hello

 

I’m a devoted wife, homemaker, mother-educator, photographer, and aspiring writer. I enjoy sharing various projects and motherhood musings behind the lens of my camera and through words. Grounded in my Catholic faith, my husband Seth and I are raising our four (nearly five!) young children in a 150-year-old Victorian outside of St. Paul, Minnesota.

This website serves as a family journal, showcasing things we’re up to. As a beauty seeker, I am passionate about finding the lovely amongst the ordinary and chaotic reality of raising a young family. Ultimately, my goal is that this space will celebrate the beauty of motherhood & home while also providing record in one place. 

Here you will find: 

Daily musings and my perspective on motherhood. Often these are pieces that blend in homemaking or other creative endeavors like sewing projects or what we’ve been cooking and baking recently. 

Quite a bit about home education at our DeGroot Catholic Classical Academy. My homeschool journey has not been linear nor expected, we are a hybrid homeschool family, and I blend at home learning and parochial school for our children. I love all things home education and deeply appreciate the wealth of information I’ve gleaned from other mother-educators. I hope to pass along what has worked well for us, and document our school journey. 

My newfound, fledgling connection to nature and seasonal, Liturgical living. I used to joke that I was a “thousand hours inside” kind of mother, but all of that changed when we joined an outdoor Forest School (homeschool coop) in the fall of 2024. It was totally transformative, and has become an important cornerstone of family and homeschool life. As we’ve deepened our Catholic faith I’ve found such resonance in the Liturgical Calendar as an alternative to the ritual deprived pace of modern life. I have enjoyed dipping my toes into Liturgical living through celebrations, holy days, and making the Faith memorable through traditions for my children. 

Glimpses of our home and holiday home tours. Seth and I moved to our historic, 1872 Victorian home in 2019 and have labored to make it home since. I’m an avid thrifter and antique shopper, always looking to add texture and personal touches to our space. I delight in creating cozy and charming rooms. I find deep joy in the art of making a peaceful and lovely home. 

Attempts and deliberations on trying to life a more natural lifestyle. I’ve had four out of hospital births that I’ve documented here. I never intended to be this “crunchy,” but somehow this is where life has found me: using tallow as moisturizer, picking up milk and eggs from our farm share, former chicken-mother (RIP Tupac and Biggie), and working to eat well and nourish our bodies. 

Occasional faith pieces. I am hoping to find the courage to really write my windy, delicate faith journey. My husband is a Catholic convert (from Lutheranism) and I am a Catholic revert (after many years away, and frankly disinterest in what was actually the beautiful, rich faith I inherited at baptism). Together, we are raising our family in the Catholic faith tradition. We attend a reverent Novus Ordo stunningly historic parish that is full of wonderful, warm people, including so many families. The more I learn, discover, and unearth about Catholicism the more I respect and revere it. 

I’d love to hear from you, my email is: katiedegroot86@gmail.com 

With love,

Katie

“In pursuit of Truth, Beauty, and Goodness.”