Category: Opening up to God

Simple Seasonal Self-Care for Busy Families to Find Joy and Balance

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Busy parents juggling school schedules, work demands, and everyone’s needs often notice something unsettling when the season shifts: emotional balance slips, patience runs thin, and family wellness starts to feel like one more item on the list. Parenting stress doesn’t always come from big crises; it can build quietly when routines change, daylight fades, or the calendar fills up. In those moments, chasing perfect work-life harmony can leave caregivers feeling behind before the day even begins. Seasonal self-care offers a steadier way to reconnect with what a family truly needs right now.

Understanding Seasonal Self-Care That Sticks

Seasonal self-care means adjusting small care habits as the year changes, so your home stays steady through shifting weather, light, and schedules. Think of it as adapting self-care habits to fit what your family needs right now, not forcing the same routine year-round. Add simple family rituals, plus “memory anchoring” so the season itself reminds you what to do.

Why it matters: families often do better with rhythms than rules. A few repeatable touchpoints can calm emotions, lower conflict, and make space to notice God’s steady presence in ordinary days. For example, when fall arrives, you light a candle at dinner, share one gratitude, and take a five-minute walk. Soon, cooler evenings become your cue, and the ritual becomes automatic.

Seasonal Habits Your Family Can Repeat

Small, repeatable practices build trust in your home because everyone knows what to expect. When you pair seasonal cues with faith, you grow steady joy over time without adding pressure.

Spring Reset Basket
  • What it is: Keep one basket for sunscreen, allergy wipes, and a “fresh start” note.
  • How often: Weekly refresh
  • Why it helps: It reduces morning friction and supports calmer transitions.
Summer Water and Wonder Check
  • What it is: Do a two-minute water break, then name one “God sighting” outdoors.
  • How often: Daily
  • Why it helps: It re-centers attention on gratitude instead of complaints.
Fall Feelings Forecast
  • What it is: Use emotional regulation skills by naming a feeling and one needed support.
  • How often: 3 times weekly
  • Why it helps: It lowers reactivity and helps kids feel understood.
Winter Light and Prayer Pause
  • What it is: Turn on a lamp, breathe slowly, and pray one sentence for each person.
  • How often: Daily at dusk
  • Why it helps: It steadies moods when days feel heavy.
Sunday Season Preview
  • What it is: Choose one meal, one outing, and one rest practice for the week.
  • How often: Weekly
  • Why it helps: It protects margin and keeps expectations realistic.

A Year-Ahead Rhythm You Can Actually Keep

This workflow turns good intentions into a faith-shaped family pattern you can repeat all year. Instead of chasing the perfect plan, you capture what matters, choose one small practice for the season, and keep it visible so everyone can participate. It also honors how bodies and habits shift through the year since research on seasonal changes in weight suggests our routines can drift with the seasons.

Stage Action Goal
Notice Track energy, stress points, and what helped this week A clear picture of your real family rhythm
Gather List meaningful dates, school demands, and church commitments Fewer surprises, more realistic expectations
Choose Pick one seasonal habit with a tiny “minimum version” A practice you can do on hard days
Place Add it to a visual year-ahead family photo calendar Gentle reminders without nagging
Practice Use a simple cue time and keep supplies ready Consistent follow-through in ordinary moments
Review Do a monthly check-in and adjust without guilt A living plan that fits your current season

Each stage supports the next: awareness keeps choices wise, visibility keeps follow-through light, and review keeps the plan kind. Over time, your calendar becomes less of a task list and more of a shared story of care.

Seasonal Self-Care Questions Busy Parents Ask

Q: What if self-care feels selfish when my family needs me?
A: It is not selfish to refill what you pour out. The reminder that self-care isn’t about neglecting others can help quiet the guilt, especially for faith-minded parents. Try a two-minute reset you can offer to God: breathe, pray one sentence, drink water.

Q: How do we start when we have zero extra time?
A: Choose the smallest version of one habit that fits your current schedule. Link it to something you already do, like after brushing teeth or during school pickup. Consistency beats intensity.

Q: When motivation disappears mid-season, what should I do?
A: Lower the bar and return to your minimum version for one week. A simple needs assessment can reveal whether you need more sleep, support, or a lighter commitment. Keep the next step tiny and specific.

Q: Can self-care include my kids instead of adding another solo task?
A: Yes, and it often works better that way. Pick one shared practice like a five-minute walk, worship music while tidying, or a bedtime gratitude round. Let kids help choose so they feel ownership.

Q: Should we say no to activities during busy seasons like holidays or sports?
A: Sometimes the most loving choice is a clear boundary. You can decline an invitation and protect one calm anchor in your week. Explain it as a family value, not a punishment.

One Small Seasonal Self-Care Rhythm That Builds Family Joy

When family life is full, self-care can feel like one more demand you can’t keep up with, especially as seasons change and energy shifts. A gentler approach, ongoing self-care built on small, grace-filled resets, keeps seasonal wellness simple enough to return to again and again. Over time, those tiny choices soften stress, strengthen emotional resilience, and make more room for family joy on ordinary days. Gentle self-care is the faithful practice of starting again, one season and one small choice at a time. Choose one tiny shift this week and let it be “good enough” for now. That steady rhythm matters because it becomes a source of stability your family can lean on in every season.

Discover a wealth of resources for personal growth and wellness at Be as One, where you can find practical guides and inspiring stories to help you achieve balance and harmony. Be sure to visit Julie’s website at juliemorris.org.

Susan Bailey, Author, Speaker, Musician on Facebook and Twitter
Read my other blog, Louisa May Alcott is My Passion

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NEW MUSIC!
Susan’s new release, Amazing Grace” is now available!
Available on Amazon, Spotify, iTunes and YouTube

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Purchase Susan’s books.

River of Grace Audio book with soundtrack music available now on Bandcamp.
Listen to the preface of the book, and all the songs.

00 harmony color book featured imageMany people find coloring to be a wonderful way to relax and experience harmony in their lives. Is that you? Join my Email List to subscribe to this blog and receive your free Harmony coloring book (and more).

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Smart Moves: Budget-Friendly Home-Buying & Moving Tips for Families

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Guest post by Julie Morris

Image via Freepik

Buying a new home is exciting, nerve-wracking, and often expensive—especially when kids are in the mix. But with a little planning and creativity, parents can make the process more affordable without sacrificing comfort or safety.

Key Takeaways

  • Get pre-approved and know your limits.
  • Budget for moving day (and the pizza afterward).
  • Reuse, recycle, and borrow before buying anything new.
  • Think beyond the house: location, schools, and utilities matter.
  • Keep kids engaged with creative moving-day “missions.”

1. Focus on Community First

When life feels divided between mortgage paperwork, moving boxes, and restless kids, take a cue from Be as One.

Bailey’s message is simple yet profound: all the pieces of your life — work, family, art, faith — can exist together in harmony. She writes about the “many pieces of a harmonious life” as gifts from God, not distractions from it. Even when things feel disjointed, unity can emerge through gratitude, creativity, and connection.

In the context of home buying and moving, that’s powerful advice. Your move doesn’t have to feel like a rupture; it can be a renewal. Treat each stage — decluttering, budgeting, packing — as part of one harmonious whole. When the process gets messy (and it will), remember Bailey’s reminder that “nothing is meant to be hidden away.” Every stressful moment and every small victory belong in your family’s shared story of growth.

So as you label boxes and compare mortgage rates, take a breath. This is not just a move — it’s one more step toward a unified, joy-filled home life.

2. Saving Money Without Sacrificing Sanity

Families can save thousands with a few smart adjustments. Try these ideas before calling the movers:

Budget Hacks for Parents

  • Negotiate everything — from realtor commissions to inspection fees.
  • Ask about first-time-buyer programs; many states offer tax credits or low-interest loans.
  • Buy used boxes from local listings instead of new ones.
  • Get creative with furniture transport. Sometimes renting a van for two days costs less than a moving service for one.
  • Plan your move mid-month—rates are lower when demand dips.
  • Compare moving service quotes on platforms like org and PODS.com.

3. Keep Kids Comfortable During the Transition

Moving is stressful for everyone, especially little ones. Turn the move into an adventure instead of an upheaval.

Age Group How to Help Them Cope Budget-Friendly Trick
Toddlers Keep one familiar “comfort box” of toys nearby. Use reusable bins instead of cardboard—no repurchasing later.
School-age Kids Give them “packing missions” (like labeling rooms). Offer small rewards—stickers or treats, not gadgets.
Teens Let them design their new room layout. DIY decor using thrift-store finds or repainting instead of refurnishing.

4. Smart Financial Move: Protecting What You Just Bought

Homeownership brings peace of mind — until a furnace fails or a washing machine gives up. That’s where exploring home warranty options available makes sense.

A home warranty is a customizable annual plan that covers repairs or replacements for key systems and appliances, helping you manage costs from normal wear and tear. It’s not glamorous, but it can save thousands and keep family life running smoothly.

5. The Family Home-Buying & Moving Checklist

Before You Buy

  1. Review your credit report on AnnualCreditReport.com.
  2. Get pre-approved with at least two lenders to compare offers.
  3. Set a “must-have vs. nice-to-have” list with your partner and kids.

Before You Move

  1. Declutter—donate, sell, or recycle unused toys and clothes.
  2. Book movers early or rent a van before peak dates.
  3. Transfer utilities and confirm your change of address.

After You Move

  1. Deep-clean before unpacking—especially high-touch areas.
  2. Walk the neighborhood with your kids to explore local parks.
  3. Host a “snack night” picnic to meet your new neighbors.

6. Product Spotlight: Smart Packing Essentials

Families often forget one item that can save headaches: reusable vacuum storage bags. They keep clothes fresh, compress bedding, and save half your car space. Try affordable versions from IKEA, Target, or Amazon Basics. For parents juggling boxes and bedtimes, they’re a small miracle.

7. Quick FAQ

Is it better to buy a fixer-upper or move-in ready home when on a tight budget?
If you have reliable local contractors and time, a mild fixer-upper can be a smart choice. Just set aside at least 15% of your budget for unexpected repairs.

How can parents minimize stress for kids during a move?
Give them agency. Let them decorate boxes or design their new room virtually.

Should I buy new furniture right away?
Wait 30–60 days. Live in the space first; you’ll save by understanding what you need.

8. Glossary

  • Equity – The portion of your home you truly own, based on its market value minus any mortgage balance.
  • Closing Costs – Fees paid at the end of the home-buying process, including title, inspection, and loan charges.
  • Contingency – A condition in a real estate contract that must be met before the sale is finalized.
  • Pre-Approval – A lender’s written estimate of how much you can borrow for a mortgage.
  • Home Warranty – A service contract covering repair or replacement of major home systems and appliances.

Conclusion

Home-buying with kids can feel like a marathon of lists, boxes, and emotions, but with smart planning, it becomes a shared family journey—not just a transaction.

Focus on community, comfort, and creativity, and you’ll find your new home is more than an address—it’s where your family’s next chapter begins.

“River of Grace:” a book of hope during this difficult pandemic

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River of Grace: Creative Passages Through Difficult Times was my first book, written in 2015. In the book I reflect upon suffering in my life which included the deaths of my parents and the loss of my singing voice. By trusting in God even when I had no idea where He was leading me, I experienced transformation as a result of the creative power of grief.

River of Grace provides powerful personal stories of loss and grief along with creative ways to cope through trust and faith. It’s a book of hope during this difficult pandemic.

To give you a better idea of the nature of River of Grace, I invite you to watch/listen to a 40 minute presentation on the book which also includes some songs that amplify the meaning.

Where to order River of Grace

My publisher, Ave Maria Press, is holding a Labor Day Weekend sale — go to their website for 10% off the purchase price.

Visit www.avemariapress.com/products/river-of-grace.

Attempting the impossible: describing my longing for God

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How can I describe a longing for God? The scriptures describe it as a deer “panting” for streams of water (Psalm 42). The dictionary defines panting as a longing with breathless or intense eagerness; to yearn. Synonyms for panting include an ache, a craving, a desire. Hunger. Thirst.

Longing has equivalents in music: The sound of an oboe playing the “Going Home” theme from the second movement of Dvorak’s New World Symphony. A trumpet playing taps over a grave. Monks chanting, their voices in perfect unison stretching out the notes like a violin, back and forth, the voices swelling and then pulling back. The final note sung, hanging in mid air until it fades away.

Hernán Piñera Thanks for the music, mysterious form of time Flickr Creative Commons

Longing can be a pleasant feeling as it is for something good. My longing increases when God grants me the ability to sense and feel His presence; it is pure gift. It’s like the glow after a glass of wine. It’s the lightheaded peace I feel when swimming, moving slowly through the water and then floating, letting my body go limp. It’s that leftover warmth I feel when I visit my special friend after we have shared laughter, hopes and dreams, thoughts about God and our lives, occasional tears, and the Eucharist.

Longing can also hurt. It pulls inside of me causing a painful sensation. It is loneliness when the wall between God and myself becomes hard and thick due to apathy, pride and sin. It’s a constant sensation, often in the background but lately, more in the forefront. There is no concrete feeling or thought associated with my longing that can be sufficiently expressed in words; I only know that I yearn for God’s presence.

Sometimes God is so close to me that I cannot perceive him. I feel empty inside, alone and afraid. Frequently I wake in the middle of the night and try to reach out to him and feel no consolation. Yet my scant knowledge of God reminds me that He is near. Often that has to be enough, just to believe.

A seed was planted this summer after the silent weekend retreat with the Trappist Monks at St. Joseph’s Abbey. A tiny seed of longing. The seed has not yet matured enough to poke through the ground so it needs a great deal of care. My Catholic faith has supplied me with what I need to nourish it: prayers, hymns, the Word, the liturgy, the Eucharist and the community. And new tools and reminders: Gregorian chant, looking up at the sky, and swimming at the local health club. Beautiful, simple and concrete reminders of that which is beyond words to describe.

Winam Morning Swim Flickr Creative Commons

Perhaps the psalmist says it best:

As an antelope pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When may I come and appear in God’s presence?

Susan’s latest CD, “Mater Dei” is now available!
Purchase here.

Many people find coloring to be a wonderful way to relax and experience harmony in their lives. Is that you? Join my Email List to subscribe to this blog and receive your free Harmony coloring book (and more).

River of Grace Audio book with soundtrack music available now on Bandcamp. Listen to the preface of the book, and all the songs.

Susan Bailey, Author, Speaker, Musician on Facebook and Twitter
Read my other blog, Louisa May Alcott is My Passion

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Hearing God’s invitation in the silence

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My latest Catholic Free Press column, September 14, 2018

I gave myself a birthday gift back in March by registering for  a weekend silent retreat at St. Joseph’s Abbey in Spencer, MA. A month after, the blessings are still unfolding.

As an introvert, I seek solitude. I prefer a quiet rhythm in my life that allows me time to think. Stepping away from my noisy world, I knew that a weekend of silence would be a challenge. I never dreamed that my first reaction would be intense loneliness.

There were eight other women on the retreat but we were instructed not to speak in the hallways or during meals. I felt separated from them, and from God. I knew it was because I had no idea how to depend upon Him alone for companionship. My loneliness was akin to how I feel in the middle of the night when He seems farthest away and all my fears are magnified. Yet I know I have to rely on faith, not feeling, to tell me He is near, so near that I cannot perceive Him.

Silence forced me to confront the wall that separated me from God, creating the loneliness. The surface nature of my spiritual life sharpened in clarity; I could no longer ignore those persistent invitations from God to go deeper with him.

There was another feeling besides loneliness – that of oppression. It was not a negative feeling but rather one that further imposed the silence. It was the reaction I experienced each time I entered the massive abbey chapel. We were permitted to attend Vespers, Lauds, and to celebrate mass with the monks, sitting in the back half while they occupied the front. To my delight and surprise we were permitted to walk through their area to the altar to receive communion; I considered that to be a privilege.

If anything reduced me to silence it was being inside that chapel. The power of God’s presence was overwhelming. The mystery, the awe, the majesty. Words failed me yet I sensed that my prayer was deeper as a result.

The monks too were mysterious: What were their lives all about? How did they come to discern their vocation when it is the very antithesis of life in the world today? How could they pray the same sort of prayers day after day and keep it fresh? How strong was the temptation to feel boredom or contempt at the familiarity of the rituals? How did they transcend that familiarity? After years of praying in that magnificent chapel, did the monks still feel that oppressive sense of God’s presence? Or was it better than that?

Openness to grace was the answer; soon God would show me how.

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During the weekend we gathered to listen to Father Timothy share some teachings; time was provided as well for one-on-one spiritual counsel. It was after that counsel that I began to notice openings in the wall.  While taking a walk around the magnificent grounds after an afternoon rain, I observed the clouds parting, allowing the clear blue sky to show through. I knew then it was an image provided by God, inviting me to remain open to His love. Now I can look at the sky every day and be reminded of that invitation.

This silent retreat was the best gift I could have given myself. I listen to Gregorian chant every day now to evoke memories of the monks in prayer. And the sky is a constant reminder of His call.

Silence no longer makes me feel lonely.

Susan’s latest CD, “Mater Dei” is now available!
Purchase here.

Many people find coloring to be a wonderful way to relax and experience harmony in their lives. Is that you? Join my Email List to subscribe to this blog and receive your free Harmony coloring book (and more).

River of Grace Audio book with soundtrack music available now on Bandcamp. Listen to the preface of the book, and all the songs.

Susan Bailey, Author, Speaker, Musician on Facebook and Twitter
Read my other blog, Louisa May Alcott is My Passion

Save