Small Steps with Elizabeth Foss

I've been a fan of Elizabeth Foss for as long as I've been reading and writing online. Over the years, she's been a huge influence on my life, both my writing and my mothering.

elizabeth foss

Her latest project is one that I loveloveLOVE: Small Steps for Catholic Moms: Your Daily Call to Think, Pray and Act. The philosophy is one that speaks to me on many levels: to me as a mom struggling in the trenches, to me as a friend encouraging other moms, to me as a writer appreciating good work.

Elizabeth was kind enough to speak with me recently about her work on Small Steps. Grab a cup of your favorite hot beverage and join us, won't you?

Small Steps for Catholic Moms

Elizabeth, you write with such a humble and gentle spirit. I can't help but think you wrote this book specifically FOR ME as a mom. What inspired this topic? And how did you know what I needed to read? :)

It began as a joint project on our blogs. We had noticed that in the early days of the Catholic Mom Blogosphere, the tendency to compare and despair was very evident. We wrote a series of Lenten prompts encouraging moms to be who they are. They were well received and several people suggested we publish a booklet. As we pondered the idea, we thought, “Why not a whole year’s worth?”

What was the best part about writing Small Steps?

Two things. Firstly, I really enjoyed collaborating. It was a joy to work with Danielle and I loved doing this book together. We shared a common vision of supporting and encouraging and we began with each other. So, that was all good.

The second part that was incredibly special about this book is that most of my writing and all the quote collecting was done while I was on bedrest, pregnant with my ninth child. I truly feel like I spent that company in the intimate company of the saints. Never have I needed them more and Jesus reached down and provided every spiritual need.

You and Danielle are both very passionate about supporting mothers. How does Small Steps do that? Why should every mom reading this get a copy right now? :)

We are passionate about supporting mothers. Between us, we have seventeen children. At the time the book went to print, the oldest was 20 and the youngest was a newborn. We were personally living every stage from pregnancy to launching a college student into the world as we wrote the book.

As a result, the book is relevant. It meets mothers where they are and we hope to walk alongside them into a deeper relationship with Christ and His companions and a deeper commitment to living our vocations wholeheartedly.

I know you're a huge fan of the Communion of Saints. Did Small Steps have a special patron, either while you were writing it or as you've been promoting it?

I was living a super tricky pregnancy at the time and it was Danielle who first suggested to me that I call upon St. Anne’s intercession. I like to think that she sees this book as her gift to us.

And finally, what's in your secret (or not-so-secret) writer inspiration stash? Are you a chocoholic or a coffee fiend or something altogether different? How do you plow through those tough times of writing?

:) Coffee makes me hyper and doesn’t do great things for my thought process. I think I get my best ideas in the shower. I’m probably as heavily invested in essential oils for the bathtub as some people are in a chocolate or coffee stash.

Of course, I don’t write in the shower. My best writing happens early in the morning, in the quiet, with a candle burning. So, I guess some people need to eat or drink; I just need to be surrounded by good smells!

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