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February’s Bloggers in the Spotlight {7 Quick Takes (#7)}

7 quick takes sm1 7 Quick Takes Friday (vol. 207)

I’m linking back up with the 7 Quick Takes crew at Conversion Diary today! It’s been awhile, so I’m glad to be a part of it again! This is also the fourth Friday of the month, which means it is Dreamer in the Spotlight time! So, once again, I’m combining both to bring my list of seven awesome dreamers – blogger edition!

Since I have focused on the topic of vocations quite a bit this month, I figured that it would be fitting to showcase seven amazing bloggers who inspire me with their dedication to fulfilling their vocations. You probably are aware of some of these blogs already (many are regular 7QT-ers), but hopefully there may be one or two that you aren’t familiar with and can check out! Let’s get started!

1. Humble Handmaid

This blog by Erin Franco is one of my absolute favorites! Her tagline pretty much sums up a big reason why I chose to feature her today – “Writing about my “yes” to God’s plan for my life, one late night blogging session at a time.” As a mother in my twenties myself, I can relate to a lot of what Erin discusses. I love the honesty of her posts about trying to be a good parent, wife, and Catholic. Erin’s passion for her beautiful family is evident all over her blog! If you are a young wife/mother and don’t already follow her, DO IT – NOW!! 🙂 🙂 🙂

2. Moxie Wife

First, I have a confession to make! I haven’t read Hallie Lord’s book Style, Sex, and Substance yet! It is on my to-read list for this year, though! I love how Hallie writes as if she’s a friend just filling you in on a great new product she found or linking you to an amazing article, in addition to sharing great advice about being a good wife and encouraging your husband! This is a lovely blog that embraces married life as the vocation that it is!

3. Biltrix

Obviously, blogs are a great way to evangelize and Biltrix is one of the best sites that I have found that does this very thing! The authors- James Stone, Fr. Jason Smith, Fr. Jose LaBoy, and Fr. Joseph Tham- use Catholic teaching and a little bit of humor to shed light on current events and enhance awareness of a variety of topics. Be sure to check out their blog to find out what a Biltrix is!

4. Life Happens When

This convicting, joy-filled blog is courtesy of former English teacher, wife, and mother of two, Leanne Willen. She is also a regular 7 Quick Takes participant! Just like Humble Handmaid, I stumbled upon this blog on Catholicmom.com when she wrote a contributing post that I connected with. She is another woman that I feel I can greatly relate to, since our kiddos are about the same ages! Leanne is frequently challenging herself and others to step outside their comfort zones and enjoy the blessings in life, especially family. I had the privilege of guest posting on Leanne’s blog back in November!

5. The Veil of Chastity

Okay, all you single ladies (repeat and sing it in your head, “all you single ladies”) out there! This blog is for you! Soon-to-be-published author of The Veil, Cindy, blogs about the vocation of single-hood and chastity. (And, also participates frequently in 7 Quick Takes.) She states on the sidebar of her blog, “I pray this blog provides wisdom and hope for single girls!” Cindy did not get married until the age of 38, so she can relate to all the single Catholics out there who are hoping to find that special someone! There is a lot of truth in this blog and it is definitely worth checking out!

6. Captive the Heart

For those single ladies mentioned above who are about to get married, this blog is your next stop! Stephanie Calis, also a contributing author at Ignitum Today, shares great ideas for wedding fashion, receptions, and ceremonies. She also writes wonderful spiritual reflections, and- bonus- I just love her joyful attitude that comes out in her writing! 7QT-ers will probably be familiar with this blog already, but if you are not, be sure to click on her site!

7. Conversion Diary

So, I have to give a big nod to Jennifer Fulwiler, who hosts 7 Quick Takes each Friday! For those reading this who aren’t already aware, she is an atheist-to-Catholic convert and somehow finds time to write, speak, blog for the National Catholic Register, manage a household of five kids (with one more on the way), and, oh yeah, star in a reality show! How does she do it all?! And with such a great sense of humor?! Thanks, Jennifer, for giving all of us Catholic bloggers a place to connect and support each other! (All episodes of her show are now available via her website!)

Of course, there are many more blogs out there that I would love to highlight, so I’m sure a Part II and Part III will be coming in the future. As usual, if you know of someone that should be featured in my Dreamer in the Spotlight series or if you’d like to write a guest post to share your own inspirational story, please contact me!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Who’s your favorite inspirational blogger?

Tags: blogs, faith, inspiration, vocation

Comments 12 Comments
Categories Dreamer in the Spotlight, God, Faith & Inspiration

The Greatest Vocation of All!

15 Feb

I ran across the above quote last weekend and had to share it! It expands perfectly on my post about vocations from last Friday! It’s also timely, considering yesterday was St. Valentine’s Day – a day all about LOVE!

For the Year of Faith, I signed up for the daily e-newsletter, Read the Catechism in a Year, and Day 122 held this amazing paragraph by Jeff Pinyan.

If the Church was a body composed of different members, it couldn’t lack the noblest of all; it must have a Heart, and a Heart BURNING WITH LOVE. And I realized that this love alone was the true motive force which enabled the other members to Church to act; if it ceased to function, the Apostles would forget to preach the gospel, the Martyrs would refuse to shed their blood. LOVE, IN FACT, IS THE VOCATION WHICH INCLUDES ALL OTHERS; IT’S A UNIVERSE OF IT’S OWN, COMPRISING ALL TIME AND SPACE – IT’S ETERNAL!

In addition to reading this last Saturday, I heard a visiting Franciscan priest speak about this same topic at Mass on Sunday. He emphasized respecting others as the way to show love.

No matter who we are or what job we have, we are all called to love one another. Sometimes we get caught up in finding our passion and the right career, but no matter how old or young, rich or poor, etc., we can always make it a priority to show love through our everyday actions and treatment of others.

Have a great weekend full of love, everyone!

Above background image courtesy of Phaitoon/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Tags: faith, God's will, inspiration, love, vocation

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Categories God, Faith & Inspiration

Embracing Our Vocations: The Key to Joy

8 Feb

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Sometimes pursuing dreams can be selfish.

We may be so focused on achieving what we want to accomplish so that we can make more money, be recognized, feel valued, etc., that we risk damaging relationships and destroying our faith.

So, how do we know when our dreams are good or when they are detrimental to us or others? I think the answer comes when we take a look at what it means to have a vocation.

The past few days especially, I have been thinking about this quite a bit. It’s been a consistent topic of conversation between my husband and me as we navigate what God is calling us to do. And guess what? I received a newsletter from DynamicCatholic.com this past Saturday with a special message from Matthew Kelly regarding this exact thing. Here is what he wrote:

The Peace and Joy of Unique Ability

A few nights ago my little girl, Isabel, came into my office at home after her bath. With a huge smile, she walked over, grabbed my phone, held it to her ear, and said, “Call me, daddy!” I played along for a few minutes and then she came over, got up into my lap, buried her head in my chest and gave me a big hug. It was one of those times when I was able to be completely in the moment… and I was happy.

If I think back a few years, I was not so happy. I wasn’t unhappy. I loved my work, but something was missing. I didn’t have the deep peace and joy I have today. What was missing? Vocation. We talk a lot about it, but too often our talk is sterile and dispassionate. But vocation really is a thing of beauty. It is that thing that helps us make sense of everything. It is the feeling of finally being at home in our own lives. It is that place where your unique ability explodes usefully. It is the thing of great worth.

It also requires tremendous work.

How are you doing with your vocation? This Lent, I would like to encourage you to either search more rigorously for your vocation or give your vocation another look and recommit to it. Take it to the next level.

The world and the Church need more people who love life and live it with passion and purpose. Vocation animates us – brings us to life. Vocation fills us with a peace and joy that is immeasurable if we embrace and dedicate ourselves to our call.

Pretty powerful stuff! Being an involved parent and spouse requires a lot of sacrifice, but it is also extremely fulfilling! This is exactly why my husband Adam tells people that he is the happiest that he’s ever been! I’m sure the same can be said for anyone who has responded to God’s call for their life. This is where we find our purpose, passion, and as Matthew Kelly stated, “peace and joy.”

Maybe, though, you are still saying “What is a vocation or how do I know what my vocation is?” I did a quick little Google search to find a definition and stumbled upon the website Vocation.com. While it is geared to those contemplating religious life, I found a great little article worth sharing titled, Is it a vocation or a job or a profession? Below are a few paragraphs…

[…] when we use the word vocation we introduce a vertical dimension into our life, especially into our thinking process and decisions, since the point of reference when we talk about vocation is God’s will – what we believe he is calling us to do with our life, the purpose for which he created us as it relates to the salvation of our own soul and the salvation of others. So a vocation is not something you switch out of on a whim, since it is not something you go into lightly. In following a vocation the main question is: What does God want? and not: What do I prefer? So it would be a major mistake to approach a vocation to the priestly or consecrated life, or to marriage, thinking only of ourselves and not being willing to commit ourselves to it, “for better or for worse” because we know God wants us to see it through.

And so, if there is ever a conflict between our profession and our vocation, it is always the vocation that has to win. A married person who knows that a career opportunity that opens up to him will most probably destroy his marriage must opt for his marriage vocation even if the price is his career. A baptized doctor who risks losing his license if he refuses to do certain immoral procedures will follow his Christian vocation and even at the cost of his medical career. A priest who is a great success in a particular field of ministry and is asked by his bishop to serve in a different area must follow his priestly vocation which includes obedience to his bishop, rather than his “success” in a particular field.

I think the key when evaluating our dreams, is to always be sure that our aspirations are under the umbrella of our vocation. Just as the article above mentions, if our goals are at the expense of living out our vocation, then they must be abandoned or reconstructed.

For us personally, the re-working of goals is why many of you may have been wondering why Adam’s website isn’t up yet or why we haven’t been promoting any new songs. In addition to a lack of ample time, we have been going through a process of identifying priorities, finding nuggets of truth and wisdom, and assessing how everything fits in with our vocation of helping each other get to heaven and raising holy children. I firmly believe that God wants to use Adam’s musical talents to reach people, but just how that all is going to happen is still in the works! I have already seen how much grace and peace he has given us especially in the past year, so even though the road ahead is a mystery, I have no doubt that we are on the right path.

When we stop trying to do things our own way and embrace God’s plan for our life, we will find true joy that is unattainable anywhere else!

Tags: dreams, DynamicCatholic, faith, God's will, inspiration, joy, Matthew Kelly, music, vocation

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Categories God, Faith & Inspiration

A Father Who Gets It

1 Feb

Let me just start out by saying that I am truly blessed to be married to my husband, Adam! In this world of broken marriages, fatherless children, and faithless families, I have a man who desires to do God’s will and be a loving, engaged husband and father. When asked by other musicians about what he has been up to lately, Adam tells them, “I’m the happiest I’ve ever been” despite not having much time to focus on anything musically.

Are our lives now quite like we envisioned they would be eight years ago? No…and yes! No, Adam is not where we thought he’d be in his music career right now. We are both working full-time jobs. We live in a house with too many crazy issues that we have to spend more money on than we’d like. Yes, because we get to be the parents of two beautiful, silly girls. Adam writes meaningful, amazing music. We’re able to pay the bills. We work together as a team to take care of our home and family. We’re continuing to grow closer to God and discuss his will for our lives.

Most recently on this journey of discovering what God is calling us, particularly Adam, to do in regards to his career, Adam has found what he is really passionate about – Being a good father and encouraging other men to do the same. When our oldest daughter was born, he read Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters by Dr. Meg Meeker. He loved it! In December, he stumbled across the documentary, Absent, by Justin Hunt on Netflix. Absent is about the effect that disengaged fathers have on their children and how this lack of a relationship affects society. We also recently watched Courageous, a movie about this same topic. What’s interesting is that independent of these movies, Adam was already thinking a lot about this. These two films just reinforced that God is trying to show him something!

The path that we are exploring now includes possibly recording a CD of his latest real, positive music and putting together his own story for Catholic Men’s Conferences. This would allow him to do what he loves and spread a message that can inspire others. Adam relates to people very well and would be a great speaker. This is definitely just the tip of the iceberg, but we feel that God is definitely giving us some sort of direction.

There are so many question marks and mysteries ahead of us, but I know that our priorities are in order. I know that Adam has the right perspective on what is important in life. The following quote from Courageous, when character Adam Mitchell speaks to a church congregation, sums it up. (Adam rewound this sentence twice!)

You can’t fall asleep at the wheel, only to wake up one day and realize that your job or your hobbies have no eternal value, but the souls of your children do.

Please pray for us as we continue to discern God’s call in our lives. We will do the same for you! Let’s also pray that more men will have the courage to be good fathers to their children! Thank you to all the wonderful men out there who are already amazing husbands and fathers! Your value in this world is priceless!

I’d like to also say a special thank you to my own father. Thanks, Dad, for always finding time to support my interests and challenging me to be the best version of myself!

(Above photo courtesy of David Castillo Dominici/freedigitalphotos.net)

Tags: Absent, Adam Shick, Catholic men's conferences, Courageous, faith, Fatherhood, God, music

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Categories Adam's musical journey, God, Faith & Inspiration

5 Ways to Encourage Your Husband to Dream (And Why)

9 Nov

Having dreams is what makes life tolerable. – ‘Pete’ on Rudy

Spouses often balance each other out. One is a spender and the other is a saver. One is a planner and the other is more of a free-spirit. One is a dreamer and the other is a realist. These differences can be good for providing an alternative perspective and they can also be challenging when making decisions. One is not always right and the other is not always wrong. Being able to acknowledge and submit to each others’ strengths can be powerful, and dreaming together can make your marriage unshakeable.

Here are my 5 ways to encourage your husband’s dreams and the benefits it will have on your marriage:

1. Listen. This is simple and vital. It can be very discouraging when someone discounts what you have to say or acts like they don’t even want to hear it. Imagine if you excitedly started telling your best friend a great idea, only to have her act with indifference or doubt – it would probably put you in a pretty bad mood and maybe deter you from sharing things in the future. Our opinion means a lot to our husbands whether they say so or not. Don’t give your husband a reason to shut down. Giving him time to share his ideas and goals can inspire hope, and show that you truly care about what is important to him.

2. Pray. This is obviously a very important step when discussing future plans. A key part of determining whether or not dreams are worth pursuing is to evaluate if it is part of God’s will. Lysa TerKeurst, founder of Proverbs 31 Ministries, offers a great 5-question reference to use to figure out if God is prompting us to action. Often times God will ask us to do things that may not make logical sense or are uncomfortable for us, but when both spouses seek to do what He asks, it builds a solid marriage and foundation for whatever lies ahead.

3. Support. A wife’s encouragement (or lack of) can be powerful. I once read in a book something like this, “Be your husband’s number one cheerleader or someone else will.” When our husbands feel supported by us, they feel valued and have more confidence. Also, when men can spend time and energy doing what they love, they are happier. And *bonus* this translates into a more gratitude-filled home environment. Your husband will probably return the favor to help make things a little easier on you!

4. Participate. Personally, I never had much trouble with being supportive, but once I showed an interest in actually helping my husband achieve his dreams our relationship grew even stronger. I guess this is an example that “actions speak louder than words.” This teamwork mentality has carried over to helping each other out more around the house and with our daughters. We don’t spend time comparing who did more or who is working harder, but strive to find ways to make life better for the other person (most of the time)!

5. Pursue your own dreams. What would you like to accomplish or, rather, what is God putting on your heart? When we discuss and pursue our own goals, we also motivate our husbands to do the same and we will be more open to encouraging their pursuits. If a couple is looking to God to direct their steps then these dreams will be compatible. (I discuss this idea more here.) What’s more inspiring than two people hoping, praying, and working together?! Your husband will thank you, your relationship with God will be deeper, and your marriage will grow stronger than ever!

I know that I’m in my late-twenties and I’ve only been married seven years, but the above points are just a little bit of what I have discovered, especially in the past year. Our marriage is far from perfect and we are constantly learning and growing, but as long as we are evolving together and focused on God, then I know we will be alright!

Do you have a story to share about how you have seen the benefits of dreaming together in your own marriage? Any challenges?

Tags: dreamer husband, dreams, faith, marriage, relationships

Comments 2 Comments
Categories God, Faith & Inspiration, Mommy/Wife Stuff

What’s Holding You Back from Pursuing Your Dreams?

1 Nov

Many of us have a mental list of places that would be nice to visit, jobs that would be ideal, and things that we’d like to do. It seems that too often, though, that’s exactly where those dreams stay – in our mind!

As a married, full-time working mother of two, I know the challenges that come with finding the time or the motivation to pursue, let alone even think about, my dreams and goals. I know that there are seasons in life and I need to be present in whatever phase that I am in, since God has me there for a reason! I also believe, though, that God gave each of us talents to use to aid the world and I need to be open to whatever He is calling me to do.

In the hustle and bustle of daily life, we can often dismiss promptings from the Holy Spirit or over look seeds that God may be planting in our hearts for the future. We may be distracted by too much time on social media, held back by fear of failure, or worried about what others’ will think of us. Fortunately, we can choose how to respond and address these obstacles!

Whether it’s spending a few minutes in silence on the commute to work to listen to God, starting a journal, or choosing to read an inspirational book instead of watching television, there are minor changes we can make in our daily routines to be more open to God’s will and discovering His plan for us!

To read about one way that I have carved out more time in my day to devote to my family and my personal goals, check out my first guest post at Life Happens When! I love Leanne’s blog and am excited to be a part of it!

What sacrifices or changes have you made in order to grow in faith and work towards your goals?

Tags: dreams, faith, goals, God's will, inspiration, Life Happens When

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Categories God, Faith & Inspiration

10 Inspirational Quotes about Following God’s Will

19 Oct

So many powerful words have been spoken and written down over the course of history. A few months ago, I started collecting these words of wisdom in my own little book of quotes to inspire and motivate me! I thought that I’d share some of my favorites so far. I’m sure that I will have a ‘Part 2’ of this post in the future!

1. Where your talents and the needs of the world cross, there lies your purpose. -Aristotle

2. Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. -Psalm 37:4

3. Faith is taking the first step, even when you don’t see the whole staircase. -Martin Luther King, Jr.

4. Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you. -Mother Teresa

5. Every outcome of every challenge should reveal how God supplies the grace to make it through the seemingly impossible. -Father Leo Patalinghug

6. When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, I used everything you gave me. -Erma Bombeck

7. The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet. -Frederick Buechner

8. Do not lose heart, even if you should discover that you lack qualities necessary for the work to which you are called. He who called you will not desert you, but the moment you are in need he will stretch out his saving hand. -Saint Angela Merici

9. Be bold and mighty forces will come to your aid. -Basil King

10. Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not upon your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your path. -Proverbs 3:5-6

Click for a PDF version of this list!

Update: To read 10 more of my favorite inspirational quotes, click here! And for inspirational shareable quote graphics, check out my new website Bold Red Creative!

Tags: bible verses about God's will, dreams, faith, hope, inspirational quotes, motivational words, trust

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Categories God, Faith & Inspiration

The Year of Faith: Living Without Fear

21 Sep

Usually January 1st marks the annual time to contemplate goals and make resolutions, but in a few weeks many Catholics will begin a new year of sorts that will consist of challenges to learn more about the Catholic faith, grow deeper in a personal relationship with Jesus, and evangelize. The Year of Faith begins October 11, 2012 and lasts until November 24th, 2013. The Note with pastoral recommendations for the Year of Faith from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on the Vatican’s website details different events and opportunities for celebrating, as well as explains more about what the Year of Faith entails.

The Year of Faith is intended to contribute to a renewed conversion to the Lord Jesus and to the rediscovery of faith, so that the members of the Church will be credible and joy-filled witnesses to the Risen Lord in the world of today – capable of leading those many people who are seeking it to the “door of faith.”

I’m really excited about this upcoming Year of Faith, especially since I recently came across the idea for living “A Year Without Fear” in the book She’s Got Issues by Nicole Unice. I feel like the two “years” match up very well. In order to live without fear we must step outside our comfort zones and put our trust in God. It is a daily choice to let go of our false sense of control and say “Yes” to what God asks of us – whether big or small. The best way that we can share the true peace and joy that faith offers is through our actions and interactions with others. I think Saint Francis of Assisi said this best.

Preach the gospel at all times — if necessary, use words.

As those who are familiar with this blog know, I am passionate about pursuing dreams and following God’s plan. The Year of Faith will be a great time to re-evaluate how we can use our God-given talents to serve others. When people see how joyful we are about what we do (because we truly enjoy doing what we love), it will speak more to convert hearts to Christ than anything we can say. Understanding our faith should not be minimized, though, since it is the foundation for what we do and is necessary in order to explain the reason for our joy to others.

My plan for the upcoming year is to continue to look for opportunities and not use obstacles as excuses to live an “average” life. I want to continue to grow in my faith and be open to possibilities I never would have considered to be options in the past. I want to listen and respond to the Holy Spirit when He moves me to act or say something. I plan to enhance my faith by spending more time reading scripture and books about following God’s will!

How do you plan to embrace the Year of Faith? What does living without fear look like for you?

Tags: Catholic, Christian, faith, family, goals, God, living without fear, Pope, Year of Faith

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Categories God, Faith & Inspiration

Battling ‘Breaking Bad’

17 Aug

Okay, so Adam and I finally jumped on the Breaking Bad bandwagon and watched all the shows up to the current season. While this show is entertaining and suspenseful, it is totally the opposite of my life in a lot of ways -obviously. But the other day, I started thinking about how the lead character, Walter White, first started his slide down a very slippery slope to unethical, illegal, and selfish behavior and how it is probably similar to the way a lot of people start addictions and get into destructive and corrupt situations. Initially, there is a rationalization of behavior and a justification that it’s only because of ‘blank’ or I need to do this because ‘blank,’ etc. Next thing you know, this person’s addiction is at the center of his/her life and their self-control has been compromised. This person’s wants and selfish motives drive his/her behavior. For Walter, his bleak cancer diagnosis prompted him to figure out a way to provide for his family since he thought that he would die within the next several month. As he started down the path of cooking meth, his ego and his greed dominated his decision-making.

I read or heard somewhere a great quote that I’m probably going to butcher, but it was something to the effect of “everyday is a battle between thinking we’re God and letting God be God.” So every choice we make, we are either going to give in to what we want or give up what we desire for God’s best purpose for our lives. I’m sure most of us can’t relate to committing murder or selling vast amounts of methamphetamine or dealing with the Cartel, but we all face a daily battle to choose God’s will over our own and to have character and integrity even when no one is looking. When we continuously seek God, our dreams will align with His plan for our life and we will be able to do the seemingly impossible. Our desires will be fulfilled because they are also what God wants for us. (“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” -Psalm 37:4)

A few months ago, I read an awesome paragraph in the book More than Ordinary: Enjoying Life with God by Doug Sherman that addresses this perfectly:

“The absolute perfection of God’s will means every step I take to follow His leadership is a monumental trade up. Every decision, attitude, comment, response, and sacrifice I make to please Him is vastly better for me (and everyone around me) than if I am self-led. In every situation I face today, following His leadership is not a little better but much better. And the consequences of going my own direction are far worse than I usually imagine.”

For those of you who watch Breaking Bad, you know how disastrous the consequences of Walter’s actions have been for his those who care about him the most, not to mention his soul. When we make ourselves gods, we become self-focused and close ourselves off from true joy and peace. When we surrender to God, we place our trust in him that He wants the best for us and others. “We know that all things work for good for those that love God, who are called according to His purpose.” -Romans 8:28.

Keep listening and believing! Have a great weekend!

above image courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net

Tags: Breaking Bad, Doug Sherman, faith, God, inspiration