Happy first day of August! August invites us deeper into the quiet beauty of Ordinary Time, a season that, despite its name, is rich with meaning and growth. As summer begins to wind down, this month offers space to slow our pace, lean into rhythms of rest, and cultivate habits that draw us closer to the heart of God. It’s a sacred time for deepening roots, nurturing faith, and embracing the steady work of spiritual formation in the everyday. I can’t wait to celebrate it with you! I can’t wait to celebrate it with you! Here’s an overview with helpful links: August 6th - The Feast of the Transfiguration August 15th - The Feast of St. Mary, the Virgin August 24th - The Feast of St. Bartholomew Current Season: Ordinary Time During the month of August, we continue our journey through the season of Ordinary Time. Here is a helpful article overviewing the season: The Season of Ordinary Time And check out my latest guidebook, The Liturgical Home: Ordinary Time . It gives you everything you need to know to celebrate the season of Ordinary Time in your home. August 6th - The Feast of the Transfiguration On the Feast of the Transfiguration, we behold Christ in radiant glory, His divine nature unveiled before Peter, James, and John on the mountaintop. This moment of awe and wonder reminds us that Jesus is not only the suffering servant, but also the exalted Son of God. As the voice of the Father declares, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to Him,” we’re invited to fix our eyes on Christ and be transformed by His presence. This feast calls us to carry the light of that mountaintop encounter into the valleys of our everyday lives, knowing that the glory we glimpse in Him is the same glory He desires to shine in us. How to Celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration Celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration with Chocolate Silk Pie August 15th - The Feast of St. Mary, the Virgin On the Feast of St. Mary, the Virgin, we honor the one who bore Christ into the world with humility, courage, and unwavering faith. Chosen by God and filled with grace, Mary responded with a simple “yes” that changed the course of history. Her life magnifies the Lord, not through power or prestige, but through surrender, trust, and love. As we remember her today, we’re invited to follow her example: to say “yes” to God’s call, to carry Christ into the world, and to let our lives sing with the joy of the Magnificat. Blessed is she who believed. How to Celebrate the Feast of St. Mary, the Virgin Celebrate the Feast of St. Mary with a Symbolic Blueberry Tart August 24th - The Feast of St. Bartholomew On the Feast of St. Bartholomew, we remember a faithful apostle who followed Jesus with quiet strength and unwavering conviction. Though little is recorded about him in Scripture, tradition tells us that Bartholomew proclaimed the Gospel even to the ends of the earth and gave his life for it. His story reminds us that faithfulness doesn’t always need to be loud to be powerful. In a world that celebrates fame, Bartholomew’s humble witness invites us to embrace steady obedience, deep trust, and the quiet courage to share Christ wherever we are. How to Celebrate the Feast of St. Bartholomew Follow along as I share everything you’ll need to celebrate every special day this month, including the history, recipes, and traditions!

Somewhere along the way, we started treating rest like a reward for getting everything else done. Like something we can only enjoy once the to-do list is cleared, the kitchen is clean, and the inbox is at zero. But what if rest isn’t the reward? What if it’s the starting point? Ordinary Time invites us into a different rhythm, a slower one. It’s not a countdown to anything. It’s not a season of urgency. It’s the long green stretch where we remember that God is already here. That the work is not all up to us. That rest is part of the story. Sabbath isn’t a break from real life. It’s the reminder of what real life is. When we make space for rest and delight in our homes, we’re not being indulgent. We’re practicing faith. We’re resisting a world that tells us our worth is measured by how much we can produce. And we’re showing our children that joy and restoration are holy things. What Sabbath Can Look Like at Home It doesn’t need to be a whole day (though that’s a beautiful goal). It doesn’t need to be perfect or silent or free of chaos. It just needs to be intentional. A Sabbath Candle Light a special candle to mark the start of rest, even just for Sunday dinner. Let it be a visible sign to your family: the pace is changing now. Put Away the Work Tidy what you need to, then stop. Let the undone things stay undone. This is hard, I know. But it's also healing. You are not held together by your productivity. You are held together by grace. Feast a Little Even something simple, a favorite breakfast, a picnic in the backyard, a bakery treat after church, can mark the day with joy. Sabbath reminds us that delight is not extra. It’s essential. Play Together Yes, play is sacred too. Go outside. Build a pillow fort. Say yes to board games. Get out the paints. Let your kids see your smile stretch wide and your shoulders drop. There’s no greater witness to God’s goodness than a parent at peace. Rest Differently Sabbath isn’t just collapsing on the couch (though there’s space for that!). It’s about what restores you. Read a novel. Take a walk. Listen to music that lifts your spirit. Let your soul exhale. Why It Matters Our children are growing up in a world that is always "on." Noise, speed, and striving are the norm. But we can give them something different. When we choose to rest, truly rest, we’re planting a seed that says, You don’t have to earn your belovedness. You already have it. And that truth? That’s the gospel. That’s the green, growing thing that Ordinary Time is all about. This week, consider how your family might begin practicing Sabbath, even in small, doable ways. Don’t wait until everything is perfect. Just begin. Because Sabbath is not a luxury. It’s resistance. And it’s one of the holiest gifts we can give. Click HERE for my free “Sabbath Starters” guide with gentle ideas to help you mark the day.

Ordinary Time has always felt like the season of slow things, quiet, deep, patient things. It’s the time of year that mirrors most of our lives: full of laundry and grocery lists, meals to make, messes to clean, small hands to hold. It’s not flashy or loud. But it’s here, in these ordinary days, that the seeds of faithfulness are planted and tended. And for our children, this quiet season is a gift. We often want to give them the mountaintop moments, the feast days with their special desserts, the candlelit vigils, the processions, and costumes. And those are good and beautiful things. But Ordinary Time reminds us that the life of faith is also daily and steady. It grows slowly, like a well-watered vine. Children learn faith by watching ours. Not just in church on Sunday, but in the way we light a candle during dinner and say a quiet prayer. In how we speak when we’re frustrated. In the way we rest. In the way we begin again. This season invites us to draw our kids into that slow work, to teach them, by example and invitation, what it means to live as a disciple in the ordinary. Daily Habits: Forming the Heart The foundation of a Christian life is built in the small, daily habits that turn our hearts toward God. Ordinary Time invites us to embrace simple, repeated acts that cultivate a steady faith. Here are a few ways to begin: The Daily Office One of the great treasures of our liturgical tradition is the Daily Office. This ancient practice of praying morning, noon, evening, and before bed offers a sacred rhythm to our day. For families new to the Office, start simply: Morning Prayer during breakfast or Compline before bed. Choose just one to begin, and let it become a daily anchor. Tip: Use a simplified version from the Book of Common Prayer . Light a candle, let a child ring a bell, and create a small ceremony that draws attention to the holiness of the moment. Children especially benefit from this rhythm; it marks the day with grace. Scripture Reading Just as we nourish our bodies daily, we nourish our souls by engaging with the Word of God. Reading Scripture as a family builds familiarity and love for God’s Word. Read a psalm at breakfast, or a short Gospel passage before bedtime. Ordinary Time is the perfect season to start a slow walk through one book of the Bible. For young children: Picture Bibles or storybook-style readings are a gentle and beautiful entry point. The key is not quantity but consistency. My favorite storybook Bibles are HERE , HERE , and HERE . Say Grace Before Meals This might be the simplest of all habits, but it’s also one of the most profound. Pausing to give thanks reminds us that every meal is a gift. For some of my favorite traditional table blessings: Examen or Evening Reflection Before bed, pause together and ask: Where did I see God today? Where did I struggle? How can I grow in faith tomorrow? This habit fosters self-awareness and spiritual attentiveness, even in little ones. Acts of Kindness and Gratitude Encourage children (and ourselves!) to practice love in the smallest moments: write a thank-you note, help a sibling, notice someone’s need. These become daily acts of discipleship, faith lived in kindness. Let Your Life Be the Lesson These habits don’t need to be perfect. They just need to be present. Our children don’t need polished answers or Pinterest-worthy plans; they need to see us choosing faithfulness in the middle of our ordinary days. In our culture of instant gratification, we often look for quick fruit. But Kingdom growth is slow. Just like the green of Ordinary Time, our children’s faith will take root beneath the surface before we see it bloom. And that’s okay. That’s the way of the mustard seed. This week, choose one new habit to introduce into your home. Let it be small. Let it be imperfect. But let it be steady. Ordinary Time is a season to stay awhile , to plant, to water, and to wait with hope. Printable Included: Download a simple “Seeds of Faith” checklist for kids to post on the fridge or tuck in your homeschool binder. It’s full of tiny, doable acts of faith your children can practice this summer.

The Feast of St. James the Elder on July 25th is a special occasion to honor the life and legacy of this beloved apostle. Two apostles and three total New Testament saints are named James. Therefore, the Church uses the title “Saint James the Elder” or “Saint James the Great” to distinguish James, the son of Zebedee and brother of John, from the others. James and John were simple fishermen from Galilee who became Christ’s faithful disciples. Their journey alongside Jesus was marked by moments of great devotion and intimacy. On this feast day, we have the opportunity to celebrate St. James in our homes, embracing the rich traditions and significance associated with his life. Who Was St. James the Elder? At the beginning of his ministry, after being tempted in the wilderness, Jesus preaches a message of repentance in Galilee. Walking along the Sea of Galilee shore, he calls the brothers Peter and Andrew to follow him. They leave their nets and followed. Jesus then encounters James and John, preparing their nets with their father Zebedee. He calls them too, and they begin following him ( Mark 1:12-18 ). While journeying from town to town, James, along with his brother and Peter, have special moments of intimacy with Jesus. Only these three are present when Jesus raises Jairus’ daughter from the dead in Mark 5:37 . In Matthew 17:1 , Jesus transfigures before them on a high mountain. In Gethsemane, Jesus asked James, John, and Peter to “stay here and keep watch with me.” James and John attracted attention at times, as seen in the Gospel of Luke when they wanted to call down fire on unwelcoming Samaritans, but Jesus rebuked them. This explains why he nicknames them the “sons of thunder” ( Mark 3:17 ). In Matthew 20 , Salome, their mother, asks for her sons to have special places of honor in Jesus’ kingdom. Jesus asked if they could drink from his cup, and they affirmed. Jesus prophesies they will drink from his cup, but the granting of positions isn’t his decision. The Ministry of St. James After Jesus’ death and resurrection, James, along with the other disciples, was taught by Jesus, watched him ascend to the Father, then waited in the upper room for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Like all the other apostles, James spent the rest of his life sharing the Gospel and leading the early church. James felt called to Spain, where he preached for seven years. According to early Christian writings, James returned to Jerusalem, where King Herod martyred him in 42 A.D. ( Acts 12:1-2 ). The Legacy of St. James James, being martyred, could not be buried in Jerusalem, so his followers carried his remains back to Spain. Incursions and wars caused the location of his remains to be lost. In the 9th century, legend says a hermit named Pelayo saw special stars in the sky, which he considered a sign from God. Pelayo brought his bishop to the site, and they discovered St. James’ lost remains along with his two disciples. They named the area Compostela, meaning “field of stars.” Later, the king built a cathedral to mark the sacred location, known as the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, sparking pilgrimages from the faithful. The famous road to the cathedral is The Camino or “the Way,” an ancient pilgrim route from France and Spain to Compostela. The Camino de Santiago has since become one of the world’s most renowned pilgrimage routes, attracting thousands of pilgrims from various backgrounds. Upon completing “the Camino,” pilgrims attach scallop shells or images to their hats or clothes as “pilgrim badges.” The Feast of St. James Around the World In Spain, they hold a two-week festival in honor of St. James that concludes with his feast day. The festivities include dramatic performances, traditional costumes, Galician bagpipe music, dancing, and special foods. People enjoy the scallop-filled empanada, symbolizing the scallop shell associated with Saint James. On the eve of the Feast of St. James, a breathtaking fireworks display begins at midnight. Gathering at the Praza do Obradoiro, both locals and visitors revel in the traditional fireworks projected on the facade of Santiago Cathedral. It illuminates the night sky, reminding us of the light of Christ that St. James shared with the world. On the feast day of St. James, the cathedral hosts a High Mass attended by the Spanish Royal family. It is a moment of reverence and devotion as the faithful gather to honor the saint. A special six-foot-tall censer called the “botafumeiro” is swung from the cathedral’s ceiling, filling the air with fragrant incense and creating a sense of spiritual awe. How to Celebrate the Feast of St. James the Elder Since scallop shells symbolize the Feast of St. James, make madeleines, a crispy cookie made in a scallop-shaped mold, or buy them from the store. Cook a Spanish dish like paella or empanadas to evoke the flavors and traditions of the region. Act like a pilgrim by dressing like pilgrims and embarking on a walking adventure or camping out. Make colorful scallop shapes out of paper and pin them on your clothes after you have completed your “pilgrimage.” It is also customary to eat oysters today. A common saying is, “Who eats oysters on Saint James’ Day will never want!” In France, it is not the oyster that is eaten, but the scallop known as “coquilles Saint-Jacques” or “shells of Saint James.” In Spain, they eat the Tarta de Santiago or Almond Cake of St. James. This is a classic dessert from the region and is a moist almond cake made with ground almonds, sugar, eggs, and lemon zest. It is often topped with powdered sugar and the image of the Cross of Saint James. Spanish Almond Cake (Tarta de Santiago) Recipe 2 cups ground almonds. Use raw, peeled almonds for best results. You can optionally toast them in the oven for a deeper almond flavor. Note: I used 2 cups of almond flour and it worked great! 1 ¼ cups sugar 5 eggs lemon zest from half a lemon 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 tablespoon liquor (You can use vodka, Cointreau, Amaretto, or Grappa. Vanilla or almond extract can be substituted if you don’t want to include alcohol!) Powdered sugar to dust Instructions Preheat the oven to 350°. Pulse the almonds in a food processor until finely ground. However, be careful not to turn the mixture into almond butter by over-processing. Beat the egg and sugar until the mixture is pale and creamy. Add the lemon zest, liquor, and cinnamon. Fold in the ground almonds using a rubber spatula. Grease a 10-inch springform pan with butter and pour in the almond cake batter. Bake for about 30 minutes, until the cake is golden brown. Test with a toothpick; if it doesn’t come out clean, cover the cake with aluminum foil and bake for five more minutes, then test again. Do this one more time if necessary (for 40 minutes total). Allow the cake to cool in the pan, and then transfer to a serving dish. Decorate with powdered sugar. If you wish, you can download a printout of the emblematic cross of Saint James.

The Church will celebrate the Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene on July 22nd. Mary Magdalene, known as the “Apostle to the Apostles,” holds a special place in Christian history. Her humble faith and love for Jesus have made her an enduring symbol of devotion. All four Gospels mention her, and she plays a significant role in Jesus’ ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection. On her feast day, we remember her profound roles as the first witness to the resurrection. We also acknowledge her crucial part in spreading the Good News of the Risen Christ. About Mary Magdalene As her name suggests, Mary Magdalene likely hailed from Magdala, a fishing village on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. We first encounter her in the opening verses of Luke 8 . Jesus, accompanied by his twelve disciples and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases, traveled to nearby towns and villages. They preached and proclaimed the Good News about the Kingdom of God. Among the women listed was Mary Magdalene, from whom Jesus had cast out seven demons. Luke notes that all these women, including Mary Magdalene, supported Jesus and his disciples with their own resources ( Luke 8:1-3 ). Later, Mary Magdalene was among the small group of women at the foot of the cross ( Matt. 27:55-56 , Mark 15:40 , John 19:25 ). She was present as Jesus died. As evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea took Jesus’ body, wrapped it in a long sheet of clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb. He rolled a great stone across the entrance and left. As all this happened, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary sat across from the tomb, watching ( Matt. 27:61 ). Mary and the Resurrection Early Sunday morning, as the Sabbath ends and the new day dawns, Mary Magdalene and the other women go to the tomb with spices they had prepared to anoint Jesus’ body ( Matt. 28:1-10 , Mark 16:1-8 , Luke 24:1-12 ). Upon finding the tomb empty, angels inform them about Jesus’ resurrection. The angels instruct them to share the good news with the disciples. In Matthew, while the women are on their way to inform the disciples, they encounter the risen Lord. He reassures them not to be afraid and instructs them to go to Galilee, where they will find him. In John’s account, only Mary Magdalene is mentioned at the empty tomb that morning ( John 20:11-18 ). As Mary prepares to leave, she has an incredible interaction with the risen Christ, whom she thinks is the gardener. But when Jesus calls her name, she immediately recognizes him and realizes he’s alive! Jesus instructs her to go and deliver a message to his “brothers.” Mary Magdalene finds the disciples and exclaims, “I have seen the Lord!” before passing on his message. Finally, in Acts 1:14 , after Jesus ascends to the Father, the apostles return to the upper room in Jerusalem to await the promised Holy Spirit. Luke mentions that they, along with the women, Mary (the mother of Jesus), and his brothers, were constantly praying. Mary Magdalene was among those present when the Holy Spirit descended. Confusion Around Mary Magdalene Mary Magdalene’s significance in Christian tradition goes beyond her historical role. Various interpretations and legends have sprung up about Mary Magdalene over the centuries. Many of these are not supported by biblical evidence. These imaginings have contributed to much controversy, affecting her presence in Christian art, literature, and devotion. What Happened to Mary? There is disagreement about Mary’s life after the Church began. The Eastern tradition says she retired to Ephesus with Mary, the mother of Jesus, where they lived their lives. In Western Europe, conflicting legends developed about her burial. Legends claimed she traveled to the south of France with different people and lived as a penitent ascetic in a cave in Provence. During the Middle Ages, various churches arose, each with a unique legend and claiming to possess relics or tombs associated with Mary Magdalene. Mary and the Sinful Woman In 591 AD, Pope Gregory I (Gregory the Great) preached a controversial sermon about Mary Magdalene. In his address, he merged Mary Magdalene with Mary of Bethany and the “sinful woman” who washed Jesus’ feet. Despite the Bible never specifying the sin of the “sinful woman,” Pope Gregory asserted it to be prostitution. This influential sermon established a link between Mary Magdalene, prostitution, sinfulness, and penitence, which the Western Christian tradition widely embraced. Despite this, no biblical evidence or early tradition associates Mary Magdalene with prostitution. The Gospel accounts only mention Jesus delivering her from seven demons, without specifying her occupation or any sinful behavior. In contrast, the Eastern Church never merged Mary Magdalene with Mary of Bethany or the “sinful woman.” Instead, it continued to honor her as a virtuous woman. Thankfully, a growing movement to restore Mary Magdalene’s image as a faithful disciple in the Western Church has arisen. It emphasizes her significance within early Christian communities. Even Pope John Paul II issued a corrective statement on Mary Magdalene to right the wrongs done to her reputation. In his apostolic letter Mulieris Dignitatem  (“On the Dignity and Vocation of Women”), dated August 15th, 1988, he said, The Gospel of John emphasizes the special role of Mary Magdalene. She is the first to meet the Risen Christ, hence she came to be called “the apostle of the Apostles”. Mary Magdalene was the first eyewitness of the Risen Christ, and for this reason, she was also the first to bear witness to him before the Apostles. This event, in a sense, crowns all that has been said previously about Christ entrusting divine truths to women as well as men. Traditions of Mary Magdalene Over time, both the Eastern and Western churches have developed practices around Mary Magdalene. While some of these practices are rooted in scripture, others are based on later legends. Nonetheless, each has significantly shaped how Christian practice remembers her. The Myrrh Bearers or the Three Marys The Church has always revered Mary Magdalene as one of the faithful women present at the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Consequently, Christian art has depicted and commemorated these women since the 3rd century. The Eastern Church refers to them as “The Myrrh-Bearers” because they carried myrrh to anoint Jesus’ body on the morning of the resurrection. Their celebration occurs on the third Sunday of Pascha (Easter), known as the “Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women.” Hymns and readings focus on their encounters with the risen Christ and their role in spreading the Good News of the resurrection. Icons of the myrrh-bearing women at the empty tomb are prominently displayed in Eastern churches. The Western Church refers to them as “The Three Marys.” In several Catholic countries, especially Spain, the Philippines, and Latin America, processions on Good Friday include images of the three Marys (in Spanish, Tres Marías). Some regions in France and Italy also celebrate the Feast of the Three Marys. The Miracle of the Red Egg The Eastern Orthodox Church associates dyeing eggs red for Easter with Mary Magdalene. According to legend, after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Mary Magdalene traveled to Rome to share the Gospel with Emperor Tiberius. She gave the emperor an egg and explained to him that the egg was a perfect symbol of the resurrection of Jesus. The emperor was skeptical, responding that it was impossible for someone to rise from the dead, just as it was impossible for the egg in Mary Magdalene’s hand to turn red. The egg miraculously turned red at that moment, shocking everyone who witnessed it. This miraculous event is said to have convinced the emperor of the truth of Mary Magdalene’s message, and he allowed her to continue her missionary work. How to Celebrate the Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene Firstly, read the Gospel passages about Mary Magdalene, particularly John 20:1-18 , where she encounters the resurrected Jesus. Additionally, explore other books about St. Mary Magdalene’s life. After reading these, take a moment to thank God for this devoted, faithful woman who first shared the Good News with others. In connection with Mary’s association with the miracle of the red egg, consider making red-boiled eggs using the recipe for naturally dyed eggs found here . Additionally, you may also choose to light a myrrh-scented candle or myrrh incense. In keeping with Mary’s act of anointing Jesus’ body with spices, create something spiced, such as spice cupcakes or chai tea. HELPFUL LINKS: Spiced Cupcakes Chai Tea Children's Books About Mary Magdalene   How to Dye Eggs Red UsingOnion Skins

If last week we started at the table, this week we turn our hearts to the quiet places, those little pockets of time that invite us to pause, to listen, and to pray. Because here’s the thing: in Ordinary Time, it’s not the calendar that keeps us rooted, it’s the rhythm. And there’s no rhythm more ancient or more anchoring than the rhythm of daily prayer. Why We Pray Daily As Christians, prayer is one of the most important things we do. It’s how we are united to God. It’s where relationship grows, where we are formed, and where God meets us, in the midst of our very real, very ordinary lives. Prayer causes us to pause, to turn, to remember. It reorients our hearts to who God is and who we are in Him. And when we pray daily, as individuals, as couples, or as families, we create a spiritual pattern that draws us back to God again and again. It’s not about perfection. It’s about presence. When we set a rhythm of daily prayer, something powerful happens. We remember. We’re renewed. And we are gently unified in our love and service to God. An Ancient Rhythm The rhythm of daily prayer is not new. We see it all the way back in Deuteronomy 6 , when Moses gives the Israelites instructions as they prepare to enter the Promised Land: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might… You shall teach these words to your children… and talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” This became the foundation for the Jewish practice of praying morning, noon, and night , a rhythm Jesus Himself would have followed. When the early Church formed, they continued this pattern. Over time, it became known as the Daily Office , from the Latin officium divinum — divine duty. And while that may sound formal, the idea is profoundly simple: regular prayer isn’t something we squeeze in when we feel like it. It’s a spiritual rhythm that shapes us over time, like water gently forming stone. What Does the Daily Office Look Like? The traditional Daily Office follows a gentle, meaningful structure: A Psalm of praise to begin A Reading from Scripture A Hymn or Song of Worship Personal Prayers The Lord’s Prayer A Collect to close (a composed prayer that draws everything together) If you’ve ever read Morning or Evening Prayer in the Book of Common Prayer , you’ve experienced this. It’s not flashy. It’s not complicated. But it’s deeply grounding. When we enter into this rhythm, we step into something far bigger than ourselves. We join with the ancient Israelites, the early church, and generations of Christians who have sought the Lord through structured, steady prayer. Bringing the Daily Office Home Now, how do we actually do this in the home? What does it look like in real life, especially if we have kids, jobs, distractions, and noise? Here’s what it looked like in ours when our children were at home: On most mornings, before homeschooling began, we gathered around our kitchen table. We lit a candle. We reminded ourselves with our bodies that this moment was different. That this time was holy. My children would quiet (a little!) when the candle was lit. The soft glow told them something special was happening. It wasn’t magic, it was a marker. It helped their hearts and mine settle into the moment. Here’s what it looks like now: I wake up early and pray Morning Prayer on my own. When my son, who has special needs and is home with me during the day wakes up, we pray Morning Prayer together. In the evening, the whole family gathers to pray together before I go to bed. Practical Tips for Families If you’re just beginning a daily prayer rhythm at home, here are a few tips that have helped us along the way: Choose a time that works for your family For us, it was in the morning. For you, it might be at bedtime, or before dinner. The goal is consistency, not complexity. Use atmosphere to your advantage Children are wired to respond to beauty. Light candles. Dim the lights. Play soft sacred music. Even young children sense that something meaningful is happening. Let older children help They can light the candles, read Scripture, or lead the prayer. This gives them ownership and helps them grow in faith and responsibility. Offer quiet hands for littles We’ve given toddlers a Jesus picture book, a soft rosary, or even a tray of dry oatmeal to play with while they listen. It’s not perfect. But it’s real. Keep expectations low and hearts open It will never be flawless. Someone will fidget. Someone will spill. But God is not waiting for perfect. He is already here, shaping hearts through the simple act of showing up. A Gift to Help You Begin If you’d like to begin this rhythm of daily prayer in your own home, I’ve created a simplified Family Prayer Guide for Ordinary Time. It’s drawn from the structure of the Daily Office, and it's designed to be gentle, accessible, and beautiful. You can download it at the link below. Use it in the morning, before dinner, or at bedtime, whatever fits your season. My hope is that it helps you begin a new rhythm of connection with God, one that roots your family in His presence, day by day. So this week, I invite you to pray. Not just when things feel urgent, or on Sundays, or when the house is finally quiet, but as a daily practice. A holy rhythm. Because in these ordinary moments, we are being formed. And in this long green season of slow, steady grace, the simplest habits, lighting a candle, reading a psalm, whispering the Lord’s Prayer, become the very places God meets us. Let the slow work continue.

There’s something sacred about the kitchen table. Not just on feast days or special occasions, but in the ordinary hours of an ordinary Wednesday, when someone’s late, the toddler only wants toast, and there’s a spill under someone’s chair (again). Even in that chaos, or maybe especially in it, God is present. And He’s teaching us how to see Him in the breaking of the bread. In this first day of The Slow Work of God , we’re starting at the table. Because that’s where discipleship often begins, not with a grand gesture, but with daily bread. The Table as Holy Ground Eating together as a family, a couple, or a community is one of the most powerful daily rhythms we can practice. In the midst of our busy lives, gathering around the table provides sacred, intentional time to pause, connect, and reflect on God’s goodness. This isn’t just something that “feels nice” or “brings people closer together.” God designed His people to live this way. We see this pattern again and again in Scripture, and one of the clearest examples comes in Exodus 13:1–16. After delivering Israel from slavery in Egypt, God established special days and rhythms for His people to remember His faithfulness, and they weren’t confined to synagogue rituals. These holy days included real, shared experiences: food, storytelling, and family gatherings. "When the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites… you shall keep this service in this month. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to the Lord… And when in time to come your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ you shall say to him, ‘By a strong hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt.’” —Exodus 13:5–8 Do you see what’s happening? God wove the remembrance of salvation into the meal itself. He didn’t just say, “Remember this in your heart.” He said, “Sit down together. Eat this food. Tell the story.” This is why the table is more than a place to eat. It’s a place to encounter God. To pass down faith. To say, “This time matters. These people matter. And most of all, God matters.” The Atmosphere of Holiness In our home, we’ve found that simple choices can create a sense of sacred space. The dinner doesn’t have to be fancy, sometimes it’s a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store, but it’s not the food that makes it special. What makes it holy is that we carved out the time . We say, “This is important. This is what we’re going to do. We’re going to eat together. We’re going to talk. We’re going to experience holy time.” We don’t allow phones at the table, not from the children or the adults . No distractions. For one hour, this is God’s time. We play a gentle playlist in the background, light candles, and turn off the other lights. The effect is quiet magic. My children still love the atmosphere, especially the candlelight. It’s a visual cue that says: This time is different. This time is holy. And for the next hour, we talk, we laugh, and we eat. As I look around, the soft glow of the candles reflects on every face, and what I see is a newfound sense of wonder. This is what eating together does: it takes the chaos and rush of our lives and forces us to slow down. It gives us, not just any kind of time, but God’s time. Print out one of these beautiful prayer cards for your table. Small Practices, Deep Roots You don’t need to turn dinner into a liturgy (though you certainly can!). But here are a few simple ways to eat with intention this week: Light a candle before meals I cannot emphasize enough the effect a candle or candles has at the dinner table. It immediately marks the moment as holy and sacred and brings a different atmosphere to the meal. Say grace slowly Choose a prayer that means something to your family and pray it together before each meal. This creates a beautiful sense of tradition and meaning. Here’s a free PDF I created for you with beautiful, traditional prayers before a meal. Print them up, fold them in half and they will stand on your dining or kitchen table - Ask one meaningful question Try: “Where did you see beauty today?” or “What are you thankful for?” Bake bread together Let your kids knead the dough, smell it baking, and break it open warm. It’s a slow and sacred act. Host a Sunday meal It doesn’t have to be elaborate. Make space for someone new or someone in need. Hospitality is always holy. Whether you’re gathering around a picnic table, the kitchen counter, or a cloth-covered dining room table, remember: the sacred isn’t reserved for feast days. It’s waiting right here, in the rhythm of your everyday meals. In these ordinary moments, we taste the holy. Next, we’ll talk about prayer in the summer season. But for now, light a candle, put away the phones, and break bread with the ones you love. Let the slow work begin!

Summer has arrived with all its golden light, long evenings, and the quiet hush of a slower pace. School is out, routines shift, and life feels just a little looser around the edges. It’s the season of bare feet and backyard dinners, library bags and lingering mornings. And in the Church, it’s also the beginning of something quietly beautiful: the season of Ordinary Time . Ordinary Time doesn’t come with a calendar full of feast days or the built-in structure of Lent or Advent. It’s the long, green season—unhurried, uncelebrated by the culture, and often overlooked. But I’ve come to love this season more and more. It’s where real discipleship takes root. It’s not about preparing for something else. It’s about growing right where you are. In a world that’s always rushing toward the next thing, Ordinary Time invites us to stay awhile. To let our faith stretch out and grow slowly. To recognize God not just in the high holy days, but in the everyday routines of meals, prayers, work, and rest. So this summer, I want to invite you into something special: Living the Green: Embracing Ordinary Time at Home Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing a series of reflections and practices to help you bring the beauty and depth of Ordinary Time into your home. These are not grand or complicated things—just small, intentional rhythms that create space for faith to flourish in the middle of your real, ordinary life. Here’s what’s coming: Daily Bread: Eating Together with Intention How can our meals become sacred spaces of connection, gratitude, and joy? Praying the Day: Simple Rhythms of Summer Prayer From morning walks to evening candlelight, we’ll explore ways to weave prayer into your summer days. Feasting in the Ordinary: Celebrating Saints & Seasons You don’t need to go all out—just a few small, meaningful ways to mark the liturgical year in the heart of summer. The Green Grows Slowly: Teaching Kids Faithfulness Because growth takes time—and our children need to see that the quiet work matters too. Sabbath & Play: Rest as Resistance Let’s reclaim rest and delight as spiritual practices, not luxuries. Household Discipleship: Building a Rule of Life How might your family’s rhythms reflect your values and call to live as followers of Christ? Each post will include simple ideas for your home, theological reflection, and ways to get your family involved. Some will have downloads, checklists, or printable prayers to tuck into your planner or display on your kitchen bulletin board. Because here’s the thing: Ordinary Time is not about waiting for something better. It is the better. It’s where Christ meets us in the everyday and makes it holy. So join me. Let’s open our homes and our hearts to the slow, steady grace of Ordinary Time. Let’s live the green together. Sign up for the newsletter if you haven’t already so you don’t miss a post. And if you know someone who might love this series, send them this way—I’d love to welcome them into the journey. With gratitude and green growing things, Ashley

This Sunday, we begin a new liturgical season - Ordinary Time. As we step into the season of Ordinary Time, often called the season after Pentecost or Trinitytide, it is important to remember that there is nothing “ordinary” about it. This season, which follows the great feasts of Easter, is not a time of lesser importance but rather a time of deepening, an invitation to live out the mysteries we have just celebrated. The liturgical calendar is not simply a cycle of remembrance, but a path of formation, shaping us into a people who carry Christ’s presence into the world. Ordinary Time, then, is the season in which we learn to walk as disciples, growing in faith, hope, and love. It is also the longest season of the Church year, taking up three-quarters of the liturgical year. The word “ordinary” does not mean common or unimportant; rather, it comes from the Latin ordinalis , meaning ordered or numbered time, a season marked by the steady unfolding of Christ’s teachings in our daily lives. Throughout salvation history, God has not only revealed himself in extraordinary moments but also in the steady rhythm of daily life. From the Israelites wandering in the wilderness to the early Church learning to follow Christ in their communities, the people of God have always been called to faithfulness in the midst of the ordinary. This is the invitation of Ordinary Time: to cultivate holiness in our daily routines, to recognize the presence of God in the seemingly mundane, and to continue growing in our spiritual journey. This season is marked by the color green, a symbol of life and growth. Just as the natural world flourishes in the sunlight, Ordinary Time is a season for us to flourish in the light of Christ. It is a time for discipleship, a time to be nourished by the Word of God and the sacraments, a time to allow the seeds of faith to take deep root in our souls. During the great feasts of Christmas and Easter, we rejoice in Christ’s coming and his victory over death. But in Ordinary Time, we are invited to ask: What does it mean to live as those who belong to him? The Gospels proclaimed throughout Ordinary Time center on the life and ministry of Jesus, the way he taught, healed, forgave, and called people to himself. We hear his parables, his miracles, his conversations with the disciples, and his commands to love, serve, and follow him. Through these stories, we are drawn into his way of life. Just as the first disciples walked with Christ, we, too, are called to walk with him in our daily lives, to take up our cross, and to be transformed into his likeness. St. Augustine reminds us: You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.Augustine, Confessions Ordinary Time is the season where we learn to find our rest in God, not just in the great moments of celebration, but in the quiet, consistent faithfulness of daily life. It is in this time that we are formed, strengthened, and prepared to bear fruit in due season. Yet, in the modern world, this season goes unnoticed. We move from celebration to celebration, feast to feast, but struggle to embrace the steady, patient work of discipleship. However, the Church in her wisdom gives us this time, not as a pause, but as a gift. In a culture that craves constant excitement, Ordinary Time calls us to something deeper: a life rooted in Christ, where even the smallest acts of faithfulness become an offering to God. Let us, then, reclaim the beauty of Ordinary Time. Let us commit ourselves to growing in the faith, to deepening our prayer lives, and to recognizing the presence of Christ in our homes, workplaces, and communities. As we journey through this season, may we remember that every moment is an opportunity to draw near to him, to love as he loves, and to live as his people in the world. And so, with Christians throughout the ages, we pray: Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!Psalm 103:1 For even in the ordinary, we find the extraordinary presence of God. Excerpt from my latest guidebook - The Liturgical Home: Ordinary Time Ways to Celebrate Read Acts 1 and 2 about the early church flourishing after the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Pray for the Holy Spirit to fill you anew and help you to flourish and grow. Buy my latest liturgical guidebook, The Liturgical Home: Ordinary Time ! It gives you everything you need to celebrate the season of Ordinary Time in your home. All of the feast days, their significance and meaning, traditional recipes and ways to celebrate from around the world, and devotions for the special days. You are going to love it! Decorate your home with all things green! I love this beautiful muted green table cloth with cream flowers (It also comes as a runner ). These adorable green gingham napkins , striped napkins , or linen napkins . You could also add a throw pillow like this or this . Fill a jar or vase with green herbs or branches from the backyard. May God bless you and your family during this season of Ordinary Time!

Summer is here! The season of sun-kissed days and unstructured time, where the long, warm evenings invite us to linger a little longer. However, the freedom of unstructured time can be a double-edged sword. Without a normal routine, we can start to feel disoriented and disconnected, drifting through our days without truly connecting to our faith or each other. As we find ourselves in Ordinary Time, it’s a wonderful opportunity to establish new rhythms that bring our faith into the heart of this relaxed season. To help, I wanted to introduce a new series, Establishing New Rhythms in Summer: Embracing Ordinary Time . Over the next week, we’ll explore how we can bring our faith into the heart of this relaxed season, establishing new and easy rhythms that draw us closer to God and strengthen our connections with each other. Ordinary Time is a beautiful opportunity for us all to grow, reflect, and deepen our faith in meaningful ways. What's Coming Up This Week Over the next week, we’ll dive into specific ways to establish these new rhythms through different aspects of our daily lives: Eating Together : We’ll explore how sharing meals can become sacred moments of connection and gratitude. From picnics to farm-to-table feasts, we’ll discover ways to make our meals more meaningful and faith-filled. Prayer : We’ll look at creative ways to integrate prayer into our summer routines. Whether it’s morning praise walks, evening campfire Compline, or keeping a summer prayer journal, there are many beautiful practices to explore. Celebrating the Liturgical Year : Embracing the liturgical year can feel daunting, but summer is the perfect time to ease into it. We’ll discuss simple ways to observe feast days and saints’ days, incorporate liturgical colors into our homes, and engage in family projects that celebrate our faith. Embrace the Season Ordinary Time is anything but ordinary. It’s a time for growth, reflection, and deepening our faith. By establishing new rhythms of eating, praying, and celebrating the liturgical year together, we invite the sacred into our everyday summer moments, making this season truly extraordinary. So, join me this next week as we begin this journey to bring more intention, connection, and faith into our summer days. Let’s savor the slower pace, delight in our meals, deepen our prayers, and celebrate the liturgical year with joy and creativity. Here’s to a summer filled with faith, family, friends, and the joyous rhythms of Ordinary Time!

In the season of Ordinary Time, there is something so fulfilling about finding joy in the simplicity of everyday moments. And what better way to savor the sweetness of this season than by celebrating with fresh fruit? I've already shared some recipes on figs and now I'm adding peaches to the list. As peaches come into season, I thought making a real, honest-to-goodness homemade peach pie would be fun. I even made a lattice top which I never do! My daughter and I were watching "Zoe Bakes" on the Magnolia Channel the other day. Does anyone else have the Magnolia Channel? We absolutely love it! There's something about it that is so calming and peaceful. We especially love Zoe Francois' baking show. She is the master of baking and the homemade peach pie she made looked incredible. She demonstrated a technique called fraisage where you create thin sheets of butter throughout the crust. As the crust is cooking, the thin sheets of butter steam which causes the dough to puff and get very flaky. Her crust was the most incredible crust I had ever seen! You could see the layers and it looked so good! I decided to go all in and make Zoe Francois' Perfect Peach Pie . There's a certain magic in the art of creating a homemade peach pie and this recipe was no different. From the crust to the filling, to the lattice top, this pie was a labor of love. There are a few more steps than an ordinary peach pie but, trust me, it's worth every extra step! I have never had a peach pie or a pie crust this good before! I hope you'll set aside some time and give it a try! As we continue to move through the season of Ordinary Time, let's celebrate the beauty of everyday moments and the abundance of nature's gifts. This homemade peach pie is a wonderful expression of gratitude for the simplicity and sweetness of our life in Christ. So, roll up your sleeves, make this Perfect Peach Pie, and enjoy the flavors of Ordinary Time. Perfect Peach Pie Ingredients: All-Butter Pie Dough 4 1/2 cups (563 grams) all-purpose flour 2 1/4 cups (495 grams) cold unsalted butter, cut into tablespoon-sized pieces 6 tablespoons (75 grams) granulated sugar 2 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt 1 1/2 tablespoons vodka (or white vinegar) 3/4 cup ice water Pie Filling 8 ripe peaches 1/2 cup (100 grams) raw sugar 1/4 cup whiskey, bourbon, or rum, or 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice Pinch kosher salt 1/4 cup cornstarch Egg wash (1 egg mixed with 1 tablespoon water) Sugar for sprinkling Directions: To make the all-butter pie dough: In a large bowl, combine the flour and cold butter pieces and use a pastry cutter to blend the butter into the flour. Continue to do so until some of the butter is coating the flour, with large pieces of butter still intact. Once combined, add the sugar and salt, and use your fingers to work it into the flour and butter. Add the vodka to the ice water, then drizzle over the dough 3 tablespoons at a time, tossing with your hands until it just comes together in a shaggy dough. Turn your dough out onto the counter (or onto a chilled marble or tile slab if you have one). Pile the dough into a long rectangle and use the heel of your hand to smear the dough away from you to create long “sheets” of butter. This technique is called fraisage. Using a bench scraper, fold the dough on top of itself and continue pressing until the dough comes together into a log, folding a few more times. Do not overwork the dough. The goal is to make long, thin sheets of butter throughout the dough. Once formed into a log, cut into 2 pieces and form each into a disk. Wrap each in plastic and chill for at least 1 hour. To make the pie filling: Peel the peaches by cutting a cross on the base of each peach. Bring a pot of water to a boil and gently lower the peaches into it. Flip after a few seconds. After they boil for a minute or two, remove the peaches and submerge them in ice water. Now the skin will slip right off. Cut the peaches in half, remove the pit, and cut the peaches into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Combine the peaches, raw sugar, whiskey, and salt in a large bowl and let them sit for at least 30 minutes. This releases the juices from the peaches. Strain the peaches over a bowl and mix the juices with the cornstarch. In a saucepan, cook the cornstarch and peach juice mixture, whisking constantly, until it is thick and translucent. Add the thickened juices back to the peaches in the large bowl and toss. Refrigerate the peaches while you roll out your pie dough. Make the pie: On a floured surface, roll out one disk of the pie dough to fit the diameter of the pie dish (the dough should be about 1/8-inch thick). Fold it into quarters so you can more easily pick it up and unfold it over a 9-inch pie dish. Ease it into the bottom and up the sides of the dish. Now you can fill it with your peaches. Create the lattice top with the second disk of dough by rolling it out to a 1/8-inch-thick disk and use a fluted pastry wheel to cut it into 2-inch-wide lattice strips. Layer the strips to create the lattice. Trim off the excess dough, then roll and crimp the edges. Place the pie in the freezer until completely chilled, at least 20 minutes. (You can also wrap it well in plastic and return it to the freezer until you're ready to bake.) Preheat the oven to 425°F. Brush the top of the pie with egg wash and sprinkle with sugar. Place on a baking sheet (in case the juices bubble over). If the pie was frozen, it goes into the oven frozen (don’t defrost it) and will just take much longer to bake, and you will probably need to tent the crust with foil. Bake the pie for 25 minutes, then lower the temperature to 375°F and continue baking until the filling is bubbling and clear. This can take anywhere from 45 additional minutes to 1 1/2 hours (if it was frozen). Tent the edges of the pie with aluminum foil if they start to brown before the middle is done. Cool the pie completely. Serve with ice cream and candied bacon if desired.

One of the most significant habits we formed as a family was morning prayer. Note: It doesn't have to be morning prayer if that does not work for your family. It can be at lunch, after dinner, or before bed. Whatever works best for your family. When I was a young homeschooling mom, I was trying to find a way to lead my kids in prayer in the morning. My husband, the good Anglican priest that he is, suggested doing morning prayer and I was like, “Uhhhh, no”. Morning prayer? Why on earth would I do morning prayer with kids? What could possibly be more boring? How could the Holy Spirit be involved in something like morning prayer? (Did I say all of this to my husband? Why, yes, yes, I did.) My husband is a very gentle and patient man. He listened to my protestations and assured me that he heard me. But then, as he was walking out of the room he dropped this bomb, “I grew up in a school where we did morning prayer every day. Do you know what it is like for a little boy’s heart to hear and to recite these words every day, 'the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting and his faithfulness endures from age to age' or 'for he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand.'" I started morning prayer with the kids the next day. Starting the day off with morning prayer (or ending it with evening prayer), set our hearts and minds on God's goodness and faithfulness. There is something so powerful that happens when we set a rhythm of daily prayer and we pray the same thing together. It reminds us of who we are in God, it renews us and it unifies us, as a family, in our love and service to God. And if you are worried about the origins of morning prayer , know that it is biblical! You can read my whole post on the biblical origins of daily prayer here but the basis for it is found in Deuteronomy 6 when Moses gives the Israelites instructions to guide them and keep them as they entered the promised land - 4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” At the end of this passage, the Israelites were told to teach their children diligently morning, noon, and night. With these words, the Jewish practice of praying morning, noon, and night was instituted. And when the early church started, this practice continued and they prayed in the same way as well. This ancient Christian practice of praying morning, noon, and night is known as the “daily office”. The name comes from the Latin officium divinum , which means “divine duty.” It begins with a psalm of praise that the family says together, a reading from scripture, singing a song of worship, personal prayers, and the Lord’s Prayer and concludes with a collect (a composed prayer). If you would like to incorporate this beautiful habit into your family’s life, I created simplified forms for a family to use based on the experience of our family over the years. Choose a time that works best for your family; there are forms for prayer in the morning, at Noonday, early evening (right before or after dinner), and at the close of the day (right before bed), prepare your family for this new thing that you will be doing and begin! I hope that these family prayer forms will be a blessing to you and your family!