7 Quick Takes Friday #61 Birthday Edition

--- 1 ---

It's my birthday today!!!!!! In my world my birthday is a holiday, one of the great things about having a birthday at the end of the year is frivolously using one of P.T.O days without worrying that an emergency will crop up and my days will have run out. The kid part of me is happy that my birthday is close enough yet far away enough from Christmas that people still remember to get me two presents and I don't have to wait to long between the two. My sister is 21 days before Christmas. and a cousin is 5 days after.

--- 2 ---

I am not alone celebrating my birthday today. Arlene Spencely is celebrating today. Her book Chastity is for Lovers comes out in a couple of weeks (a little book plugging for a birthday buddy). Apparently it is also Billy Graham's 96 birthday today.

--- 3 ---

I've been to Mass this morning and followed that up with some time in Adoration starting off this new year of life right. I'm having a special birthday lunch where I plan to indulge in 3 desserts this is in addition to the mini cupcakes and ice-cream I have waiting at home for me.

--- 4 ---

Tonight and the rest of my weekend will be spent at a Catholic Women's Conference. A couple friends I and will be having a very Spirit-filled girls weekend.

Teresa Tomeo will be one of the speakers, tomorrow I think and I am really looking. She also has a new book releasing soon Walk Softly and Carry a Great Bag (I'm all about the plugs today)

--- 5 ---

On the Not Alone Series we discussed our deal breakers again. How and why we hold on to our standards in dating. I mention my birthday in my post so this counts as a birthday take  Come check out the link up.

--- 6 ---

I usually celebrate my birthday for a whole week anyway, it's on the 7th it's practically a must, having it fall on a Friday I get to give myself a bonus weekend of celebrating. This past year has a great one, there were more ups than downs. I made new friends and kept most of my old ones. I tried new experiences and have been better for them. I grow daily in my Faith, my walk with God and my attempts to live a saintly life. Looking forward to what this year going forward brings.

--- 7 ---

A song has been stuck in my head every time I've been to Adoration lately (I've managed to get there 3 times this week including today) but I didn't really remember which song it was. "All to You I surrender. ALL to You my blessed Saviour. I surrender all." I knew I knew the song but couldn't remember and thought it was a great prayer for Adoration so I let it play in my head for a while. Today I remembered which song it is "More of You" by Colton Dixon.

So a song to end the week and words that make a great prayer to start my new year of life

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7 Quick Takes Friday #60

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It's actually Monday as I write this take but as you read it I should be in Savannah for the beginning of an awesome weekend. Really looking forward to spending time with some great ladies.

--- 2 ---

My uncle asked me on Tuesday to drive my grandmother around for a few errands on Wednesday and I felt like a deer in headlights. Now I don't mind driving my grandmother or running errands with her but have you ever seen the ad with the dad talking to a little girl in the drivers seat and then finally we see a teenager who is old enough to drive. My grandmother makes me feel like that.

--- 3 ---

Retreat planning is going well so far. There is quite a bit still to get done but have an initial plan and a direction for execution is so helpful.

--- 4 ---

Praying the St Anne Novena with the NAS ladies

--- 5 ---

On the Not Alone Series we shared our Summer Reading List. Some great books were shared and I see quite a few more hours spent reading in my future.  Come check out the link up.

--- 6 ---

Please keep our Savannah crew in prayer. Some of us are driving long distances.

--- 7 ---

A song to end the week.

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7 Quick Takes Friday #59

--- 1 ---

I have been asked to lead a women's group. I said yes. It would really have been futile to say no because, and I say this with great love, these people do not take no for an answer. I tried to dodge, suggested someone else who would be so much more suited. AKA more vocal, more outgoing, more not me. It's a group that I have been in for a while but it has gotten to big for the currently so it was suggested that we split the group and somehow I ended up on the short list for leadership. I'm not totally on my own though, we've decided to keep the two groups together at least for a while so I'm easing my way into this.

--- 2 ---

World Cup finals are this Sunday, after which life will go back to normal around here. I'm not much of a football fan (we don't say soccer) but around here cricket and football are king so World Cup has taken over for the last month. We ordered some t-shirts printed for a family day at church but some were not ready on time (not the printer's fault, the wrong sizes were ordered) so new ones were re-ordered to be ready last Friday when the person responsible called the printer to ask what the delay was she was asked if she didn't realise world cup is going on. We are never using that printer again.

--- 3 ---

Retreat planning starts tonight for me. Our annual retreat is coming up in September and I am getting together with the rest of the committee for Adoration as we begin pulling everything together. This is my third year being on the committee and I actually enjoy it, it doesn't hurt that I have first dibs on a single room at the retreat but I love seeing it all come together. We were actually supposed to start planning last month but life happened but at least we have the venue booked and a tentative theme going.

--- 4 ---

Does getting ready to travel turn anyone else into a super nutty clean freak? Just me?! I am not a natural housekeeper, I do the basics and I try to keep everything as clean as possible, my room doesn't count. However every time I get ready to travel I just start deep cleaning, this weekend I did the bathroom and the kitchen, the living room was done a little earlier but I'll probably do it again before I leave next week.

--- 5 ---

One week from now I will be in Savannah with a great group of bloggers. Can't wait to see Jen again and meet the others for the first time. When I first started blogging I never thought of meeting anyone in real life but here I am and I can't wait. Gorgeous accommodations, great company and a weekend of untold possibilities. Yay!!!

--- 6 ---

I have travel list that I usually use so I don't forget the little things. There's nothing like being a million miles away from home without your favourite moisturiser or worse yet credit card. I have to finish working on that and hopefully start packing on Sunday after I get back from a world cup party (Go Argentina!!!). Not the biggest fan of packing so I like spreading it out over a few days.

--- 7 ---

A song to end the week.

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7 Quick Takes Friday #58

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I actually started this on Wednesday, but life happened and now Saturday evening I am finishing it up. I have been away from QTs for about 13 weeks (6 weeks of Lent and 7 weeks of Easter) give or take a week, thank you Catholic Church and Liturgical calendar.

--- 2 ---

I am going to be T.V on Tuesday for a panel discussion, call-in program on 'The Christian Response to Stress and Anxiety'. I am stressful and anxious just thinking about it. This is my second time being on this programme but the last time it was with a group of friends so it was just like us talking and having a conversation. This time I'll be joining a psychologist (psychiatrist??), a guy whose wife I know and whose daughter I just adore plus two other people I don't know. Prayers at 8pm EST Tuesday 10th will be greatly appreciated.

--- 3 ---

How do people decide when airline prices cannot possibly go down any more? I never buy my tickets this early but I always check prices early in planning my trip to estimate a budget, earlier this week on a whim I decided to just check again and prices had dropped drastically, but still I don't buy tickets this early so I wasn't sure if to jump on it or not. I liked the flight times and the price was just beautiful (I was already calculating what I could do with the savings). I talked it over with a few people and I decided to wait. The price has gone down again to just plain ridiculous but I do not like these flight times. The flight times I like are cheaper than earlier this week but not as cheap the other flight. Should I wait, grab it or just stop torturing myself by waiting as I usually do and just buying the tickets at reasonable price. Buying now means the possibility of tying up money that may be used elsewhere. Any thoughts?

--- 4 ---

The rainy/hurricane season has started here in Trinidad and Tobago. Trinidad has had exactly one minor hurricane before I was born, Tobago has had one medium and one minor also before I was born. However we do get lots of warnings, alerts and cautions whenever there is one in another island or Florida. We instead get unrelenting rain. Last night was a night of such rain in which I discovered a leak caused my some renovations at around midnight. It was fun :( Praise God there was no damage, it was barely a trickle really but because the rain was non stop it was a continuous trickle. I think it's fixed now just have to wait for rain to fall again to find out.

--- 5 ---

The Not Alone Series celebrated it's one year anniversary. I know right, a whole year of this great community of women.  Come check out the link up. Send Morgan and Jen some love for getting this started and keeping it going.

--- 6 ---

Pentecost is tomorrow!!! Come Holly Spirit Come.

--- 7 ---

A song to end the week.

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7 Quick Takes Friday #57

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I had plans to write this QT when I got home yesterday but I went to Adoration after work, then there was Stations of The Cross, Benediction and a talk plus lots and lots of incense. Incense gives me a headache (#badcatholic) so I came home, vegged out on the couch trying to recover and then just going to bed with no relief.

--- 2 ---

I survived Ash Wednesday. Now there are many days that I can get so busy that I forget to eat and doesn't bother me one bit. Even Good Friday (a holiday here) and I am home fasting doesn't bother me but Ash Wednesday is always hard. Maybe it's having to go to work after being home for days or the graces of Lent prepares me for Good Friday but I suck at Ash Wednesday fasting. This year I mused to myself that I am really looking forward to being pregnant and nursing during Lent (after I get married of course) then I can just have three regular meatless meals but no snacks so Ash Wednesday can not be so hard.

--- 3 ---

Yesterday, Friday March 7th was exactly 9 months before my birthday, Friday November 7th. It was also a 1st Friday and my birthday will be a 1st Friday. Being the good Catholic girl that I am (most of the time) my mind started seeing possibilities, so I will be praying a 1st Friday Novena during these months. I started yesterday and will end on my birthday. I already go to Mass and Adoration on 1st Fridays and Confession the day before of after so this is my gift to myself.

--- 4 ---

On Thursday everything that could go wrong at work did and then some. I was really losing it and then a friend called, she called me for a reason that we never even got into. She knew something was wrong almost immediately and ended up talking me down and encouraging me. She said this is Lent, the devil is extra busy and annoyed, she advised me to pray a Hail Mary whenever I felt myself losing it or someone getting to me and that she was praying. She said some other things and it really helped me. #catholicfriendsforthewin. Of course we never got around to what she needed, so I'm not as great a friend,

--- 5 ---

The Not Alone Series this week we shared bachelorette party ideas. There are some really great, raunch free ideas.  Come check out the link up.

--- 6 ---

LENT

--- 7 ---

A song to end the week.

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7 Quick Takes Friday #56

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I'm writing 7 posts in 7 days along with our host Jen. It's day 5 and I'm still writing or something looking like it so I may survive this.

--- 2 ---

It's Carnival weekend here in Trinidad so I get to leave work early today and I have a super long weekend to chill, relax and recuperate. Catch up on my reading, my blogs and anything else that gets backburnered in the hustle of everyday life.

--- 3 ---

I also got to leave early yesterday and when I got home I had a totally unplanned and much needed nap. One of the side effects of Carnival is traffic, especially where I work horrible traffic. I try my best to entertain myself but sitting in traffic is physically draining. All you with toddlers who refuse to nap send them my way. The naps not the toddlers. A nap that late means I have not gone to bed yet but it has already crossed over into Friday for a while now.

--- 4 ---

Lent starts next week. I think I'm ready

--- 5 ---

The Not Alone Series this week was about masculinity. Everyone talks about the examples of masculinity in their live. There are some really sweet accounts. We also have more new bloggers joining which is so great. Come check out the link up.

--- 6 ---

It's the last day in February, the months feel like they are just flying by which could be a good thing when you are really looking forward to the second 6 months of the year. However when you have deadlines up the ying yang in the first 3 months of the year you fell like time needs to slow down.

--- 7 ---

A song to end the week.

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!
 

7 Quick Takes Friday #55

--- 1 ---

This week work felt like National Geographic first there was an iguana sunning itself. I think he enjoyed the attention and even started posing for the camera.

See how he always tilts his head. He started with his back to us but as soon as the cameras came out he turned around so we could get some great shots.

--- 2 ---

The following day I got the see a butterfly emerge from it's cocoon. Well I saw the very end stages of it so these pics are just of the butterfly hanging out before taking his first flight.

--- 3 ---

Abortion is illegal in Trinidad and Tobago but I was happy to offer some tweet support to those participating in the March For Life earlier this week. Let's face it abortion may be illegal but it still happens and there are factions that are trying "bring us into modern times" and we continue to pray that they continue to fail.

--- 4 ---

Eco tourism is a semi big deal here and we have the opportunity to visit a swamp next week. I can go with everyone from my office, get the day off practically and spend time in nature. Or I can go to work when it is almost guaranteed to be empty and get some work done without distraction. I am not typically a workaholic but January to February sometimes March are months heavy with close deadlines.

--- 5 ---

The Not Alone Series this week was about beauty. Great posts as usual, I was even inspired to write a second post that I'll hopefully have up later this weekend. Come check out the link up.

--- 6 ---

Voting is going on for The Sheenazing Blogger Awards I voted, did you? I had a few obvious faves but I also got a chance to check out some very new to me blogs. Not Alone Series Jen and Morgan are nominated.

--- 7 ---

A song to end the week.

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!
 

7 Quick Takes Friday #54

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I took something of a break from quicktakes for a while and although it is actually Saturday I'm jumping back in

--- 2 ---

Every single year I go through the dilemma of remembering the number of the current year and not write the previous year. It takes a couple weeks to adjust, unfortunately I work in accounting and we are still doing things that require 2013 to be written A LOT, it is not helping my problem. Hopefully by March I'll get it consistently right.

--- 3 ---

It's that time of the year in Trinidad, Carnival. Now technically Carnival is only the long weekend leading up to Ash Wednesday. However the Carnival season actually runs from the beginning of the year until the Tuesday. The tourists have begun coming into town although to be honest some of them have been here since Christmas.

--- 4 ---

I am making slow and imperfect progress on getting my goals for 2014 going. I'm happy with that since progress is progress. Some are going really well and others are still trial and error but I'm getting there

--- 5 ---

The Not Alone Series is back!!!!!!I am so happy!!!!!! I have been keeping up everyone's blogs but it's so good to be writing together again. We've had some new bloggers joining us which is great. This week we looked at how we can stretch and grow for 2014. Come check out the link up.

--- 6 ---

I have quite a few blog post ideas brewing so hopefully next week and beyond I'll get into a groove. I'm actually writing down my ideas as they come to me instead of just hoping I remember them.

--- 7 ---

A song to end the week.

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!
 

7 Quick Takes Friday #51

--- 1 ---

I hate packing!!!!! How will I know how I feel about an outfit a few days from now or suppose I feel like wearing something that I didn't think to pack. I feel like I'm packing too much and then too little. I'm afraid of forgetting things. I hate packing!!!

--- 2 ---

I'm almost done packing for my trip on Saturday, just a few last minute things to put in. The number of chargers that need to be packed is ridiculous but I can't forget any of them, how did we ever survive before we had these these things that need charging.

--- 3 ---

I'll be praying the Immaculate Conception Novena beginning today with pray more novenas.

--- 4 ---

The nights around here has turned cold, I am not a fan. I'm happy to curl up on the couch with an afghan but I do not like cold. I'm headed to Florida which everyone is telling me is also cold.

--- 5 ---

I felt inspired this week so I posted almost everyday, only one was previously planned so all of these were just what I was feeling or thinking at the time.

--- 6 ---

Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent, last year I posted my very first blog post on the first Sunday of Advent. Monday is my blogiversary and it's been quite a year. Really hope to have a post up for it.

--- 7 ---

A song to end the week.

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!
 

7 Quick Takes Friday #50

--- 1 ---

My week started on Monday with my car not starting only to find out my battery is dead. Not good news especially since I do not need an unexpected expense right now. Then came the good news, the warranty on the battery was still good for 5 more days (5 extremely beautiful days) so I got a brand new battery absolutely free. God is so good. I was so grateful and happy I just went around singing His praises to everyone who wanted (or didn't want) to listen to my battery story.

--- 2 ---

Saturday I spent some time with a friend who was visiting Trinidad with her husband and 11 month old baby daughter. Her daughter is totally adorable, she wasn't too sure about me when I first walked in but she warmed up to me soon enough. Running all around me, climbing in my lap, she loved hugs and cuddles except

--- 3 ---

On Tuesday Cindy over at the veil of chastity wrote about a Sacramental Life in Christ, then on Wednesday Haille over at Moxie Wife posted as on her 5 Faves 50 Ways to Talk to God, while just Monday I was thinking about what I want to do during Advent to strengthen my Faith life and here I was gifted with two great resources to glean from. Thank God for these two wonderful women and their timely posts.

--- 4 ---

Sunday is the Feast of Christ the King, our Liturgical Year as well as the Year of Faith will be at an end. I always say this a lot coming to the close of every year but this year flew by. I was kept so busy with conferences, retreats, blogging, having social life and other commitments that I had very few moments to sit, be bored or complain that time is moving to slowly.

--- 5 ---

For The Not Alone Series this week we shared our tips for surviving the holidays.Some really great tips were shared but also Jen and Morgan had a great surprise announcement for us. Check it out!!!!!

--- 6 ---

Next week I hope to have a few posts up including one about my plans for Advent. My blogiversary is also right around the corner so I also want to write a post about that. I really want to post more for Advent.

--- 7 ---

A song to end the week.

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!
 

7 Quick Takes Friday #49

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I am gleefully counting down the days until I am vacation. I am not even a little embarrassed at how joyful I am to have time away from work. This time next week I will be enjoying my time away and the following week I will taking a few day away.

--- 2 ---

I happened upon a comic-fest (comic book-fest) this past weekend, beside the Archie's which I loved as a kid and the marvels that I read with my cousins I didn't really get into it. I recognised some japenese comics that are read backwards that my cousin is always talking about but still I didn't get into it. Yet I spent almost an hour of my time because a friend of mine did, each section was carefully scrutinized and perused. I got to listen to nerd speak and a pseudo argument/discussion about an edition or the other of a comic that I had never hear of. I saw grown men practically salivate. It was an interesting people watching time if nothing else

--- 3 ---

I cleaned the kitchen sink on Sunday, really scrubbed and sparkled it. It is still clean today Friday. This is big in this house since my sister believes in "I'll do it later" but this week she has really made an effort to do her dishes right away and clean up. I am very proud of her.

--- 4 ---

Tomorrow I am going up to one of my favourite places, Mount St Benedict. It's a monastery, there is also a convent on the grounds, as well as a retreat centre, a fave bookstore of mine. It is also home to the church I attended for New Years day. Most years I get up there maybe twice, this will be probably my tenth time for 2013. I have to make a stop at the retreat centre but after that I am headed to the Blessed Sacrament for some quiet time and then the bookstore where my pockets hopes I buy nothing. The rest of me has other plans, we shall see who comes out on top.

--- 5 ---

For The Not Alone Series this week we talked about our being able to relate to non-single friends and vice versa. I know It is not always easy. So check it out.

--- 6 ---

Please pray for a retreat that I assist at that is hapening this weekend. I will not be there personally now that my part of registration is done but prayers are always welcome and needed

--- 7 ---

A song to end the week.

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!
 

7 Quick Takes Friday #48 The Saturday Version

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It's Saturday night and I am now sitting down to finish write this although I started it way earlier in the week, I have just been restless and distracted which is not conducive to getting anything done that requires be still.

--- 2 ---

Thursday was my birthday. It was a great day. Pumpkin cheesecake, ice-cream, confession, a birthday blessing, quesadillas, linguine, shrimp. Birthday greetings in all shapes forms and sizes including a telephone serenade.

--- 3 ---

I made the pumpkin cheesecake from scratch so I'll just share a few pictures. I reverse order.

--- 4 ---

Just so this is not just about my birthday, I am very excited about my trip to Florida at the end of this month. It is just a trip to get away which is the best kind to have and because of the season and my inability to handle snow (cold really of which snow is) Florida is my destination of choice. I've been there before although not the exact area but I am looking forward to just getting away.

--- 5 ---

For The Not Alone Series this week we shared our fave single people sites/articles/posts. I know I discovered some I didn't know about, maybe you will too. So check it out.

--- 6 ---

I saw this sign today off the highway. I have never seen it before but I am not a very observant driver.

If you can't see the words this is the prayer:-
"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Father, send now Your Spirit over the earth. Let the Holy Spirit live in the hearts of all nations, that they may be preserved from degeneration, disaster and war. May the Lady of All Nations, who once was Mary, be our Advocate. Amen."

--- 7 ---

A song to end the week. This song is stuck in my head today.

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7 Quick Takes Friday #47

--- 1 ---

How can it be November already? Not that I'm complaining because my birthday is next week Thursday but really it's November already!!! Where did the time go?

--- 2 ---

Usually I have everything for my birthday planned way in advance but this year I have nothing. I think I am just going to make a pumpkin cheesecake but I have no idea what to do for dinner. I have a recipe for stuffed cabbage, I've never had that and I always like to try something new but this year I am supposed to go out since I usually do one year at home and the next year out to dinner. A friend wants to do Karaoke that might be fun.

--- 3 ---

I got the strangest penance when I went to Confession this past weekend, exercise (this is real penance for me since I don't). Fr did explain why, I have never gotten penance without explanation and it makes sense it is just still strange. This was a new to me priest, I liked him, he reminded me of my regular confessor just a little bit.

--- 4 ---

Heading to Adoration after work today, so looking forward to that. Anyone wants me to pray for them don't be afraid to ask.

--- 5 ---

For The Not Alone Series this week we looked at Settling. We shared our thoughts on settling in general so check them out.

--- 6 ---

The retreat was great, awesome, frustrating, uplifting, exhausting, renewing, heart-opening, humbling. Since I had two hats on this weekend I had about four different experiences. As a retreatant it was all things wonderful and a little bit surprising. As an organizing team member it was all things wonderful, exhausting, stressful and a little bit surprising. I would definitely do it again. In fact I am on the pre-registration team for another retreat happening this month but that just a small role.

--- 7 ---

A song to end the week.

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!
 

7 Quick Takes Friday #46

--- 1 ---

This week has been hard. I am exhausted between work and last minute running around for the retreat this weekend all I want to do is sleep, it is not helping that my sinuses are not co-operating.

--- 2 ---

I bought a new printer at the beginning of the month and I only opened it on Thursday, it took me over two hours to set up. It's an e-printer/wireless/3-in-one and needs a rocket scientist to set it up. Every time I send a print it asks me to align the printer which I have already done a few times already so I ignore it every time.I'll probably try to fix it tomorrow.

--- 3 ---

This is the last Friday in October. This year seems to have flown by so quickly, my birthday is in two weeks, then we have the Feast of Christ the King a couple weeks after that and then we're in Advent, preparing for Christmas. It feels like I was just doing that.

--- 4 ---

I still have to pack for my retreat which is not happening right now but hopefully I'll remember everything. Please pray for us this weekend and I will pray for anyone who wants as I'll be spending much time in Adoration.

--- 5 ---

For The Not Alone Series this week we looked at Patience. There were quite a few insightful thoughts so check them out.

--- 6 ---

It's retreat weekend!!!!

--- 7 ---

A song to end the week.

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!
 

7 Quick Takes Friday #45

--- 1 ---

I actually started this on Thursday but it has become QT Saturday because I have so much that had to get done. Although the main culprit is the surprise birthday party that I attended Thursday night. I had told myself that I would leave at ten since I had to be at work on Friday and I have Mass at 6:30. I go home close to midnight but I had fun, my friend was surprised and I got up to go to Mass before work

--- 2 ---

Friday a worker from my department had her retirement function, it was actually a function for three retiring employees. It was very sad, she has been working at this company longer than I have been alive. The function was very nice and touching, there were laughs, memories and really good food.

--- 3 ---

Today Saturday I will be attending a anniversary/birthday Mass then heading out to hangout with the birthday girls. We have no idea where we are going, there is a great place that has a number of places to eat, drink and enjoy free entertainment on Saturday nights. Free live entertainment should be good since I am looking for an affordable night.

--- 4 ---

Today I start praying a St Jude Novena. St Jude is the name of my Church so I usually pray it but with everything going on I was going to skip it this year but since praymorenovenas.com is leading one this year I get my email reminders so I don't have worry about being distracted by everything else going on.

--- 5 ---

For The Not Alone Series this week we discussed Chastity. There were quite a few insightful thoughts so check them out.

--- 6 ---

Only one more week until my retreat. We have so much done yet sometimes it feels like we have so much still to do. We keep praying and working, God is good.

--- 7 ---

A song to end the week.

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!
 

7 Quick Takes Friday #44

--- 1 ---

It's less than a month until my birthday. I love my birthday, I go all out for my birthday. Although I am a little behind in my planning, I haven't decided on what kind of cake I'm having this year or where I am having dinner. I usually have dinner out every other year, I also usually make my own cake, last year was a lemon curd cheesecake but I am coming up empty this year.

--- 2 ---

Less than a month after my birthday I am going on vacation. I always like to take Advent off, it's my favourite Liturgical season (I say that a lot but Advent really is) so I like to take my time through this season, no unnecessary rushing. I have already ordered my Magnificat Advent companion and I am looking at what other books I want to read through this period.

--- 3 ---

The best part of my vacation..... I am headed to Florida for 10 days. I have already hit up masstimes.org, picked a church, checked out their Daily Mass, Adoration and Confession schedule. This is not my first trip to Florida but my time to this particular area. I am really looking forward to 10 days of downtime.

--- 4 ---

I prayed the St Therese de Lisieux novena a week ago and since the first day that I started I have been seeing roses. I have also been having my prayers answered. I just had to share that because God is so good.

--- 5 ---

For The Not Alone Series this week we our favourite recipes for one. Check out what everyone likes to cook maybe you'll find a new favourite or at least something to add to your recipe box or pinterest.

--- 6 ---

Retreat planning is coming along well, making changes to logistics and schedule as needed but everything is starting to fall into place. There are still quite a few things that need to be finalised but I am like how everything is going. We keep praying and working, God is good.

--- 7 ---

A song to end the week.

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!
 

7 Quick Takes Friday #43

--- 1 ---

So we have an OFFICIAL date for the canonization of JP II and Pope John 23rd, April 27th. Anyone wants to pay my way to Rome, I will love you forever, babysit your kids without complaint, clean your house or cook every meal for the next 3 years. :)

--- 2 ---

A friend handed me the chance to go to Haiti for some charity work with her in 1st week of November. It's my birthday week that I have been planning for a while but this also feels like a great opportunity but I don't know if I can hold up well when faced with suffering kids. I'm not even sure if I can get the time off from work but I am excited and nervous all at the same time at the thought of being able to go.

--- 3 ---

I will be praying a Novena to the Immaculate Heart of Mary along with praymorenovenas.com in anticipation of Pope Francis consecrating the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on Sunday 13th October. The novena starts today.

--- 4 ---

My favourite department store is having their annual 10 day sale, so tomorrow I am going to pick along the carcass in hopes of finding some things that I want, need and can use. My mother went on the first day and when she left to return what she wanted was sold out but I am still hopeful. There are two branches that I can visit easily tomorrow so I have a few options

--- 5 ---

For The Not Alone Series this week we discussed careers as vocation. There were some very interesting points of view, so check out what everyone had to say.

--- 6 ---

I had to write a press release for our upcoming retreat, I am the most critical of my writing, if I was not working with a deadline I would never even finish. I edited the life out of that thing and I still was not satisfied when I was done. Moving on, anyone have favourite ice-breakers or get to know you activities that can work at a retreat?

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A song to end the week.

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!
 

7 Quick Takes Friday #42

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This has been a short work week for me which I love. Tuesday was a holiday and today Friday is half day because of a work function. Yet it has still been a hectic busy week, I'm hoping to stop off at the Blessed Sacrament Chapel on my way home but I have to deal with my car insurance so hopefully that goes quickly.

--- 2 ---

I made peach BBQ sauce on Sunday to go with my ribs and I have been trying to write and post the recipe since then. I suck at writing the recipes I use cause I don't measure or remember quantities but I did this time so I am hoping to post that tomorrow.

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I discovered socially awkward penguins on pinterest this week, they describe me just a little too well but it's kind of cool to be a bird that doesn't fly.

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I have been hearing God speaking to me so clearly this week, well not really. I have been hearing Him but I didn't really pay attention to it being Him until Thursday evening as I was reading and studying one of my devotionals. I have found a scripture verses everyday for whatever I was dealing with that day. Thursday after a not very good day at work I prayed "God speak to me" and put on some music cause that usually calms me and picks up my mood but my speakers decided to be wonky so I said okay you don't want to speak to me there and turned it off but the silence was not doing anything for me either. Then when I was reading I finally heard Him and I realised He had been speaking there all this time. God is so good.

--- 5 ---

For The Not Alone Series this week we discussed our NFP experiences as single ladies. Check out who charts, who doesn't and why, as well as some thoughts on the topic of NFP itself.

--- 6 ---

Finding priests who are available to give confession at a retreat on a Saturday is exhausting, they do so much and are super busy. The priest that I got to say a tentative yes already has a full schedule but is trying to move a few things around to be there for us. Appreciate your priests and always be praying for them.

--- 7 ---

A song to end the week.

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!