tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27583303351000377592024-03-27T01:36:44.893-05:00Sacrifice of LoveDiscussions of literature, Catholicism, and the epic adventures of everyday life.AnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.comBlogger800125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758330335100037759.post-54938834866394145002024-03-14T16:47:00.000-05:002024-03-14T16:47:14.367-05:00My Electrifying ExistenceThe house was hushed and the lights were dim as I walked away from the bedroom where three of my children slept. Holding the toddler in my arms, I grabbed my laptop--might as well watch a show while putting her to sleep, I figured. I grabbed the charging cable too, since my laptop would not work unless it was plugged in. Still holding my child, I started to plug the laptop's charging cord AnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758330335100037759.post-51311930767146876342024-03-06T15:46:00.005-06:002024-03-15T19:05:31.128-05:00February 2023 ReadsHappy March, everyone! Since it's the beginning of the month, it's time to look back on the past few weeks to talk the books that crossed my path. In February, I read a mix of fiction and nonfiction, both adult and children's books. I was able to read quite a bit, because I was unexpectedly unable to use my laptop for an entire week--and since I don't have a smartphone, I was thus without any AnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758330335100037759.post-28921096826651363782024-02-20T13:49:00.001-06:002024-02-20T13:59:17.203-06:00How Catholic parishes can support homeschooling familiesMy family and I are moving to the area soon, and we're homeschoolers. What is a good church that offers opportunities for homeschooling families?A variation of this question regularly pops up within social media groups, especially as people look ahead to the coming school year. Over time, I've noticed that in the Catholic community, the same handful of parishes tend to be recommended over and AnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758330335100037759.post-76224280651955730132024-02-10T22:12:00.002-06:002024-02-10T22:12:35.121-06:00Journey into Lent with Barbie (and Ken)In the aftermath of a glorious battle that began with hobby horses and tennis rackets and ended in a fabulous dance sequence, an assortment of Barbies, Kens, and Mattel employees ponder the events of Greta Gerwig’s delightful film, Barbie. One of the Kens speaks to the group, his voice deep and resolute:"We were only fighting because we didn't know who we were."Throughout a series of wild AnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758330335100037759.post-59388202029266772882024-02-07T08:30:00.000-06:002024-02-07T08:30:12.166-06:00An Open Book: January 2024 ReadsAnother month has arrived, so it's time to link up with An Open Book! I'm very excited to share the books that took me through the first month of 2024. Fiction and nonfiction titles hit my shelf, and courtesy of a teething toddler, I even managed to get through a 700+ page biography! Let's dive in. The Spectacular, by Fiona DavisSet in 1950s New York City, this novel follows Marion-a AnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758330335100037759.post-81322269382637077202024-01-22T09:59:00.002-06:002024-01-22T09:59:27.453-06:00"Unanswered" prayers It was October, and I wanted to watch Overthe Garden Wall. There was just a problem: every single library copy was
checked out or reserved for other people.
For those of you who haven’t seen it, Over
the Garden Wall is a miniseries that follows a set of brothers who are lost
in a dark wood. This animated show originally aired on Cartoon Network and may
not seem too profound at first glance. It'sAnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758330335100037759.post-23816502406294460862024-01-03T08:50:00.004-06:002024-01-03T08:50:48.033-06:00An Open Book: December 2023 Reads Happy New Year! It is so fun to think about the year ahead, but I want to take a quick moment to review the books that helped me finish off 2023. Back in November, I hadn't gotten to many books; between lots of travel, a couple books that I started but put down for different reasons, and lots of activity in our home, I was happy to finish the few books that I did. In December, however, I made up AnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758330335100037759.post-24955375295514716602024-01-01T16:31:00.002-06:002024-01-01T16:31:48.064-06:002023: Reading & Writing in ReviewIt's that magical time when countless people share their reading highlights from the previous year, and I'm excited to jump in! 2023 was a great year for reading. I didn't get around to reading poetry as I had planned, but I focused on reading whatever was working for me and not feeling bad about putting books down that I couldn't get into. In 2023, I dove into a mix of novels for adults, graphicAnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758330335100037759.post-71676293694021379382023-12-21T20:56:00.003-06:002023-12-21T20:56:34.058-06:00I'm not "ready for Christmas" yet (and I'm OK with that) “Are you ready for Christmas?”
If I was quicker on my feet, perhaps I’d be
able to answer this question with some witty remark. Yet, I don’t come up with
good one-liners on the spot, so when this question has been tossed my way
recently, I’ve either given an offhanded comment like “sure, I guess?” or I’ve
begun rambling about how our family doesn’t spend December in a
frenzy of shopping AnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758330335100037759.post-17003749041996741432023-12-09T13:13:00.002-06:002023-12-09T13:13:43.207-06:00Gather 'round the mangerThe other day, our family attended an annual
Advent Lessons & Carols; an event which intersperses Bible readings and
hymns that prepare us for the coming of Christ. During the “Third Lesson,” from
the Book of Isaiah, the following happened in our pew:
Reader: “They name him Wonder-Counselor,
God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.”
My preschooler, an incredulous look flooding
her face, AnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758330335100037759.post-92209258915485402372023-12-06T13:45:00.001-06:002023-12-06T13:45:44.966-06:00An Open Book: November 2023 ReadsWith the arrival of December, it's time to join An Open Book to look back on the books that brought me through November! Over the Garden Wall, Volume One, by Jim Campbell (Author), Amalia Levari (Author), Pat McHale (Creator), Cara McGee (Illustrator)This slim graphic novel dives back into the world of the animated miniseries, Over the Garden Wall. It consists of two AnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758330335100037759.post-54810365057842154552023-11-01T07:13:00.003-05:002023-11-01T07:13:46.374-05:00An Open Book: October 2023 ReadsHappy All Saints Day! On this beautiful solemnity, I'm linking up with An Open Book to discuss the books that accompanied me in October. I read a lot of fiction with a little bit of nonfiction sprinkled in the mix. Let's dive in! Arabella and the Battle of Venus, by David D. LevineArabella discovers that her beloved fiancé is a prisoner on Venus, so she concocts a plan to go rescue him. She AnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758330335100037759.post-27352697251533051572023-10-27T22:27:00.002-05:002023-10-27T22:27:54.642-05:00On Reading CookbooksAs a young child, I'd page through the Philadelphia Cream Cheese cookbook, gazing at the photographs of creamy cheesecakes with longing. I'd happily pore over the themed crafts and recipes of the American Girl party book. Sometimes, I would even peek at the diagrams and detailed instructions of The Joy of Cooking with amazement. I loved reading cookbooks as a kid. Years later, whenAnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758330335100037759.post-26959012618286322482023-10-04T09:18:00.001-05:002023-10-04T09:18:13.283-05:00An Open Book: September 2023Happy Feast of St. Francis of Assisi! Not only is today one of the greatest feast days around, but it's also the first Wednesday of the month-so I'm linking up with An Open Book to discuss the books that took me through the past month. Shockingly, I did not finish any nonfiction books in September! (I slowly started working through one that I will hopefully finish this month) I read a lot of fun AnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758330335100037759.post-13072109308592855672023-09-29T11:36:00.002-05:002023-09-29T11:36:57.018-05:00Musings on a broken butter dishThe glass jar was sitting too close to the edge
of the counter. When I noticed that empty yeast jar, my mind immediately
flashed to one of my young children accidentally knocking it onto the hard tile: a beautiful floor that brutally shatters everything that falls upon it.
I tucked my laptop under one arm and my opposite
hand reached over to move the jar out of harm’s way until I could put AnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758330335100037759.post-23351513687119193192023-09-15T12:04:00.001-05:002023-09-15T12:04:26.487-05:00What "traditional" education is notLike clockwork, when September rolls around, memes begin flooding social media with a consistent message for homeschoolers: Dear homeschooling families, please stop trying to do "school at home" and just enjoy learning. I see these message and think of all the people who, after brick-and-mortar schools went to the virtual model during Covid shutdowns, were frustrated as they tried to AnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758330335100037759.post-73121837628997330392023-09-06T07:50:00.002-05:002023-09-06T07:50:48.892-05:00An Open Book: August 2023 Reads It's time to chat about literature! I started off August with some really deep books and then hit a complete slump where I was struggling to get into anything-I kept trying books from the library and returning them unread (even books that had been recommended!). So, I finished off a children's book series that I started last summer, and finished up a couple more books that I had been slowlyAnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758330335100037759.post-38632857814777135572023-08-27T14:59:00.002-05:002023-08-27T14:59:23.307-05:00A cozy cup of tea (Or coffee. Or cocoa. Or chicken broth)Last night, the
kids went off to bed and I made myself a cup of hot chocolate. I heated milk in
the pan and mixed in some cocoa powder. I sprinkled in some chocolate chips. I
splashed some vanilla extract into the pot. I gently whisked the milky mixture
as the house filled with the savory smell of the za’atar manaqish that I was
preparing for an event at church. Soon,
I sat with my husband AnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758330335100037759.post-78737093343458698762023-08-05T06:00:00.001-05:002023-08-05T06:00:00.140-05:00MonetizedI bounced out of
the bedroom, exuberant. A pad of paper was covered in scrawls, noting wisdom
that I had gleaned in the past hour and a half. I had just participated in a
free online webinar with an editor at a renowned Catholic publishing house.
Information and
advice had piled into my lap, and I was encouraged by all the other people I
saw participating in the webinar—some of whom I already AnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758330335100037759.post-2653227327728340172023-08-02T07:26:00.002-05:002023-08-02T07:26:40.463-05:00An Open Book: July 2023Summer is flying by, so I'm grateful for the chance to pause and look back on the books that accompanied me through some hot summer days. I mostly dove into fiction, but I did have a couple of fascinating nonfiction books that I began reading (and will hopefully finish in time for next month's linkup!). I'm joining An Open Book, so make sure to check over there for other literary discussions :) AnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758330335100037759.post-43448924183903448032023-07-30T14:07:00.000-05:002023-07-30T14:07:04.454-05:00Snapshots of SummerI lay on the grass
in the backyard the in the shade of the pecan tree. The baby sat across from
me, her grin causing dimples to form on the edge of her mouth, her two top
teeth gleaming like a rabbit’s. Her gentle rolls of fat cascaded down to her cloth
diaper, and we rested, blissful. I thought about how, if I had a camera in my
hand, this would be the perfect chance to snap a picture. But, my AnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758330335100037759.post-40426139410274530792023-07-05T19:03:00.002-05:002023-07-05T19:03:57.877-05:00An Open Book: June 2023 Reads It's time for another literature round-up! I'm linking up with An Open Book to chat about the books that got me through June. Shockingly, almost every book I picked up was fiction-and some of them were really fantastic. Let's dive in! The Door in the Wall, by Marguerite De AngeliSomehow, I never read this classic when I was a kid (though I had heard about it), and since my oldest AnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758330335100037759.post-91528070721380784802023-06-24T23:02:00.002-05:002023-06-24T23:40:00.743-05:00Writing through Burnout: Pursuing creative work when life feels overwhelmingI sit on the kitchen floor and place the baby nearby with toys. The toddler is napping in bed, and the two other children play quietly in the living room. I open a new document on my computer, proudly typing out the words: DRAFT 2. This is it--I am finally beginning a full rewrite of my book. My already-scattered thoughts started to drift away as my baby bangs on a tambourine and wavesAnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758330335100037759.post-63511649227756549002023-06-07T08:09:00.001-05:002023-06-07T08:09:53.507-05:00An Open Book: May 2023 ReadsI hope you all are having a beautiful start to summer! With the entrance of a new month, I'm linking up with An Open Book to look back on the many books that came my way during the month of May. It was a delightful reading month, with a mixture of fiction and nonfiction that kept me edified, entertained, and engaged. It has been a wild week so far, so I'm going to keep things short and simple. AnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758330335100037759.post-74557029944122923412023-06-05T10:29:00.002-05:002023-06-05T10:29:26.851-05:00The path of joy is uncomfortable In the vast stillness of the church building, the Responsorial Psalm rang out solemnly from the pulpit: "The law of the LORD is perfect,refreshing the soul.The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,giving wisdom to the simple." (from Psalm 19)Again and again, the refrain declared: "The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart." My thoughts danced around the 10 Commandments and all AnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.com0