7 Quick Takes Friday – August 3

Please join me and other Catholic bloggers at Conversion Diary for 7 Quick Takes Friday.

1. First Professions in Nashville

My sister, who had been with the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia in Nashville for two years, discerned that she was being called to leave three weeks before First Profession of Vows. A week after she returned home, my sister asked if I’d still like to go to Nashville. After spending two years with these wonderful young women, my sister wanted to be with them when they made their first profession and received the black veil. I had also bonded with these beautiful sisters during my visits to the Motherhouse over the past two years so I said yes. (More on our trip in a future blog post). The Profession Mass was beautiful and moving.

The photo below is of my sister and Sr. Mary Angela, the novice mistress who (along with the rest of the novices) was delighted to see my sister again and told both of us that we were “like family” and they hoped we would visit frequently.

photo copyright Ellen Gable Hrkach

2. Parthenon

We were only in Nashville for 18 hours, but we did get to do a bit of sightseeing. Nashville has a really cool exact representation of the Parthenon (below).

photo copyright Ellen Gable Hrkach

3. Sunshine Tea

We also enjoyed a wonderful breakfast of whole wheat blueberry pancakes, fruit oatmeal and Sunshine Tea at Fido’s in Nashville. Sunshine Tea, I soon found out, is a delectable fresh-brewed tea with a blend of mint, ginger and orange.

4. Soft PretzelsOne of my family’s favorite New Jersey treats are Philadelphia Soft Pretzels. We can’t get authentic soft pretzels up in Canada so we usually try to enjoy them here in NJ.

5. Centennial Exhibit

As most of my regular readers know,

Photo copyright Ellen Gable Hrkach

6. Angela’s Song

Full Quiver’s newest novel, Angela’s Song by AnnMarie Creedon, is in its final editing stages and will be released on October 7. Angela’s Song is about Angela “Jel” Cooke, a widow. A short excerpt is below:

“Bless me Father, for I have sinned. I kissed Jack Bartolomucci, and then I slapped him.”

“You slapped him?” he asks, incredulous. Then alarm spreads across his face. Father lowers his voice. “He did something to you that warranted slapping?”

“No, he didn’t, really…well, sort of, at least I thought so last night but today I’m not so sure.”

Fr. Sean sighs and rubs his forehead. “I’m confused, Jel.”

“Okay. Everything he did and said led me to believe he was going to ask me out and I really got my hopes up. But then he told me that, although he wanted to ask me out, he couldn’t because I’m not ready.”

“And then you kissed him?”

I nod. “And then I slapped him.”

Stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks.

7. Growing Up in God’s Image

Growing Up in God’s Image is a book that helps parents talk to their kids about sex. It will be released on September 8, 2012.

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary.

Copyright 2012 Ellen Gable Hrkach