[Originally printed in The Forum newspaper Saturday, June 7; reprinted with permission.] Living Faith: Fleeting things bring abundant joy By Roxane B. Salonen, The Forum When I mentioned a couple of weeks ago how much I love lilacs, a friend whose lilac bushes had been particularly prolific this spring offered me a bouquet. Happily, I [...]
Read the rest of this entry »Jun 10
May 24
faith & family fridays: ‘bigot’ becoming commonplace
They say sticks and stones might break your bones, but words won’t hurt. I, however, beg to differ. Words do hurt, and lately, I’ve being hearing one word in particular being flung around wildly in a way that stings unfairly: bigot. I live just across the river from Minnesota, where marriage recently was redefined. Rather [...]
Read the rest of this entry »Apr 05
faith & family fridays: individual v. institution
I believe in bringing difficult topics “out there” to explore them, grapple with them, size them up and over. It is through being able to freely discuss challenging topics that we come to understand them better, absorb their implications and have meaningful conversations. Lately, there have been some doozies. In fact, I’d describe some of [...]
Read the rest of this entry »Dec 14
faith fridays: the advent mommy came home
Without a doubt in my mind, I know that this Advent will go down as one of the most blessed of my life. In the hearts of my children, too, I believe it will, in time, be noted as one of the most special — as the Advent mommy came home. After a year of [...]
Read the rest of this entry »Oct 01
memento mondays: finding rest, beauty at carmel
Roxane (a.k.a. Peace Garden Mama) in her autumn glory/Vicky Westra “Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.” – Albert Camus This weekend, my soul, eyes and heart were fed at a place called Carmel of Mary Monastery. Colorful Carmel Entry/Roxane B Salonen The Road into Carmel/Roxane B. Salonen Carmel [...]
Read the rest of this entry »Jul 27
faith fridays: dingy dishrag or delicate doily?
When I moved into my new office in June, one of the first things I put in place was this pretty, yellow doily: What most might not guess, however, is that it’s not a doily at all but a dishrag. I received it at a birthday celebration for a woman who had helped care for [...]
Read the rest of this entry »Jul 20
faith fridays: flight of a lifetime – saying goodbye to the bishop
It was pure gift, how I found myself on a plane to Denver on Wednesday, heading to the Installation Mass of our former bishop, the new Archbishop Samuel Aquila. For weeks, I’d been hearing about travel plans of those from Fargo who’d be journeying to Denver to attend the event. Through it all, I’d been [...]
Read the rest of this entry »Jul 02
mama mondays: God of the living
As a cradle Catholic, I’ve gotten to the point at which I feel like I’ve heard every Scripture passage at least a couple times, many of them much more. This is a good thing! But Sunday morning, the first reading from the Book of Wisdom jumped out as something new to my ears, or at [...]
Read the rest of this entry »May 18
faith fridays: the most amazing sequel
I’ve spent several days this week talking to kids about writing and story. What makes a great story? Why is revision so important? How do we capture the good stuff and convey it as a word picture for the benefit of others? It’s no wonder that while continuing my reading of G.K. Chesterton, his thoughts [...]
Read the rest of this entry »May 04
faith fridays: sacraments
This photos melts my heart. It’s my sweet Adam entering into new life through Baptism. As much as anything else, I think, I enjoy the interested looks from his oldest two siblings. New life is exciting stuff! Just tonight, that same “baby” took a shower by himself, declaring he doesn’t like night showers because then [...]
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