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You are here: Home / Archives for Lauren Gulde

About Lauren Gulde

I'm a wife and mother, a WordPress web designer and developer. I love my husband, reading great books, Jane Austen, tea in china cups, photography, Caryll Houselander, my Catholic faith, Ansel Adams and my fearsome foursome. I'm a convert, a '97 graduate of Texas A&M WHOOP! and founder of the Coalition for Life.
Find me at santaclaradesign.com - @stclaradesign - theLoveliestHour. com - bookishcatholics. blogspot.com

Falling into Ecumenicism, or Something I Never Thought I’d Learn From the Public Schools

Published May 14, 2014 • Written by Lauren Gulde Filed Under: ACNM, Blog, Faith, Family, Young Adult, Youth

When I was 18, I became Catholic. For months, leading up to the day of my entrance into the Church, I sat in the pew, in awe of this beautiful Church which had shown me so much in so little a time. I was amazed by the depth, the beauty, the wisdom, the overwhelming love. The… [Read More]

Written by Lauren Gulde • Published May 14, 2014

Lent: 40 Days and 40 Ways

Published March 4, 2014 • Written by Lauren Gulde Filed Under: ACNM, Blog, Faith, Family

Every year I try to approach Lent anew. I don’t want it to ever grow old. Lent holds a dear place in my heart, as it always reminds me of the days that brought me up to my joining the Catholic Church in 1994. Those emotional memories are strong, and they have always assisted my… [Read More]

Written by Lauren Gulde • Published March 4, 2014

Too good to be true? But it IS true! Guiding Star Brazos Valley

Published February 19, 2014 • Written by Lauren Gulde Filed Under: ACNM, Blog, Social Justice

Almost exactly 16 years ago to the day, I was at a very similar place in my life. And I held a meeting at my parish in Aggieland – St. Mary’s Catholic Center. Just like we did this past Sunday. With some of the same people, some of the same faces in the audience. And… [Read More]

Written by Lauren Gulde • Published February 19, 2014

5 Tips for Better Blogging in 2014

Published January 8, 2014 • Written by Lauren Gulde Filed Under: ACNM, Blog, Faith

The beginning of a new year is a good time to think about our blogging goals. Here are five thoughts on how you can become a better blogger in 2014!   1. Remember Who You Are Sometimes we get wrapped up in expectations, in blogging strategies or in what all the other people are doing!… [Read More]

Written by Lauren Gulde • Published January 8, 2014

Why we can’t stop listening.

Published October 16, 2013 • Written by Lauren Gulde Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Family, Young Adult, Youth

Back when I was in high school, I became close friends with two girls. They were Baptist. They taught me that God really loved me, that I could talk to Him like I talked to my best friend, and that most music played on the radio was evil. In fact, one friend went so far… [Read More]

Written by Lauren Gulde • Published October 16, 2013

I remember…

Published September 11, 2013 • Written by Lauren Gulde Filed Under: ACNM, Blog

I was pregnant and tired, sleeping in on that Tuesday morning, since my firstborn was still resting in her crib. I ached, my head hurt and I felt I could sleep another 10 hours straight. But the phone kept ringing in the kitchen. And there were voices on the answering machine (yes, back then we… [Read More]

Written by Lauren Gulde • Published September 11, 2013

On the education of children

Published August 7, 2013 • Written by Lauren Gulde Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Family, Youth

Often I wonder if my writing isn’t just redirected self-therapy. Journaling sent out into the digital cosmos. A way of expressing my emotions, reading them, and moving on. Sometimes I wonder, but today I am sure. Last week I completed the enrollment of all four of my children in our local public schools. I made… [Read More]

Written by Lauren Gulde • Published August 7, 2013

on Tolstoy, summer and gold in the sand

Published July 24, 2013 • Written by Lauren Gulde Filed Under: Family

Summer is half way over, and I’m just now getting into the groove. Staying up a little later, waking up later, too. Letting things go slack, allowing everyone a little more space, more time, more freedom. It’s like I’ve exhaled, finally, from the school-year before. And I realize how much stress I carry with me… [Read More]

Written by Lauren Gulde • Published July 24, 2013

advice for a young mother

Published June 26, 2013 • Written by Lauren Gulde Filed Under: ACNM, Blog, Faith, Family, Youth

The other night I went to a local eatery to meet up with some Catholic mommas. These ladies meet regularly at a local parish, to encourage each other in their motherhood and faith. We sat around the table at this elegant venue downtown. A raucous “Salsa Night” going on at the restaurant just next door…. [Read More]

Written by Lauren Gulde • Published June 26, 2013

5 Thoughts for Newlyweds

Published June 5, 2013 • Written by Lauren Gulde Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Family, Marriage and Love, Young Adult, Youth

You can always tell when there’s been a wedding. At my parish, that’s when we get to look at pretty flowers. Because, at a university parish, we don’t spend the big bucks on flowers. We’re frugal, yo. So, we love it when wedding season comes around. There’s fragrant proof of white gowns, flower girls and… [Read More]

Written by Lauren Gulde • Published June 5, 2013

Ten Beautiful Books For Summer Reading {for all ages}

Published May 15, 2013 • Written by Lauren Gulde Filed Under: Blog

This isn’t a list of THE ten books you should read, but just ten of the thousands of books you should read. I do not dare suggest that I know everything about literature.  But I do know that: 1. My life has been changed by the books I’ve read 2. Most books stores do a… [Read More]

Written by Lauren Gulde • Published May 15, 2013

Letter to a College Graduate (5 thoughts for anyone trying to figure out life)

Published May 1, 2013 • Written by Lauren Gulde Filed Under: Blog

I recently had a conversation with a young friend at a party. Sitting at a table outside, sharing a tray of veggies and dip, I asked her about her plans after graduation. She told me that she wasn’t sure – she was looking at options, didn’t know if she could find a job she’d like,… [Read More]

Written by Lauren Gulde • Published May 1, 2013

from my side of the curtain: a memory.

Published April 17, 2013 • Written by Lauren Gulde Filed Under: ACNM, Blog, Faith, Family

I don’t remember much about having my babies. It’s a foggy time, really. I find myself periodically asking my husband to tell me the stories, like child who likes to hear the same favorite fairy tale over and over again. I guess it’s a ‘mommy fog’, made up of adrenaline, hormones, fatigue and pain medication… [Read More]

Written by Lauren Gulde • Published April 17, 2013

How to keep your tween a child for just a little while longer

Published March 20, 2013 • Written by Lauren Gulde Filed Under: Family, Social Media and Tech, Youth

Tween. Tween? Such a strange word. When I was growing up, we didn’t call ourselves that. We were either kids, or teens. There was no in beTWEEN. But, as weird as the word is, there might be some good in setting this stage of childhood off as its own separate category. There’s a lot going… [Read More]

Written by Lauren Gulde • Published March 20, 2013

Second Pew, Choir Side

Published March 6, 2013 • Written by Lauren Gulde Filed Under: ACNM, Blog, Faith, Young Adult, Youth

I can point to the pew I sat in the first time I went to Mass at St. Mary’s in College Station. It was my first week as a freshman at Texas A&M. I had only been to Mass a few times before in my life. A Christmas with my grandmother as a small child,… [Read More]

Written by Lauren Gulde • Published March 6, 2013

20 Reflective Movies for Lent… or anytime, really

Published February 20, 2013 • Written by Lauren Gulde Filed Under: Faith, Youth

I’m always on the hunt for an inspiring film, especially during a reflective time like the season of Lent. There are hundreds of beautiful movies out there, and I have put together a list of 20 of my favorites. Some are more religious in nature and some are more secular. Some are recent releases and… [Read More]

Written by Lauren Gulde • Published February 20, 2013

5 Tips For An Intentional Lent

Published February 6, 2013 • Written by Lauren Gulde Filed Under: ACNM, Blog, Faith, Family, Youth

It is a week or so before the beginning of Lent, and I find myself cringing a bit. We just finished Christmas, for goodness sake! I still have a plastic box of Christmas snow globes on the top of the piano that I haven’t yet put away. And now, we’re edging up on to Lent… [Read More]

Written by Lauren Gulde • Published February 6, 2013

Four Words I’ll Never Forget

Published January 23, 2013 • Written by Lauren Gulde Filed Under: ACNM, Blog, Faith, Family, Young Adult, Youth

Four years ago, my son Jonathan found me sitting in front of my laptop, tears running down my cheeks. I had read an email and had been stunned to tears and silence. I was in shock with joy. The email was about Abby Johnson, the director of our local Planned Parenthood (the number one abortion… [Read More]

Written by Lauren Gulde • Published January 23, 2013

10 Steps to a Stronger Family in 2013

Published January 9, 2013 • Written by Lauren Gulde Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Family, Youth

  Our Lord WANTS our families to be strong, holy, healthy and fun! But, in this busy, automated and digitized world, it’s all too easy to lose our cohesiveness as a family. Strong families are families that enjoy each other, spend time together and are aware of the great gift of family that God has… [Read More]

Written by Lauren Gulde • Published January 9, 2013

Let Us Make Haste…

Published December 26, 2012 • Written by Lauren Gulde Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Family

I see a preacher. A natural teacher. A simple man, standing at the lectern, in the church full, at Midnight Mass. I see him speaking kindly, periodically gesturing with an open hand, pausing to smile at times, pausing to let us think. I see his eyes gaze over his people with a heart full of… [Read More]

Written by Lauren Gulde • Published December 26, 2012

A Real Baby

Published December 12, 2012 • Written by Lauren Gulde Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Family, Youth

“No, he was a REAL baby!” my six year old daughter insists, eye brows lifted as she explains to her four year old sister. “It’s not a just story!” My four year old’s blue eyes are wide as she looks off out the window, pondering. Jesus was a real baby. Even as an adult, I… [Read More]

Written by Lauren Gulde • Published December 12, 2012

Keeping Advent Holy

Published November 28, 2012 • Written by Lauren Gulde Filed Under: ACNM, Faith, Family, Young Adult, Youth

Ahhhh, it’s almost December! What a wonderful time of year! We have SO many plans to make it an amazing time for our family! And we have so much to do! We get down décor from the attic. We put together a tree. We start making Christmas lists. The office Christmas party is marked the… [Read More]

Written by Lauren Gulde • Published November 28, 2012

5 Tips: How to Be a Good Mom and Not Lose Your Mind

Published November 14, 2012 • Written by Lauren Gulde Filed Under: Family, Marriage and Love

While I’ve been ‘Mom’ now for almost 13 years, it seems that I’m still figuring out this motherhood thing. It can be hard to balance being an individual woman with thoughts, ideas, plans and inspirations that are all my own with the… thoughts, ideas, plans, inspirations, hunger, laundry, homework and tantrums of everyone else in… [Read More]

Written by Lauren Gulde • Published November 14, 2012

How to Create a Family Litany

Published October 31, 2012 • Written by Lauren Gulde Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Family, Marriage and Love, Youth

All Saints Week – here we are! A week of beauty, starting with Halloween full of fun costumes and candy, All Saints Day with our holy heavenly friends, and ending with the ever hopeful and solemn All Soul’s Day, praying for those we love who have died. What a great time for our families to… [Read More]

Written by Lauren Gulde • Published October 31, 2012

Authenticity & the Year of Faith

Published October 17, 2012 • Written by Lauren Gulde Filed Under: ACNM, Blog, Faith, Family, Social Media and Tech, Young Adult, Youth

I have to be honest. When I heard that the Catholic Church had declared this year the “Year of Faith”, I wasn’t quite sure what to think. Maybe it’s my ‘convert’ status rising up again, but while those around me were excited about the upcoming Year of Faith, I wasn’t sure what I was supposed… [Read More]

Written by Lauren Gulde • Published October 17, 2012

I’ve got your back: 7 Promises to My Middle School Aged Daughter

Published October 3, 2012 • Written by Lauren Gulde Filed Under: ACNM, Blog, Faith, Family, Youth

7 promises to my middle school aged daughter: I will be your friend I know, I’m your mother. And, you already have friends. But, when I’m not telling you to clean your room or reminding you to practice your french horn, I will try to show you how a real friend acts. I will look… [Read More]

Written by Lauren Gulde • Published October 3, 2012

they trusted and you rescued them…

Published September 19, 2012 • Written by Lauren Gulde Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Family, Youth

In my complicated life, I find it amusing that God often reminds me of His eternal truths by demonstrating them through my children. As intellectual as I might like to think I am, I have probably learned more about the love of God for his people by watching my children play, learn and live in… [Read More]

Written by Lauren Gulde • Published September 19, 2012

The Divine Eccentric: Caryll Houselander

Published September 5, 2012 • Written by Lauren Gulde Filed Under: ACNM, Blog, Faith, Young Adult, Youth

A while back, I changed the name of my personal blog to ‘The Loveliest Hour‘.  I wanted the title to be more specific and meaningful. At the time, I think I envisioned myself writing great commentaries on life and politics and religion and wanted the blog title to be about more than my family. Now,… [Read More]

Written by Lauren Gulde • Published September 5, 2012

I’m not afraid anymore…

Published August 22, 2012 • Written by Lauren Gulde Filed Under: ACNM, Blog, Faith, Family, Marriage and Love, Youth

I’ve just realized it. Just now. I’ve been sitting here at my computer, attempting to design a stunning website for a client, listening to my two little girls (ages 4 and 6) playing in the living room next to me. They’ve been playing ‘Getting Married’. This entails putting on pretend make-up, going dancing and finding… [Read More]

Written by Lauren Gulde • Published August 22, 2012

Ten Tips for Dealing with Anger in Marriage

Published August 8, 2012 • Written by Lauren Gulde Filed Under: Marriage and Love

We may not like to talk about it, but if you’re married, you’ve been there. How do we deal with our anger in marriage? How do we argue? How do we reconcile? We all have different ways of handling our differences with our spouse, but here are a few things I’ve learned over the 13… [Read More]

Written by Lauren Gulde • Published August 8, 2012

No Greater Love: 3 Heroes from Aurora

Published July 25, 2012 • Written by Lauren Gulde Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Marriage and Love, Young Adult, Youth

When I was sixteen, I had a boyfriend. My young heart was madly in love. I had also spent some time reading the Bible, inspired by my Baptist friends. One day, I came across this verse: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”  John 15:13 In a… [Read More]

Written by Lauren Gulde • Published July 25, 2012

Comparing Conversions

Published July 11, 2012 • Written by Lauren Gulde Filed Under: Blog, Faith, Family, Young Adult

When the well-known atheist, Leah Libresco, announced her entrance into the Catholic Church’s RCIA program I was blown away, like many others. I have to admit that, after reading her posts, much of what she said went over my head. I’m not up on ‘athiest’ speak. But, I was very excited and encouraged by the prospect… [Read More]

Written by Lauren Gulde • Published July 11, 2012

And I Find Myself Smirking at God

Published June 27, 2012 • Written by Lauren Gulde Filed Under: Faith, Family

Does your child ever do something so witty and surprising that you just shake your head and let a smirk creep across your face? My son cracked out with a clever quip last week and I just burst out laughing. I don’t often burst out into anything. I like that feeling. Over the past few… [Read More]

Written by Lauren Gulde • Published June 27, 2012

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