But Margit Slachta spent her whole life proving that theory wrong. She was a consecrated religious sister AND the first woman in the Hungarian Parliament. She was a woman of prayer AND a woman of the public square.

Her feast day, January 6th, marks the anniversary of her passing right here in the U.S. In a world that tells us to pick a side—professional or spiritual—Margit shows us a better way.

It’s the last time this year for me to report on how I’ve been doing on the 2025 goals I shared back in January. I have to say, I have no sense of time anymore. This year has FLOWN by and at the same time, I feel like we live in dog years anymore and at least 7 years of activities and events have happened in these 12 months. Maybe the sheer volume of “stuff” makes me a big believer in the mantra “progress, not perfection,” and there was a lot of progress in 2025! Here’s a quick rundown of the goals I’ve been reporting on and a few other memorable moments. 

The season of Advent is always one of reflection for me. Certainly the timing at the end of the calendar year helps, but it’s also a period that marks some important events in my life. Put these together and it makes it a natural time to take stock and reflect. 

Advent is a season of waiting and hopeful anticipation, and the greatest hope we can hold is an experience of God’s love. Taking stock means recognizing that this love is the foundation, not the reward. It’s about letting the peace of His coming settle, knowing that our worth is already secured.

This has always been my favorite time of year, ever since I was a child! I love seeing houses and shops decked out in holiday lights and Christmas trees. I love Christmas carols, parties and gifts, both giving and receiving. But I have to admit that this year, the holiday season has had me on the struggle sleigh a LOT. I feel worn out coming to the end of this very packed year, and capping it off with the busiest time of year - well, sometimes it can be a lot. 

But the calendar isn’t the only culprit in this holiday chaos. I have to be honest - the truth is I’m doing this to myself. 

Finding connections that truly last—the ones that weather any storm—requires an intentional, multi-pronged approach. It's definitely not a 'one and done' scenario! I recently learned this lesson while trying to set up a new outdoor nativity scene.

After a few shopping mishaps (including a first set with a St. Joseph that looked better suited for a bank heist than a stable), I finally got a pretty set from my local Home Depot. I was thrilled! That is, until I quickly realized the figures were so lightweight a small breeze could send them tumbling, turning Bethlehem into a demolition derby!

Image credit: Catholic News Archive

Do you ever feel like you're “too far gone” for a real life change? Like your past mistakes, your current habits, or your general wild-card status make you ineligible for serious spiritual growth?

Well, if you need a dose of grace, grit, and pure, unapologetic conviction, let me introduce you to Dorothy Day, whose feast day just passed on November 29. 

She’s the first woman featured in my book, Important Catholic Women of the 20th Century, and honestly, her story is the definition of a radical, life-altering transformation. If Dorothy Day—with a past that included bohemian living, intense political activism, an abortion, and a non-sacramental marriage—could become one of the most dedicated and influential American Catholics of her time, then truly, anyone can.

Earlier this week, I dove into one of those projects that seems like a brilliant idea at the start, feels like a TERRIBLE idea halfway through, and yet turns out great in the end: I made apple butter. From scratch.

It was an effort to convert the small mountain of apples from our weekly food box into one of my favorite comfort foods. As I peeled my 30th apple with what felt like 500 more to go, I couldn’t help but ask, “WHY ON EARTH did I think this was a good idea!?”

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.