First and foremost…welcome, Conversion Diary readers! I’m delighted you’re here!
Last week I had the honor of being a guest on EWTN’s The Son Rise Morning Show. The producer over there, the talented and always entertaining Matt Swaim, just released another book this week! It’s entitled Prayer in the Digital Age.
I haven’t received my copy yet but our very own Jennifer Fulwiler wrote the foreword and told me that the book is chock-full of “fresh insights” that she “hadn’t heard anywhere else.” Apparently, she enjoyed it so much that she found herself walking around, thinking about what she’d just read, for hours after she’d put it down. That’s quite a review!
I can’t wait to read it! Have you purchased your copy yet?
Speaking of books…I sent off my very first ever book proposal recently! I’m trying to remain detached, but who am I kidding? I’m all kinds of excited. I’ll keep you posted! Please say a prayer if you think about it!
What are your thoughts on deathbed confessions? My husband, Dan, weighed in recently over at his blog…
“I once asked some students of mine: “What do you think of deathbed confessions?”
I was teaching theology, and the Book of Jonah was being discussed. The implications of the Ninevites’ 11th-hour conversion had captured some attention, and since any level of attention captured during a high school theology class is as precious and fragile as an egg in a hammer factory, I rolled with it…”
Read the rest here.
I just realized that this Easter will be the 10th anniversary of my coming home to the Catholic Church. To whatever extent possible (considering the five rambunctious little ones that live with me), I hope this Lent will be filled with much quiet reflection upon our sweet Lord’s boundless mercy.
In light of that goal, we made a purchase that I’ve wanted to make for a very long time. We ordered Ann Voskamp’s son Caleb’s Way of Light wreath. The pictures alone make me feel more peaceful. I can only imagine the serenity it will bring to our family’s Lenten experience.
Audrey Assad–hands down my favorite Catholic musician–just got married! A couple of days ago she linked to a few of her wedding pictures. The faith and tenderness shared by this couple and captured so superbly in these photos made my heart positively sing!
Here are a few of her wedding photos.
And here are a couple of her engagement photos.
Congratulations, William and Audrey! (Oh, and Audrey? Your dress is a work of lovely perfection!)
I love this…
“At Shabby Apple, we value both artistry in design and the artists who create designs. We understand that many designers want to design and develop beautiful and unique clothing but don’t want to hire employees, pay taxes, manage shipments to customers, manage marketing campaigns, manage customer service, manage returns or manage many of the other aspects of a business. Thus, in order to support start-up fashion designers and the fashion design community, we have developed our Emerging Designer Program.
Applicants who are accepted into our program will have their designs featured on the Shabby Apple website and will received 40% of the revenue from the sales of their designs. Emerging Designers will be in charge of designing, funding and manufacturing of all of their own designs. If the designer has never manufactured before, Shabby Apple will provide assistance with this process…”
Are any of you fledgling designers? If so, there are more details for you here.
Take care, friends (new and old)! 
Below is a linky list if you’d like to add a link to your own 7 Quick Takes post. (1) Make sure the link you submit is to the URL of your post and not your main blog URL. (2) Include a link back here.
40 Comments
I was already traipsing around your blog right now, how cool that you're hosting 7QT!
3- Congratulations!! What a big accomplishment!
5- Ten years! Praise God!
6- I didn't know she was getting married! I like her dress… we're seeing a lot of wedding dresses on your blog lately….
Congratulations and prayers for your book! Impressive!
Thanks for hosting 7QT!
Thanks for the warm welcome to your blog! I'll have to stop and read awhile! ;-)
That's really cool about The Shabby Apple. I'm always so sad to think about all the potential out there that never gets developed because people can't get financial backing. I'd love to see more programs like that spread out all across the arts!
Congratulations on sending off your book proposal! How exciting! Best of luck!
Thanks for hosting 7QT this week! I read Dan's article too and it was quite interesting. He found a really great picture to go with it.
My entry this week… There's a little black spot on your head today. Planned Parenthood's tireless, evil efforts. Joel Northrup places morality above athletics. Snow, and what one dad spent 80 hours building for his kids. Our executive branch unilaterally usurps the power of the legislature and judiciary to attack genuine marriage. Following in Mother Theresa's footsteps. Happiness.
Greetings! Nice to meet you :)
the way of light wreath is just gorgeous … peaceful.
congratulations on mailing off your book proposal!
thanks for hosting!
Thank you for hosting 7 Quick Takes. Congratulation on your ten years of faith. This year mu husband will be celebrating his seventh year of his conversion to Catholicism. This is my ninth year of returning to the practice of my faith. Blessing all around!
Very excited about your book proposal, Hallie. And thank you for sharing the beautiful Way of Light wreath – I look forward to adding it to our home next Advent. I love to read about everyone preparing for Lent at this time.
Wait, there's specifically Catholic Christian music?! Why has nobody ever told me that! I'm totally checking out the cd you linked.
Thanks for hosting! I'm enjoying poking around your blog :)
Thanks for hosting — beautiful site!
Thanks for hosting. Looking forward to perusing your site a bit.
Wow! Thank you for the many kind words! What a lovely way to begin my day! :)
Congratulations on the book proposal. I recently found Shabby Apple and was very impressed.
Will keep you and your book in my prayers! That's so exciting.
How did I miss that you had a book in the works??
I've been a follower for a long time, but never came over to the blog proper for perusing.
It's simply adorable!
My first 7 quick takes Friday! I love conversion diary; now I am delighted to have discovered your blog! There is not enough modest fashion–I can't wait to look around your site! Thanks for hosting!
Oh book proposals… that's right, keep your cool, keep nonchalant… then freak out later. :)
Congrats about 10 years in the Church!!!
Yea Hallie for hosting! Hope all is well!
I've been peeking at your blog recently. Hello!
How exciting about the book proposal – we're rooting for you! Your site is awesome. All the best to you and thanks for hosting!
Congratulations on 10 years in the Church! Thanks for hosting 7QT today. I am impressed with you for writing books. I can hardly write my blog!!!
I am on the waiting list for that beautiful wreath … I can't wait!
Congratulations on your upcoming 10-year anniversary! How special!!
Have a great weekend!
Blessings!
Congrats on ten years! How wonderful!
I'll be back to link up when I'm done–thanks for hosting!
I read your husband's post, great one by the way! I heard John Wayne had a deathbed conversion. If I'm remembering right, I think he was Baptized Catholic right before he died. Isn't that what we pray for when we pray for the Conversion of Sinners?
Although it seems unfair to struggle all our lives for Heaven, then at the last minute someone can just get it. BUT That's our own selfishness isn't it? Our struggle keeps on even with feeling envious at someone's end.
Congratulations on your book–how exciting!
And Congrats on your 10 Anniversary!
You're so sweet to host us this week, thank you. Love your takes, and I'm with you on that incredible dress. The photos of their ceremony made me tear up. Beautiful.
Who do I call to demand we need a book from you? Happy weekend!
Hope your Lent is calm and prayer filled… even with the five blessings assistance :)
This is my very first 7QT:) Thanks for hosting!
That was fun!
Happy early tenth conversion anniversary!
Thanks for hosting, Hallie! And oh, oh, oh I will be saying some prayers about the book. Many prayers. You must be nervous!
Congratulations on 10 years!
Thanks for hosting. I enjoyed visiting your blog. Good luck on your book proposal. The publishing world needs Catholic voices.
I was SO happy to see that you were hosting. I never comment…only read lurke but thanks for writing such a great blog!
This is my first 7 Quick Takes! Congratulations on your first book proposal!
I love Audrey Assad!!! I saw her perform at FOCUS conference and have listened to little else but her album since.
I am un-Christianly jealous of your Way of Life purchase! :) I've been wanting one since Christmas, and will hopefully be able to get one for this year's Advent season.
Congrats on sending out your book proposal! Very exciting!
Almost made it before Saturday, but not quite! Thanks for hosting, Hallie!
I had to do a paper on a death-bed convert very similar to Oscar Wilde, the Spanish playwright Ramon Gomez de la Serna. Similar story, guy spends half his life delving into some deep sexual depravities, or inventing them, then suddenly converts. It's interesting though, as I re-read his work in the light of his conversion I could see that a part of him was reaching for a relationship with God, even as he was cursing the Church and everyone in it. The Holy Spirit works in the secret places in us.
Truthfully, such stories warm my heart. If someone like that can find salvation then there is hope for me.
I *love* Shabby Apple! Well, in theory I love them. I just ordered my first dress from them (the Madison Ave. dress) for Easter. I can't wait to see how it works out.