Tag Archives: faith

Top Life-Changing Reads of 2012

18 Jan

Books

Image courtesy of The Photoholic/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Are you looking for something insightful and life-changing to read this year?  If you’re like me, you probably already have quite a list but I highly recommend the following five books that I read last year!  (And when I say life-changing, I’m not exaggerating!)

1. Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption by Katie Davis

After reading Kisses from Katie, my passion and trust grew to another level.  We all have a special role to play while on earth and what we are capable of doing with God’s grace is amazing!  This book will make you view the world and yourself differently – guaranteed!

2. What Happens When Women Say Yes to God: Experiencing Life in Extraordinary Ways by Lysa TerKeurst

Lysa reminds readers that throughout each day there are several opportunities to “say yes to God”.  This book helped me to see that there are so many times that I dismiss promptings from the Holy Spirit or come up with excuses why I shouldn’t do something.  We never know how our interactions with others can bring them closer to God and strengthen our own relationship.

3. The Rhythm of Life: Living Every Day with Passion and Purpose by Matthew Kelly

I read this book for the first time a couple years ago, but I listened to the audio version again and there are so many truths and great nuggets in this book!  If you’ve followed my blog at all, you know that I love me some Matthew Kelly!  No matter what stage of life that we are in, nothing is impossible with God!  He wants what is best for us!  This is a great motivational book!

4. Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas

Do you want a role-model who stands up for others and really lives their faith?  This biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer will energize you and make you examine how far you would go to do God’s will.  Bonhoeffer was a Lutheran pastor and anti-Nazi activist who was executed just a few weeks before Hitler committed suicide.  Bonhoeffer is truly inspiring and more people are needed like him now in America!  This book is long, but worth the read!

5. Wrecked: When a Broken World Slams into your Comfortable Life by Jeff Goins

When I randomly stumbled upon this book three times in one day online, I figured God was trying to tell me to read it, so I did!  Wrecked is another great book that gets readers to let go of personal dreams and follow God’s will.  I don’t think these things are necessarily mutually exclusive, but responding to God’s call will always require courage and sacrifice and it may not line up with our idyllic vision.  His plan is always better than ours, though!

If you have read any of the above books, how did they challenge you?  Any other books that you would recommend?  If you read any of these books in the future, please come back and let me know what you think!

A Randomly Chosen Winner? {Matthew West – December’s Dreamer in the Spotlight}

21 Dec

There are times in life when you just know that God is trying to show you something, and what I’m about to describe is one of those moments…

Last Tuesday, Adam and I were blessed to be able to enjoy an intimate mid-day performance in downtown Nashville by Matthew West that will air on SiriusXM’s The Message. (Thanks to my supervisor for letting me have a late, extended lunch!) While the concert itself was amazing (and I will talk about it more in a little bit), the story of getting the opportunity to go is pretty awesome, as well, so I’ll start at the beginning…

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Over the Thanksgiving weekend we spent time at my parents’ house. I heard my dad showing Adam the latest Matthew West CD, Into the Light, that he recently bought. (I was familiar with Matthew West’s background and some of his music already, but not a dedicated fan – yet!) We started discussing how he is the type of artist that Adam aspires to be and it would be neat if he could meet with him over lunch or whatever to ask him some questions and get some insight into how he balances family and music, etc. About a week later, my dad emails me details about an opportunity to randomly win two tickets to an in-studio performance by Matthew West in Nashville. Without giving it much thought, and noting that the timing was too perfect to be a coincidence, I entered the contest. A few days later I received an email that I was one of the winners! I really wasn’t surprised that I won, because I sensed that God was trying to speak to us, especially Adam, through Matthew. (I later found out that even my dad wasn’t surprised, because after I told him I entered the contest, he decided he didn’t need to enter it anymore!) Let me just note, that if it wasn’t for my dad getting Matthew West’s CD and showing it to Adam just a week prior, he probably would not have alerted me about the contest!

So back to the SiriusXM performance at the Bridgestone Arena… There was only about 40-50 people in this small room above the Visitor’s Center, and I’m sure each person that day was supposed to be there for a reason. (That’s the great thing about Matthew West’s concerts – I don’t see how anyone can leave and not be affected and changed in some way.) Adam said that he could feel the Holy Spirit in the room, and I definitely agree!

For those who aren’t familiar with Matthew West, his past two albums have consisted of songs written about some of the heart-breaking personal experiences he has received in over 20,000 letters. Each of his songs is about a specific individual and what God’s response would be to offer hope and healing. To listen to the songs and read these stories, check out Matthew West’s website. He has found a way to make his music career not about himself, but about encouraging others! How refreshing and inspirational! It’s something that Adam has really struggled with lately when thinking about his future music plans. He does not want to do music for his own sake, for money, or for fame. Adam wants to use his music to make a difference and he doesn’t want to promote himself just to try to gain more fans.

Adam said that this is the first time he has listened to live music without focusing on whether or not the singer hit the right notes or if the right part was played. He went to the performance totally open to listen with his heart. I can’t tell you how many times Adam gave me this look of, “Are you serious? Is he reading my mind? This is crazy!” Matthew also had his daughter, Lulu, there with him. Like us, he has two little girls, so that’s just another reason Adam feels he can relate to him. During the interview portion of the show, Matthew was asked if it was hard to be on the road when his girls were so young. Matthew stated that he struggled with it a lot and wondered if it was really God’s will to pursue his ministry while leaving his family at home. He said that God has provided ways for things to work out, and now they are able to home-school their girls so his family can be on the road with him when he goes on tour. This is one of those times when Adam looked at me with eyes that said, “Wow, this guy is totally like who I want to be! What is God trying to tell me?!” Adam has talked often, recently, about wondering if God would want him to be away from the girls and our family to pursue music.

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After this amazing performance that will be airing at some point on The Message (Keep an ear out, those of you who have SiriusXM!), we all got to do a little meet-and-greet with Matthew and he signed free CD’s!! Adam is still processing everything that happened in that hour-and-a-half on a Tuesday afternoon! God was definitely speaking and we’ll be keeping everyone updated on the next steps!

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Please check out Matthew West’s music! He’s bringing truth and hope to people in a real way! Artists like him should be supported! I know that he has at least two new devoted fans in Tennessee!

Merry Christmas and see you back at A Dreamer’s Wife in 2013!  I’ll leave all you dreamers with the lyrics to Matthew West’s song, Do Something!

Verse 1:
I woke up this morning
Saw a world full of trouble now
Thought, how’d we ever get so far down
How’s it ever gonna turn around

So I turned my eyes to Heaven
I thought, “God, why don’t You do something?”
Well, I just couldn’t bear the thought of
People living in poverty

Children sold into slavery
The thought disgusted me
So, I shook my fist at Heaven
Said, “God, why don’t You do something?”

He said, “I did, I created you”

Chorus:
If not us, then who
If not me and you
Right now, it’s time for us to do something
If not now, then when
Will we see an end
To all this pain
It’s not enough to do nothing
It’s time for us to do something

Verse 2:
I’m so tired of talking
About how we are God’s hands and feet
But it’s easier to say than to be
Live like angels of apathy who tell ourselves
It’s alright, “somebody else will do something”

Well, I don’t know about you
But I’m sick and tired of life with no desire
I don’t want a flame, I want a fire
I wanna be the one who stands up and says,
“I’m gonna do something”

Chorus:
If not us, then who
If not me and you
Right now, it’s time for us to do something (yes, it is)
If not now, then when
Will we see an end
To all this pain
It’s not enough to do nothing
It’s time for us to do something

Bridge:
We are the salt of the earth
We are a city on a hill (shine shine, shine shine)
But we’re never gonna change the world
By standing still
No we won’t stand still (x3)

Chorus:
If not us, then who
If not me and you
Right now, it’s time for us to do something
If not now, then when
Will we see an end
To all this pain
It’s not enough to do nothing
It’s time for us to do something

It’s time for us to do something (x2)

Read more: http://artists.letssingit.com/matthew-west-lyrics-do-something-mdw36nq#ixzz2FhDtRCYs
LetsSingIt – Your favorite Music Community

The Music Does Not Make the Man

7 Dec

Today, my husband, Adam, is the author of this post!

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As this year is coming to a close, I thought I’d take a moment to share what has been going on with my music, but more importantly with my heart.

I unofficially declared this year as a year of reflection and growth last January, and it has changed me in so many ways. I decided that in order for me to listen to God, I needed to eliminate some distractions in my life, starting with Facebook. Now I realize that to some, that may be the end of the world as they know, it but I can’t tell you how liberating it has been to not be a slave to the never-ending updates. I do think that Facebook is a very effective way to connect with family, friends, and fans and share so many great things with the people we care about, so I’ll probably be more active as 2013 approaches.

For so many years, my life and worth as a man has centered around, and been measured by, the amount of “success” I have in my music career. Nashville does a really great job of fostering that feeling of “if I only had a record deal, I’d be happy” or “if Rascal Flatts would just cut one of my songs, I’d have money”. But something happens when you have an amazing, loving, supportive wife and two wonderful daughters that can make you smile so much your cheeks hurt. You begin to realize that life is so much more than what you do. So, I’ve stripped myself of all the pretenses, self-fulfilling prophecies, and expectations, and I must say I’m happier, healthier and more blessed than I’ve ever been. I may not have a producer, manager, publishing deal or a platinum album, but God has revealed to me that I’m loved no matter what. My worth is not found on a tour bus or within the pages of a recording contract. And guess what, you are loved no matter what, too.

Now, in no way have I “given up”. Stef and I have decided that I’m going to continue to write, record, and share my songs to any and all who will listen. If I can make a living in the process, that would be awesome, but we refuse to let money, and the prospects of money, drive our decisions when it comes to sharing music that I pray can put a smile on someone’s face or make them look to God. I truly feel like I am finally doing music for the right reason. I still have dreams. I still have hopes. But most importantly, I still have love. I look forward to sharing my music and journey with you all. If you have an inspirational story, please share. God bless and Merry Christmas!

They Have Room {November’s Dreamers in the Spotlight}

23 Nov

I have read a lot of amazing international adoption stories in the past few months. So many couples have decided to open their hearts and homes in order to provide a forever family to an orphaned child. Earlier this month, a story on the front page of one Sunday’s Tennessean featured a couple in their early thirties with eleven children – four biological and seven adopted! Talk about having faith – and living it!

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Kirk and Heidi Weimer began their adoption journey in 2007 after already having three biological children. Heidi writes about their life at We Have Room. A documentary, by the same name, about the Weimer family’s story was recently released. When I checked out Heidi’s blog, I was really impressed by some of the posts that she wrote, especially this one. In it, she discusses following God’s plan despite difficulties. Do yourself a favor and READ IT – you won’t regret it! I also love her mantra, and it reminds me of Katie Davis‘ Twitter profile: “It’s not about me.”

My life is not my own.

Amen! Those six words sum up what dreaming big is all about. This is obviously easier said than done, but if we focus on what God wants us to do for others, we will experience uncommon joy even amidst challenges.

Thanks, Weimer family, for inspiring us all to do God’s will even when the world throws obstacles in our way!

5 Ways to Encourage Your Husband to Dream (And Why)

9 Nov

Having dreams is what makes life tolerable. – ‘Pete’ on Rudy

Spouses often balance each other out.  One is a spender and the other is a saver.  One is a planner and the other is more of a free-spirit.  One is a dreamer and the other is a realist.  These differences can be good for providing an alternative perspective and they can also be challenging when making decisions.  One is not always right and the other is not always wrong.  Being able to acknowledge and submit to each others’ strengths can be powerful, and dreaming together can make your marriage unshakeable.

Here are my 5 ways to encourage your husband’s dreams and the benefits it will have on your marriage:

1. Listen.  This is simple and vital. It can be very discouraging when someone discounts what you have to say or acts like they don’t even want to hear it.  Imagine if you excitedly started telling your best friend a great idea, only to have her act with indifference or doubt – it would probably put you in a pretty bad mood and maybe deter you from sharing things in the future.  Our opinion means a lot to our husbands whether they say so or not.  Don’t give your husband a reason to shut down.  Giving him time to share his ideas and goals can inspire hope, and show that you truly care about what is important to him.

2. Pray.  This is obviously a very important step when discussing future plans.  A key part of determining whether or not dreams are worth pursuing is to evaluate if it is part of God’s will.  Lysa TerKeurst, founder of Proverbs 31 Ministries, offers a great 5-question reference to use to figure out if God is prompting us to action.  Often times God will ask us to do things that may not make logical sense or are uncomfortable for us, but when both spouses seek to do what He asks, it builds a solid marriage and foundation for whatever lies ahead.

3. Support.  A wife’s encouragement (or lack of) can be powerful.  I once read in a book something like this, “Be your husband’s number one cheerleader or someone else will.”  When our husbands feel supported by us, they feel valued and have more confidence.  Also, when men can spend time and energy doing what they love, they are happier.  And *bonus* this translates into a more gratitude-filled home environment.  Your husband will probably return the favor to help make things a little easier on you!

4. Participate.  Personally, I never had much trouble with being supportive, but once I showed an interest in actually helping my husband achieve his dreams our relationship grew even stronger.  I guess this is an example that “actions speak louder than words.”  This teamwork mentality has carried over to helping each other out more around the house and with our daughters.  We don’t spend time comparing who did more or who is working harder, but strive to find ways to make life better for the other person (most of the time)!

5. Pursue your own dreams.  What would you like to accomplish or, rather, what is God putting on your heart?  When we discuss and pursue our own goals, we also motivate our husbands to do the same and we will be more open to encouraging their pursuits.  If a couple is looking to God to direct their steps then these dreams will be compatible.  (I discuss this idea more here.)  What’s more inspiring than two people hoping, praying, and working together?!  Your husband will thank you, your relationship with God will be deeper, and your marriage will grow stronger than ever!

I know that I’m in my late-twenties and I’ve only been married seven years, but the above points are just a little bit of what I have discovered, especially in the past year.  Our marriage is far from perfect and we are constantly learning and growing, but as long as we are evolving together and focused on God, then I know we will be alright!

Do you have a story to share about how you have seen the benefits of dreaming together in your own marriage?  Any challenges?


What’s Holding You Back from Pursuing Your Dreams?

1 Nov

Many of us have a mental list of places that would be nice to visit, jobs that would be ideal, and things that we’d like to do.  It seems that too often, though, that’s exactly where those dreams stay – in our mind!

As a married, full-time working mother of two, I know the challenges that come with finding the time or the motivation to pursue, let alone even think about, my dreams and goals.  I know that there are seasons in life and I need to be present in whatever phase that I am in, since God has me there for a reason!  I also believe, though, that God gave each of us talents to use to aid the world and I need to be open to whatever He is calling me to do.

In the hustle and bustle of daily life, we can often dismiss promptings from the Holy Spirit or over look seeds that God may be planting in our hearts for the future.  We may be distracted by too much time on social media, held back by fear of failure, or worried about what others’ will think of us. Fortunately, we can choose how to respond and address these obstacles!

Whether it’s spending a few minutes in silence on the commute to work to listen to God, starting a journal, or choosing to read an inspirational book instead of watching television, there are minor changes we can make in our daily routines to be more open to God’s will and discovering His plan for us!

To read about one way that I have carved out more time in my day to devote to my family and my personal goals, check out my first guest post at Life Happens When!  I love Leanne’s blog and am excited to be a part of it!

What sacrifices or changes have you made in order to grow in faith and work towards your goals?

10 Inspirational Quotes about Following God’s Will

19 Oct

So many powerful words have been spoken and written down over the course of history. A few months ago, I started collecting these words of wisdom in my own little book of quotes to inspire and motivate me! I thought that I’d share some of my favorites so far. I’m sure that I will have a ‘Part 2’ of this post in the future!

1. Where your talents and the needs of the world cross, there lies your purpose. -Aristotle

2. Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. -Psalm 37:4

3. Faith is taking the first step, even when you don’t see the whole staircase. -Martin Luther King, Jr.

4. Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you. -Mother Teresa

5. Every outcome of every challenge should reveal how God supplies the grace to make it through the seemingly impossible. -Father Leo Patalinghug

6. When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, I used everything you gave me. -Erma Bombeck

7. The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet. -Frederick Buechner

8. Do not lose heart, even if you should discover that you lack qualities necessary for the work to which you are called. He who called you will not desert you, but the moment you are in need he will stretch out his saving hand. -Saint Angela Merici

9. Be bold and mighty forces will come to your aid. -Basil King

10. Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not upon your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your path. -Proverbs 3:5-6

Click for a PDF version of this list!

Update: To read 10 more of my favorite inspirational quotes, click here! And for inspirational shareable quote graphics, check out my new website Bold Red Creative!

The Year of Faith: Living Without Fear

21 Sep

Usually January 1st marks the annual time to contemplate goals and make resolutions, but in a few weeks many Catholics will begin a new year of sorts that will consist of challenges to learn more about the Catholic faith, grow deeper in a personal relationship with Jesus, and evangelize. The Year of Faith begins October 11, 2012 and lasts until November 24th, 2013. The Note with pastoral recommendations for the Year of Faith  from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on the Vatican’s website details different events and opportunities for celebrating, as well as explains more about what the Year of Faith entails.

The Year of Faith is intended to contribute to a renewed conversion to the Lord Jesus and to the rediscovery of faith, so that the members of the Church will be credible and joy-filled witnesses to the Risen Lord in the world of today – capable of leading those many people who are seeking it to the “door of faith.”

I’m really excited about this upcoming Year of Faith, especially since I recently came across the idea for living “A Year Without Fear” in the book She’s Got Issues by Nicole Unice. I feel like the two “years” match up very well. In order to live without fear we must step outside our comfort zones and put our trust in God. It is a daily choice to let go of our false sense of control and say “Yes” to what God asks of us – whether big or small. The best way that we can share the true peace and joy that faith offers is through our actions and interactions with others.   I think Saint Francis of Assisi said this best.

Preach the gospel at all times — if necessary, use words.

As those who are familiar with this blog know, I am passionate about pursuing dreams and following God’s plan. The Year of Faith will be a great time to re-evaluate how we can use our God-given talents to serve others. When people see how joyful we are about what we do (because we truly enjoy doing what we love), it will speak more to convert hearts to Christ than anything we can say.  Understanding our faith should not be minimized, though, since it is the foundation for what we do and is necessary in order to explain the reason for our joy to others.

My plan for the upcoming year is to continue to look for opportunities and not use obstacles as excuses to live an “average” life. I want to continue to grow in my faith and be open to possibilities I never would have considered to be options in the past. I want to listen and respond to the Holy Spirit when He moves me to act or say something. I plan to enhance my faith by spending more time reading scripture and books about following God’s will!

How do you plan to embrace the Year of Faith?  What does living without fear look like for you?

‘Tis the Season

14 Sep

No, this is not a holiday post! Keep reading and you’ll see the reason for the title!

The past month or two, I have had so many new ideas and inspirations that I’ve been trying to keep up with in addition to working, caring for my girls, cleaning the house, grocery shopping, getting enough sleep, etc., that I find myself wondering where I’m going to find the time that I need to devote to all of these different areas. I know nobody else knows what I’m talking about, right?! Ha! I know we all wish we could scrounge up a little more time each day! I’m preaching to the choir!

Anyway, there is a chapter in the book What’s Submission Got to Do With It? by Cindy Easley that addresses how womens’ lives tend to consist of different stages. In this chapter, titled “The Power Broker,” Easley uses her interview with family advocate Janet Parshall, of Janet Parshall’s America, a nationally syndicated radio program. On page 102, Parshall states, “Women do lead lives different than men. We lead lives in seasons, and something is rich and precious and enduring in each one. In each season, God would inevitably teach me something that would be used in the following season. I don’t think God would have called me to a pro-family organization if I hadn’t had those years at home raising four kids. It would have been a hollow apologetic. I had to know the nitty-gritty of raising kids before I’d be allowed to work in public policy that would facilitate our raising kids.”

And on page 109, she also says:

Feminists say, ‘You can have it all.’ But they practice the sin of omission. You should say, ‘You can have it all-but you can’t have it all at the same time.’

I’ve been thinking about these two quotes often lately as I try to prioritize what I give my time to the best that I can. I’m trying to not get discouraged about the things I can’t get to quite yet and take things day-by-day. I know that God is teaching me things and planting seeds for his future plans for me. I love being a mother and a wife and these roles are the most important to me-they are my calling! Whatever I do needs to support these vocations. One more thing that Parshall noted in her interview with Easley regarded how she respected her husband and trusted the Lord regarding career plans and other decisions.

Everytime the path has made another turn, it has absolutely been in harmony and parallel to what God is calling [my husband] to do.

I really, really love this, because it makes me feel like what I’m doing now and the future goals that I have are even more meaningful because they are tied to Adam’s dreams and what we believe to be God’s will. When I know that what my husband and I are doing is compatible, it gives me more confidence and motivation to continue taking steps in faith!

Right now, I’m embracing the crazy/wonderful/tired-most-of-the-time/blink-and-you’ll-miss-it season of raising two young children and building dreams for our family!

What season are you in? If you’re married, how are your dreams compatible with your spouse’s?

Photo Credit: freedigitalphotos.net

August’s Dreamers in the Spotlight

24 Aug

I’m so excited to share this month’s featured dreamers! These two twenty-something sisters exemplify what this blog is about – praying for God’s guidance, dreaming big, and taking steps to follow His will and make a difference.

Catherine Pelicano, Managing Editor

Abby Pelicano, Creative Director

Abby and Catherine Pelicano are the founders of Dignitas Magazine. As stated on DignitasMagazine.com, this publication is about “embracing the dignity & beauty of Christ-centered womanhood.” Dignitas is a breath of fresh air amidst a sea of glossies that perpetuate the shallow and erroneous message that putting emphasis on our looks and exposing our bodies will lead to happiness and feeling valued. Dignitas Magazine is currently available to read for free on-line.  The first issue of Dignitas debuted in the spring of this year and the Summer 2012 issue was just posted a few weeks ago!  I had the opportunity to ask Abby and Catherine some questions about their journey and they were gracious enough to take the time to answer!

1. Catherine, you mentioned that you became interested in “human dignity and Christ-centered womanhood after attending a youth conference…”  What seed(s) did God plant in your heart that led to developing this magazine?
At that conference I was exposed to John Paul II’s Theology of the Body for the first time. What I took away from it was the understanding that men and women were created not only to complement each other, but also to bring something unique to the world. It made me think a lot about what it means to glorify God through my femininity. Another theme of the conference was becoming a part of the pro-life movement. We had a lot of discussions about the dignity of the human person and ended the conference by praying at an abortion clinic. It was a very powerful experience. These topics really struck me, and over the next few years I kept reading and writing about them. Little did I know it would become the foundation for Dignitas!
2. Abby, you share that you have a “passion for spreading the truth about the dignity of the human person…” When did you realize this passion and what seeds did God plant in your heart to pursue this mission?
It began when I started reading a book called “Captivating” by Stasi and John Eldredge. It reminded that I had inherent dignity and beauty because I was made in the image and likeness of God and I was captivated by those thoughts. Catherine and I both read the book and wanted to share this message by encouraging women to live up to our dignity in how they dress, behave, think and interact with others. I knew we had to pursue that desire when I was in a hair salon one afternoon waiting for my haircut and I absentmindedly reached for a magazine next to me, as women do. I stopped short when I saw the provocative images and headlines. None of it meshed with the dignified and inherently valuable image of women that I had been captivated by… these images and headlines were telling me that I was lacking in just about every respect. I needed this revealing “outfit”, this makeup, this weight, this provocative walk, this ability to “snag any guy I want”. There was nothing lasting, nothing encouraging, nothing healthy and wholesome and I knew that that had to change. I knew women (myself included!) needed to be presented with a positive, fun, modern, wholesome, Christian, encouraging and true alternative to secular media. It was clear from that moment on that God had a project for me to pursue, and it was to create Dignitas Magazine.
3. What was the most challenging obstacle you both faced when developing Dignitas Magazine?  How did you overcome it?
Abby: The vastness of the task itself was very intimidating! We knew we wanted it to be done well and look entirely professional so it would be taken seriously and could really compete with secular publications. Organizing all of our thoughts [for] the entire magazine from beginning to end was very time consuming and spiritually demanding.
Catherine: Pulling each issue together has been extremely challenging. Dignitas is a “labor of love” for both Abby and I right now—we’re doing all the planning, editing, design, promotional work, etc. in our spare time, and there never seems to be quite enough to get it all done. But at the same time we’ve been blessed with tons of help and support from family and friends who have volunteered their time and talents to help us get Dignitas off the ground.
4. What goals do you have for Dignitas Magazine as it continues to grow?
Catherine: Our initial dream was to get Dignitas in print. Time will tell how feasible that will be. For right now we’re just keeping our nose to the grind and staying open to whatever path God points us down.
5. What advice would you give to others about following God’s will and making a difference in the world?  Do either of you have a favorite verse or inspirational quote?
Abby: Bl. John Paul II’s words immediately come to mind: “Be not afraid! Open wide the doors to Christ!”. He has such wonderful plans for us if we open our minds and hearts to His will and if we pursue His call with courage and conviction.
Catherine: There’s a quote from St. John Neumann that’s inspired me during this whole project: “Everyone who breathes, high and low, educated and ignorant, young and old, man and woman, has a mission has a work.” We’ve all been created for a special purpose, and God has/ will give us everything we need to fulfill that vocation. Finding that vocation doesn’t have to be dramatic and difficult. It starts by simply looking at the natural talents and interests you’ve been given and finding creative ways to put them to work for God.
~

Thank you, Catherine and Abby, for your courage to take steps in faith and create something that will truly impact many women’s lives!  I look forward to seeing what God has in store for Dignitas Magazine!