Dignity of life isn’t just a Catholic thing
For 18 years I have been privileged to work in traditional book publishing, first in the mainstream field with an emphasis on children’s books, and then as a freelancer working…
A rising generation of new matriarchs
Hispanas/Latinas tend to be very strong women: “Mujeres Fuertes.” I have quite a few of these “alpha females” in my family. They run the show and are not to be…
The American Dream may not work with Catholic culture: A Latina’s perspective
As the daughter of an immigrant, I’m among the first generation in my family where the mother worked outside the home. This has become normalized in American culture, but it’s…
Struggling as a newlywed? You’re not alone
Have you heard of the “honeymoon phase” of a relationship? The time when everything is easy, life is fun and simple, and you feel totally in love with your boyfriend…
When going through deep tragedy, let yourself be loved
Elizabeth Leon never saw herself as a writer. Though she frequently recorded her thoughts in personal journals, she kept them tucked safely at home, for her eyes only. But that…
What I’ve learned from my family’s decision to become FOCUS missionaries
Last spring, I asked my husband if he had, once again, considered the call to full-time mission life. He smiled and reminded me that he had just received a promotion…
Love your loved ones … by going to confession
I recently took my two youngest children with me to confession. It was the middle of the week, so we met with our pastor in his office. Afterward, my 4-year-old…
How reclaiming silence brought me healing
I knew by her silence. The ultrasound tech said nothing as she moved the probe back and forth. I gazed up at the empty black and white image on the…
Lessons from trying (and failing) to live on the poverty line
I’ve always considered myself a frugal person, so at the end of 2020 when I went over our family’s bloated finances, I was shocked, not only by how much we…
5 questions to ask yourself if you’re thinking about switching fertility awareness methods
Learning about your fertility and deciding on a fertility awareness method to chart your cycle is a big (and sometimes intimidating!) decision. After all, what you learned in health class…