The Birth Story of Théo Julián Carrillo-La Rocca
On May 15th, 2023, at 37 weeks and 2 days pregnant, our precious Théo was born into the loving arms of his father at Bella Vie Gentle Birth Center. Ever since finding out that we were expecting a baby again after two miscarriages, José and I were eagerly and excitedly waiting for the day to…
You’ve got this because I’ve got you.
Today I felt the sun on my face as I walked my dog along the nature trail by our apartment. I felt the sun touch my skin. I felt God brush my cheek. You’ve got this, my daughter, He seemed to say. You’ve got this, mama, because I’ve got you. I trust you, Lord. I…
Let the cloud pass
*Trigger warning: miscarriage, child loss, grief The first time I miscarried I was nine weeks when I found out that there was no longer a heart beat. I started to bleed and released the small embryo-who we named May after finding out that she was a girl- one month later, at what would have been…
The Meaning of the Resurrection
What is the meaning of the resurrection and how do we live out our lives with this truth? Today we face the story of the women finding the empty tomb, of being told of his resurrection and their rush to spread the good news. In the beginning, the women were not believed. They were brushed…
Holy Week
Today is Wednesday of Holy Week. We have made it through the weeks of lent and now we are approaching the holy moments that lead up to the passing and resurrection of Christ. Today I am reflecting on Judas’ betrayal of Jesus, a betrayal so painful and reckless that it leads to the death of…
Ash Wednesday & St Irmã Dulce
Ash Wednesday. This mornings reading consisted of the works of St. Irmã Dulce, who spent her time walking around the streets of her home in Bahia, Brazil, finding the need that existed, and addressing it. “She began walking the streets, simply talking to people and paying particular attention to the desperately poor. Soon she had…
Draw Near to Jesus This Lent
Lent has become my favorite liturgical season to participate in. It’s the perfect time to let go of what isn’t serving you. To readjust your New Year’s resolutions and intentions with what has happened so far in the first few months of the new year. Lent is a great opportunity to walk through the desert…
Homemaking
What does it mean to be a homemaker to you? To me it means cultivating an atmosphere of love and safety while ensuring that our needs are met. Being a wife has been one of the most incredible experiences of my life so far. I love making our home whatever we want it to be.…
Nourishing our bodies in the simplest ways
What if the answer to most of our physical, emotional, and mental health struggles was in fact very simple? What if it was not as complex as we made it out to be? Body image is a sensitive topic and having a struggle with your own body image is something that I am very familiar…
Being Okay With Where You’re At
Growing up I convinced myself that in order to be successful, accomplished, and experienced I needed to live outside of my home town. I went so far as to believe that even if I left my home town for periods of time and then ever ended up living back there I would be a failure–unaccomplished.…
A Look at Marriage at Six Months
Marriage forces you to face your biggest insecurities, traumas, and fears. Marriage encourages growth in all the hardest places. That’s my two cents as we approach six months of marriage. That it is beautiful and so fulfilling and the best thing I’ve ever experienced. And that it has also caused me to fall to my…
PRESENCE
My intention for 2022 is to take care of my mind, body, and soul in order to become the best version of myself that God created me to be. That can seem like a monumental task. And that’s usually why we don’t get very far when we try to complete our New Year’s Resolutions. The…
Let’s Get Our Hopes Up
Let us rest in the hope of Jesus’ birth. Christmas has come and gone, but the journey of the Holy Family has just begun. I recently read somewhere that we, as a nation, are really good at anticipating but less so at enjoying a moment and sitting in the enjoyment of it for an extended…
Waiting and thankfulness
So looking forward to celebrating Christmas this week with my family. Our first advent as a married couple has been fulfilling in so many ways. We have gotten the chance to pray together, read the Bible together, light the advent candles and watch mass together. We’ve also been going through two advent devotionals together. It…
Preparing for this season of Advent
Last year was my first season participating in advent. This year my husband and I are creating traditions for the holiday season as a married couple. I love the anticipation of advent. The longing for Jesus’ birth. The excitement in waiting for the Lord. The feelings of hope, joy, peace, and renewal. As author Katie…
Letting go
Getting rid of my pregnancy stuff is hard. That’s what I wrote about today. I have no use for my prenatal vitamins nor my anti-nausea remedies. Do I just let them sit there and take up space? Do I waste them? Give them away? Having the items around the apartment gives me a false sense…
Our girl.
Our girl. They told us that you are a girl.We knew that already, deep down.But once it was confirmed, I longed for you even more.To know your personality.To hold you.To care for you.To buy you little clothes.To sing to you.I wish I could have known what you would have looked like.Damn I wish that so…
Our May
Today, on October 30th, Jose and I planted a daffodil for our May. That’s what we named the baby-May. After their would have been birth month. May, to me, is a month of beauty and growth. It’s when the flowers bloom and the sun comes back out again after many months of cold and rain.…
To you, whoever you are and were going to be. We love you.
My grief is raw and ongoing and therefore it feels impossible to write about this. But I know myself well and I know that writing is one of the things that I must do in order to heal. When I found out I was pregnant in August, I started a pregnancy journal. Since the 21st…
The freshness of a new season
A lot has happened in this unabridged life of mine recently. In July I happily married the love of my life in front of some of our closest family and friends in an intimate ceremony by a lake in Oregon. It was one of the most fun, precious days of my life thus far. The…
A reflection on a year working in community action
A year ago I transitioned from living and working in Guatemala with the Peace Corps to living back in my hometown with my family in Oregon. After a few months of job searching and histeria, and a brief moment at Lowe’s Garden Center being completely confused about how there are this many types of plants…
“Order and Chaos”: A Perspective on my time in China
A reflection on living in China during a pandemic by a dear friend. Introduction I would first like to take a moment to express my gratitude towards the amazing Miss Camille LaRocca for allowing me the space to share my experiences through words on this post. My name is 歐尼. I am 23 years old and graduated in 2019 from…
A world with more masks.
I had the opportunity to ask my friend Laila, who is living and working in Taiwan, how the pandemic has affect her life there. Laila and I met at university and I’ve enjoyed keeping up on her travels and experience abroad. What did the pandemic feel like to you when it first “began?” How has…
There’s nothing like loving and being loved.
Interview with Jennifer and Andrew Dashwood-Begg [transcribed from audio recording] I love a good love story. Especially one that is realistic and shows the highs and the lows. And this one certainly is that. And it comes with a whole lot of spectacular advice for couples. As someone recently engaged, this conversation with Jennifer and…
Revamping your prayer life.
The first time I remember praying was for my dad’s sickness to be healed. I don’t recall how old I was, but I must have been around five or six. My dad was tucking me into bed and leaned down and said, “don’t forget to say your prayers and make sure to pray for me…
Camille's Unabridged Life 