Thirsty Thursday: Perfect Plan

Remember that I have commanded you to be determined and confident! Do not be afraid or discouraged, for I, the †LORD† your GOD, am with you wherever you go.

~ Joshua 1:9*

Bishop Mike ~ who reminded me to look at the †cross† for renewed hope, ♥love♥ and trust ~ sent me this beautiful †cross† that was blessed by Pope Francis during his *Stateside* visit!

Live by the †cross†: For more ☼floral☼ religious symbols from the clergy, please see the OLG medal from ♥Bishop Mike♥ & the ♥Pope Francis♥ coin

I received this generous gift from my spiritual mentor in great timing: the day before my latest conference call with my professor** to practice my dissertation defense ~ in which I advanced to my first committee defense (preliminary presentation to my professors on board)! This reminds me of how the Bishop has always come through for me ~ particularly when he gave me the Holy Spirit blessing and medal right before I took my comprehensive examinations for my Master’s degree almost a decade ago!

He will not let you down.

~ Bishop Mike

While we live in a world where ✌peace✌ is but a wish, our Heavenly Father has the BEST in store for us that is yet to come …

♪♫CHRIST be our Light ~ ☼shine☼ in our ♥hearts, shine through the darkness♪♫

*♪♫Do not be afraid, I am with you … I ♥love♥ you, and you are mine♫♪

*Bible Reference = My Mantra during my **Run-through

• Rainbow Studies, Inc. (2000). The Catholic Rainbow Study Bible: Good News Translation (2nd ed.). El Reno, OK: Rainbow Studies International.

Thirsty Thursday: Religious Vocations

What is your calling in life?

We all have a purpose, and our greatest sense of purpose must come from a higher power.

In my case, as a †Catholic, I’ve sought †GOD’s will for me.

I’ve always considered two options:

1. having a spouse in the Sacrament of ♥Marriage♥
2. or ♥marrying♥ †GOD† in the religious life (I visited with a sister of the religious order from my †Catholic† university a few years ago)

However, I still can be a single lay person who ♥loves♥ and serves †GOD† with all of my ♥heart♥ and soul.

Consider The Nun’s Story, starring Audrey Hepburn and based on a book.

The Nun’s Story recently encored, so I had to watch it!

This film featured a woman’s challenges between upholding her vows and satisfying her own wants, such as

• silent time vs. speaking up

Audrey Hepburn in the role of a lifetime

• serving the Church vs. serving the community where she worked (Congo medical care)

Filmed on site in Congo in the 20th Century

We’re all human and have our moments. It’s just part of life here on Earth and a matter of maintaining what’s most important to us.

Throwback Thursday

Taking on different roles

My faculty colleagues and I watched our students graduate, including my ✌fellow✌ marathon runner to my left!

When I first taught at the college level …

†Fathers† on either side of this †Sister! The one to my right was my student my very first semester!

The †Bishop† in this photo is the father of my student above and a ✌fellow✌ PhD candidate, and the †Father† in this photo is a ✌fellow✌ Pinoy!

Pinoys ‘R Us … The ✌fellow✌ Pinays are mother and daughter, and the daughter was a soloist in our Tosca performance plus is a recording Christian artist now!

I also ♪sang♫ as a nun in the ♫opera!

I ♪sang♪ ♫soprano♫ in my †Church† ♫choir, but as a †nun† in this ♪opera♪♫chorus, I ♪sang♪ ♫alto♫ with this ✌fellow✌ †Sister!

The †priest† and †monk† are ✌fellow✌ Pinoys, and the ✌fellow✌ †Sister† is a ✌fellow✌ teacher (of language arts)!

YES, men rock makeup too! We all must look presentable on stage when the ☼spotlight☼ is on us. #PutYourBESTfaceForward Mine is by M•A•C

My †Mass† Readings This ☼Weekend☼

• Book of Wisdom 2:12, 17-20
• Responsorial ♪Psalm♫ 54
• Letter of St. James 3:16-4:3 ✌

Thirsty Thursday: One with GOD

My Church celebrated our ☼milestone☼ anniversary of our ♥Adoration♥ †Chapel† last night!

During his homily, our Bishop told us of five ways to pray at the Blessed Sacrament:

1. Praise
2. Contrition
3. THANKSgiving
4. Petitions
5. Communion

The fifth type means to simply be with GOD. Our Bishop also reminded us that the Eucharist and Perpetual Adoration both our important, yet taking the Body and Blood of CHRIST is the top priority of our faith.

Reverence Reference

* Sis, Bishop M. (2015, July 1). Homily: Eucharistic Adoration Chapel Anniversary Mass. Holy Family Catholic Church.

Thirsty Thursday: The Prayer Process

Happy 🌍Earth🌎 🌏Day🌞 yesterday!

Bishop Mike blesses the tree that he & Angelo Catholic School planted at Holy Angels Catholic Church, San Angelo, TX

The first sign of being a Dynamic Catholic is Prayer. 

We all pray differently in our daily lives, yet the practice that Matthew Kelly (2012) points out that can enhance our own communication with GOD is through our Examination of Conscience*, which we Catholics do before Confession, and we listen for His message.

This hibiscus🌿 is starting to sprout its petals!🌺

Here, he goes through the steps of The Prayer Process:

1. Gratitude
2. Awareness
3. Significant Moments
4. Peace ✌
5. Freedom
6. Others
7. Our Father 

 

We opened our R.E. class with this simple reminder of the beginning…

*Now here are my Church’s Examination of Conscience:

The First 3 Commandments

1. I am the LORD, your GOD; you shall have no other GODs besides Me.
2. You shall not take the name of the LORD your GOD in vain.
3. Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it Holy.

Beautiful 💝gift🎁 from our special student Felicity

 

The 7 Deadly Sins (and their roots)

• Anger (root: fear of forgiving)
• Envy (root: fear of being powerless)
• Lust (root: fear of being a child)
• Pride (root: fear of submitting my will to another)
• Gluttony (root: fear of mortification)
• Sloth (root: fear of commitment)
• Avarice (root: fear of detachment)

🌍Earth🌎 Day: Delightful Dani shows off her giraffe after her interview, Faithful Felicity and I showcase our 💐plants🌾 + fellow *Dallas Cowboys* fan Amazing Adrian & I wave👋 like 😇St. Pope JPII!

Bibliography

• Kelly, M. (2012). The four signs of a Dynamic Catholic: How engaging 1% of Catholics could change the world. Cincinnati, OH: Beacon.
• *† ♥Sacred Heart Catholic Church. (n. d.) Examination of Conscience. Diocese of San Angelo

Thirsty Thursday: LOVE is in the Air

R.I.P., *ROSA TABERNERO REYES* (March 5, 1910-March 14, 2008)

Our Lady of Fatima from Bishop Mike & rose earrings to commemorate my *LOLA ROSA* on her birthday & anniversary

This double-dose of Thirsty Thursday focuses on the ♥love♥ among my †Church† family and friends …

Spiritual Selfie: Bishop Mike gave me Our Lady of Fatima as we posed in front of the Madonna & angels!

One week ago, I visited Oblate Missions, the home of my spiritual mentor, Bishop Mike,

Our Lady of Fatima

Who gave me this large immaculate Our Lady of Fatima photo, complete with prayer!

Our Lady of Fatima Prayer

Then I returned home to minister at my R.E. student’s parents’ wedding

Charms of well-wishes for this marriage: * ☼Hope☼ * †Faith† * ♥LOVE♥ * ✌Peace✌ * Trust *

And gave them a gift full of well-wishes from the Missions on their Sacrament of Marriage!

Ephesians 4: 2-6

Champion

Happy Super Bowl XLVIII Monday!!!

Today’s Word of the Day is: Champion.

Almost two years ago exactly, I judged this Skills USA speech tournament, in which the students presented their interpretations of the word “champion.” What does it mean to you?

For me, a champion is someone who takes a winning approach to life, even in moments of defeat, one who still demonstrates good sportsmanship and holds her/his head up high without giving up. Last night, the NFC Champs won the “Big Game,” but the AFC Champs still are champions in my eyes because they still maintained a championship attitude. The heart of a champion does not feel like a loser even when it is beat.

This is what I aim to accomplish in my dissertation research and after I earn my Ph.D.: to show coaches that genuine leadership is based on developing their players into champions in life, not just in the game. I myself also am practicing this championship lifestyle by persisting along the way…

Here is a quote that I posted on my FB Fan Page:

“The #character of a #man is to #establish something where no one else has ever done before.” ~ Reggie Miller about his time w/his only NBA team, the Indiana Pacers

Before I get back to writing my study, I am about to go beast mode for energy. Speaking of which, here’s some comic relief that I posted on my friend’s Facebook last week:

• My Buddy: How does a guy get man boobs?
• Yours truly: By not working out their #pecs! #Dudes with #moobs must hit the #weights & work on their #BenchPress both #flat & on #incline for more #definition + try the #ChestFly… Go #BeastMode!
• My Buddy: Thanks, Elaine. I’ll diet hardcore the next couple of weeks…
• Yours truly: ¡El gusto es mío, mi amigo! I just sent ya an invite to the #BestWorkoutForMen #app for #iPhone which is the #male version of the 1 that I contribute to: #PrettyFit. Best wishes on the #diet but I hope you also add more #exercise into the #mix so that way you could #reward yourself w/a #YOLO (i.e., #PanDulce) every once in awhile…

Without further ado, here are my latest on the Pretty Fit Way:

• Heart Health Awareness
• Maternity Workouts
• Super Bowl Game Grub

Other winners in my life include my Double A-Team, Asia and Annie, who my good friend and spiritual mentor, Bishop Mike, has so graciously blessed during his leadership of the Diocese of San Angelo, before his retirement and the ordination of Bishop Sis one week ago. Here are A&A‘s and my heartfelt Valentine’s greetings and their photo full of love:

♥LOVE♥ is in the air & on the way, so we pray …

For you to have a HAPPY ST. ♥ VALENTINE’S ♥ DAY!!! 

Warmest Wishes Sealed with a Kiss & ♥HEART ♥felt  Hugs

XOXO from: Elaine + the ♥CUPID ♥ Cats Asia & Annie

… who would do the Cupid Shuffle, but they’d rather stay comfy & content on their ♥LOVE♥ bed!!!

♥Now, Asia is joining Annie on the Cardio Cat Challenge, as her New 2014 Resolution is to exercise more, Dr. Price’s orders!