7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 118)

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Anniversary No. 9 Kevin and I are still awed and amazed at all that God has done in our lives since we first met and became friends back when I was just sweet sixteen.  I guess it makes sense that I can’t imagine my life without Kevin since he’s been an integral part of it for so long.  A new friend, a best friend, a boyfriend, and for the past nine years my husband.  Wow!  I never in a million years would have thought we’d be where we are now: LAUGHING TOGETHER, wanting most to do the Lord’s will, and glorify Him through the gift, the covenant, the Sacrament of our marriage.  I love you, Babe, and there’s no doubt: you’re still the one! 

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Harry Potter’s Birthday The real Harry Potter was born on Labor Day weekend in 1927, and he passed away on Memorial Day weekend in 2005.  Kevin’s father was a very loving, caring man.  He was an incredibly devoted husband, father, grandfather, uncle, neighbor, and friend. Going with Harry to visit Joyce (his wife and Kevin’s mom) was when I witnessed one of the most loving encounters I’ve ever seen between a husband and wife.  Joyce was living in a nursing home because she was in the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s.  Harry went every day to see her.  He’d feed her lunch, trim her nails, change her, and was so incredibly gentle and tender, it would melt your heart.  All of this, and Joyce was too sick to speak or open her eyes.  The only way I knew for sure that she knew he was there was by the power of his love.  We love you and miss you, Harry!  Thank you for bringing me even closer to your only son.

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Laid-off on Labor Day?! At some point we might be able to find it humorous that Kevin found out on Labor Day that he has been let go from the job (along with a slew of other people from a number of other sites that the company’s closing) but we’re not quite there, yet.  He’d been there for four and a half years when he got the call.  Fortunately, the supervisor is a friend who had the decency to wait until we were back from vacation to call and talk with him.  

     We have been talking about changes and being open to God’s will for our lives.  It’s a frequent discussion we have based on many different areas of our lives.  After hearing some of the things his nephews and cousins have been working on lately, Kevin’s been wondering if/when/where/how he’ll again be able to use the invention-rich, mechanically, and electronically-inclined parts of his brain.  He’s got some great ideas and too many skills in too many areas to put on a regular résumé.  He’s genuinely been asking the Lord what He wants him to do with the gifts and passion he’s been given.  We’d really appreciate your prayers as we continue listening to God and following where He leads us.  Please and thanks! 

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Haiti Rummage Sale This Saturday there is a very special event taking place at our church all the proceeds of which will go to our Haiti Twinning Ministry.  If you’re in town or thereabouts, come check it out.  They’ll have everything from furniture and housewares, bikes and books, clothes and toys on sale all under one roof.  Come one, come all this Saturday September 7, 2013 from 7:00am to noon at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church 4491 Springfield Road 
Glen Allen, Virginia 23060 (FYI, the people pictured here are extremely dedicated to this fundraiser and are really fun to be around.  Look for them Saturday doing it up!)

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Can We Talk Discernment? It occurred to me in writing about the Rummage Sale that it was after helping pack up and clean up following that event  some four years ago that John and I had our first heart-to-heart about vocation discernment.  I guess that makes this weekend another anniversary of sorts.  God has brought some really amazing people into our lives over the past four years. 

     We’ve been very blessed to be on part of the journey with two of our siblings in Christ and best friends as they prayerfully discerned the next step God was calling them to take towards their life-long vocations.  John just started his second year of seminary at St. Mary’s in Baltimore, Maryland, and Michele entered the cloistered monastery in Carmel, California known as the Carmelite Sisters by the Sea on August 6, 2013.  In some ways, it kind of feels like Kevin and I are empty nesters now.  I said to Kevin the other day that I wonder who else who is discerning God will put in our lives next.    

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Must Love Dance! I know something really inspires me when after 9+ hours of taking care of my three favorite cuties, two of whom are feeling sick and snotty, doing "We're going on Bear Hunt" full-out twice in addition to all the other typical running around, I have the energy to move and dance throughout most of a movie (Step Up 2). My youngest sister's the one who's a senior dance major at Ohio State University, but let me tell you she's not the only one who looooves to dance!
    

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Prayer Warriors Unite! Last Friday, I received a text from my spiritual director requesting major prayer cover for a Cursillista named Joan who is in critical condition.  Please join me in praying for Joan, her family, and all who are suffering in mind, body, and/or spirit as well as those who care for and about them.  (Just so you know, I’m always open to receiving prayer requests, so send them along.)  

                  

Check out Jen Fulwiler’s tradition of 7 Quick Takes Friday at her tremendously popular blog Conversion Diary.

7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 114)

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On that farm, he had a…I’ve been the lead teacher at school for a Nature Camp held for students who are between the ages of 2-6 this week.  We did a number of fun activities including: singing various songs such as “Old MacDonald Had a Farm,” reading some educational books, making a mobile from a branch, twine, wooden beads, and shells, using little bits of scrap paper and Modge Podge to decorate wooden frog shapes to which we added googly eyes on the front and a magnet on the back, taking a walk during which we collected items from nature that are no longer living in our paper lunch bags.  (Don’t worry.  That’s not where our lunches were.)  It was nice to be back at school with lots of kids and some really amazing adults.  Here’s a video clip involving Old MacDonald which Kevin told me about that made me laugh:

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Is It Really Love? The lyrics of a French song I really like “Savoir Aimer” by Florent Pagny have been going through my head lately when I think about what genuine love is.  True love gives without wanting or asking for anything in return, even the hope of being loved.  There are no strings attached or conditions that need to be met in order for the giver to give love freely.  It’s just there.  No matter what.  It’s patient, steadfast, persistent, and doesn’t diminish or run out.  If it is even within my capability to give others such self-effacing, sacrificial love as this, it is only because this is the love the Lord gives to me, to each one of us every day.

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Still a Bit Surreal Kevin and I have now gone out twice on his motorcycle.  Here’s photographic proof that I’ve been on the bike:

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God’s Still Working Miracles Read this miraculous true story by USA TODAY’s Madeline Eversley about how a priest no one has been able to identify interceded on behalf of  a 19 year old girl in a tragic car accident no one thought she’d make it out of alive.  

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Man to Man, Dad to Dad My father’s birthday has just passed and the anniversary of his death is tomorrow, August 10.  Around this past Father’s Day, I received a free copy of this book from Catholic Company, for reasons perhaps only the Holy Spirit can explain (I didn’t request it or order it), and though hesitant to read it and write a review, because I knew it would be a tough topic for me, I did read it, and this is my review...
I just read a book written by and for Catholic men called Man to Man, Dad to Dad: Catholic Faith and Fatherhood edited by Brian Caulfield, so I’ve been thinking about my own father and the role of fathers in general.  The funeral I attended recently for William Barrett Sr. reaffirmed that the best gift a father can give to his children are a dedication to the Lord that comes before all else, and a commitment to family that remains strong, loving, tried, and true... Read the rest here. 

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How to Save a Life A few weeks ago, I was inspired to watch the video to a song I’ve liked for quite a while.  I was surprised to discover the lyrics aren’t what I thought they were.  It’s amazing how one word changes everything.  Because of some of the experiences I’ve had in my life with family and friends, I thought that the chorus to "How to Save a Life" by The Fray was:

“Where did I go wrong?
I lost a friend
Somewhere alone in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
cause I know how to save a life.”  

The actual lyrics are: “had I known how to save a life.”  This deeply moving music video contains a message that can save the life of someone you love.  I invite you to watch, listen, and learn, so perhaps you’re less likely to find yourself in the position of regretting that you could have saved a life and didn't.

For more information on suicide prevention, check out this info-packed website for the signs that someone might be suicidal and tips on how to help them.  Don’t ignore them.  Seek help and support for your loved one as well as yourself.  Suicide prevention is everyone’s business!

    

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A Life-giving Birthday Gift Since my mom has learned and done so much over the years to help give people life, I figured a good present for her now that she is a grandma is Infant First Aid and CPR classes.  

     My mom’s been very involved in the respect life movement (from womb to tomb) for a number of years.  Among many other things, she has kept vigil with those who have lost their will to live, visited the sick and home-bound, given shelter to the homeless, fed the hungry, cared patiently and gently for those who are imminently dying, comforted those who are in mourning, prayed for an end to abortion, supported unwed mothers and helped them get the resources they need, fought doctors and anyone else who has refused to recognize the sanctity and dignity of every human life, shared the Gospel with others…

     Pretty much the only life-giving/saving activity I could think of to add to her repertoire is a couple courses on what to do in the event that a physical emergency arises in which she could be the one to keep her grandson or another young person alive.  I was impressed with the class I took through this company.  If you haven’t been trained in Infant or Adult First Aid and CPR or could use a refresher, I encourage you to check out Enjoy CPR.  

                  

Check out Jen Fulwiler’s tradition of 7 Quick Takes Friday at her tremendously popular blog Conversion Diary.

7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 66)

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Our Eighth Anniversary Kevin and I celebrated our eighth wedding anniversary. Wow! We've never been your typical couple, so of course our evening isn't likely to resemble that of other married couples. Read more here... 

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See where you rate. Last Sunday, Kevin was helping Carl and Jess get the girls out of the car and into a side door for Mass during a torrential downpour.  Kevin opened the van door, and Vivi greeted him with: “Hi Kevin! We're gonna see Trisha!”

 

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This Nanny’s New Groove Speaking of anniversaries, this is my eighth anniversary of being a nanny.  One week after Kevin and I got married, I began nannying for “my little guys,” and eight years later I begin my new schedule nannying three days a week for three adorable little girls (Vivi who’s 2.5 and her twin sisters Livia and Sophia who are 3 mos. old) on our eighth wedding anniversary.  I’ve helped take care of Vivi since she was a baby, and now I get to love on her and her sisters.     

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Haiti Rummage Sale On September 8, from 7:00 am - 12 noon, St. Michael Church will hold its annual rummage sale to benefit the Haiti Ministry. Donations for the sale will be accepted today Friday, Sept. 7, 2012, from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.

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Vocational discernment. This week actually has one more anniversary of sorts: the first heart-to-heart with our beloved brother John Baab over his vocational discernment took place three years ago the Saturday of the Haiti Rummage sale.  Where is he now?  At St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore, Maryland.  God’s timing often isn’t our timing, but it’s definitely the best timing!      

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“What does God want of us?” Kevin and I have been doing some discernment of our own, and I’ve done a four part series on our questions and prayers asking what the Lord wants of us.  To read it: click here.

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Oh my goodness!  This past Monday my youngest sister had as part of her Facebook status update: “That awkward moment when you are on a peaceful bike ride along the river and you pass a man wearing NOTHING but his sunglasses and his tennis shoes. WHY?!?!”  I had to laugh because it made me think of a similar story our cousin had told us many years ago about visiting the Berkeley campus and seeing two girls walking around holding hands and wearing nothing but socks, and as she put it "they looked as if they’d never seen a razor."  At the time we heard this, my sister was about six or seven, so it didn’t dawn on her that the two people in the story were naked except for their footwear and neither of them had shaved.  Later that afternoon when my young sister was retelling the story to someone else, she got the part right about them only wearing socks, but then she said, “and they looked like they’d never seen a raisin.”  Then after a brief moment, she added, “But I don’t know how she could tell.”  :)

Head over to Conversion Diary, to read Jen Fulwiler's wonderful tradition of 7 Quick Takes Friday.