Thirsty Thursday: Supplication Way

†The Prayer Way† wraps up with Supplication, for others, and ourselves.

When we or others who we know about are in need, we petition prayers for GOD to grant those requests. At our Advent Penance last week, I confessed to the priest about my admitted resentment toward my mother and my sorrow for feeling like I’m breaking the 4th Commandment. He advised me to accept our own and others’ weaknesses and appreciate that I still have my mother around. Therefore, I continue to give gratitude for my blessings and pray for ~ as well as help ~ those less fortunate, especially those who have experienced loss of loved ones, as well as remind myself that CHRIST JESUS had to bear His Cross and endure torture. We maintain our faith and ♥love♥ in Him to lead us along His righteous path toward Heaven.

In †GOD† we trust …

Here are the rest of our ACTs to practice everyday as we pray …

• ♥Adoration♥ 
• Contrition
• ♣THANKSgiving♣
  

  This prayer embodies all of the above …

Our Lady of Guadalupe (who we celebrate mañana)

O Most Pure Lady of Guadalupe, obtain for me from your divine Son the forgiveness of my sins, blessings on my work, healing of my illnesses and needs, and everything that you believe is best for me and for my family. O Blessed Mother of †GOD†! Do not despise our supplications, but instead, free us from all danger. O Lady full of glory and of blessings, we ask all these things through †CHRIST JESUS† Our †LORD†. Amen.

Sources

• Fr. Oscar J. Lukefahr, C. M. “From the Spiritual Director.” The Association of the Miraculous Medal, Vol. 47, No. 3: Fall Bulletin (2014).*
• Jesus Our Life Activity Book, Faith and Life Series, 3rd ed. (Book 2). Chapter 9, Lesson 2, (p. 34)**; “Kinds of Prayer,” Chapter 15, Lesson 3 (p. 59)***. Ignatius Press, San Francisco. Catholics United for the Faith, Steubenville, Ohio. (2014).

Thirsty Thursday: THANKSgiving Way

Happy ♣THANKSgiving♣, †The Prayer Way†

Let us come before His presence with THANKSgiving. ~ Psalm 95:2

T is for ♣THANKSgiving♣ and The †CROSS†

G is for: ¡Gracias! * Gratitude * Give THANKS * †GOD† * GOoD * Great * Gifts

“He’s Great with a Captial G.”

I’m adopting this above quote from the San Francisco 49ers’ head football coach Jeff Harbaugh, who actually was describing his player at a post-game press conference this past Sunday ~ yet it also applies to our LORD GOD Almighty!!!

* “†The Mighty One† has done great things for me, and †holy† is His name” ~ Luke 1:49

Here are the other ways to pray:

• ♥Adoration♥ 
• Contrition
• Supplication  

Sources

• Fr. Oscar J. Lukefahr, C. M. “From the Spiritual Director.” The Association of the Miraculous Medal, Vol. 47, No. 3: Fall Bulletin (2014).*
• Jesus Our Life Activity Book, Faith and Life Series, 3rd ed. (Book 2). Chapter 9, Lesson 2, (p. 34)**; “Kinds of Prayer,” Chapter 15, Lesson 3 (p. 59)***. Ignatius Press, San Francisco. Catholics United for the Faith, Steubenville, Ohio. (2014).

Below are my daily devotions of THANKSgiving, descending from today …

Day 27: I’m THANKful for having a home & being surrounded by love + the freedom to express myself, especially through ADORATION & THANKSgiving! At the Adoration Chapel, during my Holy Hour, a woman who went in was homeless & away from her family. This reminds me to remain humble + reach out & help others in need ~ NOT to take my blessings for granted like I did when I was spoiled. #GivingTHANKS #THANKSgiving #ThankGOD #GraciasADios #GODbless 👏🙏💖💒☝️✌️

Day 27: I’m THANKful for my spiritual gifts of faith, hope & love for our LORD & His creations + my material gifts of a roof over our heads, clothing on our backs & food on our tables! As we enter the Advent season, let’s prepare for the celebration of CHRISTmas: Baby JESUS’ birth! May GOD bless you all!!! ♡ ♡ ♡ from my fam to yours #GivingTHANKS #THANKSgiving #Advent #JESUS #CHRISTmas 👏🙏💖💒☝️✌️🎅🎄🏡🏠👗🍛

Day 26: I’m THANKful for my fine, fella Filipinas w/whom I grew up & who still make a profound impact on my life to this day! These fly Pinays all are now Nanays, so I hope that their kids have close friendships like we did! Appreciate you all Ates, especially * my BFF Melody Givan * my kumares/comadres/GODchildren’s mamas Monalisa Wishuknew & Jenny Coleman * my beautiful Beast Mode soul survivor Theresa Del Baggio * my Sisonian Sis from another Ms. & Mr. Delilah! #GivingTHANKS #THANKSgiving #LYLAS #LoveYaLikeASista #SFAM #SisterFromAnotherMister 👏💖👭

Day 25: I’m also THANKful for being female (not to be sexist) ~ as it always has its perks in more ways than 1 😉 Happy Ladies’ Tuesday (all about that 10% discount) ~ complete w/this rose to top it off! #GivingTHANKS #THANKSgiving #Ladies #Rose #SmellTheRoses #YellowRose #YellowRoseOfTexas 👏🚘🚙🌹💐

Day 25: I’m THANKful for my parents, who taught me how to be giving all my life, including the HOLYday season! Growing up, my mom Estrella Dispo showed by her example to sponsor an Angel Tree child, & my *PAPA JUN* had me give my teachers CHRISTmas gifts! They’re still generous, having instilled in me the appreciation of my blessings + joy, love & art of giving to my neighbors & strangers. #GivingTHANKS #THANKSgiving #Blessings #SpreadTheWealth #PayItForward 👏☝️✌️🙏👉👈🎁💝💖💐

Day 24: I’m THANKful for my sister, Joanne Dispo, who has her ☼Birthday☼ today! She is one of the coolest + one of the most accomplished, generous & beautiful women who I know! Happy Bday, Sis! ♥Love♥ you & may †GOD† keep blessing you! We both have great taste, including these limited edition collaboration collections! #GivingTHANKS #THANKSgiving #HBD #Sis #2greatMindsThinkAlike #PrabalGurang #PhillipLim

Day 23: I’m THANKful for my *DALLAS COWBOYS* who I’ve visited almost every season since their last @ their Texas Stadium stomping grounds & now their AT&T arena in Arlington + root on from afar during their road games! #GivingTHANKS #THANKSgiving #DallasCowboys #AmericasTeam #TrueBlue #SundayNightFootball #Countdown2TurkeyDayGame #FamilyTradition #FaithFamilyFootball #HowBoutEmBOYS 👏🏈🌠🏉🐎

Day 22: I’m THANKful for DISPOsers, as in people (& their pets) who appreciate my passion for my profession as their photographer & seek my portraits for special events! Today, I photoed my doctor friend’s beautiful family ~ festive for the HOLYdays ~ complete w/3 generations, gorgeous new addition + well-groomed & behaved K9s! Added bonus: fine wine on site & generous gifted bottle to go ~ nice to save when I become Dr. Dispo! #GivingTHANKS #THANKSgiving #DISPO #DISposers #DISPOsFotos #DISPObyDemand #DISPOsAlwaysFly #DISPObustAFlow #Way2goDISPO #PortraitPhotography #FamilyPhotography #CameraHappy #SnapHappy #HappySnapping #Toscana #WinePairsWellWithWork #DrDISPO #DrD #TeamDrD #PhD 👏📷👪👶🎅🎄💍👰💒💖🐶🐾🍷

Day 21: I’m THANKful for my *DALLAS MAVERICKS* & Kyle Scott for taking yours truly to see them live against the LAkers tonight! #GivingTHANKS #THANKSgiving #DallasMavericks #LAkers #LINsanity #Dirk #GoMAVS #MAVSmadness #PlatinumLevel #SuiteSeats #SweetSeats #DISPOhoopScoops #Countdown2TIPOFF 👏🏀🏆🌠👊

Day 20: I’m THANKful for today’s beautiful Birthday Girl Ivette M. Bruno, who’s a sweet servant to GOD & our Parish, my sister in Christ & the mother of my Church Bestie the also beautiful & sweet Ms. Evie! They’re like family to me ~ Maggie’s a wonderful cook, hostess, beautician + kindhearted & definitely 1 of the BEST go-getters who I know! Here are 3 generations (not in order of appearance): Maggie’s mother-in-law/Suegra * Maggie * her mother “Grandma Hope” * Evie who crowned our Queen Mother after Sacred Heart’s Corpus Christi Procession on Mothers Day ¡Feliz Cumpleaños, Maggie! ♡ ♡ ♡ ¡Díos te bendigas! #GivingTHANKS #THANKSgiving #HBD #PTL #MarvelousMAGGIE #EasygoingEVIE #CorpusChristi #Coronation #QueenMother #MamaMary 👏☝️✌️🙏💒💖💝👑👸

Day 19: I’m THANKful for my voice in a country where we’re free to express ourselves, both as a singer & a speaker! As a singer: Church Choir & Opera + Karaoke (also sang solos @ both of my paternal grandparents’ funerals) … As a speaker: Speech Competitions & Speech Teacher + Church Reader #GivingTHANKS #THANKSgiving #voice #LetFreedomRing #FirstAmendment #speak #sing #choir #solo #opera #Karaoke #teach #speech #speecher #teacher #GTD #GreatTeacherDISPO #ExpressiveELAINE #ExcitedELAINE #EnergeticELAINE 👏🇺🇸🎤💒💃

Day 19: I’m THANKful for my voice, both as a singer & a speaker! As a singer, I started participating in our Church Children’s Choir in grade school, followed by solos in our Church Celebration Choir during college, then performed in the South Texas Lyric Opera Chorus (as well as the Responsorial Psalms @ both of my paternal grandparents’ funerals) … + I admit that I kick ace in Karaoke! As a speaker, I started competing in speech tournaments in middle school … Now I teach speech @ the college level, judge UIL contests & best of all: serve my Church as a reader! #GivingTHANKS #THANKSgiving #voice #speak #sing #choir #solo #opera #Karaoke #teach #speech #speecher #teacher #GTD #GreatTeacherDISPO 👏🎤💒💃🎓

Day 18: I’m THANKful for my PAPA PED, who left this Earth 6 years ago today + all of my grandparents, who I believe are w/the Angels in Heaven as faithful lovers of GOD. My paternal grandfather was hardworking, just like my dad, PAPA JUN is! #GivingTHANKS #THANKSgiving #PapaPED #PapaJUN #LikeFatherLikeSon #LikeDadLikeDaughter #Psalm23 👏👴👵👼💖

Day 17: I’m THANKful for GOD, who is my #1!!! Bishop Mike (my spiritual mentor & good friend) put it best when he wrote me in last week’s letter: “You could not work for a better boss.” All the days of my life, I LOVE & serve the LORD w/my whole heart & soul ♡ ♡ ♡ #GivingTHANKS #THANKSgiving #ThankGOD #GODbless #GODisMyNo1 #GODisMyBAE #WhosTheBOSS #TheGreatMANupstairs #PTL #PraiseTheLORD #PeopleThatLOVE #GODisLOVE #GOD 👏☝️🙏✌️💖

I’m also THANKful for this Snow Day b/c I have a break from both jobs for once & can focus on my own studies today + be w/my babes A&A #PhD #DrD #TeamDrD #SnowDay home w/ #DoubleAteam #CozyComfy #WarmAsToast ❄️✌️🎓😻😸

Day 16: I’m THANKful for ASIA, who I call my Grad Cat b/c she’s been w/me through both my graduate degrees: my 1st (Master’s @ Angelo State University) & my terminal (Ph.D. @ Our Lady Lake University) + lived w/me in Cali, the Valley & back in her stomping grounds of Abilene! Cheers, for here’s a photo montage of the 1st 8 years of her 9 lives as she thrives & strives! ♡ ♡ ♡ #GivingTHANKS #THANKSgiving #ASIAtheExplorer #ASIAfelinaCatalina #DoubleAteam #RescueCAT #CATastic #PURRfection #PURRtyKitty #PrettyKitty #LoyalCAT #RoyalCAT #QueenCAT #GradCAT #WhereItsAt #DISPObustAFlow #DISPOsAlwaysFly 👏🙏😻😸🐯🐆🎓🏡👑📷

Day 15: I’m THANKful for my Sweet ANNIE, w/whom I celebrate our 5-year ANNIEversary today as I pray for her face wound to go away, so she’ll keep her moneymaker & happily wag her squirrel tail shaker! ♡ ♡ ♡ #GivingTHANKS #THANKSgiving #ANNIEversary #SweetANNIE #LilOrphanANNIE #RescueCat #TeaCupCat #ToyCat #PURRfection #PrettyKitty #sANNIEclaws #ANNIEs1stSnow #DISPObustAFlow #DISPOsAlwaysFly #throwback 👏🙏😻😸🐱🐈🎅🎄❄️⛄️🍎🍊🍌🍐🍍

Day 14: I’m THANKful for HOLYday music, so I’m jamming to my jingles on my iTunes + putting my CHRISTmas CDs on rotation in my truck’s 6-CD changer, including Jenny & William Coleman’s Brian McKnight & Temptations #GivingTHANKS #THANKSgiving #CHRISTmasCarols #HOLYdayTunes #JingleJams #music #PutCHRISTbackInCHRISTmas #CHRISTmasSpirit

Day 13: I’m THANKful for my hair, which I donated to Locks of Love right before I started my Ph.D. & will again after I finish my Ph.D. I appreciate those who showed care for my hair, from cut to color, curl to cornrows & up-dos … I’ve been asked if I have a wig or a weave, but NO extensions here ~ Elaine’s mane’s the real deal! #GivingTHANKS #THANKSgiving #TBT #ThrowbackThursday #hair #cornrows #GoMAVS 👏💁🏀

Day 12: I’m THANKful for good food, most recently military meals for Veterans Day & today’s Sweet Life Cupcakes for my RE student’s birthday! I use food for fuel, & I see picture perfect grub, I go cam happy on that mug! #GivingTHANKS #THANKSgiving #Food #Foodie #ChowDown #GrubOn #EatToLive #SnapHappy #EnegeticELAINE #ExcitedELAINE #DISPObustAFlow #DISPOsAlwaysFly #TisTheSeasonForPumpkinPie #GhirardelliCaramelPumpkinCheesecake = #OffTheChain 👏🇺🇸🎂🍓🍌🍧🍝🎃🍰🍯💒📷

Day 11: I’m THANKful for my family, friends, family of friends, professors, colleagues, students, neighbors & strangers who serve the great *US of A* through sacrifice for our & others’ freedom, especially my fam bam: Retired Air Force Dad & Retired Navy Uncle Antero Tavernero + cousin A1C Jeryl Dispo & the Cooley Bros: my Bro-in-Law Ryan in USMC & Lil’ Bro Eric Cooley in USAF! Please salute & thank your Airmen, Sailors, Soldiers, Marines, Merchant Marines, Coast Guard & our nation’s military heroes this Veterans Day & everyday! #GivingTHANKS #THANKSgiving #VeteransDay #Veterans #Military #MilitaryHeroes #Salute #WhatItDoSALUTE #USAF #USMC #USNavy #USArmy #USCG #AirForce #MarineCorps #Navy #Army #MerchantMarines #CoastGuard #UnitedStatesAirForce #UnitedStatesMarineCorps #SemperFi #AimHigh #CrossIntoTheBlue #MilitaryBrats 👏🇺🇸✈️⚓️👷

Day 10: I’m THANKful for my Sister-in-Law, Janet Zapata, today’s beautiful Bday Girl! As one of the toughest chicks I know, she’s always had my back & is my best friend in the Valley ^_^ ¡Feliz Cumpleaños, Cuñada, y mucho amor a ti, Suegra y tus hijitos/mis sobrinitos! ♡ ♡ ♡ #GivingTHANKS #THANKSgiving #HBD #VALLEporVida #Familia 🎈🎁🎊🎉🎆🎇🎂🍰💖👟💐🌴

Day 9: I’m THANKful for my GODchildren: Reyanna Blanchard & William Jamal Coleman! Rey-Rey, now 15, is a creative animal lover techie, & Jamal, now 13, is a sweet, swift track star ~ I’m the always proud Ninang ♡ ♡ ♡ Of course, I extend my gratitude to their moms, my kumares/comadres Monalisa Wishuknew & Jenny Coleman, for baptizing their 1st-born w/yours truly ❤ #GivingTHANKS #THANKSgiving #GODchildren #GODdaughter #GODson #GODmother #Ninang #ProudNinang #NinangELAINE #Kumare #Comadre #Familia #Family 👏🙏💖💒👶🎨🐶😻👣👟🌠🏆👫

Day 8: I’m THANKful for My Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy), for which I’m ABD (All But Dissertation) ~ all I have left toward my degree is 1 hour credit for my defense after I finish my research on college coaches’ leadership! For 4 years almost every semester, my professors, classmates & I met @ least every other Saturday. We learned so much from each other & put our studies into practice! #GivingTHANKS #THANKSgiving #PhD #DrD #TeamDrD 👏🎓👊

Day 7: I’m THANKful for legs that were made for walking & running … 1 full (26.2mi) marathon & many more fun races later! I always get compliments on my calves & thighs, which are partially credited to genetics & my series of squats! #GivingTHANKS #THANKSgiving #Legs #26point2mileClub #FunRun #race #SolidCalves #RockHardQuads #1KSquats #ShesGotLegsSheKnowsHowToUseThem 👏👣👟🏁💪

Day 6: I’m THANKful for happily serving my beautiful Catholic Church ~ which began by singing in the Music Ministry growing up then through college & when I started teaching in the Valley! Now I faithfully have my holy hour @ the Adoration Chapel (my Thursday commitment), serve as reader (Lector & Cantor/Commentator) @ Mass, teach Religious Education, + photograph! As I keep following GOD’s will, He may lead me to establishing the Catholic school in Abilene! #GivingTHANKS #THANKSgiving #Church #CatholicChurch #choir #Adoration #ministry #Catechism #photography #PTL #PraiseTheLORD #PeopleThatLOVE #ExcitedELAINE #MakeGODSmile 👏💒🎤💖📖🍎📷🎓🙏✌️☝️

Day 5: I’m THANKful for my photography career here, especially in joyous occasions when we cheer! Of course, photographing always has been my passion, & started out as a journalist when I published my professional photos to accompany my news/feature stories. Now I capture more intimate moments when mom’s welcome their newborns into the world (that has led me further into W TX into Midland & Lubbock) + other special events! #GivingTHANKS #THANKSgiving #NewbornPhotography #BabyPhotos #SnapHappy #DISPOsFotos #DISPObustAFlow #DISPOsAlwaysFly 👏📷📰👶👪💒🎓⚾️🏀🏈🌳

Day 4: I’m THANKful for my right to vote! Please exercise yours today (unless you already did early ~ like yours truly)! #GivingTHANKS #THANKSgiving #VOTE #ExerciseYourRight #WeHaveAVoice #StateOfficials #Propositions 👏🇺🇸✅

Day 3: I’m THANKful for my opportunities to educate, for which I appreciate & have more to anticipate, for which I celebrate! Each & every one of my students, both past & present, matter to me. Whether I’m in the classroom or instructing online, teaching @ Church or tutoring individually, I do everything in my power to ensure that it’s my students I empower! #GivingTHANKS #THANKSgiving #Teach #Inspire #Learn #Education #KnowledgeIsPower #TheMoreYouKnow #GTD #GreatTeacherDISPO #DISPObustAFlow #DISPOsAlwaysFly 👏🍎🍏📚✏️💒🎓👊

Day 2: I’m THANKful for our dearly beloved faithful departed whose souls now rest in eternal peace w/GOD & the angels. My culture pays tribute to them by visiting their resting places &/or leaving them food & drink! We honor them all our days… I’m also THANKful for the extra hour of shuteye from Daylight Savings Time + waking up to purring Annie snuggled comfy cozy against me ^_^
#GivingTHANKS #THANKSgiving #AllSouls #AllSoulsDay #DiaDeLosMuertos #DayOfTheDead #DaylightSavingsTime #FallBack #SweetANNIE #LilOrphanANNIE 👏✌️☝️🙏💖💒👼🌞🌈🍁🍂⏰😲😵😴💤💭😻🐱🐈

Day 1: I’m THANKful for the Saints who intercede for us from Heaven when we pray to them. As my Church bestie Evie says, they’re our attorneys who defend us when we face GOD the judge! Who are the patron saints who guide you? #GivingTHANKS #THANKSgiving #AllSaints #AllSaintsDay #StJP2 #StJohnPaul2 #StFrancisOfAssisi #StElizabethAnnSeton #StHelen #StRose #StJude #StBenedict 👏✌️☝️🙏💖💒👼🌞🌈🌴🌹🐏🎓

11:11 ~ rather than a wish, let’s give THANKS!!!

Thirsty Thursday: Adoration Way

First and foremost, for me, ☼everyday☼, †The Prayer Way† starts with ♥Adoration♥   

San Antonio, TX (February 2013)

As a matter of fact, I spend every Thursday morning (my only day off from work out of the week) in my holy hour of obligation at our ♥Adoration♥ †Chapel†, and any other time when I can make a point to pray before the Blessed Sacrament.

Our Lady of the Lake University (where I’m earning my Ph.D.) ~ San Antonio, TX (March 2014)

Each and every one of my prayers begin with praise, because †GOD† deserves our glory, as we give our ♥LOVE♥ for Him.

San Antonio, TX (April 2014)

How about you join me in devoting even just one hour out of the week to ♥Adoration♥ ~ simply to ♥LOVE♥ our †LORD†? If you have an Adoration Chapel with the Blessed Sacrament, I encourage you to commit to one hour of one day out of the week on a regular basis. Even if you don’t have one, keep adoring Him anywhere and everywhere ~ as I promise you: worship works wonders for your soul.

* “My soul magnifies the †LORD†, and my spirit rejoices in †GOD† my savior” ~ Luke 1:46-47

On THANKSgiving and the Thirsty Thursdays ahead, I’ll continue The Prayer Way series with the other ways that we †pray†, as follows …

• ♣THANKSgiving♣ 
• Contrition
• Supplication  

Sources

• Fr. Oscar J. Lukefahr, C. M. “From the Spiritual Director.” The Association of the Miraculous Medal, Vol. 47, No. 3: Fall Bulletin (2014).*
• Jesus Our Life Activity Book, Faith and Life Series, 3rd ed. (Book 2). Chapter 9, Lesson 2, (p. 34)**; “Kinds of Prayer,” Chapter 15, Lesson 3 (p. 59)***. Ignatius Press, San Francisco. Catholics United for the Faith, Steubenville, Ohio. (2014).

†GOD† bless YOU ALL this ♣THANKSgiving♣ and always!!!

Thirsty Thursday: Commandments vs. Capital Sins

In my quest to get closer to Heaven …

Regalo de México de mi Suegra

I strive to thrive on the Ten Commandments and live by the Four Cardinal Virtues while doing my best to resist the Seven Deadly Sins. Here is a list of each of them: the Commandments, along with the Sins that impose temptation to break those Commandments, and the Virtues to keep in order to prevent myself from committing those Sins:

Regalos de Puerto Rico de la Familia Bruno

10 Commandments = MUST Do	7 Capital Sins = DON’T Do	4 Cardinal Virtues = MUST Maintain
You shall have no other gods before me.	Greed, Pride	Fortitude, Justice, Prudence, Temperance
You shall not make for yourself a carved image – any likeness of anything that is in Heaven above, or that is in the Earth beneath, or that is in the water under the Earth.	Pride	Fortitude, Justice, Prudence, Temperance
You shall not take the name of the LORD your GOD in vain.	Anger	Fortitude, Justice, Prudence, Temperance
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep holy.	Gluttony, Lust, Sloth	Fortitude, Justice, Prudence, Temperance
Honor your father and your mother.	Anger, Pride, Sloth	Fortitude, Justice, Prudence, Temperance
You shall not murder.	Anger	Fortitude, Justice, Prudence, Temperance
You shall not commit adultery.	Envy, Greed, Lust	Fortitude, Justice, Prudence, Temperance
You shall not steal.	Greed	Fortitude, Justice, Prudence, Temperance
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.	Greed, Pride	Fortitude, Justice, Prudence, Temperance
You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not cover your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.	Envy, Greed, Lust	Fortitude, Justice, Prudence, Temperance

Regalos de Puerto Rico de la Familia Bruno

Thirsty Thursday: Blessings in Disguise

JESUS saved my life! He can save yours too! GOD is NOT dead!

Random: I happened to see this message shoe-polished on the rear windshield of a car driving in front of me the other day.

Why?

This is NOT the question that we should ask GOD. While we may not always understand His will, we must accept it and seek His guidance… Instead, we ask Him

How?

and trust that He will see us through times of triumph, as well as trials and tribulations.

Lately, I’ve caught myself almost not practicing what I’ve been preaching: the positive perspective. During those close-call slip-ups, I remind myself that

EVERYTHING happens for a reason.

Even if we don’t know, things are meant to go, according to the LORD’s plan.

 For instance, this morning, I took Asia to her appointment after my Adoration Hour. Her routine vaccines plus other necessary exams and procedures were pretty pricey. Rather than griping about the expense, I was grateful that she turned out fine.

My World Traveler Cat: ASIA ~ who’s in PURRfect Health!

 Here’s another example: this week, I’ve felt more overwhelmed at work than usual because I’d cover extra shifts on the other side of town. I could look at it two different ways: dread driving more miles and working longer, or happily take this opportunity to help my team and earn more money. Earlier this afternoon, my boss asked me to travel to another city in our district, so I might as well look forward to another adventure and jump at this chance!

FYI: I’m not a fan of death… Or taxes.

Yet those are the two things that are for certain. Now that I have a job in health care, I’ve already faced it, as my least favorite part of my job, while my favorite part is to touch the lives of families who I photo; plus since Easter Vigil, I’ve known many friends who have lost loved ones. These times of loss call for coming together and being strengthened.

Loss = Turn to the CROSS!

Tender Moment: Mama & me hand-in-hand

Three years ago, when I paid one last visit to my paternal grandmother’s death bed, the hospice manager told my aunt and me that it would be natural for us to question GOD. Both Auntie Mila and I told the manager, “No, we would never question GOD.” While we were aware already that Mama Eufemia was about to die, we deny that our LORD has ever left our side. And we praise Him for the precious moments that my grandma graced us with her presence.

Point being: let’s accept His will above our own. He will lead the way…

5:55 ~ make a †prayer†