Heart to Heart - 10.5.2026
Yesterday I turned 38. My children attend a Montessori school and wondered if we’d have a birthday circle for me. In their class, when it is a child’s birthday, they hold a globe in the center of the circle and walk around the sun for each year of their life. For each trip, their parents share a picture of them and a little thing about them from that year. Like for my oldest daughter, the thing I remember most about the first year of her life was her infectious, deep belly laugh. She would shriek and laugh over things like her dad flipping his hair a little too hard or the silly book Blue Hat, Green Hat.
All of the adults laughed as we imagined having to find a picture from each year of our lives and talk about it. I thought of those rough teenage years, the photos that my mom cherishes and I wish didn’t exist. But then I got to thinking about how God remembers all the little things, cherished like we cherish the memory of Fran’s laugh. My life, laugh, my joys, my sorrows, held in the big love of my Creator.
38 feels good. When I was 28, I was single. I traveled to Havana and Mexico City. I had a big, exciting work opportunities. My life was full and good. It was that year that I met my husband. I still remember everything about that moment - down to the calligraphy ink stain I had on my shirt that day.
The following decade I watched my greatest desires unfold in front of me. We got married, bought a house, moved, had a baby, my business flourished, had another baby, lost two babies, moved again, and had another baby. It’s been harder than I could have ever imagined and full of so much goodness.
I have new dreams beginning to unfold in me. They’re quieter, softer this time. Watching my children’s zeal for life, their laughter, their love, reminds me to not lose my own zeal. God calls me to be right where I am and whispers to open my hands for what comes next.
I am so lucky to be alive,
Erica
A few things to Share this Week
Around the Circle: I saw this sweet book about the Liturgical year full of really beautiful illustrations!
Restoring Your Wounded Heart: A Catholic Approach to Healing Trauma - Brya Hanan released her latest book about healing your wounded heart.
