7 Quick Takes: babies, pecans, Jane Austen, dudes and flailing.

I’m even more convinced than ever that my friend Terri should write a novel someday. She’s got it in her. Read this and tell me that I’m wrong.

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This has been a crazy week. My post recounting an experience with my son took off, and occupied a bit of my mind on Wednesday. Interesting how you can not be able to talk about something for years and then, all of a sudden, it’s time. {have I told you how much I enjoy writing for Austin Catholic New Media? I do. Such a blessing! I hope you might consider following them. Here, too. }

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I know I reference her blog almost ever time I reference anything, but Leila over at Like Mother, Like Daughter post this thought-provoking piece about marriage this week.

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Oh, remember that giveaway I mentioned last week? Yes, It’s up, and it’s a goody. Monday, January 28th is the 200th anniversary of the publication of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice!!!! Go here to enter the giveaway - it’s a ‘choose your own book’ giveaway, so you’ll be sure to be happy!

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I wrote this post over at CatholicMom.com about podcasts for guys. To help with my husbands ridiculously long commute each day. (prayers about that today would be greatly appreciated, actually) There were quite a few great podcast suggestions left in comments, to compliment the list that my husband, Brandon Vogt and Jason Elizondo helped me put together. Podcasts are fun! Yay!

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I’ve been thinking a lot about how motherhood can be hard, and how I’d like to tell all those young moms, or not so young moms who feel like their completely lost and flailing. And then, I remember this post by Simcha Fischer that I read long ago. There really is no need to attempt to write something that has already been written so well. I mean, when a post gets 670 comments, there really is nothing more to be said, right?

Here’s a little bit: “When I had only one child, I told myself over and over that motherhood was fulfilling and sanctifying and was filling my heart to the brim with peace and satisfaction.  And so I felt horribly guilty for being so bored, so resentful, so exhausted.  This is a joyful time, dammit!  I should enjoy being suddenly transformed into the Doyenne of Anything that Smells Bad.”

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Even if he might be a little full of himself these days, I still love Johnny Manziel. And this video:

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