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This morning, prayer was different for me. I usually read the Gospels for the day as I sit and pray in the recliner before the rest of the house wakes up. Today, the Wednesday of Holy Week, is referred to as "Spy Wednesday". Judas is going to betray Jesus after the Last Supper tomorrow evening, but would have had to sell Him out first. That was today's Gospel. As I read, my mind wandered away from Judas to Jesus. What would Jesus have been doing the days leading up to th

The Gospel today takes place at the Last Supper. Jesus foretells the betrayal of Judas and the three-time denial of Peter. There is often a physical response to hearing this. These men have walked with Jesus. They know Him, or at least it seems. They have seen the way He loves, watched Him perform miracles. listened to His mercy. Yet, they still betray and deny. Then, I remember my need to go to Confession on a regular basis. I remind myself, I am Judas and Peter. I hav

I love getting creative in the kitchen. Typically, the pantry is well stocked so there are plenty of items to make lots of yummy treats. Recently, I made a lemon filled two layer cake. It's my mom's favorite and I'm trying to perfect it for Easter lunch! The filling was oh so tart and sweet. The cake was dense, in the best way possible. The buttercream was perfectly smooth and creamy. Put it all together (and refrigerate) and it was so good. The only problem...extra ici

I remember a time when March 10 was just another day on the calendar. The day after a sweet friend's birthday. The day to begin the St. Joseph Novena in preparation for his feast day on March 19. One day closer to my seniors last day of school. March 10 is no longer just a day on the calendar. That all changed on March 10, 2022. On March 10, 2022 in a Buc-cee's parking lot in Baytown, Texas, I buckled my little girl into a car that was not mine and surrendered her back t

Sometimes I struggle with trusting God- His timing, His plan, His path, His ways. It's not a new struggle of mine. For someone who likes to be in control, it can be daunting to "let go and let God." Those moments (often spanning long periods of time) lead to feeling unsettled and an overall lack of peace. One of the best pieces of advice I was given by a priest friend was to pray the Litany of Trust written by the Sisters of Life. This bold prayer gets at the heart of tr

Ever had those moments where God seems to nudge you when you have failed to move? Those moments when it feels as if He's trying to get your attention, when He wants your trust. I am convinced that God desires for each of us to have peace, "for He is our peace" (Eph 2:14). If I'm honest with myself, my greatest sources of unrest are not the "what ifs" of life. My greatest source of unrest is living in the indecision that comes from not trusting that God is enough and He wil

I was asked recently by a student why I loved to bake so much. There are many parts to the answer. I love to bake/make because I believe it is a gift given to me by God. I don't want to waste the gift from the Giver of all good things. I love to bake/make because good food brings people together. Sitting around a table with people I love or barely know and sharing a meal provides so much happiness and laughter. I love to bake/make because I pass on recipes from people t

Anyone else ever worry uselessly? Do you have conversations in your mind that never actually happen? Do you wake up in the middle of the night playing a situation in your head that may never happen? Or am I just telling on myself? I have the tendency to overthink. It is a habit that I actively work on as I recognize it causes lots of unnecessary stress. If I'm being honest, it also takes me away from the peace that God desires for me. I believe it is a tool that Satan

Today, as we have a group marching at the National March for Life in DC, my students are watching the documentary, "I Lived on Parker Avenue." If you've never seen it, check it out on Youtube. It is the beautiful story of adoption. I have seen it before, but, as the kids say, it hit different today. Today was the first time I've watched it since our failed adoption of Anna Marie and our successful adoption of Thomas. I wept the first three classes I showed the film to.

I have grown to love quiet time. Like most of you, this quiet time is often hard to come by. Between an active two year old, teaching high school seniors, cooking, baking, cleaning, caring for my husband and daughter, it can almost seem impossible to find these quiet moments. But I need them, so I have to make the time. Each morning, I set my alarm a little earlier than everyone else. I squeeze in twenty minutes of yoga while the coffee brews. Then, I sit in the stillne

I love St. Teresa of Calcutta. I love her simplicity. I love her surrender to God. I love her faith in the midst of darkness. I love how she practiced truth in love. St. Teresa of Calcutta is a reminder to me to love the people that God has put in my path. Her path took her through the slums of Calcutta. My path takes me through the halls of a high school. She reminds me to see each person as Jesus. For her, this was the destitute and dying. For me, it is a call to

If you've ever baked a loaf of sourdough, you know that it requires lots of time. From feeding the discard to letting it bulk ferment twice, to actually baking, takes about 24 hours. Some may look at this humble loaf of bread and not see the value or worth in practicing patience. But when you slice it to find a beautiful combination of crust and perfectly tender crumb, you know the wait was worth it and so is the bread. AND this bread has health benefits that surpass tho

The gospel for Mass today comes from Luke 5. A leper approaches Jesus and says, "Lord, make me clean, if you wish." What faith! This man believed God has the power to heal, but his prayer is one of surrender. There is trust that God will do what is in the leper's best interest. I have to believe that if Jesus said "no", the leper still believes, still prays, still has faith, and ultimately still surrenders. I want this faith. I want this prayer to be my own. I want thi

Today, I am reflecting on Luke 10:25-37. This is the Great Command and the Parable of the Good Samaritan. In this passage, a scholar of the law approaches Jesus and asks Him how to get to heaven. What is heaven and why has/is it the desire of the human heart for thousands of years? Heaven is eternal life with God, who is Love. Heaven is perfect happiness and peace. If I rephrase the question with this understanding, it becomes, "Lord, what must I do to experience perfect

As a teacher, I am blessed to teach seniors in high school. Due to the schedule of the school and course I teach, students switch out of my class after Christmas break and I receive a new group in January. It is one of the great joys of my job because I am gifted with each senior before he/she graduates. It is such an honor. Today is testimony day. I share my story of faith with them- the good and the bad. It is an attempt for them to know where I am coming from as we ap

January 6 is traditionally the day the Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of the Epiphany. It is the twelfth night. This day is marked by the visit of the Magi to Jesus in the manger delivering gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These seemingly odd gifts are representative of Jesus' kingship, priesthood, and death. Gold was reserved for kings. Frankincense was used by priests. Myrrh was an ointment used for burials. This feast is a reminder that the Kingdom of Go

Baking is more than just a culinary art; it is a heartfelt expression of love, tradition, and faith. Being in the kitchen is a way to express my love for others while connecting me to the past. Why Pansy's Pralines Family recipes are treasures that teach us a little about the past, our culture, and the people we love. In cooking or baking, I am able to hone a God-given talent, share a little piece of myself with others, pray through working, and bless someone else with homem