Workout & Working Woman’s Wednesday: V is for …

* Veterans * Victory * Virtue

Please join yours truly as I salute and pay tribute to

• my hardworking heroic father from the *United States Air Force* while approaching the retirement of his post-military career in aviation
• my Great-Uncle Terry from the *U.S. Navy* before he reaches nine decades of life
• my *Airman* cousin Jeryl who’s safely and soundly back Stateside from his deployment
• my Bro Ryan from the *United States Marine Corps* who now is expecting my first niece/nephew with my sis and attending MBA school
• my *Airman* brother-in-law Eric in his second tour in the ROK
• my many friends who’ve served the great *US of A*

This also is a special Veterans’ Day as I passed my full faculty defense according to GOD’s perfect plan!

While our military heroes engage in rigorous physical training, with PT tests that time:

• 1½-mi. runs
• ### push-ups
• ### sit-ups

I did my share of high impact activity to prepare my energy for this AM’s event …

Just like I’ve connected almonds with energy for my full marathon as an analogy for my multiple regression statistical analyses, I’ve tied in what worked for me on the days I passed my previous rounds:

• I hit the track after my Holy Hour at our ♥Adoration♥ †Chapel† right before my committee conference call
• I’ve done more HIITs and toning up to ease my test anxiety up until today’s full faculty meeting

Here’s my training session from yesterday to work both the lower and upper bod:

2 for Tuesday: Double Whammy beyond the Moons on my Hammy

Simultaneous Moves for 20 reps/set with body weight or light resistance (ankle or wrist wraps, dumb bells or bands)

• Squats (legs) & Shoulder Raises (delts and traps)
• T-Bird Dead Lifts (booty) & Rows (back)
• Extensions 2 Ways ~ Standing (quads) & Overhead (tris)
• Curls 2 Ways ~ Standing (hams) & Upward (bis)
• Trunk Twist (core) Curtsy Lunges (legs)
• Ab-duction (inner thighs & waistline)

CHEERS to ALL of our service men and women in uniform who’ve

• fought for our freedom, both in the States and overseas
• bled for our country, earning themselves the Purple Heart
• died for those freedoms, earning themselves the Flag

 as well as ALL of our military families who experience the sacrifice.

Thank you, GOD, the Saints and the Angels for watching over us!!!

Spirit Sunday: All Saints

Happy All Saints Day!

Bishop Mike has called us “saints in the making” who will join the saints someday to whom we pray.

Currently, I’m in a Saint Benedict Novena, initiated by my Bestie Evie (who claims him as her patron after her own healing).

Since he is the Patron Saint for Students, I’ve sought his intercession as I enter my round(s) of full faculty dissertation defense …

During my committee defense period, I went through these Novenas:

• Santo Niño (Child Jesus)
• Sacred ♥Heart♥ of Jesus
• Holy Spirit

Who are your favorite saints? Mine include:

• St. Francis of Assisi, Patron Saint for Animals
• St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, an education advocate
• Saints Helen and Rose, my chosen Confirma†ion patrons

Others who I admire are, but aren’t limited to:

• St. Joseph the Worker 
• St. Gerard, Protector of Expectant Mothers
• St. Pope John Paul II

Saints are special, and I like this analogy that Evie introduced to me:

They are our defense attorneys who advocate for us as we enter the stand at the gates of Heaven for GOD to judge our fate.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us.”

~  Hebrews 12:1 [pointed out by Maryknoll]

R.I.P., Tita Leticia ✌

Thirsty Thursday: Triple T

T is for …

• Time
• Treasure
• Talent

How do you use your †ime, †reasure (i.e., tithing) and †alen† in serving GOD?

We all have unique ways that GOD has called us to serve Him and His people.

• I’ve invested countless Holy Hours at our Adoration Chapel plus preparing for and teaching Religious Education
• I’ve donated at our offeratory during Mass, as well as Parish fundraisers, such as our Fall Fests and Souper Bowls
• I’ve served as reader of scripture, commentator of prayers, and cantor of songs, plus our Parish photographer

I also can continue glorifying GOD as I finish and use my doctoral degree!

Father Bob‘s most recent ✌PTL✌ in his latest greeting to me stands for:

• Precious
• Treasure
• Lady

¡Feliz Día de los Santos y Día de los Muertos!

Study Saturday: Higher Ed Cred

Happy Belated #GenTX Day!

Yesterday, we celebrated our advocacy for higher ed in the State of Texas🏇 by sharing our college shirts on 📳social media ~ great timing before my school trip today!

This raised my awareness that I’ve been showing team spirit📢 a great deal lately!

Our Lady of the Lake University ~ where I’m finishing my PhD🎓 

Duke University ~ for Coach K‘s 5th NCAA🏆

 

 Texas Lutheran University ~ whose basketball🏀 team won the SCAC  

Cisco College ~ where I teach speech🎤 before my R.E. 💒 

Since I’m still surveying Texas student-athletes for my dissertation, NCAA players in the Southland Conference (Division I), Lone Star Conference (Division II), Southern Collegiate Athletics Conference (Division III) and NAIA Red River Conference can participate here!

Thirsty Thursday: Blessed Angels

🎼We are the 🏆Champions, my friends🎸 ~ Queen👑

Our Religious Ed class won the 🍜Souper🍲 🏈Bowl🏉!

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.

R.I.P., ~*~Nanay BETTY~*~ on her 22nd Anniversary

♥heart♥-shaped ring watch from ~*~Nanay BETTY~*~

Study Saturday: Catholic Church & School

Separation between Church and State… What’s that?

When I taught college, I didn’t lead my classes in prayer because we were in public schools. However, I did inform my students that I am a woman of faith, and I occasionally requested moments of silence out of respect for people or incidents that I believe deserved our attention.

My Ph.D. is from Our Lady of the Lake University, a Catholic school, so I’m grateful for my faith-based education. Before our classes, we would pray. Every year, we would have our Convocation at Church, where we would light candles to illuminate. After we passed our first year luminary exams, we earned these medals.

Our fourth year symbolized our candidacy, upon completing our final set of comprehensive exams.

Matthew 5:14-16

Bearing all of this in mind, I very much integrate my soul into my studies.

Spirit Mode = Scholar Mode

Recently, I reached my latest milestones as a Ph.D. Candidate who is ABD (All But Dissertation): the blessing of my Concept Proposal before the HOLYdays and the passing of my Proposal Defense this past Tuesday! GOD has surely blessed me on this journey, and as my classmate, Dr. Alex Garza, who graduated a year ago, told me: it’ll happen in GOD’s time.

Today, the LORD likewise blessed me in continued service to our Church: this time as commentator at Mass for the first time. After going through my proposal, I felt like my voice was cracking. Yet the LORD stayed by my side, and kept me going, and luckily, several congregation members commended me for speaking clearly.

Where am I going with this? I am going with GOD’s calling, which is to establish a Catholic school. The future generations of the Church deserve an opportunity to lead by their faith and values systems, even in their education. Honestly, I am uncertain of what will happen from here, but if I keep listening to GOD, He will lead me toward His plan.

GOD Bless Y’all!!! ¡Díos los bendigan!

Happy Birthday to Bishop Mike mañana!

By the way, my friend, Bishop Pfeifer has double-digits in his age this year, as well as my mom, the Birthday Girl, this Tuesday, and I also will in my next birthday!