The countdown happened at 8:30pm at our house, complete with sparklers, fountains and noise makers. We rang in the New Year with kids laughing and yelling "Happy New Year!" Prior to the brief party we went around the dinner table and shared two highlights of 2020 and two things that were challenging from the year. During our family prayers that evening we decided to skip intentions and instead to solely pray in thanksgiving for all of the blessings we had received in 2020. There is no doubt 2020 was difficult and challenging. It stretched most of us in new ways, even at times what felt like to our limit. What we ... view the post
Lasting Joy in a Fleeting World
I am sitting down to begin writing this post on the Third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday. These days it seems I can never get everything written and complete in one day without someone needing me before anything is finished. And here I find myself already Thursday, almost to the Fourth Sunday, first now finishing this. So this is life with little ones! Gaudete is to rejoice, to have joy. To have joy, because Our Lord is near. To rejoice, because the birth of our Savior is drawing close. Joy, because our redemption is at hand. God made man, to save the world. To save us from our sins and to redeem mankind. It ... view the post
To Find Healing
This time of year can be incredibly difficult for those grieving a loss. A painful reminder of who they are not celebrating with at Christmas. Perhaps it is the baby longing to be conceived, the little one who was miscarried, the child delivered stillborn or the one who lived for only a short few weeks. Our first miscarriage happened at 12 weeks, the day before Christmas Eve. As the choir sang Joy to the World my heart was gripped with pain. A time of good tidings and cheer and I was overcome with sorrow. As the world celebrated the birth of a baby, I grieved the loss of ours. One year later, the following ... view the post
Adoption: Being Family
This may be my all time favorite picture. While there could be a little bias present, because it is my family. Still it is a picture that if I look at it with my heart, immediately fills my eyes with tears! Just a short five years ago this picture would have been only my husband and I with empty arms and heavy hearts. Wondering God's plan for us and if we would ever be blessed with children. Fast forward, five children later and this is our family. What draws me to this picture are the smiles and the joy in each of my children's faces. Yes, we said cheese and smiled, but I know that the joy and love expressed ... view the post
Monday News
1. Exciting news!! EWTN will be featuring Nursery of Heaven the beginning of December! I am doing two episodes on At Home with Jim and Joy airing December 2 and 3 at 1:30pm ET/12:30pm CT. I am incredibly humbled, honored and a tiny bit nervous to say the least!! If you think of it, please say a prayer for me. (And a prayer for Aaron as he takes care of all five kiddos for three days, while I am away taping.) 2. During the shows I will be talking about the book I co-authored, Nursery of Heaven and the topic of miscarriage, stillbirth and infant loss. How can we find healing, what role does our faith play, how can we ... view the post