Sports Spirit Sunday: Score Goal, New Roles, More Soul

Two-Day Game Warning: Almost the End of Regulation!

As I approach my Big Day (Public Dissertation Defense) to complete my Doctor of Philosophy, my journey toward this ultimate goal may be drawing to a close while my next one toward my career advancement will begin.

However, my Ph.D. pursuit has helped me grow, not just professionally, but also personally, and most of all: spiritually. Furthermore, this undertaking couldn’t have been accomplished single-handedly: GOD’s grace provided, JESUS’ example was all-sided, and the HOLY SPIRIT’s light guided, in addition to Team Dr. D, who had my back. I forever will be grateful to the †Heavenly HOLY TRINITY† and my positive supporters here on Earth, who’ve rooted me on all the way, leading up to this Tuesday, December 8 ~ save-the-date!

My next anticipated title this Advent: Tita Elaine.

We expect my future niece or nephew to arrive around CHRISTmas time ~ the very 1st grandchild of my parents, who recently celebrated their ♥wedding♥ anniversary.  Yes, my family is very blessed. Regardless of these joyous times, I pray that we’ll always turn to the LORD, as we lead our lives here while preparing our eternal home in Heaven.

Sending peace and goodwill to San Bernadino, CA, in the wake of this terrorist tragedy. ✌

Non-Manic Motivational Monday: Labor of Love

Soon-to-be Bday Grrrl Sweet Annie to me: ♫Baby, I’ma be your Motivation♫ (Kelly Rowland’s ♪song)

Happy Labor Day!

Bestie Evie‘s bday advice: Start & end everyday by remembering 10 blessings!

I devoted all weekend long (including today ~ and still going) on my dissertation: my Labor of ♥Love♥ … My goal is to finish writing my draft today and prepare my defense!

I luckily found a blank page in my stats book to jot down these blessings ~ I’m guaranteed to glance at them every single day since I study it anyway!

Thank GOD I have Grad Cat & Stats Cat to keep me company as moral support!

Purrfect Moment to Paws: Stats Cat‘s where it’s at! #QTwithMyQT #PawsitiveCatitude

Here’s more stats comic relief… As I analyzed more results on the relationships between my research variables, I thought about the series of three numbers that I report in terms of body measurements.

Exhibit A

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!!!