I’ve been working on a new project. Actually, it’s an old project that was left unfinished earlier in the year so I could focus my energies on my college student book and calendar. But now I’m back and very excited about my newest book, which will be coming soon. It’s called How Mamas Show Love, and it’s a read-aloud picture book for children around 5 years old. It shows the many ways mamas all around the world show the love they feel for their kids, not in words but in actions.

It’s time once again to report on how I’ve been doing on my 2025 goals I shared back in January. I’ve done this at the end of every quarter this year, and Q3 is no exception! This quarter has been about moving forward, not being perfect, though it would be nice if there was a tad more perfection! But I’ll take the wins I can get - it’s all good. 

Without further ado, let’s get to it:  

This weekend I went to an event where there were country hits from years past playing in the background. Despite growing up in Texas, I don’t consider myself a country music person, believe it or not. So imagine how surprised I was when I knew nearly every word and sang along most of the night! Not only that, I found an awesome Classic Country playlist on Spotify to listen to afterwards! 

When I was in high school, I was involved in a whole bunch of activities, but my favorite was debate. Yes, I was a debate nerd. I got to be partners with my best friend, our coach was so kind she’d let us crazy teenagers show up at her house on random evenings, I got out of school for tournaments, and, I'll say it—I was good at it. What's not to love?

Looking back, I see some valuable lessons in those happy memories from my days as a debater, especially the necessity of understanding both sides of an issue. One of my specialities  was Current Events, which required a lot of upfront research.

Ever heard of "quiet cracking"? I recently learned this term on LinkedIn, and it perfectly describes a common workplace phenomenon, especially among high performers. It's when people seem fine on the surface – they say all the right things, get their work done – but deep down, they're disengaged, unmotivated, and secretly wish they could quit. Often, financial pressure keeps them chained to their desks, thanks to a tough job market, rising living costs, and that nagging question: "Is it really any better anywhere else?"

While the term was new to me, I've definitely been there. And I'm here to tell you, it's not all bad.

No, it's not fun, but if you let it, this can actually be a time of personal growth. Let me explain why.

Picture this: A tiny, wrinkled woman in a simple blue-and-white sari, a global icon of charity and compassion. You know who I’m talking about, right? Mother Teresa of Calcutta. She’s one of those people who transcends faith and culture. Her image, her name, it’s all synonymous with loving the forgotten and doing small things with great love.

And guess what? Her feast day is coming up on September 5th! It’s the perfect time to reflect on her life and legacy. I was so moved by her story that she’s one of the women featured in my book, Important Catholic Women of the 20th Century.

On August 31, we remember an amazing woman whose impact was felt keenly by many in Germany. Her story isn't widely known, but it should be. That's why I was so keen to include her in my book, Important Catholic Women of the 20th Century, so that others could appreciate this insightful, compassionate woman from Freiburg named Gertrud Luckner.

If you're not familiar with the life of Sister Irmã Dulce Lopes Pontes, prepare to be inspired. Known as the "Brazilian Mother Teresa" and the "Good Angel of Bahia," she was a Brazilian nun who founded one of the largest and most respected charitable organizations in Brazil. We recently celebrated her feast day on August 13, and she is one of the amazing women featured in my book, Important Catholic Women of the 20th Century.

This summer, I’ve found myself in the minority more often than usual. It’s a different experience than my day-to-day life, where most people I encounter look and talk more or less like me. In these different environments, I was often guessing what was said, flexing my "go with the flow" muscles, and doing some fantastic people-watching. But what I saw wasn’t just a series of interesting moments—it was a collection of universal truths about love, family, and kindness. I’ve started calling it "people appreciating."

Friends, I’m so excited today to share the story of a woman who truly embodies courage, intellect, and an unwavering commitment to truth. Her feast day is coming up on August 9th, and honestly, not enough people know about the incredible life of Edith Stein, also known as St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. She’s one of the women I feature in my book, Important Catholic Women of the 20th Century, and for good reason!

Y'all, I am genuinely, overwhelmingly blessed to have so many incredible people in my life who both love me and whom I have the privilege to love. It's an embarrassment of riches, truly. This past summer, in particular, has offered a beautiful abundance of opportunities to connect with these wonderful individuals. What an honor, right? 

Ever notice how some people just get things done? They see a problem, and even if everyone else is shrugging their shoulders, they roll up their sleeves and get to work. That's exactly the kind of spirit we're celebrating today with two incredible women from the 20th century: Sr. M. Madeleva Wolff and Cory Aquino.

Sending my children off to college has been a journey filled with profound pride and, yes, a touch of wistfulness. Watching them step into this exciting new phase of life, with all its unknowns, deeply resonated with my own experiences and sparked a desire to share some lessons learned. These reflections inspired my book, An I Love You Book for People About to Take on the World.

I’m reporting in again on my 2025 goals I shared back in January. If you’ve been reading this blog for a bit you may recall that I promised to check in with you quarterly to give an update On how I’ve been doing. I have three main goals for the year, and spoiler alert - I’m doing great on one, meh on the next, and a complete fail on the last. You can stop reading now if you want! But if you like all the details, the scoop and whatnot, then keep reading.

It feels like I've been incredibly lucky lately, having many amazing opportunities come my way. Sometimes it almost seems unfair, and definitely more than I deserve! But these experiences have also been a powerful reminder: whenever it feels like there isn't enough room for everyone, or not enough good things to go around, that's simply not true.

Have you ever wondered why people act the way they do? Sometimes folks do things that seem totally unnecessary, or incredibly kind, or even flat-out baffling. I've been thinking about this a lot lately, and while I certainly don't have all the answers, I do know one thing: people give what they have to give.

Ever notice how some things just are? Like a cat's uncanny ability to know the exact moment you're trying to make the bed, only to immediately claim it as their own fluffy throne? Or how a toddler, seemingly engrossed in independent play, suddenly develops an urgent, life-or-death need the second you answer a phone call? These aren't just quirky coincidences; they hint at a deeper truth about knowing their human or parent from hours of observation and study.

It seems like lately, I’ve been getting messages about disagreements and tense conversations!

Recently, I was reminded that the Netflix movie The Two Popes is a masterclass in respectful disagreement, so I watched it again that night. Then, I came across another mention in David Novak's book, How Leaders Learn. Novak points out that silence can often signal disagreement, especially when someone doesn't feel comfortable voicing their opinion.