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May 2026

May 18, 2026

On Sacraments, Lemonade, and the Ascension of the Lord

Nothing went the way that it should, and that was a mercy. It all...

August 2024

August 15, 2024

A Sacramental Life

Marian solemnities are the hardest days. I am going to try not to be...

April 2024

April 19, 2024

A Haunted House

It happened when I was weeding the strawberries. It was the brightest of bright...

February 2024

February 15, 2024

Ash Wednesday, after the Nightmare

It was Ash Wednesday, but I couldn't stand to go to Mass, not yet....

February 05, 2024

Progress is a Good Thing

This time, I KNOW what's wrong with Serendipity. My long suffering Nissan started limping...

January 2024

January 25, 2024

On the Road to Getting Better

We went to Robinson in Serendipity. In the past several months, I have learned...

July 2023

July 09, 2023

When I Wasn’t Writing

I haven't been so well. I'm never well, as my regular readers know and my...

March 2023

March 20, 2023

On the First Day of Spring

It's the first day of spring, and I'm not doing so well. Today's the anniversary...

November 2022

November 27, 2022

At the Corner of the Grass

The day before Thanksgiving was sunny, the first sunny day in a week or more....

October 2022

October 14, 2022

The Name is Serendipity

I had panic attacks wall to wall on my birthday, which is never a...

August 2022

August 25, 2022

Not Now, But Soon

It was the one-year anniversary of my car accident, the only accident I've ever...

May 2022

May 24, 2022

Ladybug, Ladybug, Fly Away Home

It was cloudy and quiet as I set out for the community garden. There are...

April 2022

April 15, 2022

You Didn’t Kill Jesus, and You’re Allowed to be Happy Today

I don't know who needs to hear this today, but you didn't kill Jesus. A...

September 2021

September 23, 2021

On The First Day of Autumn

It was so gray yesterday, on Rosie's tenth birthday. I should have been spending the...

July 2021

July 28, 2021

Something About Simone Biles

I don't know much of anything about the Olympics. I don't know much of anything...

June 2021

June 20, 2021

A Garden in Hiding

The menacing neighbor was quiet today. It's Saturday, so the workmen didn't come. And she...

June 13, 2021

To Reach for the Font

I wish I had a brave person to show you, but I don't. There's...

March 2021

March 17, 2021

Maybe I’ll Drive to Church

We are buying a car on Saturday. Well, maybe not. There are a million...

September 2020

September 08, 2020

For I am a Worm

Did you ever get so severely exhausted, your eyes wouldn't focus? Forgive me. I...

August 2019

August 20, 2019

From Trauma to Addiction and Back

(This post is part three in a planned four-part series by my courageous friend Celia...

March 2019

March 21, 2019

The Worst Thing a Priest Can Say to an Abuse Survivor

A friend posted the following commentary today, about the experience of a mutual friend of...

November 2017

November 24, 2017

An Orthodox Spiritual Abuse Victim Tells Her Story

[This account was written for me by a Brooke Alker Gregory. I am sharing it with...

April 2017

April 15, 2017

The God of Broken People

My friend Theresa posted a question on Facebook yesterday. "Can anyone remember which saint had...

March 2017

March 30, 2017

Praying With A Madwoman’s Heart

It seems like a long time ago, now. She was one of the pious women...

May 2016

May 16, 2016

Your Body is the Rack: On Suicide and Sexual Abuse

Just a warning to my friends who have been through assault-- I'm going to talk...