Christmas in El Paso, 2011

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the gift of family, and grant that our relationships with our relatives always be laced with love, like the love between the members of the Holy Family; help us to have patience, understanding, and empathy in our dealings with each other, family and friends. And Father, please grant safe travels for everyone, everywhere, in Jesus' name, Amen.

When Carlton asked mom and me if we wanted to go to EP for Christmas, I was a bit hesitant because the drive from Big D to EP, is so long. However, when I found out that a cousin I haven't seen in at least ten years was going to be there, of course I wanted to go. I wasn't sure at the time if his lovely bride was accompanying him, but she did, and that was an added bonus!(smile)

We left Big D at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Christmas Eve, and arrived in EP around 5:30 or 6p of the same day. My Tia Luisa (my middle name comes from her) asked us to her house for dinner. We checked into our hotel room and then hurried to her home. Lots of hugging and kissing upon our arrival!

We ate some delicious food, as always, but what I will most remember from this night is the toast my aunt made. "C'mon, everybody, get your cup," she urged, as we were each handed rum-spiced egg nog. My Tia seriously and ceremoniously gave us a wonderful benediction, which I will keep private; but open your ears and let your imagination create the loveliest words of blessings and love you can hear a family member say to you, and you'll be close to knowing what we heard. (wink)

Sunday, Christ's birthday, praises happily poured forth from the live band playing at the 11am Spanish mass, where my mother, brother, good friend from childhood, and I, attended. We were surrounded, engulfed really, by pure happiness. The drummer's beats matched the rhythm of my heart; my love of such a good and gracious God rising higher and higher, and I received our Lord Jesus Christ in a new and profound way; once again asking Jesus into my heart and my life, remembering to thank Him for becoming human. My mom was so touched by the mass, and filled by the Holy Spirit, she was jubilantly weeping.

We left the church feeling pretty high from the alleluias, but God had even more consecrations in store for us; when we went to my Tia's to eat again, picture lots of hugging and kissing, AND the cousins we hadn't seen in many, many years were there, which was cause for even more love to be shared! (smile) We were rejoicing and catching up for most of the afternoon, and into the early evening.

On Monday, a group of us: Carlton, a childhood friend of mine, childhood friend's sweet daughter, her sweet daughter's friend, and I took a trip on the Wyler Aerial Tramway, in EP. I am a "scare-d" cat when it comes to heights, but I swallowed that fear, concentrating instead on enjoying the time with my brother and good friend. The tram ride itself was about five minutes to and fro, so the majority of our time was spent at the top of the mountain, looking at EP spread out beneath us. The best part of this whole adventure was that none of us have ever ridden the tram! We/had live/d in EP for a number of years and hadn't been on this 'limo' to the sea lions, which is how I fondly refer to the mountains of EP, because that's what I think they look like.(Some of the family was supposed to join us, nudge, nudge, wink, wink, but they chickened out last minute.)

Monday night found mom, Carlton and I eating at a quaint restaurant that's an EP staple. Despite this fact, neither Carlton nor I had ever eaten there...until now.(wink) I went to school with the son of the owner, but I didn't see anyone I knew in the restaurant.

The food was scrumptious, and they had an impressive collection of beer from around the world. The place was packed, and we were the last group allowed in before they closed for the evening. It's small, but that just adds to the charm and intimacy of the restaurant. The service was great too.
Tuesday we took a trip to EP's Museum of Art, where Norman Rockwell and Andy Warhol had exhibits. I am proud to say that EP's museum of Art is on par with any museum in Big D. (big grin)
For this outing, mom, John, and I enjoyed the company of cousins again, but different ones from the ones I mentioned earlier. In total there were 8 of us! :) I felt completely in my element, with family and culture, what a package! (lots of hugging and kissing!)

After the museum, everyone was hungry, so we went to a nearby restaurant that my Tia Rosa used to take us to, when we were little; this unassuming restaurant has the best, juiciest, burgers, with fast-food prices. My burger had mushrooms, but others had spiced, bacon, or avocado on theirs. Simply delightful!

Tuesday night Carlton and I joined my good bud again, but this time for dinner at one of EP's Mexican restaurants. Which brings me to a challenge for my friend - come to Big D and let's see who really does have the best Mexican food in Texas. (wink)

This blog wouldn't be complete if I didn't offer a thanksgiving prayer to JC; Heavenly Father, thank you for giving me the family I have. I wouldn't trade them for the world! They keep me grounded, and help me grow. In Jesus' name. AMEN!

Wishing everyone Love, Health, Happiness, and Laughter in the New Year!

"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa

The Other Wise Man by Henry Van Dyke

Hello friends,
Heavenly Father, we thank you for the greatest gift you could bestow on us, your Son. May He continue to be the center of our lives. Jesus, please keep those who are traveling over the holidays safe, and relationships with family members harmonious. Bless us to remember the people, and the happy memories, long after the glow of the gifts has faded. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
I told this joke to a male co-worker, "A virgin birth I can believe, but three wise men? HA." He shot back, "There were four wise men, did you know that?" I didn't, and I did some research. Here's what I found. Henry Van Dyke's The Other Wise Man If you get a chance, take some time out of your busy schedule and read it.
Merry Christmas everyone! May the Joy of the Season last year-round.

"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa

Lilith, Adam's first wife???

Hello friends,
Heavenly Father, as we take the time to reflect and remember the birth of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, let us also thank You for the gift of Your Son, an omniscient being who humbled Himself to become human. Our 'civilised' brain cannot fully fathom the profundity of this magnificent act, but thank you, dear God for blessing us with Jesus. In Your Name, Lord. Amen.
Once upon a time, I deviated far from the Catholic Church; I joined a Unitarian church, and it was here that I learned the story of "Lilith," Adam's first wife.
I began thinking more on Lilith this past Wednesday, December, 8th, after celebrating the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception, our Blessed Mother, Mary.
Just as an aside, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, is Catholics honoring the conceiving of Mary in the womb of St. Anne, Mary's mother. Mary had to be Pure in the highest sense of the word so that she would be worthy of being Jesus' mother; thus the 'Immaculate Conception.' This is why Catholics believe Mary was sinless.

(This photo is of Lilith.)

When I googled 'Lilith,' this website, "The Straight Dope," appeared, and you can read about the history of Lilith: whats-the-story-on-lilith-adams-first-wife, if you'd like.
The basic gist of the Lilith story is that she was a 'true equal' to Adam, as she was made from the same dirt as Adam, and not from one of his rib's, like Eve. Lilith and Adam fought a lot, though, because she refused to be dominated by Adam. Lilith grew tired of fighting with Adam and left the Garden of Eden. When Lilith left the Garden, God made Eve. (Lilith's story gets worse: she becomes a killer of children, among other things.)

Hail Mary, Full of Grace!

The counselor in me thinks Adam and Lilith fought because they didn't understand how to blend their strengths; each wanted to dominate the other, instead of compromising, and making the relationship something good and about something bigger than both their egos.

The Lord is with you!

Mary is human, but perfect in every way, and who, without hesitation, said "Yes, God." She is our life's guide and model.

She shows us how to have faith in our Lord and to fully rely on His Goodness in our lives, knowing that He has only our best interests in His heart for all of us.

Lilith underestimated the potency of humility. The strength in asking our Lord to help us, even in the most mundane issues of our lives; just like when she asked Christ to make more wine for the wedding at Cana. She knows that Jesus wants to be a part of all of our daily activities.

Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.

 

Mary has a quiet, calm soul; one that Lilith can never imitate. Mary patiently waited for God's instructions for her life.

Mary is truly an Every woman: she knows what it's like to be an unwed mom, to have lost a child in a public place, to seeing her child die before she does. She is an adoptive parent; she has adopted each and everyone of us as her own, and intercedes for us on a regular basis to Jesus, Her most Precious Son. 

Holy Mary, Mother of God

Lilith lacked understanding that there is One greater than ourselves. God is what connects all of our interactions - especially in our relationship to our spouses, for those married; and in our family, for those who are married, and single.

Mary was about being a servant, not necessarily subservient; Mary's service to our Lord is like being God's right arm reaching across barriers, arguments, and apathy, and creating a clear path to Love and Light, to Jesus himself. She remains faithful to Jesus, and continues to ask us to do the same.

This is why we pray with Her, in the Hail Mary:

Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Thank you, Blessed Mother, for saying yes to God, and for giving birth to the one true light in our dark world, Your Son, and our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Advent isn't only about Jesus' birth, it is also about Mary's "Yes!"

Addendum: Mary is the new Eve, the one who did indeed keep God's word, and follow his commands; thus the reason I compared Lilith and Mary, and not Lilith and Eve. Not that Lilith can compare to the BVM in any way, shape, or form.
"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa

What is Advent, anyway?

Hello friends,
Heavenly Father, may the souls of the faithfully departed, rest in Your peace. Thank you for your many blessings in our lives, Lord. Thank you for the health and healing of those who were sick. May all marriages, and all single people, keep you at the center of their lives, so that You may guide them on their daily journeys.

The Catholic church started Advent this past weekend.
I asked myself, but what is Advent? Then I did some snooping around, and found out that Advent is the beginning of the Liturgical year for Catholics.
But how do we 'do' Advent? Do you remember how you felt about Christmas as a child? As a child, Christmas was about - the wonderment, the excitement, the 'not knowing' and 'knowing' about my presents... Well these feelings are the beginning of 'doing' Advent.
Advent is an exciting time. It is a time of anticipation; we are anticipating Christ's return to us. We are looking forward to His return, but we are also looking inward, for His return to our hearts.
We need to pause during all the unnecessary busyness we'll find ourselves in, and look inside ourselves; we need to find Christ inside of ourselves.

Christmas is the best time to think of others; our connections to others and to ourselves; but most of all, it needs to be a time where we seek a stronger bond to Christ.
If we lack a true, sincere, and serious affinity for Christ, Advent is the time to start making that association! All of the readings during this time puts us back in the time of Christ, when people felt distant from Him. They were longing for his Salvation. For the goodness and fulfillment only He could give. The same is true of us today...
Christ longs for us to be closer to Him; He longs for us to talk to Him like we would talk to a very close and personal friend.
If you've ever looked for a best friend, someone with whom you can honestly be yourself - warts and all - if you've wanted someone you can rely on day in and day out, each and every day of your life and after, Christ is the One you've been searching for, and the One who can fulfill you.
Take some time this Christmas to see CHRIST in Christmas. You'll be happy you did.
Blessings on you, my friend, and Merry Christmas.

If you 'd like some prayers to say during this special time of the year, check out this great web page:
Advent information.
"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa

Margin Call - the movie - and I'm on a tear, so you've been warned...

Hello friends,
Heavenly Father, please help us through these tough economic times, and may we learn to lean on You, and each other more, instead of the quote almighty dollar. May we learn valuable - not just monetary either - lessons. And in all things may we have a greater faith in You, Lord. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Carlton and I went to see the movie "Margin Call" last night. Here's the synopsis, per Rotten Tomatoes, "Set in the high-stakes world of the financial industry, Margin Call is an entangling thriller involving the key players at an investment firm during one perilous 24-hour period in the early stages of the 2008 financial crisis. When an entry-level analyst unlocks information that could prove to be the downfall of the firm, a roller-coaster ride ensues as decisions both financial and moral catapult the lives of all involved to the brink of disaster."

Carlton, a political scientist, has been obsessed with the causes of our financial demise, as many people have been. See "Margin Call," and "Inside Job," for a 'complete' understanding of what's happened. Not really, but they are a good start.

One of the first things that Carlton did was see where things may have gone wrong politically. He found that Reagan's de-regulating the banks, in the 1980's, may have been the beginning.
But Carlton doesn't really think this economic crisis is as simple as de-regulation, as I know many people would agree, myself included.
I appreciate the axiom of Occam's Razor, "The simplest answer is often correct." It has served me well, especially when dealing with explanations.
I've consistently believed, naively, I recognize, that people are basically good. Philosophers and people far more intelligent than  me have debated this view of humanity, but for me, God created all of us, and He only creates Good; however, it's our choices, that make us do bad, criminal, and immoral things. Think of the seven deadly sins, Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Acedia, Wrath, Envy, Pride, and Vainglory (I copied and pasted them from Wikipedia). I think de-regulation opened the door wide to these hideous sins. (Acedia, just so you know, "is the neglect to take care of something that someone should do.")(I didn't know either, lol).

But I don't blame de-regulation completely, I mean, these sins have been around since the Fall of Adam and Eve. Humans naturally make poor decisions, it's an inherent flaw that only God can remedy, but adding money to this poor sense of judgment, creates a luxurious playground for the Seven. I am not opposed to people making money. I am opposed to people making money off the misfortune, or ignorance, of others.

I'm mentioning all of this because I want to encourage my readers, and I pray for my readers, to always do the right thing (I sound like Spike Lee, I know); I ask that they pray for me as well.

And yes, the right thing is hard to do, but again, we don't do life alone, we only have to ask Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, in moments we struggle with what to do. He will always lead us to the correct decision.

"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa

I was just talking about this...

Heavenly Father,
Please continue to bless all those who need Your help, and help me to be a blessing, not a burden, to those who know and love me. Help me to keep my eyes focused on You. You are my love and my salvation, never depart from me. In Jesus' name. Amen

30Rock hilarity

"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa

Cleaning house

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for my past, my present, and, most especially, my future. With all my heart, I do love thee, Jesus! Amen.
As I was writing the previous blog, I started thinking about some significant events in my life...I had a pretty rough young life; but then, who hasn't, really? I grew up in poverty; not like living in a car, or a homeless shelter, but a humble beginning.
The semester my father was especially sick, I was on probation at school. Grades were slipping, and, quite frankly, I didn't care. The following semester my father died, and I was suspended from college.
During this time, I needed to find full-time employment, and get myself together. I had to make some money and return to school. I always knew I would return to school and finish  my degree; quitting school was never an option for me. I didn't want to live in poverty all my life. And not that I wanted a whole lot of money, and a nice car, etc., but I couldn't stand the abject environment where I found myself.
I think bc I didn't think much of myself at the time, and had no ambition to find a 'decent' job, I decided to become a maid. Yes, there for a short time, I cleaned houses for a living.

Not the most glamourous of jobs, but I liked it, and since I knew I wasn't going to clean houses for the rest of my life, I didn't mind it much.
I remember when I first began cleaning. Arriving at work a little before 8am, and sitting with the other maids...I could never figure out what we were waiting for, lol, and the whole atmosphere in the shop was one of desperation. (I realized later, what I thought was 'waiting,' was the ladies enjoying their coffee, and letting the folks whose houses we'd clean, wake up a bit, and be off to their jobs before we arrived.) Reflecting on the women I worked with, I kind of admired them. This was a humbling job, and even with the gloomy vibe in the room, the women were incredibly dignified, and good at what they did. I remember making the bed at one particular house, and the maid that was with me (maids were sent out in two's - like in Noah's arc) told me, "We want the pretty side of the flat sheet facing the child." They thought about their client's lives. I enjoyed my conversations with them, driving between houses, or going back to the shop at the end of the day.
I also vividly remember one particular house we cleaned. It was huge! I'm talking upstairs/downstairs, with at least 20 rooms. It had a long, gorgeous, winding stairway. I can easily project myself to sitting on those stairs again, as I'm cleaning the banister; the owner, a pleasantly plump woman, with an easy smile, gave me a curious glance as we entered her home; I guess because I was younger than my counterparts. But this woman was kind enough to play the most beautiful music as we cleaned. I think it was the first time I heard classical music. The harmonious sounds helped me understand (even better) Shawshank Redemption's character, Red (Morgan Freeman), when he narrated, "We sat and drank with the sun on our shoulders and felt like free men."
The melodies made me feel like things were going to get better. And they did.
"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa

A peek into a life

Heavenly Father,
Bless all young people everywhere, Lord. Keep their guardian angels close, keeping them safe, always. And thank you for everything, always. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Tonight I was talking to a co-worker-friend in the parking lot about her 20 yr-old son, A. A is a student at Harvard UT and will have the opportunity to intern with a company for a year in China. He has already been to China, and loved it, and relishes the idea of returning, possibly to live there. A's mom, my co-worker-friend, is concerned for him; she has nothing against China, she just doesn't like the idea of her son being so far from her, and the rest of the family. Then there was A's gf. A and gf had been sweethearts since they were 15. They dated for five years. A's mom was telling me that A's gf and A were highly compatible as a couple, and with each other's family; so much in fact, that A's gf is in pictures of family weddings, and other various important family outings.
Well when A returned this past summer from China, and was in Dallas for about a week, he broke up with his gf. Not only was the gf heartbroken, so is A's family.
Everyone loved the gf and cried about the break up, almost as much as A did. Everyone in A's family is saying that he probably did the right thing, and are supportive of his decision, but they are also telling him that she was 'one in a million,' and he probably won't meet another one like this gf.
Hearing the tale, I felt bad for both A and his gf. A had to make a tough decision! And like mom said, "You can't expect people who are in their twenties to stay together. It's unrealistic." Mom now fears that if A takes a job in China, this will for sure signal the end to whatever A and his former gf may have had, or will have.
For some reason this 'struggle' interested me; probably because it reminds me of my life and the twists and turns it's taken and how I've arrived where I am...Life is a little of us trying to make the best choices with the information we have at the time; and a lot of us doing the best we can with the life we've been dealt.

"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa

It Makes You Wonder...

Hello friends,
Thank you Heavenly Father for blessing me to work with such a great team at school! Thank you for bringing OA, RJ, PM, BC, NM, and PE into my life! Thank you for helping me with my fifth graders - if it weren't for Your strength - I know I would have gone crazy already. (more than I am, lol) A special prayer for everyone who has asked me to pray for them. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Lately, it's seems I'm around men who are thirty, or younger, and, who are, coincidentally, also attracted to me. Being a woman older than thirty (clears throat), I'm flattered, of course, but not very enthusiastic about this particular, er, 'predicament.' I am pondering dating some of these men - ugh, here come the 'cougar' comments - but I'm hesitant. For many reasons, but to name a few: do they have 'mom issues' they're working on? (more than likely) what's really in it for them, or me? How mature will they be as 'long term' suitors? Are they intelligent, or just amusing? You know, the usual 'relationship' questions one asks. (BTW, I don't have an answer for any of these questions...at the moment (wink).) And, as with most things in my life now, I am taking my time.
These questions remind me of a couple who go to my church and have recently become engaged; I think she is older than him.
Now, I don't know the woman very well, but there was a very short period of time where I had a crush on the guy. When I saw him in mass, during the week no less, just like me, I thought, "That is the kind of man I'd like to meet..." Nothing ever transpired between this young guy and me - though I knew he noticed me - if only bc I was one of the 'younger' people attending daily mass, not that my ego didn't want to imagine him noticing me - but I was only given a 'cursory' nod of recognition from him. Please note: since he and I were feasibly on the same page spiritually, this would have trumped any age issue between us.
As for the woman he's engaged to...I was perplexed by what I'll call her 'spiritually lacking nature.' I'd seen her a couple times in mass, with him, indubitably, but only on the weekends, not during the week, which made me wonder if she had the same 'imateriality,' that he and I possess - ostensibly assuming that one can 'sense' a devotion to God - and,- that I possess the capacity to judge such faculties. Not.
Whenever something bothers me emotionally, I'm cognizant God is giving me a lesson.
I prayed, "Show me what I'm supposed to learn, Lord."
The Holy Spirit gave me this insight: despite age and any other 'dissimilarity' I think this couple has, what is important is their developing bond, together, to Jesus. And so it is for me, My connection to God will lead me to the person I'm supposed to be with, if I'm supposed to be with anyone, but what is most important, is my link to Christ.
"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa

Thankful

Hello friends,
Heavenly Father, thank you for everything in our lives, most especially the difficult moments, where we have much to learn. Special intentions for: MN, KG, and my good friend 'N' and her family. May peace, love and harmony reign. In Jeus' Name. Amen.
Just a quick class update:
My panda bear, Scorpian, has progressed nicely. He has fallen asleep in my class, but way less than in previous years, AND he is working for me. PTL! Miracles happen everyday, believe it!
I could vent about some 'friendship issues' I'm having, but I figure there's enough negativity in the world without me adding to it! :P
I came across this meditation in my "Give us this Day," from a daily prayer for today's Catholic mag, and I think it fits my sentiments perfectly about the above 'friendship issues.' See if you agree...
The Kingdom of God is at Hand for you
We need Christians who will live their faith and be witnesses in truth. Our mission is to make holy our everyday actions, whether at home, or at work. This is not often really appreciated. We forget too easily that genuine holiness lies in carrying out God's will wherever we are, whatever we do, at home or at work. That is how we give witness to Gospel values - by the manner of our living and working.
      We are called to build the kingdom of God within the kingdom of man. This causes us to wrestle with some of most intractable problems and menacing dangers of our time. The struggle for the kingdom is not an abstract conflict. It has to be fought here and now, in conditions dictated by history and contemporary needs. And so we have to contend with the problems of our age, while we try, as best we can, to empty ourselves of the will to dominate, and rely instead on the invincible power of divine love. We must be ready to dialogue and be flexible. We must never lose patience or hope. We must be ready to initiate and be positive, not simply to react defensively and belatedly.
Cardinal Basil Hume, A Turning to God
Cardinal George Basil Hume (1923-1999), Abbot of Ampleforth Abbey in Great Britain from 1963 until his appointment as Archbishop of Westminster in 1976 was one of the best-known and beloved relgious figures in the United Kingdom.
God bless you friends! Today, always, and forever may you feel God's presence near you.
"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa

Holy Water

Hello friends,
     Thank you Heavenly Father for the lovely, abundant rain that is falling in Texas at this very moment. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa

Rachel's challenge

Hello everyone,
Thanks Heavenly Father, for creating Rachel Scott; in her mere 17 years, she has inspired society to re-visit the basic codes of living: kindness, respect, caring and compassion. ." Rest in peace, Rachel, and thank you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Rachel Scott was the first person killed at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999. Her acts of kindness and compassion coupled with the contents of her six diaries have become the foundation for one of the most life-changing school programs in America. (taken from the Rachel's Challenge website)
Rachels' Challenge Mission:
We exist to inspire, equip and empower every person to create a permanent positive culture change in their school, business and community by starting a chain reaction of kindness and compassion.
An excerpt from Rachel's diaries:
I have this theory that if one person can go out of their way to show compassion then it will start a chain reaction of the same.
- Rachel Scott
The challenge is so simple! Acknowledge acts of kindness.
I am proud to say that the school I work for has fully and completely embraced Rachel's Challenge. Already, I see the difference in my student's attitudes toward each other, and for the better. Students are encouraged to take some ribbons and hand out at the supermarket, etc., so be on the look-out, or start handing out ribbons of kindness yourself!
My principal has put this challenge to us: that by the end of the school year, we will have enough ribbons to wrap around our school. We are well on our way to reaching that goal...
For more info, go to:
Rachel's challenge
There are ways businesses can become involved too! It's not just for schools.
"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa

Innocence lost

Hey friends,
Heavenly Father, bless all eyes reading this blog today. You know our needs, and are with us each and every step of our journey to You. Thank you, Lord. I especially want to thank You for counting me worthy to 'stand in Your presence and serve You.' In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Not only did I see a violent movie this weekend, but my brother shot his first gun, ever, on the same day, which brought home a powerful message to me. (side note: Carlton tells me the gun instructor was a good one, so kudos to the teacher.)
This movie was ultra-violent though; in fact, one of the critics I heard describing the movie, said that movie-making people call this brutality 'wet'.
I was grateful knowing about the violence beforehand, because I could prevent myself from being subjected to it. I closed my eyes when I 'knew' or 'sensed' something awful was about to befall one of the characters, and judging by the audience's reactions, I'm happy I wasn't watching. (Ha, ha to the director, jokes on you!)
Violence in movies is nothing new, and will continue to appear, more's the pity.
But I'd like to add one more reason to the list of reasons why seeing violent movies, and using guns, aren't good for us: because they cause us to lose our innocence. And here's the definition I'm using for innocence: simplicity; absence of guile or cunning; naivete; lack of knowledge or understanding; harmlessness; innocuousness.
I think that when we're born, we are 100% innocent. But society: movies, the media, etc, (everyone of us knows 'the list' of terrible things that go on in the world without me further enumerating them), chip away at that innocence. And maybe I'm overly sensitive to this idea of losing our innocence because I am a teacher.
I remember years ago, when it was okay to hang out with the students outside of school, I took some of the girls in my class to fly kites. For some reason that eludes me at the moment, the girls and I had to go to the grocery store. When the students and I were in line to make our purchase, I remember looking at the 'headlines' on all of the magazines facing us in the aisle. Almost every single magazine was basically telling these young girls they weren't good enough, pretty enough, and how to make themselves perfect...I'm sure the girls didn't even notice; it was just another day at the grocery store for them, but I was jolted to awareness by all the blasts at our self-esteem, our thinking, and, most of all, our decency.
What's sadder to me than the media tearing at our innocence, is our willingness to let go of it. We seem to be saying, "Sure, I'm not supposed to see movies that make me cringe at the horror, but it's all in the name of entertainment, and I want to be entertained."or "Learning to shoot a gun isn't robbing me of my innocence; I'm learning to protect myself."
Losing our innocence isn't just about 'becoming educated,' or 'knowledgeable'; as a teacher, I understand the importance of education and knowledge; what I'm protesting is that people don't realize that when we lose our innocence, we lose our wondering about the world around us, we lose our curiosity about how things are made; we lose our creativity. It's almost like since we know what's going on behind what's happening, there's no point in using our imagination.
The movie I saw would have been just fine without all the goriness of it, as everyone knows. The person who thinks guns are the only way to protect ourselves, is forgetting about self-defense classes...I for one won't be seeing anymore violent films; and if I mistakenly happen to be watching one, I know I'll be covering my eyes again; because I'm aware I'm not just covering my eyes, I'm protecting what little innocence I have left.

"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa

In Memoriam

Heavenly Father,
     May all the lives lost on 9-11-01 rest comfortably in Your arms. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Lord of All Hopefulness
Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy,
Whose trust, ever childlike, no cares can destroy,
Be there at our waking, and give us, we pray,
Your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day.

Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith,
Whose strong hands were skilled at the plane and the lathe,
Be there at our labors, and give us we pray,
Your strength in our hearts, Lord, at the noon of the day.

Lord of all kindliness, Lord of all grace,
Your hands swift to welcome, your arms to embrace,
Be there at our homing, and give us, we pray,
Your love in our hearts, Lord, at the eve of the day.

Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm,
Whose voice is contentment, whose presence is balm,
Be there at our sleeping, and give us, we pray,
Your peace in our hearts, Lord, at the end of the day.

Text: Jan Struther, 1901-1953 c Oxford University Press
Time: SLANE, 10 11 11 12; Gaelic; harm. by Erik Routley, 1917-1982, c1975, Hope Publishing Co.
copied from St. Joseph Catholic Church, Richardson, Tx, Hymnal

"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa

Wreck at Half Price books on NW Hwy, 9/3/11, 11:30ish pm

Hello friends,
Heavenly Father, thank you for watching over each and everyone of us, wherever we are, and thank you for your many blessings in our lives. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
I thought I was watching an episode of "Monster Trucks," when I saw the ginormous, silver truck, traveling rather fast, careening to the left, and then making a quick ninety degree turn to the right, tires screeching. Then things slowed down, as the colossal truck gripped the cement median between NW Hwy and Half-price Books, lifting itself up, and pushing aside the puny Mustang convertible parked in it's path. The Mustang was facing NW Hwy, but was now pointing in a SE direction. Luckily, no one was inside the Mustang. The gargantuan truck had four heads bobbing inside it, and they appeared to be watching the demolition of the Mustang in bewilderment. The massive truck was on top of the median and the passengers seemed to be contemplating what to do next...Then, maybe the driver realizing he couldn't just drive off, heaved the truck off of the median and into the parking lot, a few small feet from the banged-up Mustang. Three of the passengers got out of the truck and ran inside the Half-price Books store. The driver, wearing a red plaid shirt, with the sleeves cut off, got out of the truck and walked over to the Mustang. The officer who peruses the Half-price premises was quickly at the scene. I jotted my name and cell number down, to give to the owner. The three guys that had gotten out of the truck and ran into Half-price, re-appeared, bottles of water in hand. (Hmm...???) I walked over to the wreck and gave my phone number to the eighteen-year-old, who was obviously in shock over what happened. I quickly explained that I saw everything, in case he needed a witness; I also introduced myself to the police officer, and he asked me to wait for the policeman who was investigating the wreck. I walked around to see the damage to the Mustang. The driver's side was bashed with the imprint of the truck's tires, and the front left wheel was slanted to the right. The hood of the mustang made an upside 'v'. The gigantic truck was missing it's front bumper and it was leaking profusely from underneath, the fluid making a large dark puddle. The officer for Half-price addressed me, "Let me see, the truck made a left turn, punching it, lost control and while trying to regain control, landed over here, on top of the Mustang." I nodded in affirmation. I asked him, "Why do you think they bought water bottles?" "Drinking, drugs, who knows." The officer in charge of the accident arrived, and asked me if I saw any other cars around the humongous truck, before it headed into the parking lot, as the driver was alleging that the truck was pushed from behind, and that this was the reason the truck ended up in the parking lot. I said, No. He also asked me who was driving and I told him.  He asked where I was sitting (underneath the awning of Half-price, facing NW Hwy), took down my address, phone number, age, etc, thanked me for coming forward and said I could leave. I pray things turn out well for the eighteen-year-old. I once had someone stop and give me their number when they saw my wreck, I was just paying that forward...it's the best thing to do in these circumstances, too.

"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa

Nicknames

Hello friends!
God, please keep Basil the cat in the place you have reserved for the Heer's in Heaven; you created a great cat when you made Mr. Basil; thank you for the time we had with him. And as for the rest of us still here on Earth, watch over us and guide us, as always. A special intention for any one who works with children on a regular basis; please grant us love, patience, humility, thankfulness, and most especially, a sense of humor. Thank you always for the many, many blessings you bestow on each and every one of us, every day. In Jesus' name. Amen.
This year has gotten off to a fun start. Some of the students have come up with nicknames for themselves: "Scorpian," "Noble 4," "Situation," "Mr. Amazing," "Moraky (Mora (if you can roll your r's)-Ky)," "Aray," "Ay-girl (A girl)," "Mini-Shark," "Kinkle," "Lulu," and "M & M." I am "teach," or "Ms. Teach."
The student I am most concerned with is "Scorpian." It's been rumored he has slept through most of third grade and for parts of fourth grade. He fell asleep in my room, probably two days. The second day it happened, I took him to the nurse with these words, "You've slept through my time, you will now sleep through your time," which meant he was to sleep during recess. He was able to get 15 minutes of sleep, and this enabled him to stay awake the rest of the day. But this can't continue.
I do feel bad for him, b/c he's been telling me he is really trying to go to bed early; I believe him, but this is also unacceptable behavior.
This year fifth grade has made a concerted effort to create a feeling of community: complete with a Mayor (M), Deputy Mayor (DM), Hallway police, activities coordinators (playground equipment), and many others. Well the DM and M 'happen' to sit on either side of Scorpian and did an excellent job of helping him stay on task. This is no small undertaking. Scorpian is probably 5'6" and about 200 lbs, but gentle as a panda. But this probably won't solve the problem either.
I am doing my best to think "outside of the box,"with regard to Scorpian. I will be contacting mom, since the nurse told me Scorpian has a low-hemoglobin, which explains the low-energy, and see if she can add more 'greens' to his diet. I am also implementing a three-day 'Let's help Scorpian,' community-wide project. M and DM have already helped Scorpian one day; they will help him two more days, and then I'll have another two students help him. We'll talk about what's appropriate to say and do when encouraging Scorpian, so things don't turn negative. I know that the students will get tired of helping Scorpian, and that's part of my point. Once all the students have had a chance to sit next to him; I'm going to pull the class back together and we'll discuss how everyone feels, including Scorpian, about being helped all the time. Should be interesting and I'm hoping Scorpian will say he's tired of all the help/focus, and will want to be left alone, to do what he's supposed to do.
Yes, good luck to me.
But this won't be the last of interventions, either, I know.
This child has the possibility of becoming a drop out statistic, but that's not going to happen; not on my watch.
"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa

Grumpiness

Hey friends,
God bless all the eyes reading this blog; give us what we need, Lord. Not what we want, but what we need, as only You know best, Jesus. Oh, and can we please have more rain? Thanks. In Jesus' name, Amen.
I find myself in a bad mood today. I'll explain why in a moment.
When I'm at work, I want to work.
But I wish I knew the etiquette for some work interactions (I'm sure there are tips on-line, but I'm too lazy to look for them).
Like last week, when I went in to set up my classroom, the new guy, Skype, was in his room, also getting his room ready for the year.
Now, Skype and I share a door between our classrooms. Unfortunately for me, that door was open.
I really wanted to run over and close it, but I knew that would seem rude. But I also knew that if I started talking to Skype, I'd lose valuable time working in my room! Oh the dilemma!
I was noisely removing paper from the wall as I was asking myself, "Am I being rude for not saying hello to Skype? He could just as easily come in and say hello to me." Eventually of course, Skype and I spoke. Not a lengthy conversation *smile* only a few sentences exchanged. Whew. Time wasted kept to a minimum. (I'm a talker, so I was esp proud of myself for not gabbing away.)
Since I'm also new to the team, I keep in mind that my co-workers don't know me! Gone are all the mistakes I've made on other teams. Now's my chance to shine, to be professional, friendly, and my usual hard-working self.
But this is what has me grumpy: why am I even concerning myself with my teammates?!
Then I came across this article, about grumpiness: b/c, according to this website, Grumpiness 'is good for you'
Forgas''s explanation is that happy people focus more on their own desires. "Positive mood is in a sense an evolutionary signal, subconsciously informing people that the situation they face is safe and non-threatening," he says.
This encourages people to rely more on their own thoughts and preferences, with selfishness the result, the expert added.
On the other hand, grumpiness or sadness produces more vigilant, outward-looking thinkers.
"A negative mood produces a thinking style that is more detailed and attentive, and pays more attention to the demands of the external environment," says Forgas.
The study has been published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology.
Yay, grumpiness is a good thing!

"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa

Summer is over, teacher, now what? ; )

Hello friends,
Special prayer of complete healing for a good friend's mom who is in ER; many endless prayers for the termination of this awful drought; for all teachers everywhere, may they be blessed in abundance with patience, compassion, empathy, and humor; and Lord, please guide our political leaders to do right by the American people in their policies. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Last week I had the privilege, along with two out of five of my fellow fifth grade colleagues, to do some interviews for a suddenly open position in fifth grade. In-between interviews, I had time to go to my classroom and see how I want to arrange twenty-five student desks, and I do my best to imagine how the room will look to an eleven-year-old, determined to make the room seem 'homey' and 'comfy.' I wonder if the students even realize how much their teachers think of them before they step foot in our classrooms. Reminds me of Jeremiah 1:15, "Before you were in your mother's womb, I knew you."
I took out many of the tables in the room, and left myself two: one where reading and math groups will take place, and the other for student's completed work.
I joke to my co-workers, "The classroom would have so much more room if it weren't for the students!" But of course that's why I do my job, this labor of love, for the students.
This year is different for me in several areas: I'll be finishing my MA in school counseling; in fact, my pre-practicum and practicum will all be done this year; I'll be teaching an all English class, which I haven't ever done in my 16 years in this career. I know I will have Latin children in my room, but absolutely no Spanish will be spoken, unless I'm talking to a parent who speaks only Spanish. and lastly, all the students, teachers, principal, asst principal, and parents will go camping in December. I'm looking forward to it. The camping is pretty easy - we stay in cabins instead of tents - there will be hiking, archery, canoeing. Fun!
I went over budget on buying for my classroom, which teacher doesn't do that?!, but I did get some pretty good bargains. A small, cute, lamp and clock from Goodwill. A $7 tower lamp from Target. All to create a nice ambiance and offer a different sort of lighting to the students than the usual bright lights above their heads; fabric for the bulletin boards, borders for said bulletin boards, lysol..just 'incidentals' that add to the classroom running smoothly.
I will dust off furniture, put textbooks on desks, build a tree on the column in the  middle of my room...I usually take the week before all our trainings and massive staff meeting, Convocation, as it is called, to get ready for the beginning of the year. Teachers are given a day to prepare, but that's just not enough time for me.
And so another year will begin.
"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa

Photos from Cali

From the highest point in LA, the Griffith Observatory.

LA from the Griffith Observatory

LA - a neighborhood near Venice Beach.

M had to take a photo of us during a sunset. That's Marina del Rey in the background.

We rode around Venice beach. Very nice.

A canal that runs through a neighborhood near Venice Beach...I imagine this is how Heaven looks...

I did manage to go to mass during our holiday. This is the outside of the Church of Visitation, near the LAX airport.

Those adorable Elephant seals! Lazies.

Off the PCH.

Quaint restaurant off the PCH.

View from the porch of the quaint restaurant.

This is how flowers grow along the highway of the PC.

Redwoods!

Just another shot off of the PCH.

This is the Bixby Bridge, built in 1932 and still used. Hey Bushy! : )

Doesn't really need a caption, right? ; )

Downtown SF from the GGB.

The other side of the GGB. Hey guys! :)

Yes, this is that Pier.

Look at the size of that shell! I couldn't resist. This was a shop along the Pier.

Alcatraz

Just a fun billboard along the Pier.

A restaurant along the Pier.

Chocolate lovers dream paradise.

Just a lil treat I had. YUMMY

A Chagall.

Second Chagall.

This is Chagall's version of Moses receiving the Ten Commandments. Chagall had many pieces on the Exodus from the bible. This was a God wink to me, as the readings for the week were about the Exodus. : )

A whimsical Miro.

SF random statue.

Back to Hollywood. This is Journey's star.

The handsome Keanu Reeves home.

"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa