Archive for ‘Happily Even After’
Bedtime and the Cross
Four-year-old Lucy’s bedtime demands leave Josh feeling frustrated. How does he cope?
Forced March
Josh has started to make his daily commute on foot. He describes the blessing of having silent, uninterrupted time to reflect.
A Little Bit of Solidarity
Stacey reflects on how the Jesuit Volunteers has helped to shape her family’s values. Each of the values, she says, is about relationship: to material goods, to God, to others, and to those who are marginalized.
Career Choices
The possibility of a career change prompts Josh to reflect on the impact on his family–and what’s of ultimate value.
Sergeant Stacey
It’s a hectic weekend and Stacey and Josh are trying to move the family from one activity to another. Did Stacey really act like a drill sergeant? That’s what Josh says, and his comment got Stacey thinking.
Single-mindedness
St. John Chrysostom said to young husbands: “I place your love above all things, and nothing would be more bitter or painful to me than to be of a different mind than you.” Josh admits that these words once mystified him, but now they make more sense. Marriage does not mean a reduction to the lowest common denominator, but a blossoming of each spouse’s personality.
Grace: Variations on a Theme
From meltdowns to milk-mustachioed smiles, Josh finds grace in the unpredictable moments of his 5-year-old. He never knows what’s coming next, and the mystery keeps him on his toes.
Pilgrim People
Being a pilgrim, says Stacey, involves physical discomfort, something she and her group found during their trip to Madrid for World Youth Day. But she also experienced the “consolations of God,” who turns our hardships into signs of His love.
Aaaaadventure!
Stacey says that she and Josh have helped each other to find adventure: skydiving, hot air balloons, and whitewater rafting, among others. Stacey recently embarked on a different kind of adventure when she went to World Youth Day.
Big Men, Big Rings
How many people get to meet their childhood hero? And have lunch with three bishops? Josh did during a recent family vacation. He talks about the power lunch of his life.
Big Softy
“Family life has softened my heart a good bit,” writes Stacey. For example, since she became a mother Stacey looks at movies in a whole different light.
Marital moments
Attending the wedding of friends causes Josh to think about the different “moments” that make a marriage.
How Many Children Should We Have?
People often ask Stacey and Josh, the parents of three, if they are “done” having children. Certainty is not something Stacey has regarding the size of her family. She explains why that’s not a bad thing.
Unsolicited Advice
While in the grocery store with his three kids, Josh was the victim of a hit and run. It didn’t involve a car, but a bit of unsolicited advice left by an anonymous shopper. Josh recounts his reaction.
A Matter of Perspective
Stacey explores the difference a shift in perspective can make to the mixed bag of events that life can dish out – especially during family vacations.
State of the Union
Sexual intimacy is a key part of a marriage. Josh offers a few insights on sex and sexuality that he and Stacey have gained over the years.
Tempus Fugit
A birthday often causes us to reflect on how quickly time passes. Josh pauses to savor the blessings of family life.
To Tattoo or Not To Tattoo?
Josh and Stacey have set ground rules, including a waiting period, if either wants to get a tattoo. Stacey discusses the wisdom of allowing time and space before making a decision, especially when it involves permanency.
Grace Under Duress
The grace of the sacrament of marriage can change the couple. How can this happen? Josh gives a concrete example.
Our Worst Moment as a Couple
Do you and your spouse always argue about the same thing? For Josh and Stacey, it’s the morning rush to get out the door. Stacey talks about the conflict and how she found a way to address it.
Man of the House
Josh reflects on his role in the home. It may not be exactly what society expects, but it’s good and rewarding work that demands complete commitment. Ultimately, he says, it brings joy.
Sweet Lucy
After two boys, Stacey reflects that raising a girl is a very different experience. Just when Stacey thought she had figured out her daughter, Lucy surprises her.
Sex and “Parenthood”
Josh comments on the TV show “Parenthood” and its recent theme of sexual relationships. Unfortunately, the show buys into the common myth that sex is a purely private matter with no public consequences.
The Challenge of Sunday Mass
Josh finds that attending Sunday Mass with small children is often not a transcendent experience. He talks about scaling back his expectations, plus finding ways to engage the children in the liturgy.
Good Years and Bad Years
Stacey reflects that there are good years and bad years in marriage. She discusses a few of the latter.
