2nd Installment - If Part 1 left your heart aching, do not wait another minute to continue to listen to the rest of the story. Well, the story as it is up to this point in our lives. Ladies, God is Good; God loves us; God redeems all things and heals all things. Yes, YOU are worthy of God's mercy and love and redemption.

And now - I tell you that I am taking an extended holiday break - May you and your loved ones be richly blessed this Thanksgiving, Advent, and Christmas Season. Thank you for all that you have done in support and for listening to what God has placed on my heart to share with each of you. I pray you have all grown closer to the Lord in even some small way because of this podcast. I have given you my heart in so many ways and on so many occasions and topics. BLESSINGS!!!

Mary grew up in a large Catholic family with 6 brothers and a sister and had her own football helmet in the 3rd grade. She always wanted to be a wife and mother, and pictured her children in the perfect Catholic plaid uniform. Upon meeting her husband on her first and only blind date, she was confident she was on her way.

But God had a different plan. She gave birth to her son Jonathan in 1989 and her daughter Courtney arrived August 1992. On September 27, 1992, while being baptized, Courtney had the first of many grand-mal seizures. Going from the church to the emergency room, Mary’s world changed forever.

There is no such thing as a perfect life. For the next twenty-two years Mary and her family took a spiritual journey that led them to Lourdes, France, numerous hospitals and specialists with their daughter and finally to home-based hospice. Courtney took her last breath this side of heaven on December 27, 2014, the feast of St. John the Beloved, while in her mother’s arms. She is now her parents and big brother's most powerful intercessor.

Along the way, Mary and her family came to understand that God does not make mistakes. Every human life, no matter their ability or disability, has value and worth. Courtney’s unique ability to love without ever speaking a word, taught Mary and her family that everyone has a purpose and a mission. Words are not required. They came to accept that Courtney would never be healed on this earth and allowed God’s plan for their family to unfold, trusting in His plan for each of them.

In the Fall of 2016 life took an unexpected turn when Mary felt the call to begin a new ministry. She now travels the country speaking to all age groups about God’s Redeeming love, encouraging audiences to embrace the story God is writing with their lives, trusting Him with the outcome, having hope in times of desolation while learning to be brave in the scared and to know that faith is the courage to want what God wants for us, even if we cannot see where the path leads.

Her first book “Be Brave in the Scared: How I Learned to Trust God During My Most Difficult Days of My Life”  is available wherever books are sold.

Mary is available to speak/emcee for Retreats, Parish Missions, Youth Events, Mega-Conferences and Media Events. You can contact her through her Speakers Page for more information.

Mary lives in Northern Virginia with her husband of 31 years and her grown son. She continues to embrace her father’s advice, “Never quit, never give up, never lose your faith. It’s the one reason you walk this earth. For God chose this time and place just for you, so make the most of it.”

This first installment of a downright real conversation between Mary and host, Becky Carter, goes through the gambit of fertility, infertility and voluntary sterility. Both Becky and Mary share very intimate parts of their life stories with you during this very beautiful conversation that leads back to our never-ending hope -- God's redemption -- through sin and also through suffering.

Mary grew up in a large Catholic family with 6 brothers and a sister and had her own football helmet in the 3rd grade. She always wanted to be a wife and mother, and pictured her children in the perfect Catholic plaid uniform. Upon meeting her husband on her first and only blind date, she was confident she was on her way.

But God had a different plan. She gave birth to her son Jonathan in 1989 and her daughter Courtney arrived August 1992. On September 27, 1992, while being baptized, Courtney had the first of many grand-mal seizures. Going from the church to the emergency room, Mary’s world changed forever.

There is no such thing as a perfect life. For the next twenty-two years Mary and her family took a spiritual journey that led them to Lourdes, France, numerous hospitals and specialists with their daughter and finally to home-based hospice. Courtney took her last breath this side of heaven on December 27, 2014, the feast of St. John the Beloved, while in her mother’s arms. She is now her parents and big brother's most powerful intercessor.

Along the way, Mary and her family came to understand that God does not make mistakes. Every human life, no matter their ability or disability, has value and worth. Courtney’s unique ability to love without ever speaking a word, taught Mary and her family that everyone has a purpose and a mission. Words are not required. They came to accept that Courtney would never be healed on this earth and allowed God’s plan for their family to unfold, trusting in His plan for each of them.

In the Fall of 2016 life took an unexpected turn when Mary felt the call to begin a new ministry. She now travels the country speaking to all age groups about God’s Redeeming love, encouraging audiences to embrace the story God is writing with their lives, trusting Him with the outcome, having hope in times of desolation while learning to be brave in the scared and to know that faith is the courage to want what God wants for us, even if we cannot see where the path leads.

Her first book “Be Brave in the Scared: How I Learned to Trust God During My Most Difficult Days of My Life”  is available wherever books are sold.

Mary is available to speak/emcee for Retreats, Parish Missions, Youth Events, Mega-Conferences and Media Events. You can contact her through her Speakers Page for more information.

Mary lives in Northern Virginia with her husband of 31 years and her grown son. She continues to embrace her father’s advice, “Never quit, never give up, never lose your faith. It’s the one reason you walk this earth. For God chose this time and place just for you, so make the most of it.”

What a fun conversation on love and conversion and Theosis - whatever that word even means? Don't worry, you get all of that and more in this interview with my young, knowledgeable and vibrant guest.

Speaker and podcast host of Clumsy Theosis, Richaél Lucero strives to manifest the Lord’s command in Matthew 28:19 to “go and make disciples of all nations.” After returning to the Faith, Richaél Lucero earned a master’s degree in theology and Christian ministry from Franciscan University of Steubenville.

As the founder of Clumsy Theosis Ministries Richaél's mission is personal transformation of the Faithful through a life of theosis that will transform the world and expand the Kingdom of Heaven. On her podcast, she achieves this by taking 2,000 years of Catholic goodness, drawing from the great minds and spiritual masters, boiling it down to give practical advice to 21st century Christians.

Richaél and her husband Gary, are active parishioners of their local Byzantine Rite Catholic Church. She has also enjoyed being a part-time theology instructor at the San Diego Diocesan Institute.

Become a part of the movement! clumsytheosis.net Instagram + Twitter + Facebook @clumsytheosis

This is not your typical interview with Carrie Gress about her book The Anti-Mary Exposed. I really tried to take this discussion with Carrie in a different direction than how other interviews go. Carrie allowed me to dig deeper and focus on the spiritual aspect of this movement rather than it being an attack on any one type of person. We reveal the issue and offer the answer, the Blessed Virgin Mother. Also, we are reaching out our hands and hearts to offer healing and encouragement for those who have been hurt by these lies.

Carrie Gress has a doctorate in philosophy from the Catholic University of America. She is the editor at the online women’s magazine Theology of Home.

Carrie has written for numerous publications, including Aleteia, Catholic Vote, Catholic World Report, National Review, The Catholic Thing, The Federalist, The National Catholic Register, The Stream, and The Washington Examiner. She is a frequent guest on Ave Maria Radio, Catholic Answers, EWTN Radio, and Relevant Radio, and has appeared on Fox, BBC, CBC, EWTN and Shalom World television.

Carrie has lived and worked professionally in Washington, D.C. and Rome, Italy and her work has been translated into nine languages.

She is the author of Nudging Conversions (Dynamic Catholic 2015), Ultimate Makeover (Dynamic Catholic, 2016), The Marian Option (TAN Books, 2017), and Marian Consecration for Children (TAN Books, 2018). She co-authored City of Saints; A Pilgrim’s Guide to John Paul II’s Krakow with George Weigel. Her latest book, The Anti-Mary Exposed (TAN Books) was released in March 1, 2019. Her latest book, Theology of Home, was released in Sept. 2019.

Have you ever heard a piece of "wisdom" that has been passed on for generations? For example, "You can do anything you put your mind to" or "Do what makes you happy". While these words can feel encouraging in a moment of stress, they may not be the most sound and virtuous ways to go about discerning life decisions.

Laura Hudgens, a writer, junior high teacher, momma, and my friend, sits down with me as we talk through several of these little sayings. As referenced in one of her Grown and Flown articles, these phrases have become ingrained into our culture of encouragement.

Of course, I always enjoy my friendly conversations with Laura, this interview is no different. So, I hope you sit back and enjoy - or fold your laundry - or drive to work -- but nonetheless, ENJOY! This one will have you smiling, shaking your head and even singing, Amen!

Laura is a Catholic middle school teacher and a freelance writer. She lives on a buffalo farm in the Arkansas Ozarks where she enjoys cooking and baking, which is also the key to bringing her busy family together. Her work has appeared on The Washington Post, Huffington Post, Grown and Flown, ChurchPOP, and elsewhere.

Find out more about Laura here.

Do you ever feel like you are never good enough? You strive and strive. You make the tough choices. You practice virtue but can't find the joy of obedience you have been promised? What have we been missing all along? I have got a podcast for you!

Sometimes there are books that just pierce the heart. Sometimes there are authors that instantly connect to readers. For myself, this is the book and this is the author. I could not wait to interview Colleen and dig, all the more, into what it looks like when our needs to be perfect in the eyes of the world and even in our spiritual lives become toxic and downright debilitating. Please do not miss this episode - and share it with a friend. It is time we seek God's version of perfection -- not the world's.

Colleen Carroll Campbell is an award-winning author, print and broadcast journalist and former presidential speechwriter. Her books include her critically acclaimed journalistic study, The New Faithful; her spiritual memoir, My Sisters the Saints, which won two national awards and has been published in five languages; and The Heart of Perfection: How the Saints Taught Me to Trade My Dream of Perfect for God’s, just released by Simon & Schuster. Colleen has written for the New York Times, Washington Post, Christianity Today, America and National Review, and appeared on CNN, FOX News, MSNBC, ABC News, PBS, NPR and EWTN, where she hosted her own television and radio shows for eight years. A former speechwriter for President George W. Bush and editorial writer and op-ed columnist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Colleen is the recipient of two honorary doctorates and numerous other awards and fellowships. She speaks to audiences across North America and Europe and lives in St. Louis with her husband and their four young children, whom she homeschools. Her website is www.colleen-campbell.com.

We are starting this new season off with the fire of evangelization. Leah is a lover of Jesus and has a gift and a love for sharing the truths of our Catholic faith. With God's grace, that sure is a powerful combination. Leah also shares with us how you can get involved with her Lux U community (which is open for a limited time this month for new registrants). After this episode, you may just feel compelled to go out and share the good news!

Leah Darrow, a former model and contestant on Cycle 3 of America’s Next Top Model, has a driving passion to inspire women to do something beautiful with their lives. She is an international speaker, author of The Other Side of Beauty, host of the Do Something Beautiful podcast, and the founder of LUX University. She is a wife to a US Army Green Beret and mom to four marvelous, crazy little kids, and together they live in St. Louis, Missouri. Follow Leah as she helps readers live truly beautiful lives that ultimately point to God on her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

I love homeschooling. I have been so thankful for all the years we had together, as a family, in that particular way. We had many successes and also many bumps along the way. It was such a blessing until it wasn't anymore. Our family needed to close up shop and pursue other avenues of education. In this episode, I am NOT preaching school choice -- that choice is a specific privilege for each family. Rather, I do share that what God has shown me, how he has consoled me, and the ways he has helped me grow in faith as I obediently let go of my own ideals and expectations.

Please consider financially supporting the podcast

Ask God what expectations you have allowed other people (unknowingly) to put on you and are now painfully holding onto those impossibilities.

"When I thought, “My foot is slipping,”     your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up. When the cares of my heart are many,     your consolations cheer my soul. " -Psalm 94:18-19

"Sweetest Lord, make me appreciative of the dignity of my high vocation, and its many responsibilities. Never permit me to disgrace it by giving way to coldness, unkindness, or impatience." - St. Theresa Calcutta

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"Why does The Vows Project exist? Because marriage matters. Your marriage matters. The world needs your marriage to thrive, and yet it often feels like the world is stacked against marriage, against lasting fidelity, and against authentic happiness."

On this episode, we talk many things marriage during an interview with Cassie Kent and Megan Hjelmstad, two of the founders of The Vows Project.

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Cassie Kent, wife to Mike for 11 years. Living in sunny San Diego, you can find Cassie busy homeschooling their 3 kids while working-at-home. Cassie grew up in a tight-knit Catholic Covenant Community where she credits most of her formation. Through summer camps and retreats she received many opportunities to grow in love with Christ and knowledge of Him.  She was blessed to further her faith formation and education at Franciscan University, where she met her handsome husband. The rest is history! When not wrangling and herding kids, Cassie enjoys organizing, making lists, decorating, lipstick, a perfectly curated cocktail and pretty much any BBC flick she can find! Grateful for all the weird, messy, odd or even predictable things in life that come together to make life beautiful, Cassie finds joy even in her everyday struggles.

Megan Hjelmstad is a wife and mom 24/7 and an Army Reservist in her “spare” time. She’s a bibliophile, tea drinker, sleep lover, and avid admirer of Colorado’s great outdoors. She’s a writer and Instagram Manager for Blessed is She, a global Catholic women’s ministry, and you can also find her published in Radiant Magazine and Chicken Soup for the Soul. She occasionally posts on her very neglected blog, www.positivelyimperfect.com, and loves to micro-blog frequently on Instagram at @positively__imperfect about all things faith and real life.

• The Vows Project Website
• The Vows Project on Instagram
• Blessed is She

• Pray for your spouse daily
• Offer up a small sacrifice daily for your spouse
• Do a small and deliberate act of love for your spouse

Prophetic Blessing:

The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.”  -Numbers 6:24-26

"Now, we must help each other to get to heaven." - Bl. Karl of Austria

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A story of many loves, yet only one love that would finally fill this woman's heart after her father's death. When Kellie Sheehan moved across the country to work at the New York City Ballet, she found herself wandering and unknowingly looking for God's love while on the wrong path. This is a love story of a woman, pursued by her Heavenly Father. A Heavenly Mother, a twin sister, and an earthly mother that all persevered in love and prayer - until this prodigal daughter found her way back home.

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Kellie Sheehan is a Catholic convert, single woman and draper at the New York City Ballet. Creating beauty in work and life is her calling. She loves art, history, dance, a good whiskey, and praying the Rosary in Irish. She strives every day to increase her devotion to Mary and to become worthy of the title, daughter of the Most High King.

• The Faith of Millions

Look for the Lord, every day, in your everyday life. He is there, always waiting for you to come Home.

"When I thought, “My foot is slipping,”     your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up. When the cares of my heart are many,     your consolations cheer my soul. " -Psalm 94:18-19

"How sweet is the way of Love! True, one may fall, one may not be always faithful, but Love, knowing how to draw profit from all, very quickly consumes whatsoever may displease Jesus, leaving naught but humble and profound peace in the innermost soul." - St. Therese Lisieux

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This week I welcome back previous guest, Susan Husband-wife, mom of seven boys, and a woman after God's own heart. Susan's conversation does focus on training up children in virtue, but all that we speak of is applicable to all of us as we struggle on to freedom in Christ through the virtues that God graces us with. Take a listen, share with a friend, and let us persevere as we carry our crosses in life and finish out this Lenten season. Come on Easter!

Please consider financially supporting the podcast

Susan Husband is a farm wife and mama to 7 ornery boys. Cold beer, long country runs, and Jesus rescues her from the dirt, testosterone, and laundry that breeds while she sleeps. You can find her blogging at Sole Searching Mama, or you can also get her wit and wisdom on Instagram and Facebook.

• Podcast Episode 13 with Susan on Modesty
• Susan's blog post introducing the Modesty episode
• Susan's virtue series on Instagram
• Susan's blog post on virtue, There's No Such Thing as a Bad Boy
• Boy's Town the movie
• The Secret Diary of Elisabeth Leseur: The Woman Whose Goodness Changed Her Husband from Atheist to Priest

"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, 2 and live in love, as Christ loved us[a] and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." - Ephesians 5:1-2