7 Quick Takes – My First Link Up With Conversion Diary

I’m joining up with Jen at Conversion Diary today.  I credit Amy at Motherhood and Miscellany for introducing me to this addictive link up!  If you’ve never visited either site before, you really should.  Both are inspiring mothers and educators; not to mention fabulous writers!  Hope you enjoy 🙂

— 1 —

My husband completed RCIA to join the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil.
Incidentally, so did Amy – you should absolutely congratulate her!

— 2 —

My husband’s conversion has renewed my interest in learning more about my own faith.  I found this great resource, Catholic Home Study Service  that enables you to complete correspondence courses about Catholicism for free.  Like many non-profit organizations, they are seeking donations; however, requesting a course is free of charge.  There is a 100 multiple choice test you have to submit the answers to in order to request an additional course.  The first course I requested was “We Worship:  A Guide to the Catholic Mass.”  So far the reading has been entertaining and informative.  I’ll keep you posted!

 — 3 —

I was the Easter Bunny this year!  I loved it!  I would be happy to take this job on as a permanent vocation 🙂  Hiding eggs and watching my little girl’s face light up in delight when she discovered them was priceless!  Most of the eggs had goldfish crackers (one of her favorite treats) hidden inside.  A few had fake jewelry items, because my little one is a bit of a fashionista already!  Or at least she loves the shiny and sparkly jewelry – takes after her Momma on that one 🙂  Her favorite gifts were a slide for the backyard and an endless supply of bubbles courtesy of her GramB!

— 4 —

Confession?

Her Easter dress was a Duck Duck Goose Consignment Sale Purchase.  $3 well spent!  I will be finding another excuse to put her in that adorable get up sometime very soon 🙂

 — 5 —

My family’s goals for Lent this year were lofty, but we were mostly successful on all accounts.

My husband JOINED THE CATHOLIC CHURCH (whoot! whoot!) and gave up soda.  I gave up chocolate and French fries.  We also each donated 40 items from our closet to Good Will!  Truth?  We needed the space.  My postpartum body can’t decide what size it wants to be……LOL

Each Lent, I also take on a challenge as a way to focus on a critical area of my life.  Last year I focused on my marriage for 40 days.  This year I focused on forgiving my mother-in-law.  This challenge was important to me as she is recently deceased and I don’t want any ill thoughts and feelings tainting her memory for my children or my husband.  In this endeavor I have been mostly successful – but the whole process may take longer than 40 days.  More later in an upcoming post – promise!

— 6 —

My Easter gift was undeniably chocolate – see above 🙂  BUT – I also got the chance to take a photography course through The Great Courses!  My super, awesome, terrific, and now Catholic (can you tell I’m excited about this?!?) husband purchased The Fundamentals of Photography course for me.  My dream job – other than wife/mother and veterinarian is professional photographer – specifically a National Geographic Photographer.  In truth once I had to travel and sleep on the dirt floor of a tent with hostile fire all around me it would probably drop to number four on the list quickly, but dare to dream!  I have only listened to the first lecture, but am already intrigued.  The instructor, Joel Satore shared with us the image that captured the attention of the editors at National Geographic and secured his job with the magazine for the past 30 years.  I’d show it to you, but I can’t locate it anywhere on line!!!  Unheard of!!!  Must have been a film shot.  Oh, back in the day!  He is very strong in wildlife photograph, which just makes my heart sing! Check out his web page – gorgeous images!

— 7 —

I formed a MNO Book Club.  We meet the first Thursday of every month.  This month’s selection is “Have Mother, Will Travel” by Claire and Mia Fontaine.  So far hilarious and very true to mother/daughter relationships.  I was a little frightened, because after choosing this book I learned that the mother/daughter duo had written a “first” book detailing the daughter’s PTSD from sexual abuse from her biological father and having issues so severe in high school that the mother sent her to a boot camp style boarding school in the Czech Republic.  Not exactly the light hearted spring read I was hoping for……..fortunately, this book is funny and although the aforementioned serious topics are mentioned, they are not the focus of the novel.  Whew!  The club only has 3 members and one of them in my Mom….lol  Our fourth member recently just moved back to the coast to join her husband who has been overseas.  We miss her!  Wish me luck in attracting some interest!  I should probably list it on meetup.com, but that just feels a little too much like mommy online dating.  I’d rather meet my new friends the traditional way…..as I blog about it….hmmmmmm  Online MNO book club anyone?!?  LOL  Previous months reads have included The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling, Skipping Christmas by John Grisham, War Brides by Helen Bryan, Swimming in the Moon:  A Novel by Pamela Schoenewaldt, and Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn.  One of these days….. in all my spare time…… I’ll try to get reviews up of these books.

Have a great week!!!  For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

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