7 Quick Takes: The Extreme Introvert, Rotten Pumpkin, & Holiday Masochist Edition

— 1 —

So my postpartum mood had been pretty placid – even chirpy – until recently. Over the past few weeks, I’ve morph into a weepy psycho. My poor babysitter showed up on Wednesday, and I burst into tears and told her how I’ve ruined my children and that she’s the only adult I’ve seen in days. She was so sweet and kind. She handled my own tantrum as well as she handles my children’s. She’s a keeper.

Oh, and she was not offended at all when I sent her an email the other day with the greeting, “Ho there.”

No, the muddled mind has not defogged itself yet.

— 2 —

You think this child might be an introvert?

4-year-old: I wish I could be abandoned.

— 3 —

I’m so excited to be serving as the Keynote Speaker along with the Sisters for Life at the 2012 Behold Conference on the Dignity and Vocation of Women. Ginny Baldridge, musician Marie Miller, the faithful fashionista Hallie Lord, and the renowned Jen Fulwiler (hostess of the famous 7 QTs this post is a part of) will be in attendance as well.

Registration is open and if you register before December 15t, you get the early bird discount and only pay $45 for an amazing day and will also be entered to win a free spot to the event for you or a friend.

During my talk, “Made in Heaven,” I’ll explore what it means to be fearfully and wonderfully made in God’s image and likeness. I’m so excited about this event and would love to meet some of you there. (Do let me know if you plan on attending!) The weekend just happens to fall on my birthday weekend, and I can’t think of a better gift than to be surrounded by so many sisters in Christ.

A side perk of attending the conference is that you just might get your hands on this butterball:

— 4 —

We’re hosting our first-ever Advent Tea on Monday. Madeline helped plan the menu for her guests, so it’s full of rich indulgences.

Here’s what we’ll be making this weekend:

Cream Cheese Mints from Tea & Cake with Saints

Cheddar Cheese Muffins also from Tea & Cake with Saints

Chocolate Pound Cake from The Cake Doctor
Have I ever mentioned how much I love this cookbook? The book’s author has put together a tasty ensemble of easy cake recipes that all start with a cake mix but are embellished with lots of delicious but simple tweaks. People always rave about any of the cakes I make from this book. I’d like to get The Cake Doctor Returns one of these days.

Simple cucumber sandwiches
Add a touch of plain yogurt to cream cheese to make it a bit creamier and then spread on bread rounds. Sprinkle with a touch of salt. Top with cucumber slices and a sprig of fresh dill.

Peanut butter sandwiches in the shape of Christmas trees

Spinach balls (a recipe from a cookbook Dave’s grandmother put together for family). I’ll try to link to it soon. They’re delicious and always a hit at potlucks.

Hot Cocoa

Christmas tea from the Gooseberry Patch’s Merry Christmas Cookbook

St. Nicholas cookies made with St. Nick cookie cutters from the Saint Nicholas Center

My husband says there’s got to be some kind of masochism involved in wanting to throw a party that involves 11-plus young ladies (some still in the toddler category), copious amounts of sugar, and hot beverages, especially when my life is a big, rowdy party nearly every day. It won’t be perfect, but it will be perfectly fun!

— 5 —

Have you heard about the bittersweet Faith & Family magazine news that’s coupled with exciting changes ahead for Catholic Digest? Faith & Family magazine is ending (boo-hoo), although the Faith & Family LIVE! website is going strong and is here to stay. However, the woman who made that magazine so beautiful and inspiring – the illustrious and ever-faithful Danielle Bean – is joining Catholic Digest as its new editor-in-chief. The magazine is getting a new look and feel and is embracing the updated tagline “Faith & Family Living.”

I’m honored to be writing a new health column for the revamped publication set to launch in March 2012.

It’s very important support quality, Christian media, so won’t you consider starting or renewing a subscription to Catholic Digest? Subscribe here, please.

— 6 —

My 2-year-old is a total kleptomaniac. She’s always taking things that don’t belong to her (although as a toddler everything is up for grabs in her little, solipsistic world) and stashing them in odd places or hiding them away in one of the many purses she totes around.

Yesterday I was rummaging through a closet, looking for some warm hats since the weather down South has finally turned cold, when I discovered this:

I’m almost positive it’s a mini rotten pumpkin. Each girl picked out one at a pumpkin patch before Halloween. I remember tossing two of them away when they were starting to look sickly. When I didn’t see the third, I thought that maybe I’d surreptitiously thrown it away earlier. I didn’t expect to find it hidden away, decomposing, in a closet weeks later. The closet contained further evidence that our little klepto was at it again. Along with the expired pumpkin, I found one of my 2-year-old’s sippy cups about a quarter full of rancid milk.

Ewwwww…

— 7 —

A few quick prayer requests:

• Please pray for my dear friend. In the last month, she has lost her home and watched her husband suffer and undergo major surgery. She has just started blogging about her trials and as the name of her blog suggests, she continues to choose to look at things with a rosy outlook. Her faith and humility through this ordeal has inspired me greatly. May it inspire you as well.
• Another friend is due in March with her fourth baby. Over the Thanksgiving holidays her water broke. She is now in the hospital on strict bed rest, praying for her little one. She left me a voicemail yesterday, and she sounded amazing. I’d told her I wanted to bring her husband and kids a meal, and she went on about how busy I am and how I have so much going on. I’ve only recently met her, but she’s one of those women who is always smiling and always thinking of others. Another real inspiration.
• From a fellow homeschooling mama:
  

  “My husband’s cousin, Joe, was killed in an accident. Joe was one of those larger-than-life, friendly, faith-filled people who left a positive mark wherever he went; he was a very good man. It is a tragic loss for his wife and two young daughters (3 and 5) and for his large, loving extended family. Joe is the big guy in blue here; he is surrounded by his father, brother, uncle, and cousins in the photo. We appreciate you offering intercession for his soul and for God’s loving presence to surround and hold up his wife, children, and family.”

If you have your own prayer requests, please feel free to add them in my God Box.

Happy Advent! Have a good weekend!

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!