7 Quick Takes 3.15.13

1) I'm a little embarrassed at my lack of blogging lately. You'd be surprised to see how many drafts are open right now. The ideas are swirling around in my head, but the words aren't making it out of my head onto the screen. I feel like I need a writing prompt and a deadline, like in college. The closer the deadline got, the faster the words would fly.

2) Habemus Papam! It was so special to watch the white smoke, listen to the announcement of our new Pope, and hear his first words and receive his blessing. Watching it live with Lucas was something that I will remember forever, and I hope he will too. Here's why I'm so excited about our new Pope, not only for the Church but for the whole world:

Words of Christ Stefanick, shared by Lighthouse Catholic Media on Facebook:
"Blown away by what I'm reading about this guy...
Everyone who claims being in Church leadership is all about living a life of excess is gonna have the wind taken out of their sails.
Every far "lefty" who who claims you have to depart from strong doctrinal teaching to be inclusive and loving is gonna have the wind taken out of their sails.
& every far "righty" who lacks mercy and would use doctrine as a battle axe rather than an invitation to the love of Christ is gonna have the wind taken out of their sails too.
Like Jesus...I think we're gonna have a lot of groups who won't know what to do with this guy...
He is EXACTLY what the Church needs right now."

3) Basketball weekend was fun. The boys liked the "kids part" (the March Madness Experience), and I enjoyed watching some quality high school basketball. Next up is making it to one hockey game before the season is over, and then on to baseball.

4) This Sunday we'll be heading downtown for the St. Patrick's Day parade, then coming home to a pot full of simmering corned beef and cabbage. It's one of my favorite meals of the year, and super cheap. How else do you eat cabbage? At 17 cents a pound I feel like I should buy more than one head. PS Organic red delicious apples are 88 cents a pound at Kroger right now!

5) Lucas had the idea a couple nights ago to have a puppet show. He grabbed some stuffed animals from his room and said they needed sticks. We attached spatulas to their backs with Scotch tape. They had fun.

6) Today a relic of St. Mary Magdalene is at our parish. It's actually a part of her tibula (leg bone). From 7am to 7pm there are four Masses, Confessions available most of the day, special talks and prayers, and Living Stations of the Cross performed tonight by our junior high students. This will be the second relic Lucas and I have venerated; the first was Blessed Mother Teresa's sandals and some other items. It was really moving and I'm looking forward to being in the presence of a saint who was so close to Jesus Himself. We'll be headed there as soon as Steve gets home from work, and we'll cap off the night with the parish fish fry.

7) You know how you can buy laminated educational placemats for kids with things like the alphabet, maps, and presidents on them? What if I made some for Catholic kids that could be changed for the liturgical season or other topics like Grace Before & After Meals, the Seven Sacraments, etc.? Would you be interested? I'm looking into how to get the harder plastic laminating so they are more durable. Don't steal my idea now!

Have a Happy St. Patrick's Day and don't forget to celebrate St. Joseph and Pope Francis on Tuesday. :) Head on over to Conversion Diary to read more Quick Takes!