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.

Imagine this: billions of us, walking around, living our lives, yet we're almost all identical twins. Genetically speaking, that's not far from the truth. A staggering 99.9% of human DNA is the same across our entire species. It's that tiny, remarkable 0.1% that makes each of us uniquely "us."

This concept, beautifully explored by geneticist James F. Crow, highlights a profound truth: what unites us as humans far outweighs what divides us.

It often strikes me how the human spirit can rise to such extraordinary heights, often in the midst of the most ordinary of lives. We see glimpses of this in our everyday interactions, in quiet acts of kindness and unwavering devotion. But then there are stories that shine like beacons, illuminating the profound capacity for love and sacrifice that resides within us. The story of St. Gianna Beretta Molla, whose feast day we celebrate on April 28th, is undoubtedly one of those beacons, and one that I was honored to explore in my book, Important Catholic Women of the 20th Century.

Funny how each season of life brings its amazing, beautiful moments right alongside the exhausting, seemingly never-ending ones. Why is that? You find yourself simultaneously excited and present, yet also longing for some phases to pass, feeling nostalgic for the past, and eagerly anticipating the future – all swirling together. Perhaps nothing embodies this "now, past, and future" blend quite like being a parent.

Back in January I gave myself some goals for the year and promised to check in with you quarterly to give an update. I set out 3 things I hoped to accomplish this year, and am pushing myself waaaaayyyyy out of my comfort zone to tell you all about them publicly. Darn accountability!