7 Quick Takes (two memes today)

What do you get when you take a former atheist-turned Catholic who's a great writer with a delightful sense of humor?
You get a GREAT BLOG called ConversionDiary.com and a lovely hostess named Jennifer who would love you to click the sidebar link on my page and visit her today!
Post 7 mini posts to sum up your blogging thoughts for the week!


Judy's Quick Takes for March 26, 2010:

1) I've heard SO many people say that this has been their TOUGHEST Lenten Journey ever!
I think I would agree...it seems that a great number of people (including myself) TRULY wanted to go out into the desert to meet with Christ this year...and God honored that desire by pruning, and teaching, and guiding, and ministering to His Children. We're not there yet...but we are persevering! HANG IN THERE! You're going to make it and OH THE REJOICING YOU WILL SHARE COME EASTER MORN!!!!

2) Just a word of reminder and encouragement that OUR GOD is greater than the government.
I know this past week has been very difficult and disappointing to many of us...but we MUST keep our HOPE and TRUST and JOY in the Lord! It is IN HIS HANDS and the victory will BE HIS in the end!

3) Returning to the Lenten thoughts for a moment: I have been so inspired by and proud of my kids in seeing how serious they have taken their Lenten promises and how they have not needed the reminders of their parents to keep their sacrifices and strive to find time for activities that reflect the solemn state of their spirits. They have truly made their journeys "their own" and they chose offerings which weren't all that easy! (i.e. no eating between meals, no playing board games, no sweets or snacks, no apples, etc...) God bless CHILDREN in their desire to grow in the Lord!!!!

4) Let's get back to READING!!!!!!! I have been utterly SHOCKED lately at the number of young people who tell me that they "hate" to read or that they don't have a "favorite book"...although it has made me grateful that my own kids enjoy this activity (Mary Helen has been known to read a 200 paged book in less than 28 hours!) it still leaves me saddened that so many kids today seem to be missing out on the wonderful world of reading! Choose books as gifts! Invite the kids in your life to gather 'round you for a read-aloud. Encourage them to write a book themselves!
If you'd like some great book ideas and a peek at some of our favorites, you can find some HERE (for moms) and HERE. (for kids)


5) I was very moved recently when Michelle (from Lost in the Prairies-Found by God blog) shared with me a little about her church's communion practice. Her faith family receives a symbolic communion (as opposed to Catholic belief of Transubstantiation: true, miraculous, physical presence of the Body and Blood of Christ) and they begin ONE WEEK AHEAD OF TIME to prepare for this when it is offered! ONE WEEK AHEAD! I can' t tell you how this moved my heart and I spent DAYS thinking of it and reflecting upon this...these beautiful people, celebrating a "meal of commemoration" seek to prepare their souls A WEEK AHEAD...and we Catholics, who have the TRUE PRESENCE have watered down our preparation to a mere ONE HOUR FASTING before receiving the Holy Eucharist! Well...I THANK my friend Michelle...she has humbled me and taught me a great lesson...I now begin to think of holy Communion on Monday mornings and pray throughout the week for God to prepare me for the GREAT GIFT!

6) Makes me think of something I once heard a Protestant minister say on the radio...he said, "If I truly believed what Catholics SAY they truly believe...then I would be CRAWLING up that aisle on my hands an knees with my FACE TO THE FLOOR each week". Something to ponder isn't it?

7) So...any good gardening tips for me? I read about a woman who lines her trench with banana peels for planting tomatoes...she says that it is the BEST fertilizer and that you will have the best crop of tomatoes ever! Anyone ever try that? We have been planting our indoor seeds and preparing the soil to get our ground crops in: lettuce, garlic, onions...I'd LOVE to have handy tips from all of you expert homesteaders out there!