7 Quick Takes

1.  I pay very little, okay, just about no attention to politics.  In general, I believe people who want to run our country have an agenda and want to promote it, not the common good.  However, it is interesting to see and sometimes read posts on Facaebook in regard to politics.  I am usually a bit dismayed, often surprised, but always left with something to think about, often about the person posting.  I keep meaning to learn, but the nastiness and lack of truth spewed forth makes me cringe, so I just withdraw into my bubble.  

2.  I am in planning mode for our faith formation program at work.  We begin classes the week of September 16, which is also Catechetical Sunday.  If only parents would plan with me by actually registering their children for classes.

3.  I am making some new clothes for my daughter for work.  Yes, she has a job, that will be discussed in #4.  At any rate, we went through patterns, choose fabric and got busy cutting.  I started with a skirt I've made before, more than once.  It took me 3 nights to make this skirt.  Way too much time.  First I cut it, then I began to sew and realized I had made a BIG mistake when I cut the pieces.  Basically I did not pay attention to the fact that there is a right and wrong side to fabric.  I mean, I've only been sewing for say...35 years.  So I call in my daughter and have her help me figure out the solution because I can't, for the life of me, figure out how to lay the pattern down on the fabric so the it will work.  It takes us 3 tries.  There are piles of discarded fabric pieces all over the floor, in separate piles so we don't confuse ourselves.  That's night #2.  Last night I decide to sew the front and back together and I am fighting again with this thing.  After 2 hours I finally have the front and back together.  The casing and then hem worked great!  Now it's up to her to put the elastic in.  She will be wearing this skirt once a week for the foreseeable future; even though we still haven't found a top for it.

4.  My wonderful daughter has a job as the assistant religious ed/youth program director at a local parish.  She starts next week.  I am very happy and proud of her.  The woman interviewd quite a few people for the job but the question, "where do you worship?" stumped them all.  Many thanks to those who facilitated the interview.

5.  I've decided that hell is a place a bad/little/no sleep.

6.  Going to a wedding shower tomorrow.  It is a Jack and Jill shower, only my Jack is not coming.  My daughter is though.  More female bonding for us!

7. Have you read the Year of Faith letter from Pope Benedict yet?  

More Quick Takes over at Conversion Diary!

Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone) - Chris Tomlin (with lyrics)

We all need to remember our chains are gone!

Talking Teleprompter

Reuters photo

Be a 3G Catholic

What is a 3G Catholic?  No, it's not a new phone network.  It is a Catholic who is wants to share the Gospel.  Read all about it here.

Year of Faith

A Year of Faith, Part 2 is posted over at the New Evangelizers site.  Be sure to take a look at all the great posts, not just mine.

A Child's Back to School Prayer

Dear God,

School is going to start and I am sad and happy about it.  Sad because summer is so much fun; sleeping late, going on vacation, playing and not having to wear school clothes.  But I am happy because I will see my school friends and make some new friends.  I am a little bit scared too; will the other kids like me?  Will my teacher be nice?  Will I be able to do a good job?  I know you are everywhere, God, so please help me every day to be a good student, to be nice to everyone in my class, and to have fun while I learn.  Thank you God for all the good things you give me.   I love you.  Amen. 

Daily Examen

A downloadable Daily Examen from Busted Halo.

7 Quick Takes

Let's see if I can finish this post in 20 minutes so I can be on time for my haircut.  It's 2:32. GO!

1. Got tickets this week to go see Il Volo, here's a sample.  My mom introduced me to them last year after seeing them on an Italian tv show.  They are unbelievable, considering they are teenagers!

2.  Our offices are almost back to normal.  My desk is now visible when you open the door to my office, which is a good thing so people know I am there!  I still need to hang pictures and such but it is shaping up quite well.

3.  I will be going shopping tomorrow at Hobby Lobby.  I've never been there but have been told it is much better than Michael's.  I have quite a few Pinterest projects to but for so it will be a fun day.

4.  Want to know how much my husband loves me?  He is going with me to Hobby Lobby!  Then, we are spending the night on the beach.  

5.  I am writing about the Year of Faith and catechesis on the New Evangelizers website.  Today I fought trying to write the post I thought was important only to have it fall flat.  Then, I went back to my original idea and it took almost no time at all.  Why do I fight with myself?  What can I do to learn to trust my instincts and stop second guessing myself?

6.  My daughter moved back home after leaving Australia a few weeks ago and she has a new job.  She will be an assistant youth minister at a near by parish.  It is strange to think that she is going to learn how to do what I did and do.  But fun to think about sharing plans and ideas with each other.  When she left home five years ago to college, she was a math major planning to become an oral surgeon.  Things change!

7.  I misplace my Magnificat on a regular basis.  I wonder if somehow I can get it on my Nook?

Okay, now to link up and done in less than 20 minutes.

Read more at Conversion Diary!

What I did at work today

You know when you think, "I can do this" and "it won't take long" about a work project which is an added nicety but not the focus of a program.  Yes, well, I spent hours today learning how to make a video with music for our Faith and Fun program.  I won't show it until October, so you'll need to look at it before then so I don't think I wasted an entire day.  Enjoy it! I Lift my Hands by Chris Tomlin will be our theme song for the year.  Seems appropriate.

Please excuse the opening title:( should read Faith, but I need to get ready for the evening events, so that's that!))

7 Quick Takes

It's First Friday and Adoration is on my mind so let's make that the theme!

1.  A video from Fr. Robert Barron

2.  Part of my talk on why you should go and pray: 

 A few years ago I was the director of religious education and one day we had the children scheduled to go to adoration.  One of the third grade boys came up to me and told me it had been a terrible day in school and he didn't want to go to class and just wanted to sit with me.  I told him that he was going to adoration and could talk to Jesus and that would make him feel much better than hanging out with me.  He was not convinced, but since he knew I wouldn't let him stay with me he grudgingly agreed.  When he came back he was all smiles!  He said : you were right, I talked to Jesus and now I feel much better.  Can we go to Adoration every week? 

3.  "When we go before the Blessed Sacrament, let us open our heart; our good God will open His. We shall go to Him; He will come to us; the one to ask, the other to receive. It will be like a breath from one to the other,"     - St. John Vianney

4.  Favorite Adoration images

5.  When I go to pray before the Blessed Sacrament, I have a little pattern I usually follow.  I pray the rosary or chaplet,  sit quietly, then I listen to a song by Fr. Stan Fortuna, "The Humility of God." 

These are the words:
Look at the humility of God

look at the humility of God
look at the humility of God
look at the humility of God

pour out yourself before Him
pour out yourself before Him

look at the humility of God
look at the humility of God
look at the humility of God
look at the humility of God

He who gave Himself completely waits for all of you
He who gave Himself completely waits for all of you

look at the humility of God
look at the humility of God
look at the humility of God
look at the humility of God

 At this point I am usually settled and can sit in silence, offering my prayers and listening.  It takes me a bit of time to really quiet my mind.  The most important thing I take away is peace.  Sometimes I don't accept the peace thought I believe that Jesus always offers it to me.

6.  #5 brings up a question, music or not in Adoration?  I bring my iPod and listen to very meditative type music, usually with words.  Other people like chant music which I'd like to try.  I know I don't like music the whole time I am there, so personal music, rather than piped in is my preference.  What works for you?

7.  I am also a big proponent of teaching children the beauty of Eucharistic Adoration.  I learned much of what I did from this site, Children of Hope  founded by Fr. Antoine Thomas.

For more, go visit Conversion Diary!

Year of Faith Website

The Vatican has set up a website devoted to the Year of Faith.  One section deals with what We Believe and on this page you can get to many Vatican documents, including Vatican II and Catechesis by Pope Benedict from his Wednesday audiences.  There is a wealth of information all in one place.  As the year progresses more information will be added.