I am participating in the CSS (Catholic Scripture Study) series covering Acts of the Apostles.  Not only do we read the chapters of Acts, complete questions for futher reflection (Shout Out to Steve Ray too), but we also watch 30 minute talks given by Fr. Winslow.  These talks have been wonderful!! 

This past week Fr. Winslow finished his talk by mentioning Christian hope.  What really struck me was not only his emphasis on hope, but also on trust.  One of the questions he posed went something like this: When you go to sleep at night, do you sleep like a baby trusting that everything is going to be fine?  Truly trusting that God is taking care of you, and peacefully hoping for the dawn. 

I looked at my son last night and thought about this question.  This week has been stressful, so I haven’t had a good night of sleep.  I stay up really late with my brain constantly in worry mode about the work that I have to accomplish.  On the other hand, there’s my child sleeping peacefully without any worries, trusting that he’s going to be taken care of.  I know he’s going to be taken care of because my husband and I will make sure that happens.  SO, why don’t I sleep in the loving embrace of God every night trusting that He’s going to take care of everything?  He is my Father. 

I guess the question I need to ask myself is: Am I trusting in God?  (I’m going to take that to adoration today and tomorrow)

So, Fr. Winslow, thank you for the great insight you have provided this year, and for allowing the Holy Spirit to work through you to reach this soul! 

1. The rules of the game get posted on the beginning.
2. Each player answers the rules about himself.
3. At the end of the post, the player tags five people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they’ve been tagged and asking them to read his blog.

What I was doing ten years ago:
It was my junior year of high school.  At this exact time, I was probably eagerly awaiting the bell to ring just as much as my students are right now.

Five things on my To-Do list today:
1. Make a worksheet for my students about how Christ fulfills the prophesies of the OT.
2. Try to destress!!
3. Assign my students the worksheet

4. Go to adoration with my husband and child.

5. Spend family time at home (without work interfering) and HOPEFULLY get ice cream!

Things I would do if I were a billionaire:
1. Buy a house and fill it with babies!
2. Pay everything off and make sure everything will be taken care of in the future.

3. Pay of the parish debt (I completely agree with my husband on that).  Donate to other organizations as well.
4. QUIT WORK!

5. GO SHOPPING…preferably in Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.!!! 

Three of my bad habits/qualities:
1. Italian Temper

2. Procrastination

3. Laziness (at times)

Five places I’ve lived:
1. Memphis

2. Parents’ house in Memphis
3. Dorm at the University of Memphis

4. Condo…in Memphis
5. Memphis again!

Five jobs I’ve had:
1. Babysitter
2. Gap sales associate
3. Gap Kids Sales Associate and display coordinator
4. Freshman Theology Teacher

5. N/A (I lead an exciting life!)

Five books I’ve recently read:

(Let me preface this with I don’t really like to read.  I know…I know…Blasphemy!  So here are the ones I’m in the process of reading.)
1. The Bible, esp. Acts

2. The Virgin Mary and Theology of the Body Fr. Calloway (editor)
3. The Story of a Soul by St. Therese of Lisieux

4. The Catholic Child’s Bible
5. All different kinds of childrens books

http://www.ewtn.com/USPapalVisit08/words/index.asp

I highly suggest ALL people to read it.  Our Holy Father has clearly stated our mission, and we must act or continue to act in the way of Truth.  

There’s so much I could say about this, but I have to let all of it sink in a bit!  Read it…you’ll understand!

Happy Birthday!

On a completely different note…congratulations Andy!!  You did an AMAZING job on EWTN the other night.  We are so proud of you!!

1.  Make God the foundation of your family.  Statistics show that families who do this  and follow the Church’s teachings remain strong.

2.  GO TO CHURCH AS A FAMILY (at least on Sundays)!!!!  I’ve actually had students say they want to go to Mass, but their parents don’t take them.  You will be amazed at the spiritual rewards you will receive as a family by doing this!  Witness to your children , and spiritually grow yourself.

3.  Pray as a family.  This is truly where they will learn how to pray.  Also, the more you pray, the less “boring” prayer/Mass will be.

4.  Go to Adoration as a family.  What better way to grow together than to be in the presence of the foundation and creator of that family??  My husband and I started doing this, and it keeps us focused on what’s truly important.

5.  Eat dinner together at least 5 nights a week.  Teens want to talk to you and they want to have a relationship with you!  Eat dinner together and open up those lines of communication. (NO TV!)

6.  Limit the extracurricular activities of your teen/s.  Sports get in the way of family time and the time you spend with God.  The third commandment does not say “Remember to keep holy the sporting events.”  Too often students tell me they missed Mass because of a practice or game.  This family has now made that sport their false god.  Coaches…no practices on Sunday…they need to spend quality time with God and their family.

7.  Limit computer time, and do NOT put a computer in their room!  Trust me…I’ve looked on My Space and Facebook, and these kids tell everything about themselves on there for everyone to see.  Why?  How??  Because they’re not being monitored, and you have no clue who they’re talking to.

8.  Limit video game time.  I think it’s great if you play the video games with them, but don’t let them play these games by themselves or with friends for an extended amount of time.  This could start to shut down those lines of communication as well as increase their laziness.

9.  Don’t get a teenager a cell with UNLIMITED texting capabilities, unless you want to see them with that cell in their hands every moment they’re around you.  I personally don’t think a teenager needs a cell until they are in the car by themselves driving.  Parents…they text all day long in school!!  And you wonder why they’re not doing well in class…they’re not paying attention because they’ve been texting and are so caught up in teenage drama.  Plus…don’t get me started on the language they use!!  Read those messages…some of them are terrible!

10.  LOVE ONE ANOTHER.  Hug, kiss, tell them you love them!!  This means the world to our teens!  I tell my students that I love all of them and pray for them all the time.  They need to hear that because they don’t always feel it!

These are thoughts that have been going on in my head.  I have felt called to send this out.  I know parenting is  a difficult job, and so is being a teenager (we’ve all been there).  The only way we can be successful at these jobs is by keeping God as our number one in all things and love one another. 

P.S. These thoughts are mine; however, I’ve talked to various other people within youth ministry who feel the same way.  We truly believe these are ways the culture of our youth can begin to truly transform.

As you know, the Tigers lost the National Championship.  My family and I are HUGE fans, so we were greatly affected by the loss.  That’s right the loss…it literally felt like we lost a loved one.  I know I went through a bout of depression Monday!

I was not only upset because we were so close, but also because it was the team’s last time to play together.  Thinking of them breaks my heart.  They are a great group of guys who deserve the utmost respect from all Memphians!  Wonderful Season! 

You know, I came in contact with so many people who were mad about the game and kept saying “What if…”  Well it’s over, and we have to support those who brought us on this great and wonderful ride.  We wouldn’t have been able to cheer so hard without this team. 

Then the city raised it’s ugly head even more and it was reported that the players’ apartments were vandalized and some items stolen.  WHAT ARE PEOPLE THINKING?!?!?!?!?!?!?!  It was just a game that all of us wanted to win “for the city”,  BUT, because we lost, the city has to go back to it’s previous ways?  What kind of people are we?? 

So…to the players, the majority of Memphis still loves you, we thank you for giving us the time of our lives and wish you good luck in all of your future endeavors!!

Coach Cal, way to give a shout out to the Will of God at the post game conference!  That was Awesome!!  And, thanks for forming such a great team!

To the rest of the Memphis fans, keep on cheering!  One of these days…

To those who broke into those boys homes and bad talked the players…GET OUT!!!!!!

Let me tell you what’s been going on. 

My aunt has been ill with liver problems for over a year.  This illness escalated and on Saturday she received a phone call for a liver transplant.  We rushed to the hospital to be with her before the transplant, and waited there to hear word on the progress of the surgery.  She did well and is recovering beautifully.

 While we were waiting with my aunt before the surgery, we found out about the person who died in order for her to have new life.  This was difficult, esp. for her.  We knew a mother was mourning the loss of a son so another could have new life. 

Then it hit me…that sounds familiar!!! 

This is the great revelation that hit me today.  I’ve emotionally felt out of sorts this week becasue of this past weekend, and that’s really why I haven’t been ”feelin’” Holy Week; however, I have…it’s just on a more emotional level.  I have grieved the loss of another human being while at the same time cry for the hope of new life for another.  The same with Mary.  She grieved that time of loss and temporary separation.  On the other hand, she probably cried for the joy of salvation for humans…her children.  

In his reflections on the Stations of the Cross, Pope John Paul II wrote this in regards to Jesus being taken down from the cross and placed in Mary’s arms:

“The Gospels say nothing of what she (Mary) felt at that moment.  It is as though, by their silence, the Evangelists wished to respect her sorrow, her feelings and her memories.  Or, perhaps they simply felt incapable of expressing them.” 

I haven’t grieved on this level, but tasting some of these emotions has not only brought me closer to her, but to our Heavenly Father on a deeper level.  Which, isn’t that the point of this week?! :)  God uses so many different instruments to reveal to us His love!

Families, I encourage you to teach your children to pray, even if you think they’re too young.  That’s the best time to start.  Studies show that children learn a second language better in their early years than later on in life.  So teach them the language of God- silence in prayer- and help to properly form them in this noisy world.

 P.S.  He just does this for the Prayer Before Meals…he constantly talks in Mass and Adoration.  We’re working on it!

Having the strength to love as God loves is hard!!  Even loving others as I love myself is hard, but God wouldn’t tell us to do something if He knew it was impossible. 

Loving others also means that we respect all during the Mass.  I’m using the example of my students who are distracting, but I know you might witness things like this in your own parish (maybe you’re one of them).  No matter who you are, pray that we can TRULY rejoice and praise God on this side of reality, so we can perfectly praise Him for all of eternity!  I also challenge you to learn more about the Mass so you can understand why we praise God in such a way.