by KalleyC (@KalleyC) | Nov 16, 2019 | Faith
November 2nd was All Souls Day, and it was the first time my parish celebrated our Lady of Purgatory. I woke up in the morning excited to join our parish in our All Souls’ Day event. My kids were excited, and we were ready. Then Z2 woke up with a fever and all the plans were squashed. Instead of feeling disappointed, or annoyed, I was feeling full of love. My son needed me and I was there to help him. Yes, I know this was the first time for the celebration and remembrance of our loved one, but God willing there will be another one next year. Instead, I spent my Saturday with my family and thinking about my loved ones. All those who were laid to rest before me like my father, friends, and acquaintances. I thought how not much separated me from them—only a few feet a dirt. I seriously thought about all the plans they had for tomorrow. What they will do when they will retire or when they get that day off. They never thought that the day they died would be their last day. That they—like everyone would have to make an account of their actions. It’s terrifying when you think about life and death that way. While praying my Liturgy of the Hours this came up: Now that is terrifying! Our Lord is so good and so merciful, that he waits for us in Confession. He forgives us our sins, and do not hold them against us. When we are forgiven for our sins, we have a chance of heaven again. We will...
by KalleyC (@KalleyC) | Nov 11, 2019 | Health
For as long as I can remember, I have always worried. It was something that was part of who I was, and what I did. My mind would wander off to the worst possible scenario. Even when writing on my blog, I would worry about how I would be perceived, who would take me the wrong way. Sometimes, I would worry about if I would be taken too serious, or not too serious enough. These thoughts plagued me all the time. Here are just some insights that I’ve realized that helped me put my worrying into perspective. I wanted absolutes One of the things I struggled with was not knowing. I wanted to know every detail of the procedure. Every bit of knowledge of anything that was bothering me until I’ve exhausted all materials I could find. The problem was, I was looking for absolutes in a world that is not certain. No one can promise today, or tomorrow. I worried about preventing things. From helping my family out, to making sure that I’m doing everything I can health wise for them. Honestly, I can just do the best that I can. I do what I can (and afford) for my family, and then leave the rest up to God. I can’t say that I stop researching information–I think that’s just hardwired in me to do now. However, I’m not obsessed about it. When I feel like I have received the answers that I was looking for, then I start applying what I have learned. Separate what I can do from what I can’t ...
by KalleyC (@KalleyC) | Nov 4, 2019 | Motherhood
I don’t talk too much about motherhood on my blog. Honestly, I don’t know why. It’s what I do. I’m a mother. I wake up, and I work for my family, and then I go to sleep still working (because I co-sleep). To actually talk about raising children is not something I’ve done, or have been comfortable doing. Am I too deep in this and feel that I’m not qualified? Have I looked deeply on my mistakes, see where I can improve and feel like I don’t have reason to talk–maybe. There is one word that follows me around when I interact with my children all day–I don’t know everything. Working With Different Personalities Life with 3 children (and one on the way) there are many different personalities. I have a child who is selective in their hearing, but can be sweet and thoughtful at times. I have a child that has a total breakdown when I don’t feed them at the exact correct time, and they cannot even read time yet. Another one is sensitive, but built like a truck–seriously, don’t mess with him. Working with these personalities is trying and exhausting. There are days where I just want to lock myself in my bedroom and hide! However, I know that God does everything for a reason, and he has his own reasons for doing what he does. My Key To Sainthood The trials that we face everyday, as mothers is a stark reminder that this is our key to sainthood. Just thinking about heaven and realizing that it is full of mothers and...
by KalleyC (@KalleyC) | Oct 22, 2019 | Faith
I had taken a step back from writing on this blog for many reasons. My days are more filled with things to do. Also, I was pregnant most of this year, so my thoughts were mainly mush. However, truly analyzing why it’s been hard for me to write, has been due to the problems that is happening in the Church. Since 2018 there has been report after report about the problems that are in the Church. Money issues (and mishandling), abuses and misconduct by those in trusted position. If I tried to see if our Pope had anything encouraging to say—I would be sorely disappointed. The words of our Pope has been far from positive for those of us who love Our Lord’s Church. So, for over a year, it has been hard for me to effectively share my love for my Faith, when all these black eyes are popping up from the abyss. I mean, how effectively can you evangelize when your roof is on fire? I know all of this is in God’s plan. Everything is according to His will. It’s not for me to explain away the problems we have in the Church—yeah we have them. And yeah, the problems is causing a lot of people to lose their faith. There has been two school of thought about this crisis— either we go about “business as usual,” or continue to shed a spotlight on the issue. As painful as it is, I pray that a spotlight continues to shine bright, so we can see how truly to problem lies. Of course on top of that is...
by KalleyC (@KalleyC) | Jun 11, 2019 | Musings
I can remember fond memories of my father who would say, “Go find something to do,” when I would say that I was bored. That was the perfect opportunity to go and find something that I actually liked to do. As I got older though, it was harder and harder to pull away from the responsibilities of life and find a hobby that I was passionate about. When my daughter was born, the first really hobby of adulthood (and parenthood) was blogging. It was awesome to connect with different moms and to talk with them. Best of all, it was a reminder that I wasn’t alone in this job and that there were others just like me. However, I as I started to have more children, there had to be something more that connected me to a person other than they were a mom like me. Dabbling in hobbies For the longest, I struggled to find out what that was. Where was my group? Where did I belong? What am I really passionate about? At first I took up photography. I really like to take pictures, but with children constantly around you (and you having to keep an eye on them) what I thought I wanted to take pictures of, I actually didn’t get any pleasure out of. Turned out I needed to accept what I liked to take pictures of. After I lost the desire to write for a while (talk about being overwhelmed), and to take pictures, I really felt like I had no creative outlet for myself. That was when things got to much, and eventually I had a...
