In the middle of the afternoon, I realized I had left my roomate's step stool over in the Church. (We had used it for today's May crowning Mass.)
Rats.
I couldn't leave it there (as it wasn't mine), so down the stairs and across the street to the Church I went (high heels and all).
Am I glad I forgot that step stool!
When I entered the Church, the sunlight was pouring through the stained glass windows. There was a beautiful serenity and complete stillness. The noises of the street and l trains faded away, and I caught my breath as I took in the grace of that moment. That beautiful, quiet moment in the middle of a decently hectic day.
Maybe I should forget things in the Church more often...
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Cookie Butter Cookies - mmm, mmm, good
Mmm...mmm...good! And not just by my lil' tastebuds but to my coworkers' liking as well. Cookie butter cookies - see for yourself:
 |
| the ingredients |
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| I recommend using a larger saucepan - the cookies will set faster |
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| 2 containers full - ready for the teacher potluck |
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| ready for the close-up (and tasting!) |
Monday, May 5, 2014
A piece of my heart
Sometimes all it takes is a license plate...
And I'm transported back to my time in Arizona:
A time of sunrises, hikes, and outdoor school walkways.
A time of mountains and red rock, magnificent colors and cacti.
A time of Salesian Sisters and Holy Cross priests.
A time when 2 hours chatting around the dinner table was normal.
A time when even though I was so far from home I never felt more at home.
Damn you, Arizona license plate. Why must you make me get all teary-eyed on my way to Mass last night? I can't quite put my finger on it (though the list above gives some idea of what I left behind), but there's a part of my heart that lives on and remains out there. (How does it survive that Arizona dry heat?!) There's a part of me that will never be the same because of all of the experiences and people I met while serving during and post-ACE.
And, I believe it's like that for all of us - wherever we go, we leave a little piece of ourselves, and when our hearts try to patch up and heal, they never grow back to exactly how they used to be...
And I'm transported back to my time in Arizona:
A time of sunrises, hikes, and outdoor school walkways.
A time of mountains and red rock, magnificent colors and cacti.
A time of Salesian Sisters and Holy Cross priests.
A time when 2 hours chatting around the dinner table was normal.
A time when even though I was so far from home I never felt more at home.
Damn you, Arizona license plate. Why must you make me get all teary-eyed on my way to Mass last night? I can't quite put my finger on it (though the list above gives some idea of what I left behind), but there's a part of my heart that lives on and remains out there. (How does it survive that Arizona dry heat?!) There's a part of me that will never be the same because of all of the experiences and people I met while serving during and post-ACE.
And, I believe it's like that for all of us - wherever we go, we leave a little piece of ourselves, and when our hearts try to patch up and heal, they never grow back to exactly how they used to be...
Sunday, May 4, 2014
Daily Emmaus
Nearly moved to tears tonight at Mass...not sure what exactly hit me so strongly...I think the preparation song had something to do with it (and the Gospel being the story of Emmaus):
So beautiful. So powerful.
Sitting in Mass today (and afterwards while attending a presentation on the Archdiocesan "To Teach Who Christ Is" campaign), I realized that I am so blessed to worship with such a vibrant faith community that worships within a beautiful church building, has an angelic choir, and has dynamic priests. (And I feel that I've been blessed along the way growing up with such similar combos of worship dynamics in my Catholic parishes at different points in my life too.)
I pray to take the words of this hymn with me this week, keeping them ever present in my heart and on the tip of my tongue. Thank you, Lord, for speaking to me through song tonight.
Who are you who walk in sorrow
Down Emmaus’ barren road,
Hearts distraught and hope defeated,
Bent beneath grief’s crushing load?
Nameless mourners, we will join you,
We who also mourn our dead;
We have stood by graves unyielding,
Eaten death’s bare, bitter bread.
Down Emmaus’ barren road,
Hearts distraught and hope defeated,
Bent beneath grief’s crushing load?
Nameless mourners, we will join you,
We who also mourn our dead;
We have stood by graves unyielding,
Eaten death’s bare, bitter bread.
Who is this who joins our journey,
Walking with us stride by stride?
Unknown Stranger, can You fathom
Depths of grief for one who died?
Then the wonder! When we told You
How our dreams to dust have turned,
Then You opened wide the Scriptures
Till our hearts within us burned.
Walking with us stride by stride?
Unknown Stranger, can You fathom
Depths of grief for one who died?
Then the wonder! When we told You
How our dreams to dust have turned,
Then You opened wide the Scriptures
Till our hearts within us burned.
Who are You? Our hearts are opened
In the breaking of the bread—
Christ the victim, now the victor
Living, risen from the dead!
Great companion on our journey,
Still surprise us with Your grace!
Make each day a new Emmaus;
On our hearts Your image trace!
In the breaking of the bread—
Christ the victim, now the victor
Living, risen from the dead!
Great companion on our journey,
Still surprise us with Your grace!
Make each day a new Emmaus;
On our hearts Your image trace!
Who are we who travel with You
On our way through life to death?
Women, men, the young, the aging,
Wakened by the Spirit’s breath!
At the font You claim and name us,
Born of water and the Word;
At the table still You feed us,
Host us as our risen Lord!
On our way through life to death?
Women, men, the young, the aging,
Wakened by the Spirit’s breath!
At the font You claim and name us,
Born of water and the Word;
At the table still You feed us,
Host us as our risen Lord!
So beautiful. So powerful.
Sitting in Mass today (and afterwards while attending a presentation on the Archdiocesan "To Teach Who Christ Is" campaign), I realized that I am so blessed to worship with such a vibrant faith community that worships within a beautiful church building, has an angelic choir, and has dynamic priests. (And I feel that I've been blessed along the way growing up with such similar combos of worship dynamics in my Catholic parishes at different points in my life too.)
I pray to take the words of this hymn with me this week, keeping them ever present in my heart and on the tip of my tongue. Thank you, Lord, for speaking to me through song tonight.
The digital age
The time has come to join the digital/connected/always-on-the-go world...
I bought an iPad (mini).
Yep, it's gonna be an adventure.
(I haven't taken it out of the box yet...but I did skim over most of the online instruction manual. Plus, I don't have a case yet, so I don't want to risk any scratches...)
I'm hoping it will turn out to be a good investment as far as finally motivating myself to learn Spanish (Duolingo), read on the go (Nook App), and take more photos (even in the classroom).
I can finally tell my students that I have joined the digital age!...After seeing my phone the other day, a student remarked, "Miss Foyle, can we PLEASE (emphasis NOT added) all contribute to buy you a new phone. You have slide yours to open it. They don't make those anymore..."
Oh geez...
I bought an iPad (mini).
Yep, it's gonna be an adventure.
(I haven't taken it out of the box yet...but I did skim over most of the online instruction manual. Plus, I don't have a case yet, so I don't want to risk any scratches...)
I'm hoping it will turn out to be a good investment as far as finally motivating myself to learn Spanish (Duolingo), read on the go (Nook App), and take more photos (even in the classroom).
I can finally tell my students that I have joined the digital age!...After seeing my phone the other day, a student remarked, "Miss Foyle, can we PLEASE (emphasis NOT added) all contribute to buy you a new phone. You have slide yours to open it. They don't make those anymore..."
Oh geez...
Saturday, May 3, 2014
Lazy Saturday...Beautiful Weather...
Beautiful days are not meant to be wasted inside. Though good weather has been inconsistent this "spring" (and I use the term loosely) in Chicago, the sun is shining today, and my sister and I enjoyed a leisurely lakefront path jog this morning followed by a stop at Starbucks.
I don't have many lazy Saturdays...but every once in awhile, I'm sure I glad I get to have a few...
I don't have many lazy Saturdays...but every once in awhile, I'm sure I glad I get to have a few...
Thursday, May 1, 2014
"Turn on Life"
As much as I have faith in young people, I admit I also have moments of doubt...
In advisory this morning, a couple of the 6th grade girls were trying to spread the word about National Screen Free Week. In doing so, they asked their classmates to take a pledge to self-regulate (not eliminate) use of electronics and screen devices. With the uproar of excuses, sighs, and complaints, you would have thought they asked the students to stop watching television for the rest of their lives.
Honestly, it made me sick. To not be able to give up one hour (or even 30 minutes) of screen time a day for one week - wow. What does that say about kids (and, let's face it, adults too) these days? What does this say about our culture/society? Where are our values? Where are our priorities?
It's the playoffs.
I can't give up video games - I only get an hour a night on the weekdays as it is.
I have to watch my tv shows.
I always use my phone during dinner - what's the problem?
I tried the angle that their parents' generation didn't even have cell phones, computers, and (color) televisions, and do you know what some of the kids said to that? Since they didn't have those things in the first place it wouldn't be as much of a temptation to give up. Maybe that's true, but it missed the point - they didn't need those things. That generation knew how to play pick up ball games, ride their bikes down the street, enjoy family dinners, and have real conversations.
As the girls who presented left the classroom this morning (after the others), I told them that they're fighting an uphill battle...but to keep trying. We need to make every effort to be aware of how much time we spend in front of our computers, televisions, and smartphones. (Yes, maybe it's a bit ironic that I'm writing this on my computer.) In the words of the campaign, we need to "turn off screens and turn on life."
Are you ready and willing to take the challenge and to encourage others to do the same?
In advisory this morning, a couple of the 6th grade girls were trying to spread the word about National Screen Free Week. In doing so, they asked their classmates to take a pledge to self-regulate (not eliminate) use of electronics and screen devices. With the uproar of excuses, sighs, and complaints, you would have thought they asked the students to stop watching television for the rest of their lives.
Honestly, it made me sick. To not be able to give up one hour (or even 30 minutes) of screen time a day for one week - wow. What does that say about kids (and, let's face it, adults too) these days? What does this say about our culture/society? Where are our values? Where are our priorities?
It's the playoffs.
I can't give up video games - I only get an hour a night on the weekdays as it is.
I have to watch my tv shows.
I always use my phone during dinner - what's the problem?
I tried the angle that their parents' generation didn't even have cell phones, computers, and (color) televisions, and do you know what some of the kids said to that? Since they didn't have those things in the first place it wouldn't be as much of a temptation to give up. Maybe that's true, but it missed the point - they didn't need those things. That generation knew how to play pick up ball games, ride their bikes down the street, enjoy family dinners, and have real conversations.
As the girls who presented left the classroom this morning (after the others), I told them that they're fighting an uphill battle...but to keep trying. We need to make every effort to be aware of how much time we spend in front of our computers, televisions, and smartphones. (Yes, maybe it's a bit ironic that I'm writing this on my computer.) In the words of the campaign, we need to "turn off screens and turn on life."
Are you ready and willing to take the challenge and to encourage others to do the same?
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