News flash - Thanksgiving is next week! That means the holiday season is just around the corner - a time of lights, food, parties, and for some, challenging conversations, difficult people and nostalgia for times past. Such a beautiful time of year often sparks strong emotions, in  every sense. So, in addition to creating the perfect menu, thawing the turkey, and tidying the house, what else can you be doing to get ready? I believe some of the most important prep work starts with what’s going on inside us.

How to get your heart ready for the holidays

Have you ever noticed how when you focus on growing your faith, you become more patient? 

Maybe it’s just me, but I’ve noticed a change in myself. See, patience has never been my forte. I don’t like driving behind slow drivers; I don’t want to walk behind someone on a leisurely stroll. I don’t like to wait in line (or anywhere else for that matter) and when I think you should “get” something, I really don't understand why we might need to go over something again. 

But that’s changing. I still don’t enjoy the things I listed above, but I don’t snap at people as quickly as I used to. I don’t wish for someone’s tires to explode as often as before. I’m in less of a hurry so it’s ok to hear the whole story, every detail. 

We all know the big, bold declarations of love—the romantic gestures, the heartfelt cards, the whispered "I love yous." But what about the quiet, often unglamorous acts that speak volumes? The ones that might even get lost in the everyday hustle and bustle? This post dives into the surprising, sometimes messy, ways our mothers (and the important figures in our lives) show their devotion, revealing that love isn't always a grand pronouncement, but rather a consistent, actionable presence. Get ready to discover the "I love yous" you might have been missing.

Ever wonder how the tapestry of your past weaves into the person you are today? I was recently invited to reflect on my family of origin and how my background has shaped me into who I am today. I wrote down my parent’s and siblings’ names, birthdates and for some, death dates, for each person of our 7-member tribe. I wrote about the atmosphere I grew up in, significant events, and the impact they had for me.

How to move beyond 'How are you?' to have genuinely meaningful daily conversations

Is there someone in your life who you would like to have better conversations with? Stay in touch in a more meaningful way? We’ve all been there - whether it’s a moody teenager, a friend from college, your partner or spouse at the end of the day, or really anyone with whom you want to keep in touch, but you just find yourself going back over the same. three. words. all. the. time. This blog is for you.

I don’t know about you, but it feels like life never slows down anymore. There’s always something that needs to be done, a deadline looming, a request you can’t say no to, or someone asking a question. I find myself very often getting pulled into the tyranny of the urgent, whether or not it’s important. And this can make it extremely difficult to do what IS important! 

Something I’ve been trying to prioritize is keeping in touch with people near and far. I’ve found that if I don’t make a conscious effort, it becomes too easy to let days, weeks and even months go by without having real contact even with some of the people I love most. And so I thought I’d offer some ideas on how to combat this, just in case you’re in the same boat. 

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.