Happy 250th to the USA, climbing the Empire State Building, a Cookie Monster geode & more (7 Quick Takes)

For many years, I blogged every Friday with 7 Quick Takes—snippets of life and thoughts from the week.

The other day, my friend Annie was telling me how much she misses the quick takes. And I thought, here we are, enjoying a beautiful hot summer and celebrating our nation’s 250^th birthday. Let’s treat ourselves to 7 Quick Takes.

So, here we go.

~ 1. It’s a Grand Old Flag ~

July is my favorite month of the year. It’s my birthday month, so that adds to the joy, but July is also the heart of the summer—and summertime is simply the best. Yes, it’s ridiculously hot, and my glasses fog up when I walk outside. But it’s also gloriously summer. The heat gives me life.

I’m also a Bicentennial Baby, born in 1976, and I’ve been looking forward to the 250^th celebration.

Anyway, my sister Treasa is super-creative and thoughtful and knows how excited I am for the semiquincentennial. She showed up at my house on Independence Day Eve with a beautiful patriotic wreath she made for our door.

Then my friend Mary and I went to our neighborhood Fourth of July parade and watched children on bicycles and saw her fire fighter son and his colleagues lead the way on fire engines.

Our nation has its flaws, for sure. But there’s no place on earth that I’d rather be.

~ 2. Noodle Me This ~

Annie and I have been friends for almost 30 years, and our tradition is meeting every summer for spaghetti pizza. It takes me right back to the spaghetti pizza we enjoyed while we were in college together at Franklin & Marshall.

You can’t find spaghetti pizza everywhere, but it’s worth tracking some down.

It’s also a true gift to reconnect regularly with friends who have known you for more than half of your life. We always pick up right where we left off.

~ 3. Top of the World ~

Am I the only one who just can’t get enough of the couple who climbed the antenna of the Empire State Building the other day? I do not like heights at all, and I can hardly look at the photos—and yet I must look at the photos! All the photos! All the videos!

I am absolutely intrigued by people who would risk their lives and break the law and cause so much disruption for so many. What an incredible blend of talent and skill and courage and absurdity and lack of respect for emergency resources and and and….

But truly there is someone for everyone, isn’t there? They are so perfectly matched.

~ 4. We Love Thomas, No Doubt ~

Some feast days are glued into my mind, but I am always surprised to rediscover that the Feast of St. Thomas is July 3. When I dropped into Mass for First Friday, I was delighted to find that we were celebrating him.

St. Thomas is a favorite of mine, and I know I’m not alone. It’s so easy to relate to his questioning and his longing to believe. We all love proof and reassurance and clarity from God that he is real—and that he loves us deeply. And Thomas’ story reminds us that Jesus knows what we need on our faith journey, and he’ll meet us where we are.

As I was driving home from Mass, thinking about St. Thomas, I spotted a Thomas’ English Muffins truck. So, I drove part of the way home following a large “Thomas” sign on the back of a truck.

Maybe that truck and I often share the road in the mornings, and I’ve never noticed it. Or maybe we never have. Either way, today I saw it, and I felt like I was grinning along with God. He knows I might not need to put my hand in Jesus’ side today, but I certainly appreciate a reminder that God is walking along with me, giving me a little sign of his love.

~ 5. Mass Quest Update ~

As I’ve shared before, every year I have been picking a goal for the number of Masses I hope to attend in a year. This year, I decided to aim for 226 Masses for 2026. I am happy to report that I have attended 130, and I am on a good pace toward my goal.

Obviously, I am not attending Mass just for the numbers. Going to daily Mass—and working to prioritize it and fit it into my day—has helped me so much on my faith journey, enriched my prayer life, and grounded me in a way I struggle to articulate. Keeping track just adds to the fun.

The other day at Mass, the priest gave me a giant piece of the big host—the biggest piece I have ever received in my life. And immediately I thought of a friend I had promised to pray for, a friend who had told me how much she loves receiving part of the big host, too. And I thought it was like a reminder from God that she should be on my heart and in my prayers in a more significant way. And she has been.

~ 6. Prayer Across the Miles ~

My friend Laura went on a pilgrimage to Lourdes a few weeks ago. We texted a bit and prayed for each other. I lit a candle for her in our parish church, and she lit a St. Rita candle for me in Saint Jean de Luz in France.

While Laura was traveling, I gave a talk at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Baynesville. I knew she would be in Lourdes the day I was speaking, so I asked her to pray for the people I would be talking to that day. And she did.

When Laura got back, she also brought me some holy water from Lourdes. What a gift it is that prayer can connect us across time and space.

~ 7. Cookie Monster Geode ~

I might be the last person to hear about this, but a few years ago, a scientist found a geode that looks like Cookie Monster. You can see the Cookie Monster geode photos and explanation here.

This kind of story absolutely delights me. It reminds me how much God loves us, how infinite his creativity is, and how much he wants to bring us joy.

I hope you experience that joy today, whether in geodes, cookies, nature, air conditioning, or the people you love.

God bless America.

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