Degrees in Idealism

exploring how we would live if we truly believed life was meaningful

Why I Need Mary

05.31.2018 by Elizabeth Hanna Pham // 1 Comment

Today’s Feast of the Visitation is a day close to my heart, because out of all the St. Elizabeths, the very first St. Elizabeth is the one I most identify with. I’ve always loved that, other than Mary and Joseph, she was the very first person to recognize the Baby Jesus. But, unlike Elizabeth, devotion […]

Categories // Soul Tags // #catholicism, #faith, #mary, #motherhood, #parenthood

A Mother’s Bias

05.10.2016 by Elizabeth Hanna Pham // 2 Comments

I’m not doing this again.  I’ve thought it quite a few times. I thought it through my pregnancy’s complications and annoyances. I thought it as they strapped me to the operating table and started vigorously pushing and pulling on my stomach. I thought it as I first stepped out of the hospital bed and felt […]

Categories // Family Tags // #babies, #courage, #faith, #motherhood, #parenthood

Faith in Reality

03.16.2016 by Elizabeth Hanna Pham // Leave a Comment

Our culture often treats faith as synonymous with delusion. At Christmas time we see the word, “believe,” written in whimsical font and we’re not really sure whether it’s referring to Santa or Jesus or whatever-makes-you-happy. This can make people with honest religious faith feel insecure about that faith. When so many beliefs really are delusions […]

Categories // Soul Tags // #faith, #God, #pregnancy, #unbornbaby

No Santa? But What About the Magic?

12.17.2015 by Elizabeth Hanna Pham // 1 Comment

I’ve written before about why we aren’t doing Santa in the traditional sense. We love and appreciate him and want to maintain his spirit through both his real Saint namesake and through his fairy tale, but we won’t be insisting that he delivers our children’s gifts on Christmas Day. I am a bit unique in the camp of […]

Categories // Family Tags // #children, #christmas, #faith, #magic, #parenthood, #santa

Why Santa doesn’t come to our house

08.10.2015 by Elizabeth Hanna Pham // 1 Comment

I love Santa (to be distinguished here from the historical St. Nicholas, who I also love). I don’t mean I “love” him in the way that I “love” the color green or goat cheese. I love Santa in a way that makes me tear up at the thought of him. I love Santa more than any […]

Categories // Culture, Family, Soul Tags // #children, #christmas, #faith, #magic, #santa

Baby Peace

07.03.2014 by Elizabeth Hanna Pham // 3 Comments

The doctor tells me I’m good to go– no more tests or appointments until my first ultrasound. But I’m skeptical. Should I request more blood draws? Should I keep a stock of pregnancy tests to take every now and then just to be sure things are still okay– just to be sure the baby’s still […]

Categories // Family, Marriage, Soul Tags // #babies, #faith, #motherhood, #parenthood, #pregnancy

  • 1
  • 2
  • Next Page »

About Me

I'm Elizabeth. I'm a wife, a mother to six children, a writer, and a lover and seeker of the beautiful, the true, and the good. I am a believer in idealism-- that even amidst the chaos and the confusion, the exhaustion and the sadness of life there is always joy to be found, hope to be clung to, and a better path to be taken. I write my thoughts on this blog. Links to my fiction books are at the bottom of the page.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog.

Storybook of Saints

Book Cover: A Storybook of Saints

A Storybook of Saints

sons of God

sons of God

A short novella in which Lucifer talks about his dad.

View Book

Copyright © 2022 · Modern Studio Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in