Goodbye, Papa

Thank you for your wisdom.

Thank you for your humility.

Thank you for your guidance.

Thank you for your prayers.

 Human life is a journey. Towards what destination? How do we find the way? Life is like a voyage on the sea of history, often dark and stormy, a voyage in which we watch for the stars that indicate the route. The true stars of our life are the people who have lived good lives. They are lights of hope. Certainly, Jesus Christ is the true light, the sun that has risen above all the shadows of history. But to reach him we also need lights close by—people who shine with his light and so guide us along our way. Who more than Mary could be a star of hope for us? With her “yes” she opened the door of our world to God himself; she became the living Ark of the Covenant, in whom God took flesh, became one of us, and pitched his tent among us (cf. Jn 1:14). - Spe Salvi

Thank you, Papa, for being a "light of hope" for me and for the whole Church. 

The Lord bless you and keep you: The Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace. - Numbers 6:24-26

All images from Wikipedia.

7 Quick Takes Friday - February 15, 2013

--- 1 ---

I'm so excited. It's MYSTERY DATE night! That's where one of us plans a date and the other has no idea what we're doing or where we're going until we get there. Collin's surprised me twice with mystery dates (last Mother's Day he surprised me with a night at Talking Stick Resort; last September he surprised me with dinner out and tickets to a live Broadway tour of Les Miserables). Tonight it's my turn. Muwahahahaha. He knows we have a date tonight, but not where we're going. As he reads my blog, I won't share the details right now.

--- 2 ---

This weekend we're considering going to Flagstaff so the kids can play in snow. All of us have been sick this week so we're mulling the idea of cancelling, but I think we might go anyway and just let the kids see the snow instead of play in it.

--- 3 ---

I was surprised and sad to learn about Pope Benedict XVI's resignation, but I understand that his health has deteriorated. I'll miss Papa Ratzi. Have you seen the applause he received at his last Papal Mass, on Ash Wednesday? What a beautiful moment. And then, in true Holy Father style, he simply says, "Thank you. Now let us return to prayer. I love him so much.

--- 4 ---

Perhaps it's petty of me, but I was thinking the other day how nice it would be if the new Pope was African. That way, whenever anti-Catholics start spewing their twaddle, we could just look at them and say, "You're just saying that because you're racist." And given that's the invective they usually hurl at anyone who dares to criticize Obama, how could they deny it?

--- 5 ---

My grandmother flies in for her annual visit on Thursday! I can't wait to see her.

--- 6 ---

That was some meteorite in Russia! Collin told me he heard on the news that some Russians were joking about it; they said the meteorite was supposed to hit on December 21 for the end of the world, but the Russian mail is so slow that it look longer.

--- 7 ---

(I'm stealing Kara's 7th Quick Take today, because I'm short on time...) 40 to Forever is well underway and today is for Olga! Check this sweetie out and look at all the great prizes you could win by helping! http://fortytoforever.com/2013/02/15/day-3-olga-for-the-abell-family/

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

My Thoughts on the Pope's Resignation

...summed up in meme form.

7 Quick Takes Friday - February 8, 2013

--- 1 ---

These are going to be very quick Quick Takes because my children are demanding to be fed. Apparently they expect supper every night.

--- 2 ---

I put my shirt on inside out this morning and didn't notice until about an hour after I arrived at work. *facepalm*

--- 3 ---

Elanor was supposed to have a sleepover at her friend Katie's house tonight, but Katie came down with strep throat so we had to cancel. :( On the up side, it means that she and Collin can attend the "Daddy-Daughter Dance" that her school is hosting tonight.

--- 4 ---

Gabriel is walking!!! At 14 months, he is my earliest walker. He's still a little unsteady solo, but he loves pushing our recycling bin and laundry baskets around.

--- 5 ---

The time is quickly approaching to sign up William for kindergarten in the fall. *sniff* He is already SO excited, and I'm trying to figure out where the years have gone.

--- 6 ---

Lent is next week? Oy. That came up fast. Before I realized that week was Lent, I planned a Mystery Date for Collin and I on February 15. Once I realized it was a Friday during Lent, I checked the online menu of the place we're going to and saw, to my relief, that they have plenty of vegetarian options from which to choose. Phew! Crisis averted.

--- 7 ---

I'm still trying to decide what to do for Lent as a penance, but I think I'm going to make an effort to stay caught up with the laundry. My tendency is to plop down on my butt in the evenings and play Angry Birds (yes, I'm an addict) or surf Facebook when I should be folding and putting away clothes. Then I'm constantly digging around in baskets trying to find clothes.

I'm also going to try incorporate more spiritual reading into my day, as I've been doing a lot of "fluff" reading as of late.

Also, I'm going to talk to Collin about doing a novena together, or maybe doing a weekly family rosary together.

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

Being Sisyphus

My first article for Catholic Stand, "Being Sisyphus," was published this morning.

If you are so inclined, check it out! :)