Hi there!
I’m Erin, a soft-spoken Southern belle, Catholic mom of five, homeschooler, and proud driver of a big white airport shuttle 12-passenger van…because we’re that family now. And why yes–I do have my heart and hands full as wife to Michael (38) and mom to Gabriel (11), Faith (9), Gianna (7), Roman (4), Aidan (3), and one sweet baby already in Heaven. We also have an 80lb Lab/Great Pyrenees mix, because we were getting a little bored right at the start of Covid (that or I had a complete and total lapse of judgment right around the middle of March). Some call it chaos, we call it family.
I’m an introvert who took 32 years to figure out she hadn’t gotten the short end of the stick. I like my coffee iced, my clothes pretty, and my fiction Jane Austen. I’m also a recovering spiritual perfectionist with a deep devotion to the Sacred Heart and to Divine Mercy. Two things I’ve done that you’d probably never ever guess? I competed in dressage for years on my horse, Orion, and I spent time in college modeling in New York City.
I’ve been married for 12 years to my husband Michael, who can build anything, carries the Fun Parent card full-time, and has bad luck with arm injuries. He also has the most incredible work ethic of anyone I’ve ever met. Michael and I are on the national board of the Domestic Church movement and currently serve as the Diocesan Coordinators for it in our diocese. Our story is proof that your marriage has as much potential as God has power.
In 2009, I was a new wife and mother living hundreds of miles away from family, so I started a blog. Over the years, Humble Handmaid has given me incredible opportunities to minister through writing for online publications, speaking, podcasting and Catholic radio. You can pop over to my Speaking page to see a list of my media appearances and upcoming speaking events.
Have I mentioned that I have five children under 11, and that I’m homeschooling three of them?
Or that my two youngest boys are just shy of Irish twins, and are a double-handful of knife stories, escape attempts, and weird things I’ve had to disinfect?
Or that just a few years ago, we had to live with my parents for two years while getting back on our feet financially?
My life hasn’t been smooth sailing, and just about every day I’m overwhelmed by how crazy life and having a big can be. But I’ve learned that part of the Good News is that the mess doesn’t mean I’m doing it all wrong.
What You’ll Find on This Blog
They say that we often develop a passion for ministry where we ourselves have suffered most.
I love to speak about my journeys with faith, mental health, working on my marriage, parenting, and self-image.
If you’re like me, and you’re always sometimes in need of a shot in the arm involving one of those topics, you’re in the right place! I’d love to connect with you. You can find me on Facebook and Instagram, and to stay updated on new blog posts, just shoot me your email here.
And please don’t worry–I promise not to flood your inbox anytime soon (at least not until everyone is in college and/or sleeping through the night, which feels like…never).
I’m not Superwoman over here. It’s all just Jesus and coffee. 🙂