tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27583303351000377592026-03-08T16:58:32.710-05:00Discussions of literature, Catholicism, and the epic adventures of everyday life.AnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.comBlogger832125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758330335100037759.post-16436314711866126312026-03-04T14:29:00.001-06:002026-03-04T14:29:39.613-06:00

The daffodils are blooming and it is time to share about the books I read last month! I'm linking up with An Open Book, so make sure to hop over there for more book recommendations :) The Year of My Humiliation, by C. J. SursumThis novel had been on my list for a while and I was excited to finally read it! Written as a journal of a pediatric plastic surgeon, Michael, this novel plunges into

AnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758330335100037759.post-18689540798373127652026-02-27T21:17:00.001-06:002026-02-27T21:17:15.556-06:00

Time flies by faster every day, and although I've been meaning to place a homeschooling update here (currently, I have five children under the age of 10), other things keep sliding to the forefront of my mind. So, as I drink some Assam tea and my children play Machi Koro 2, I'm going to take a minute to type away as I review our homeschooling life. How have things changed over the past few

AnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758330335100037759.post-59077442031566714802026-02-23T15:02:00.002-06:002026-02-23T15:03:43.076-06:00

“Medli fell over!” My child’s voice rang through the minivan with shock and horror. I jumped out of the minivan and ran to the back. I pulled open the trunk and peeked into the bin. Three ducklings happily waddled around while a fourth, Medli, lay stiff on the floor. An image flashed into my mind: Just a week or two earlier, I had looked out the back door to see one duckling splayed out across

AnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758330335100037759.post-45471495816705484632026-02-05T21:42:00.000-06:002026-02-05T21:42:14.508-06:00

I don't know how we're already into February, but here we are! I am belatedly linking up with An Open Book to share about the books that I started off the year with. I thoroughly enjoyed the books I read, and I'm excited to see what I pick up in the coming months!Saving Sam, by Sam GoodwinIn this memoir, Goodwin relates the story of his international travels and how he wound up being kidnapped

AnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758330335100037759.post-69263324896839939872026-01-12T16:50:00.000-06:002026-01-12T16:50:00.113-06:00

I always enjoy taking time to reflect back on the previous year and think about the books that I read and the writing projects that I worked on. Not only do I love looking back at what I read during the various events of the year, but when I look back at my writing life, I often see that I accomplished quite a bit throughout the year. (When life is overwhelming and I'm tempted to think that

AnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758330335100037759.post-75033506959505441252026-01-08T15:16:00.001-06:002026-01-08T15:16:35.074-06:00

 Happy New Year! I'm linking up with An Open Book to share about the books that I read at the end of 2025. Last month, I read three books, all very different and fascinating. Let's dive in!The Curse He Chose, by Sr. Alison Regina GliotIn this fantastic novel, we follow Elizabeth, a young woman who is left at home while her best friends go to college. As she tries to settle into a quiet life

AnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758330335100037759.post-62621694502759760782025-12-03T08:53:00.000-06:002025-12-03T08:53:03.100-06:00

Happy Feast of St. Francis Xavier! With a new month beginning, it's time to link up with An Open Book to chat about what I read last month. November was a bit of a handful in many aspects of my life, so I only read three books-but they were all quite different from each other and very enjoyable. Let's dive in! Just Making: A Guide for Compassionate Creatives, by Mitali Perkins In this

AnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758330335100037759.post-50832721412227915782025-11-22T13:44:00.001-06:002025-11-22T13:44:38.283-06:00

I stood at the kitchen sink and gently washed altar linens for my parish as I listened to the quacks of four ducklings who played in their brooder nearby. A jar of sourdough starter bubbled on the counter, and a two-layered sari wrap skirt swished around my knees as I hung purificators and finger towels on a drying rack. I grinned and shook my head in disbelief. This moment was yet another

AnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758330335100037759.post-56534448334188957052025-11-05T07:34:00.000-06:002025-11-05T07:34:09.200-06:00

Another month is here (how is it already November???) and I am so excited to share about the books I read last month. I wound up reading way more than I anticipated and it was a fabulous mix of fiction and nonfiction, books geared towards adults and those geared towards children. As always, I'm linking up with An Open Book-make sure to check that out for even more book recommendations! A

AnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758330335100037759.post-76517513369361921082025-10-27T17:06:00.003-05:002025-10-27T17:06:28.111-05:00

I grinned as an elderly woman spread an array of food across the round table: a platter of gochujang-spiced tteokbokki, a plate of crispy egg rolls, and little plates with kimchi, sweetened potatoes, crispy Korean coleslaw, and little pieces of fish cake. Steaming silver bowls of rice stood tall and proud in the sea of little white plates, and large platters of thinly sliced beef, pork,

AnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758330335100037759.post-38922974559742525872025-10-01T22:17:00.002-05:002025-10-01T22:17:26.520-05:00

I am finally coming up for air after a whirlwind of a September, and I'm excited to link up with An Open Book to share about the books that I read over the month! I read way more than I anticipated, so I'm going to do a rapid-fire recap. Onto the books! The Raven and the Crown, by Elizabeth Amy HajekI was delighted to beta read this book a while back and it was fun to finally sit down and

AnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758330335100037759.post-87784338295984065202025-09-13T14:11:00.002-05:002025-09-13T14:11:40.302-05:00

There's a statue in downtown Oklahoma City that countless people walk by each year.Aptly titled And Jesus Wept, this statue depicts the grief of Jesus that we read about in Scripture (see Jn 11:35). Placed across the street from the Oklahoma City National Memorial, this statue reminds us that Jesus knows what it means to grieve. He is with us in our pain, and he mourns as we mourn. We

AnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758330335100037759.post-26608390638771995602025-09-04T17:15:00.000-05:002025-09-04T17:15:08.684-05:00

August flew by, and it was a really fun reading month. I'm linking up with An Open Book to share what I read. There were some children's books, a historical fiction novel for adults, and I also finished a couple of nonfiction books that I had been working on for a while. Let's dive in!  Perpetual Rainbows, by Jessika CarusoIn this novel, Elara, a young woman living in New Jersey,

AnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758330335100037759.post-66879019225488742982025-08-06T17:53:00.002-05:002025-08-06T17:53:38.695-05:00

Happy Feast of the Transfiguration! I'm linking up with An Open Book to discuss what I read last month; it was a fun mix of fiction and nonfiction. Let's dive in! God Made That! by Kathleen M. Hoenke and William A. JacobsThis Catholic nature study book is delightful. Black-and-white sketches adorn many of the pages, and this book discusses different biomes, plants, and animals. It touches on

AnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758330335100037759.post-80607608245299512312025-07-09T10:14:00.000-05:002025-07-09T10:14:18.633-05:00

When I first moved to Oklahoma, I never imagined that I would drive down the highway, a Carmelite nun in my passenger seat, after attending Mass at a shrine dedicated to a modern martyr. I never imagined that five young children would also be in that van, three of whom were born at home. I never imagined that I would eagerly be pursuing self-publishing. Yet, there I was on a recent afternoon

AnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758330335100037759.post-24089266281888420042025-07-02T06:44:00.001-05:002025-07-02T06:44:22.278-05:00

Somehow, it's July. Where did June go???Last month was packed with many wonderful things, including a large reading stack! I mostly read fiction in June, which was a great way to relax and unwind. I'm linking up with An Open Book as I review my recent reading adventures. Let's dive in!A vampire in Bavaria, by Suzannah Rowntree (Miss Sharp's Monsters book 3)In the beginning of this novel, Liz

AnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758330335100037759.post-75908885018422260362025-06-04T07:51:00.001-05:002025-06-04T07:51:21.024-05:00

Another month has arrived, which means I'm linking up with An Open Book to talk about what I read last month. Buckle up, because there are A LOT of books here, courtesy of a non-napping baby who just wanted to cuddle and nurse. Homeschooling, werewolves, postpartum life, Vatican II, and the U.S. military are just a sampling of the topics I read about, both fiction and non-fiction. Let's dive in!&

AnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758330335100037759.post-26331522792735458212025-05-21T10:05:00.002-05:002025-05-21T10:05:35.506-05:00

Messages flooded the screen, stating that there was white smoke at the Vatican. “Sorry kids, Anpanman will have to wait,” I said as I grabbed the laptop and switched from a video streaming service to a livestream by a Catholic news service. We looked at the huge crowd that was gathered and the clusters of cardinals that stood on balconies, a hint as to who wasn’t the new pope.The days following

AnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758330335100037759.post-40335659179725984092025-05-07T08:38:00.002-05:002025-05-07T08:38:14.789-05:00

A new (and very rainy) month has arrived, so I'm linking up with An Open Book to chat about my recent reading adventures. I didn't read many books, but the ones I picked up were a fascinating mix of fiction and non-fiction. Let's dive in!Seeking Space and Time, by Amy Schisler (Chincoteague Sunsets, Book 3)In this novel, the newly graduated, seventeen-year-old Molly returns to Chincoteague

AnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758330335100037759.post-71666658574207833192025-04-13T13:30:00.002-05:002025-04-13T13:30:47.679-05:00

An e-mail about yet another online Lenten retreat caught my eye. Hosted by a well-known Catholic priest whose writing and speaking I enjoy, I knew it would be a good event. Not only that, but it was free!  The computer cursor hovered over the registration link as I thought about how incredible this opportunity was. Yet, before I clicked that button, I paused. The thought hit me,

AnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758330335100037759.post-67993849526577689142025-04-02T08:36:00.002-05:002025-04-02T08:36:15.034-05:00

March somehow completely flew by, and it's hard to believe that Easter is almost here! I'm linking up with An Open Book to chat about the books that accompanied me last month. There was some great nonfiction about the Lenten season, as well as a fun mix of fiction books. Let's dive in!  A Very Chapel Falls Christmas, by Amanda LauerEven though I didn't get to this when it was still

AnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758330335100037759.post-11025950532452911962025-03-05T08:07:00.001-06:002025-03-05T08:07:18.660-06:00

It is finally March--and Lent! I'm linking up with An Open Book to chat about the books that took me through the wild month of February (what is it about that month???). I didn't read many books, but some of them were pretty big and I really enjoyed all of them. Let's dive in! Project Hail Mary, by Andy WeirThis novel opens with Ryland Grace, a science teacher, waking up on a spaceship.

AnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758330335100037759.post-74543614437153509062025-02-11T20:43:00.002-06:002025-02-11T20:43:50.391-06:00

The new year is quickly slipping by and it has been pretty intense so far-so I'm doing some rapid-fire reviews from January's books (let's see how long my baby stays happy so I can type haha!). I think the coherent theme of January's books is "Books I'd Been Meaning to Read for A While."  I'm linking up with An Open Book; let's dive in! Wake of Malice, by Eleanor Bourg

AnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758330335100037759.post-87642576916972629572025-02-07T09:02:00.006-06:002025-02-07T09:02:38.733-06:00

When I first moved to Kansas, people told me: “If you don’t like the weather, wait a few minutes, and it will change.” I’ve heard this same sentiment in Oklahoma, too. The weather is unpredictable and constantly in flux. It can be cold and snowy one day—to the extent that the public library system closes down—and just a few days later, we stand outside in t-shirts, watching snowmen melt in

AnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758330335100037759.post-4125852941419762372025-01-06T23:37:00.000-06:002025-01-06T23:37:24.867-06:00

Once again, it's that wonderful time of the year when people share their yearly reading lists. So, before we get too far in 2025, I want to take a moment to share some reading highlights from 2024. As usual, I don't pick the "best" or "favorite" book each month, but I want to highlight a notable one (and sometimes it is my favorite book from that month). Looking at my reading recap of books read

AnneMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462442204217572325noreply@blogger.com0