Seven Quick Takes

1. Valentine's Day drop out

Wednesday night, with two kids incapacitated on couches, I told my husband, "let's not do anything for Valentine's day."  And I held up my end of the bargain, except for a loving note.  Last year I made heart shaped pancakes with strawberry sauce, a heart shaped pizza and strawberries in the shape of hearts.  Small gifts were given.  Love notes and heart shape crafts were the theme of the day.  This year?  I had two kids passed out in our living room most of the day, barely eating anything.  We had no flour, no eggs in the house and, with the kids sick, no way to get to the store to get anything to make anything meaningful for the day.  I just pretended that Valentine's day was not really happening and yesterday was just a normal, average, ordinary day.

2. The Government knows best?

Have any of you seen this article?  Let me just share a small portion of it:

When it comes to education, Germany, Sweden and much of Eastern Europe and South America have outlawed homeschooling completely. Many other countries such as Austria and Iceland have placed burdensome restrictions on the practice. These countries refuse to give up control of the content of education and trust parents to teach their children. Much of this fear likely stems from the religious nature of many home educational programs and the refusal of homeschooling parents to engage in social indoctrination that is well under way at public and many private schools. This indoctrination often includes the normalization of homosexuality, explicit sex education, and endorsement of contraceptives and abortion.

A European Human Rights Court affirmed the German ban on homeschooling, saying that Germany has a valid state interest in preventing dissent from those who hold "separate philosophical convictions." In the United States, Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the University of California Irvine School of Law, recently proposed in a speech at the annual meeting of the American Association of Law Schools that not only homeschooling, but all private schooling, should be made illegal. He claims that the right of parents to control the upbringing of their children is not absolute and can be overridden for the good of the state.

Am I the only one that finds that last paragraph disturbing? 

3.  Overwhelmed by the blogosphere

Is it just me, or does anyone else get overwhelmed by the sheer number of blogs out there?  I read very few blogs.  I have searched out Catholic family life blogs, running blogs, healthy eating blogs, and just plain pretty blogs and I follow MANY of them.  But, I rarely check most of them.  There are certain blogs I check into once a week, but that is it.  But, I want to really get into some blogs, but am overwhelmed by the sheer #.

So, tell me, if you could read just one blog everyday, which one would it be (beside your own)?

4. Running with consistency

I am so happy to announce that I am running regularly now!! Yahooo!!  I limit myself to every other day, with the exception of Sundays and Mondays.  I am still pain free. And loving it. 

5. Esther 4:14

This verse has been on my heart a lot lately. 

For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

Isn't this what we are all called to?

6. Notice I am avoiding saying ANYTHING about Pope Benedict resigning??
I have lots of thoughts on it, but nothing that has not already been said.  Want a fun "thought" post on the topic that will make you laugh? Check out Let Love Be Sincere.

7. No Little Flower Orphan Love to share . . .

I gave up Facebook for Lent, so I have NO pictures to share with you!!  But keep on praying for these little ones!

Have a great weekend everyone!