a North Dakotan girl through and through, wife, mother and die hard Catholic.

A few months ago, a dear priest friend offered me a piece of advice that has stayed with me. He encouraged me to sit with Jesus and imagine Him saying to me: “I am here.” At first, I tucked those words away, not realizing just how deeply I would come to need them. But slowly, […]

There’s a sacred weight to childbirth—the mingling of joy, anticipation, and yes, pain. For many women, the thought of labor can feel intimidating, but pain in childbirth is not meaningless. It has a purpose, and it’s temporary. When we prepare our bodies and hearts, we can step into labor not with fear, but with peace […]

The Beginning – To give this story justice I need to start at the beginning so let’s do back to last year September 2024. If you have read my blog post in July of our Karol Frances, our little one we miscarried last year then that can give you a little background into these next […]

12 Beautiful Ways to Rest as a Catholic There is something unmistakably holy about a quiet Sunday morning—the scent of beeswax and incense lingering, the hum of Gregorian chant still echoing and sunlight streaming through the kitchen window as your family settles into rest after celebrating Mass. For Catholics, Sundays are more than just a […]

A few of favorite simple prayers during pregnancy beyond the rosary and lectio divina! Pregnancy is such a sacred, tender time—a season of hidden growth, quiet anticipation, and deep interior transformation. With each flutter and kick, I’m reminded that I am not just carrying a child—I am carrying a soul loved infinitely by God and […]

You might be thinking what is the Merck estate? Cue a little drum roll please….thank you! The Merck Estate. A creative space allowing me to share the things I love with all of you while also learning new crafts along the way right there with you. From tips and tricks, inspiration, recipes, products I love, […]