Pope Francis offers his take* on how home influences our faith [my commentary in brackets]:
“Faith opens a ‘window’ to the presence and working of the Spirit. It shows us that, like happiness, holiness is always tied to little gestures.
‘Whoever gives you a cup of water in my name will not go unrewarded,’ Jesus says (Mark 9:41).
“These little gestures are those we learn at home, in the family; they get lost amid all the other things we do, yet they do make each day different. They are the quiet things done by mothers and grandmothers, by fathers and grandfathers, by children, by brothers and sisters. They are little signs of tenderness, affection, and compassion.
“Like the warm supper we look forward to at night [my mom‘s homecooking], the early meal awaiting someone who gets up early to go to work [my dad‘s coffee].
“Love is shown by little things, by attention to small daily signs that make us feel at home. Faith grows when it is lived and shaped by love. That is why our families, our homes, are true domestic churches. They are the right place for faith to become life and life to grow in faith.”
*Pope Francis in the U.S.: Words of Mercy and Hope (2015), Daughters of St. Paul, pp. 22-23 ~ as said at the Closing Mass of the Eighth World Meeting of Families, Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA, Sunday, September 27, 2015.
^– I actually used this passage as my pre-brunch prayer of grace with my parents today! –^
Bearing in mind these homely gestures, let’s also consider our cultures and upbringings…
Have you ever wondered why your parents act the way they do then realize that you’re turning out more like them as you grow up?
Since my R.E. students and my mom contributed the most non-perishable food items to our 🍞Loaves and Fishes🐟 food drive, we won a pizza🍕 party!
As we were about to cover the Last Supper🍷 in last night’s 📖class, we shared our meal. I couldn’t have been more blessed🙏 to have helpful students who offered to serve each other.
Therefore, they deserved to earn 📜awards, hence the ceremony👏 that we had during our 🍛dinner.
Tía Elaine time w/the kiddos & kitties @ the Stone estate while their parents go on a belated VDay date! Mags coached me in volleyball & was my lil’ helper in the kitchen! Gotta love the domestic life! 🏡👪👦👧👶😻😸💝⚽️🍳 #DISPObustAFlow #SimpleLifeNoMo #HotTubTimeMachine #MrsClean 💦💧
~*~ Happy 85th Birthday to the Late & Great REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. ~*~
Our world most certainly has come a long way since the death of MLK over 45 years ago, and his legacy lives on. Now we’re a more integrated and global. Thanks to Dr. King’s dream of GOD’s people appreciating, welcoming and embracing diversity, those of us out there who are living in that vision are more open-minded to other cultures.
Throughout the Reverend King’s Birthday week and Martin Luther King Day and week, I’m posting quotes from this legendary advocate on Elaine Dispo – Rant Sports. Another relevant philosophy that I wish to draw to your attention comes from John 13:34-35:
… Love one another. As I have loved you…
Let us love GOD, His creatures and ourselves. With Valentine’s Day on the way in less than a month, I’ve encouraged my Pretty Fitstersto love themselves and those under their care.
Here, I discuss the importance of living the Pretty Fit Way, which comes from leading a healthy and happy lifestyle for ourselves and our children. That being said, we must not consider exercise as a chore (here’s an idea: dance cardioduring your chores), but rather, as an activity that we enjoy. Of course, the same goes for our kids, so we want them to choose workouts that they look forward to doing.
My GODdaughter Reyanna the Birthday Girl and I about to workout with her Zumba game on the Wii
When I mention our loved ones, I’m not just extending them to people, but to our own animal companions as well. For those of us who are pet parents, if we want our fun, furry, fuzzy family and friends to live long lives, then we also must ensure that they have health. I’ve had health scares for my big, almost eight-year-old cat, Asia, for the past few years. Exactly two weeks ago today, on New Year’s Day, I found our latest one (a growth on her front right paw), Upon taking her to her and my little sweet Annie’s clinic — Windmill Animal Hospital (which I consider as the BEST animal healthcareever) — Dr. Price concluded that Asia’s condition (corn) came from being overweight and prescribed her this metabolic diet for her to shed pounds without deprivation.
Asia‘s latest doctor’s visit
Therefore, I have that typical New Year’s Resolution: to lose weight — not for myself, but for my older cat! Now this goal isn’t some form of vanity; it instead very much is an effort to lead her to a more active healthy life. Despite my disappointment in Asia’s sedentary nature and failed attempts to get her to exercise, Dr. Price pointed out that she may not be as playful as Annie because of her extra body mass preventing her from that ability, not necessarily resulting from an unwillingness. Since my Double A-Team can’t verbally voice their desires, I must look out for their best interest without them telling me.
Looks like Annie wants the diet more than Asia does
Meanwhile, one way that I’m taking care of myself is by making progress with my dissertation. If any of you are connected with college administrators in the state of Texas, please network them to me as I’m seeking approval from NCAA-affiliated schools to recruit participants in my research. For my study, I plan to survey student-athletes, so here is my memo below:
To: College Administration
From: Elaine J. Dispo
Date: January 1, 2014
RE: Approval to Recruit Participants
My name is Elaine Dispo, and I am a Ph.D. candidate at Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU). I am seeking to
recruit student-athletes to participate in my dissertation study, The Relationships between Student-Athletes’ Perceptions of Their Intercollegiate Coaches’ Leadership Practices and Student-Athletes’ Satisfaction, Athletic and Academic Performance.
Participation is completely voluntary, and participants are free to stop participation at any time. All data collected
will be anonymous and confidential. Participant data will be coded such that individual identifications to particular
persons, teams or schools will not be possible.
Please sign this memo below indicating your approval to recruit your student athletes, upon approval of OLLU’s
Institutional Review Board. Thank you for your consideration.
__ I agree to allow Elaine J. Dispo, Ph.D. Candidate at Our Lady of the Lake University, to recruit our studentathletes,
to fulfill part of her measurements for her dissertation research, upon approval of OLLU’s IRB.
Thank you for any of your help, tips and references. May we make 2014 our year!!!
3:33 ~ make a wish!!!
†R.I.P., Savannah Elizabeth, on her One-Year Anniversary†
Welcome/Mabuhay/¡Biénvenidos! I am a USAF brat who was born in Germany and grew up State-side while celebrating my Catholic and Filipino heritage. ☼Sunny☼ DISPOsition Elaine’s Eye Candy/DISPhotos ~ I love GOD & His creations, so I take photos @ any given opportunity. Elaine DISPOrts ~ I am passionate about sports, which is my research focus on my ... Continue reading →
Our endeavor can help prepare us for the Catholic school, but either way, we’ll be reaping our rewards to head closer to Heaven. 
The Elaine Dispo Journal 