7 Quick Takes {vol. 13} The one where I ask for prayers on all kinds o' stuff...

  

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Busy weekend around our home.  Tomorrow morning Jim and I are taking youth groupian teens to a summer youth conference at Franciscan University in Steubenville, OH.  I've been telling the teens who its their first time going this place is like Catholic Disney World...which in my humble opinion it is.  Please pray for safe travels, for Jim and I as the adult leaders that we don't get completely exhausted, and for the teens that would just come to experience Jesus more personally in their lives.
Here's the promo video to give ya an idea of how we'll be spending the next few days:)
#maincampus3

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Jim has been a busy bee networking in our local community with priest's and guidance counselors to build up his client base for his practice.  I'm so excited for him as he already has an appointment scheduled with his first client!  It is really cool to see his passion and excitement to want to help people face tough issues in their lives through the lens of our Catholic faith.  He has a great mentor in the woman whom he is sharing the counseling practice with and he is really working hard.  If ya are looking or know someone who is need of a faith based therapist, I can hook you up! ;-)  Please keep Jim in your prayers as he continues networking and working.

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Some really exciting news in our family this week too!!  My Dad was offered a new job as the the director of all deaconate formation in the Archdiocese of Detroit!  My Dad is definitely one of my greatest role models in my life and I constantly look up to him for his humility and spiritual wisdom.  When I got into parish ministry, he always reminded me the most important thing is be pastoral and really meet people you encounter where they are at; yes it is important to love Jesus and know your faith, but all that is for naught if you cannot show compassion in your dealings with others.
It was funny because after he left having a meeting with the Archbishop when he officially was offered the job, I teased him "Oh you made sure to ask Archbishop Vigneron for 2 weeks off in July for World Youth Day, right?"  He responded, "Oh no, he said that's too soon for me to take time off!"
Ha. Funny Popsicle, considering you are our male chaperone!

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Have any of you seen this video?  It is about the history of the bikini by a woman named Jessica Rey who started a swimsuit line to create more classy bathing suit options for women based on fashionista Audrey Hepburn.  I'm not here to bash women who do and/or wear bikini's but the video does make some interesting points.  Check it out...

I checked out her bathing suit line and they have some REALLY elegant, pretty swim suits! All the suits are named after different characters that Audrey Hepburn played in different movies.  If you are in need of a new swim suit, check out this swim wear line!!

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For any of you who live in southeastern Michigan, be sure to tune in on Monday, July 1st from 8:35-8:55am on 990AM Ave Maria Radio.  I'm doing a live interview with Teresa Tomeo from 'Catholic Connections' about our upcoming World Youth Day pilgrimage in Rio.  She also is going to schedule me for an interview for while we are in Rio for her national hour.
All I know that for my radio debut I plan to roll out of bed, grab some coffee and do the interview in my PJ's; keeping it real and comfy, cozy! :)

On the topic of WYD, I am sure you have heard about the protests going on in Rio regarding the World Cup and WYD.  I'm following the story closely and from the sources I have it seems to be dying down and the WYD committee doesn't foresee a problem with WYD festivities.  It is still a little unnerving, and if you just say a prayer for peace of mind and that this situation continues to be resolved that would be awesome.

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I ordered from Amazon this week, one of my favorite romantic comedies of all time, "Return to Me". I actually haven't seen it in years but I saw something with Minnie Driver on TV the other day and reminded me how much I loved that movie.

The premise is a man's wife dies in an accident and her heart is donated....turns out to a woman he later falls in love with and begins dating.  Don't want to spoil the movie, but it is cute and full of hysterical one-liners!

Maybe when we get home from Steubenville this Sunday, we can curl up on the couch with some Middle Eastern leftovers and watch it:)

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I always thought I was a good listener...then I got married.  Jim and I have been talking a lot lately on the importance of each other really listening to each other in little and big things.  Through that, I'm realizing how MUCH of a ways to go I have with this.  Sure I can be a great listener for a friend going through issues with her Mom or a teen in crisis at church...but somehow with the people closest in our lives (for me my husband) I still have much to learn.  Lots of thoughts going through my head bout this that are probably coming out in a post sometime soon.
Wives/Fiances/Girlfriends, what do you do in your relationship with your guy to be a better listener?  What are some lessons you have learned in regards to listening??  I'm all ears!!

Happy Friday and have a fabulous weekend:)

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

Go Make a Difference...

Linking up with Kalyn and Lauren for another meaningful link-up today.  What I really like about this link-up party is the questions are not just about the newest craft or recipe idea (which those are all fun and dandy), but the questions make you think and reflect on the meaningful things of life.
So come and join up in the fun!

Today's question:
What does it mean to me to have made a difference in the world?  What am I doing to achieve that change, and how has it been made possible?

When I first saw this question, a song immediately came to mind for me.  It is written by a well-know Catholic musician I have seen many youth conferences and gatherings with teens.  I even did a sing-along with him once at a national youth conference...gotta love when the teens volunteer the adult leader to get silly n' crazy on stage! ;-)

I love this song because it reminds and empowers us that we can and we do make a difference in the the world.  Especially as Christians, I think it is in our job description to make a difference.  Now of course not all of us can be Mother Teresa or Gandhi, but the stay-at-home-mommy is making a difference by raising her children to be virtuous and honest.  The person sitting in a nursing home offering up their physical suffering or loneliness and uniting it to the cross of Jesus is making  difference by offering their sufferings up for others.  

I believe that each of us can make a difference.  There is a quote by Mother Teresa she said when receiving the Nobel Peace Prize.  A reporter asked her how can we change the world.  Her simple reply? "Go home and love your family."  Not all of us are called to great things in the eyes of the world, but the most basic way to make a difference (in the eyes of this humble nun) is to go home and love the people in your family; whom God has placed in your life...whether you always want to or even feel like it or even like them.

So when I hear that, I reflect on how I can make a difference in the world through my relationship with my husband by going home and being love and mercy to him.  Second to God and my husband, are being love and mercy in the other relationships in my life: my family of origin, extended family, in-laws, the people I don't necessarily like/get along with, and yes even strangers.  We can change the world through lots of active acts of love, no matter how big or how small. Of course I personally have a ways to go, but we can change this world by living out most fully the life and vocation God has given to us.  By embracing all the things in our life, and use those opportunities whether big or small as our own unique way to make an impact in this world.

As a Youth Minister, I also find it such a privilege to be able to work to make a difference in the life of young people to help them grow in their personal relationship with Jesus and understand their faith better.  I hope and pray that God can use me to reach out to the hearts and minds of a young generation to help draw them closer to His heart.  Yes, I'm flawed and make plenty o' mistakes, but it is so rewarding to be able to watch and witness the transformation of a teen as they come to fall in love with Jesus more.  There is nothing as awesome as a good talk with a teen on retreat or praying with them over something going on in their life...it's not about me, but what He can do through me to reach others.  And in reaching another, in some small way, I trust and believe that I can make this world a little more joyful, peaceful, and loving.

I may never write a book, have 1,000 followers on my blog, or be famous...BUT I can use this one crazy, beautiful life God has given me to reach out to others and make a difference in big and small ways.

So be full of great joy and hope, YOU can make a difference!  We are the light of the world not to be hidden but be seen, so go make a difference in this world:)

5 Favorites {vol. 8}

 

Be sure to check out the other link up's with Hallie!! :)

 

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If you have a smart phone, have you seen or heard about the most awesome app around???

The Pope App

 It is this awesome app you download to stay up to date of all the awesomeness of Pope Francis.  It has things like video clips of homilies and speeches, list of his upcoming events, pictures, and even live web cams at the Vatican at all times!  Be sure to check it out...I personally check it out as often I do as my other social media sites.

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I recently stumbled across this blog called "What Kate Wore"

It's a blog all about following the newest Kate Middleton fashions.  I really love watching all the elegant, classy pieces she pulls together, and this is a fun way of following them.

Check out the link at www.whatkatewore.com 

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This song a dear friend sent me this week.  Really speaks to my heart and is such encouragement that God uses all things for His glory:)

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This new Burt's Bee's chap stick!

 

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This song rendition of "This little light of mine"