Women's Night 1

This past Sunday night was the first Women's Night for the youth group. I'm not sure how to begin talking about this...

Melissa and I were SO excited about it. I don't show excitement well, but I definintely felt the way that Melissa was acting. She just bubbled over with joy at what we were doing and our plans for these young women. Melissa has such an incredible gift when it comes to speaking about her faith and vocalizing her thoughts. I believe that God will touch the hearts of our teens through her and her words.

Melissa led the night. She spoke about how young girls are filled with such vast dreams, dreams that God intends for all women to have, how young women seem to have lost these dreams along their journeys, becoming broken beings of the world, and begged the question, what happens in between? Melissa spoke for awhile, the girls were given time for a self-examination, and we all discussed our thoughts. The teens also told us what they're looking for from our weekly women's nights, what issues they face and/or want talked about. At the end we just sat and talked for awhile. I turned on some music and we pretty much finished off all our snacks as we spoke. Once the teens were gone, Melissa and I discussed the night and started planning our future sessions. It ended with us, Pete, and two of the teens hanging out on the playground eating ice cream for a good long while.

Overall, it was an incredibly successful night. The teens seem to really be looking forward to next Sunday night, and I think they'll really get a lot out of it.

Melissa and I watching the ridiculousness of the others

"You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

John 8: 32

Father's Day Weekend

I know this was almost a week ago, but oh well...

Father's Day Weekend started out with nothing less than a wedding! I love weddings...getting all dolled up, dancing and laughing all day and night with your family, and, really, it's just such a beautiful, wonderful event. Weddings are such an incredible example of what this life is about. As humans we long to love and be loved, and then share that love with our family, friends, and, most importantly, with God.

Chris came in town to be my date for the event...and of course he was a fantastic one. He seems to have become very fond of my family, which tends to happen once you get past the intial crazy. I had such a wonderful time with him, my siblings, all my cousins, and everyone else. We laughed and danced and sang...and other such things that large Irish families do. My cousin, Melanie, the bride, was absolutely gorgeous, and the groom, Jeff, just glowed. I love watching the groom as the bride walks down the aisle. Jeff's face was completely alight from something deep inside, I could almost see his love for my cousin pouring out of him. It was a postively beautiful moment, and I thank God that, not only my cousin was blessed to have it, but that I was lucky enough to witness it.
Chris and I dancing

The day after this wonderful occurance was Father's Day, and what a day it was! Chris and I went to Laumeier Sculpture Park in the morning, but it was so terribly hot that we didn't stay for too long. We went to noon mass and then I took him down to Wash U to meet up with his sister to go home. My family gathered at an aunt and uncle's house in the afternoon to celebrate Father's Day. I can't go into detail about the happenings, but it definitely turned into one of our better parties. :)) Everyone had a great time, and I think it was a definite bonding experience for everyone involved.


Family is a blessing, appreciate and cherish it.

Love and prayers

Work Work Work

So far this summer my only relief from work has been the youth group. This week, however, a number of the teens, Pete, and Melissa are away on Project Life, a service retreat. I'm really excited for them, but I'm also very sad that I'm not there with them. It sounds like a such an incredible experience. Unfortunately, with all of them gone, most of our weekly events aren't happening, and all I've been doing is working. I'm still at Dairy Queen, and it's been wonderful. I normally end up covered in ice cream and strawberry topping, my back hurts whenever I do dishes, and when it gets busy I still worry about getting everything done properly. It's fun though. Working with Jenny is always the best, but all of the girls there are wonderful. Plus, it's almost never boring. My second job just started on Tuesday night too. This is my fifth summer working at the Muny Theatre. I had had no intention of returning this summer because honestly, I don't particularly like working there, but I can really use the extra money. My oldest niece, Taylor, plays in an orchastra that's been invited to perform at Carnegie Hall in the spring. I'm so proud of her, and I really want to go see her play. I need the second job so I can afford the plane ticket. I just keep telling myself that when I'm sitting there listening to her play it'll all be worth it. Anyway, this week has been pretty exhausting, I've been working everyday at at least one of my jobs. Hopefully things will settle down after this week, but I have a feeling once things start up with the youth group again, it'll just get crazier.

I have had a few fun times this past week and a half. I've gone shopping a couple of times. The first time with Jenny, we went shoe shopping. It was wonderful, I got three pairs of heels, gold, silver, and green. They're all gorgeous and I can't wait to wear them. The second time with my mom. I got some new tennis shoes and a pair of jeans. My two favorite things to buy! I also got to hang out with one of my best friends from Rockhurst, Molly. She came over and we just sat on the couch and talked for a good long time. She and my mom sort of ganged up on me at one point, which I didn't appreciate, but it was the first chance we've had to really catch up this summer so it was still great. I've missed all of the ridiculous moments we have on a daily basis at school. I saw her last night for a few minutes as well, along with her boyfriend, Kyle, who is another good friend. I was working an early night at the Muny and they were there for the show so I was able to talk to them at intermission before I left. It was great to see them, but unfortunately since I was still in my uniform I couldn't give them hugs...and I really like hugs.

Molly and me

My fortune, and maybe your's too

"Strange new experiences will add to your joy of living"

A Sigh

Sighs have recently taken on an entirely new meaning for me. I mentioned in my last post (which I realize was just yesterday) the Nooma video series. Well, one of the videos from this series that I've seen is entitled Breathe. I won't go into too much detail, but basically the guy talks about how some believe, because the Hebrew letters for God's name, YHWH, when said, are like breath sounds, that the sound of a breath is like saying the name of God.

A sigh is a very audible exhalation of breath, and since I saw Breathe I've become acutely aware of people sighing. It's like each one is a brief and unknowing prayer. In the midst of an arguement, disagreement, or something of the like, a sigh can be a quick prayer for patience. During a moment of contentment, a sigh is like a prayer of thanksgiving for the calm, for the inner peace. It's incredible. The sigh has completely morphed in my ears. It's like a song I've heard a million times before, but have never really listened to. I'm now picking up on the subtleties of the melody and the meaning behind the words.

Love and prayers

AYM and A YAM

AYM stands for Assumption Youth Ministry, my youth group. This summer I'm working on the core team, and I'm SO excited about it! We have a lot of fun things planned, aside from our weekly prayer nights. In July we're going to the Steubenville Youth Conference, we're hoping to take the teens on a float trip at some point (this will take quite a bit of planning and organization, but it would be totally worth it), we play softball every Tuesday afternoon, go to mass and then to Bread Co. for breakfast--we're calling it Daily Bread--on Wednesday mornings, and one of the other core memebers, Melissa, and I are planning girls' nights to strengthen fellowship among our teen girls. Our teens are truly wonderful young people, so filled with the Spirit. The opportunity to spend so much time with them is really a gift for me. They are teaching me so much and are really helping me to find God in my everyday life, and I pray that I'm a postive influence on them, as well, and help them strengthen their knowledge and faith lives. I really love hanging out, planning, and organizing things with the our Youth Minister, Pete, and the other members of the core team, too. They're all incredible, faith-filled people, and I'm learning so much from them. The most important thing I believe I've learned from my time with these young adults, as well as the teens, is that I'm on the right path to discovering God's plan for me. I know that I'm not nearly ready to fulfill His plan, I still have a lot of studying to complete, life experiences to have, and self-growth and faith-exploration to do, but I know I'm on my way. I'm a pretty reserved person most of the time, so it's been difficlut for me to really open up with all these people. This is probably my biggest obstacle to overcome, but I think I'm starting to work through it.

Me with a couple of my favorite teens

As for A YAM...Assumption Young Adult Ministry. This is a new thing that Pete is starting in our parish for adults in their 20's to help us deepen our relationship with Christ and hopefully with each other as well. We have a program called CONNECT that's going to take place this summer. We'll be getting together on Monday nights to watch the Nooma video series. After the video we'll have a discussion and then probably just hang out. I'm really very excited about this. I've seen a couple of the Nooma videos already and they really have caused me to look more closely at myself, my life, and my faith so I can't wait to see more of them. I'm also interested to see who comes and excited to meet and talk with other people my age looking to form and/or deepen their connection with God.

Aside from working and sleeping, my time thus far this summer had been majorly spent with (or for) the youth group, and, though I'll be sad to leave it in the fall, it has gotten me very excited for my next semester at Rockhurst. My decision to major in Theology is a fairly recent thing and I really can't wait to begin studying it more in depth. I don't want to only deepen my faith, I want to deepen my knowledge as well.

A parting thought...

"It's hard to take your socks off when your shoes are still on."

This is a statement from a camper that a friend of mine is working with at her summer job. He may be just a little kid, but he definitely has a point to ponder.

Goodbyes

I mentioned in my last post how sad it is to see my senior friends leaving school, but as I was thinking about it, saying goodbye isn't nearly as sad as I thought. Goodbyes can be difficult, painful even, but when you trully understand what it is, a goodbye can't really be qualified as "sad".

I've had to say some difficult goodbyes in the past. An old friend of mine is a marine and he was recently deployed for a second tour in Afghanistan. It's tough to say goodbye in this circumstance because it's accompanied by so much fear. People I've known who have departed this world for the next are always difficult because in these goodbyes one has to let go of the pain of loss while still holding on to the memory of them. One of my best and dearest friends, Emily, recently left for a six week service trip to Honduras. I'm so proud of her and what she's doing, but it was still arduous to let her go because summer is the only time we really have to spend in each other's presence at this point in our lives. One of the most difficult goodbyes I've ever had was with Emily and Jenny when we were leaving to start our freshmen years of college at three completely different schools. The three of us have had a very unique relationship. Nothing can ever end what we have, but it was still terrible to say goodbye because we couldn't be phsycially together anymore to help and support each other through everything as we had in the past, a tough realization for us. At the time, I thought this was one of the saddest moments of my life. And now I've said goodbye to the people who really, for me, made Rockhurst what it is. They were examples and models for us as freshmen. They introduced us to the ins and outs of the school. They were and are wonderful, spirited people who, though we'll still see sometimes, will be missed.

So what's changed in the past two years? Why am I no longer affected by sadness when faced with a goodbye?

I've grown and learned. I know something now about life's journey and God's plan (generally, not specifically). I know that every person I have to say goodbye to, no matter the circumstance, has their own personal path that they must take. At times our paths may intersect, for moments or for years, and at times they may run seperately. With some people, they may never intersect again until we enter eternity. How can I be sad, though, about someone I love following the path that God has laid for them? Even if they do stumble or leave their path, I have faith that they will find their way back. As long as I hold on to the memories we've shared and keep my love for them in my heart, how can I be sad about letting a person go so they can accomplish and see the great things that lay ahead of them?

Emily, Jenny, and I...one of the infamous pingpong table pictures

Chris Shaver, most rockin' senior!

Jon, Manny, and Kevin...a few other senior favs who will be missed

The Start of Summer

It's finally summer! It was a long and challenging year at Rockhurst, but now I get to just kick back and relax...sort of.

Summer has already been kind of crazy. I started a new job at Dairy Queen. I'm working with one of my best friends (Jenny) so it's a lot of fun, but making the perfect twist on top of the cones and sundaes is so much more difficult than you'd think. Oh well, I'll get it. I'm also on the core team with my youth group so I've been helping plan meetings and trying to keep the kids in line. Not easy, but worth it. Finally, there have been so many graduation parties! They're so much fun, but they're also a sign of some strange and rather difficult changes. It's sad to be losing my senior friends from school, Rockhurst just won't be the same without them. It's really odd to see my neice and cousins hit these landmarks, as well. It doesn't seem possible that everyone has grown up so much so quickly.

Taylor, my oldest neice, is starting high school in the fall

A few of my cousins and me

This weekend two of my good friends from Rockhurst, Chris and David, came in town. I've kind of missed them, even though we've only been out of school for a couple of weeks, so it has been fantastic hanging out with them. We haven't really done much, just stayed up talking and eating pizza, but simple times like that are usually some of the best and most memorable.

(Me, Chris, and David in the back)

That's all for now, but I'll update soon!