Dancing in September

" This is the job of leaders: to nuture the vineyard with freedom, creativity and hard work..."

THE REUNION SEASON: Earlier this year we had celebrated Elizabeth's 30th. I had coined the #thereunionseason at her little birthday. I had a feeling there was going to be more than one occasion where our group would get together and hangout. Little did I realize #thereunionseason would also mean reconnecting with other people I haven't seen in such a long time. A couple weeks ago Raymond, from LF had messaged me on Facebook randomly. He had invited me to this Seacret presentation in Carson that week. As much as I hate sitting through those 3 level marketing presentations, I thought it would be cool to catch up with them. Im so glad I had went cause it was great catching up with Charisse. For a minute it was a like rush of old memories that had flashed back. In fact last week Raymond ended up hanging out at the Packing House last Thursday night. Earlier this month the Youth Ministry celebrated its 10th Annual YPR. Again, another cause for reunions and celebrations. On top of all that Antoinette celebrated her 30th along with her engagement. #thereunionseason I love it.

GODPROVIDES: All summer long I had been looking for an extra job. The end of summer and the month of September become extra long since Im not working. I can really see how people who get laid become so discouraged with the job market. Day after day I would look on Craigslist throwing out my resume here and there. I was able to go through a couple of interviews, only to be declined in the end. Fast forward to this month and Im in a position where I've been offered two jobs I had applied and interviewed for. Its rough and as I said it gets discouraging, however in the end I know God provides. Trusting God is never easy and something I've always struggle with in my own personal faith journey. I need to remind myself something that St. Pio once said, 'Pray, Hope, and Don't worry.'

STTHERESE: For the past 11 years, after learning so much about St. Therese, I started to have a devotion to her. I always love sharing with others about her simple life. About 6-7 years ago I bought this book, Shower of Heavenly Roses. The book is filled with stories of people who have had answered prayers from St. Therese. Her feast day is October 1st and I started the 9 day novena last week with the novena finishing on her feast day. God never stops to amaze me with just how great He is. On day 3 of the Novena in the hallway at work I had noticed a rose petal on the ground. I picked up and it made me smile as it reminded me of St. Therese. When lunch came around as I was warming up my lunch in the microwave there was a calendar in front of me. The calendar has been there since the beginning of the year and just never thought anything of it. 'Ding,' the microwave goes and as I opened up the microwave I noticed the picture for the month of September. It was a cupcake with a rose frosting decoration on it. I took down the calendar and went through the whole year noticing that only September had the rose cupcake on it. Laughing to myself I knew at once it was St. Therese. As if that wasn't enough, there's a floral dept. at my work. Last week the floral teacher decided to do the 'Duchess Rose' project. The campus was filled all week with students walking around with roses. St. Therese knew exactly what I needed and helped make it happen. 

WYD16: In 2008 I was blessed with the opportunity to go Sydney, Australia and participate in World Youth Day. I remember hearing about World Youth Day back when I first became active in the church. Some people had just came back from Tornto, Canada. Then in 2005 I remember other people from other ministries planning for their trip to Cologne, Germany. It never really dawned on me that I would be able to go myself one day. Then when the idea of going to Sydney, Australia was thrown out, I knew I had to go this time. Although the fundraising, planning, and even at times the trip itself became stressful it was still a eye-opening experience. Thankfully I was able to fundraise $1000 through inkind donations from parishioners. As I always tell students one of the most important lessons in in life is all about networking and who you know. Who you know and what they could do for you can become such a huge advantage to you in life down the line. Anyway, this time Im preparing for WYD 2016. The goal to come up with $4,500 seemed like such an impossible task. Praise God that as of this month I've slowly made a small dent raising $1300 of it on my own. Im praying hopefully in the coming months that in the end I can be able to raise the balance with a little extra. God definitely provides. 

STBERNARDS: Last year I had met this girl who was subbing for a couple of weeks in my room. At the end of the year we said, 'it was nice working with you, good luck, etc.'  Fast forward to this past May, I get a random instagram request from her and she comments on of my pictures to contact her. For the most part I always keep people's numbers unless I know I wont need it anymore. I had texted her and she told me she had been trying to find/search for me a while. She had just got a promotion to become the new Activities Director at the school she was working at and needed help. The funny thing is when we were working together she would always make fun of me cause I always busy with ASB activities. We met up and I gave her ideas and suggestions which ultimately led to me organizing an ASB retreat for her new ASB students. Fast forward to June and it was an amazing, humbling experience. I knew already from the first day it was meant to be as a portrait of St. Therese was hung in their library. To help plan student activities at a catholic high school?! WOW! I was super excited. I get to share my faith as well as teach them how to plan events. Putting that retreat one of for that school was the best start to my summer. Last Saturday I went to their Homecoming and it was so great to see them. A whole different culture them Im usually use to working with, but I love it and I love them. 

OKTOBERFEST: I was sharing tonight how this time of year is kinda exciting. The parish starts slowly transform into 'Oktoberfest' season. The big trucks with the rides come in to the grass, the tents start to get put up, and then the stage is put together. As I was looking at the stage earlier tonight a rush of fond Oktoberfest memories came to me. The year was 2007 and I can clearly remember walking on stage and seeing the tons of people waiting for Passion and Gabe. Literally it felt like being on stage for a concert. I had never seen so many people, mostly all young teens and kids at church like this before. Then as they got on stage the screaming and the yelling of the crowd going crazy. Who would've thought that Holy Family would ended up landing two huge YouTube stars at their festival. Again, God provides. I was super biter cause of the fact Aj Rafael had backed out after agreeing to perform for the festival. He had posted a myspace bulletin trying to find out who was in charge of the entertainment for the festival and then went on to say something to the effect of I wasnt clear with the information. Of course I was so and replied back to the original myspace message where he had agreed to perform. After that whole incident I never cared for the guy and his music. Oh well in the end it worked out cause Passion and Gabe came out instead. Those were some good times back in those days. 

"I wont let go of you, Im latching on to you..."im done, im out God bless 

I Know Right?!

"Read some chapter of a devout book. It is very easy and most necessary, for just as you speak to God when at prayer, God speaks to you when you read..."

M.I.A.: All I want to do is...haha Im sure you can finish the lyric to the song. Sheesh it's been such a long time since I've blogged that I almost forgot how to! The entire month of October I didn't blog nor did I even read a blog! So here I am catching up on errone's blog and seeing whas new out there in the blog world. Man September 18th since my last entry, that's a fail on my part. Hmmm so whas new well for one I feel almost at peace, juss a few small things here and there but I guess I cant complain I got through a very busy month!

OKTOBERFEST: A week ago I was getting the stage ready for Passion, Leejay, and Gabe to go out and perform. Counting down to the final hours of Oktoberfest hoping that I'd be able to win something in the raffle the next day ha. ANyway, this year I ran entertainment again thinking that it would be chill easy as it has been the past couple of years. I think God knew that I was planning on making this my last year doing it so he decided to challenge me a little bit. And that he did alright, which probably why it made it so stressful at times. Praise God that he got me through it and praise God he sent me help. I gotta say I was able to do more things this year festival weekend then in the past thanks to some help. When I first was asked to chair it again this year they told me to put together a committee so I asked Joel to help and maan that guy is awesome. Despite his own busy and hectic schedule trying to balance life, he came through for me that weekend. Overall I think it went well there was a good mixture of entertainment and the meet in greet went well it wasnt as crazy as last year. However, afterwards the 'after party' at albertacos wasn't as crackin as I was hoping it would be. -_-

CONFIRMATION: God gave me a really good set of kids this year. There's this one kid who's reflections and responses inspire me. The theme I'm trying to implant into them this year is 'Imago Dei' being the image of God to others. One of the refelction questions Ive asked is how they can be a stain glass window for others to see and this is what he said...In order for me to shine my light to others I have to learn to be a good example as much as I can. This way people will see the example I'm leading and will say to themselves, "That's nice what he did, I should think about helping someone out today". Stained glass windows are made of different colored pieces of glass put together to make one big picture. This means that we all have different characteristics, but the only way we can be a stained glass window to others is when we show the better characteristics in us. We don't only help our family or relatives, we have to help complete strangers, if they need it, and also our friends and teachers because they're the ones that have the most respect for you. The urge to help others and be a good example to others is an easy thought, but really helping them and being the best you can be in front of them is the hard part about it. You don't have to do anything big either, one little thing can take something off the shoulders of someone, no matter how small. Also it might just be a nice thing to do and that feeling is the best to have.

WORK: Work at the elementary school as mos def. gotten easier. I thank God that first off that I have my job back and two that it's good paying job. So I guess God pulls you out of certain situations to put you in better ones. THe kid I work is freakin' cute he can be a handful and challenge but at the same time he makes me laugh. The first month was difficult for the both of us trying to adjust but now taht we have a sense of routine going it's the work day is so much smoother. For me, I'm still adjusting to the new skool site, working w/a completely different staff has been a transition. Supportive yes, but sometimes I dont get the type of response that I did at Danbrook. Hopefully things will get better later in the skool year. Oh yeah, the neighbors over there are real crazy!!!!! On Tuesday I had this guy follow me, trying to take a picture of my license plate only because I didnt make a complete stop at the stop sign. He literally followed me for a good 10 min!! What a freak! Who does that?! The kids are putting togeher a thanksgiving performance and one of the song is 'Colors of the Wind' from the movie Pochanatus. I got the coreo on lock! hahaha Oh yeah funny story this happened to me on halloween during recess. So for halloween I decided last minute to be 'Troy Bolton' from High School Musical. I thought it would be an easy and simple costume. This is wha happened at recess time with this enounter I had w/one of the first graders:

1st Grader: (Looks at my shirt trying to read what it says) Can I call you Jonathan?
Me: Umm no.
1st Grader: So what's your name?
Me: Mr. Fish
1st Grader: So can I juss call you 'Fish?'
Me: Uhh no, you can call me Mr. Fish though

haha inside my head I was laughing though how random is that! Later on he asks me, 'so are you suppose to be Zac Effron or something?' I said yes. hahahahaha oh man these kids crack me up!

SKOOL: I went back to skool this year to catch up on a couple of classses that I needed to transfer over. With my schedule being real crazy I decided to take the online classes, since I'm online all the time. Man its been difficult trying to get back into the routine again, especially doing homework! Oh why?! Good thing Im at a computer all afternoon at my other job otherwise I think I would've dropped the classes by now. The art one is crazy cuz the stupid instructor wants you to come up w/all these critical thinking type of responses to the different pieces of art work. Agh! Like I said good thing I have the other job where I can juss sit and take care of homework.

ELECTION: Ive been able to vote in the past 3 elections and this year's election feels like it has been the longest election year. I cant wait for Tuesday so it'll all be over already! No matter where you stand on the issues, its good to see that voter turn out, especially with young people has increased. They've really been pushing people to vote especially that 'don't vote' commercial. I hate how I hear the stupid vote no on prop 8 commercials all over the radio. In fact I've only heard of one 'vote yes' radio commercial and I haven't even seen any tv ads for it. The crazy thing is if it passes(hopefully it will) California is only going to have a bigger mess that it started with! There's going be lawsuits up the butt that the final decision will probably end up possibly at the US Supreme Court.

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL: The other day I went to go watch high school musical 3. It was a random decision but I didnt get the chance to watch it last weekend. ANyway, it was aiight, not the greatest one. Maybe cuz it was all hyped up cuz its suppose to be 'senior year' and cuz it's in the theatres this time. Personally, my favorite was part 2 cuz of the music and wha not. I wonder if they're going to make a part 4, I hope not it would get kinda lame if they did. Its like one of those movies where the story never ends. Besides those kids are getting too old it would be weird. Well I guess thas all for now oh yeah makeitclap will be turning 6 this year! wooo!

"Its like the catching lighting, the chance of finding someone like you..."im done, im out GOd bless!