Last night, while I was singing at church, my husband caught my eye from the pew where he was sitting and cracked a silent joke. Without ever saying a word, with nothing more than a look and a simple gesture, he made me laugh. I really love being married to someone who can make me laugh.…
Read MoreAll articles filed in life lessons
Small Things, Great Love (Reblog)
The past two weeks. It has almost been too much to bear, all the heartache. All the hatred and the hurting and brokenness everywhere we turn. It is too much. I am tempted to shut it out: turn off the news, avoid the rapid-fire of social media politicking. Sink into my own comfortable life, where…
Read MoreThe Deep, Dark Underbelly of Parenting (and how my attitude is still my own problem)
I was driving home last night from Julianna’s last horseback riding lesson of the year, and pondering what to write for a blog post today, when I realized Julianna and Michael were in the back seat, fighting over… …wait for it… …a dirty paper plate. This was not the first fight of the afternoon, either.…
Read MoreSuffering Isn’t Sexy, But It’s Been Good For Me
I was twenty-five when I got married, and I thought I was coming into it really late. By modern standards, of course, twenty-five is early, if anything, but I didn’t know that. In point of fact, I didn’t know much of anything when I got married. About, well, anything. I thought I was a pretty…
Read MoreUnrecognized Blessings
It was fifteen minutes until Mass started, and we couldn’t find Julianna’s shoes. Or more accurately, one of her shoes. Now, to understand the full significance of this, you have to realize, first, that Alex was serving and he was supposed to be at church fifteen minutes ahead of time—and second, that Julianna only owns…
Read MoreWho, Me?
I have lots of opinions. I’m sure this comes as no surprise to anyone reading this blog. But living with a public relations officer has taught me to think before I speak. (Usually.) Especially when people come up to me at ordinations and conventions and say, “I read your blog.” Mine is a Bumbo chair…
Read MoreRoad Rage And Other Rage
Three times in recent weeks, I have drawn the ire of other drivers. It’s enough to make me soul-search whether the problem really is me. The first time, I’d turned the engine off at a long light and the car behind me wasn’t happy with the extra second it took me to get moving forward…
Read MoreRolling With The Punches
Life is a well-oiled machine, dependent on every cog to keep chugging along. Have Michael in the van and ready to pull out the driveway when Julianna’s bus arrives at 7:50 a.m. Fasting blood work at 8, when the doors open. Drop Michael off at 8:20. Meet friend to work through flute duet-in-progress at 8:30.…
Read MoreDetours
I hit a detour this week. I had a vision for how I wanted things to go in a certain area of my life. I knew there were a lot of variables, and I was prepared for some bumps, traffic jams and the like. I was not prepared for a full-on detour. But after I…
Read MoreAccountability
Accountability is not a sexy concept in modern life. But it works.
Read More
Kathleen M. Basi 