Cleaning up a Mess

I honestly love to clean my house. Toilets, sinks, carpets, windows—I like to do it all. Well, except for one item. The one thing I do not want to clean is my microwave. I do everything I can to avoid cleaning that contraption. I bought a cover to set over the food while it is…

October 30, 20190Comments

Bycatherine@theridgeproject.com

yes and no people ron and catherine tijerina blog

Leadership Mental Health

Yes and No People in Your Life

Have you ever misjudged a situation and wished someone would have told you that you were wrong? Ron and I had an enjoyable experience of taking a boat out on a lake this past summer while we were camping. The pontoon was a top-of-the-line, brand new boat that was owned by the campground. We…

October 22, 20190Comments

Bycatherine@theridgeproject.com

Family Leadership

Showing up on Time

Having a husband in prison taught me a LOT about what is important in life. The lessons I learned while I was fighting for my family and marriage those 15 years created the foundation for our lives after Ron came home. Something I wasn’t expecting is that I would be applying those principles long after…

October 9, 20190Comments

Bycatherine@theridgeproject.com

Activities Leadership

How to Create and Achieve Your Goals

My first family goal was to get off welfare. Even as I write that goal down, I feel a little sadness that it took me hitting rock bottom to realize the importance of creating goals for my family. I never made a conscious decision to become a welfare recipient. It just happened when my family…

September 11, 20190Comments

Bycatherine@theridgeproject.com

bitterness couples catherine tijerina blog

Family Leadership

Why Complaining Breeds Bitterness

Why aren't you hanging your towel on the rack? Why can't you just throw your dirty clothes into the hamper that's 2 feet away? You always leave toothpaste in the sink. You never pick up your socks. Don't touch me right now, I am busy. Did you call the repairman? Did you stop and pick…

August 27, 20190Comments

Bycatherine@theridgeproject.com

Family Leadership

How to Connect with your Teenage Boys

Boys have feelings, too. The media’s message is that boys are destructive, uncaring, and sometimes just plain dumb. Our society is buying the lie that boys don’t have feelings and that lie is hurting our sons. Mom, you have a vital role in your son’s life. Boys need their dads to teach them how…

August 19, 20190Comments

Bycatherine@theridgeproject.com

Family Leadership

How I kept my children out of Prison

After Ron went to prison I became intensely aware that my children were more at risk of going to prison. It scared me. I never wanted to visit my child in prison. Not EVER. Every time I heard another statistic, the reality of the battle for my children’s future slapped me in the face. I…

August 15, 20190Comments

Bycatherine@theridgeproject.com

single mom buying a house catherine tijerina

Family Leadership

How to Buy a House While Your Husband is in Prison

Buying a house was the impossible dream for me when Ron went to prison. I was convinced that I would never be able to achieve the prestigious label of “homeowner.” I know some people CHOOSE to rent instead of buying a house, but I did not have a choice. I didn’t have the income, nor…

August 12, 20190Comments

Bycatherine@theridgeproject.com

Leadership Prison

10 Tips to getting a Job with a Felony

You might have heard that you won’t be able to get a job if you have a felony. Ridiculous! Of course you can find a job with felony! Your path to employment will be a little different than others, but there are many, many, many jobs available to you. You just have to know what…

December 11, 20180Comments

Bycatherine@theridgeproject.com

Family Leadership

How to connect your son with positive role models

Research tells us that sons need a father in their lives. The negative effects of father absence include a whole host of terrible outcomes for young boys. Just hearing these statistics causes fear to rise up inside of us. We know all too well that our sons are growing up without their fathers. I sat in…

October 25, 20180Comments

Bycatherine@theridgeproject.com