We’ve bought into the myth that true connection only happens during the big, perfect moments: the fancy Sunday brunch, the elaborate 'Family Fun Night,' or the annual unplugged vacation. We wait for these "Big Moments" to appear, and while we’re waiting, we’re missing the 1,000 tiny opportunities for connection right in front of us.

The truth is, connection isn't a destination we reach once we finish our endless To-Do list. If you're like me—juggling a career, writing, and raising kids—that list never ends. If we wait for "Quality Time" to happen, we’re essentially telling our families, "I’ll be fully yours once the world stops spinning." But the world doesn't stop.

We’ve all been there: the moving truck pulls away, the airport goodbye lingers a bit too long, or you realize it’s been three months since you had a conversation that wasn't interrupted by a weak Wi-Fi signal. In the "faith and family" world, we talk a lot about the "empty nest" or "leaving and cleaving," but we don't always talk about the emotional maintenance required when your support system is three time zones away.

Living far apart is a logistical challenge, but it’s often the "emotional drift" that scares us most. Here is how to keep the heart strings taut even when the miles are long. And my video on this topic is at the bottom of the page!

If you’re like me, you’re obsessed with productivity. You have the deadlines, the to-do list, and the laser-focus needed to "move the needle" in your professional life. And if you’re really like me, you’ve learned that the single biggest perceived "threat" to that productivity is often the people you love the most.

It’s the phone call from your kid right when you finally found your writing flow. It’s the unexpected FaceTime request from a sibling while you’re staring at a complex data set. It’s the "Hey, do you have a sec?" that we all know is never just a second.

It is dangerously easy to view these moments as annoyances—little roadblocks standing between you and your goals. But in the final installment of The Connection Experiment, I am flipping the script to tackle the heart of the matter: Availability.

Are you tired of the narrative that your phone is the "great divider" of your modern family? We've all seen—or been part of—that scene: the dinner table where everyone is staring at a glowing rectangle instead of each other. It’s easy to feel like our phones are noisy roommates, constantly clamoring for attention and stealing our presence.

But here’s the truth: for families scattered across time zones, the phone is more than a distraction—it's a lifeline.

If you're anything like me, your day begins with a silent pact: coffee first, conversation much, much later. I'm a firm believer in the sanctity of the pre-7:00 AM quiet, and my family knows to tread lightly.

But this personal rhythm creates a major problem when your loved ones live far away. I live with the constant struggle of trying to keep up with kids and other family members in different time zones, each with our own busy schedules. By the time I’m fully caffeinated and ready to connect, everyone in my family is already deep into their own days. It’s like we are playing entirely different songs at the same time—a frustrating situation I call the "Out of Sync" Syndrome.

They say distance makes the heart grow fonder. But let’s be honest—distance can also make the heart feel a little bit... lonely. Whether your kids just moved out, your grandkids live three states away, or your best friend is across the country, staying connected takes more than just a 'like' on a photo.

If you’re struggling to maintain solid, ongoing relationships with your distant loved ones, you are not alone. As someone who has lived in three different countries and is now watching her older children start their own adult lives, I know the struggle is real. The problem isn't a lack of love; it’s a lack of time.

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.