A BIT ASKEW

A while back I asked my cousin if she liked coffee. She did not. She seemed apologetic and assured me her friend had taken her down that rabbit hole. It is an acquired taste, and she had not yet acquired it. I almost said, "Sweet baby lamb, who hurt you?" Coffee is, in my opinion, a warm hug from the inside out. It has been there for me in good times and bad. It saw me through high school, college, courtship, twenty years of marriage, four beautiful children, and a mi

Hospitality has always been an important part of my life. When I was young, my Mom sent me to the neighbor's house for an egg if she was out or a cup of sugar if one of the other Moms was in need. I knew what I had to do. There was no time for talk, no time for play. I was on a mission. I had to deliver precious cargo to one Mom or another, and there was no room for error. If I tripped and fell, the egg or the cup of sugar would be lost. There was no going back and get

Recently, my Mother's health took a turn. She went from an independent woman, cooking and cleaning for herself to barely responsive, living moment to moment in a hospice facility in the course of three short weeks. There is a complicated history with my family, and I am doing my best to be my best under these circumstances. At home I am missed. I may be loud. I may be boisterous. I may be emotional. I may be colorful. I am never boring. And until recently, I am never

I was reading the comments on a pro-life video. While many of the remarks were disagreeable and unkind, a trend did emerge. The ideal of the "Pro-Choice Man" was a described as a man who is supportive of the "Pro-Choice Woman" and her decision to terminate her pregnancy. I found this idea problematic because it illustrates a darker trend in our society, and that is a man is not allowed to hope and dream. A man is not allowed to have feelings, longings, and aspirations. A

My family has entered into a season of change. We have had friends and loved ones move on to bigger and better things. It happens every year at this time. We are happy for them, and we wish them well. It does not soften the ache in our hearts for them. The biggest change involves growing up. Today marks the beginning of the change from pediatric care to grown up care. With new doctors and new personal responsibility, Mom is less involved. There is a bittersweetness to

During the seasons of preparation, there is an invitation to taste special foods. Advent calendars famously offer a sample of cheese or...

Every High Holy Feast is preceded by a season of preparation. This season includes a prayer, a fast, and a flavor. In Advent there are...

Once upon a time, there lived a little girl. She loved to sing and dance and play pretend. She imagined having tea parties with little...

I find that in life, I have very little control. Tragedy, inconvenience, and people are constant variables. Sometimes, I need a...

For a few years now, I have wanted to complete a project of epic proportions. What my family saw as unnecessary work, I saw as an...

As a reader, I have never been a skip to the end kind of person. As long as there were pages left, I have always had faith that things...

Each time the alarm goes off, I ask myself why. Did I just want to get up and get a start on the day? Was I planning on going someplace...

I have noticed arguments, disagreements, and heated debates often arise from a person's past experiences rather than the situation at...

Every moment of every day is a miracle. It is a new creation. Nothing is ever really the same. The Lord does not do "boring." I...

There is a fine line between inspiration and envy. When a person sees something someone else has and thinks, "I want that, too," two...

I have a tendency to want people to love what I give them. If I give them a treat that I have made, I want to see their smiles...

I am a fixer. I want to fix people so that they will be happy. I want to look at a person who is happy and say, "I did that. I fixed...

I find that the best way to get things done, is to take the occasional break. I tend to get into a rut. I spin my tires, push with all...

I have noticed that I take everything to heart. If someone shares news with me, I am right there with them. I share their joy. I share...

St. Ignatius has been a favorite of mine for a number of years. He was a knight of the Castle Loyola and spent much of his time in the...