7 Quick Takes Friday

** 1 **

Atticus’ sister is coming to visit from Phoenix this weekend. We’re going to have dinner with her and his parents tonight at my favorite pizza place ever! YES! They make the most wonderful pizza with stoplight peppers, avocado, and goat cheese. 🙂

** 2 **

Since the liturgical year is drawing to a close, I am starting to think about what my devotional plan for next year is going to be. I will be praying about it for the next few weeks, but here are some of the things I am considering:

– morning and evening prayer following the liturgy of the hours

– ten week apologetics bible study that a friend gave me the materials for

– daily decade of the rosary

– gratitude journal for all of advent

Does anyone else have specific devotional/prayer plans for the new liturgical year? I’d love to hear your ideas!

** 3 **

I found this article on mercatornet.com; it’s written by Britain’s chief Rabbi. The focus of the article is that Europeans are too selfish to have children. He compares modern-day Europe with 3rd century BC Greece, who refused to have more than 1 – 2 children. They died out pretty shortly thereafter. It’s a really interesting article, check it out!

** 4 **

I LOVE Matt Maher. He is one of the few popular Catholic worship singers, and he is wonderful. His new album, Alive Again, is really very good. The title track, Alive Again, is based in part on the Confessions of St. Augustine. Give it a listen!

** 5 **

Inspired by Jess’ wonderful post about the Harry Potter series, I have decided to re-read the whole series through at one time, then record my thoughts about it as a whole. I have just finished book 1, Harry Potter and the Socerer’s Stone. The passages that stood out to me were:

“Your mother died to save you. If there is one thing Voldemort cannot understand, it is love. He didn’t realize that love as powerful as your mother’s love for you leaves a powerful mark. Not a scar, no visible sign…to have been loved so deeply, even though the person who loved us is gone, will give us some protection forever. Full of hatred, greed, and ambition, sharing his soul with Voldemort, could not touch you…It was agony to touch a person marked by something so good.” (pg. 299)

and

“You know, the stone was really not such a wonderful thing. As much life and money as you could want! The two things most human beings would choose above all — the trouble is, humans do have a knack of choosing precisely those things that are worst for them.” (pg. 297)

And now, on to Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

** 6 **

I have submitted my final paper/thesis! Now my advisor will read it and send it back to me with comments and for some changes. All in all the project will be done by December 15!

This is how I feel:

** 7 **

God Bless and have a great weekend!