Did you know that older dishwashers need to be disassembled and cleaned biannually? Now, I don't know about newer models-I don't have one-but if you have never cleaned your dishwasher, it may be time to roll up your sleeves and get to work. Over the last several weeks I started noticing that my dishes were not getting clean in my dishwasher. Even pre-rinsed glasses sand bowls were coming out with a sandy grit plastered to the inside.   As much as I have been pining for a new dishwasher (I have a beautiful, energy efficient black model in mind), we simply cannot afford to buy a new appli ..read more

Okay, moms of young children, think about the past week.  What chores have your preschoolers done?  As moms, our main duty toward our children is to teach them how to be responsible, God-loving (and fearing) adults who have the tools they need to be successful in their lives--whatever that success may look like. One of those tools is the ability to, desire to and knowledge of how to take care of their possessions, and of course to keep house.  If you are doing all of the daily chores around your house by your lonesome, not only are you cre ..read more

About two years ago, I decided to turn my crocheting and writing hobbies into some extra cash for my family.  I was just getting my feet wet, when my daughter was born with some special needs and I needed to take a complete sabbatical from my seedling of a business. Now, 18 months later, I am ready to continue restart my at-home business. "Business" whoa, that sounds overwhelming.  I am  not looking to create a huge income or anything.  Honestly, I would be beyond thrilled with an extra $200 a month.   However I was quickly confronted by ..read more

Spring is here and the florwers in Indiana are in full bloom.  Unfortunately, Indiana weather has us covering up the tender annuals every other night in anticipation of frost. The Garden beds are tilled and most of my veggies that I started indoors are growing nicely.   Finally.  It took me three years of trying to start seeds indoors before I finally got a tray full of vegetables growing nicely.  The first few years I ended up trashing most of the pots and buying plants from the store.  Even then, my plants haven't been the best producers, but every year my ..read more

Many men in my generation and younger speak to women, about women, and in front of women in terrible ways, using horrible language that tears women down and turns what God has designed to be beautiful and holy into something that is dirty and shameful. For many women, young and old, this type of speech from men is all they know.  Men either talk to and about them as sexual objects or ignore them, so many women feel that their worth is in their sexual nature, their ability to fulfill men’s sexual desires, and nothing more.  Many women—even “good,” Christian women would rather have th ..read more

What is Modesty?  Modesty is the virtue of not drawing attention to ourself through our speech, dress, or conduct. Of course, this does not only apply to sexual attention--although that the most prevalent form of immodesty in our current culture—and it does not apply only to women. The Catechism states that, Modesty protects the intimate center of the person. It means refusing to unveil what should remain hidden. It is ordered to chastity to whose sensitivity it bears witness. It guides how one looks at others and behaves towards them in conformity with the dignity of persons and their s ..read more

Immodesty is everywhere—on television, in ads, on  the street, in your husband’s office, in your children’s school, perhaps in our own dress and conduct.  We have become so indoctrinated by our sex-obsessed culture that we accept immodesty, hardly notice it, or in an attempt to avoid seeming like prudes, we ignore, allow, and even participate in immodest conduct and dress.  I have been all of the above at one time or another.  It wasn’t until I had my first daughter that I really began to recognize the sex-obsession of our culture, the ridiculousness of many women’s ..read more

Last week I challenged you to set your table for every meal possible--yes, that does mean eating at the table.  This week I want to invite you to take the next step towards making meal times one of hte most rewarding times of your day.  Bring on the spiritual discussions!  Growing up, we prayed before dinner, at home around the table, but not breakfast or lunch. So, the next step in my journey to making meals matter was to start praying at every meal.   Boy, has the Holy Spirit been busy blessing my efforts. I actually feel more thankful the food we hav ..read more

           It's 9:00AM on Sunday morning and I am running around my house like a mad woman, putting shoes on tiny feet, and shoving little arms in teeny jacket arm-holes, pouring some cheerios and milk in small, plastic containers for my toddler and getting my sling ready for the baby.  I find a few small, quiet  toys for my wee ones and get all of us out the door.  I lug the infant seat, diaper bag with one hand and hold my toddler's hand with the other and we waddle into church.  My littl ..read more

 In A Mother's Rule of Life, Holly Pierlot beautifully reminds us that as wives and mothers, the married life is our vocation, given to us from God and encourages women to order their lives around a "Rule of Life," a traditional Christian tool often used in religious community life.  After examining the 5 priorities of the married vocation: Prayer, Person, Partner, Parent, and Provider, Holly walks her readers through creating daily, weeks and monthly schedules and routines designed to bring order, peace of mind and holiness to o ..read more