Who's Ernie?

This name tag now is plastered on the outside of my phone case.

But why?

Well, it was "Name Tag Sunday" of course, at the church I visited last Sunday. It turns out this is a once a month event. We were invited to write our first names on a name tag before entering the main church, and after Communion we were asked to exchange name tags with someone we did not know in order to pray for them for the next month. (Well, that was an easy one for me!) It was then that an older gentlemen seated in front of me gave me his name tag, and he introduced himself as Ernie. And that's when I put the name tag on my phone case. I can tell you it's hard to forget to pray for him with his name looking up at me every time I reach for my phone! (I haven't tried to take it off yet, but I hesitate to do so because it might be permanently stuck...)

I personally think Name Tag Sunday is a wonderful idea, and I encouraged my parents to consider bringing the idea to their church back home. I can see it going over well there! And who knows? It might be something to tell my own pastor about...

Good things come to those who wait

Good things come to those who wait.

I always thought this line was so cliche, or that it was just something used as a way to cushion the blow for those who never quite got what they wanted when they wanted it. It was a mother's way of enforcing patience, or it was pulled out to support those working really hard to achieve something.

Today, this phrase held new meaning for me.


I did a lot of waiting at the mobile food pantry for OLA this morning... My group waited in the church for directions on where to begin our day and how to dodge the biggest downpours of rain. I waited in a line that stretched on forever with several people getting their food for the month from the pantry. I waited outside a particular spot of the whole process as a mother and her three small children sorted through clothes for about 15-20 minutes. And I waited with two of those same children as their mom went to pull the car around to load everything.

In the end, though, the waiting was beautiful. As I stood with the young children, the girl, aged 4 - I know because I asked her and she showed me on her fingers - used a chopstick she had taken as a wand to count my fingers from 1 to 10. As she counted, she smiled up at me and I couldn't help but smile right back. She was as cute as a button. As other people were rushing to and fro right by us, I got lost in those moments. While my intuition told me I needed to be productive and help carry things or sort things, my heart told me I needed to be with that little girl (Rose) - she needed me more. I stood with her for probably 10 or so minutes, and when her mom finally pulled up outside, I walked out with her, and, as we descended the steps, she reached up for my hand. My sister was close by, and when I caught her eye, we both smiled because it was such a beautiful thing. As I helped the mom load up the car, the girl smiled and waved through the backseat window.


God wants our attention; He wants our patience, our presence. And He reaches out for us at unexpected times. We have to decide to answer Him with a firm yes - we have to stop our normal "busy" routines to hear His gentle whisper, to meet Him in our neighbors with compassion and love.

Good things come to those who wait...and who, when the time comes, recognize the opportunity to say YES.

Unwrapping a Gift

Every day is a gift.

When we get out of bed (and throughout the entire day), we have a choice - do we unwrap it and smile, thinking 'How can I best make use of this today?',

or...

do we unwrap it and toss it to the side, thinking 'This is NOT what I wanted!'...?


I don't know about you, but I want to be the former. God has given us this beautiful world, and even in tough circumstances - because we know everyone is fighting his/her own battles and demons - He wants us to enjoy it and share His love with everyone with whom we interact.

Happy (daily) unwrapping...

Arizona Visit Long Overdue

What an amazing weekend it was - I got to spend time with my dad in Phoenix. (He was there for a conference.) And, fortunately, I had the chance to go to my ACE school (SJV) and to visit some of my previous co-workers, friends, and students...

SJV <3 collage

Spending time with the SJV moms :)

The Don Bosco statue still stands!

so many good memories in that church

Then (top) and Now (bottom) with former students (and their siblings)

Met up with my college roommate (who currently lives in AZ)

SJV selfie :D :D :D

We stayed at the Arizona Biltmore - it was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, which you can definitely tell. It was a beautiful property...but we had quite a bit of difficulty finding our way to visitor parking each time. I consider this understandable - the property is huge and has multiple entrances and winding drives! (Did I mention that the beds were so incredibly soft?? AMAZING!) It was definitely a "how the other half lives" experience.

Christmas tree in courtyard (by night)

Christmas tree in courtyard (by day)

on the way to our room

We could have played chess...but we didn't ;)

No trip to AZ would be complete without some of my favorite restaurants ;)

 

On Saturday, my dad and I went to the Musical Instrument Museum (in Phoenix). It's organized by continent and has so many instruments from around the world. If you ever go, we recommend you start with Europe and North America and work your way through to Asia and Africa. (We had to squeeze in those first two mentioned in about 20 minutes, as the museum was about to close. Bummer.) If you are a music lover, you cannot miss this place!

Let me tell you, though - one thing I've really missed about Arizona is just the beautiful, serene desert. The colors, sunrises (& sunsets), and mild temperatures cannot be beat! It was absolutely incredible.

All in all, the trip was well worth it, and I am grateful that my dad invited me. 

It was good to be "home."

On My Knees

Latin. The All Souls' Mozart Requiem Mass was all in Latin (except for the homily). I couldn't understand the words.

But there were two things I did understand: the Eucharist and the gestures of the priest.

Isn't it amazing how no matter where you go for Catholic Mass that it is all the same? The universality of it - isn't it wonderful?

The Mass last night was done in the traditional way, which meant that we had to approach and kneel at the Communion Rail when the time came to receive Jesus' most precious body. I had never received (to my knowledge/memory) at the rail before, so I didn't know what to expect. But there was something absolutely humbling and incredible about getting down on my knees and receiving the Eucharist on my tongue. It was impossible to just go through the motions when I was required to do this.

For lack of a better phrase, It was SO COOL!

My takeaway from last night was getting myself back to the reverence of it all. The traditional Mass helped me do that.

Wow...