"It’s from The Lord of the Rings."

The year of the dog happened.

When our youngest son turned one, his godfather handed me a gift bag and said what was inside was practice for when we could get a real one. Knowing this man, I knew that there was a stuffed dog inside. I was not wrong.

Fast forward three and a half years, and this sweet girl, Arwen, is now a part of our family. As it turns out, Lucas’s godfather wasn’t wrong either. Arwen could well have been the model for the stuffed toy (creatively named “Doggie”), which remains in our son’s room today.

My goal was to have this be the most literary dog possible, and so her full name is Arwen Lucy Schlegel. You better believe I chose the peacock feather pattern for her collar to honor Flannery. Some people get her name right away. Others seem to think it sounds nice, but you can see there’s no recognition. Which is my cue for, “It’s from The Lord of the Rings.”

Pro Tip: if you want to make sure you’re home and writing, get a dog who is obsessed with you and likes to sleep at your feet. Her occasional trips outside will provide the breaks you know you need without going on social media and with the benefit of getting some vitamin D. If you need to keep writing, bring your phone; this is what Google docs are for.

1. Some updates

Last night, by the grace of God, I sent the second draft of my thesis to my advisor. A deadline is a powerful thing.

I woke up this morning and registered a plot hole before I got out of bed. So a little of this, little of that.

2. What I’m reading is the same as 3. What my kids are reading

I picked up Sunrise on the Reaping, the newest Hunger games novel, from our library on release day. (Yay libraries! Yay hold systems!) My older boys and I took turns reading from the same copy, all finishing within ten days. I love that we all know these stories well, that they’re excited about them, the way we can talk about what we liked about them, how we think about the characters and so on. The movie is already scheduled to release on one of said boys’ baptismal days in 2026, so that’s where we’ll be.

3. What another kid is reading

Thanks to the reader who suggested The Magic Mirror : Concerning A Lonely Princess, A Foundling Girl, A Scheming King And A Pickpocket Squirrel by Susan Hill Long. My daughter and I recently finished it. It took a little getting into—lots of seemingly unrelated characters, some era-specific language that needed explanation—but once we got going, we were hooked. I’m glad we read it aloud, instead of her reading it on her own, since I think she might have struggled to get traction. But once we were in, another child kept finding a reason to be in the room while I read.

We just started Wonder by R.J. Palacio. I adore this book, and was edified by my two older boys seeing I was about to start and raving about it.

4. Something I love

I recently learned about Back on My Feet, an organization that “empower[s] people to achieve economic independence through fitness and community.” They “work with people experiencing homelessness or addiction who currently reside within shelters and recovery facilities.” More from their site: “We run and walk 2-3 times a week to build a sense of community and responsibility. With the support of workforce development, our members can work toward sustainable employment and self-sufficiency.”

A wonderful friend is running the London Marathon in support of this mission. We were happy to contribute to her fundraising. I only wish we could travel to cheer her on in person!

5. What I’m creating (knitting, lettering, embroidery, etc.)

My son just finished three performances in his school’s performance of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Jr. My job was to help organize receptions for families to hang with cast and crew. With help from my little guy and other moms, we made this happen:

I learned that a balloon arch will deflate verrrry quickly when located near an air conditioning vent. Again, you win some, you lose some.

6. Where my work is

Catholic Literary Arts members newsletter: April 2025 Children’s Book Review: “Even the Simplest Picture Book, Done Well, Can Have Eternal Implications”

WINE: “A Litany of Promises”

WINE: “From Transformation to Transfiguration”

OSV (repeat from Radiant in a previous year): “How to pray the Stations of the Cross during Lent and year round”

On God’s Little Flowers:

It’s not online, but the best review of God’s Little Flowers to date was offered verbally by one of my favorite five-year-olds and made even more precious by the fact that she as still wearing a leotard and tutu from dance class: “Mrs. Schlegel, you know that book you gave us? [Her mom bought a copy.] I looked at it seven times and my mom read it to me three times.”

Tonight I’ll be on Trending with Timmerie on Relevant Radio at 7pm Eastern/6pm Central to discuss the book and comparison amongst kids. Tune in!

CatholicMom.com review: “God’s Little Flowers”

NCR: “Catholic Easter Basket Picks for 2025”

Wholly Surrender podcast: “The Power of Identity | God's Little Flowers with Lindsay Schlegel” (also on Spotify)

7. What I’m working on

Magazine work means working ahead, and I have four new Saintly Habits columns to write for OSV magazine. Writing this is a kind of prayer, and I’m grateful I’ve been able to do this for over a year’s worth of pieces.

8. A quote to sit and sip with

No longer shall the sound of weeping be heard there,
or the sound of crying;
No longer shall there be in it
an infant who lives but a few days,
or an old man who does not round out his full lifetime;
He dies a mere youth who reaches but a hundred years,
and he who fails of a hundred shall be thought accursed.
They shall live in the houses they build,
and eat the fruit of the vineyards they plant.

—Isaiah 65:20-21