— 1 —

I’m discerning whether or not to wear a veil to mass. While my initial reaction was negative after reading a blog post about a project to wear veils throughout Advent, my heart truly wants to. My main drawback is that I may be drawing attention to myself by doing so, which is the opposite of what I’m trying to accomplish. But I LOVE the idea of a veil as a form of humility, adoration and submission to our Lord. Would you wear a veil to mass?

— 2 —

The winter season is here! It’s snowing  here in Indianapolis and it’s starting to feel like Christmas! The kids actually had a 2-hour delay today and got to play in the yard with their snow gear and sleds. I always love the first couple snows, then get tired of the mess. 🙂

— 3 —

I want to go to the Holy Land! I’d never had the inclination until I began reading Father Mitch Pacwa, S.J.’s “The Holy Land: An Armchair Pilgrimage.” This book literally walks you geographically step by step, just like you were there, to all the key sites and gives wonderful insight, readings and prayers for each location. It made me realize the importance of understanding the setting where Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the apostles lived to get a more full understanding of the Gospels.

— 4 —

I recently finished reading “God’s Bucket List” by Teresa Tomeo, who is my favorite person to listen to on the radio in the morning and I also do some freelance PR work for her. Everyone should read it! She is so funny and in a great way gets across the point that everything we do in life should be at God’s prodding and not because of our own selfish, earthly desires. The book is really about discerning your vocation in life and putting God’s to-do list at the top of your own to-do list. 🙂 Highly recommend it.

— 5 —

Advent… I love this season, but I have not done a very good job with doing any traditional activities aside from the Christmas tree and decorations. Last year, we did a family prayer each Sunday as we lit the Advent candles. It has been so busy around here workwise I feel like I can barely come up for air! What are your special Advent traditions?

— 6 —

Has everyone entered the Catholic Book Bonanza I’m hosting with Teresa Tomeo and Patti Armstrong? Teresa is giving away 15 different Catholic books from authors like Randy Hain, Matthew Kelley, Dan Burke, herself, Johnnette Benkovic and lots of others. Contest closes on Monday, Dec. 9.

— 7 —

Excited to begin reading the Gospels in a Year with the team over at Flocknote! Last year I got their free daily email to read the Catechism in a Year. I switched to the Gospels this year, which starts Monday. I love this service because it sits in my inbox as an email every day and I can read while waiting in line or during other down time on my phone. I think it’s a great goal for 2014 to read the entire Gospel.

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

Good evening! This is my first blog post as part of a group of bloggers who gather weekly to share their best posts with one another in a series called Sunday Snippets. The idea is to give a brief overview of the week on your blog with summaries of key blog posts, as well as answering the Question of the Week.

Let me start by saying today was a terrible day of weather here in Indiana and our neighbors in Illinois. Please keep those affected by the tornadoes and storms in your prayers as there was a lot of damage in so many places in our state. I live near Indianapolis in Zionsville and we were lucky enough to have the storm systems go on either side of us and stay in the clear.

I was scheduled as a reader tonight for mass right in the middle of all the chaos, and as a Catholic newbie, I wondered if mass would be cancelled or if it’s ever even cancelled. Since I didn’t receive any emails or phone calls, I decided to head on over. I found an entire church full of people just as if nothing was going on. As I sat in mass with a view out a window just behind the Blessed Sacrament, I watched the trees and a flag wave furiously while everything inside was calm. It made me realize how Jesus is just that for us. He gives us peace and calm when all else in our lives is chaos and that’s why everyone was at mass :).

Now, to answer the question of the week: What religious artifacts (statues, pictures, icons, altars, etc) would I find in your home if I stopped in for a visit?

Since I’m new to Catholicism, you’ll find a small but growing collection in my house. I have built a small altar area where I have a crucifix, a lovely image of Mary I found at Good Will of all places (so glad I saved her!), a rose candle for St. Therese (my confirmation saint), an angel statue for my mother-in-law who passed a year ago, a statue of Mary and St. Benedict, a rosary and various prayer cards for my favorite saints. I cherish my little area :).

My blog round-up for the week:

This week I shared how I made the Switch to Christian Radio and challenged others to do so, too. Do you listen to Christian radio? I also discussed how I am doing in checking off No. 1 on “God’s Bucket List,” the new book by “Catholic Connection” radio show hos Teresa Tomeo. The book asks you to put down your own bucket list and consider what God might have in store for you instead. No. 1 on her list? Be still. How are you at being still?

Next week I plan to review “The Holy Land: An Armchair Pilgrimage”  by Father Mitch Pacwa, S.J., one of the best around at explaining the Catholic church simply and clearly!