Zephyr Hill

A Family Blog

Ignore the Radio Ads About Life Insurance, But Please Read This Post

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We often hear radio or TV ads about how important it is to get life insurance. Well, you can ignore the high-pressure ads that promise out-of-reach rates and don’t disclose all their fees – but please DO pay attention to this blog post. Life insurance is critical and it can be affordable – if you choose a term policy.

You might think the only thing to worry about when someone passes away is the debt that survives him, but that isn’t the case. Losing a loved one also raises other money questions:

  • How will I financially provide for surviving children?
  • Will I be able to cover all funeral and burial costs?
  • Do I have enough money for unpaid medical bills?
  • How do I meet our living expenses now that one income is gone?

Get an Answer in 10 Minutes

What if there was an application you could complete in just a few minutes? And once you were locked in, the price wouldn’t change, no matter what happens with our rocky economy. If getting approved quickly for a term life insurance policy appeals to you, here’s how to get started.

If you’re wondering why I recommend term vs whole, let’s first look at the two types.

What are the two types of insurance?

Term life insurance is the simplest type. If you were to die, your spouse or children (or other beneficiary) will receive a fixed amount of money. You can choose a “term” of coverage that lasts 10, 15, 20 or 30 years. The price and death benefit both remain the same through the entire term, and you have the option to renew and apply for another term after that. This type of policy doesn’t have any monetary/cash value, but it is very affordable and will come through for your family in spades when most needed.

Whole or permanent life insurance is a policy you take out to cover the rest of your life. Each month, a part of your premium goes into an account that (you hope) will grow over the years. You can access or borrow against this money. In the event that you pass away, your beneficiaries will be paid the death benefit on the policy, and nothing more. So can you guess the two obvious drawbacks here? First of all, you can make more money off a good mutual fund than you will in a life insurance “savings account.” Secondly, if the cash you deposited into your account all of those years wasn’t used, then it’s GONE when you die. The insurance company takes what’s left.

You can get more details about these two types here.

How much coverage can I get?

Most people are surprised by the affordable price for a huge amount of term life coverage. Check out these rates for a women in excellent health:

A man in fairly good health at age 40 can get a $500,000 benefit for just $32.00 per month, and that’s for 15 years of coverage.

You really do get a lot more coverage for your money going with term.

What do I need to apply?

  • You’ll just need to answer a few personal, legal and health-related questions
  • No need to upload any documents or proofs during the application process
  • A valid SSN and drivers license number

That’s pretty much it!

How much coverage do I need?

It makes sense to get a policy worth 10-12 times your annual income. So, if you make $50,000 a year, you need a policy worth around $500,000–600,000.

Remember, the death benefit paid to your family isn’t just replacing your income; it can be used to pay down debts, cover funeral and burial costs, save for education, or provide a cushion against unexpected expenses. Securing life insurance ahead of time is a practical step to take when preparing your family for the potential loss of a loved one.

Let me know if you have any more questions about reducing financial stress in life by getting term life!

 

 

 

This post was made possible by a collaboration with Responsival

Do Catholic Parents Have to Choose a Saint Name for Their Baby?

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Your name stays with you all your life, so the questions and decisions surrounding a chosen name are vitally important for parents. Today, I’ll focus on one often-asked question: are Catholic parents required to choose a saint name for their baby (or adopted child)?

The short answer is “no.” However, there are important guidelines to follow.

In 1935, Edward Smith wrote in his 1935 naming guide, “It is the desire of the Church that at Baptism and at Confirmation her children receive the names of Saints.” For good reason, the Church understands the importance of a patron for intercession and to serve as a role model of holiness for the child for his entire life. 

While the 1917 rules previously required that at least one of the child’s names be Christian, this was later relaxed. Canon 855 now states that parents, sponsors, and pastors must “take care that a name foreign to Christian sensibility is not given.” Do not miss the key point here that Catholic priests still have a duty to advise parents in this matter when there might be a potential question or concern. But what does “foreign to Christian sensibility mean?” Perhaps this phrase is deliberately vague for a purpose; the Church wishes to advise but not dominate parents in a process that, while religiously significant, is also personal and nuanced.

Clearly, names like Lucifer, Hitler, Judas and Jezebel would fall under the description “foreign to Christian sensibility.” Depending on time and locality, other names might be avoided; to an Italian the name Benito (i.e. Mussolini) could have strong anti-Christian connotations while in America it might not. Cultural considerations also come into play; while Jesus is a time-honored name for your son in Mexico, in the European tradition is it taboo.

Catholic parents should avoid names such as these:

  • Demonic, satanic or blasphemous
  • Pagan
  • Ridicule-inducing
  • Unserious, silly or vulgar
  • After a publicly immoral namesake (i.e. like Miley or Madonna)
  • Unduly burdensome*

*Do you really want to name your son Polyeuctus after the 3rd century Christian martyr? Imagine the trials he is destined to endure throughout life due to spelling and pronunciation and the fact that his schoolmates will almost certainly assume he was named after a dinosaur.

Why would Catholic parents NOT want a saint’s name?

There might be some who are perplexed at the fact that devout new parents would choose a secular name for their newborn. But there are valid reasons for doing so.

  • They wish to honor a friend or family member that happens to have a secular name (an aunt named Ruby or a best friend named Walter)
  • They wish to continue the tradition of naming a son after the father (Jefferson Davis, Jr. – Jefferson Davis, Sr., etc)
  • They wish to honor the saint using a variation or association (there is a girl at my parish named Siena after Catherine of Siena)

I always like to say, if we restricted ourselves to only saint names, there would never be any NEW saint names for parents to choose from!

Our son, Benjamin Patrick, all dressed for the sacrament of baptism

Even if the rules are more lax now, isn’t a saint named still preferred?

Yes, you could say that even with the “new” rules, it’s clear that the Church traditionally encouraged (for thousands of years) the use of saint’s names and for excellent reasons! In fact, Canon 761 specified that in instances where the mother and father refuse to give a Christian name, the priest “shall add to the name given by the parents the name of some Saint and enter both in the Baptismal Record.” That’s pretty serious business!

And this is why, even when parents opt (for valid reasons) to choose a secular first name, they will designate a saint for the second (or third). We have chosen this route for several of our children:

  • Ingrid Elizabeth
  • Evelyn Abigail

In the example given earlier, when it’s vitally important to your husband and his family that his son be a Junior, then a Christian name could be tacked on the end. The birth certificate might read Jefferson Davis Joseph, Jr. but he would go by Jefferson Davis, Jr. in practical usage.

What about naming children after Old Testament figures?

While names like Noah and Hannah are more common in Protestant circles, and they have not been formally recognized by the later-developed canonization process, “patriarchs, prophets and certain other Old Testament figures have been and always will be honored as saints in all the Church’s liturgical traditions.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 61).

Note that this is not a blanket approval. It’s understandable that naming a son after the holy patriarch Abraham is laudable, and weren’t Elijah and Moses spotted at the Transfiguration of Christ? But a namesake like Solomon might give parents pause. After all, his lusting after women and cozying up to idolatry justifiably ignited the Lord’s anger (1 Kings 11:1-9). So just use your common sense and consider the person’s life, legacy and associations.

More naming advice…

I’ve got lots of other posts to help you choose a good name!

The BEST and Most Comprehensive Baby Name Books for Parents

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With twelve children in our family, my husband and I have had ample reason to consult baby name guides over the years. Here is a round-up of our favorites, both in print and online.

Name Your Baby by Lareina Rule (the author’s name means “the queen”) is a classic, first published in the 1970’s. It includes the origins, meanings, nicknames and namesakes for thousands of names. A very popular book for its time, Rule’s baby name guide sold over two million copies. The first half contains female names, the second male, and the intro is a delightful and clever read with many useful naming tips. It’s available on Kindle, but if you’d like to get your hands on a used paper copy, be sure to look for very good or better condition because you’ll reach for this one a lot! The bonus baby “personality horoscope” is, of course, all in fun, and an amusing relic from the 70’s.

Best Baby Name Book has been updated a couple of times, but I still enjoy Lanky’s original version for its humor and advice, along with thousands of baby names. It’s got a good mix of classic, popular and highly unusual and is available in an affordable and easy-to-read paperback format.

Baptismal and Confirmation Names first published in 1935 by Benziger Brothers, the original was hardbound in navy blue cloth with gold lettering (I have two copies of it and share it often with new mothers!). You can sometimes find vintage copies of this lovely old book on Ebay, but there’s also a softcover reprint available on Amazon. Author Edward F. Smith created this work because “It is the desire of the Church that at baptism and at confirmation her children receive the names of Saints.”

Whether you accomplish this through the first or middle name (or both) Smith’s book assists by listing alphabetically all known saints with their Latin and modern equivalents. It hasn’t been updated (obviously) but it’s chock full of beautiful names and variations you’ve probably never heard of. Our parish priest recommended this book to me; he consults it so that during a baptism in the traditional rite, he can look up the baby’s name in Latin. In the back you’ll also find a daily calendar of feasts and patron saints.

The Baby Name Wizard goes beyond your average baby name book with sibling recommendations, name categories, and even regional maps that track usage and popularity. It’s a novel and scientific way to look at choosing one of the most important aspects of your child’s life.

The International Baby Name Book offers ideas and inspiration based on different countries, cultures and languages. Included are detailed meanings and origins so that you can carefully choose a name with deep cultural significance. My personal favorites are the Nordic and Russian names!

Beyond the Books: Some Fun Baby Name Websites

Nameberry quickly gained a following at its onset for being a serious and thorough research hub for baby names. Plug in a name and you’ll be treated not only to the usual meanings, nicknames and origins, but full articles in many cases that give a fascinating history and anecdotal stories to really flesh out the name. Which is wonderful for parents who want a name that’s got a story behind it.

Just as an example, here’s what you get when you pull up Kyler, which is a pretty new name but has a great backstory and rich historical roots.

Bounty has a fun random name-generating tool; choose from girl, boy or gender-neutral if you don’t know the sex.

My advice is to avoid sites like The Bump and BabyCenter as they are full of ads and trackers.

Social Security Administration is an official website of the United States government, but it’s not as dry as other sites, offering baby name trends, historical rankings, and useful advice and tools for navigating the social security system.

Here are more of my blog posts on choosing great names!

 

 

 

 

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Creating a Peaceful Home: What to Keep, What to Fix, and What to Give Away

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Every house has a season when it feels easy to love. Then life changes a little. Closets fill. Repairs wait their turn. The room that used to work for toddlers now has to work for school bags, muddy shoes, pets, hobbies, guests, and everything else a family carries through the door.

A home can still be a good home and feel heavier than it used to. That doesn’t mean you’ve failed at homemaking. It means it may be time to look around with fresh eyes and make a few honest decisions.

What to Keep: The Things That Still Serve Your Family

Start with what’s working. There’s no prize for clearing out things your family still uses and loves.

Maybe it’s the old table where everyone ends up after dinner, even when there are cleaner places to sit. Maybe it’s the basket by the door that keeps shoes from wandering all over the house. Maybe it’s the blanket, chair, shelf, or corner that quietly makes the day run better.

Those pieces matter because they support real life. Keep the items and routines that make your home easier to live in, warmer to come back to, or calmer during the busiest parts of the day.

The question doesn’t have to be complicated: Does this still serve our family now? If the answer is yes, let it stay without guilt.

What to Fix: The Problems That Affect Daily Life

Some repairs can wait. Others deserve attention because they affect safety, health, comfort, or the way your family functions day to day.

A squeaky cabinet can probably sit on the list a little longer. A leak under the sink, a broken lock, a soft spot in the floor, or a heating and cooling problem should move closer to the top. These are the fixes that protect your family and keep small problems from becoming expensive ones.

There are also seasons when the repair list grows beyond what a family can reasonably handle. When every fix seems to uncover another problem, it can help to learn what other options look like through A List Properties before sinking more time and money into a house that no longer fits your life.

A wise repair should bring more stability to your household, not more strain.

What to Stop Fixing: The Projects That Keep Coming Back

Some projects are sneaky. They look small at first, then somehow keep eating weekends, paychecks, and patience.

Paint can make a room feel fresher, but it won’t fix a problem hiding behind the wall. Storage bins can bring quick order to a messy corner, but they won’t help much if the real issue is holding onto things your family no longer needs. And while a temporary patch can be useful for a while, it’s worth asking whether it’s solving the problem or simply giving it more time to return.

Before you spend money on another temporary fix, pause and look for the pattern. Is this project making life better, or is it only quieting the problem for a little while?

In rooms where leaks, dampness, or water damage keep returning, moisture and mold prevention should come before cosmetic updates. The goal is not to fix every corner of the house at once. It’s to put your energy where it actually protects your home and family.

What to Release: Clutter, Guilt, and Old Expectations

Most home resets begin with things you can touch: boxes, clothes, toys, papers, dishes, tools, decorations. But the harder clutter is often emotional.

Sometimes it’s baby clothes that feel hard to part with, even though they’ve been packed away for years. Sometimes it’s craft supplies from a hobby that no longer fits your life. Sometimes it’s a piece of furniture you keep working around simply because it was given to you, and letting it go feels unkind. If you homeschool, it’s especially crucial each year to decide what to keep, what to fix and what to release.

Letting something go doesn’t erase its value. It simply means your home has limited space, and your family’s current needs deserve room.

Release the idea that every room has to look finished. Release the pressure to explain every choice to someone else. Release the old version of your home that worked beautifully in a different season, but no longer matches the way your family lives now.

A peaceful home has room to breathe.

When the House Itself Feels Like the Heavy Thing

Sometimes the hardest truth is that the house itself has become part of the weight.

Maybe the layout no longer works. Maybe stairs have become a problem. Maybe the yard takes more time than you have. Maybe the repairs, taxes, commute, or monthly costs keep pulling energy from the people inside the home.

That kind of decision can feel tender. A house can hold birthday mornings, holiday meals, quiet prayers, hard conversations, and years of ordinary family life. Those memories matter. They just don’t have to keep your family stuck in a place that no longer serves you well.

If you’re unsure, walk through each room slowly. Notice what feels useful, what feels neglected, and what feels like a burden. Even small habits that help you keep your home reasonably clean can make it easier to see the bigger picture with a calmer mind.

Start With One Honest List

You don’t need a whole-house plan by Saturday. Start with one piece of paper and three columns: keep, fix, and release.

Write down whatever stands out without expecting yourself to fix the whole house in one afternoon. After that, choose one manageable step. Clear a shelf, schedule a repair, donate the item that’s been waiting by the door, or start the conversation your family has been putting off.

The goal is not a perfect home. It’s a home that gives more than it takes, with less pressure, more breathing room, and a clearer sense of what matters now.

 

Guest author: Jason Dunlap

6 Completely Unique Ways to Celebrate Mother’s Day

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When it comes to Mother’s Day gift-giving, I like to changes things up from year to hear. Sometimes we have my mother (or mother-in-law) for dinner or eat at a restaurant. The sky’s the limit with gifts – anything your mother will enjoy is on the table! But if you’re looking for something really different this May, here are a few new inspirations.

Mindful, Yet Indulgent Treats

If you’d like to give the gift of sweets, but are looking for more thoughtfully-sourced ingredients, consider Alter Eco’s chocolate bars, Truffle Thins, and melt-in-your-mouth truffles They are crafted with rich, organic chocolate (made with real cocoa butter), so they don’t just taste better – they are better for the ones you love.

For the mother who loves cookies but might be a on a special diet, look no further than Eban’s Bakehouse Gluten-Free Cookies. She won’t need to fuss with grocery shopping, mixing bowls and a hot oven; Eban delivers homemade taste and texture in satisfying, gluten-free varieties like Crispy Pecan Shortbread and White Chocolate Cherry Oatmeal. My most favorite of all is Cranberry Walnut Coconut. If you do want to try your hand at baking, Eban does offer a popular Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour   Paired with Big Tree Farms’ Regenerative Organic Certified Coconut Sugars,. your mother can make homemade treats with better-for-you ingredients.

Showstoppers

I love it when my children put on a “show” for us. Sometimes they even print up little tickets for admission!

Here are a few ways to entertain:

  • Put on a short skit
  • Dress up in funny costumes and do 1 scene from your favorite comedy
  • Recite poetry
  • Have everyone create a limerick and read them all out loud
  • Stand-up comedy
  • A family game show
  • Dance!

Outdoor Activities

For the more active and outdoorsy types, nature will call and that means backyard games, sports and wild adventures!

  • Go on a garden tour
  • Go bowling as a family
  • Visit a special zoo or sanctuary
  • Play pickleball, tennis or other favorite sports at the park

Here’s a companion gift: the Heart of a Mother travel cup from the Daughters of Mary:

Create Something Together

There are many projects that you can either make for your mother by hand, or craft together:

  • Decorate a t-shirt or tote
  • Floral arrangements
  • Jewelry making
  • Attend a craft workshopt

Visit sites that are meaningful to the family – your mother’s mother, etc and attend church to start the day out prayerfully and intentionally

The Gift of Art

“A thing of beauty is a joy forever”

Give the gift of original art!

Chosen Path, original oil by Susan Poitevin – my mother!

Photos are Forever

There’s nothing we mothers love better than pictures of our family! Here are a few neat gift ideas:

  • Treat your mother to a family photo shoot.
  • Create a photo book for the coffee table.
  • Create a photo mug or other customized photo gift.
  • Buy a locket with a picture of her mother inside.

Share your best Mother’s Day gift ideas and activities in a comment below!