I am so thankful for all my followers and customers! Visit my shop this weekend and get 20% off 2+ items! No code needed. HomegrownCatholics.etsy.com  ..read more

 ?Two weeks, people! ? Two weeks until our new school year begins. (I know some have already begun.) I've been evaluating the past year of homeschooling, and I found some shortcomings I hope to resolve. I also have been restructuring our spaces with one less high schooler but one new kindergartener. It's been intriguing, exciting and mentally exhausting. My prayers for all the teachers out there in traditional and home schools. It is a worthwhile task because it's a vocation, a calling, a joy, and a privilege to be their teacher. I had a good, deep look at our previous and upcoming homesc ..read more

  It's been a long journey to this 17th year of homeschooling,  20 years of marriage and parenting, and 43 years of life. Two children are now adults, one finding her own way far away and the other about to graduate high school. I feel like we're in all the phases of life at once except grandparenting. It's been beautiful to look back upon all the adventures we've shared together, recognize all that we've learned, and yet how much more there is to learn and explore. The youngest is in preschool, so we have about 14 years to do a whole lot more! This October marked the 5 year anniver ..read more

 I'm primarily posting on Homegrowncatholics.blogspot.com from now on if you'd like to look at all the new posts on Living Liturgically with your family. Life has been busier than usual with half the kids being teens now.  No time to post about it yet, but hopefully a brief reflection now and then!  I've also added so many new things in my HomegrownCatholics.etsy.com shop for teaching children about the Catholic Faith.  Most of what I share is free on my blogs, many lesson plans and activities, but I sometimes create a special document that's easy to print and use as ofte ..read more

I know what it's like to browse the internet in hopes that someone else created what you're hoping to do, so you can just print and get to it. That's been my mission by sharing here and on my Homegrown Catholics blog. Tomorrow begins the 2021 Lenten Season, and fortunately even I can print out this ready to go plan. Lenten Journey for Families is a free lesson plan with journaling activities. Each week will include an activity, reflection, copywork, writing assignment and craft. Lent: Are you prepared to be repaired is a blog full of more ideas for your Lenten journey. All printab ..read more

 As you may have been able to tell, I've been making more time for my family and friends, and blogging has become more of a pastime hobby. But every once in awhile I get on here to post an activity that I created for my family and wanted to share it with all of you! Visit my Homegrown Catholics Blog to see all my family activities. Hopefully someday soon I can come back on here to blog about our homeschool days and faith journey. NEW: 2020 Advent and Christmas Activities for Families http://homegrowncatholics.blogspot.com/2020/11/2020-catholic-advent-calendar-for.html This is a FREE Adve ..read more

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas 2019 and a Happy New Year 2020! This season is full of reminders of all our blessings, including the relationships we hold dearly with our friends and family. Know that we lift you up in our prayers that you can see God at work in your life. In our experience, sometimes the search for joy and those blessings is a little harder when there is grief, illness, broken relationships, stress of all kinds. That's where hope shines a Christ light and we keep moving forward. May you be blessed with abundant hope, joy, mercy and peace. Here's our Christmas ..read more

We hope your 2018 was filled with joy!    Most of you have followed with us on our journey, but we wanted to share some of the highlights. It is because of the support of so many of you that this year has been prosperous and filled with hope. We are truly blessed. Thank you!   It’s been a year of firsts in grieving the loss of our son, Eddie. It has certainly given us new vigor and reliance on our faith, and determination to stay focused on our priorities. God continues to reveal himself to us through humility, study, prayer, God-incidents, and others. He speaks to o ..read more

artist unknown Angels and Saints stand before me, and known not by sight. I bask in all the glory of God and in His holy light. Here in Adoration I bow and humbly listen to his words Calling upon the Spirit to guide my hand unto the Lord's. He writes my pen, he heals my wounds, I barely speak or move. It is in this holy place I feel He is close and offers love. Jesus, my everything and my all. Jesus, I trust you when I fall. You life me up in splendor of your grace. I will do all you ask of me knowing one day I'll see your face. Others will see only you in me. This is your will t ..read more

I admit I focus too much time on social media. I have to try hard to resist responding to all the questions I have answers for, posting about everything new we do, or sharing my opinion when I could just scroll by. I feel called to boldly witness to others on matters of life, faith, politics and other topics. Many times I have been given comments that I've inspired others through something I've shared. But in years past, more often I found myself taking up debates with strangers about topics that take books and time, not a few bold sentences, to understand. I tell my kids they cannot play on ..read more