7 things I am currently ________ing:

-1-

Reading  

Heather King’s conversion story, Redeemed: Stumbling Toward God, Sanity, and the Peace That Passes All Understanding

So.  Much.  Truth.  Heather’s writing hurts me exactly where I need to hurt.  Have you ever encountered a writer who did that to you?  I read Heather’s story, and I realize, “I need this hurt to convict me; not just to hurt, but to make me want to change.”

Sometimes the prodigal’s jealous brother needs more healing than the prodigal.  Rachel Balducci shared at Edel that motherhood helps her to work on her humility.  The lower she stays to the ground in humility like a child, she says, the less likely her puffed up pride will cause a big tumble.

It’s a beautiful thing to read Heather’s journey from brokenness toward healing and forgiveness.  I admire her courage and humility in this spiritual memoir.

-2-

Watching

Underwater Dreams

I suppose it’s not an -ing since I only watched it once, but I’m still thinking about the film and its message.

The movie chronicles a rag-tag high school underwater robotics team from Arizona.  Despite their poverty and lack of resources, they were able to win the national robotics competition, defeating MIT and several other universities.  After the team wins the competition, the documentary follows the team members’ lives.  Despite their natural aptitude and hard work, their undocumented status makes it difficult for them to flourish.

The film got Philip and I talking about immigration and what our country needs to do to fix the problem presented in the film.  Should illegal immigrants receive in-state tuition?  Should it take 10 years for a young man who wants to join the U.S. Army to become a citizen?  I won’t pretend to have all of the answers, but I do know this: too many Americans take the opportunities made available to us because we were born on this soil for granted.

Still chewing on a lot of it and praying for wisdom for our country’s leaders.  Both of the major political parties need to make compromises to heal this wound.

-3-

Listening

This Inspired Life by Kristin Sanders (podcast)

I’m so glad to have found yet another podcast put out by a faithful Catholic.  I started listening last week and started all the way back at Episode 1.  I’m 10 episodes in, and I’m definitely keeping this podcast on my playlist.  Kristin interviews various guests in the Catholic world, and the topics are wide ranging.  To give you an idea, in the first few episodes, Kristin and her guests have discussed:  talking to kids about sex, creating an Etsy site, women in the Church, child development, loving as Christ loves, and adoption.  Kristin isn’t afraid to ask difficult questions (the ones I really want to hear the guests answer!), and she allows them to unspool their complete answers.  The podcast doesn’t feel rushed at all.  It feels like a casual conversation with a good friend over coffee.  This Inspired Life is my new laundry folding and dish washing soundtrack!

-4-

Listening

Building Bridges Podcast with Cristina Trinidad & Jenna Guizar

Building Bridges just started last month, and I’m so glad I discovered it via a Catholic Women Blogger’s group.  I had the opportunity to meet Jenna at Edel, so it’s fun to get to hear her chat it up with Cristina on the podcast.

I’ve only listened to 2 episodes of Building Bridges, and I’ve really been enjoying it.  Episode 1 was an introduction to Cristina and Jenna.  In Episode 2, the girls interviewed Charity Craig who blogs at The Wounded Dove.  Charity shared with the girls how God was able to take her husband’s affair and turn it into a gift of healing.  When faced with her husband’s infidelity, her first instinct was to be angry.  Then, God helped Charity to consider what parts of herself she needed to work on to help heal herself and her marriage–not that she was responsible for the affair (that was her husband’s choice), but that she knew she had parts of herself that needed fixing.  Through God’s grace, Charity and her husband were able to reconcile and are happily married.  Charity’s story is a beautiful look at how marriage can mirror God’s faithfulness when we go astray.

Looking forward to listening to more!

-5-

Exploring

Lincoln’s wonderful trail systems

-6-

Savoring

My boy who still likes to play dress up and imagine

-7-

Anticipating

Philip’s ribs that he’s making for dinner club

Salted

Rubbed

Vacuum Sealed

Ready for their bath

In the immersion circulator to cook to juicy perfection for a few days

Get in my belly!  Gotta love a man who can make some delicious ribs!

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To read more 7QT posts, head over to Kelly Mantoan’s blog, This Ain’t the Lyceum!