Positively (Im)perfect

It's that time again - the year in review, IN BOOKS!  I don't feel like I fared as well as I did last year, but as I starting tapping out my list I realized I just plain forgot about some of the books I'd read, and I have a few more unfinished reads that last year. It's been no secret that this has been a tough few months for me (and all of humanity, I think), so we're just going to call it that 4th Quarter, 2016 was just a hard stretch to slog through for lots of people for lots of reasons. Books included. But it all evens out in the end, On to the fun part, though - the actual books! --- Back when I was on my game and trying to keep up with my reads quarterly, I did some good in-depth reviews of the individual books in The Parting Breath Series, The Name of the Wind Series , and Everyone Brave is Forgiven . Links are included - because no one needs me to re-write what I've already written! What I Read The Parting Breath Series |  Monic

Photo care of Blessed is She Photo credit: Jessica (@jess.takin.pics) Handlettering: Erica of Be a Heart Design   Come to the Manger Megan C. Hjelmstad Come to the manger Kneel close and see  The Gift Of eternity Wrapped in infancy Draw near at the invitation of the quiet young mother glowing with love of son and God -- holding the hand which holds time Feel the soft, wrinkled skin of His tiny palm reaching, grasping, closing tightly around your finger the innocence of this hand which will be carelessly thrust upon the rough, heavy beam mercilessly pierced for our transgressions  the hand from which His body will hang, sagging with the weight of all the world's darkness Draw the sleeping babe toward your heart as the gentle mother lovingly presses Him into your arms Cradle him closer; let the soft velvet of smooth, unblemished skin nestle against yours as a light sigh escapes the pucker of His lips The lips destined to speak t

I come to the manger  Longing-hearted Empty-handed but for a jumble of humble offerings The gift of generosity  Wrapped in the soggy trimmings  of tear-stained, pain-filled grimaces  The aspiration, "I want to trust" written across my heart in childlike scrawl,  wrapped in countless unanswered questions, lack of understanding, doubt  The gift of a small pause  Housing at its center the thought of Him,  Buried deep as it is within endless layers of daily duties and distractions I leave at the foot of the manger These paltry offerings  my meager widow's mite  For a king, seemingly helpless Himself in very picture of humility A king deserving so much more  than what I have to give -  than what the world will ever give And yet I leave Empty-handed But full-hearted The smile of His quiet eyes speaking of delight and gratitude  I take with me  A new joy born into my soul Knowing

“All that is good, all that is true, all that is beautiful brings us to God.” –Pope Francis We live in a world overflowing with beauty.  Yet we tend to relegate our ideals of beauty to pages of a magazine, places of intrigue, exotic destinations, a somewhere or a something new and different enough to jolt our senses awake and into an attitude of appreciation.  The truth, though, is that God has built a cathedral of ever-changing, ever-present beauty right in our daily sphere of being. So often, we walk past it with unseeing eyes and overworked hearts, overwhelmed by the craziness of work or family or holiday doings which keep our minds spinning and our stress mounting and our souls blind--blind to the simple, profound beauties created to punctuate our day with the kind of reminder that connects us at the soul-level with the truth of God’s love and creative genius. It's acceptable in the breakneck pace of our world to confine the when and where of our pl

It's been one hell of a "season" lately. Those who know me well know I don't say that lightly. My health continues to go down the pooper; I've made more appointments and gotten more sympathy from no-nonsense medical professionals than I know what to do with. But the only answers are guesses at best, the only suggestions shots in the dark.  I'm tired. So weary.  I'm told I hide it well, which I suppose is good and bad. I don't need to spend my days constantly weighing down the rest of the world with my woes, especially if there are good moments to be had [and there are, so much more than the bad].  But bad moments are also part of this reality. Some days, this endometriosis pain is just a real bleepword--no euphemisms or platitudes about it to soften the blow. The daily, sometimes hourly game of Russian Roulette ("will my body tolerate this food again or not? Will the pain be better or worse if I ____?") is physically and

I’ve gotten a lot of questions about my rosary over the years. With good reason - it's beautiful and incredibly unique, but even more interesting is its story, which I don't think I've shared yet here. My rosary came to me as a gift during my third year of college...by way of prison, of all places. A wise crew of incredible people used to come up from NYC to help with our semi-annual cadet retreats at West Point. They would share many wise words, but inevitably the conversation would turn to their life-changing experiences running retreats for the inmates at a correctional facility in Staten Island (which has since closed). Their stories intrigued me, and I decided I should “help” the team in return on their next prison retreat. So the next spring on one of my free weekends, I packed a bag and made my way by train and ferry through the city to Staten Island, where I was to stay for the weekend at the team leader’s home. They were a wonderful older couple who welc

It's falllllllll, friends! Have you been reveling in all the Halloween decorations crowding the aisles? I'm really not a big Halloween person, save for Winston, our friendly ghost, and Webster, our very-not-scary fuzzy spider, because scary and I don't get along. Winston doesn't do scary either. But it's finally starting to look and feel like fall here, and I do lurrrve fall. So yesterday I accepted that summer is over and finally dug out my autumnal spirit, decorations and all. And. As I spruced up my home and updated my planner, I realized that hot on the heels of Halloween... ...will be Advent! And with it? BIS goodies! Yes, Advent is already next month and I'm already craving a quiet and reflective Advent season this year (as I do every Advent and Lent...except life, yo). Even with life's craziness, though, and really because of it, I love what a pivotal role each unique Blessed is She Advent (and Lent!) journal has played

The best gifts are definitely divine in nature. And that's the kind I got last week - on my birthday, no less - when 30 of us writers and creatives from the Blessed is She team gathered together for the first time in retreat and community. The BIS team is scattered across the United States and Canada, so this was a Big Deal. Many of us had never met in person; I, personally, had never met a single lady in attendance before - clearly something we all had to fix. So we packed up our bags and descended upon Minneapolis - St. Paul at the invitation of the incredible Nell , who whipped about serving as hostess, seemingly with an endless supply of energy (although is is 27 weeks pregnant and suffering from HG - say a prayer for her!). Aside: Nell quite unassuming lives in my childhood French Tudor dream home. Oogle with me for a moment: We all enjoyed meeting one another, hugging out our excitement, and eating dinner at Nell's house before t

One of the best perks of writing for Blessed is She is how well it challenges me to dig into my faith. And there's nothing like being assigned a devotion for one of the biggest Holy Days of the liturgical year to really prompt some serious digging. In an effort to be informed and write well, I've learned so much specifically about the historical context of so many different scripture passages; for many of them, my previous level of understanding had only scratched the surface.  When I saw I'd be writing today's reflection for the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary, I did what helps me most when I want to understand the big picture: I started at the very beginning. I researched the origins of the feast day and the knowledge the earliest Christians passed down as truth before they were able to write and reference what would become the Bible. What I uncovered was the new-to-me and fascinating first-person accounts handed down from the apostles themselves about t

Congrats to winner Sarah Z.! Thanks to all who entered - if and when a future edition of this sold-out planner becomes available, you will be the first to know! Alrighty friends. Because I'm nice... And because you're awesome... But mostly thanks to another Blessed is She writer who so generously gifted me my own coveted Blessed is She liturgical planner... I decided to buy an extra Blessed is She Planner and give it away to you . Woohooo! Once again, because I'm nice, I'll make this post short and sweet so we can get to what you really care about, which is how to enter already! For those who missed my last post , all the features of this amazing liturgical year planner are below. Also, FYI: the planners are going like hot cakes -- honestly way faster than we projected. As I write this, 75% have already been sold on pre-order. Soooo if you want one and don't want to take any chances on them selling out before you snag one, feel fre