Sometime in early July, I was scrubbing dried blood off my husband's wedding ring in the bathroom sink of his fifth hospital room since the crash. The swelling in his left hand had finally gone down enough to wear his ring again, and so I decided to fish his ring out of the still-bloody bag of his ... Read More about For Better or for Worse: Our Year of Trusting God through a New Job, New Business, New Baby, and a Plane Crash
Humble Handmaid
A Year of Favor
A little life update For me, Monday, February 7 needs to get some kind of Lifetime Achievement Award for “Most Different Day from Exactly One Year Before.” On February 7, 2021, I was a stay-at-home, homeschooling, 12-passenger van-driving Catholic Mom of Many, and I was helping my husband in ... Read More about A Year of Favor
Rest, Ponder, Receive: Introducing The Humble Handmaid
"Are you still doing Humble Handmaid?" People ask me this question all the time, especially since I changed the header of my blog a couple of years ago from "Humble Handmaid" to "Erin Franco." And the fact is I've been doing a lot more speaking and radio than writing these past few years. ... Read More about Rest, Ponder, Receive: Introducing The Humble Handmaid
10 Mom-isms I Say to My Kids That Are Really for Me
My mom had them. Your mom had them. Mom-isms. They are those things you begin to say over and over (and over) to your kids that you hope they'll take to heart. They're those "I'm totally stealing that!" things you hear your friends say to their kids. My kids currently range from 11 to ... Read More about 10 Mom-isms I Say to My Kids That Are Really for Me
Three Things Covid Made Me Do That I Never Saw Coming (But God Did)
My iced latte this afternoon is creamy and delicious. The hum of conversations, soft jazz, and the tapping of my laptop keys is a special kind of music to my ears. I'm at one of my favorite local coffee shops, where I've spent many happy hours of my life over the past 12 years blogging my heart out. ... Read More about Three Things Covid Made Me Do That I Never Saw Coming (But God Did)
Why “begin again” is the motto every Catholic mom should have
I felt the front of my linen apron grow warm and heavy against my skin as my two year old poured a bath toy filled with soapy water down my front. The almost-four-year-old laughed hysterically. I reeled back into the present moment. I was kneeling on the hard tile floor at the side of a ... Read More about Why “begin again” is the motto every Catholic mom should have
New to Homeschooling? This Will Calm Your Heart
I've lost count of how many friends, family and acquaintances will be venturing into homeschooling this fall. Families have every reason under the sun for choosing homeschooling, but the pandemic has definitely added many new ones. This post isn't a manifesto on why homeschooling is the best ... Read More about New to Homeschooling? This Will Calm Your Heart
Miss my podcast, The Right Heart? Here’s a talk I gave recently about my battle with anxiety, insecurity and overwhelm that I think you’ll enjoy
Even though I haven't released a new episode of The Right Heart Podcast since 2016, I still get emails regularly asking if I am going to ever podcast again, or where the episodes are (they're all right here!) Just so you know: I'd love to podcast again someday. It's always in the back of my ... Read More about Miss my podcast, The Right Heart? Here’s a talk I gave recently about my battle with anxiety, insecurity and overwhelm that I think you’ll enjoy
10 Simple Ideas to Begin, Boost or Bless Praying with Your Spouse
It's been a few days weeks now since the glow of All the Lovely Family Time has worn off a bit for Michael and me. How about you? But honestly, we've had a lot going on over here. A few weeks before quarantine hit our area, Michael broke his arm in a freak accident at home. He ended up ... Read More about 10 Simple Ideas to Begin, Boost or Bless Praying with Your Spouse
Hey moms, if family life feels chaotic during quarantine, here’s why you’re not doing it all wrong (and a recipe, because cookie dough for one is a thing)
"So Erin," said a Catholic radio morning show host last week, "You're a homeschooling mom of five, so you're a pro at having everyone home with you all the time. What tips can you give all the listeners out there in quarantine suddenly spending all day long with their kids and struggling to get ... Read More about Hey moms, if family life feels chaotic during quarantine, here’s why you’re not doing it all wrong (and a recipe, because cookie dough for one is a thing)