Of Gilead, the NICU, and Existence

... My son was born early and had a rather dramatic entry into the world. He required a 31 day stay in the NICU before coming home. Any parent who’s undergone the NICU experience understands the profound grief that comes with a loss of agency. When all your parenting instincts to hold, rock and comfort the …

The Creative Work of Gratitude

...It has been hard to be grateful to say the least. Faced with the loss and endangerment of my children, giving thanks has not been in the forefront of my mind. Yet, I’ve found it is possible. A simple reorganization of thoughts and a shift in mindset can help reframe a situation. Where at first I …

Lord, we have no wine.

I stumbled upon a new prayer for my heart. I've heard it before, every time I've read the Gospel of John's account of the Wedding at Cana.  John 2:3 "When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, 'They have no wine." "They have no wine." Such a simple declarative sentence. I've …

Lepanto, Our Lady of the Rosary, and the Power of Prayer

As I have been reading and learning about the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, (This Saturday-October 7th) and the battle of Lepanto, I’ve been struck by two recurring themes present in this event. The first, is the presence of Mary in military battle. As the author of this article from Word on Fire has …

Her Heart still worked

Her heart still worked. It was capable or recognizing beauty, even after a barrage of attacks against it the past few months. Years really.  Loss, loss, loss. That's all the last three years seemed to give.  At least that's how it seemed on the bleakest days. But here, on her bed, novel just finished, held …

Missing links…

I haven't been much for writing these past few weeks/months. I could attribute this to a myriad of reasons. The sheer absurdity of the world and how depressing our current state of affairs are is perhaps my biggest block. Who wants more doom and gloom on their screens? I'm not inclined to be a Debby …

"Easier to be Good"

Dorothy Day has been on my mind lately. I read her autobiography, The Long Loneliness last year and it has stuck with me. What I remember most about it is the postscript which reads:"We were just sitting there talking when lines of people began to form, saying, 'We need bread.' We could not say, 'Go, be …

I Don’t Want Balance, I Want Integration.

I was sitting in car line yesterday morning, when an idea came to me.Look at any women's magazine, or website aimed at mothers, and you will surely be inundated with articles regarding "balance." How to's and tips for "juggling" family life and career abound, and all are starting with the premise that these aspects of …

Wood Turning and the Fruits of Nap TIme Improv

Wood turning and choreography. There's a connection there. Here's the story. If you've read my posts about the nap time improv project, you may remember that I've been using the beautiful music of Mr. Jamie Weems for both improvisations and my latest piece of choreography. The piece of music I'm currently working with was originally …

A Poem of Morning Gratitude

Thanks for my garden and all things green. Thanks for all beauty yet unseen, For sleeping babies soft and sweet, For the ability to stand on my own two feet. Give thanks for morning writing, uninhibited, For thoughts coming together, the connections riveted. https://www.instagram.com/p/BEJX8rkEzSa/?taken-by=sarah_homemaker_dancer *Update: I submitted this poem to Gilbert Magazine via a letter …