{One}
Normally I’m one for suspense, so when I name a post “crazy idea edition” the crazy idea is usually at the end. Today…not so much. I’m wrapping up a week of Totus Tuus as you read hits and I’ve been reflecting a lot this week on conversion stories and how much I adore hearing them and reading them. It is so amazing to me how God works in so many ways and brings our hearts back to His. So…I got to thinking (which, if you know me, is not at all surprising)…what if I hosted a link-up where folks could write about their conversion stories? I’ve been thinking about mine lately and I’ve blogged about bits and pieces of it, but not really the whole thing (not every single detail because that would just be epic). So, what do you think? Would you join the link up?
Also, because I’m a giant Catholic nerd I already thought of the perfect date to launch the link-up (it would be up for a while, but start on): August 15th, the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Because, well, she rocks. Also, on August 4th you’ll learn a little bit more about why I love her! But seriously: conversion story link-up? Thoughts? Leave me some comment/e-mail loving!
{Two}
Other fun stories I forgot to blog about regarding life in the South:
People look at you VERY weirdly when you buy five sweater dresses in the middle of July in the Carolinas and rave to the cashier about how they are only $3 a piece. When I told her that I am from Colorado she stopped looking at me like I had two heads.
Remember that sweet girl from the wonderful plane ride I blogged about? Well, I got the chance to have dinner with her and meet her awesome boyfriend too! It was so cool to catch up, God is SO good!
No, we didn’t plan the black and white coordination – it just worked out that way!
{Three}
Other cool, totally God thing: last week I blogged about how stuck I’ve been on Kenny Chesney’s music. Well, Saturday night I got the chance to see Kenny AND Eric Church (who I also adore…he’s a Carolina boy. Come on.) in concert! The concert was amazing…and so were the clouds and the moon. Behold:
{Four}
A point of clarification: I’ve been getting a fair amount of flack/negative comments lately about the whole “kissing kissing Goodbye” thing. So, let me be clear: This is a personal decision and in no way, shape, or form reflects official Church teaching. Furthermore, this decision is just that, personal. While I’ve decided it for reasons I blogged about and reasons I didn’t blog about, the decision was my own. That also does not mean that I judge people who do kiss, and truth be known, I’ve kissed before. It isn’t as though I’m saving my first ever kiss for marriage (again, not judging those who do!), but I’m saving my next one for marriage. Does that mean there can be no physical affection in a relationship or that love isn’t shown prior to marriage simply because there is no kissing? No way. Hold hands. Cuddle. That being said, my goal/intention in sharing this decision was to share the joy and freedom that I’ve found in this decision. It was not, nor is it, my intention to judge people or make them feel bad or sinful for kissing. Hopefully that clears some things up!
{Five}
The book! This is normally where I put a quote from the book…but not this week. I’ll be really honest – do you remember writing those long, long papers in college? I remember that when I finished my thesis for my Bachelor’s (shout out to Belmont Abbey!) I wanted nothing more to do with the darn thing. A few teachers and people who attended my final presentation urged me to get it published. No dice. I honestly haven’t looked at it since the day I turned it in.
That isn’t to say that I’m the same way with my book – no one made me write it, but there are days when I just don’t feel like going all ga-ga over it. I love reading people’s thoughts about it (*cough cough* reviews on Amazon are cool *cough cough*), but some days I just need to think about other things.
Fun fact about the book: the page numbers took 7+ hours to format and the OCD person in me thought I was going to lose my mind staring at the document trying to make it all work. But in the end? Totally worth it. It is the little things that I appreciate, and page numbers definitely fall in that category. Also? I might have given up on the page numbers effort if not for the input of my lovely Twitter followers. True story.
{Six}
Song of the week…Burning Bridges by OneRepbulic. I first heard in on vacation and wanted to look it up because I like OneRepbulic’s sound, and then the lyrics…you know how I have a thing for finding God in the lyrics of seemingly secular songs? This. I want Him to set me on fire, burn my bridges down, burn everything that keeps me from Him.
{Seven}
Year of Faith tidbit of the week…
“Brothers and sisters:
We hold this treasure in earthen vessels,
that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us.
We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained;
perplexed, but not driven to despair;
persecuted, but not abandoned;
struck down, but not destroyed”
– 2 Corinthians 4:7-9
Fills you with hope, doesn’t it?
Until next time 😉
