Growing

"God's mercy is like an unleashed torrent; it bears away all hearts in its flood..."

SPRING BREAK: Spring break was here and gone in a flash. Didn't do a whole lot, but it was nice while it lasted. A nice break from the kids, well kids in general. WEnt to the beverly center twice, praisefest @ uci, painting of the St. Jospeh's center, movie nite...hostile and brokeback mountain, what a combo. Lunch w/the ol coworkers from stanton, and catching up w/them was fun. Good convo w/francis in the car about teaching and society today. Running around getting things prepared for the 'ressurection' ha spending an afternoon helping Rob get the house back in order...that hard? yeaah that hard! Trying to get back in the habit of working out again. All in all it was a pretty well rounded spring break.

DINNER W/HEIF: Monday nite had dinner w/heif at the mac grill. GOod lobster ravaloi I had haha Its always fun getting togehter w/your best friend and juss catching up on life and people. I remember when I was offered the stanton job and I was hesitant to jump at a new opportunity for fear Id loose contact w/heif. Though if a friendship is based a on good foundation then no matter wha you'll always be friends or something like that. Im trying to help her get a new job at stanton in the summer as a coordinator. It sucks going through skool, receiving your degree then working full time making a part time salary. Anyhow, great dinner with a great friend...yup priceless!


CONFIRMATION REFLECTIONS: Were coming to the end of confirmation already, with only 2 weeks left. I had them do this 6 point reflection on what this class has done for them. Its quite interesting the responses I have gotten back. I think I've done my job equipping them w/all the necessary tools to help preapre them. Despite the challenges we've had collectively with behavior problems, interruptions etc. I've see them grow in their faith. Which is probably the greatest part of teaching, religous education. Ha its funny one of the questions asked was 'waht is something that you'll always take away from this class.' A couple of them wrote that making out is a sin! ha So if they can remember stuff like that then, I think they're good to go. Ive always told them that they were the worst class I've ever had. However the guilt trip I tried to pull on them I think kinda backfired on me. They're not that bad, its juss well I guess they've challenged me to really do what I can to encounter the face of Christ w/errone.

TESITMONY: Tuesday, one of the former confirmation kids came to my class and gave a testimony. He wasnt in my class, but I was still close to him. Anyway, his testimony about having faith and being in confirmation was unbelievable. In fact I wasn't even expecting him to say a whole lot. Though the spirit was totally moving through him, errthang juss kept flowing together. Even my kids were suprised at how well he was speaking and what he was saying. Talk bout sending a conviction through them, which was really meaningful for them. THis year I started something new by having different people come in and speak to them sharing their own testimony of faith. Funny thing is this year they ended up being all guys...though I guess it doesn't matter, its the message that counts. The point of it all was to bring in people of different walks, different journeys, yet around their age to see how God has worked through their lives. ANd how God can do the same thing for them in their lives if they juss open themselves up.

OPERATION RESCUE PRIEST: Wednesday was a crazy afternoon at the rectory. Having all the kids there working on posters for the confirmation dance. It would seem as if lately, there's this new bland of youf becoming active. Which is good to see, cuz they may end up becoming future core members. I have to admit w/the outgoing core 'leaving' I am a little worried on who's going to come in next or if we'll have even any. I guess thas one of the things I juss have to offer up to God and let him take care of. Anyway, so I get sent on this mission to help one of the former priests who is retired. Apparently he had fallen and couldn't get up. I take a couple of kids w/me juss in case. Didnt even dawn on me how I would get inside the house until I got there. Stood around for 30 min. trying to find ways to get inside the house w/Father yelling that it's unlocked. 30 min. his relative comes by the house and ends up helping him get back up. Even though it was a failure, it was kinda fun, probably to the neighbors we looked like burglars or something. ha

BACK IN ACTION: So after a month of break, the young adult ministry is back in action. I missed having prayer meetings, its helped knda nourish my own spiritual growth. Small meeting but never the less good. DUring the scripture sharings, banne talked bout being able to share the easter joy errday of our lives. Sharing those easter stories with those we encounter, allowing them to see the joy of easter in our lives. Making errday a praise report, to share w/those around us. As I was doing my own personal reflection on the road to emmaus story, it remined me to see the face of Christ through errone. SOmething that I need to remind myself, errday, especially now working at the rectory. Its easy to loose patience w/people, but as aela always said...'patience is a virtue.' Praise God for community, praise God for prayer meetings.

EUCHARIST I: I was given the challenge to teach eucharist I, back to the basics. Wow at first I realized it was going to be extremely challenging. Though as we've grown together errthursday, I think they've learned a lot. With them as well I had them write down what they've learned this past year and what they would liek to know. Im currently discerning whether or not to teach again next year. If I do I'd want to do eucharist II and keep growing with them. We've gone on a long journey together and its amazing how they too ahve grown. Thursday we talked bout faith, hope, and love what it all means, and how it all ties in w/that road to emmaus. Sometimes they dont quite understand but its good cuz they ask me to clairify which allows them to dig deeper and search for understanding.

ROOFING PROBLEMS: The past week at the rectory they've been working on refixing the roof. ALl week I've been hearing all this noise as they put on a new roof. WEll thursday, one of the guys dropped the air conditioning unit, which fell on a network wire. Oh man what a catasrophe that was! The phone lines went out as well as the whole network! No internet, no outlook, nothing! Karen's husband came in and attemped to fix things on a short term basis. Amazing how relient we are on technology these days.

PRAISEFEST: LASt friday I went to uci's praisefest, wasn't sure if I was going to make it this year but I did. It was good, the theme was 'in God we trust' focusing on what it takes to trust in God. The speaker was very convicting, some random person from oxnard but he send a powerful message. Errtime I go to yfc @ uci, its weird how its a brand new class. Even though I'm not an alumni its crazy how its fresh faces from the time I use to go. Though its great to see how diverse it has become and the different people getting involved w/their faith. The annual ihop hang out was good, then ended up taking jay back to west co. Good thing I had enough energy to get home and not fall asleep. The best part of a late nite drive is when you see your exit and you know you're almost home!

FINISHING THE JOB: SAturday morning did part II of the painting of the St. Jospeh's center. Woke up early in the morning which was a little difficult but it was cool. Helped get the church back in order first for the 8am mass. Then went along to start painting, wha was anticipated a 2 hour job became an all morning one. Had jamaba juice to help get the juice going to finish the job, but it was fun. It became a great bonding session as well a chance to get to know more people. The only thing that sucked was the paint itself. Instead of it being a oil based it was water making it harder to paint on the walls. Oh well we got the job done, and now it looks a little bit brighter in the St. Jospeh's center.



HOME IMPROVEMENT: Helped Rob put together this china cabinet on thurs. nite. I didnt think it wsa going to take so long! Oh man when we opened the box there were tons of small screws and pieces. I hate those types of jobs where its put it together yourself. Im the type taht would rather pay someone to do it and get it done w/then me having to do it on my own. I think it took us almost 2 hours to put together the cabinet. I have to say though its always nice to look at your project in the end and smile knowing you finally did it. I'm such a good help friend! haha We still need to take a picture next to the stupid thing haha

SAVING GAS: THis past week Ive been walking to and from work. Im trying to save myself some gas $$ as well as get some morning excercise. Its not that bad its less then 15 min. of a walk. It helps me to clear my head and use that time as my morning prayer. With the gas prices already at $3 a gallon mine as well do all that I can to save gas. Its as if Im killing two birds with one stone, well maybe even more than that. Morning prayer, morning excercises, and morniing reflection great way to start your work day. Especially when working w/kids with all the madness you juss need some time to take a breath and breathe. ha

DUNKS EXCHANGE: Went to dunks exchange saturday over @ 330 in brea. Its this monthly happening where people come in and trade/buy off each others shoes and clothes. Freakin $5 to get inside, well I didnt pay for my admission I had marc do that ha but still. Maybe it was juss me but some err many of the shoes look tore up also, they're all used and stuff. Some of the dunks were them hard to find ones, but still. ALso some of the vendors had bape stuff as well. Im not too into that brand, its too expensive and it's not really my style. I think Id rather buy brand new dunks then used ones that other people have worn. Then again thas juss me...

NEW JOB OPP: So Kathleen Meyer the principal of OLF at holy fam. encouraged me to apply for an insturctional assitant position at the skoo. We were having this convo bout catholic skools and teaching in general. She told me she found me very passionate about teaching and to apply at the skool. She might have a few positions opening up and on top of that they need male teachers at the skool. Interesting thing she told me is that sometimes when teachers are out she lets the aide take over the classroom as the sub for the day. I thought that was pretty cool, you can only do that in private skools, you'd never see that happen in the public sector. Even though Im secure in my job for another yeear, its always good to have other opportunities knock.


My blogs have gone from daily to weekly entries now...

"And you can have what's left of me..." im done, im out God bless!