One of my favorite authors is James Martin, SJ, and I recently picked up a copy of his Lourdes Diary: Seven Days at the Grotto of Massabieille. It is a short account of his travels to Lourdes with the Order of Malta as one of their guest priests. It's an incredibly easy read, but packed with great insights and statements that I find myself thinking about hours or days later.
On a subsequent trip to Lourdes, he and a fellow Jesuit travelled to Loyola to visit the birthplace of St. Ignatius. Things happened to turn out incredibly well for them on that trip: they arrived at the great basilica just in time for Mass, they ran into a Jesuit brother just in time for dinner at the Jesuit community, they returned home to Lourdes just in time for another dinner at their hotel with the malades. The following paragraph is one of my favorites from this little book:
"Sometimes in life, when it seems like nothing is going right, I think about St. Catherine of Siena's statement 'Nothing great is ever achieved without much enduring.' But during our trip to Loyola, I thought of St. Paul's observance that 'all things work together for good for those who love God.'"
I've made the comment to a few people in the past two weeks that "things are all going too well--something bad is going to have to happen!" Well, perhaps not. Perhaps I should have more faith and believe that things are going so well because I love God.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Wedding Bells
One of my best friends from Kentucky is getting married in March!! I have just been asked to be a bridesmaid! I am so excited! It's so wonderful to know that so many of my friends are genuinely happy and have found true love. Congrats to Erin!!! (Erin is the one on the right. Brooke is on the left and is getting married in October!)
Friday, August 17, 2007
| Your Love Life is Like The Princess Bride |
 "Since the invention of the kiss, there have only been five kisses that were rated the most passionate, the most pure. This one left them all behind." For you, love is like a fairy tale - albeit a fairly twisted one. You believe romance is all about loyalty, fate, and a good big of goofy fun. Your love style: Idealistic yet quirky Your Hollywood Ending Will Be: Perfectly romantic |
My Intelligence (apparently)
| Your Dominant Intelligence is Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence |
 You would make a good athlete, physical education teaches, dancer, actor, firefighter, or artisan. |
Stormy Day
My new beau left this morning to drive back to OH, and I am so sad. As nervous as I was before our first date on Sunday, the moment he walked through my door all nervousness and anxiety was gone. I hope to always hold on to that memory of him walking through my door. It was one of the best moments I had all week (and all year in the love department).
Our week went by so quickly--almost too quickly. We had so many wonderful moments. Having him back here made me realize how much I had missed him when he's gone.
As the thunder rolls outside mimicking the emotions inside, I smile when I think of this past week and try not to focus on missing him too much. I hope to visit him soon in OH and continue on this exciting, scary, wonderful, beautiful adventure together.
Our week went by so quickly--almost too quickly. We had so many wonderful moments. Having him back here made me realize how much I had missed him when he's gone.
As the thunder rolls outside mimicking the emotions inside, I smile when I think of this past week and try not to focus on missing him too much. I hope to visit him soon in OH and continue on this exciting, scary, wonderful, beautiful adventure together.
Best Present Ever!
Last night, my new beau and I went over to a friend's house for dinner and a movie. We were enjoying our meal when the host left the table for a moment and returned with something held behind his back. I had no idea what to expect, but boy was I happy when I saw it!
He and his wife had recently traveled to Rome and brought me the most fantastic souvenir possible! It is a beautiful calendar of some very handsome clergymen. :-) 2008 cannot get here soon enough!
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Bored at Work
I was a tad bit bored today at work and stumbled across an article on MSN about this year's 25 Hottest (Trendiest) Colleges. Here is one I knew my friend, Dogwood, would appreciate.
Hottest for International Studies University of Richmond, Richmond, VA.
Seventy percent of the class of 2007 studied abroad, attending universities in Oxford, Edinburgh, Prague, Milan, Buenos Aires, Hong Kong, Bangkok and other cosmopolitan spots. The 3,000-student university has exchange agreements with more than 50 schools around the world and ensures that time spent abroad costs no more than time on campus. The faculty is strong in many areas, particularly business, science and leadership studies, but all students are urged to see the world.
Hottest for International Studies University of Richmond, Richmond, VA.
Seventy percent of the class of 2007 studied abroad, attending universities in Oxford, Edinburgh, Prague, Milan, Buenos Aires, Hong Kong, Bangkok and other cosmopolitan spots. The 3,000-student university has exchange agreements with more than 50 schools around the world and ensures that time spent abroad costs no more than time on campus. The faculty is strong in many areas, particularly business, science and leadership studies, but all students are urged to see the world.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
8 Things You've Always Wanted to Know...
Seems that a friend tagged me on this and now I am requested to answer. So, here goes...
"The rules are simple…Each player lists 8 facts/habits about themselves. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are listed. At the end of the post, the player then tag 8 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog."
1. I was a competitive gymnast for about 10 years growing up. I have LOTS of videos to prove it.
2. I bite my nails ALL THE TIME. It is the nervous/anxiety tick passed down from my mother's mom to my mother and now to me.
3. Growing up, I wanted to be a medical examiner.
4. I have more friends now than I ever have at any other point in my life.
5. I can crack almost any joint in my body (see #1 for explanation of this one!)
6. I hate milk.
7. I am a pleaser.
8. At one point (just about 2 years ago) I had 8 living grandparents. Currently, we're holding at 6.
"The rules are simple…Each player lists 8 facts/habits about themselves. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are listed. At the end of the post, the player then tag 8 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog."
1. I was a competitive gymnast for about 10 years growing up. I have LOTS of videos to prove it.
2. I bite my nails ALL THE TIME. It is the nervous/anxiety tick passed down from my mother's mom to my mother and now to me.
3. Growing up, I wanted to be a medical examiner.
4. I have more friends now than I ever have at any other point in my life.
5. I can crack almost any joint in my body (see #1 for explanation of this one!)
6. I hate milk.
7. I am a pleaser.
8. At one point (just about 2 years ago) I had 8 living grandparents. Currently, we're holding at 6.
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Home Life
I know I haven't blogged since being home, but not much has really happened. I am resettled and enjoying my part-time status at work, visiting with friends, and trying to squeeze the most joy out of these last few weeks in Columbia.
A few fun things are on the horizon, including a visit from two old friends from high school in two weeks. This weekend is also packed with fun, exciting, new things: dinners with friends, shopping, helping a friend move into her first apartment, and a date! Yes, you read that correctly--I have a date!
I am incredibly excited about this date and think it will go quite well. I'm trying not to bring outrageous expectations along or get my hopes up too high. However, I think it will be a wonderful evening.
A few fun things are on the horizon, including a visit from two old friends from high school in two weeks. This weekend is also packed with fun, exciting, new things: dinners with friends, shopping, helping a friend move into her first apartment, and a date! Yes, you read that correctly--I have a date!
I am incredibly excited about this date and think it will go quite well. I'm trying not to bring outrageous expectations along or get my hopes up too high. However, I think it will be a wonderful evening.
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