Long Post

Sorry that I left you guys hanging last week but I found out last Saturday morning that my Great-Grandmother has passed away. As sad as it was it was a very joyous time. She had lived to the 100 we had celebrated her birthday in a very big way. When we had it she still knew everyone and was able to carry on conversations and move around even in her wheel chair (which she had only been in a few months). With it being the Holiday Weekend we were not able to have the funeral until Tuesday but leading up to that there were many times to be with family and just talk about all the great things that she has done. With over five living generations we figured she had 13 grandkids and now over 23 great grandkids. She had always lived a very generous life. At the eulogy my Aunt really talked about her spirituality and even though she was not catholic I believe she would have made a great one. Come to find out she was always in constant prayer for her family and I believe she is still praying for us today. As soon as I found out I went to the monastery to pray and asked to have a mass said. I did not really tell anyone because I knew that except to me it meant nothing. Still it made me feel better. Another thing I really liked was how well our family came to together. It is always nice even in these sad occasions. 

Fear?! Why are people afraid of what they do not know. Even though I have heard nothing from the Archdiocese my grandmother is getting very hostile about seminary as well as general catholicism. I really don't know how to respond. They do not use logic when they try to argue with me and then when I read something out of the bible I am using a "Catholic" bible therefore invalidating my comments. So this past week had been really rough for me on that front. I continue to ask for God's will but know others are praying that I get a no. That really upsets me because really I want God's will to be done but I hope that I get in just to show them. Now they are saying that if I don't get it I will quit being Catholic, which is also crazy. So nothing else to do but pray. 

I was off from work today but ended up helping my Mom run errands and try to help them settle some money issues. They are declaring bankruptcy so they are trying to do all that they can to cut cost. 

Other than that things are good. I have a ticket to the ordination in Atlanta this weekend and am very excited. I hope that I will be able to update and let you all know what it was like. I got to go out and but I new Sports Coat and a new shirt. I have gone from a 56 chest to a 48 and a XXXL Shirt to a XL. So I have just been wearing big clothes or not wearing a coat but for this I decided that I really need to dress nicely so I went and got it. I figured if i get into seminary I will need it anyway. 

Please keep me in your prayers and I will remember to pray for you. Peace!!

Something New

Alright guys today I had my last and final interview. I am done. At this point I am just waiting on a call to give me official news. According to all those I interviewed with they all seemed to like me and see no objections to me going to seminary in the fall. That being said I am very excited but at the same time this also brings more expenses with a dress code as well as books and things that the archdiocese may not cover. As of today I have added a donate button to my website. I hope that this does not offend anyone but at the same time I hope that if anyone would like to help me out this would give you the opportunity. Thanks so much and as always before money I ask for your prayers. 

Two Interviews Down

So I have made progress. I have already had two of my interviews, and both have gone well. Before I talk about each interview let me just give you a glimpse of the week I have had. Monday 9am Weight Watchers close at work. Tuesday open at work 6:30am and then work at the restaurant that afternoon. Wednesday 11am Meeting in Kennesaw (2 hours from my house) then close at work. Today 9am meeting in Douglasville (again 2 hours from my house) and then close at work. I am beat but I am so happy I get to sleep in tomorrow hence why I am up so late. 

My first one was great. The couple was so friendly. They really wanted my perspective on things. What I liked about priests and didn't. They said this gave them a feel of what I would be like as a priest also we talked a lot about seminary life. They spend a lot of time with the seminarians so they were able to give me  a great in depth perspective of how things work. The greatest thing was they wanted to see me being me. They explained that this was what these things were about. Just making sure I was not abnormal, and I didn't have all these fanciful ideas. Of course they asked the basics about celibacy, obedience, even being lonely and things. I really felt a connection with them and overall I felt that we had a really nice lunch. It was nice to hear their stories as well as have stories to tell of my own. They seemed to be very happy that I was more traditionalist. They feel like so much of the church is being lost or misunderstood and really like seeing most of the new guys coming in being more in that direction. 

The second one was also very nice. I first went to mass in a very beautiful church and was really impressed with the homily of the priest. I know some priest chose not to have homilies in morning masses but I also feel that there should be some sort of reflection on the scripture. So that was nice but then at first it was a little awkward once we made it to the rectory. It was almost we didn't know what to talk about but eventually we had no problem talking about things. He actually went though my packet and wanted me to expand on different things I had written. He was very concerned that I was going to be extremely close-minded after I had listed some of the more Conservative magazines I read. So we had a big discussion on the spectrum of acceptability in the church which was nice. And I kept quoting my sister friend how always talked about how there was room for everyone. He then showed me what he read and one headline was "Why shouldn't we ordain women?" Of course for me I would be like OMG no, but you know without two sides we have no middle. He seemed very glad that I was able to at least see both sides. Another things was he tore my biography up. Come to find out he has a Ph. D in Psychology so it was very much like my exam. At the end he also told me that he had seen no problems and wished me the best of luck. 

So there it is two down one to go. The excitement is building because they keep telling me all these things that I will be doing and have to do so these are exciting times for me. Please keep me in you prayers and again as soon as I know something you will also know. 

Peace

Pray for Me Please!!

Here is the news. My interviews have been scheduled. I have an
interview Wednesday with a lay couple. Then on Thursday with a priest
and then on Friday with another priest. I just got the list the other
day so needless to say these are a little rushed. I was even told I
needed to get them done as soon as possible (how ironic). So anyway I
am asking for your prayers. I asked what the process was after this
and they told me each interviewer has to write a letter saying what
they thought of me and if they think that I should be admitted. After
that happens (or if) my file will be presented to the Archbishop and
then he will have the final say. If all that happens I will be
contacted and then we will decide which school I should attend. I am
leaning toward Mount St. Mary't but am open to other ideas. Please
pray for me. All the interviews are very far away (Douglaville,
Atlanta, Marietta) and you all know I am not the best with directions.

I am so excited. The above paragraph was the email I sent out to many of my family and friends and even my old RCIA class. I can only hope that things work out for the best. Please pray for me. 

Happy Birthday to Me!!!

Yesterday was my birthday and it was great. I started out with a great morning run and then I was taken out to lunch to eat sushi and then I went and saw Iron Man. It is a really good movie. If you need someone to go and tell you to see it I am telling you now you will not be disappointed if you go and see it. After than I went to Athens for dinner with some drinks. I got some really cook presents, my favorite being Mario Party for the DS. It is really awesome and cool. I have already had a great time with it. 

In some other good news I finally have the names to the people who I have to interview with. Three are three of them two priest and one couple. The couple actually tried calling me yesterday to set up an interview I was really excited. I am going to call them back in a little bit and see if they want to set it up for tomorrow, because I have already spoken to one of the priest and I am hoping that we will be able to get together on friday. That being set I am scheduled to work early on Friday so I am hoping that someone at work would rather do that than close. Hopefully I will get to ask them on Monday. These are so important to me and I am so excited. I think that one reason I am excited is that I am finally moving on to the next step, and really if I were to be able to get with them all this week then I could possibly know something in the next two weeks and then I could really get my act together. But like I like to say baby steps. One small step at a time. That is always the best way to deal with things. 

I also got my ticket in the mail to go see the ordination in Atlanta on the 31st. Also another exciting day for me. I was hesitant to tell them I could go but I asked to close that say at work and I do not think that anyone really minded so I am getting to go. I recently read about someone's visit to an ordination and it really made me want to make the extra effort to go. So we shall see. 

Please keep me in your prayers. As soon as I know something I will update to let everyone know. Please also pray for all the sick, lonely, elderly, and all those who feel that they have nothing else to live for. 

First of the Week : )

Believe it or not this week has started out good. Most people dread mondays and I am included in that but this Monday was nice. I went to WW then met up with an old old friend who was so happy to hear about my future plans and then I went to work where believe it or not, it was not that busy. So yeah I kept a smile all day and just had myself a good day. I also believe it helped that I knew that I was going to be off today so that always makes things easier. 

In other better news, the archdiocese called me today and they are mailing me a list of the people I need to get with for the interviews. Why they are mailing it and not emailing it I do not know but I am thinking there may be something to fill out so regardless this is very exciting for me. This morning you would have thought that I had already been accepted. Regardless of the outcome I am just glad that I am moving again. I hate being at a stand still so of course it didn't come today and tomorrow I work so I will be unable to really go anything with it but then I will at least have it. I have so many people asking me about it because most of them assume that I would know by now and in February I would have thought the same thing. But we are on the lord's clock not our own. So I will being letting you all know as soon as they are scheduled so you all can pray for me. 

Saint Anne I am grateful for you intercessions. May all those that read this blog know the things that you have gained for me and also give you thanks. May you continue to intercede for us. 

Until next time. Peace!!!

Busy Weekend

It has been a very busy and crazy weekend but at the same time it has been really nice. First yesterday I had to go to work but then I left early to go visit a friend in the hospital. They originally thought that she has a heart attack but now it is even worse because they don't really know what is going on. So please keep her in your prayers. 

After that I was able to go to where I used to work and was able to sit for about an hour and just visit with all my co-workers. That was very nice and I got many compliments on my weight loss. 

After that was the best part of the weekend I was able to see a friend of mine become Catholic and she has asked me to be the sponsor. First being a sponsor is so different than other parts. Yes I went through the RCIA process and yes I am even a teaching member of the RCIA team but to stand before the priest and the church and to tell them that this person is ready and you are going to help them in their faith is a much bigger responsibility than I guess I really hadn't thought about until the actual time. It was also nice she took the name Anna, who is one of my favorite saints so that was neat. Since it was just her and her husband it was really nice because it was a much smaller ceremony than we had a Easter. 

Another great thing about that mass was it was at my first parish. I had never felt so at home as I did that afternoon. I knew everyone, everyone talked to me and it just felt like I had come home. Which is how I think church should be. I was telling my friend that it felt that it had not matter what was going on when I went to church peace just came over me and it was about me and God. So I am working on these feeling in my current parish but the problem is I have not really had time to develop relationships there was as I was at my old parish for like 3 years. So it was really nice. 

This morning I got my mom to go to mass with me that was also very nice. I am cooking dinner tonight so I am going to wrap this up but in a nutshell we are having WW crab cakes. We have to weight tomorrow and I think I am going to gain. I have not worked out like I needed and then last night I went out for Mexican and ate way too much. So I will let you know. 

Until next time: Peace!!

Not Myself.

Something weird is going on with me these past few days. I have not felt like myself. I think I may have just had a wrench thrown into my normals routine and that may be part of the problem. Nothing major is going on it just things are out of sync. Other than that things seen to be going great. I have been sleeping a lot lately which I know means that I am getting stressed even if I don't feel like I am getting stressed and I know it has to be money. 

I do a lot of ebay buying and selling. I use it as a something like a yard sale. It is a great place to sell junk and earn some extra cash. I do not keep extensive records after the transaction has been completed I assume the buyer is happy I then take the money and usually use it to help pay off some credit cards. Well in the past week I have one person telling me that they never got an item, and for once I paid cash for the shipping and then if they don't pay for tracking I do not give it to them. So there is no tracking information. I know I sent it but that is the most proof I can give, that is 108 dollars I am having to refund without getting the item back. Then yesterday I wake up and an item I sold last November a women is saying was paid for with a stolen card. So again I have no item and she wants 125 dollars. So on top of having to loan my parents the 750 a few week ago I, needless to say, am not where I need to be money wise. So I am putting faith in God and not worrying about it, but I know things will all work out if they are suppose to be. 

In other news we had a meeting at work the other day about management positions and I found out that starting managers make 43,500 a year. So that is over double what I am making right how in a year. So it is nice to have some knowledge open about the future. Not that I really want to be a manager at Sam's but for a short term fix if case my other plans do not pan out. Also found out there is a French teaching position open in my county but again sort of waiting on some other news. So I have lots of options which make me feel a little better about waiting because before I just kind of had one plan which I still believe to be the right plan for me so we will just have to see. 

I had another meeting about Australia the other night. It was really good. We got our shirts and yes they are as good as I thought that they would be. So even though "Je ne suis pas dans ma assiette," things are good. 

TV You Just Gotta Love!

I love the TV show Bones. I think I have mentioned it before but like the latest episode it is about people coming together for the greater good. Plus I love the romantic interest of the two main characters. You can see it coming we just don't know when. So if you have never seen it give it a chance. It is funny, heart-warming, suspenseful, and many other wonderful things. Really worth the 43 minutes that it takes to watch it. 

Others news I worked my second job tonight (waiting tables) only to get home and have my parents ask me to borrow 100 dollars. Which is fine they are on the verge of Bankruptcy but I am doing everything I can to pay of debt and it just doesn't seem to go away, and I can't be mad at my parents it just stresses me out so I can only imagine how they feel. So I am going to work on being more understanding and hopefully everything will end of working out. 

My best friend had a great job interview today. It really looks like it is going to work out for him. I am wishing him the best. He has also mentioned me doing the same thing but I am still waiting on the Archdiocese. I know I complain about this a lot but I am really trying to be patient with everything. All good things in time, and really it is no longer about getting a yes I just want any answer, but that is a subject for later. 

May Feelings

This is a video I saw on the Deacon's Bench. It reminded me this is Mary's month and we just need to turn everything over to her and let her present it to her son. Mary pray for us. I hope you all enjoy the video.

What a Difference a Year Makes!

I don't know about many of you but I know for me when I go into Barnes and Noble or Borders I head straight for the religious section and usually end of buying something. Sometimes it turns out to be great other times I can't believe I wasted money on something and some things (like wine) get better with age. Last year I bought Letters to a Young Catholic  by George Weigel, and I just didn't read it. I didn't "get" it for whatever reason. Well I picked it up not two or three days ago and said I wanted to give it another go. It is so great he takes you on tour while explaining Catholicism to you. I would recommend it to anyone regardless of how "young" you may be. 

Other than that things are going ok. I am back at work hence the few days absence from the blog sphere. Next week is Mother's day and I am taking both my Mom and Grandma to mass with me, but I have to attend Baptist church with them later that day. I guess it will not be too bad. 

In happier news I weighed in at WW today and I was down another 2.6 pounds that is now 48 pounds for me in about 14 weeks.  So I just hope I can continue this pattern. I know I am off the next two days and really want to work on doing a good job this week. 

Still no word from the Archdiocese. It is a little frustrating but I have been praying to St. Anne and she has been helping me deal with my impatience. I was telling someone today I am so young I should not have to be rushing anything but at the same time when you feel so ready to move on in your life it kinda sucks having to wait for someone to let you know what is going on. 

Alright my friends until next time the Peace of Christ with you all.  

A Reflexion on Vacation

So vacation is over. For the past 7 days I have not had to step into a Sam's, ask anyone for their membership card, or explain why we do not take Visa or American Express. I am a little sad but like so many things it has come to an end. But I am happy to say that in my week of freedom many things were accomplished. Here are just a few of them: I organized my life with iCal. I am in a Holy Cards monthly group and had not even gone through them in the past 6 months and was able to organize them. I redid the blog, hung things on my walls that had been just sitting on the floor waiting to be hung up. I finished 2 books. Cleaned and organized my desk and bookcases. Took my mom a DVD player and set it up for her. Went to the monastery took some books to a used bookstore. I did many other things but those were from my to do list. There are still about six things left on there but I will have some time next week. 

I also felt this week really gave me so time to really spend in prayer. Which was very nice. Not something I always have plenty of time for. Also I was able to spend a good bit of time outside either running or just sitting out next to the pool reading. It is often in these moments that I feel closest to God. In nature his presence is so amazing it is hard not to see his hand at work. 

I guess next week you all will be seeing less of me as I will have less time but I have really enjoyed being able to share so often here and may try and make more of an effort to really get on here at least every other day and update. Until next time we meet my friends. Peace!!