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Visit the shop to browse new arrivals!

Family

Coming Home to the Heart of Homecoming

Faith | Family | Memories | Widowhood

Coming Home to the Heart of Homecoming

Another Birthday, at The Cross and Many More

Family | Grief and Loss | Widowhood

Another Birthday, at The Cross and Many More

Dogs, Grace, Healing: The Gift of Faithful Companions

Family | Friendship | Grief and Loss | Healing | Life

Dogs, Grace, Healing: The Gift of Faithful Companions

The Tightrope—A Delicate Dance of Loss, Life and Hope

Faith | Family | Grief and Loss | Life | Widowhood

The Tightrope—A Delicate Dance of Loss, Life and Hope

Life As You Picture It—Take the Picture and the Trip

Faith | Family | Grief and Loss | Life | Widowhood

Life As You Picture It—Take the Picture and the Trip

It’s Moving Season and the Season of Letting Go

Contemplations and Reflections | Faith | Family | Parenting

It’s Moving Season and the Season of Letting Go

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houseofloveandlaughterblog

Catholic Writer | Shop Creator
Navigating Grief and Joy, Finding to Hope, Seeking Truth, Trusting God and Creating Beauty and a Soft Place to Land

Saturday we opened our home. Some of the people w

Saturday we opened our home.

Some of the people who walked through our door knew one another well. Some knew no one.

I didn’t know everyone who knocked on my door. I do now.

There was a thread connecting everyone, but we didn’t have to already be friends to make room for community, or know someone’s whole story to invite them in.

We don’t have to wait until we have the perfect house or meal, or the perfect group.

Sometimes we just need to open the door.

As people arrived yesterday, introductions were made. Food was shared. Conversations started. Connections discovered. There was laughter and storytelling and the simple gift of people being present to one another.

I kept thinking about how much we need this.

Between an event I attended on Thursday and this gathering of college alumni in our home, I couldn’t help but think about how much we all crave community.

We are meant to live in community and share our gifts with and be present to one another.

But that requires something from us.

It requires us to show up, to extend the invitation, to accept one when it is offered. To notice the person who might be standing at the edges and make a little more room.

Just a few days ago, I had been the one invited in and given a place at the table.

Then, we had the opportunity to offer that place to someone else. To others.

Sometimes we are the ones being welcomed.

Sometimes we are the ones welcoming.

We need both.

Community isn’t just about finding people who make us feel like we belong. It’s also about becoming people who help others know that they belong.

It is sharing what God has given us.

Our homes, our tables, stories, gifts, faith, time and ourselves.

I think we underestimate the gift of our presence.

We don’t always need to have the right words or do something extraordinary to be present.

Sometimes we just need to pull up a chair. Listen, Laugh. Share a meal, a story, a hug. Make an introduction. Ask another question. Stay a little longer.

Be there.

The day reminded me how much goodness can come from something as simple as opening the door to others.

So invite people in.

Pull up another chair.

Be present.

Make space.

Welcome others in.

☕️ Because it is National Coffee Day, and I love

☕️
Because it is National Coffee Day, and I love my coffee.

And It’s the Feast of the Archangels.
I have a special devotion them for different reasons, but St. Michael holds a particularly special place in my heart. We have called on him to defend us in many spiritual battles, AND I have a boy named after him.

This morning, I woke way too early to a few loud, persistent, piercing barks from a furry friend.

I stood outside barely awake under a dark sky still full of stars, with the faintest hint of the sun rising in the distance, knowing there was absolutely no way I was going to survive this day, or this busy week, without sleep, prayer, and coffee.

After my son left for work before the sun and I were fully awake, I fought the urge to crawl back into bed.

I have so much to tackle today and this week. so I knew I couldn’t go back to bed. Don’t worry, it’s all good things

Instead, I ground the coffee, grabbed a blanket and sat in the silence at the counter while the cool fall breeze filled the air.

Barely able to keep my eyes open, but still rehearsing in my head all I needed to do, I opened to today’s readings, knowing that before I tackled any of it, this was where I needed to begin but 😴💤

I was reminded what Bl. Fulton Sheen once said: “Let them have coffee before meditation.”

Thanks for that @hallowapp

I do like to begin my day in prayer and usually do before my feet even hit the floor.

I needed the black coffee kick, it just didn’t hit the spot.

Then my girlie and partner in business and many “coffee” adventures @sophialebano made me a sweet feast-day treat.

As I slowly sipped what she made, the sun poured in with a little glimpse of heaven’s glory. Ahhh

Even if I literally said yesterday, “I can’t keep drinking lattes.”

Maybe Bl. Fulton Sheen would understand. He was known for his wit and deep understanding of human nature. I really appreciate his wit and that latte.

So enjoy the coffee that wakes up your body and the prayer that wakes up your soul.

Maybe prayer really is a little like coffee for the soul. We need to keep coming back for another cup.

Happy Feast of Sts. Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael

And thank you, Jesus, for coffee.

What a weekend. It’s hard to put into words…this

What a weekend.

It’s hard to put into words…this will be very wonky but from the heart.

But I just have so much gratitude to God for the gift of creativity. And for my kids for the many ways they support this little dream of mine

I am so incredibly grateful for this @houseofloveandlaughtershop and so proud of what the kids and I have created despite living in the valley of tears these last several years. The seeds were planted and watered with so much love. And what it has blossomed into still leaves me in awe.

We really have needed a little joy in our life and pulling the shop together for this weekend gave us exactly that!!

It’s hard to believe we started this humble shop while walking through some really devastating circumstances. It has carried and healed me in ways I cannot explain enough. I am in awe of its growth and the joy it brings others.

We did it even when others questioned why we’d even consider it. How could we when life seemed so hard. It didn’t stop us. It only fueled the creativity and the passion to keep going. All for you Lord!!

There is so much more to say and share. More to come soon.

But first…

Thanks to my marketing manager, display set up & artisan @olivialebano 📸for this clever capture and small snippet of the day.

Thank you to @ianlebano for his shop set up, break down and all the encouragement as well as his band of friends who always show up!!

Thanks to @isa_chickens08 for inventory control and greeting guests with her big smile!

And thank you to @sophialebano for all your hard work in helping the shop run well online and in person as guests make their purchases as well as designing some new special and popular products this season.

And of course thanks to all of the guests who stopped by to say hi and shop with us @franciscanuniversity Francis Fest this weekend.

It was simply the best.

We are so grateful!
More to come!!

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