These Loaves and Fishes

A lot has been going on the past 6 weeks! Here are some of the highlights: The month of May found us celebrating Easter by the Orthodox calendar; almost a whole month later than the US! Since Easter is a very big holiday in western Ukraine, we wanted to do something special to emphasize the… Continue reading Picture post: Spring Highlights, and a “Peculiar Jewel”

Read in English here Я по вуха закохана у свого чоловіка. Але я повинна вам дещо сказати… Іноді на День святого Валентина або на річницю шлюбу я відчувала, що змушена була намагатись святкувати. Іншим жінкам, схоже, легко вдавалось загравати зі своїми чоловіками або хвалити їх онлайн. Я думала про те, чи все зі мною гаразд,… Continue reading Якщо подружне життя недосконале

Читайте українською мовою I am head over heels in love with my husband. But I have to tell you something… There have been some Valentine’s Days or anniversaries where I felt I really had to TRY to celebrate. It seemed other women were effortlessly making eyes at their man or singing his praises online. And… Continue reading When Marriage Isn’t Perfect

This isn't my mine, but I read a lot of books on Kindle. Perfect for life overseas! I get so energized from other people’s stories – many have undergone considerable hardship and yet emerged as victors or influencers. They inspire me to grow stronger and better. So at the beginning of 2020, I determined I… Continue reading Books I Enjoyed in 2020

Abigail Hope Steele Last Friday, (September 25th) Abigail turned 15!! Abby is artistic, energetic, self-motivated, and loyal. She's a great one to have on your team. I have learned a lot from her – she doesn't take herself too seriously, she's quick to acknowledge her faults and move on, and she's a girl of action!… Continue reading Picture Post: Someone is 15!!!

This year, myriads of people have been subjected to unwanted events: masks, restrictions, social distancing, illness, job loss, economic hardship. That list applies to Covid-19, but doesn't even include the " normal" hardships that are so much a part of life. People everywhere are experiencing hard things. So let me ask you a question that… Continue reading Are you a victim or a victor?

Are you weary of the quarantine? (Is the pope Catholic?) I woke up a few days ago and thought how weary I am of this sterile sameness. Probably a lot of people reached that point a long time ago. Personally, my life has been pretty full of activity - in fact in some ways a… Continue reading Things a Weary Person Can’t See

      In no particular order, I bring you life from the Steele home in recent weeks.                            

In my tenure as a mom, I've discovered that if one thing can kill my joy posthaste, it is RUSH. One morning recently, I caught myself rushing to get the house picked up for our house cleaner, rushing to complete my dressing routine, rushing through the breakfast preparations. We were late for school. I rushed… Continue reading Rush, Rush, RUSH!

Growing up, "avid reader" was a term I heard my mom apply to my friends. I wasn't really that kid. And while I still don't think "avid reader" applies to me, I do love to read and I simply keep plugging away at it! Between my personal reading and out-loud reading with my kids, I… Continue reading My Favorite Reads in 2019