Thirsty Thursday: Year of Mercy

Happy New Year’s Eve! 🎆

As the full Year of Mercy draws near, Pope Francis has called us to seek ways to render more kindness to others ~ which is pleasing to the LORD. ☝🏽️

I’ve been praying my daily Rosary and 3 o’clock Divine Mercy with this Pope Francis Rosary from Bishop Mike who blessed me with it on the ☼morning☼ of my dissertation defense and started reading this Rediscover book by Matthew Kelly from my Dad

During Advent, my school, Our Lady of the Lake, kicked off this venture by deeming the Season of Mercy. 🎄

GOD bless you this Merciful Year! Cheers! 🎇

Working Woman’s Wednesday: Doc Decompression

Leave it to my Bestie Evie to always know what’s best for me!

• First, she strongly suggested that I take one day out of the month for myself
• Then, she and Mama Maggie highly recommended that I take a whole week off!

#ImDreamingOfAWhiteCHRISTmas #LetItSnowLetItSnowLetItSnow #BabyItsColdOutside #iLoveTheWinterWeather #IveGotMyLoveToKeepMeWarm #WhenAllYouCatsAreSleepinWarmAsToast #WhiteCHRISTmas #LetItSnow #WinterWeather #CoolYule #CatsAreSleepinWarmAsToast #DoubleATeam #PURRfectMoment2PAWS #CATchOfTheDay #SnowDay #SnowAngels #WokeUpToThis #MerryTexasCHRISTmasYouAll #MerryTexasCHRISTmasYall #MerryTEXmas #WestTexas #WTX #winter #blizzard #BlanketOfWhite #snow #comfy #cozy #CuddleBuddies #SnuggleBunnies ❄️☃⛄️🎅🏽🎄🎁💝😍😻🏡

When they mentioned my need for “me” time at my graduation luncheon, I doubted that I could pull it off. However, I indeed observed how refreshed some of my fellow doc candidates-turned graduates seemed following their dissertation defenses ~ a break to decompress helped them relieve stress!

#DrDISPObustAFlow

To the tune of the wayback/throwback two-decade-old track by Montell Jordan:

♪This Is How I Did It♫

• 3½ ☼days☼ last week between Graduation and CHRISTmas
• +3½ ☼days☼ this week between CHRISTmas and mid-week
• = 7  ☼days☼ total (not consecutive ~ but I’ve made it count)

My favorite activities during this Dr. D time:

• concocting recipes
• QT with my Cuties

Beauty Tuesday: These Boots Were Made for …

• Defending🎤 my dissertation📖 to complete my Doctor of Philosophy📜 ~ YES, I rocked out my Docs when I became Doc!
• Undergoing my Graduation Church💒 Rituals ~ I wore my A+💯 booties
• Walking across the stage at my Commencement Exercises🎓 ~ a professor told me that my cowboy boots👢 were the best pair in the house (two great minds think alike)

4:44 ~ make a New Year’s wish!!!

Study Saturday: The Show Must Go On…

Happy One-Week Anniversary of my Doc Grad!

This is where I reminisce about GOD’s plan.

When I thought that things were going wrong just because they didn’t go my way, it turned out that everything fell into place perfectly:

My Intent	What Went Wrong	GOD’s Perfect Plan
To wear my medal at my public dissertation defense and graduation	I couldn’t find it where I thought that I stored it … or anywhere else	Bishop Mike blessed me before my dissertation defense and gave me the Pope Francis rosary
To have my professors sign my dissertation with our dissertation signature pen	I misplaced it from the special spot where I set it aside for the past few years	Brought the “I Thank GOD for You” pen that Sister Jyothi gave us Religious Education teachers
To film my public dissertation defense with the tripod from Bestie Evie	Despite deleting Fast and Furious from my 128GB iPhone 6 plus, I still ran out of storage space as I presented results for my 15th out of 17 null hypothesis	Lessons learned: don’t consume too much memory on my devices or include so many variables in my research – but at least I recorded the majority
To walk across the stage without falling flat on my face – while wearing my cowboy boots instead of stilettos (like my high heels at my previous graduations)	I faced my school President while my dissertation chair hooded me instead of the crowd like the rest of the doctoral candidates	Bestie Evie pointed out that she noticed how I did the sign of the cross before I walked across the stage – which showed  that I put GOD first
To reserve the restaurant for my luncheon 3h after my graduation start time	Car accident on the major incident delayed our graduation procession, and major traffic jam getting out of parking lot delayed my reception	Time to catch up with my dad’s fellow Filipino Catholic USAF buddy with whom he was stationed in Germany and his wife (so we didn’t join impatient drivers and passengers) – shared stories

Thanks: GOD, my parents, my bestie Evie & her family, Drs. D & C-B, my colleagues + Team Dr. D for sticking w/me through my PhD journey! Scored this goal, now onto my next role #TitaElaine #MiniCOOLEYonTheWay #AnydayThisHOLYday #DISPObustAFlow #DrDISPObustAFlow #DISPO #TeamDrDISPO #TeamDrD #DrD #PhD #DoctorOfPhilosophy #3rdDegree (3 stripes) #OurLadyOfTheLakeUniversity #OurLadyOfTheLake #TheLake #OLLUSaints #Saints #WingsUp #PTL #PraiseTheLORD #PreciousTreasureLady #PrettyToughLady #WhatAWayToWrapUp2015 #YearOfFinishing #appreciate #graduate #celebrate #cheers #salud #GODblessUsEveryone ☝🏽️✌🏽🙏🏽👐🏽💒🏤⛲️🎓🎤🏅🏆🏈🏀⚾️🎾⚽️⛳️✨💫🌠🎇🎆🍾🍹🍷🍸🍻🍝🍨🍮

¡Gracias a Díos!

Festive Foodie Friday: CHRISTmas Smiles, Family-Style

Merry CHRISTmas!

@KraftJello #FestiveFoodie #TurtleTDpie #turtle #TurkeyDay #touchdown #7layerPie #GingerSnapCrust #field #pumpkin #pecan #chocolate #hazelnut #caramel #walnut #THANKSgiving #feast #kickoff #Advent #AlmondJoyToTheWorldPeaceOfPie #AlmondJoy #peace #joy #PeaceOnEarth #WorldPeace #almond #coconut #MerryCHRISTmas #CandyCane #Oreo #PeppermintPattyCake 🐢🍛🏈🏉🎂🍰🍮🍯🌰🐿🎄😍🌎🌍🌏✌🏽️🍫🍩🍪🍭🎁💝🎀

As I reached my ultimate goal for this role of Dr. Dispo and approach my next one ~ Tita Elaine ~ I’ve been reminiscing all Advent season-long about those who are important to me, especially my parents ~ who are counting down ’til grandparenthood …

 

my dad, Papa Jun, who from childhood to now has been involved in my projects

• taught me how to compute basic math before I learned it in grade school
• helped me with my Election Day political party coloring map in 6th grade
• caught and froze insects for my bug collection assignment in 7th grade
• took me to my first speech tournaments in 7th and 8th grade
• coached me on the sidelines for my tennis matches in 8th grade
• told me that he’d support me 100% when I applied for my doctorate
• shopped with me for my presentation materials for my public defense

my mom, Mami Aya, who influenced me way more than I realized

• taught me how to read at the tender age of two ~ which helped me articulate
• wore sweet-smelling perfume that inspired my own fondness for fragrances
• worked out to exercise videos ~ which spurred me on to publish about them
• pointed out to me that my conduct affects my own relationships

my sister, Joanne, who has sent good vibes as she prepares to give birth to her first child (boy or girl?)

my mentor, Bishop Mike, who has shared the same home cities as my most recent schools

• Diocese of San Angelo, where he gave me the Holy Spirit blessing before my Master’s comp exams
• Rio Grande Valley, where he was born and raised, plus where I had my first college teaching gig
• Oblate Missions in San Antonio, where he gave me the Pope Francis blessing before my public defense

my bestie, Evie, who while praying and rooting me on all the way, went all out for my dissertation

• was the only one, aside from my school people, who sat through me practicing my presentation
• was, along with Mama Maggie, the first “Early Bird” to arrive to my public dissertation defense
• sat back and center at both my defense and my graduation commencement (ideal for photos)

This handful of special people were my starting five for Team Dr. D, out of a league of supporters throughout my Ph.D. GOD was the commissioner who made sure that I kept going while staying true to Him and myself …

Who needs CHRISTmas presents when I have their presence?

Thirsty Thursday: Advent Affirmations

Merry CHRISTmas Eve!

This Advent, I’ve been blessed with books gifted by my nearest and dearest:

• From Bishop Mike before my Dissertation Defense: Pope Francis in the U.S.: Words of Mercy and Hope (2015), Daughters of St. Paul.
• From Bestie Evie & Mama Maggie after my Dissertation Defense: A Little GOD Time: Devotional Journal (2014), BroadStreet Publishing.
• From my PhD alma mater, Our Lady of the Lake after my Grad Ring Blessing: Advent 2015: Daily Reflections, Practices & Prayers: A Season of Mercy (2015), David M. Knight.
• From Bestie Evie at our CHRISTmas Gift Exchange Brunch: Pope Francis: In His Own Words (2013), Julie Schwietert Collazo & Lisa Rogak.

Each of these readings have offered enlightening passages for me to lead the ☼day.

May GOD bless us everyone! ✌

Thirsty Thursday: Advent Atonement

Since Advent and Lent are Penitential seasons, these are times for us to repent for our sins.

In my own Catholic faith, we must confess our sins regularly to a clergy member to cleanse our souls for communion.

No matter how holy I strive to be, I as a human have my share of shortcomings. With a conscience, I’ve constantly prayed

• The Act of Contrition
• series of the Hail Mary

Remorse for our mistakes won’t do us any good if we keep repeating them. Learning lessons from our wrong actions and doing right by GOD will lead us closer to Heaven …

R.I.P., Father Romanus ✌ 

Throwback Thirsty Thursday: Call to the Poor

My first order of business as Dr. Dispo:

Give to the poor.

This is GOD‘s calling, not just to me, but also from our Holy Father, Pope Francis, and my spiritual mentor, Bishop Mike, through Him, to the people.

How will you help?

For the past few CHRISTmases, to follow in the example of the blessed birthday celebrant, JESUS, my family and I have contributed to those in need instead of each other. I’ve offered gifts to my Angel Tree children and am donating more to the Salvation Army today after my Holy Hour.

And if we really are poor ~ in health, spirit, or otherwise ~ let us seek the LORD for strength to overcome.

Prayers of …

• ♥Adoration♥ for strength in faith
• Contrition for weaknesses
• THANKSgiving for everything
• Supplication for GOD’s will

Throwback Thursday: This JUST-IN … My fave ✌CHRISTmas✌ memory was when my lil’ nephew ~ him decked out in *Dallas Cowboys* Santa hat & yours truly in *Dallas Mavericks* ~ helped me decorate the natural tree that I picked up & actually kept up ’til past ♣St. Patty’s♣ (while also decorating it for more ☼cheer☼ through ☼New Year’s, ♥Valentine’s, ♠Mardi Gras, ♣St. P’s & †Easter)!

Workout Wednesday: Dr. D Shuffle

Back in 1985, all the way live: there was the ♪Super Bowl Shuffle♫ from Da Bears of Chicago …

Three decades in between, with many line dances seen, another one comes to the ‘lene scene from this newest Dr. Dispo.

Wayback Wednesday: Watch That ♫Crank Dat♫ ♪Soulja Girl♪ Ms. Dispo video

Series of Grapevines with Victory Moves

• Grapevine to the left, kickoff
• Grapevine to the right, kickoff
• Grapevine to the front, kickoff
• Grapevine to the back, kickoff
• Freestyle, turn clockwise and repeat grapevine, this time with upper-cuts
• Freestyle, turn clockwise and repeat grapevine, this time with shoulder rolls
• reestyle, turn clockwise and repeat grapevine, this time with head bobs
• Freestyle, turn clockwise and repeat grapevine, this time superhero pose

While there isn’t much to it, I”ve been happy to groove a little bit to it since a week ago to celebrate and appreciate!

 

Countdown to my Touchdown! Score! Smile! =D

Beauty Tuesday: May My Teeth Be Merry and Bright

Happy Big Day to yours truly!

The time has arrived: I’m defending my dissertation this afternoon after my anticipated blessing from Bishop Mike.

While it’s still surreal until I actually achieve this vision, I’ve planned everything in advance down to the details of my appearance …

After all: fail to plan, plan to fail ~ to no avail!

• I prepared what to wear several months ago: dress, check√ * jewelry, more jewelry and accessories, check√ * shoes, check√ (something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue)
• I started practicing my presentation a couple of months ago … as well as my makeup and hair style (beauty rehearsal)
• I wrote my pre-defense prayer and post-defense acknowledgements over a month ago (vows)
• I got fresh spa treatment with nails done and brows shaped the weekend before (pampering)
• I started more extensive over-the-counter teeth whitening treatments the week prior (necessity)

That way, my smile will glow, and the coffee stains won’t show! =D

#DISPObustAFlow