7 Quick Takes Friday - February 13

1. Just as I woke up this morning, I could hear the sing-song call of a bird outside. It's been a LONG time since I heard a bird in Wisconsin. I've seen them, yes, but the kind that stick around in winter don't do the happy calls and chirping in the morning such as the one I just heard. It excites me because I want to think what I heard is a harbinger of spring, but I'm not that stupid. Winter "officially" has over a month to go here, and let's face it - in Wisconsin, the "feel" of winter goes beyond March 21 for a while, anyway. We could still get another foot of snow here easily. But let's hope not.

2. We are leaving for a one-week trip this weekend. I'm stressed out about packing. Which stresses my husband out. And it happens almost every time we go anywhere, even if it's only for the weekend. See, I'm a perfectionist about packing, preparing for trips, and having the house ready when we leave. I blame my Mother for all of it. She was the same way when I was growing up and I despised her for it. I SWORE it was not going to be like that when I was an adult. Yeah, well, we all know how those promises turn out! One of the aspects that gets me the most twisted is that I want the house to be clean and presentable when we leave. One reason is that someone always has to come in to take care of our cats, and I can't have my house messy or unkempt because of that. The other reason (blame it on Mom) is that I like to come home to a clean house. Oh, that drove me crazy as a kid. I remember thinking "Cripes! Why are we cleaning if we're not going to be here to use a clean house?" Now I understand. So, for me, packing takes on double-stress because it includes cleaning the house. And remembering to water the plants before we go. And stopping the mail at the post office. And letting the neighbors know we are out of town, And.....

3. A friend of mine went to World Youth Day in Australia last year. I just finally got to see some pictures of her excursion on her Facebook page. While there, she visited some church where this portrait of Mary and the child Jesus was on display:

This is "Our Lady of the Southern Cross," which was commissioned for World Youth Day. I'm showing it here because it's new to me and I think it's an interesting modern interpretation.

4. Yesterday I wrote a post about how disgusted I am that millions of women all choose the SAME wedding gown these days - the strapless wedding gown. I wrote about it here, and already I am encouraged by the comments I've received. I was pretty mean and direct in what I wrote, but I'm glad to know that others are sick of seeing the same thing too. It's just getting boring.

5. Earlier this week, I asked for recommendations here on my blog for interesting Catholic places to visit in St. Louis and Kansas City. I got lots of good answers, and in receiving those answers, something occurred to me - I could never ask the same thing if I was a Protestant. In the Catholic world, there are shrines and grottoes and cathedrals and historic churches and religious chapels all over the place, and they are mostly open every day, all day. There is living history in nearly every major city, in the form of places where a saint or a famous priest or nun lived, died, or did something amazing in God's service. In other words, there's always something Catholic to discover, even if it's just one lone church where the Holy Sacrament is exposed for adoration. The Catholic Church is always waiting for you, calling you in somewhere, even if only for a few minutes, to gather some grace and alone time with God.

6. I keep having this recurring thought about Facebook, one that I've been afraid to say out loud, but I'm just gonna do it: Has it occurred to anyone else but me - that is, anyone who's an adult - that alot of time on Facebook is spent gratuitously complimenting other people on the pictures of their kids that they post? And in doing so, is that ALL connecting with old friends from high school and college is about? Just wondering.

7. I am reading a book right now by Father Kentenich, the founder of the Schoenstatt movement. It's blowing my mind! It may be the most moving book I have ever read. I have to admit that my being so wowed by what I'm reading must mean the Holy Spirit called me to read it? When I say wowed, I mean that light bulbs are going on in my head and I'm being convicted of sin and that I also feel hope - all at the same time. Anyway, we go to a Schoenstatt group once a month, learning about the Schoenstatt "Covenant of Love," which we hope to profess one day as a couple. If you are looking for a friendly, totally family-focused apostalate that is not as hardcore as like an Opus Dei or Regnum Christi, this just might be the ticket.