion
Posted on August 7, 2022 Leave a Comment
By Stacy LaMorte
Have you ever attended a Catholic Mass in another language? If not, I highly recommend it! My family and I did yesterday – on accident.
Our daughter wanted to say goodbye to a priest who was the pastor at her school, as he had been transferred. We had the option to say goodbye to him after the 9 or the 11 a.m. Mass, and 9 a.m. fit into our day a little better. Read More
Praying for Others
Posted on August 4, 2022 Leave a Comment
By Vivian Marino
In 2015, my husband and I visited the 9/11 Memorial Museum in New York City. Inside, there is an art installation with a quote from the poet Virgil that states, “No day shall erase you from the memory of time.” It alludes to the notion that the day you die is not your defining moment; it is just one day of the many that you lived.
Fast forward to April 8, 2021, I came across an Instagram account highlighting the website illuminatethepast.org, an organization founded to increase the awareness and education of the Holocaust for future generations.
The website invites anyone to light a virtual candle in honor of a victim. My victim was Feiga Hassenfratz, born in 1878 in Ispas, Romania (now Ukraine). She died at age 63 in the Holocaust.
After lighting the candle, the quote from the museum instantly came to my mind, and I continued to pray for her.
For over a year now, I have prayed for Feiga daily. She is like an old friend, but one I’ve never met. Recently, I got an idea to request something from her; something I believe she placed in my heart. The request was simple and unique. I asked her to send me a piece of Ghiradelli sea salt chocolate, because I always imagined her eating chocolate in heaven.
I had no doubt it would happen.
Days passed, and life got busy. One day, my daughter asked me to take her to the store to grab things for a party. As we were checking out, I casually looked to the side of me. Sitting in a bowl was a bunch of chocolate squares. The one on top was a piece of Ghiradelli sea salt chocolate; the very one I had asked for from Feiga!
This was no coincidence. She heard me from the beginning, and she continues to hear me today.
I have written this as a testimony to the power of prayer, and to validate that those we pray for hear us though they may not send us signs. Once the veil is lifted, we will realize just how close they really are to us.
My prayer is that, on the day I pass, I will be greeted by my longtime friend Feiga with some sea salt chocolate. I can imagine her words to me, “I’ve been waiting for you! And I saved you the good chocolate!”
Living My Vocation of Marriage Better
Posted on August 2, 2022 Leave a Comment
By Gina Sternfels
God has me present in my vocation as a mother and a wife. To do my best for my family, I must be sure I care for myself and my relationship with my husband. For us, that is time together to focus on our relationship with God, our father.
I signed us up for a weekend away almost a year ahead, praying we would be able to attend. At the time, we did not have weekend care for our son with autism, but we took that leap of faith. Read More
Baseball
Posted on July 31, 2022 Leave a Comment
By Ana Borden
Baseball. It’s quite possibly my favorite summer pastime, especially when our oldest son finds so much joy playing the game.
Last year, when I caught him smiling to himself and asked him why, his response was, “Baseball, Mommy, baseball.” Read More
Summer Trip
Posted on July 28, 2022 Leave a Comment
By Greg Zambrano
This year, for several months, I have thought of driving to as many National Parks as possible in the summer while my kids are out of school.
The way I see it is that, at this point in their lives, their faith and relationship with God is developing, and I want them to see the world. Read More
Hearing and Listening to Children
Posted on July 24, 2022 Leave a Comment
By Phillip Garside
My oldest daughter came to me when she was in the first grade and boldly stated, “I want to marry Clara.”
It is hard to listen to children. We often hear what we want to hear. In this case, I could easily hear an invitation to explain complex facets of the culture wars. But to listen to children is to unpack what they intend beyond what they say.
Giving is worth as much as receiving
Posted on July 21, 2022 Leave a Comment
By Gavin Lewis
My family probably enjoys summers just a little bit more than most families.
My wife and I work with schools, so we get somewhat of a break, and, of course, the children are out of school and are always ecstatic about sleeping a little longer and staying up a little later during the week. Read More
What Happens When Baseball Season Ends?
Posted on July 19, 2022 Leave a Comment
By Sarah McDonald
Since April, my large family has been engulfed in playground baseball and softball seasons. Combine that six-days-a-week (yes, six) schedule with a travel ball team schedule and weeklong tournaments out of state, and baseball was a pretty all-encompassing fixture in my house. Read More
Hail Mary Hugs
Posted on July 17, 2022 Leave a Comment
By Jenny Dendinger
We are a house full of huggers. As soon as I come out of my bedroom in the morning, I’m greeted with good morning hugs from each of my kids. Before leaving the house to go anywhere, everyone gets a hug goodbye. Those are the two guaranteed hugs we give out on the daily. We also do lots of random hugging as needed.
A few months ago, I began forming a new habit. Whenever I give my husband or one of my kids a hug, I silently pray a Hail Mary. Read More
God is present through it all
Posted on July 14, 2022 Leave a Comment
By Kristy Solis
There has been so much chaos and change in the world. My daughters have voiced their concerns, with all the happenings in the world surrounding them. Children are feeling vulnerable.
As parents, we care about the effects on them and especially on their well-being. The only reassurance is that God is present through it all; the good and the not so good. Read More
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