I find myself thinking and saying to the people I love that “I just want you to be happy.” Don’t we all want that for the people we care about, and for ourselves? Happiness is a good thing to want for one another. On the surface, I believe it is good… [Read More]
About Julia Motekaitis
What If?
The more I get to know myself, the more I’ve learned that I have been a person who can not leave worries behind me. I’ve clutched them as though they were “my precious” and carried them in my purse at all times. And if could be out for coffee with a friend, on a date… [Read More]
Big Enough for Us All
What an unbelievable gift we as women have been given, the potential to bear life. All throughout our lives we hold this gift within us, a stirring within our hearts, leading us to the sacrament of marriage where we play a part in the mysterious miracle which welcomes new life, however it may come… [Read More]
A Writer’s White Flag Day
The other night, my husband took the older boys to karate and I stayed home with our toddler to get a head start on dinner so it would be hot and ready when they returned. This is our normal procedure and works beautifully normally. Suddenly realizing that hot dogs were on the menu by special request… [Read More]
A Rose in the Desert
Photo credit: Desert Rose When I first mustered the courage to introduce myself to Shawn Chapman, the Holy Spirit brought me out of a desert and began to breathe new life into me. There… [Read More]
The Family Table
With the exception of car seats, the dining table is the only place where my husband and I have been able to hold a captive audience. During the school year, we have a mere three hour period of togetherness between the return from school and onset of dinner, activities and bedtime. Throughout the week and… [Read More]
Guiding Star lights the way to a new view of Feminism
The Brazos Valley in Central Texas is going to be the home of a new center devoted to pregnancy resources and women’s health. The center is called the Guiding Star of the Brazos Valley, and I spoke with its foundress Leah Jacobson about her vision of the center and her hopes for the New… [Read More]
10 Great Things About Being 30-something
If you can make it past the initial shock of the moment when you realize that for some, being a 30-something is a glamourous and adventurous time of dressing well, hosting dinner parties, running marathons and cliff diving, while for others, it means crusin’ around in a minivan wearing orthopedic shoes while cds and cheerios… [Read More]
Why I’m Trying to Fall Off the Face of the Earth in 2014
My pursuit of finding God in the present moment One of the scariest and most wonderful gifts of self-reflection through writing for me is the constant evaluation of myself. A few months ago, I began to feel like my… [Read More]
Kūčios – A Christmas Eve in Lithuania
This month at Austin Catholic New Media, the contributors are taking turns sharing some of their family Christmas traditions. While I have some very special ones from my own family of origin, today I’d like to share just a few of the beautiful customs I have experienced in the lovely Lithuanian family… [Read More]
Hand Made with a Story – the Work of Human Hands Sale
One of my very favorite times of the year is when one of our local parishes hosts the Work of Human Hands sale before Christmas. This is a sale organized by local church volunteers and sponsored by Catholic Relief Services and SERRV International, who work directly with artisans from around the world to market their crafts and… [Read More]
Giving Thanks in All Things
My husband and I built a Good Cents certified home last year, and we have been over the moon with the new space for our family and friends who come to visit. The house seemed so spacious when we first moved in. In fact, after the frame was up, I looked to my husband… [Read More]
My One on One with a Vincentian: Seeing the Face of Christ in the Poor
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul was founded by a college student, Frederic Ozanam, and six of his companions, who were challenged in a university setting which was openly hostile to Christianity and Catholics. “What has Christianity to offer? Where are its works now? Show us your works!” This was the attitude common in… [Read More]
Oktoberfest dinner to benefit Catholic RED-C radio station
photo credit: RED-C Apostolate The RED-C radio station of the Brazos Valley is holding its 2nd annual benefit dinner on October 24, 2013 to help fund Catholic radio. The theme will be Oktoberfest, celebrating delicious and hearty German fare and beer. The event takes place from 6:30-9pm at the Monsignor Malinowski Center at St. Anthony… [Read More]
What Pope Francis is Asking from Us
photo credit: the guardian Today I read several different excerpts from various publications of the August 2013 interview with Pope Francis from the America Magazine and tried to process the angles which were presented. I admit, several of the Holy Father’s points I found refreshingly honest and true, yet they simultaneously left me with a… [Read More]
Creating Peace in the Home for the After School Frenzy
“All works of love are works of peace.” Mother Teresa Two weeks into the school year, our adjustment has been pretty smooth, save for a few afternoon meltdowns and the obligatory back to school germs. Nevertheless, there’s a natural groove, the kids have been quite happy and we’re feeling abundantly blessed! But… [Read More]
Be Not Afraid: The Story of a Catechist Who Almost Quit
My first time teaching religious education was as a 22 year old, living at home with my parents after college, working in my first (miserable) full-time job and trying to plan a wedding remotely with no friends within a 45 mile radius. I was looking forward to a bright spot in my week of sharing… [Read More]
One on One with an NFP Practitioner about the Fertility Care Center of St. Mary’s
In honor of NFP Awareness week, I was blessed to interview a dear friend and NFP Practitioner Melissa Buchan, about the Fertility Care Center of St. Mary’s in College Station. Contact us! Aggiecatholic.org/fccsm fcctexas@gmail.com 979-846-5717 ext #143 https://www.facebook.com/aggiefcc The Fertility Care Center was developed by Dr. Thomas Hilgers in response to Humane… [Read More]
Love Conquers All – one family’s experience of the Focolare movement
It was a series of strange and wonderful moments which led my husband and me to sign up for our first family retreat. Our inspiration was our upcoming tenth anniversary and the hope that the perfect retreat for us might fall out of the heavens and fit perfectly with our summer family schedule. Asking for… [Read More]
Attention! (please?)
Photo credit Recently I watched a mash-up of family videos in piece meal fashion from my childhood. This is normal in our family since Dad was famous for taping over one event to catch the next one, not deliberately, but because we were always running out of film. We flew through memories strung together… [Read More]
5 Secrets of a Happy Summer at Home
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. Ecclesiastes 3:1 Central Texas is amazing place to live. I’ve been here for 10 years and never desire to live elsewhere… unless of course it’s summertime…..when (as a visiting friend once described to me) we feel as though we… [Read More]
Little Did I Know
A friend of mine said the other day “wouldn’t it be helpful if we could put our kids in shirts that said ‘student human’ so that their misbehaviors could be seen as part of their learning process, and not the failure of their parent teachers?” If I could time travel, my first stop would be… [Read More]
What to say (and not say) to someone who is depressed
Part One of a series about reaching out to and understanding those who cope with depression. Recently my book club read “Never Give Up: My Life and God’s Mercy” by John Janaro. Among some amazing insights, we had some very fruitful discussion about depression and its elusive, sneaky nature. We heard from a number of people… [Read More]
The Promise
photo credit: St. Thomas Aquinas parish, College Station, Tx I tuck my arm into my husband’s as we kneel during the consecration at Mass. I watch the communion line through eyes blurred by tears and listen to his steady voice blending with the rich harmonies of Ave Verum Corpus, while beside him I shake like… [Read More]
Quiet Thunder
Photo: AFP Quiet Thunder From a canopy of umbrellas open, eyes and hearts are lifted heavenward. Flags are waved, and prayers are uttered through misty rain. Hope rushes smoky white from an ancient chimney for what seems an eternity. A stirring on the balcony and silence falls. Quiet thunder is coming. Millions gather to… [Read More]
Where do Popes come from? A parent’s guide to adorable and bizarre questions.
Today is our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI’s last day in office. Like so many of us, my little family has been praying over the future of our Church. We have even “adopted” a cardinal for whom we are praying. We’ve been digging up old pictures of our trip to Rome, explaining the hierarchy of our Church… [Read More]
Prayer and Temperament
This week has reminded me of Ecclesiastes 3:8. There has been a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance. Many of us are still processing the resignation of our Holy Father Pope Benedict the XVI… and with Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday, Valentine’s day and the… [Read More]
14 Ways to Bless your Marriage in February
February is always a rosy month of winter in my life, since it is filled with festivity in our home. My husband and I both have birthdays, and we have a number of friends who also share the birth month with us. There is always the hope of a light snow in Central Texas in… [Read More]
Godparenthood
I have been contemplating the unique role of godparents this month, since my husband and I began the new year by celebrating the baptismal date of our sweet goddaughter with a family dinner. We lit her baptismal candle for a song and prayer with her family, and she opened a gift from us with dessert. The… [Read More]
25 Ways to Pray as a Family in the New Year
Despite what some feared might be our last few days on earth on the twenty-first of December, our Lord has given us the gift of a fresh, new year of life, and all around us people are forming resolutions for self improvement. I myself have a modest list of resolutions this year,… [Read More]
The Little Things Can Become the Big Things
We can all probably recall a time when we first noticed an ant trail marching back to its colony. And perhaps how we fought the temptation to stomp on a few, just to see what would happen. It is human nature to ponder… [Read More]
How to think outside of the “gift box” at Christmas.
The other day, I was kindly asked what my children would like for Christmas. So, I surveyed their bedrooms, looked through their toy bins and took stock of their clothes and shoes. But I came up totally empty. My husband is an unabashed geek and being technologically savvy is the bread and butter of our… [Read More]
Perfectly Imperfect
Pinterest is a dream come true for the aspiring perfectionist. If you have not encountered pinterest yet, it is a virtual and endless pin board where people can post and save photos of projects and ideas. (Be prepared to stay up until 4 am creating your pin boards, by the way). I was browsing the… [Read More]
The Guardians of Time
It is possible that I am delusional enough that I see myself as a superhero, who is shielding her family from a gigantic unstoppable time-eating Monster on a daily basis. If you’re picturing it, I’m wearing red, since red is my power color. Also, you can imagine some jewel encrusted arm cuffs and boots. Fierce… [Read More]
