Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Update
Apologies for the lengthy silence. The blog didn't seem to want me to post anything for awhile. I'll try to get caught up quickly, but I'd like to reflect a little on some events from the summer before coming to the present
Monday, August 2, 2010
Dog-Sitting
Some day, in the future, when I have dogs I will not treat them like people. They will not run the house like my sister's dogs do. And I will not stand for them waking me up at 4:30 every morning! That is what I learned from my ten days of dog-sitting. Also that my relationship with my two best friends is truly a gift from God...really, we even have a diagram to prove it:)
Love and prayers that you are blessed in your friendships
Love and prayers that you are blessed in your friendships
Monday, July 19, 2010
Steubie
Steubenville Youth Conference...looked forward to all year by youth groups everywhere. This year was a different experience for me. I felt heavier then in the past. I don't want to say burdened, that doesn't fit at all. But my heart was heavy. Heavy with worry, disappointment, and sadness. I was worried about my spiritual life, the draught I'd felt for quite some time. Worried that I wouldn't be the leader and model I was expected (perhaps mostly by myself) to be. Disappointed in myself for slipping like that. Sad and concerned that I felt as if God wasn't with me. My soul felt alone. It sounds like I was burdened doesn't it, oh well. It's not as if everything was bad. I was surrounded by people I loved and who loved me. I was doing things and working in ways I knew would help me find my path in life. In a lot of ways, my life fell into place. I could see further down my path then ever before. I had so many moments of happiness, fun, and love, but my soul was still alone. I lacked joy.
That's the beauty of Steubie:) Spending that time with young, energetic people, desiring knowledge of God, their faith, and the Church is revitalizing. My spirituality is different from theirs', but they never fail (well rarely) to remind me of my goal and my desire. A weekend like that forces me to refocus my life.
On the bus with some of the incredible adults who serve as awesome models of faith for me
With one of the teens and a young adult in the midst of the conference
Love and prayers
That's the beauty of Steubie:) Spending that time with young, energetic people, desiring knowledge of God, their faith, and the Church is revitalizing. My spirituality is different from theirs', but they never fail (well rarely) to remind me of my goal and my desire. A weekend like that forces me to refocus my life.
On the bus with some of the incredible adults who serve as awesome models of faith for me
With one of the teens and a young adult in the midst of the conference
Love and prayers
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Spending Time Out in the Country
Gabe and I spent part of the 4th of July weekend here in St. Louis, part in Fulton, and then the rest in Kansas City. It was a really awesome few days. We went to a pool party at a family friends' house so Gabe got to meet a lot of people who have been a part of my life since the 1st grade. On the fourth we headed out to his place outside of Fulton.
I really love being out in the country. Everything is so peaceful. Life is simple. There's quiet. Everything seems to move at a slower pace. It's easier just to find God in everything around you. At night we set off fireworks in the yard...something you can't really do in the suburbs. Gabe lives on top of a slight hill so we could see fireworks from Fulton, Columbia, and all the neighbors. They said it wasn't as impressive as it has been in the past...people being economical or some nonsense...but I was still quite impressed. The next day we went to Gabe's friend's house for a 
pool party and bbq. I love swimming, there's just something about chlorine:)
pool party and bbq. I love swimming, there's just something about chlorine:)Anyway...after the party we took off for KCMO. Good ol' Rockhurst. Gabe was taking a couple of classes this summer, as was I, so we both had some homework to get done. We headed on on his birthday, July 7th, but as a present I took him out to Cheesecake Factory the night before for some wine and dessert. Goodness it was delicious! And extremely filling. It 
was a lot of fun though. Then we returned to the site of our first date...sweet I know:)
It was over all a pretty solid holiday weekend filled with relaxation, fun, and family (as if everything is filled with family for me).
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Independence Day
I really love the 4th of July. I love this nation and I know I'm truly blessed to have been born here and given all of the opportunities I have. Unfortunately so many have lost sight of all that we've been given, of all God has given us.
In the 1946 Independence Day Oration John Fitzgerald Kennedy stated that "[t]hroughout the years, down to the present, a devotion to fundamental religious principles has characterized American thought and action." He reminded the people that a deep religious sense inspired the authors of the Declaration of Independence and our earliest legislation..."Congress shall make no law prohibiting the free exercise of religion." He quoted our first president, Washington, who said that "of all of the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports." Kennedy continued saying that "[t]oday these basic religious ideas are challenged by atheism and materialism: at home in the cynical philosophy of many of our intellectuals, abroad in the doctrine of collectivism, which sets up the twin pillars of atheism and materialism as the official philosophical establishment of the State. Inspired by a deeply religious sense, this country, which has ever been devoted to the dignity of man, which has ever fostered the growth of the human spirit, has always met and hurled back the challenge of those deathly philosophies of hate and despair. We have defeated them in the past; we will always defeat them."
Unfortunately, these philosophies that Kennedy spoke so strongly against in '46 have persisted and grown. I truly believe in freedom. Freedom to choose what is right over what is wrong, to choose the good over the evil. We will not be slaves to our desires and whims, to culture and it's malefic force. I believe there is one true faith, but I still love our freedom as Americans of religious expression. However, those "philosophies of hate and despair," under the guise of freedom, have taken it to a place it was never meant for. Today, society tells us that expressing our beliefs and disagreeing with others is offensive and unjust...religious expression is being suppressed for the sack of religious freedom? Belief in God is natural to human beings, but imperfection, weakness, and pride are also natural. We must pray and work against the evil that we can be used for.
"Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. It was the price yesterday. It is the price today, and it will ever be the price. The characteristics of the American people have ever been a deep sense of religion, a deep sense of idealism, a deep sense of patriotism...Let us not blink the fact that the days which lie ahead of us are bitter ones. May God grant that, at some distant date, on this day, and on this platform, the orator may be able to say that these are still the great qualities of the American character and that they have prevailed."
Independence Day Speech 1946, John F. Kennedy
Love and prayers
In the 1946 Independence Day Oration John Fitzgerald Kennedy stated that "[t]hroughout the years, down to the present, a devotion to fundamental religious principles has characterized American thought and action." He reminded the people that a deep religious sense inspired the authors of the Declaration of Independence and our earliest legislation..."Congress shall make no law prohibiting the free exercise of religion." He quoted our first president, Washington, who said that "of all of the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports." Kennedy continued saying that "[t]oday these basic religious ideas are challenged by atheism and materialism: at home in the cynical philosophy of many of our intellectuals, abroad in the doctrine of collectivism, which sets up the twin pillars of atheism and materialism as the official philosophical establishment of the State. Inspired by a deeply religious sense, this country, which has ever been devoted to the dignity of man, which has ever fostered the growth of the human spirit, has always met and hurled back the challenge of those deathly philosophies of hate and despair. We have defeated them in the past; we will always defeat them."
Unfortunately, these philosophies that Kennedy spoke so strongly against in '46 have persisted and grown. I truly believe in freedom. Freedom to choose what is right over what is wrong, to choose the good over the evil. We will not be slaves to our desires and whims, to culture and it's malefic force. I believe there is one true faith, but I still love our freedom as Americans of religious expression. However, those "philosophies of hate and despair," under the guise of freedom, have taken it to a place it was never meant for. Today, society tells us that expressing our beliefs and disagreeing with others is offensive and unjust...religious expression is being suppressed for the sack of religious freedom? Belief in God is natural to human beings, but imperfection, weakness, and pride are also natural. We must pray and work against the evil that we can be used for.
"Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. It was the price yesterday. It is the price today, and it will ever be the price. The characteristics of the American people have ever been a deep sense of religion, a deep sense of idealism, a deep sense of patriotism...Let us not blink the fact that the days which lie ahead of us are bitter ones. May God grant that, at some distant date, on this day, and on this platform, the orator may be able to say that these are still the great qualities of the American character and that they have prevailed."
Independence Day Speech 1946, John F. Kennedy
Love and prayers
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
The Weekend of Family Reunions
Crazy weekend. Gabe came in town for a visit...though we also happened to each have a family reunion. Earlier in the week I went to a trivia night with my siblings and a couple of out-of-town cousins. It was a lot of fun, though of course we didn't win. We did however rock the Year of 1932 round...are we dorks or what? It was crazy smoky in the bar though, so much so that my contacts were completely clouded up by about the halfway point. I love hanging out with family so family reunions are wonderful. Hearing stories and everything, it's great! Gabe's family party was on Saturday and was up in like St. Charles so it was a trek from my house. It was cool though, I got to meet some of his extended family and hear stories about their past and listen to some interesting conversations.
On our way to the park
Sunday was my family party at the house. It was a pretty relaxed gathering. There was some Wii played, beer drank, and laughs had. Our family from California came in and stayed with us. That was really wonderful. A lot of people it seems don't find it strange to have family spread out over the country, only seeing each other every few years at most. I do though. I'm used to grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins being a part of everyday life. I guess having some family far away makes their visits more special then.
It's difficult to apprecaite family at all times. It's easy to become impatient, to be ungrateful. It's good to have a reminder every once in awhile how important and beautiful family is, but it's better not to need that reminder. I need to work on thanking God everyday for family as well as showing my thankfulness.
Love and prayers
On our way to the park
Sunday was my family party at the house. It was a pretty relaxed gathering. There was some Wii played, beer drank, and laughs had. Our family from California came in and stayed with us. That was really wonderful. A lot of people it seems don't find it strange to have family spread out over the country, only seeing each other every few years at most. I do though. I'm used to grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins being a part of everyday life. I guess having some family far away makes their visits more special then.
It's difficult to apprecaite family at all times. It's easy to become impatient, to be ungrateful. It's good to have a reminder every once in awhile how important and beautiful family is, but it's better not to need that reminder. I need to work on thanking God everyday for family as well as showing my thankfulness.
Love and prayers
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Holiness in My Life
I'm not sure how it happens, but at times I forget about the incredible holiness that certain people in my life possess. This morning after Mass and breakfast with the youth group the female core team met to discuss AYM Women's Nights for the summer. There are no words to describe the hilarity of the scene of the meeting space we walked into...it was beautiful...and organized:)
I felt like holiness was just eminating from the young women I was sitting with and flowing around the table we sat at. Being around these beautiful women always reminds me of how I desire to live my life. They are uinintentially (well, I suppose it's God's intention) my spiritual guides.
I felt like holiness was just eminating from the young women I was sitting with and flowing around the table we sat at. Being around these beautiful women always reminds me of how I desire to live my life. They are uinintentially (well, I suppose it's God's intention) my spiritual guides.
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