As far back as I can remember, math felt like something scary, that “I just can’t do”, that did not make sense to me in the least. I struggled through my required math classes – including calculus –  in high school with daily afterschool help sessions from my teachers. In college, I tested into remedial algebra and still, despite having already taken algebra twice, ended up taking advantage of office hours as frequently as they were offered. 

God has given you particular gifts. And for all the “bossy babes” out there, this is delightful news: being direct and even confrontational in a world that shirks away from hard truths is a gift. We need people who can stand firm in the truth, and who aren’t afraid to lead with love.

Do you feel overwhelmed by money and unsure where to start? Are you confused when acronyms like IRA, SIMPLE, ETF, SEP, HSA, or CD are talked about? Don’t worry, you are not alone! Honestly, you do not really need to know what they all mean. Like all industries, finance has its own language. Just like you don’t need to know the names of all the muscles in the body to get medical advice, you don’t need to know all the financial terms to get financial advice; you need the right advisor.

If I could recommend a book to any young female professional, it would be “Something Wicked: Why Feminism Can’t Be Fused with Christianity” by Carrie Gress, Ph.D. The insights she shares about the dangers of feminism are ones that I have spent the last several years untangling as a mid-career professional and full-time, stay-at-home mom. This book would have saved younger me some heartache in terms of how I viewed the working world and myself.

Two young mothers, celebrated today on March 7, are included in the Roman Canon (Eucharistic Prayer 1) among a list of early Church martyrs. Most people don’t know their story, but we can all learn from their faith and fortitude.

Winter invites us to take the time we would normally spend outside or in constant activity and turn it inward toward prayer, reflection, and contemplation.