1. A highlight of the week: The words of my son, John, after an evening gathering of about 15 youth at our parish center "I like how the parents who chaperone are always happy and I love how much they care about all of us." Makes my day to know that all of our parental effort is noticed and appreciated!
2. I went bowling with my daughter Mary and her class as the entire school enjoyed a day at the bowling alley as part of their Catholic Schools Week Celebration. I can't believe that I can actually say that my mouth hurt from smiling so much! How cute those third grade boys and girls are dancing and bowling and really having a great time! As for us old mom's who chaperoned, we were clueless about how our children all knew the songs they were dancing to as we had never heard of them before. Finally they played a song by Bon Jovi and we all sighed with relief at something we recognized. And do any bowling alleys have manual scoring anymore? What happened to using your brain while enjoying a game?
3. Recipe for comfort at the end of a miserable day: 2 glasses of wine, a handful of chocolate kisses and snuggling under a blanket with my daughter Mary, enjoying one of my all-time favorite movies, "The Scarlet Pimpernel". How I love to watch Anthony Andrews as Sir Percy Blakeney-"They seek him here, they seek him there, those Frenchies seek him everywhere. Is he in heaven or is he in hell? That damned elusive Pimpernel." Sigh.
4. This story about a Gen-x priest has been going around the blogosphere. I love it! Here it is in case you missed it elsewhere.
5. My favorite quote from the week was on Betty Duffy's blog..."It felt like we were two children, suspended for a moment by our mutual fascination in something other than ourselves"- Betty Duffy How I wish I could always feel that way-suspended in fascination by something other than myself!
6. I'm looking forward to attending a Women of Christ Conference tomorrow with my friend Danette and my sister Cindy. Some great guest speakers are scheduled including Vicki Thorn and my favorite, Fr. Don Hying. I am anticipating a wonderful day of inspiration!
7. Is it possible to burn out on church? My son Justin says so. He refuses to serve at Mass anymore, he says it's time for someone else to chip in once in a while after he has served 2+ Sundays a month for 5 years. Could my oldest, John, be close behind after being asked to serve for yet another funeral tomorrow? He is the only youth in our large parish (3200 families-I believe) who serves funerals. Even the parish secretary sounded like she was tired of asking him when she left the request on our answering machine. Anyone ever feel as though their children have been taken advantage of for their willingness to volunteer in church to the point of pushing them away?
Thanks to Jennifer at My Conversion Diary for this MEME
