Working On This Whole Trust Thing...

^{Yesterday I took the chance to go to confession. It had been about a month since I had last gone, and although I did not really have too much to say I ended up going for some advice. As I mentioned in a previous post about a interesting moment that happened to me personally on my trip. I was still feeling a bit confused and unsure about what my future. Before I went into confession I prayed to God about what that all meant. I decided to open up the Bible and it opened to this passage:}

^{Philippians 4:6-9}

⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

That made me feel a little bit better, but still not fully at peace. I went into confession and told Father my list of sins. He then asked me if there was anything else that was troubling me about my relationship with God. I did not really plan on explaining the story of what happened on my trip, but when he asked me that I knew I had to get it off my chest. He then told me that that sort of thing happens a lot to lots of different people. He said that since this was the first time it had happened to me by a stranger it did not mean I am called as a nun. He told me to just leave it alone for now. If I am called to becoming a nun or sister than there will be more signs to come in my future, but for now to just not think about it at all. I felt an immediate sense of relief hearing that from my priest. For my penance he told me to keep praying to trust God and His plan for me. The more I thought about that penance the more I have realized that I really do need to pray more about trusting God. There have been some other things in my life over the past few years that have made me confused and frustrated about what God has planned for my future. So here's to me REALLY working on being relaxed while God takes the wheel.

I Am Proud To Be Catholic!

I had a blast on my March For Life trip. There were so many fun and happy and great moments, but there were also a few not so high moments. I want to share a story of one of those not so great moments... The day of the march happens to be the only day the seminariens from St. Meinrad are allowed to wear collars. Our two seminarien friends were very excited to wear theirs. It was a fun time for them as they were enjoying random strangers calling them "Father." There was one instance though that was not so high. As we were walking after the march to find a less crowded metro station we crossed paths with a man who judged my two friends by the collar they were wearing... judging the whole priesthood really. You see, this man made a very rude comment to my friends as he walked by us. He said very loudly and clearly, "Pedophiles for Christ!" I was very offended by that comment, and I am sure my two friends were even more so. It is frustrating to think that people still have those feelings towards the Church. I received an e-mail from a friend today, and it fits perfectly to this issue. It is actually by a Jewish Rabbi which makes it even more powerful to me.

Excerpts of an article written by non-Catholic Sam Miller - a prominent Cleveland Jewish businessman:

"Why would newspapers carry on a vendetta on one of the most important institutions that we have today in the United States, namely the Catholic Church?

Do you know - the Catholic Church educates 2.6 million students everyday at the cost to that Church of 10 billion dollars, and a savings on the other hand to the American taxpayer of 18 billion dollars. The graduates go on to graduate studies at the rate of 92%.

The Church has 230 colleges and universities in the U.S. with an enrollment of 700,000 students..

The Catholic Church has a non-profit hospital system of 637 hospitals, which account for hospital treatment of 1 out of every 5 people - not just Catholics - in the United States today.

But the press is vindictive and trying to totally denigrate in every way the Catholic Church in this country. They have blamed the disease of pedophilia on the Catholic Church, which is as irresponsible as blaming adultery on the institution of marriage.

Let me give you some figures that Catholics should know and remember. For example, 12% of the 300 Protestant clergy surveyed admitted to sexual intercourse with a parishioner; 38% acknowledged other inappropriate sexual contact in a study by the United Methodist Church , 41.8% of clergy women reported unwanted sexual behavior; 17% of laywomen have been sexually harassed.

Meanwhile, 1.7% of the Catholic clergy has been found guilty of pedophilia. 10% of the Protestant ministers have been found guilty of pedophilia. This is not a Catholic Problem.

A study of American priests showed that most are happy in the priesthood and find it even better than they had expected, and that most, if given the choice, would choose to be priests again in face of all this obnoxious PR the church has been receiving.
The Catholic Church is bleeding from self-inflicted wounds. The agony that Catholics have felt and suffered is not necessarily the fault of the Church. You have been hurt by a small number of wayward priests that have probably been totally weeded out by now.

Walk with your shoulders high and you head higher. Be a proud member of the most important non-governmental agency in the United States .

Then remember what Jeremiah said: 'Stand by the roads, and look and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is and walk in it, and find rest for your souls'. Be proud to speak up for your faith with pride and reverence and learn what your Church does for all other religions.

Memorable Moments Captured On Film From My Trip

I am happy to say that I have recovered my photos. It was by accident, but I have them back... From top to bottom...

The first picture is of my sister, my great friend, and myself. We grew up together and so our friend is like a brother to us. Can you say family photo time???

The second photo is just one of the many shots I took of the crowd at the March. Being so short I could not get a great one, but this one was pretty good.

The third one is of my sister and I and two friends who came along with us on the trip... They are seminariens. I happened to be in the car with them for the trip to d.c. and home. Good times. :)

The forth one is of me and my friend. We stayed at her family's home. I was so happy to be able to see her and spend some time with her. I missed her a great deal. She is planning on becoming a nun as soon as she pays her school debts off. :)

The fifth one basically shows our view from where we were sitting for the Vigil Mass at the Basillica.. They were really great seats. :)

The sixth one is of Newt Gingrich! After I took his picture he waved at me. It was kinda cool.

The seventh one is of my sister and our two good friends while we were saving our seats for our group. They are sisters too. :)

The eighth one is of the view from behind where we were sitting for Mass at the National Basillica...And that is not counting all the people sitting in the adjoining chapels and to the sides of us....10,000 people were there for this Mass.

The ninth one is my personal favorite moment I captured on film. Among the craziness in the basillica, my sister and I passed by this chapel. It was the only one with just one person in it. It was a holy moment... I had to get it on film. It was too touching not too. I have no clue who the man is that was praying....

The bottom one is of the National Basillica. Both my younger sister and I said we felt like we were at home as soon as we walked up to this place. We have been there so many times now that we know where to find everything. It was nice to know that the place that made me feel like home is the Catholic church.

"There's No Place Like Home. There's No Place Like Home. There's No Place Like Home..."

I must admit that since my trip was so much fun, coming home and getting back into my normal routine has not been so easy. This morning when I woke-up was the first morning in the past week that I have not wished for a few more hours of sleep. I think my sleeping schedule is finally getting back to normal after my crazy week of traveling and working. I feel like I have not stopped moving. Even tomorrow I will have a little bit of sleep-in time, but I am meeting a friend to take a zumba class together before noon...

I find a sense of peace when I am working-out. Just keeping my mind on breathing at a good pace and keeping moving is so much simpler for me to do right now. I tend to pray a lot while working out, especially when I am jogging. It keeps my mind off the pain I am pushing myself through and so it is easier to win the mind-over-body game that happens while running/kick-boxing/pilates. Getting back into my exercise routine was the easiest part of coming home. I missed being able to push myself while on the trip. We had such a packed schedule that there was not much room when it came to working-out. I took advantage of Monday afternoon when we went in search of a less crowded metro station. We walked a ways and I did not feel guilty about missing my work-out that day.

I have to say being welcomed back with loud excited screams by the kids was my favorite part of the day. Each of them kept saying how they missed me, and I received lots of hugs and kisses from them. One little girl came and whispered in my ear "Miss Teresa, you're the best." How can a girl not eat that comment up? Moments like these are blessings in a crazy work-day. I do not take them for granted, but thank God for them everyday. :)

I went to Mass yesterday and was greeted with questions from friends about how my trip went and being told they were all praying for me. I did not know some of these people even knew about my planned trip to d.c.. It was just another reminder that I was home and surrounded by people who care about me. As nice as it was to get away from my hometown for awhile, there is nothing like returning home and knowing people are here waiting for me.

"Be Still And Know I Am God"

Psalm 46

1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.
7 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.
9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.
10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

A Local Youth Group From My Home Town On News About March...

St. John's youth group being interviewed about the March for Life. The young girl who speaks happens to have been part of my homeschool group during my senior year of high school. I am so proud of this. :)

Still Gonna Keep Taking It One Step At A Time

While on the March for Life trip I must say that I had a bit of an inner struggle/confusion going on. You see, while waiting for the Vigil Mass to begin I became very friendly with the people who were sitting around me. We were all crammed together like a can of sardines that it is not hard to make a connection with those around you.

One man who I met happened to sit at the very end of the pew that I was leaning on. He and I talked about where we were from (he was from Missouri) and what we liked about our home towns. He was very easy to talk to and I enjoyed my conversation with him. At the end of the Mass as my group was getting ready to go he tapped me on my shoulder and asked me what I was majoring in. I told him early childhood education. He then told me I was a very brave woman. I laughed at that and explained to him how I have been working at a daycare for five years now, so I was pretty sure I knew what I was getting myself into. He then looked me straight in the eye and asked me if I had ever thought about being a nun. I cannot explain why at that moment I felt a feeling of nervousness, but I did. I explained to him how I have prayed about it, but I am pretty sure I am not called to be a nun. He smiled at my answer and I then had to say goodbye to him as my group was leaving him.

A few of my friends over heard this conversation and found it interesting as there has been a running joke of how I will become a nun, I am just in denial. I was hoping they would not spread that story around because I still wanted to process it all in my head, but it did not happen as I wished. The first thing my sister told the group when we met up with everyone was my conversation with this man.

I am completely used to my friends joking around about me becoming a nun. It is nothing new. It has happened for a number of years now, but they make it known to me they are just joking. In fact the majority of the time after they joke about it they always end up telling me they know I will actually become a wonderful mother and have twelve kids. Why it is ALWAYS twelve kids, I have no idea, but it is. I suppose if God chooses to give me twelve I will find a way to handle it, but I really would not mind dealing with no more than five, but beggars cannot be choosers I suppose. I suppose the reason why I was so taken back by this man's comment is because I have never really been told by someone I just met about if I have thought about being a nun.

The next morning I took this to prayer when I went with a small group of friends to a holy hour and Mass. I also had some good conversations with my two seminarien friends. I know that I must keep contemplating and praying about whatever vocation God is calling me to. I am pretty certain I am called to marriage, but until that happens I will work on my relationship with Him now.

Sleep... Who Needs Sleep? Sleep Is For Babies! Ha!!!

Considering I have spent the majority of this past week-end sleep-deprived, along with the rest of my group, I decided to post the top 10 benefits to being sleep deprived. I got a laugh out of them....

10. Sleep deprivation allows you to speak your mind.

9. Sleep deprivation provides more time for productivity.

8. Sleep deprivation lets your family see your emotional side.

7. Sleep deprivation can lead to lack of rationality, which can lead to creativity.

6. Sleep deprivation gives you excuses to try gourmet coffee.

5. Sleep deprivation provides you with an excuse to nap.

4. Sleep deprivations gives you a free pass when you forget important information.

3. Sleep deprivation allows you to fast forward through boring situations

2. Sleep deprivation can give you a pretty good buzz by the end of the day.

1. You can see the sunrise and the sunset in one day!

“A journey is best measured in friends rather than miles”

I know I have been M.I.A. for sometime now. I have been incredibly busy with preparing for my March for Life trip and then being away for it that I have not had much free time to blog. In fact, I just got home a little while ago and am very tired, which is why this entry will be pretty short. I am only going to list the highlights from my trip and then later on I will come back and go into more detail because there is a lot to say.

My Favorite Moments From The Trip

The road trip to and from with one of my very best friends, Mike Keucher, and another new friend John Kimwando. We had way too many good laughs and conversations that I cannot go into detail here, but they helped make a great beginning and ending to this pilgrimage. :)

Seeing my good friend Jess and spending time with her and her family. They were kind enough to open their home to twelve energetic and fun people and I am very grateful for that. It is because of this fact I was really able to attend the March at all.

Sightseeing around d.c. Sunday afternoon was great times with the whole group.

Attempting to play "pretend" with some friends while looking at the air and space museum.

Going to the National Basillica in d.c. for the vigil Mass.

While at the National Basillica part of my group ended up with AMAZING seats. We could see everything. It was wonderful. I guess after four times, by the fifth you kinda know exactly how it works.

Being able to take a picture of Newt Gingrich, who sat just a few rows behind us. He even waved at me and posed for the picture. :)

Ending up sitting across from a group of people during the vigil Mass who know my friend Liz. She was supposed to come with our group, but changed her mind. Anyway as I figured out these people knew her she was on the phone with one of them at that exact moment. I got to talk to her on their cell phone. It was really cool how it happened.

Apparently my mom told me I ended up being on E.W.T.N. as I was walking away from receiving communion. I have never been on t.v. or in the newspaper before, so that was kind of cool too.

After Mass we went on the metro and most of the group on our car broke out singing in Latin. Only with a large group of Catholic people would that EVER happen.

The March itself was HUGE!!!! We ended up being towards the very back of the line so we stood there for hours and hours before we actually began to move.

While waiting to march I had a lot of fun with my sister having staring contests and playing 20 questions. It was some fun sister bonding... I had fun with my other group members, but I enjoyed hanging-out with her the most at that time. :)

After the march my "car" group ended up going separate ways and walked and walked and walked and walked to find a less crowded metro station. Got my work-out in. :)

Eating dinner with my friend's family while enjoying a couple of beers. It was good times.

Enjoying spending time with the WHOLE group after dinner laughing in the living room. Some of us played euchre, some of us were messing on our phones, some of us were getting back masages, some of us were doing homework ... but we were all enjoying each other's company. That was my favorite part of the trip.

I would have loved to post pictures of a lot of these things, but sadly and strangely somehow they got deleted. I really am not sure how it happened, but it was kind of sad. It happens though, and I am sure I will find pictures from other members in the group, so all is not lost. :)

And now I am going to go relax a bit. Even though this may seem like a long post, really it is not long at all. I will be posting more, as I said earlier. :)

The title of this post best says how I feel about my trip... "A journey is best measured in friends rather than miles."

"The Perfect Man"

Tonight I spent part of my evening watching the movie, "The Perfect Man." It is very much a chick-flick, but I enjoy the message that comes out of it. For those of you who don't know, the movie is about a a mother and her two daughters. Every time the mother has fallen in love but ended up with a broken heart she would have her family pack-up and move to another town. The mother felt as though if she were not in a relationship with any guy, no matter how much of a loser the guy is, then she was not worth anything. In the end the daughter helps the mother realize how amazing she is and how she does not need another man to make her wonderful. While the mother feels the need to fall in love to feel whole, the daughter is too afraid to let herself get close to anyone because of how she has watched her mother deal with men while growing up. It was an interesting movie to watch.

There are lots of girls who seem to follow in the mother's footsteps and need to always have a boyfriend or they don't feel as if they are worth anything. This is really sad to me to watch happen. Don't get me wrong here having a boyfriend is a nice surprise to have, but us girls should not feel that we need one at ALL times. Really us girls need to have our hearts set on Jesus, because He is the perfect man who will help make us feel whole. Once we focus on Him and what He wants of us than that is what will make each of us feel a true sense of worth. God will bring the right man to us at the right time. Patience is a virtue and when it comes to waiting for that "someone" it is really hard to have, but it will be worth it in the end.

"Relax!"

This past week I found out that our parish priest will be leaving us within the next month. I am very saddened about this change, especially since he has only been with us for a short period of time. I understand why he will be leaving us, but I know that St. Charles will not quite feel as much like home in the way that it once was. The fact that we will not have an official parish priest until sometime this Summer will make it feel even more strange in some ways. I can't help but wonder who our new priest will be and what ways the dynamic of my parish will change.
This morning I opened up my "God Calling" book and this is what it had to say...

January 15
Relax

Relax, do not get tense, have no fear. All is for the best. How can you fear change when your life is hid with Me in God, who changeth not- and I Am the same yesterday, today, and forever.
You must learn poise, soul-balance and poise, in a vacillating changing world.
Claim My power. The same power which which I cast out devils is yours today. Use it. If not, I withdraw it. Us it ceaselessly.
You cannot ask too much. Never think you are too busy. As long as you get back to Me and replenish after each task no work can be too much. My joy I give you. Live in it. Bath your spirit in it. Reflect it."

Have You Prayed About Your Vocation Recently???

As I said in my previous post, this week is Vocation Awareness Week. Last night at "holy" hour we talked all about vocations and ways to really go about understanding what God is calling us to do in our lives. There was a panel of three guests, a priest, and then a couple who are engaged to be married this May. It was interesting to really learn each one of their stories. I particularly enjoyed hearing the young woman's story because it helped affirm how I have been discerning God's call in my own life. She never has really spent her time discerning about being called as a nun. Instead each time she has had to make a choice in her life she discerned whether that is what God was wanting her to choose. When it came to becoming engaged she discerned whether she was called to spend the rest of her life with her fiancee. Before she was engaged both her and her boyfriend did a novena for over a month and spent time together going to Mass and in eucharistic adoration to figure out if marriage was what God was calling them too.

I found this story very insightful for myself. Like her, I have not really thought too seriously on becoming a nun. Not that I have totally closed the door on that idea, but right at this moment I have not felt that being a nun or sister is my calling. With every big choice I have I also go to God in prayer about it. I pray a lot before making a decision. The more I sit in prayer with God, the more I feel peace with my life and the direction I am going right now. I know that if and when it comes time in a relationship to think about marriage I want to take this girl's advice. I want to really pray about that with the person I am in a relationship with before a proposal officially happens.

One question that was asked was how to decipher which answers come from God and which ones come from the devil. It is always tricky to figure out. Father said that the more we pray about our vocation then the choice that really fills us with peace and fulfillment is the answer he believes comes from God. The devil will always be there trying to make a person turn away from God's path, but the more we rely on God while spending quality quiet time with Him and talk with a mentor/close family and friends (when I say close, I really mean a select few people who really know YOU best and who you are comfortable sharing yourself with) about the discernment process the more it will help drown out the devil.

After the discussion we spent some time in Eucharistic Adoration which was a perfect way to help digest all that we had listened too.

Vocations Awareness Week 2011

This week happens to be Vocations Awareness Week.... So I have found this great video about ways to discern your vocation...

This Is Me When I Have Writer's Block

Fill this out IN YOUR OWN WORDS and repost. ... And use your own answers, not someone else's.

1. Where was your display picture taken?

In my living room

2. What exactly are you wearing right now?

my work-out out-fit and my IU hoodie

3. What is your current problem?

Boredom and writer's block...

4. What makes you happy most?

Family, Friends, Lucy (the dog), music, the smell of sun screen (cause it makes me think of Summer), Going to Mass, Going on retreats, Being a role model, Knowing I have helped make someone's day...Chocolate, Playing the piano, Reading a great book, Cuddling on the couch with another person, Receiving a really great back masage, Road trips with friends... lots of things make me happy. :)

5. What's the name of the song that you're listening to?

I am not listening to music right now... shocking, I know, but true.

6. Any celeb you would marry?

Keith Urban... but sadly he is already married. Channing Tatum would be another one...

7. Name someone with the same birthday as you?

Umm....Cate Blanchett, and George Lucas....

8. Ever sang in front of a large audience?

Well... if you count karaoke a few years ago with my family... we all sang "We are family" and only knew the words to the chorus... yeah... and then us girl cousins sang Shania Twain's "Honey, I'm Home." We didn't do half bad with that one.

9. Has anyone ever said you looked like a celebrity?

nope.

10. Do you still watch kiddy movies or kiddie TV shows?

Yeah, at work... I gotta be up on my game with the popular kiddie shows for the kiddos.

11. Do you speak any languages?

english

12. Has anyone you've been close with passed away?

Yes, my grandpa. It was sad

13. Do you ever watch MTV?

Occasionally I have in the past.

14. What's something that really annoys you?

well I do get annoyed when I am on the highway and get cut off by someone who does not know how to use a turn-signal, it frustrates me. When people are two-faced. That annoys me big time... when a certain sibling of mine goes into my room and "borrows" clothes, but only tells me this when I randomly find it while in her room talking with her...

Chapter 1:

1. Middle Name:

Allison

2. Nickname(s):

Resa, Miss Resa, Aunt Tee tee, Ter, Reaper (long story), T.C. (don't know where the C comes from on that one).

3. Current location:

Living room

4. Eye color:

hazel

5. Hair Color?

brown

Chapter 2:

1. Do you live with your parents?

yes... but not for much longer.

2. Who do you live with?

My dad, mom, sister, brother, and dog

3. Do you have any siblings ?

yes, four

Chapter 3: Favorites

1. Ice Cream:

cookies and cream,

2. Season:

summer/fall

3. Shampoo/conditioner:

head and shoulders...

4. Dessert:

ice cream

Chapter 4: Do You..

1. Dance in the shower?

no...I do sing sometimes

2. Do you write on your hand?

when it is an emergency and I have no paper near me.

3. Call people back:

usually

4. Believe in love:

yes

6. Any bad habits?

I am sure I do...not putting my coat and shoes away when I get home... instead I leave them by the grandfather clock...

Chapter 5: Have You..

1. Broken a bone:

no

2. Sprained stuff:

yes. my ankle.

3. Had physical therapy:

no

4. Gotten stitches:

no

5. Taken painkillers:

yea

6. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling:

no, but that would be kinda fun I think.

7. Been stung by a bee?

yes.

8. Thrown up at the dentist:

no, thankfully. I never heard of that happening to someone before...

10. Had detention:

I was homeschooled, so no...

Chapter 6: Who/What was the last.

2. Person to text you:

Maria

3. Person you spoke to on the phone?

my mom

4. Person you hugged?

Joseph

5. Person you tackled?

Um... I don't know.

6. Person you talked to on msn/facebook?

My friend John

7.Thing you touched?

The keyboard

8.Thing you ate?

a chocolate covered pretzel

9. Thing you drank:

water

10. Thing you said:

"You mean that is the only bad habit I have, mom?" Yeah, I had help from her for that one question....

Chaper 7: Future

1. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

wherever God wants me to be...

2. 10 years?

see above answer

3. In 50 years?

who knows... if I live that long I will be in my seventies... hopefully retired. lol

4. Where do you hope to live?

wherever

5. Do you want to be famous?

I think "famous" is over-rated.

6. Do you want children?

yes!

7. Will you have plastic surgery?

no!

"All Good Things Must Come To And End..." :(

I finally have been able to really sit down and write another blog post. Yesterday I guess I could have written one, but I was a bit sleep deprived from the retreat and ended up choosing to go to bed instead. When I say sleep-deprived I really do mean it. I believe I had about four hours of sleep Saturday night. Anyway, I am getting off-track....

I want to thank those of you who prayed for the confirmation II retreat. Your prayers worked! I have to say this past retreat was the best confirmation II retreat I have helped chaperone. The kids were well-behaved, and the talks were superb. It was a blast! I was very sad for it to come to an end.

My two very favorite part of this past retreat week-end was adoration time. The kids were all really great during this part. I did not go to confession because the kids were the one's that needed to go, and I also had gone the week-end before in preparation for the retreat. My other favorite part was hanging-out with my friends and the kid's after adoration and confessions were all done. We were all so slap-happy by that time that most of the night was spent laughing at the most random things ( most of which I do not even remember what we were laughing at) and me getting a work-out running up and down the stairs to find out what the score to the Colt's football game was every few minutes.

It is interesting to me how when I am on a retreat, no matter which one it has been, I always feel as though I never want to leave. I would not mind staying around the group an extra day or even longer. I guess that is partly why I enjoy helping out with so many different retreats... In fact, I had an Antioch retreat reunion meeting I went to pretty much as soon as I got home from the confirmation II retreat, and I have another one I will be helping out with next month. As soon as one retreat is done another one tends to take my focus.

"11 Step Program For Those Considering Having Children"

My older sister shared this with me, and I found it too good not to pass on. :)

11 Step Program For Those Considering Having Children

Lesson 1

1. Go to the grocery store.

2. Arrange to have your salary paid directly to their head office.

3. Go home.

4. Pick up the paper.

5. Read it for the last time.

Lesson 2

Before you finally go ahead and have children, find a couple who already are parents and berate them about their...

1. Methods of discipline.

2. Lack of patience.

3. Appallingly low tolerance levels.

4. Allowing their children to run wild.

5. Suggest ways in which they might improve their child's breastfeeding, sleep habits, toilet training, table manners, and overall behavior.

Enjoy it because it will be the last time in your life you will have all the answers.

Lesson 3

A really good way to discover how the nights might feel...

1. Get home from work and immediately begin walking around the living room from 5PM to 10PM carrying a wet bag weighing approximately 8-12 pounds, with a radio turned to static (or some other obnoxious sound) playing loudly. (Eat cold food with one hand for dinner)

2. At 10PM, put the bag gently down, set the alarm for midnight, and go to sleep.

3. Get up at 12 and walk around the living room again, with the bag, until 1AM.

4. Set the alarm for 3AM.

5. As you can't get back to sleep, get up at 2AM and make a drink and watch an infomercial.

6. Go to bed at 2:45AM.

7. Get up at 3AM when the alarm goes off.

8. Sing songs quietly in the dark until 4AM.

9. Get up. Make breakfast. Get ready for work and go to work (work hard and be productive)

Repeat steps 1-9 each night. Keep this up for 3-5 years. Look cheerful and together.

Lesson 4

Can you stand the mess children make? T o find out...

1. Smear peanut butter onto the sofa and jam onto the curtains.

2. Hide a piece of raw chicken behind the stereo and leave it there all summer.

3. Stick your fingers in the flower bed.

4. Then rub them on the clean walls.

5. Take your favorite book, photo album, etc. Wreck it.

6. Spill milk on your new pillows. Cover the stains with crayons. How does that look?

Lesson 5

Dressing small children is not as easy as it seems.

1. Buy an octopus and a small bag made out of loose mesh.

2. Attempt to put the octopus into the bag so that none of the arms hang out.

Time allowed for this - all morning.

Lesson 6

Forget the BMW and buy a mini-van. And don't think that you can leave it out in the driveway spotless and shining. Family cars don't look like that.

1. Buy a chocolate ice cream cone and put it in the glove compartment.

Leave it there.

2. Get a dime. Stick it in the CD player.

3. Take a family size package of chocolate cookies. Mash them into the back seat. Sprinkle cheerios all over the floor, then smash them with your foot.

4. Run a garden rake along both sides of the car.

Lesson 7

Go to the local grocery store. Take with you the closest thing you can find to a pre-school child. (A full-grown goat is an excellent choice). If you intend to have more than one child, then definitely take more than one goat. Buy your week's groceries without letting the goats out of your sight. Pay for everything the goat eats or destroys. Until you can easily accomplish this, do not even contemplate having children.

Lesson 8

1. Hollow out a melon.

2. Make a small hole in the side.

3. Suspend it from the ceiling and swing it from side to side.

4. Now get a bowl of soggy Cheerios and attempt to spoon them into the swaying melon by pretending to be an airplane.

5. Continue until half the Cheerios are gone.

6. Tip half into your lap. The other half, just throw up in the air.

You are now ready to feed a nine- month-old baby.

Lesson 9

Learn the names of every character from Sesame Street , Barney, Disney, the Teletubbies, and Pokemon. Watch nothing else on TV but PBS, the Disney channel or Noggin for at least five years. (I know, you're thinking What's 'Noggin'?) Exactly the point.

Lesson 10

Make a recording of Fran Drescher saying 'mommy' repeatedly. (Important: no more than a four second delay between each 'mommy'; occasional crescendo to the level of a supersonic jet is required). Play this tape in your car everywhere you go for the next four years. You are now ready to take a long trip with a toddler.

Lesson 11

Start talking to an adult of your choice. Have someone else continually tug on your skirt hem, shirt- sleeve, or elbow while playing the 'mommy' tape made from Lesson 10 above. You are now ready to have a conversation with an adult while there is a child in the room.

This is all very tongue in cheek; anyone who is parent will say 'it's all worth it!' Share it with your friends, both those who do and don't have kids. I guarantee they'll get a chuckle out of it. Remember, a sense of humor is one of the most important things you'll need when you become a parent!

Just Some Prayer Requests.

Hello readers. I just wanted to say I will be away this week-end helping chaperone a Confirmation II retreat. My own small group will be attending and I am very excited to watch them open up even more this week-end. Please keep us all in your prayers. :)

Also one of the girls in my small group will not be able to attend the retreat this week-end because she is having surgery done on her shoulders. This girl is a cancer survivor. The reason she had to have surgery is because the chemo ended up messing with her body so bad that only surgery can help it. She will also have to have hip surgery done later on this year as well. Please keep her in your prayers. She may be cancer free, but she still has a long road to recovery to go through. Her attitude throughout all of this has really inspired me. I have learned a lot from her and probably more than I ever helped her learn in the past few years. She is amazing!

"And The Winner Is...."

Tonight I have been sitting in front of the television skipping through the channels and trying to see if one of my favorite shows happens to be on, Bones, Reba, or House maybe. I flip through and find myself quickly sucked into none other than the People's Choice Awards. As I sat there watching I could not help but realize how I was so tuned into this show. Even after I got up to mess around on the computer they were about to show the winner of some category (I don't even know which one it was, but I do know that the girl star from the Twilight movies won it. :( ) and I stopped my dad from changing the channel just because I wanted to hear who the winner is.

I will admit that a good portion of my Christmas break was spent catching up on past seasons of the television show Glee and watching the first season of The Big Bang Theory. It is interesting to me how we all can get so involved in television programs. It is crazy how with some shows how the audience can really emotionally connect to the plots that go on during episodes, or connect with a certain character. We can watch the show for an hour and then when that show is over we are left wishing there was more to watch.

Media really does have a hold on society. We can numb ourselves to the sex or drug scenes on our favorite shows thinking how they will only last a minute so why worry about it when really all those few minutes can mess with our minds. Somewhere along the line we get so used to seeing things like sex or drugs on tv to the point where we no longer see how doing those things are wrong anymore. In it's own way it makes the things that really are not best for us seem amazing and magical and a necessity. That is why it is so important to keep close to the faith by going to daily Mass and receiving communion regularly. Media may have a "hold" over society, but as long as we remember what is real truth and ask ourselves if what we are watching really will be helpful for us spiritually than it's "hold" will not be as strong.

"Legacy"

While I was playing Euchre online today I also happened to have pandora on when this song was played. I have never heard it before and was about to press skip when the lyrics caught my eye. My favorite lyrics from this song happen to come from the bridge. "And will the world see Christ when they look at my life? Oh, will the world see?" I hope that when I die people did see Christ

Legacy
by: Sanctus Real

What will they say when I'm gone,
In words that are written in stone?
Under my name, what will they claim about me?

Oh, I want to leave a legacy to be remembered.
More than just a memory that fades away
Because we only, we only get one life

Free me, my hands are tied
I'm so tired of wasting time
These endless inventions
Steal my attention from real life
And when its done, when its over

Oh, I want to leave a legacy to be remembered
More than just a memory that fades away
Because we only, we only get one life


And will the world see Christ
When they look at my life?
Oh, will the world see?

Mmm, come on, give me, give me, give me real life
And no more, no more, no more wasting time
Because we only, we only get one life (Just one Life)

Oh, I want to leave a legacy to be remembered
More than just a memory that fades away
Because we only, (Get one shot, at this one life) We only (One moment in time)
Because we only, we only get one life

"JP II We Love You!"

This video is about a miracle that has been approved for the beatification of John Paul II. This makes me happy. :) :) :)

Some More Favorite Quotes Of Mine

Here are some of my favorite quotes that have inspired me with how I can work on becoming a better person... Enjoy!

"In everything you do, put God first, and He will direct you and crown your effort with success."
~Proverbs 3:6~

"The place to improve the world is first in one's own heart and head and hands."
~Robert M. Persig~

"Life's most persistent questions is... what are you doing for others?"
~Martin Luther King Jr.~

"Listening can be a greater service than speaking."
~Dietrich Bonhoffer~

"If what you did yesterday seems big, you haven't done anything today"
~Lord Holtz~

"Without mistakes there would be no forgiving, and if there was no forgiving, there would be no love."
~Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta~

"If you don't like the way the world is; you change it, just do it one step at a time."
~Miriam Wright Edleman~

"If God can work through me, He can work through anyone."
~St. Francis de Sales~

"You never know what happiness a simple act of kindness will bring about."
~Bree Able~

"Experience: that most brutal of teachers. But you learn, my God, do you learn."
~C.S. Lewis~

"One kind word can warm three winter months."
~Japanese Proverb~

"Little deeds of kindness, little words of love, help to make the world a better place."
~Julia Carney~

"Make yourself a blessing to someone. Your kind smile or pat on the back just might pull someone back from the edge."
~Carmelia Elliot~

"I cannot and will not cut my conscience to this year's fashion."
~Lillian Hellman~

St. Elmo

Apparently there is a popular game (although game is not really the right word for it) going around. This year if you wish to do this you can click onto this link to find out who your saint for the year will be. You are supposed to pray about which saint will come up before you click the button, and then the one that is given to you is supposed to become special to you throughout the year. It will also give you a link so you can learn more about that specific saint. Tonight before I clicked the button I prayed that the saint who would come up would be someone I could really identify with and sure enough the saint that came up was St. Erasmus, or better known as St. Elmo. He is the patron saint against abdominal pains; against appendicitis; against birth pains; against childhood intestinal disease; against colic; against danger at sea; against intestinal disorders; against seasickness; against stomach diseases; against storms; childbirth; navigators; ordnance workers; sailors; women in labor. I found this kind of interesting because when I was little I would get really cranky whenever I got hungry. I remember one day I told my mom I was hungry and I must have said it a lot because she looked at me with a frustrated expression and said if I told her I was hungry one more time she would not give me lunch. So five minutes later I told her I had hunger pains.... After I read the first thing this saint was a patron saint for, abdominal pains, it made me flash back to that moment. I have also suffered from really painful abdominal cramps, and still do occasionally. I do not think I will be giving birth anytime within this year, but I do want to become a mother so now I know exactly who to pray to when that time comes.

Here is a little bit more about St. Elmo...
Feast day: June 2
Erasmus was also known as Elmo. He was the bishop of Formiae, Campagna, Italy, and suffered martyrdom during Diocletian's persecution of the Christians. He once fled to Mount Lebanon during the persecution and lived a life of solitude there for some time, being fed by a raven. After the emperor discovered his whereabouts, he was tortured and thrown in prison. Legend claims that an angel released him and he departed for Illyricum, eventually suffered a martyr's death and was one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. Legend records that when a blue light appears at mastheads before and after a storm, the seamen took it as a sign of Erasmus's protection. This was known as "St. Elmo's fire". The blue electrical discharges under certain atmospheric conditions have also been seen on the masks or riggings of ships. Erasmus is also invoked against stomach cramps and colic. This came about because at one time he had hot iron hooks stuck into his intestines by persecutors under Emperor Diocletian. These wounds he miraculously endured. His Feast day is June 2nd.

"Prayer For A Blessing On The New Year"

O sacred and adorable Trinity, hear our prayers on behalf of our holy Father the Pope, our Bishops, our clergy, and for all that are in authority over us. Bless, we beseech Thee, during the coming year, the whole Catholic Church; convert heretics and unbelievers; soften the hearts of sinners so that they may return to Thy friendship; give prosperity to our country and peace among the nations of the world; pour down Thy blessings upon our friends, relatives, and acquaintances, and upon our enemies, if we have any; assist the poor and the sick; have pity on the souls of those whom this year has taken from us; and do Thou be merciful to those who during the coming year will be summoned before Thy judgment seat. May all our actions be preceded by Thy inspirations and carried on by Thy assistance, so that all our prayers and works, having been begun in Thee, may likewise be ended through Thee. Amen.