A good feeling

Today has been a good day. My bed was all cozy this morning, and as nothing urgent was happening, I stayed in bed until almost 9am. Then I went shopping…it took me a long time to find what I needed, but it is finally done. The rest of the afternoon was spent going through things, organizing, doing a little paperwork, making a few phone calls, etc. Productive and relaxed–pleasant indeed. 😀

I am slowly getting things done, soon I will be ready to leave for school again. It is hard to believe that over half of my break is gone already! However, I will be happy to go back again and start hammering all sorts of information into my brain again.

There are a few new prayers added to the prayer page–hopefully a few more will be added soon as well. Speaking of praying, it is time to pray with my family…God bless and Mary keep you all!

Break musings

My break has been very busy! Last Friday was spent traveling and I arrived home around 11pm. Saturday I spent time with my family, enjoyed the falling snow, and finished writing my Christmas letter. On Sunday I went out to the Schoenstatt center–it was good to be there again, and the day was not long enough. This past Monday was my first day back to work, and then I have worked everyday this week.

Thoughts and musings never stop going through my mind. Every new impression affects the way that I look at things; whether it is from the written word, an experience, something I hear, a conversation, or just inspiration in prayer. Sometimes I get overwhelmed because of my tendency to over analyze every little thing; but at the same time, I enjoy thinking.

When I first got to San Diego, the landscape was strange: palm trees, tropical flowers, and different architecture. Apparently I got used to it though. On the bus ride up from Chicago it was strange to drive for so long without seeing any palm trees. Now I feel like I am part of two separate worlds, with different beauties and advantages.

Christmas cards are almost done, gifts are wrapped, and today the Christmas tree went up. Tomorrow will be spent baking before going to our grandparents house. Today was snowy and windy…this afternoon I enjoyed watching the trees bend in the wind and the snow swirl all around. Hopefully the cold temperatures (and therefore the snow) will stay through Christmas.

Only two more weeks until classes start again! There are so many people that I want to visit with and so many things to do before I go back. Being sick has not helped with motivation in getting things done–perhaps in the next week I will feel more energetic. I must remember that I can only deal with one day at a time. 🙂

A few things that I know that I must practice more in everyday life:
1) Complaining doesn’t make things better. Figure out how to fix it.
2) Trust is hard. It will always be, you’ve just got to offer it up again and again.
3) Nothing in this world will satisfy us. Live for the next.
4) Life is precious, and always rests in God’s hands. It is His plan, so participate in the part that He cast you in to the best of your ability.
5) Depend on God rather than humans, accepting community as a gift and letting go when necessary. The Child in the manger was the same Lord that was Crucified; if He was disappointed and persecuted by His friends, why do we expect better? Very few, if any, will be with us always.

Have a blessed and merry Christmas! You all are in my prayers, may God bless and our Mother Mary keep you all.

Homebound

Here I am…in the airport, leisurely waiting for my flight, and very happy to have free internet access. I managed to complete my essays before 2:30pm yesterday, leaving plenty of time for shopping, packing, and enjoying the company of other students. Last night I stayed up for the Rosary and night prayer one last time before I left. The break is very welcome, but it feels exceedingly strange to not have any homework that needs to be done. It will be back soon enough, hopefully I’ll catch up on everything else before then.

There are so many strange and beautiful things in this world. Take life, for instance. It is an unpredictable circumstance, of which one spends most of his own learning to understand it. It is caused by love, just like the universe. The human life is a mini cosmos in itself, and everything in it is therefore a reflection of creation.

Relationships are strange and beautiful, too. Friendships are so varying, beautiful and yet can slip so easily. They can soften pain, and inflict even more severe hurt. They can bring beauty and comfort, but our human imperfection makes it so easy to crush them. And once trust is broken, it is so hard to build back up again.

Hmm…I will have to continue this later. It is nearly time for the flight to leave, so I must close. If I just save this post, the first sentence will not be true; therefore it is necessary that I hit “post” now. God bless and Mary keep you all!

Craziness

It is quite silly of me to write on here now…I really should be writing elsewhere. However, my mind is jumpy and so I think that I’ll let it bounce all of its energy out.

Four finals down, one to go. Today was our last exam, and now I only have my Scripture final to finish. The assignment is three, three-page essays. I have one essay done, as well as the first paragraph on the second essay. The selfish voice inside of me wants to complain, the practical side of me tells me to get back to work, and the melancholic side is stressing me out. The assignment is not due until 5pm on Friday; but as I leave early on Friday, I have to finish by tomorrow so that I can turn it in. Not to mention packing, cleaning, and shopping. Yikes.

It is not that I have a problem with writing in and of itself; last night I typed nearly two pages, single spaced, of what was going through my mind. Tonight I am having no trouble at all writing here. However, as soon as I open Word and try to think about John 6 or the most important thing I learned in this class, my typing rate plunges. I need to complete at least one more essay tonight to ensure my sanity for tomorrow. Come to think of it, that may not ensure my sanity anyway.

Two days from now I will be on my way home from the airport. The break will be gladly welcomed, although I do have to say that it will be strange. Less than two weeks until Christmas…I have things to get ready for then as well. I think that I have lost a bit of my intelligence this week. If anyone finds it, please let me know.

Rain! continued…

Last Friday it rained all day–the only thing missing was thunder and lightening. However, there were a few advantages to that: one which my roommate and I delighted in. We went running, dancing, and singing down the street! Today it rained again, but cleared up for the most part by mid-afternoon.

This week has been very happy and fun! A friend from Wisconsin came out to visit and check out JPCU. She was here Tuesday night until this morning. After class on Wednesday, one of my classmates took us to the Mission, Old Town, and La Jolla. It was so good to sing our Schoenstatt songs, laugh, and talk. I am glad she could make it out.

Homework wise, I have completed my Portfolio, finished and uploaded my website, and am making headway on Monday’s homework. One class is completely done, and I “only” have four finals to complete by Thursday evening. A week from now I will be in Wisconsin, with no homework to do…although I do not have too high of expectations regarding the amount of work I will accomplish over break. Time is still going at breakneck speed, but somehow I always manage to complete the necessary.

Tomorrow is the feast of the Immaculate Conception. We will be celebrating with Holy Mass, Morning Prayer, a meditation, and breakfast. I am quite excited — I get to make a large batch of pancakes! I don’t get to cook for a large group of people very often, and it is nice to serve others now and then. 😀

God is good; I wish to embrace His will with my entire being. Pray for me, that I may recognize His goodness in everything and offer my life in whatever way He chooses. God bless and Mary keep you!