seven quick takes

Seven Quick Takes

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7 Quick Takes

Christmas Caroling Edition

I’m linking up with Seven Quick Takes at This Ain’t the Lyceum for some thoughts about Christmas caroling.

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The darkness descends early this time of year, and I confess to dreading leaving the house at any time after 5:00 p.m. But, caroling is traditionally a nighttime thing, so I braved the darkness twice in three days for two caroling events, one hosted by my daughters’ 4H Club and another by my son’s Cub Scout Pack. We visised an assisted living center and a nursing home.

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Seven Quick Takes

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7 Quick Takes

Massachusetts Vacation Edition

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By chance, I finished listening to the audiobook version of The Mayflower Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse just before we left Hershey for Boston. We hadn’t even planned on visiting Plymouth Rock, but it ended up we did. I had a greater appreciation for the pilgrims and their sacrifices than I would have had otherwise. I needed a bit of a refresher. The rock isn’t much to look at, but it’s a quaint town.

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Seven Quick Takes

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7 Quick Takes

Summer Garden Tour Edition

We buried my mother this week and returned home to what seemed like endless days of rain, gloom, and flash flooding. And yet, the sun rises. The flowers bloom. The butterflies flit from flower to flower.

Life is good.

God is good.

Our garden brings no small measure of unadulterated joy.

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Flowers 1 Continue reading →

Seven Quick Takes

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7 Quick Takes

North Myrtle Beach Vacation Edition

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It’s not the destination; it’s the journey. That’s what they say when they want you to focus on the beauty in front of you, not what’s ahead of you. Our journey started at midnight, after no sleep. I haven’t pulled an all-nighter since I was an elementary school-aged kid at a slumber party ordering prank call pizzas for cute boys. But, with a few little cat naps, I managed. Dawn came somewhere in southern Virginia while my family slept. There were no accidents, no moving violations, and only one vomiting incident, so I consider it a great success.NMyrtle1 Continue reading →

Seven Quick Takes

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7 Quick Takes

Fostering Friendship Edition

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For the last several years, I’ve become acutely aware of the dearth of friendships in my life. For that reason, when I caught wind of The Friendship Project: The Catholic Woman’s Guide to Making and Keeping Fabulous, Faith-Filled Friends by Michele Faehnle and Emily Jaminet last year, I was eager to read it.

If you haven’t gotten a copy, I recommend it (and you can read my review here). There’s plenty of practical suggestions, but to be honest, I need to go back and make a list of baby steps to get started.

The Friendship Project was a catalyst for thinking more about friendships and how they arise and where they are missing in my family’s lives. This post is less about my friendships, but about helping my children foster friendships. Continue reading →

Seven Quick Takes

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7 Quick Takes

My Childhood Picture Book Favorites Edition

I write frequently about my current favorite books, including those I read to and with my children.  However, I don’t think I’ve ever listed MY favorite books from my own childhood – until now!

Unlike my current home, my childhood home didn’t hold a ton of books. I remember being read to from a very small stash and from the books I checked out of the school library. And, my mom was very indulgent with my requests from the Scholastic Book flyer. Continue reading →

Seven Quick Takes

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7 Quick Takes

Seven Most Recent Reads Edition

As if I didn’t blather enough about books already, right? Between An Open Book (here and at Catholic Mom), Sabbath Rest Book Talk with Erin McCole Cupp and Rebecca Willen, and my Relevant Fiction Reviews posts, you’d think I’d be covered on the book front. But, no, I’ve read such a strong string of books – fiction and nonfiction – that I thought they’d earned their own post. Here are the seven books I’m reading or have recently finished, in order from currently reading to already read. Continue reading →