7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol.7)

One

Today I let Emma put the library books in the outside book drop by herself while I stayed in the car.  I parked right in front of it and she only had to walk 3 feet away, so, ya know, it was safe and all.  Anyway, when she got back in the car she said, "That was so cool!"  It's the simple pleasures in life to notice.

Two

I fear I may be losing my ability to parallel park on a dime.  When we lived in Hoboken I could park my car with only 2 inches on either side on the left or the right side of a one-way street, first try.  Here in Ohio there isn't much need for parallel parking, so I'm out-of-practice.   Lately I've noticed that when I'm pulling into a regular spot I'm crooked and, worse, on the line!  It's outrageous!  This must be amended.  I think next time I'm out, I'm going over to the parallel parking practice area the driving school uses and I'm not leaving until I'm either motion sick or perfect, whichever comes first.

Three

At ice skating lessons the other day, my 4-year-old's teacher came over to speak to Kevin and me after class.  Since a week earlier I'd requested Renee be moved up to the next level, I thought she was coming to tell us that she was going to be moved back down.  What she said made my eyes well up with tears.  She said, " I just want to tell you that Renee is trying so hard.  She does everything I ask of her and she is so sweet.  Usually the only time I talk to parents is when there are discipline issues, so I wanted to take this opportunity to tell you: Renee is a pleasure to have in class.  I see her skating in the 2018 Olympics, she's just that talented."  Ok, so she didn't really say the part about Olympic talent, it was more implied. Still, those tears were tears of pride in my daughter.

Four

I've been reading No Turning Back: A Witness to Mercy by Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC.  I'm just about finished with it and if I didn't already know that the hopeless, pathetic wreck of a drug-addicted boy would turn out to be a Marian priest, I would never believe it.  Page after page I read of his despicable, self-destructive behavior thinking there is NO WAY this kid will ever become the man on the cover.  It's inconceivable!  Well, after reading this book through to the part where he is ordained (I've still got a couple of chapters to go), it's true.  It's incredible.  If this priest isn't the poster boy for Divine Mercy, I  don't know who is.  I've heard Fr. John Corapi's conversion story and when he asked why God would choose him, his superior would tell him that God looked around and couldn't find anyone worse.  Let me tell you, this kid would've given Fr. Corapi a run for his money!  This is a fantastic story.  If you think you or someone you love is beyond hope, beyond forgiveness, beyond  the mercy of God and can never, ever be redeemed, read this book and take comfort in the fact that God's mercy is there for you and beyond - way beyond- what you imagined possible in your wildest dreams!

Five

Our second annual summer tradition of Ice Cream Sundays is rapidly drawing to a close.  Last year, Kevin came up with the idea of traveling around town to the various ice cream shops every Sunday in the summer.   This year we continued the tradition with a new twist.  Instead of going out, which is time-consuming and expensive, we decided to have Homemade Ice Cream Sundays.  So armed with 4 ice cream cookbooks from the library, I have made: mint chocolate chip, cookies and cream, chocolate marshmallow, salted caramel, roasted banana, backyard mint chocolate chip, backyard lavender, chocolate fudge swirl, chocolate peanut butter and, this weekend, cheesecake ice cream.  Our tradition ends Labor Day weekend which means I have 2 more Sundays to go.  What do you think I should make?

Six

When ice cream Sundays end, I'm thinking that the fall should be all about pie.  The Sunday after Labor Day through Thanksgiving will be a glorious crust-making, pie-baking season.  Of course I need a catchy name.  Does anyone have any ideas?  Maybe, I'll ship a pie to the winner.  (Internal dialogue) Hmm, that would be cool. My first contest.  I wonder how to go about shipping pie through the mail.  Might be tricky.  Oh, well!  I'll take any suggestions on that too, if anyone has some.

Seven

I wrote a little piece that gave me a good chuckle yesterday.  I don't know if anyone reads my blog other than the things I post on Faith and Family Live and Conversion Diary, so I will tell you about it here.  It's a bit of a confession entitled Mary Comes Clean, Sort Of.  If you have time, I'd love it if you'd stop by and read it. And if you'd like, you can share your own shortcomings!  We're all friends here.

Don't forget:  Ice cream suggestions, Pie Sunday name and how to ship a pie.  Love to you all.  God bless your week.

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