Well, it has been a very long time since my last post; and I got some inspiration today, so here I am again.
College is going well. It's the time of year when midterms make their appearance and loom over you day and night. So far, I've had 3, and a presentation, and I've felt pretty good about them. One more for Friday, and it's the scary one. Any prayers you can send up for that one at 3 p.m. this Friday would be much appreciated, thanks.
OCTOBER IS HERE!!!! And so far it has been greatly blessed. The first weekend of October is parents' weekend at my school, so there were fun times there. I went to Mass that Friday evening, which was great; and the talent show was that night, which was fun as well. If you want to witness some of the crazy awesomeness that is one of the households (like a fraternity, but with a spiritual focus) on my school's campus, you can click here: Disciples of the Word "Talk" About Break-Ups
Saturday was the St. Francis Festival. My school celebrates the feast of our patron saint with a medieval-themed festival with vendors, costumes, and food. So I got to enjoy the day walking around wearing a medieval dress and barefoot, drinking cider and chilling with friends. It was great. Then I celebrated welcoming in the Lord's Day with friends, and my family came to visit! It was so good to see them!
But anyway, getting back to the subject of this blog and the purpose of my post...
God's been doing a lot in my life. Well, He does that all the time, I suppose; sometimes I just notice more. I wouldn't say things have been very easy. The semester's been more difficult than I anticipated for various reasons; but through it all God has been very good to me and gets me through it every time. When things don't go the way I wanted, there's always a reason, and things work out.
The other day I was at my on-campus job in the Library (which is so nice: study time, get to be around books, get to find books to read), I was trying to find something good to listen to while I studied.
Quite a few weeks ago now I was riding in the car with someone and heard this song. I'd heard it before (it's in the movie October Baby), but hadn't paid attention to the words aside from the chorus. In the car, I started listening to it more and thought "I like this song."
So, as I'm sitting there in the Library, I remembered this song and decided to look it up, with the lyrics, and listen to it.
Pretty much everything about this song speaks to my heart! I've said it before: I'm a little things person (yes, I'm a little person, too, so your pun is not original). It's the little things about life that can get me excited and that bring me great joy. Like the other day, Monday morning, it's chilly, it's raining, and I walk out the door and just smile and celebrate because for the first time it feels like October!! That's me. Or...that's me when I'm really being myself and living to the full, as Jesus says: "I came that they might have life and have it abundantly [to the full]." Not only that, but I walk into the chapel last night and started singing it, realizing that the first verse is like Jesus, waiting in the tabernacle for me.
What's the song? Well.... :)
Life is Beautiful by The Afters
(play the song)
Through the window
I see You waiting
You are smiling
Cuz I'm coming
Your eyes are a story
An ocean of memories
Pictures of faces and places
And all of the things
That make us feel like we have it all
All of the times
That makes us realize we have it all
We have it all!
Ooooooo....Life is beautiful!!
Ooooooo....Life is beautiful!!
Ooooooo...
Livin' and dying
Laughing and crying
If we have the whole world
Or have nothing
I know there are long nights
But we'll make it
With every sunrise
Comes a new life
And all of the things
That makes us feel like we have it all.
And all of the times
That makes us realize we have it all.
We have it all!
Ooooooo....Life is beautiful!!
Ooooooo...Life is beautiful!!
Ooooooo....Life is beautiful!
Ooooooo....
A father's love
A wedding dance
New Year's dreams
A toast with friends
A soldier coming home from war
The faith, the hope of so much more
A brand new life
A mother's prayer
Shooting stars, ocean air,
A lover's kiss, and hard goodbyes,
Fireworks, and Christmas lights!
These are the things that make us feel alive!
These are the times that make us realize...
Life is beautiful!!
Oooooooo...Life is beautiful!
These are the things that make us feel alive!
Life is beautiful!
These are the times that make us realize.
I just love this song. It's amazing how such simple words and phrases can mean so much and be so profound. I mean, that one line: "I know there are long nights, But we'll make it" alone is...wow. Without any description of what that feels like, we can all relate to that: we've all had those nights, those dark times, where we just feel like things are so messed up. But when we look back and see how God has brought us through every time, we can be sure that He's right there telling us "We'll make it." Notice I say "we." We can't do it ourselves; God's been showing me that in the last few days. We're not supposed to do it ourselves. It's about doing it with Him, for without Him we can do nothing.
Living and dying: we celebrate life, and we console each other when we lose ones that we love. We celebrate their entrance into eternal life and we celebrate the life that we shared with them.
Laughing and crying: Anyone who knows me knows that the first verb there is something I do everyday. What's less obvious is that the second one happens often, too. But the point it, both are beautiful. Both can be such beautiful experiences: think about it! Remember sharing that laughter with those people who mean so much to you? Remember when you couldn't contain your tears anymore, whether from joy or sorrow, and you shared that? How beautiful!
If we have the whole world, Or have nothing: "My family's always been rich, we've just never had any money." This quote comes from a (rather cheesy, but funny) movie called "Grand Champion Steer." But I love it because it reminds me of my own family.
A father's love, a wedding dance, New Year's dreams, a toast with friends: we treasure those times we spend with those we love, whether family or friends, whether at weddings or just times when we were hanging out. Cherish those moments!
A soldier coming home from war: I'm a romantic, so I love stories about our guardians returning home.
The faith, the hope of so much more... That can speak to you in many ways.
Shooting stars, ocean air: These are some of nature's beauties that make me stop, take a deep breath, and just rejoice in being alive.
A lover's kiss, hard goodbyes: I have not experienced the first of those things; but witnessing it between my parents and other married relatives and friends is beautiful. Hard goodbyes? Oh yes. I've had a number of those, and there will be more in the future; but, again, those times when tears are shared and you part from someone you love, those times are hard; but what's beautiful is that that person has come to mean so much to you that the separation is painful. It's part of loving others.
Fireworks, and Christmas lights: I love fireworks! I love Christmas lights!! Anything that twinkles and shimmers like the stars can take my breath away. Fireflies, light reflections on water... And Christmas lights when the holidays come are one of my favorite things. :) I love to take a drive in the car through the neighborhoods where my home is and see all the lights. It's something we've done since I was a small child.
These are the things that make us feel alive!
These are the times that make us realize...we have it all!
How true this is! Those moments where we bask in the blessings around us and choose to be thankful: those are the times when we feel like we have everything we could ever need. And, honestly, I don't believe that's a fantasy, or wishful thinking. God gives us what we need for each day, and the greatest gifts are not ones that we can put in boxes. As Helen Keller said: "The greatest and most beautiful things in life cannot be seen or even touched; they must be felt with the heart."
In closing, I realized that I can't just know all of this about this song and fall in love with the words of this song and not try to do something different. So I want to start forming a habit of waking up in the morning and just thanking God for life, and then living that day with passion and purpose: "abundantly." As Mr. Magorium said: "Your life is an occasion: rise to it!" Everyday is a gift! Let's treat it that way. When you wake up tomorrow, just lay there for a minute and whisper a heartfelt thanks to the Lord.
"Every night will end/ And every day will start/ With a grateful prayer and a thankful heart." -Scrooge, "A Muppet Christmas Carol"
God bless and good night! Remember,
LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL!!
Monday, October 14, 2013
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Snippet of Reflection
We had a substitute today in my Theology of Christ class today as we discussed the preliminaries to the study of Christ (namely, man's created state, original sin, the fall, the unity of the soul and body in the human person). This was all very interesting.
The professor discussed the importance of understanding the human person as an end within itself, not a means to an end. The human person has this dignity because of the unity of soul and body that is the person. This unity is part of our being made in God's image. Our ability to reason is rooted in this, and our dignity is rooted in our ability to reason. In this discussion, he mentioned the passage from Genesis in which God says:
"It is not good that the man should be alone. I shall make for him a suitable partner."
God proceeds to make the many creatures that dwell on the earth, and He brings all of them to Adam to receive their names from Him. This shows the character and dignity of man above creatures: that Adam gives the creatures their names shows that the creatures have been made differently than Adam, that they are subordinate to him; not in the sense that he may do anything he pleases to them, but that he is their steward, and that he is made in God's image: having authority over created matter that has not been made in the image and the likeness of God. Of course, God is present in all of His creation in a special way: all of creation proclaims His glory simply by being what it is, and His beauty is reflected in the organization and wonder of creation.
The passage from Genesis goes on to say that Adam (and God) found no suitable partner for Adam among the creatures.
When my professor mentioned this, I suddenly had a new understanding of the meaning behind this passage. Adam found no suitable partner among the creatures. So, I wondered, then why would God bring all of them before Adam? Then it hit me. God's intention was to show man that none of these created beasts were the suitable partner for him to cherish, love, and give himself to. God proceeded to create the first woman, Eve, from Adam's rib. Adam sees her for the first time, and what does he say? "This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh." He recognizes her as the suitable partner for him, the one that God intended for Adam to be united with in love and to wed, giving himself to her, and receiving her gift of self to him. Eve, too, is above all the other creatures because God has made her in His image and likeness, as He made Adam: with a body and a soul, with the ability to reason, with dignity. She, too, exists, not as a means, but as an end: an end in herself. She is not something to be used; nor is Adam. Both are persons to be pursued, loved, and cared for. They are made for each other. God did not make the animals for Adam's partner, nor did he make another man. He made a woman, one who would complement him, love him, learn from him, teach him, and more.
I've seen this quote a number of times on Facebook, and someone shared it in my English class once, too. I really like it, as it illustrates very well the proper attitude that should exist between husband and wife:
The professor discussed the importance of understanding the human person as an end within itself, not a means to an end. The human person has this dignity because of the unity of soul and body that is the person. This unity is part of our being made in God's image. Our ability to reason is rooted in this, and our dignity is rooted in our ability to reason. In this discussion, he mentioned the passage from Genesis in which God says:
"It is not good that the man should be alone. I shall make for him a suitable partner."
God proceeds to make the many creatures that dwell on the earth, and He brings all of them to Adam to receive their names from Him. This shows the character and dignity of man above creatures: that Adam gives the creatures their names shows that the creatures have been made differently than Adam, that they are subordinate to him; not in the sense that he may do anything he pleases to them, but that he is their steward, and that he is made in God's image: having authority over created matter that has not been made in the image and the likeness of God. Of course, God is present in all of His creation in a special way: all of creation proclaims His glory simply by being what it is, and His beauty is reflected in the organization and wonder of creation.
The passage from Genesis goes on to say that Adam (and God) found no suitable partner for Adam among the creatures.
When my professor mentioned this, I suddenly had a new understanding of the meaning behind this passage. Adam found no suitable partner among the creatures. So, I wondered, then why would God bring all of them before Adam? Then it hit me. God's intention was to show man that none of these created beasts were the suitable partner for him to cherish, love, and give himself to. God proceeded to create the first woman, Eve, from Adam's rib. Adam sees her for the first time, and what does he say? "This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh." He recognizes her as the suitable partner for him, the one that God intended for Adam to be united with in love and to wed, giving himself to her, and receiving her gift of self to him. Eve, too, is above all the other creatures because God has made her in His image and likeness, as He made Adam: with a body and a soul, with the ability to reason, with dignity. She, too, exists, not as a means, but as an end: an end in herself. She is not something to be used; nor is Adam. Both are persons to be pursued, loved, and cared for. They are made for each other. God did not make the animals for Adam's partner, nor did he make another man. He made a woman, one who would complement him, love him, learn from him, teach him, and more.
I've seen this quote a number of times on Facebook, and someone shared it in my English class once, too. I really like it, as it illustrates very well the proper attitude that should exist between husband and wife:
“Woman was created from the rib of man to be beside him, not from his head to rule over him, nor from his feet to be trampled by him, but from under his arm to be protected by him, and near to his heart to be loved by him.”
(The quote is credited to David O. McKay. I made a few edits, though, to the one I found online so that it was more like what I had originally heard.)
To read more about the mystery of man and woman and how they have been created for each other, you can read Blessed Pope John Paul II's "Theology of the Body," or reflections and commentaries therein.
God bless! and thanks for reading.
Saturday, September 7, 2013
Return of the College Studies
Good (early early) morning!
In case you couldn't judge by the time that I'm posting this, I am back at college!! Back to late nights studying. Well, most of the time I'm up late it's because I'm studying. Not tonight, though. Heh heh.
It's been a very good first two weeks. Moving into my dorm went well, and I have had a chance to decorate a little. I may still do some more horse pictures on the wall, or I may just have to sit down and draw someday and put some of my own artwork up there. I'm in a new hall this year, so first day was kind of like being a freshman again because I didn't see a lot of familiar faces right off the bat. But it's been good to reconnect with friends and spend time with people I haven't seen in a while.
My classes are going very well so far. Spanish is...Spanish. Nothing really new or exciting there. But it's good. Catechetics is awesome! I am enjoying the class (and the professor) very much so far. Plus, I get to read a kid's "adventure catechism" called St. Patrick's Summer. It's a pretty awesome book! And I just enjoy reading a children's catechism for a college class. :) Haha! Adolescent Psychology looks to be interesting. I'm enjoying what I'm learning, and I think it will be very helpful, as I intend to do youth ministry (God-willing) after I graduate. (I just hope the blasted free loose leaf edition of the professor's book that I ordered comes in the mail this week as it should have already been here. :P ) I also get to take a class in Youth Ministry this semester, which I really like, too! The professor for that class has done years of ministry, so very often his lectures seem like an inspirational talk, and it's all about doing ministry and doing it well, so it's exciting, and fun. :) My fifth class is Theology of Christ, which was an adventure and act of God to get into the section I'm in now, and is also going very well. I really like the professor for this class as well as he is very good about acknowledging students' questions and comments, and doesn't throw out anything that a student says in the class. He's always very positive and encouraging toward his students, and so intelligent. All in all, I think I'm going to be learning a lot this semester, and I'm excited! I'm also singing in the university's chorus (Chorale).
Though the semester got off to a rocky start, it has been incredibly blessed. I was able to see my immediate and extended family the first weekend. Though the circumstances, sadly, were not joyful, it was really good to see everyone, and we all had a good time together. Sunday we had a grand adventure as we traveled out to a German Festival. I bought myself a German hat for my trip to Austria next semester. During the festival, it poured down rain, and after the rain subsided, we tried to drive out of the parking field in the 15 passenger van that my uncle was driving. ...We got stuck. Big time. The field was super muddy. So, my cousins, brothers, and uncle all came to the rescue and helped us push and rock the van out of the mud. They also assisted several other cars and vehicles experiencing the same problem. "A bunch of Good Samaritans," as my uncle called them with a smile. It was an adventure! And we were all laughing during and after it. God is good!
This week I've been able to enjoy some great quality time with friends, as well. It means so much to me to be able to talk to some of my friends about my spiritual life, and to hear about theirs too. As brothers and sisters in Christ, we are called to have this communion among us, and it's always a great feeling to know, not only that someone cares about you, but that they're really listening to you and want to help. I also got to see some good friends this weekend whom I haven't seen in a while, and got to travel out to one of my second homes (Catholic Familyland) twice this weekend: once to hang out with friends and have a bonfire, and the second to celebrate the life commitment of one of the lay consecrated women at the Apostolate. :) The latter was especially beautiful, as, not only was it wonderful to see this bride of Christ so faithful and happy, but our Lord opened my eyes again to His beauty, glory, and love, and gave me such clarity on something I was praying about. He touched my heart, as well, and opened me up to discerning my vocation more perfectly and more peacefully. It was truly wonderful.
Through all the struggles and pain, God is always good, and there is always something to be thankful for. Blessed and happy Sunday to you all!
"My home is by your altars, Lord of hosts, my king and my God! Blessed are those who dwell in your house! They never cease to praise you." -Psalm 84
In case you couldn't judge by the time that I'm posting this, I am back at college!! Back to late nights studying. Well, most of the time I'm up late it's because I'm studying. Not tonight, though. Heh heh.
It's been a very good first two weeks. Moving into my dorm went well, and I have had a chance to decorate a little. I may still do some more horse pictures on the wall, or I may just have to sit down and draw someday and put some of my own artwork up there. I'm in a new hall this year, so first day was kind of like being a freshman again because I didn't see a lot of familiar faces right off the bat. But it's been good to reconnect with friends and spend time with people I haven't seen in a while.
My classes are going very well so far. Spanish is...Spanish. Nothing really new or exciting there. But it's good. Catechetics is awesome! I am enjoying the class (and the professor) very much so far. Plus, I get to read a kid's "adventure catechism" called St. Patrick's Summer. It's a pretty awesome book! And I just enjoy reading a children's catechism for a college class. :) Haha! Adolescent Psychology looks to be interesting. I'm enjoying what I'm learning, and I think it will be very helpful, as I intend to do youth ministry (God-willing) after I graduate. (I just hope the blasted free loose leaf edition of the professor's book that I ordered comes in the mail this week as it should have already been here. :P ) I also get to take a class in Youth Ministry this semester, which I really like, too! The professor for that class has done years of ministry, so very often his lectures seem like an inspirational talk, and it's all about doing ministry and doing it well, so it's exciting, and fun. :) My fifth class is Theology of Christ, which was an adventure and act of God to get into the section I'm in now, and is also going very well. I really like the professor for this class as well as he is very good about acknowledging students' questions and comments, and doesn't throw out anything that a student says in the class. He's always very positive and encouraging toward his students, and so intelligent. All in all, I think I'm going to be learning a lot this semester, and I'm excited! I'm also singing in the university's chorus (Chorale).
Though the semester got off to a rocky start, it has been incredibly blessed. I was able to see my immediate and extended family the first weekend. Though the circumstances, sadly, were not joyful, it was really good to see everyone, and we all had a good time together. Sunday we had a grand adventure as we traveled out to a German Festival. I bought myself a German hat for my trip to Austria next semester. During the festival, it poured down rain, and after the rain subsided, we tried to drive out of the parking field in the 15 passenger van that my uncle was driving. ...We got stuck. Big time. The field was super muddy. So, my cousins, brothers, and uncle all came to the rescue and helped us push and rock the van out of the mud. They also assisted several other cars and vehicles experiencing the same problem. "A bunch of Good Samaritans," as my uncle called them with a smile. It was an adventure! And we were all laughing during and after it. God is good!
This week I've been able to enjoy some great quality time with friends, as well. It means so much to me to be able to talk to some of my friends about my spiritual life, and to hear about theirs too. As brothers and sisters in Christ, we are called to have this communion among us, and it's always a great feeling to know, not only that someone cares about you, but that they're really listening to you and want to help. I also got to see some good friends this weekend whom I haven't seen in a while, and got to travel out to one of my second homes (Catholic Familyland) twice this weekend: once to hang out with friends and have a bonfire, and the second to celebrate the life commitment of one of the lay consecrated women at the Apostolate. :) The latter was especially beautiful, as, not only was it wonderful to see this bride of Christ so faithful and happy, but our Lord opened my eyes again to His beauty, glory, and love, and gave me such clarity on something I was praying about. He touched my heart, as well, and opened me up to discerning my vocation more perfectly and more peacefully. It was truly wonderful.
Through all the struggles and pain, God is always good, and there is always something to be thankful for. Blessed and happy Sunday to you all!
"My home is by your altars, Lord of hosts, my king and my God! Blessed are those who dwell in your house! They never cease to praise you." -Psalm 84
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Random, sometimes useful, and amusing things that run through my head at work
Once again, I haven't posted in a while. Summer's been unexpectedly busy at points, some of those times for the better. And I'm glad to spend time doing other things besides sitting around typing random thoughts on my computer. But life's been good: there have been numerous blessings (as well as trials) since my last post; but I'm not going to go into that here.
Work is (finally) winding down to an end. HUZZAH!!! Just 1 more day of it left and I will leave that building yelling "Free at last! Free at last!" (in my head). ;-) It's not all been bad; most of the time it's been all right, though not nearly as awesome as what my sister and friends got to do this summer and, similarly, what I got to do last summer. But I've gotten through, thanks to some great people that I met. Unexpected surprises are nice when they're good acquaintances/friends. Most of them helped keep me sane and smiling, so I'm thankful for that.
But! to the point...seeing as work is almost over...I thought it would be good (and fun) to write up some of the random, funny, occasionally useful but most often not, smatterings that pop in and out of my mind as I walk around a warehouse for 8 or 9 hours a day looking for items to put in boxes.
1. Actually, sand rainbow blocks are boring. I was confused in my last post. It's the shimmering waters rainbow blocks that are awesome. :D See? These could keep me entertained for a good while.
2. These darling little baby dolls can make your day sometimes. When I pass by them in an aisle, I see them and I just have to smile. Sometimes I even say something to them or squeeze their hands. I know...weird. It's a girl thing. Apparently, it's not just real life babies that can trigger that oxytocin release that causes girls to react "Aww!" to cute babies. D'aww! They can also be rather distracting. Sometimes you just can't resist the temptation to put them in cute positions or make it look like they're peeking out at whoever comes down the aisle next. And don't listen to those people who say they're ugly or look like demons. It's not true. "I'm not listening, lalalalalalalalala! ... Still not listeningggg!!"
3. Packing toys is probably the best part of my job. I get to pack: Mr. Potato Head, board games, jumbo farm/jungle/zoo/forest animals, zoo animal sets, kitchen sets, costumes, doll house furniture, etc. And I get to see some cute toys, even if I haven't had the privilege of packing them. (Yeah, sometimes I stop for a short interval and check out the toys in the box.)
4. This stuff, concentrated liquid glitter watercolors, looks like magic in a bottle. Look at it! The green looks like something out of the merry old land of Oz!
5. Listening to country music on the radio while working keeps me cheery! Think this...
Especially when it means not listening to the station that plays "the hits;" which here means: the same lame 10 songs every day!! Blehhh. Then I tend to be more like this.
. Heh heh.
Work is (finally) winding down to an end. HUZZAH!!! Just 1 more day of it left and I will leave that building yelling "Free at last! Free at last!" (in my head). ;-) It's not all been bad; most of the time it's been all right, though not nearly as awesome as what my sister and friends got to do this summer and, similarly, what I got to do last summer. But I've gotten through, thanks to some great people that I met. Unexpected surprises are nice when they're good acquaintances/friends. Most of them helped keep me sane and smiling, so I'm thankful for that.
But! to the point...seeing as work is almost over...I thought it would be good (and fun) to write up some of the random, funny, occasionally useful but most often not, smatterings that pop in and out of my mind as I walk around a warehouse for 8 or 9 hours a day looking for items to put in boxes.
1. Actually, sand rainbow blocks are boring. I was confused in my last post. It's the shimmering waters rainbow blocks that are awesome. :D See? These could keep me entertained for a good while.
2. These darling little baby dolls can make your day sometimes. When I pass by them in an aisle, I see them and I just have to smile. Sometimes I even say something to them or squeeze their hands. I know...weird. It's a girl thing. Apparently, it's not just real life babies that can trigger that oxytocin release that causes girls to react "Aww!" to cute babies. D'aww! They can also be rather distracting. Sometimes you just can't resist the temptation to put them in cute positions or make it look like they're peeking out at whoever comes down the aisle next. And don't listen to those people who say they're ugly or look like demons. It's not true. "I'm not listening, lalalalalalalalala! ... Still not listeningggg!!"
3. Packing toys is probably the best part of my job. I get to pack: Mr. Potato Head, board games, jumbo farm/jungle/zoo/forest animals, zoo animal sets, kitchen sets, costumes, doll house furniture, etc. And I get to see some cute toys, even if I haven't had the privilege of packing them. (Yeah, sometimes I stop for a short interval and check out the toys in the box.)
4. This stuff, concentrated liquid glitter watercolors, looks like magic in a bottle. Look at it! The green looks like something out of the merry old land of Oz!
5. Listening to country music on the radio while working keeps me cheery! Think this...
And.......wen I had the station on the country music and ten seconds later someone changes it back to the terrible station, inside I can get like this:
. Heh heh.
6. It's great for back-to-school ideas. I see all these products while I work, so I know what's out there, and remember what I still need.
7. I get a firsthand look at all kinds of art products: paints, pencils, sketch pads and journals, drawing books, ceramic glazes, and lots more. As an art enthusiast, and amateur artist, this is a lot of fun.
8. 9 hours of work (minus the 20 minute and 10 minute breaks) makes working 8 hours look very very nice. And your feet hurt for an hour afterwards. Owch.
9. If you didn't wash your knees after every night of work, you could probably grow seeds in the dirt that builds up. I'm serious, my knees look like someone kicked me with steel-toed boots. They're black. :P Yup, working in a warehouse is *Dory imitation* *cough cough cough!* Wow. Dusty!
10. The sight of sunshine and trees through the loading doors for the semi trucks is a gift from God. It makes me very happy, as do the other little blessings that He grants me everyday: like packing not 1, but 4 adorable baby dolls in a box today; and noticing that the box I'm packing is going to a Catholic school.
Well, good night (or should I say good morning) everyone! I hope you have enjoyed this a little. :) I'm headed back to school soon, so there will be other posts coming, hopefully, and perhaps more frequently. God is good! The summer has been trying; but it has also been very good to be with my family, and God has taught me many things and blessed me in many ways. I'm looking forward to going back to school; but I will certainly miss my family and my home. But God is good, and always in control.
Until I write again: "Tomorrow is another day/ Tomorrow is the judgment day/ Tomorrow we'll discover what our God in heaven has in store/ One more dawn/ One more day/ ONE DAY MORE!!!!!"
Heeheehee!
Thursday, July 11, 2013
10 Things You Learn While Working in a School Supplies Warehouse
Well, it has been a very long time since I've posted here, so when some ideas for a post hit me yesterday I decided I'd go with it and update this.
Life has had many blessings since my last post. Work has been going very well. I'm not having to juggle 2 jobs, which was a relief since that would have taken up a good chunk of my time in addition to the hours of work I have been doing. The variety of the work is nice, and I've seen some pretty cool stuff. But I'll get to that more later.
About a week and a half ago, God blessed me with a visit to my second home: Catholic Familyland. 3 members of my adopted family of last summer were visiting that week, and 2 others are working there, so I decided that I really wanted to go visit. God was so good to me and allowed this to work out perfectly! We got there in the middle of the day, and I got to see my sister and 2 of her (and my) friends. Then I embarked on a journey to find my "brothers and sisters". :) It was so good to see them! It kept seeming so surreal on the way there that I was actually going to physically be with these people after we've only been able to talk over Skype and letters and phone calls for almost a year. Being with them was amazing! It felt like nothing had changed in our friendship with each other, and anything that had changed had become even better! I practically tackle-hugged a few people when I saw them. Haha! It was such a blessing, not only to be with my friends, but also to get to spend some time in the Lord's presence in Queen of Angels Chapel.
Life has had many blessings since my last post. Work has been going very well. I'm not having to juggle 2 jobs, which was a relief since that would have taken up a good chunk of my time in addition to the hours of work I have been doing. The variety of the work is nice, and I've seen some pretty cool stuff. But I'll get to that more later.
About a week and a half ago, God blessed me with a visit to my second home: Catholic Familyland. 3 members of my adopted family of last summer were visiting that week, and 2 others are working there, so I decided that I really wanted to go visit. God was so good to me and allowed this to work out perfectly! We got there in the middle of the day, and I got to see my sister and 2 of her (and my) friends. Then I embarked on a journey to find my "brothers and sisters". :) It was so good to see them! It kept seeming so surreal on the way there that I was actually going to physically be with these people after we've only been able to talk over Skype and letters and phone calls for almost a year. Being with them was amazing! It felt like nothing had changed in our friendship with each other, and anything that had changed had become even better! I practically tackle-hugged a few people when I saw them. Haha! It was such a blessing, not only to be with my friends, but also to get to spend some time in the Lord's presence in Queen of Angels Chapel.
This is probably my favorite chapel in the whole world. When I sit in this chapel, I have so much peace. It feels like my soul is at home. While this is true for anywhere that I can be in the presence of the Lord in the Eucharist, I think this place is so special to me because this is where I really started to truly know the Lord for Who He is and meet Him in the depths of my heart. Other experiences at Familyland compounded that, but I think the beginning was here.
I was so blessed to pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy with my "sisters" here after taking a walk with them in the rain and talking about life. After the Chaplet, we just sat there for a while. As I sat there gazing upon the glory of God, Christ gave me a few beautiful revelations about what He is calling me to do, and what that is going to require of me.
I also got to go to Benediction with Patrick, Jenny, and Sarah (and Maura was there, too, but I didn't know till afterwards). We also went to dinner with my sister, and Dad surprised us by suggesting we stay for the Rosary, so I got to be with my friends even longer and close up the visit with prayer and loving goodbyes.
The 4th of July was another blessed day. I didn't have to work, so it was great to have some family time. We started off the day with Mass, and enjoyed the afternoon together. I watched my first episode of Dr. Who (we are starting with the season from 2005, and, while it's not been extremely fantastic, it's been enough to keep me interested). Dinner was delicious! And we all went to watch the fireworks together, played some Mad Gab, and played with sparklers in the driveway.
My birthday was a few days after the 4th, and was on a day that I didn't have work: another blessing. I got to start the day off with Mass, and went to see Despicable Me 2 with my brothers and sisters. The movie was really cute and clever, and I thought it was very good for a sequel. :) My mom picked out some really nice clothes for me as a gift from my Grandma, and I got one of my favorite movies, and an itunes card to get some music. Dinner was fantastic, and dessert was great. :)
Now that that is pretty much summed up, I'll get to the subject of the title. Here are 10 things that I have learned while working in a school supplies warehouse filling boxes. Enjoy! (This is meant to be funny.)
1. Play food has gotten a lot more fancy and sophisticated since I was a kid. Instead of looking vaguely like the food it is supposed to resemble (for example, a purely yellow banana), it looks very realistic, like this: Fancy Play Food
2. I have discovered a really neat toy: sand rainbow blocks. Shimmering-Water-Blocks.jpg When I found these on the shelf for an order, I was like: "Wow, these are cool. I want these!"
3. You can tell when it is an art teacher making an order based on a few factors: they order lots of paint brushes, or canvases, or paint, or posters with quotes about painting. A drawing teacher orders lots of sketch pads, pencils, etc.
4. Ordering 75 calculators is a good indication that you are a math teacher. And takes 3 of the really large sandwich bags to carry and contain.
5. Some boxes just like to keep coming back to you even when there's nothing for you to put in them. When it's been to your station 4 times, it's time to force it to move on. Carry it past the scanner and let it go.
6. You may have to turn the baby dolls' heads back to their correct position, since some people think it's terribly funny to contort the baby so that it's head is completely turned around. Feminine instinct kicks in and you just have to help those poor babies.
7. Muggy day, plus warehouse with no air conditioning, plus busy workday and working machinery is not a good combination; but there's not much you can do about it, so drink lots of water. Sitting at lunch (well, technically dinner) with some co-workers, we thought it would be a great idea for the company to hire people to go along the line and spritz people with water and fan them to keep them cool. Sounds like a fun job! Hey, you'd get to squirt people in the face. "Oh, sorry, I did not see you there. *spray* Or there." -Mr. Gru, Despicable Me 2
8. You get to meet one old school buddies when you work in a warehouse that supplies them: the counting bears! pattern blocks, mega blocks, play-doh, the list goes on.
9. Teachers like to order pencils that say: "[Insert grade] graders are the best!" Which leads you to wonder...they can't all be the best, so...where does that leave us?
10. Other teachers like to order pencils for every season/holiday of the year, including the 4th of July it would seem. But...seeing as the 4th of July is in the summer....I'm confused. ;)
Well, I hope that was somewhat entertaining. Have a great day, everyone! God bless!
"To fall in love with God is the greatest romance ; to seek Him, the greatest adventure; to find Him, the greatest human achievement." -St. Augustine of Hippo
Saturday, June 15, 2013
Now I See
Life has had some good news lately: on Thursday I received word that I was hired for a good job that should be giving me 40 hours a week (which is great since my current job is giving me only 10 or even less), and I was also blessed to receive news that I was accepted into the Catechetics major program at Franciscan University! Praise the Lord for these things! (Catechetics)
I was also blessed to get to talk to some people in my life who are very dear to me. On Monday night I got to Skype with two of my "sisters" and one of my "brothers" from my Service Corps family of last summer. I worked with these three and six others last summer. We hadn't talked for a few weeks, or longer for some of us, so it was wonderful to catch up and hear their voices again. We reminisced about where we were a year ago and what we missed, and talked about some things that we wanted to do together this summer. I hope to be able to be with these three in person in a couple of weeks, God-willing.
Two days ago, I took the time to go out and do some creative photography, which was a blessing in that it helped me to relax and gave me an opportunity to be creative.
I was also blessed to receive the sacrament of Penance today, where I received forgiveness, guidance, and understanding of something that I have been struggling with for the last several weeks. God has given me His eyes to see what it is that He needs me to do this summer, and while I do not expect that it will be an easy task, He has told me not to doubt what He can do through me with the gifts that He continually pours out to me. (sacrament of Penance) Trust, always trust. God does not disappoint.
"Glory in His holy name; let hearts that seek the Lord rejoice! Seek out the Lord and his might; constantly seek his face...When [His people] were few in number, a handful, and strangers there, ...He let no one oppress them; for their sake he rebuked kings. 'Do not touch my anointed ones, to my prophets do no harm.... He brought his people out with joy, his chosen ones with shouts of triumph. He gave them lands of the nations they took possession of the wealth of the peoples, that they might keep his statutes and observe his teachings. Hallelujah!" -Psalm 105
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Little Blessings
Life is full of little miracles.
This is something I realize continually as I go through life. I praise God that He has made me with eyes that see these miracles, a heart that cherishes them, and a soul that thanks Him for them. They are His gifts to me, and to every person. Those who notice these little miracles I believe are those people who know how to live life to the full and see true beauty around them every day. The message of our culture today demands efficiency and speed to such a degree that most people, as far as I perceive it, miss many of these little blessings that are present in each day.
"Thomas and the Magic Railroad" is one movie from my childhood that holds some special memories for me. My siblings and I enjoyed watching it many times, and still quote it at times. One of the characters in this movie, Lily, is described as "seeing magic no one else has time to, like lovely reflections of light on a rainy day." I always liked that, and I feel like I can certainly relate. I love songs like "Little Wonders" by Rob Thomas, and "Ordinary Miracle" by Sarah McLachlan that talk about the little things that make life memorable, beautiful, wonderful.
Corpus Christi, the feast in the Catholic Church celebrating the Body and Blood of Christ, was this past Sunday. I was full of joy on this day because God blessed me with beautiful inspirations and wonder and awe at His presence and Person. I meditated on the words of the song "How Beautiful" as it described the beautiful hands of Christ that served the poor and sick, the beautiful feet of Christ that walked for miles to teach that I might know the truth and follow it, the heart that bled for my sins, the eyes that forgive and never despise. This is Christ as He is. I was reminded again of God's great beauty and the Love that He Himself is. It was beautiful to experience this again after going through some time of spiritual dryness. God's grace is like refreshing water to the soul...how great is our God!
God continues to bless me this week (even amid some difficult decisions) as He allows me to take delight in the beautiful flowers especially the roses that are blooming, or see the birds building their nests and the baby robins that are growing up right outside a window of the house, gardening, animals, and good memories.
I don't know if this means anything to anyone, but I hope that maybe it inspires you to slow down and see some of these little miracles in your day, whether it's a warm summer breeze or a starry night. God's blessings are all around us if we only take the time to look for them.
"Praise God from whom all blessings flow/ Praise Him all creatures here below!"
This is something I realize continually as I go through life. I praise God that He has made me with eyes that see these miracles, a heart that cherishes them, and a soul that thanks Him for them. They are His gifts to me, and to every person. Those who notice these little miracles I believe are those people who know how to live life to the full and see true beauty around them every day. The message of our culture today demands efficiency and speed to such a degree that most people, as far as I perceive it, miss many of these little blessings that are present in each day.
"Thomas and the Magic Railroad" is one movie from my childhood that holds some special memories for me. My siblings and I enjoyed watching it many times, and still quote it at times. One of the characters in this movie, Lily, is described as "seeing magic no one else has time to, like lovely reflections of light on a rainy day." I always liked that, and I feel like I can certainly relate. I love songs like "Little Wonders" by Rob Thomas, and "Ordinary Miracle" by Sarah McLachlan that talk about the little things that make life memorable, beautiful, wonderful.
Corpus Christi, the feast in the Catholic Church celebrating the Body and Blood of Christ, was this past Sunday. I was full of joy on this day because God blessed me with beautiful inspirations and wonder and awe at His presence and Person. I meditated on the words of the song "How Beautiful" as it described the beautiful hands of Christ that served the poor and sick, the beautiful feet of Christ that walked for miles to teach that I might know the truth and follow it, the heart that bled for my sins, the eyes that forgive and never despise. This is Christ as He is. I was reminded again of God's great beauty and the Love that He Himself is. It was beautiful to experience this again after going through some time of spiritual dryness. God's grace is like refreshing water to the soul...how great is our God!
God continues to bless me this week (even amid some difficult decisions) as He allows me to take delight in the beautiful flowers especially the roses that are blooming, or see the birds building their nests and the baby robins that are growing up right outside a window of the house, gardening, animals, and good memories.
I don't know if this means anything to anyone, but I hope that maybe it inspires you to slow down and see some of these little miracles in your day, whether it's a warm summer breeze or a starry night. God's blessings are all around us if we only take the time to look for them.
"Praise God from whom all blessings flow/ Praise Him all creatures here below!"
Friday, May 31, 2013
Stars, Gardens, and Thunderstorms
These are some of the beautiful things in my life since my last post.
I took our dogs outside for a few minutes last night, and I looked up into a sky of beautiful, sparkling stars. It had been a while since I had looked, really looked, at the stars and marveled at their beauty and arrangement. It was a beautiful, warm summer night and a wonderful little surprise from God.
Today, after a great start to the morning with daily Mass, and some pleasure reading, and almost two hours of orientation for a job, I was able to go outside and help my mother and little sister with planting tomato plants, pepper plants, marigolds, and sunflowers. It felt so good to get my hands dirty giving life to God's creation, especially after no having done something like that for so long. Breaking up the dirt, adding the soil, placing the plants in the holes and covering up the roots; the dirt that got in my sandals; talking with my mom; all of it was a wonderful little gift.
I also got to bake today! Brownies! Mmm.
I worked on the puzzle more and listened to more of Ella Enchanted with my little sister.
And the rains came, along with some crashes of thunder: one of my favorite sounds of nature. I also love thunderstorms. I was a bit distracted from this masterpiece because I was playing Wii volleyball with my little sister (which was also fun); but I have a fascination with them as for me they are fantastic displays of the power of God. My love of the rain and storms also brings back to me many fond memories of last summer: I spent 10 weeks with 3 girls and we all loved the rain and the storms. There was one night where one of our supervisors/big sisters in Christ came into the kitchen and said: "Looks like it's going to storm." My friend Jenny and I responded with in unison with an enthusiastic: "YAY!!!" to the point where we startled her.
And now I am enjoying some good laughs with my family as I watch "Evan Almighty."
Good night to all, and take time to plant (and smell) the flowers.
"Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet, and the winds long to play with your hair."
I took our dogs outside for a few minutes last night, and I looked up into a sky of beautiful, sparkling stars. It had been a while since I had looked, really looked, at the stars and marveled at their beauty and arrangement. It was a beautiful, warm summer night and a wonderful little surprise from God.
Today, after a great start to the morning with daily Mass, and some pleasure reading, and almost two hours of orientation for a job, I was able to go outside and help my mother and little sister with planting tomato plants, pepper plants, marigolds, and sunflowers. It felt so good to get my hands dirty giving life to God's creation, especially after no having done something like that for so long. Breaking up the dirt, adding the soil, placing the plants in the holes and covering up the roots; the dirt that got in my sandals; talking with my mom; all of it was a wonderful little gift.
I also got to bake today! Brownies! Mmm.
I worked on the puzzle more and listened to more of Ella Enchanted with my little sister.
And the rains came, along with some crashes of thunder: one of my favorite sounds of nature. I also love thunderstorms. I was a bit distracted from this masterpiece because I was playing Wii volleyball with my little sister (which was also fun); but I have a fascination with them as for me they are fantastic displays of the power of God. My love of the rain and storms also brings back to me many fond memories of last summer: I spent 10 weeks with 3 girls and we all loved the rain and the storms. There was one night where one of our supervisors/big sisters in Christ came into the kitchen and said: "Looks like it's going to storm." My friend Jenny and I responded with in unison with an enthusiastic: "YAY!!!" to the point where we startled her.
And now I am enjoying some good laughs with my family as I watch "Evan Almighty."
Good night to all, and take time to plant (and smell) the flowers.
"Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet, and the winds long to play with your hair."
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
What is music?
Today has been blessed: sunshine, working in the garden with my little brother and sister, visiting the library (which I have not been in for several months due to being away at school), walking dogs, and just having a peaceful day.
It was a great adventure to visit the library again. It is preparing for its summer reading program, so the large window was being painted with a mural about "digging in to reading." I was there with two of my sisters and my brother, and we spent some time browsing the shelves of movies and books. I brought home some fun titles in the DVD realm (Stuart Little, Balto, and Flicka, which I have not seen yet, but thought looked good), and my little sister brought home a DVD of 3 Arthur episodes, which is still one of my favorite childhood TV shows. We also looked through a number of titles among the books and books on tape.
We've broken out a jigsaw puzzle at home (1000 pieces, if anyone's curious), and my mom suggested that we listen to books on tape while we work on it; this way the younger ones can work on their summer reading sheets more, and it's enjoyable. I was happy to find one of my favorite books on tape of all time there: Ella Enchanted (by Gail Carson Levine), as read by Eden Riegel. This Cinderella re-telling is itself a wonderful story; but since my first experience of it was the book on tape, the recording has a special place in my heart. :)
Eden Riegel is the only one narrating the story, but makes a point to make the voice of each character distinct and believable. This takes a lot of talent and imagination. I like this about her as a narrator. Some people try to do this, but are unable to do it well. She has mastered the art. Personally, I like narrated stories where each character has its own voice, even when they're done by a whole cast. It makes the story more real to me, more interesting.
The story is about a young girl named Ella, who was given a "gift" by a fairy when she was very young. She was "blessed" with the gift of obedience: she would do whatever she was told no matter what she was told to do or who told her to do it. This is more of a curse than a gift, as we soon see in the story and the struggles that Ella has to face. Ella's father sends her away to boarding school with two unbearable girls, one of whom schemes to make Ella's life miserable beyond belief. Ella makes her get-away and attempts to find the fairy who cursed her to ask her to free her from her gift. In her journeys, she befriends the prince of her country: Charmont, or Char as he prefers. (Char is one of my favorite book characters.) I won't give away more than that, as I am one who hates spoilers.
Another thing I love about this book recording is that there is music with it. The music is not constantly in the background; but it is a gorgeous addition to some of the best scenes in the story. The melodies are enchanting (no pun intended). They spark my imagination and stir my heart. I could listen to that music again and again, its melodies are so beautiful and unique. They really set the scene in your imagination and work magic in helping you picture and feel the moment.
This brings me to the subject of the title: what is music? One of my favorite quotes about music is from Victor Hugo: "Music expresses that which cannot be put into words, and cannot remain silent." Anyone who has experienced the beauty of music knows what this means. Have you ever listened to a song, a classical melody or soundtrack, and it stirred your heart in a way that you cannot describe? It's as if it expresses something that we know and have felt, but that we've never been able to say. I honestly believe that this is where the great composers (Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, and even artists today like Thomas Newman, Howard Shore, and Hans Zimmer) drew from in their compositions. They can express the beautiful sounds of a rushing brook, or the love with which a heartfelt letter was written. These things that we cannot say that cannot be silent: this is music.
One of my favorite movies begins with a quote that reads: "If there is any magic to be found on earth, it is contained in water." While I believe that certainly could be true (I have always loved the sight, sound, and feel of water), I think another "magic", or in this case, gift of God's great beauty and wonder, that has touched this earth is music.
"Bach gave us God's word; Beethoven gave us God's fire; Mozart gave us God's laughter; God gave us music that we might praise Him without words."
This is a saying that I have seen on many posters. As a Catholic, I love what the Church has to say about glorifying God through art. Music is a gift of heaven, and I must say there are melodies that have touched my ears and raised my mind and heart to heaven, or taken me back in time to the quiet moments of the life of Christ, or inspired me to create stories and adventures in my imagination. Music is not only "that which cannot be expressed with words, and cannot remain silent," is is God's gift to us by which He speaks to our souls and we can respond.
It was a great adventure to visit the library again. It is preparing for its summer reading program, so the large window was being painted with a mural about "digging in to reading." I was there with two of my sisters and my brother, and we spent some time browsing the shelves of movies and books. I brought home some fun titles in the DVD realm (Stuart Little, Balto, and Flicka, which I have not seen yet, but thought looked good), and my little sister brought home a DVD of 3 Arthur episodes, which is still one of my favorite childhood TV shows. We also looked through a number of titles among the books and books on tape.
We've broken out a jigsaw puzzle at home (1000 pieces, if anyone's curious), and my mom suggested that we listen to books on tape while we work on it; this way the younger ones can work on their summer reading sheets more, and it's enjoyable. I was happy to find one of my favorite books on tape of all time there: Ella Enchanted (by Gail Carson Levine), as read by Eden Riegel. This Cinderella re-telling is itself a wonderful story; but since my first experience of it was the book on tape, the recording has a special place in my heart. :)
Eden Riegel is the only one narrating the story, but makes a point to make the voice of each character distinct and believable. This takes a lot of talent and imagination. I like this about her as a narrator. Some people try to do this, but are unable to do it well. She has mastered the art. Personally, I like narrated stories where each character has its own voice, even when they're done by a whole cast. It makes the story more real to me, more interesting.
The story is about a young girl named Ella, who was given a "gift" by a fairy when she was very young. She was "blessed" with the gift of obedience: she would do whatever she was told no matter what she was told to do or who told her to do it. This is more of a curse than a gift, as we soon see in the story and the struggles that Ella has to face. Ella's father sends her away to boarding school with two unbearable girls, one of whom schemes to make Ella's life miserable beyond belief. Ella makes her get-away and attempts to find the fairy who cursed her to ask her to free her from her gift. In her journeys, she befriends the prince of her country: Charmont, or Char as he prefers. (Char is one of my favorite book characters.) I won't give away more than that, as I am one who hates spoilers.
Another thing I love about this book recording is that there is music with it. The music is not constantly in the background; but it is a gorgeous addition to some of the best scenes in the story. The melodies are enchanting (no pun intended). They spark my imagination and stir my heart. I could listen to that music again and again, its melodies are so beautiful and unique. They really set the scene in your imagination and work magic in helping you picture and feel the moment.
This brings me to the subject of the title: what is music? One of my favorite quotes about music is from Victor Hugo: "Music expresses that which cannot be put into words, and cannot remain silent." Anyone who has experienced the beauty of music knows what this means. Have you ever listened to a song, a classical melody or soundtrack, and it stirred your heart in a way that you cannot describe? It's as if it expresses something that we know and have felt, but that we've never been able to say. I honestly believe that this is where the great composers (Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, and even artists today like Thomas Newman, Howard Shore, and Hans Zimmer) drew from in their compositions. They can express the beautiful sounds of a rushing brook, or the love with which a heartfelt letter was written. These things that we cannot say that cannot be silent: this is music.
One of my favorite movies begins with a quote that reads: "If there is any magic to be found on earth, it is contained in water." While I believe that certainly could be true (I have always loved the sight, sound, and feel of water), I think another "magic", or in this case, gift of God's great beauty and wonder, that has touched this earth is music.
"Bach gave us God's word; Beethoven gave us God's fire; Mozart gave us God's laughter; God gave us music that we might praise Him without words."
This is a saying that I have seen on many posters. As a Catholic, I love what the Church has to say about glorifying God through art. Music is a gift of heaven, and I must say there are melodies that have touched my ears and raised my mind and heart to heaven, or taken me back in time to the quiet moments of the life of Christ, or inspired me to create stories and adventures in my imagination. Music is not only "that which cannot be expressed with words, and cannot remain silent," is is God's gift to us by which He speaks to our souls and we can respond.
Monday, May 27, 2013
Salute to Our Heroes
This is my Grandpa. In this photo, he was probably 18 or 19 years old, and had made the decision to enter the Air Force and fight for his country. While he was never deployed and did not see action during the Korean War, he is still a hero. Of course he is my hero as my grandpa and all that he taught and showed me in his lifetime, and I hope to have a post more focused on that in the future. He is a hero for his love for his family: his wife of over 50 years, his children, and his grandchildren. But he is also a hero because he was willing to fight for the country he loved in order to preserve the freedom of its people and protect these people and the values that our country stood for.
Today is Memorial Day.
Today we salute heroes like my Grandpa: men and women who put their lives at risk, many of whom died, to protect and preserve our country and the freedom of its people. This took courage, certainly. But more than that it took a degree of selflessness: a willingness to say: I love my country, and I believe in what it stands for and care about its people so much that I am willing to risk my safety, even my life, to protect it.
Every time I see men and women in uniform, there is a certain degree of awe and a great degree of respect in my heart for them. I don't know where they're from or who they are, but the decision they have made is visible.
I cannot say that I am proud of my country in this present day and age. Many things have happened in the U.S. government in the past several years that I am ashamed of and saddened by. But this will never change the fact that I am proud of what my country is built upon. When I hear the National Anthem at a sports event or a parade, while to many it may seem like "just something we do," I find myself moved with love and respect for what my country was built upon and the men and women who have served and died to defend that. I am not proud of what my country (or should I say its government) is right now; but I am proud of what my country has been in the past and what I believe it can be again with the right people, virtues, and God-fearing citizens leading it.
I did not always have this deep respect in my heart for our soldiers, our country, our National Anthem. This has been instilled in me through many things: what I've read in my history books, what I've seen in movies like "Sergeant York," "It's a Wonderful Life," "Captain America;" a trip to Washington D.C. where I saw so many memorials of the wars our country has fought in and the people involved therein. But something that really instilled in me a newly realized love for my country was an audio presentation I heard 7 years ago that a priest shared in his homily on the 4th of July: The Story Behind Our National Anthem. I hope that you will take the time to listen to it, and that it will change how you listen to and participate in the singing of that National Anthem.
"Oh say can you see/ By the dawn's early light/ What so proudly we hailed/ At the twilight's last gleaming?"
God bless America!
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Trust
Being home for the summer certainly has it's perks. I get to enjoy the countryside, my home, my family, my pets, peace and quiet or loudness and laughter, etc.
Among those, though, finding a job isn't one of them. Applying all over and hardly hearing a word from any of the places is most discouraging to be sure. But I'm trying to remain optimistic, even though it is beginning to look like I might not get to visit some dear friends and a beloved place that is like a second-home to me.
Pulling through it all certainly is tough.
If anything is making it better, though, without a doubt it's the Lord. I was privileged to go to Eucharistic Adoration last week because my sister had to go to the church to practice her organ pieces. This has been a greatly-missed privilege for me. Attending a Catholic university is a great blessing because the sacraments are so available and there are many places where you can stop and spend time in the Eucharistic Presence of Jesus.
Once I was alone in that room, I poured myself out to the Lord: what I was struggling with, why I was having such a hard time with it all, what I hoped for, what I feared. If there is one thing I have found in Christ in my relationship with Him over the last several years, it's that He has the greatest listening ear of anyone I know. I can tell God everything, and do. I tell Him things that no one else ever hears about or knows that I'm dealing with. It's so good to have a Friend like that.
But I think what's even better is that after I've told Him everything, when I stop to listen, He always has the best advice. Albeit, it's not always advice that's easy to follow or swallow; but time and time again, God has told me what I most need to hear at the moment when I am struggling. He is always very clear with me, but this clarity is ruled by gentleness. God is never harsh or cruel-handed; He is always kind, always good, always gentle, always strong, always loving...always there.
It is no surprise that all His revelations to me in Scripture of late have been about giving witness and preaching the Gospel. I am becoming more and more aware that this is going to be my mission this summer: the purpose for which God has brought me home. But I can't say this is not intimidating after spending a summer working in an atmosphere that nurtured my faith and surrounded me with people who cared about me and loved God. I think the biggest intimidation is that I really have no idea what I'm going to be surrounded by, or what I'll be faced with everyday.
Through all this, though, God's message is clear: trust. Always trust. "Fear not." "Be still and know that I am God." "I am the Light of the world." "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life."
I continue to pray for confidence, for trust in God, for hope, for understanding. For those of you who have been praying for me, thank you. I can tell. God bless you all.
"Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me show love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Oh divine Master grant that I may not seek so much to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we truly receive. It is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life."
"Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, and courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."
-St. Francis of Assissi
Among those, though, finding a job isn't one of them. Applying all over and hardly hearing a word from any of the places is most discouraging to be sure. But I'm trying to remain optimistic, even though it is beginning to look like I might not get to visit some dear friends and a beloved place that is like a second-home to me.
Pulling through it all certainly is tough.
If anything is making it better, though, without a doubt it's the Lord. I was privileged to go to Eucharistic Adoration last week because my sister had to go to the church to practice her organ pieces. This has been a greatly-missed privilege for me. Attending a Catholic university is a great blessing because the sacraments are so available and there are many places where you can stop and spend time in the Eucharistic Presence of Jesus.
Once I was alone in that room, I poured myself out to the Lord: what I was struggling with, why I was having such a hard time with it all, what I hoped for, what I feared. If there is one thing I have found in Christ in my relationship with Him over the last several years, it's that He has the greatest listening ear of anyone I know. I can tell God everything, and do. I tell Him things that no one else ever hears about or knows that I'm dealing with. It's so good to have a Friend like that.
But I think what's even better is that after I've told Him everything, when I stop to listen, He always has the best advice. Albeit, it's not always advice that's easy to follow or swallow; but time and time again, God has told me what I most need to hear at the moment when I am struggling. He is always very clear with me, but this clarity is ruled by gentleness. God is never harsh or cruel-handed; He is always kind, always good, always gentle, always strong, always loving...always there.
It is no surprise that all His revelations to me in Scripture of late have been about giving witness and preaching the Gospel. I am becoming more and more aware that this is going to be my mission this summer: the purpose for which God has brought me home. But I can't say this is not intimidating after spending a summer working in an atmosphere that nurtured my faith and surrounded me with people who cared about me and loved God. I think the biggest intimidation is that I really have no idea what I'm going to be surrounded by, or what I'll be faced with everyday.
Through all this, though, God's message is clear: trust. Always trust. "Fear not." "Be still and know that I am God." "I am the Light of the world." "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life."
I continue to pray for confidence, for trust in God, for hope, for understanding. For those of you who have been praying for me, thank you. I can tell. God bless you all.
"Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me show love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Oh divine Master grant that I may not seek so much to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we truly receive. It is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life."
"Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, and courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."
-St. Francis of Assissi
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Here we go!
Hello, everyone!
Welcome to my very first blog. I hope to share some good stories and insights (when God so inspires me) on here. The purpose, as outlined above by the movie quotes a little bit, is to look for the profound in the simple: to see those little sparkles that reflect something bigger that is waiting to get out and be discovered by someone.
I'm one of those people who takes joys in the little things. I like campfires and s'mores on a summer evening with my family gathered in our yard. I love looking up at the stars in the middle of a clearing, watching them sparkle more beautifully than any jewels ever could. I like taking walks out in the woods, petting my dogs, watching my goats' shenanigans. I take joy in the sound and sight of running water in rivers, lakes, streams, creeks, rainstorms, fountains...and in the sound and feel of the wind on my skin, in barefoot walks in the grass or the shore of the beach. Beach glass, seashells, beautiful music, sunlight raining down through holes in the clouds or pouring through the glass of windows...I could go on, but I've probably said too much already.
I also like writing stories and taking pictures, so occasionally a post about an escapade in authorship or photography may slip in here.
But at the center of it all, as with everything I try to do, God is the hero of the story and, I pray, my main focus. My hope is that he will shine through in the sparkles I see in life and that I will be able to share some of life's great messages and mysteries with you as He inspires me to do.
God bless! Good evening to all.
"Your life is an occasion. Rise to it." -Mr. Edward Magorium
Welcome to my very first blog. I hope to share some good stories and insights (when God so inspires me) on here. The purpose, as outlined above by the movie quotes a little bit, is to look for the profound in the simple: to see those little sparkles that reflect something bigger that is waiting to get out and be discovered by someone.
I'm one of those people who takes joys in the little things. I like campfires and s'mores on a summer evening with my family gathered in our yard. I love looking up at the stars in the middle of a clearing, watching them sparkle more beautifully than any jewels ever could. I like taking walks out in the woods, petting my dogs, watching my goats' shenanigans. I take joy in the sound and sight of running water in rivers, lakes, streams, creeks, rainstorms, fountains...and in the sound and feel of the wind on my skin, in barefoot walks in the grass or the shore of the beach. Beach glass, seashells, beautiful music, sunlight raining down through holes in the clouds or pouring through the glass of windows...I could go on, but I've probably said too much already.
I also like writing stories and taking pictures, so occasionally a post about an escapade in authorship or photography may slip in here.
But at the center of it all, as with everything I try to do, God is the hero of the story and, I pray, my main focus. My hope is that he will shine through in the sparkles I see in life and that I will be able to share some of life's great messages and mysteries with you as He inspires me to do.
God bless! Good evening to all.
"Your life is an occasion. Rise to it." -Mr. Edward Magorium
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