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So…the pope is coming! Are you going to see him?

Just nine days until Pope Francis arrives in the United States:The excitement continues to build for this historic apostolic visit.Part of the anticipation has sprung from the sharing of memories by those who have participated in papal visits of the past. Pope Francis is the fourth pontiff to visit

When we signed our boys up for soccer, I figured they would get some exercise, learn some new skills, and experience what it’s like to be part of a team.What I didn’t realize is that they would also learn that you don’t stop playing just because of bad weather. At

I had the opportunity to attend the Pope’s Mass on Sept. 23 in Washington, D.C., with 25,000 of my closest friends.If you were there too, I’m so very happy for you! If you weren’t, I wish you could have been, and I wish we could have crowded together against the

Last week John and I celebrated 11 years of marriage. The traditional gift for 11 years is steel. But in our household the traditional gift for 11 years is looking at each other the night before and saying, “Oh my goodness, what is tomorrow? Please tell me you didn’t get me

Guess how many editions of “7 Quick Takes” I have written! I’ll tell you the answer after the 7th take. It’s more than you think. Or maybe it’s fewer. I was surprised by the number, but my most faithful reader guessed it almost exactly when I asked her last night.

Schools are closed today. For weeks I have had this beautifully planned day with our day care situation well in hand.Then our older son got a birthday invitation for late in the afternoon. OK, I thought. So I’ll leave work a little early.Then our younger son got a birthday invitation for

My brother and I were playing with our children in my parents’ backyard last weekend when a few raindrops started falling.“It’s raining,” I said. “We might have to go inside soon.”“No, it’s not raining here,” said my nephew. “It’s just raining in the front yard.”We looked, and it was true.

Today is the day of Halloween parties. I’m helping with one in kindergarten, attending one with our children at our friends’ house in the evening, and then rounding out the day with a final party with John in the evening.Yes, I’ll be in costume. No, I won’t tell you what mine

The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them.

Did I say our children were going to dress in identical costumes for Halloween? I should have said that at their direction I purchased identical costumes for Halloween. But our kindergartener decided he wanted to be a police officer again this year and save the Clone Trooper costume for some