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 […]
A Mother’s Bias
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 […]
Faith in Reality
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 […]
No Santa? But What About the Magic?
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 […]
Why Santa doesn’t come to our house
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 […]
Baby Peace
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 […]
