7 Quick Takes Friday (#21)

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1. I feel so absent from blog-world lately... but life has been very busy! I wish it would slow down a bit for Lent, but it doesn't seem like that will happen. The good news is that I am still going to make extra time for extra spiritual workouts this Lenten season, including keeping up on all the good Lent posts all over the internet!
2. Have you seen this series of posts by three young Catholic women? If you haven't, you should go read them now. 
3. Have you left to read them yet?!? Good.
4. I leave tomorrow morning for my alternative spring break trip to Mount Pleasant, SC! Our Newman Center is taking a small group of students to help rebuild homes in the area... as well as explore Charleston and the beach! Should be a fun and humbling week! If you think about it, say some prayers for our group!
5. Have you ever read any of John Donne's poetry? He was a metaphysical poet around the time of Shakespeare, and in addition, he was also insanely in love with his wife (they had 12 children!) and he was a super secret Catholic! Actually, it wasn't so super secret, but because he had an "in" with the king, he managed to keep his head. However, his poetry is laced with Catholicism, love for his wife, and commentary on the amount of power given to the king. He even has a series of Divine Poems and Holy Sonnets, all of which are beautiful. He is one of my favorite poets, and if you are looking for something new to check out, head to his poetry! Some of my personal favorites - The Canonization, A Valediction Forbidding Mourning, and Holy Sonnet X: Death, Be Not Proud.
6. What are you giving up for Lent? I gave up juice... and I'm on Day 3 and already have struggled. Let's be clear: I drink juice like a toddler with a sippy cup. Juice has it's wonderfulness, such as lots of vitamins and minerals... but it also has lots and lots of sugar. Mmmmm, sugar. Mmmmm, juice.
7. In addition to giving something up, I also try to add extra spiritual workouts to my routine. This Lent, I am reading Pope Benedict XVI's new book, Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week, or as I like to call it, Jesus the Sequel. I really enjoyed his first one, although it often went way over my head, it still blew my mind! I am really looking forward to it. Are you adding any reading to your Lenten season?