7 Quick Takes (two memes today)

Jennifer, from ConversionDiary.com invites to publish 7 mini posts each Friday...summing up our thoughts for the blogging week! Visit Jennifer from the link in my sidebar. Her blog is a place you'll want to visit more than once:)

QUICK TAKES:

1) I absolutely love going on dates with my husband. They are few and far between most times...and very simple in their themes...but OH HOW WONDERFUL just to take a ride in the car...share some laughs...dine out for lunch together or get some ice-cream or a cup of coffee...take a walk by the river...or EVEN run errands! (They seem so much less burdensome when we're TOGETHER!)

2) Three feet of snow is really fun to play in!!!! Yesterday, we all trudged out to the yard together (Daddy has a few days off for snow-comp time after all that hard plowing work) and we enjoyed the winter wonderland of our front yard! We played with the dogs...built a snowman...set up some forts and had a snowball fight...and then...my husband and I were invited by our Littles to go to "Imaginary Land"!!!!!! This was the BEST! We had to "enter" through a certain tree in the woods and we had to touch hands to make ourselves INVISIBLE (This is because we needed to stay hidden from the Eastern Oogies, who are apparently NOT good guys and were out to get us....and in fact, they DID show up...but we chased them away by drawing kisses and hugs in the snow with our "tornado sticks"!!!!) After making snow-angels, we headed back inside for some homemade hot cocoa (I passed of course, since I gave up hot drinks for Lent:)

3) Because of Winn Dixie...what a GREAT movie. This is one of those films that seem like just a sweet little story...all cute and fuzzy...right on the surface....but OH MY...there is so much DEPTH underneath the layers...this movie is FILLED with lessons on LOVE, COMPASSION, FORGIVENESS, BROTHERHOOD, and surrendering our own misery long enough to reach out to those around us...to share one another's burdens so that we may ALL lay our burdens to rest at the foot of the Cross. A BEAUTIFUL story of the whole family!!!

4) Although I am deeply saddened that the children in the foster care program of the Catholic Church in Washington DC (which has been serving in this capacity for more than 80 years) have had to be handed over to the county system, I admire and applaud Archbishop Donald Wuerl for upholding the beautiful Teaching of the Church where marriage is concerned and for ACTING as a man of principle and conviction according to his Faith. Washington DC has an impending same-sex marriage law...the Church was refused an exemption and would be forced to provide services to same-sex "couples" as well as possibly place children into the homes of such "couples". You may read more on this current news topic HERE. God bless the Archbishop and all of those who have the courage to follow GOD'S ORDAINED definition of MARRIAGE...even when doing so will thrust them into the face of persecution.

5) We have seen icicles going from the gutters of peoples' homes all the way to the ground this week!!!!! The scenes of this winter spectacular are simply AMAZING. I hear tell that there is yet MORE snow on the way this week...we shall see!

6) I love the slower pace of the Lenten Season. Because we are mindful to not be overly festive and we try to cut back on excessive dining, or sweets and treats...the weeks of Lent seem to take on a slower, more relaxed pace...one that invites us to sit at the feet of Our Lord...and just BE.
Can you even FATHOM what is was truly like for Mary and Martha? And yet He tells us, "Blessed are they who believe without seeing"....HE REMAINS... He is STILL in our midst...LENT helps me to recognize this and pay closer attention to all of the places that I see Him, feel Him, and hear Him. PREPARE MY HEART OH LORD!!!

7) Speaking of Lent, today is Friday. My older kids and husband will be serving at the Lenten Soup Supper at our parish and then attending the Stations of the Cross afterward. The younger children and I will do the Stations of the Cross for Children here at home. This is a lovely meditation, done in a style that helps to hold the attention of your youngest little ones. You can use the blog search bar in the sidebar of BENMAKESTEN...just type in "Children's Stations of the Cross" and you will find the posts that tell you how to make one of these kits. Reflecting upon Our Lord's Passion brings us closer to HIS HEART and enriches our journey as we walk in the desert with HIM for these 40 days.