Grace

Greetings, dear readers! My name is Grace, although I'm known as Raewyn in the blogsphere.

I am delighted to join The Catholic Young Woman, especially as I've been a reader for three years or so - ever since it was A Maiden's Wreath! Sweet Clare, who is my adopted 'older sister', has invited me numerous times to be a contributor and I've managed to somehow procrastinate writing an introductory post at least five times! (I'm sure she's wondered if I'm still alive and rolled her eyes over me with a good-natured chuckle many a time.)

 But, I'm here at last, and absolutely delighted to be joining these amazing girls. So without further ado, here's a wee bit about myself.

I am an eighteen-year-old Catholic homeschool girl who was born and bred Texan. My mother is Mexican so I grew up a wonderful, passionate, loud culture rooted in Faith, la familia, and food, of course. When I was nine or so, we moved to Southwest Louisiana, into the heart of Cajun country where accents run thick, gumbo simmers on the stove, and the people park on the grass. Although we do miss Texas and our relatives, we've "come home" so to say. We've loved every bit of the past nine years and can't imagine moving.

 I'm the oldest of six children (so our house is always humming with noise), a lover of skirts and all pretty things, an avid bookworm, and a writer. I've loved writing, words, and books since I was small. I also adore cooking and can be found either in the kitchen or curled up with a book. I've found a spatula and a pen are mightier than the sword! I grew up in the kitchen and have been cooking since I was three.

I blog about my love of life, my Faith, and many other things at My Spare Oom.

My food blog, Graceful Eats, documents my recipes, food, and fitness adventures.

As a senior in high school, I'm entering into the bittersweet last year before college. This year promises to be busy and filled to the brim but I look forward eagerly to the next adventure God has in store for me. My Catholic faith is my most treasured possession and I would love to attend a strong Catholic university to learn more about God's sweet goodness and the Faith. As with all things, of course, it is up to God. His Will and not mine be done. I'm praying and trusting in Him, with the knowledge He will lead where I am meant to be.

My greatest wish is to one day be a wife and mother, if God wills it. Because I'm a desperate romantic, I remind myself often that I need to be like little Lucy Penvensie in my beloved C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia: ever innocent and trusting, with the heart and courage of a lioness. Like Lucy, I am still a small girl, dancing and twirling through life.

And like Lucy, I too will be a Queen of my own little kingdom one day.

 I look forward to sharing my thoughts and musings on being a Catholic young woman in the great, wide world today, on the loveliness of femininity, on the girlish hopes and dreams that are universal, and a laugh or two, I hope. For, "What soup is to the body, laughter is to the soul." ~ Yiddish proverb. :)