EMBRACING FAMILY Alleluia! Praise God! 2020 is over! Easter is almost here! The COVID vaccine is here! While we eagerly said goodbye to 2020, we realized that we had not reached the goal of overcoming the coronavirus and having life return to some semblance of “normalcy.” As more and more people receive the vaccine, there […]
Sarah and David Herrmann: Zooming through Lent
EMBRACING FAMILY Wouldn’t it be nice if Lent “zoomed” by this year? Forty days seems like an eternity when we are sacrificing! We’ve had 12 months of waiting and praying thanks to COVID-19! Isn’t that enough?! For those around the world who live a life of constant suffering, they would be grateful if they only […]
Sarah and David Herrmann: Let your light shine
EMBRACING FAMILY We eagerly welcomed the new year and even more eagerly bade farewell to 2020. For many, the “magic” of the new year faded rapidly with the realization that the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out will take longer than first thought, that the variant strain is present in the United States, that our coronavirus numbers are […]
Sarah and David Herrmann: It is never too late to prepare for the birth of Christ
EMBRACING FAMILY Did you find that you had the good intentions to make a beautiful spiritual journey this Advent Season … and it hasn’t come to fruition? Or maybe you haven’t even begun it at all? Maybe you wanted an Advent calendar with acts of kindness every day (and not just chocolate) or maybe you […]
Sarah and David Herrmann: Did you remember to invite Jesus?
EMBRACING FAMILY “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40) Thinking back on the origins of Thanksgiving, it is interesting to note that much of what we consider “traditional” about it never transpired. The meat served was documented as “fowl” (possibly turkey, ducks, geese and swans). […]
Sarah and David Herrmann: Respect all life
EMBRACING FAMILY October is Respect Life Month. Some Catholics say, “I am pro-life!? We’ve even participated in the 40 Days for Life campaign. We pray the rosary as a family, too!” Protecting life from the moment of conception is a particularly important aspect of respecting life. However, we cannot stop there. What about life after […]
Sarah and David Herrmanns: I have the right vs. is it right?
EMBRACING FAMILY Our lives have been filled with nonstop news stories about many people touting their freedom, the fact that they have the right to do what they want, when they want. One question that people worldwide are facing is the choice about when and where to use face masks due to the coronavirus. Rather […]
Sarah and David Herrmanns: Mahalo, Coronavirus!
EMBRACING FAMILY Mahalo, Coronavirus, for providing me the opportunity to change, to grow. Thanks to you, I realize God is in control, not me! Canceled summer vacations remind me how blessed I am that we can afford to travel. No large gatherings and closures help me to spend more quality time with those who are […]
Sarah and David Herrmann: Reassuring our children in uncertain times
EMBRACING FAMILY The world seems increasingly uncertain! Every morning, we don’t know what will be happening at school or at work. When will school start? Will it be in person? Online? Hybrid? Will the children need to wear masks? What will happen if a child at the school is infected? How will we balance work […]
Sarah and David Herrmann: The church never closed!
EMBRACING FAMILY When a butterfly emerges from a chrysalis unable to fly, it pumps blood to its wings so it can spread its wings and take off. The chrysalis protected it, and the butterfly emerged still vulnerable. Time was needed for it to build up its strength to spread its beautiful wings for the world […]