I love my friends!!!

Today was an amazingly beautiful and wonderful day for me. The majority of it was spent helping out with the Confirmation I retreat. I loved hearing the difference between how the kids perspectives of what they thought the retreat would be like before they came and how they thought about it once they were on it. I heard a lot of the say they thought it would be boring and spent mostly just sitting and listening to talks and nothing else really. I was glad to hear that a lot of their opinions about the retreat changed from that while on it. In fact towards the end of the day a few girls came up to me and told me they wished the retreat went on longer, and I also heard some other kids talking amongst themselves also wanting to stay longer. I was glad to hear them telling each other that. It was very nice.

At one point during the retreat we split of into guy/girl groups for a chastity talk. I personally think in a way the girls group focused more on the aspect of modesty. We talked a lot about how the way a girl dresses helps imply in a way the kind of man she is looking to receive attention from. If a girl wants to really be respected then she has to portray that through the way she dresses and carries herself. We mentioned how men/boys will respect a girl who dresses modestly way more then a girl who dresses immodestly; yes, a girl dressing immodestly may seem to get more attention from the opposite sex, but it is not really the right kind of attention....

One thing I liked about this particular retreat was that there were only two girls helping out with facilitating it, all the rest were guys. I don't know what it is with the retreats I've been helping plan this year, but that seems to be popular this year with guys. The retreat team I've been working with for a retreat next week is also made up with mostly guys. I am not gonna lie. I think it is really cool to see that and for the high school youth to see it as well.

After the retreat the majority of the facilitators said evening prayer together up in the chapel. It was a nice way to end my time at church for the day. After that we all went to eat dinner together. It was a great time and I think it was the highlight of my day, other then the girl's chastity group talk.

While in the car with a dear friend of mine on the way to dinner we entered into a discussion about how incredibly lucky we are to have the great guy friends that we do. These guys really are amazing men who do know how to treat a lady with respect and that is sometimes very hard to find in today's society. She mentioned how she felt guilty about not remembering to tell them all thank-you for being the men they are, and I had to agree. I probably don't tell them thank-you enough either. I figure if I want more men like these friends of mine to continue to be the way they are towards women then I need to do my part and remember to let them know how much I appreciate them. I am very blessed to have them in my life!

Tonight I spent the evening with another group of friends for a birthday celebration. We spent a lot of time playing euchre and apples to apples. After that we all went over to The Upstairs for a few drinks and then I called it a night. I am now very tired from a busy day and am ready for a good night's sleep so until the next time....

The Heart of Who I Am....

Right now I am sitting in my house alone and the only thing I hear other then the clicking sound of the keys as I am typing this out is the sound of the washing machine in the basement. Every now and then I get a chance when I am home alone and I have nothing to do and so I tend to either read a book or watch tv or mess around on the computer. I relish these times. It is pretty much the second best thing to Eucharistic Adoration for me, a time when I tend to just let my thoughts go on their own and relax and just breath. God must think I need this time because not only did he give it to me tonight at home, but I will was able to go to Eucharistic Adoration after I got off of work for first Friday.
Lately there tends to be a lot of things going on in my life and I get bombarded with something else new at least once a week, whether it's with schoolwork, or with work, or family issues, and slowly it is starting to just bring me down. I wouldn't be surprised if my family has noticed it because I really am not always in the best of moods when I get home at night because I am tired and drained from not only running from one place to another, but dealing with all these different changes uses up even more energy.
I was reading the book of Job this past month, and even though I know that my life is no where near how his was going, I can't help but relate a little bit to the way he talked with God and his friends. It was a lot of venting and frustration going on there, and I feel as though that is how my prayer life has been for a couple of months now. While reading it I came to the realization that whatever life throws my way I won't let it cause me to lose faith... Because when I look down deep and into the heart of who I am and what I love the most, it would be my faith. It gives me hope, and if I ever gave up hope then I am afraid of what I would become, so I refuse to give up on it. In fact that is one of the most important things I pray about each night and I am sure that God will not let me lose it.
I think that there is a book that is calling my name to go read it (not literally of course), and since I am done rambling on I am gonna go lose myself in it's storyline. :)

Simple ways to fast.

I borrowed this from a friend today... I hope she doesn't mind. :)

Fast from judging others; discover that Christ lives in them.
Fast from hurtful words; let your mouth overflow with words of healing.
Fast from discontentment; be full of gratitude!
Fast from anger; fill yourself with patience.
Fast from pessimism; fill yourself with Christian hope.
Fast from worries; fill yourself with trust in God alone.
Fast from complaining; be full of appreciation for this marvelous life.
Fast from the pressures that just never seem to stop; instead, fill yourself with a prayer that doesn't end.
Fast from bitterness; fill yourself with forgiveness.
Fast from thinking of only yourself; be full of compassion for everyone else.
Fast from anxiety over things; commit yourself to the spreading of God's kingdom here on earth.
Fast from discouragement; fill yourself with enthusiasm of the Faith.
Fast from mundane thoughts; be full of the truths based in holiness.
Fast from all that separates you from Jesus; be full of anything that will make you closer to Him!

Thoughts on the movie "Law Abiding Citizen"

I just got home from watching the new movie, "Law Abiding Citizen," and boy was that one crazy ride. It really made me think about how our justice system does work and the flaws that it has. I think that it is crazy how some people walk away after five years or so in prison for some horrible crime they committed just because of a plea bargain... I know there is not much room to keep prisoners, or at least that is one of the major arguments I hear, but to let a guy who is not really sorry for what he has done to just walk after a few years in prison makes no sense to me. It's not fair for the victims involved... I would not recommend this movie to people with weak stomachs because there are quite a few gruesome scenes in it that caused me to lose my appetite... I found this quick overview from a website that tells a little bit more about the movie in a way that makes more sense then I could. If anything it did keep me on the edge of my seat the whole time trying to figure out where this guy's mind was going and what he was going to do next and how he was going to do it.

Clyde Shelton (Gerard Butler) is an upstanding family man whose wife and daughter are brutally murdered during a home invasion. When the killers are caught, Nick Rice (Jamie Foxx), a hotshot young Philadelphia prosecutor, is assigned to the case. Over his objections, Nick is forced by his boss to offer one of the suspects a light sentence in exchange for testifying against his accomplice. Fast forward ten years. The man who got away with murder is found dead and Clyde Shelton coolly admits his guilt. Then he issues a warning to Nick: Either fix the flawed justice system that failed his family, or key players in the trial will die. Soon Shelton follows through on his threats, orchestrating from his jail cell a string of spectacularly diabolical assassinations that can be neither predicted nor prevented. Philadelphia is gripped with fear as Shelton’s high-profile targets are slain one after another and the authorities are powerless to halt his reign of terror. Only Nick can stop the killing, and to do so he must outwit this brilliant sociopath in a harrowing contest of wills in which even the smallest misstep means death. With his own family now in Shelton’s crosshairs, Nick finds himself in a desperate race against time facing a deadly adversary who seems always to be one step ahead.

"Kid's Say the Darndest Things" #6

Some more reasons why I love my job. Ha ha!

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The other day we found an extremely long worm inside the daycare. We never have figured out how this thing got in there. I believe it was like at least six inches long. Anyway one of the kids had an interesting conversation with me over this worm....

Jack S.: Miss Teresa, Miss Ellie found a worm in the kitchen this long ( he used his hands to show me the length of the worm, only it was exaggerated a bit...)
Me: Really, Jack? That long? No way!
Jack S: uh huh, Miss Teresa..... I just don't know how God mace that big worm. Do you know how God made it?
Me: Good question, Jack....I think it must be one of God's secrets. I don't think we'll ever find out about that one, Jack.
Jack S.: Ohhh! Secrets. I like secrets!

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As Becky was washing her hands three of the kids were all crowding around her... You see, Becky is very picky about her personal space... it's kind of funny actually, but anyway...

Miss Becky: Ok, I need my space guys. back up. Where is my bubble? I need my bubble!
Callum: Uh, it's gone!
Miss Becky: Yes it is Cal. you are so right. It is gone!

Callum is about three years old. It was kind of cool that he understood the concept of Miss Becky's bubble. I was impressed.

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(after one of the kids came back from going potty)
Miss Ellie: So, did you go potty?
Miriam: Yes, I went with the little boy.
(both Ellie and I look at each other with a confused look."
Miss Ellie: You went with a little boy?
Miriam: Yes, with the little boy.
Miss Ellie: Well, which boy did you go potty with, Miriam?
Miriam: The little boy!
Miss Ellie: Can you show me which boy you went potty with?
Miriam: Come on, Miss Ellie.
(Miriam takes Ellie to the bathroom stall and points to a picture hanging on the wall of a little boy."
Miriam: See the little boy?

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(It was time to change diapers....)
Me: Cal! Come on. I gotta change your diaper now!
Callum: I'm dry Miss Teresa. I don't need to change my diaper!
Me: Well, let me just take you in and check. If you're dry I'll bring you right back outside.
Callum: Alright....
(We go inside and I check his diaper which was soaking wet...)
Me; Cal! You are very very wet boy. You're not dry!
Callum (with a big smile on his face.) I know.
Me:You little stinker!
Callum: But, I'm cute!

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Callum happened to have a very vivid bad dream today during nap time. I don't always find that situation very funny, but the way Callum acted about it was hilarious.

Callum: I had a bad dream. I had a really bad dream Miss Teresa. (He looked over at Marva who was trying really hard not to laugh...) Miss Marva, I had a bad ghost dream.
Me: You had a bad ghost dream?
Callum: Yes. And the ghost said (his voice in a "scary" tone) "Come with me" and I didn't want to go with him so I, I, I bit the ghost.
Me: You bit the ghost? Good for you, Cal, but where did you bite him?
Callum: I bit him on the finger. I bit him hard!!!
Me: Well now, what did the ghost taste like????
Callum: It tasted like an orange, and I HATE oranges!!!!!

Latin Mass so totally rocks!!!

Tonight I was blessed to have my first ever experience at a Latin Mass. I have never felt more at peace and relaxed and amazed at how much more reverent the whole Mass was. The choir did amazing. After going through it once it is hard for me to understand why so many people were ready to get rid of it... I sat with a group of friends from both St. Charles' and St. Paul's, which in and of itself is somewhat amazing to me. You see there has always been a sense of friction (although that is not really the right word I am looking for, but it will have to do for now) between St. Paul's and the rest of the Catholic churches in my area because they tend to be more liberal at St. Paul's. With all the new things they have been doing at that church this year, that image of being more liberal is starting to lessen a little bit, not too much, but a little, for me. It shows that there are obviously enough conservative people attending that Church to help change it which makes me very happy to see.
Anyway, one of the highlights from tonight other then the Mass (which was my favorite part obviously) was being able to see a dear friend of mine. I haven't seen him for a good three months now. The best part about seeing him was the fact that he never once told me he was coming because he said he wanted to see the shocked look on my face when I recognized him, and boy did he get his wish!
I was talking to my mom and told her how after attending the Latin Mass I would love to see it used more often in all the churches... not that that would happen, but it would be nice to see maybe on Holy Days of Obligation. that's just wishful thinking on my part.
Now I am off to finish up some homework and then head off to bed...

I'm Alive

Sorry for the lack of posting these past few days. I have been very busy all day Sunday running around from Mass to meeting friends in between going to different meetings, and then coming home and catching up on homework that I put off all week-end for Halloween parties... I don't have much time to write at the moment, but I will leave with some quick thoughts for the day...

"God gives us dreams a size too big so that we can grow into them."
-Unknown

"Somehow I can't believe that there are any heights that can't be scaled by a man who knows the secrets of making dreams come true. This special secret, it seems to me, can be summarized in four C s. They are curiosity, confidence, courage, and constancy."
-Walt Disney