"Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will." Psalm 40 Today, on the Feast of the Incarnation (or the Feast of the Annunciation), we remember the special mystery of Mary, the Mother of God, becoming pregnant with the Savior of the World. Since finding out about my own pregnancy, I have meditated on … Continue reading An Incarnation
Catholic
Waugh is Me
There is a well-known story about the novelist Evelyn Waugh. He was once very rude and his hostess remonstrated: “How can you behave so badly – and you a Catholic!” Waugh replied: “You have no idea how much nastier I would be if I was not a Catholic. Without supernatural aid I would hardly be … Continue reading Waugh is Me
I don’t work on Sundays
Not unless I absolutely have to, when there is an animal in crisis or there’s some obligation I cannot avoid. On Sundays, I don’t respond to business messages. I don’t pay bills online. I don’t do servile work apart from everyday chores. Sundays are set apart, or at least they are supposed to be. The … Continue reading I don’t work on Sundays
It’s What You Do, Not Who You Are
I stole this mantra from a rodeo coach, albeit a coach I didn’t like very much. Still, wisdom can come from unexpected places. In the rodeo world, it is very easy to place one’s worth on one’s performance in the arena. I myself have gone through this realization after placing an incredible amount of identity … Continue reading It’s What You Do, Not Who You Are
Feature in Catholic Rural Life Magazine
In June, I was featured for my main business, equine bodywork, in the CRL Spring Edition. The response from this article has been overwhelmingly positive all over the nation. Priests from Texas could relate to the sanctity of working on animals. I hope this article helps us to find the balance between the world's two … Continue reading Feature in Catholic Rural Life Magazine
What’s to Be Done with Suffering?
The question as old as Christianity is, “Why would a good God allow bad things to happen?” It is the moment when many give up faith. It is the question upon which much doubt still hangs, even for the most faithful of people. It is true that some of us suffer greatly. Family members have … Continue reading What’s to Be Done with Suffering?
An Intersection of Traditions
I once got into an argument with a man at the South Dakota State Fair. A farmer, obviously, and slightly intoxicated, he confronted me with a rude dubiousness at the very idea of using a horse to move cattle. “Why wouldn’t you just use a four wheeler?” he said.
What Rekindled My Fire? A (Re)Conversion Story
It all started with a boyfriend, albeit one I dated for less than a month. Sweet and caring, he was a nondenominational Christian. He knew his Bible and was proudly anti-religious. I was a proud Catholic but didn’t know why. Inevitably, the conversations turned to religion: I’d tell him what I believed, he’d question it, … Continue reading What Rekindled My Fire? A (Re)Conversion Story
Love is a Gaze: How Jesus Looks at Us
As I settle into married life and find a routine in my new home, I wanted to share something seemingly minute, yet very powerful, which I was pondering for a few weeks leading up to my wedding: the gaze of Jesus Christ. Photo by Kaycee Monnens Cortner. What do I mean by that? Picture this, … Continue reading Love is a Gaze: How Jesus Looks at Us
Wait… You’re Not Living Together?
It has to be one of the most commonly asked questions since my engagement. After all, all dating and engaged couples live together nowadays, right? After explaining that I will not move in with my fiancé until we are married, I am often met with an appraising look, as if the person is trying to … Continue reading Wait… You’re Not Living Together?
The Preservation of Fire 