One Final Goodbye

"God, the Creator of all things, is so full of mercy and compassion that whatever may be the grace for which we stretch out our hands, we shall not fail to receive it..."

OFFICIALLY OVER: So summer is about pretty much done with. I remember the beginning of 3rd grade we had to write these poems called, 'closed.' It was bout the different things we now 'close' cuz summer is over. Now closed the bbq, close the pool, blah blah it was kinda sad cuz skool was back in session and the fun summer days were now over. Overall its been one crazy summer, 2 deaths in the family, family in and out from the midwest, 1 youf prayer rally, 1 rekindled friendship, and 1 refreshing convention to end it all. All I have to say is wow!

OLD TIMES: On monday, I had lunch with cyril, mike, and some of the sly crew at albertacos. It was nice, it felt like old times, when we would talk all the time. Having lunch w/ol friends or people whom you havent talked to in a while is the best. Juss cuz there's so much to talk bout and catch up on. Talking bout ol memories, what certain people are up to now a days, and then juss sharing your faith and journey with each other. Cy was telling me how a lot of kids in their group are so convicted to try out the religous life. In fact one parent called cy during lunch asking info. bout the place they're going to be staying at etc. Thas courage to answer the calling so young and to take it up. If it were me I'd have the most difficult time 1) adjusting to that kind of life style 2) leaving behind the people and things that I loved. Praise God though, I do give them props.

BACK TO WORK: Tuesday I went to work and juss helped out a little bit. The classroom is already put together and organized, it juss doing final things. I got the computers set up and working, ready to go. At the end of last year I asked for a desk, I didnt say it had to be real big, but you know something workable. Turns out I walk in the room and she gives me a desk, juss a regualr children's desk ha, to top it off its in this tight little space. Had lunch with veronica, jenn, and well this new teacher whos working 2nd grade. It was a little awkward cuz jenn and I didnt really know the new teacher. Apparently she use to teach at the skool 4-5 years ago and now is back. That whole primary lunch period isnt going to be the same anymore. Im excited to go back to see the kids, but hmm a bit sad cuz I know a couple teachers I was friends isnt there this year.

BACK IN BUSINESS: In other work related news, after pretty much having the whole summer off, the business manager is back. Wednesday, when I came in, I actually had to work! ha Throughout this whole summer its been chill, of course there are busy days but then are other days when there was juss nothing to do. Now that business manger is back, there's going to be plenty of work to do. Not that I dont like working and its not really difficult tasks either, I guess its the whole 'actually working' again mode I have to get into. These past couple of days Ive been either coming in late, or leaving early, I feel kinda bad for joyce since she's the one in there alone. She does a good job, its fun working w/her, I think she's gotten use to the way things run now.

THE CENTETARIAN: Friday was my lolo's funeral, and well out of the funerals Ive gone to, this one was the most joyful. There wasn't any real crying or anything, the priest was a very outgoing and very charismatic which made the mass nice. During the homily he asked people if we were to describe what would we say. He made different people shout out adjectives that described who my lolo was. At hte burial he even played the sax and did amazing grace, I wanted to record it, but my stupid camera was really trippin. It was a lot different then my lolo's but it was still nice. Afterwards there was this reception at some small little hall, and they had a really nice slideshow video tribute. At the end there was a video of my two lolos together, Ill post it below, it made me get teary eyed. The two of them are together now, along with the rest of their family. May the angels lead you into paradise; may the martyrs come to welcome you. Man heaven must be nice.

SCRC: After a crazy summer, scrc was definately what I needed to rejuvnate my spiritual life. For the first time I decided to do the regular adult track, in the past couple of years Ive always juss done the young adult one. I was a loner this year, being I went to all of the talks alone, but it was cool. I missed the friday talks, which were probably good, and I was late for my first sat. talk but it was cool. That Sister nancy kellar was a really good speaker I went to two of her talks. My notes from all the different talks are a mess and I know when I look back its going to be like what the heck did I write? I want to get all the talks, but then buying them all on cd tends to add up. Probably my favorite was the talk by Fr. John Hampch if God is your co pilot then switch seats, basically talk on listening to God, and letting God's will be done in your life.

OL FACES: Didnt meet really anyone new this year, though I did run into many familiar faces. I remember when I use to work for stanton and we had those once a month commodities. There was this old lady who was always soo nice. I always saw the face of Christ through her, she helped make a bad day into good. Anyway, I ran into last year at SCRC and found out she was a religous sister! So we ran into each other again this year and she totally remembers me and errthang, juss she never asked wha my name was. After one of the talks this morning, I told her how I always saw the face of Christ through and thanked her for that. To make a long story short, she gave me a whole history bout her education and really encouraged me to look into different ways of paying for skool. She gave me her business card w/her home and cell phone # telling me if I ever needed a letter of reccomendation she would do it for me. I thought that was real nice.

ONCE A YEAR: On top the sister and some other parish community peeps, I ran into my once a year SCRC friend, will. This was the guy I met two years ago standing line at confession then ended up becoming 'once a year friends' through SCRC. Yeah so I saw him again and he told me he got called back for active duty and is leaving next week to go to camp pendleton and stay on the navy ship there. Man these wars are getting pretty crazy with the govt. calling people back for active duty. I think were going to chill sometime this week before he leaves. Its funny how he always did the regular adult track then all of a sudden since last year he got really involved with the young adult track.

SUMMER '06 REVIEW: Being that summer is now officially over, its time for my annual summer in review. Reviewing the highlights of summer, the ups and the downs. Last summer was real interesting cuz it makred the birth of a new beginning. This year was a lot different then last years. Never the less though, God always seems to find a way to make summer real interesting, wether its positive or negative. Anyway, let's check out wha went on, shall we?

JUNE: June was a hectic month, so many different events going on. Work was coming to an end, slowly, church was preparing for the 75th anniversary. It was one of those months of madness, jackie had her debut at holiday inn(cue chingy ha). Lots of people, good food, pictures, I felt old though ha its okay I wasnt the only one, at least there was older people than me. After her debut was the holy fam gala dinner/dance to kick off the 75th. It was one them hardcore dinner fundraisers, I felt like I was at a endorsement party for some potential political canidate. THen Fr. Johnny give a state of the parish address...yeah it was hardcore. Made a new friend, ha who happened to have his birfday the day before mine. As always tons of birfday celebrations, which meant I went broke. Holy Family had their 75th anniversayr weekend, with a huge multicultural mass, the cardinal came, and errthang. Then the next day was the family day, brought my parents and showed them around holy fam for the first time. Went to a taping for 'so you think you can dance' spent the day in hollywood with a few coo kids. I wish I wouldve gone to one last year. Youf min had their own little commencement ceremony, juss too bad there wasnt a lot of kids. Had plans to work in stanton for month of july, but then ended up turning it down last min. The rectory finally a new assitant who's actually my assitant ha, good choice they made in choosing the most qualified canidate. Superman returns came out, which ended up being superman sucks in the end. YOuf min core finished their first core term and made utc history.

JULY: July was one of the most difficult months of the summer. Well let's see how to start this month off, the new fiscal year started woo along with that a new core team for utc was chosen. The first week of july was packed with one birfday after the other from Gp all the way down with my cousins birfday on the 8th. Celebrated my birfday with friends and family at VIP buffet, not errone who I wanted to be there was there, but its alright. The week after that my lolo was rushed to the emergency for pnuemonia and well ends up passing away the next day. Yeah, one of the most difficult moments of the summer, but God gave me the grace to get through it. Had planned a core retreat in big bear, but it ended up being cancelled and moved to the parish due to the wildfires going on. Through the passing of my lolo is allowed my family and many of my cousins to become close again. That was pretty much the whole month of July for me.

AUGUST: PLanned a double suprise party for the two heifs, yeaah the two of them were real suprised! Jam nite came and went in a flash, the hall was jam packed that nite. Practices liek no other w/kids in preperation for the 2nd annual youf rally. Oh man were those becoming real dreadful and tiresome. At any rate we made it through and well were real gooood! Did a first ever photoshoot with the kids, which Im still waiting to get the pictures from! oh why?! Bought myself a new toy and ended up getting a new printer...a photo one which is hella tight. Had a core banquet the pike in long beach, thanking the ol core for their service and time. My parents went to minn. for almost 3 weeks maan it was crazy not seeing them around for that long. Then finally came one of the most anticipated summer events YPR '06, despite the smaller amount from last year the spirit was still there moving through each moment. I do have to admit I'm glad that it's finally over! Oh yeah went to the wedding of the century, charisse and leo plaza. Maan talk bout a hardcore celeberity wedding status! My lolo's brother passes away at the age of 102 from pnuemonia as well, there was a big party in heaven that day.

WRAPPING IT UP: SO there you have it all the summer highlights from june to august. There was joys, struggles, and sorrows, but through it all God brought me to it and through it. I dont know if that makes sense but He showed me that it really is true, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I juss do praise God for giving me some great friends to count on, to help me out in my times of need. I am most grateful for all of them who have helped me get through those mountains. Those are the ones who have inspired me to keep going and not give up. Praise God for one interesting roller coaster summer...Thanks to mike for making this piece of art work for me.



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How was YOUR summer?

"I will be strength for the journey..."im done, im out GOd bless!