Welcome!

Let me introduce myself!

You may remember me from my former blog, California Catholic, which I ended a couple years ago. But I am back & more excited than ever.

I wanted to do a little intro post to let you know exactly why I created this space and what you can expect going forward.

To start— ever since I stopped blogging, God has tugged at my heart so strongly to get back into it. To connect and build community through this online tool, and to share the little knowledge that I have with you.

I quit blogging previously because the vulnerability began scaring me. I started wondering if I really wanted people to know what was happening in my life. After sharing my struggles so honestly, the judgment got to me. And I actually closed off all together. From Instagram, Facebook, and my blog. And looking back, this did me no good. If anything, quitting just made me miss out on a couple years of blessings that I am sure would have come along with my blog.

Looking back, I think this can be a normal phase to go through. People make comments on your posts, both online and in person. It can come with the territory of social media. And sometimes, the comments are uncomfortable and not kind.

The devil plays a huge role in shutting down our dreams and goals. We have to stand up at some point for what God is calling us to do. And here I am, because my urge to be here never went away. I believe in divine intervention and that God wants me to come back, be vulnerable and honest, and I guess grow some thicker skin (lol).

When I was thinking of ways to describe who I am to you, it felt a little overwhelming. Do I even know how to put myself into words? I will keep it simple.

I am a wife to my best friend Tom & mom of two with another on the way. I have my sweet & spunky Sienna Rose and my inquisitive and cuddly Charlie. The baby in my tummy will be a surprise at birth (for the first time)! Who else waits to find out the gender?!

I think I have learned 90% of my life lessons in the past 4 years of my life. With meeting Tom, getting engaged, planning a wedding, getting married, moving across the country, far away from all family, having two babies, moving out of state again, and beginning again. I learned so many lessons during those three years.

Things I will share here are:

• How I live out the Catholic faith in a secular world, with my kids, as a wife, with joy (that’s the goal). How to raise faithful children who WANT to be Catholic and who choose a life of faith, God-willing. I will share tips that hopefully will help you do the same. Things I have learned from other experienced wives and mothers.
• All things body image and how I overcame an unhealthy relationship with food. How I continue to battle with my relationship with exercise…something that is so very vulnerable for me.
• Ways that I have changed because of the year 2020. Things I have added and eliminated from my home for the health and safety of my family.
• My experience moving and starting over multiple times with young children & pregnant. Making friends, meeting families, being patient, and making it work.
• I will share resources that have helped me through all of these categories (podcasts, books, coaches, etc.) because without the help I have received, I wouldn’t know any of what I know today!

I am sure my categories of discussion with change and grow as time goes on, but if I don’t start somewhere, I probably never will at all.

So here is to following God’s call!