Dinner Time

As part of my birthday week celebration I signed up to drive a group of teens to Ronald McDonald House for a night of cooking and charity.  We arrived at the home without really knowing what to expect or really aware of what we were about to take on.  It wasn’t until a volunteer filled us in on what the organization is about that we understood who we were preparing dinner for.  Sometimes, in the comfort of the little bubble, we call life, we are oblivious of the many opportunities one can undertake to do good.  Usually, service to others is so simple and so rewarding, but in its simplicity we tend to miss it.

Assembly Line

In 1974 someone saw a need for temporary housing for families who have seriously ill or injured children in hospitals and are far away from home, “our (Ronald McDonald)Houses are built on the simple idea that nothing else should matter when a family is focused on the health of their child – not where they can afford to stay, where they will get their next meal or where they will lay their head at night to rest. We believe that when a child is hospitalized the love and support of family is as powerful as the strongest medicine prescribed.”

Excited about rolls!

Chocolate Chip Cookies on the way.

The menu for the night included: meatballs in rich tomato sauce, rice, steamed vegetables, dinner rolls and fresh, homemade cookies for dessert.  Assignments were distributed among the teens and each tackled a dinner course.  Among many giggles and “first time” in the kitchen moments the dinner was completed on time and ready to serve.

Someone is proud of her rice.

As families made their way to the buffet style set-up and served themselves plates that we all helped create they gratefully smiled.  One of the moms' even came over and shared her heartfelt testimony and kept repeating, “Thank you, you guys don’t know what this means to me- to us during this trying time.  We have been in the hospital all day and to come here and be served a warm meal, thank you.”

Team work.

I share these stories with you, not because I want to be seen in a godly light, or to have you think I am a really good person - I am a sinner (I battle with my favorite sins and make mistakes every single day) - my close friends and family will attest to my shortcomings.  These narratives highlight what God is doing in my life and if anyone deserves credit it’s Him.  I am simply His willing instrument, Glory to God in the highest!

Blurry Group Shot.

Mary Poppins

I grew-up watching Mexico’s Golden Age of Cinema.  As a family we would gather on Sunday’s after Mass around the television and watch reruns of classic movies and during commercial breaks mom would share her experience of how she had paid a couple of pesos to watch the movie at her neighbors’ house when the movie was first released because back then not everyone had television sets (wink).  Antonio Aguilar, Pedro Infante or Flor Silvestre would burst into song a few times during the movie and mom would then tell us a story of how that specific song had nurtured her through her courting times, dad would raise the volume and we’d intently listen to the tune.  Those were some of the dearest times of my life. 

 El Capitan Theatre

El Capitan still holds many movie premieres.

At university I took a film appreciation class and was introduced to the American Golden Age of film. Singing in the Rain quickly became my all-time favorite musical.  During that semester in college I had to watch many, many classic Hollywood films as homework (smile).  Though, I grew up watching films that would incorporate songs into the storyline I didn’t enjoy musicals.  Thus, Mary Poppins never appealed to me.  Yet, when my coworkers decided to drive to LA to watch Mary Poppins, the 1964 movie, at El Capitan Theatre I gleefully accepted the invitation (I love musicals now). 

 Waiting, listening to the organ player... 

 Full House

For ten dollars, we each got a movie ticket, popcorn and a drink – what a deal!  The theatre was completely packed.  An organ player played some music while everyone got settled, then there was a raffle for movie memorabilia and finally the movie began in a large screen.  The experience was phenomenal it felt like a typical release night at the theatre- only set back in time. Even the lowering of the curtain at the end of the film excited me (smile).  I never imagined the movie to be so good!  The music, the storyline the special effects all blew me away- now I can’t wait to arrange a movie night to see Saving Mr. Banks (film which depicts the making of Walt Disney's Mary Poppins ).    

  

Light & Fluffy Color Run

This Saturday my coworker & I participated in the Run or Dye 5K and while our monetary contributions helped Make-a-Wish Foundation and Operation Santa Claus we had a blast!  Throughout the morning I couldn’t help feeling like a giant kiddo - the tutu I wore helped create much silliness.  For those not familiar, participants walk 2.5 miles while at various stations along the path volunteers bomb the walkers with different color dyes creating human art pieces.  At the finish line there’s a wild concert where everyone takes part in coloring the sky while dancing to catchy tunes. 

 On your marks, get set, GO!

 Nice and Clean Canvas.

All you need is love, love, love...

A little trivia: the Color Run has its roots in Ancient India – a Hindu Festival where celebrants threw naturally color powders as symbols of health & wellness.  Thus, Run or Dye prides itself with celebrating wellness, happiness and individuality.  While waiting at the start line, organizers motivate the runners by giving out cool swag and more importantly celebrating love & happiness.  We are encouraged to express our love by creating hearts with our hands, hugging five strangers and to celebrate our uniqueness by wearing silly outfits.  Describing it sounds like a little bit of hippie love (smile).

At the start line already getting some color, funky shades to protect our eyes.

Motivation while we wait.

The wild concert

It’s funny, participating in the run began as an idea to encourage my friends and I, to change our lifestyle and become healthier.  In the summer, we started a walking club that lasted a whole month before it fizzled (smile) and while I tried motivating them to do the walk with me no one was available on the scheduled date.  My coworker had a similar experience with her good-intention-walking club, so we joined forces and signed up just the two of us for the run. I must give credit where credit is due, Dollar was also a very loyal walker in the club and the most motivated, unfortunately he had to sit this one out, while the dyes are environmentally safe, dogs are not allowed in this 5K (wink).

I made it!

Coloring the sky.

Daddy's Girl

Last night I was thinking of Mary, Jesus’ mom...  Awhile back I met a new believer he was excitedly sharing his faith with me - he had that zest that comes after a deep encounter with Christ. I was really enjoying our conversation until he said, “I know you’re Catholic and that’s fine, but you know just don’t go into believing in Mary don’t make such a big deal about her.” I didn’t want to kill his newfound faith so I just smiled and redirected the conversation back to Jesus.

Months later I started thinking more about this anti-Mary mentality that he expressed.  I must confess I am a daddy’s girl when it comes to my faith I love, love, love Jesus, The Father & the Holy Spirit… But let’s say that I invited you to come dine with me & my family.  Let’s say that you excitedly came into my house and acknowledge all of the members of my family, but ignored my mother in fact you disliked her so much that you were indifferent to her.  What effect do you think that would have on me?  How would it make me feel?

Now imagine that you die and you are in heaven and Mother Mary is there with Jesus.  Mary the woman who carried Jesus in her womb, who because of her yes to God began Christianity through her Son, who aided the course of our salvation - will you continue ignoring her then in His physical presence?  What effect do you think it will have on Jesus?  How will it make him feel?  I love you Jesus, but keep that woman you call your mother away from me lest I make her an idol!

I’m not asking people to share my veneration nor understanding of Mother Mary, just to give her the place she deserves don’t cast her out because you don’t understand the relationship she has to the Catholic faith.  She’s pretty amazing – God thought so when he chose her to carry His Son.

Be the Author of Your Story

As children we depend on grown-ups to make all the important decisions, we rely on their wisdom to make choices that will permanently affect our beings for better or worse.  We have no control in our dependent youth, but as we mature into adulthood we hold the key to live our lives as we always imagined.  When I went on my first spiritual retreat I was angry with so many adults that had hurt me as a child and I felt like I was a product of that pain.  All the bitterness, violence and negativity that I had witnessed were the reason I was such a difficult person to please.  My motto was: this is who I am, if you don’t like it close the door on your way out. I was easily offended, demanding, resentful and unforgiving… 

I want to be the best friend...

I casted blame on others for my circumstances because it was easier and even comfortable to assign culpability to everyone else.  Accusing others defined me and all the negativity I produced could be traced to something or someone in my past- never me. I am like this because this happened or he made me this way… One day (in therapy) my counselor challenged that damaging life philosophy, “you are an adult now Penny, you have the control to choose the life you want to live and the power to create the woman that you aspire…”

The best auntie...

When I taught preschool some parents were notorious for telling their kids (in an attempt to discipline them), “don’t do that little Johnny because your teacher is going to get mad.”  Instead of dealing with the problem they transferred their power to me with that phrase.  I, the teacher, was the one who gained the respect of their children because sadly I dealt with the problem not the parent.  In a similar way that’s what we do when we blame others for who we are - we transfer our potential to someone else. We rob ourselves the opportunity to heal and to mature.

The best mami & godmother...

I read an article yesterday about the top five regrets dying people shared to a palliative nurse, number one was: I wish I had the courage to live a life true to myself.  And number three was: I wish I had the courage to express my feelings. Don’t wait until you are at your death bed to live honestly, to look at yourself in the mirror and understand that you are much more than a product of a painful past.   Take control and own up to your weaknesses because only when you discover these can you work to convert them into strengths.  In matters of two, I will never be able to change or control the actions of the other, but I have total power to create a life worthy of me, worthy of all those deep dreams engraved in my heart.

The best daughter...

Who do you want to be?  What type of life do you want to have?  Who do you want to share your life with? What type of daughter, sister, friend, girlfriend, wife, mother, child of God do you want to be?  What type of family do you want to create with your spouse?  It’s your choice, your life.  Find the courage - it’s in you (God placed it there)! SMILE

The best Catholic...

Parish Life

Parish life is never dull at Saint Vincent de Paul Catholic Church.  During any given week we have many great activities ranging from theological talks, bible studies, opportunities for service and just plain fun events!  Of course, the heart of our parish is the Eucharist, but there’s so many additional ways that one can form community.  Part of our spiritual journey is forming relationships with other believers that will strengthen and encourage our faith.  Jesus’ ministry displays the importance of cultivating healthy relationships and of living with a mindset of forming a Christian brotherhood – He teaches us that we were created to live in unity with one another.  Thus, to be Catholic means to get involved in parish life. 

Let God be your center.

My parish is my home away from home, when I am there I am at ease, which has not always been the case.  When I started attending church I remember that the sight of a priest would send me running in the opposite direction – I felt like they were going to reprimand me for being the worst sinner or judge and condemn me, so I would avoid them.  Then one day I came across a priest walking the church grounds with the cutest black dog and I thought he can’t be that bad if he has a dog (smile).  The doggie came over to me and Father turned out to be a really kind, admirable man.  God is awesome it took a dog to take away my misconception of priests (smile)!

Our Deacon Chef! 

 Tea anyone?

Yummy food!

The greeters.

So many vintage hats am in love!

I won the raffle!

The last couple of weeks have been busy at the Parish. We had our Women’s Fellowship Tea in which we all got to wear awesome hats and come together for a morning of camaraderie.  Our deacon loves to cook so he made some really yummy finger foods, an array of teas, fresh lemonade and yummy sweets.  We were grouped in tables and got to socialize, learn more about our faith and create community.

Time to get the plaid, the boots and the gun necklace out!

Welcome to the West!

 Time to dance!

 Fun times!

On Saturday, we had free country-line dancing lessons! I can add the “New York, New York” line dance to my list of can do dances!  It was fun to see the guys getting into it.  In addition, to those activities I attended Theology on Tap, volunteered at Confirmation classes, went to the third talk on “The Four Signs of a Dynamic Catholic,” among other events.  Take advantage of the abundance of gifts that your parish has to offer - all the events are such a great source of sustenance and a type of fun that will nourish your soul!

 Howdy Partner!

Dreams are God's Playground

XLT 2013 held at our beautiful parish

When I was a little girl one of my many favorite games was playing school… During summers I would persuade my friends to transform themselves into students and I would teach them a variety of subjects.  I also had a passion for reading.  Thus, as I grew up I believed that my life’s mission was to teach.  At the start of university I knew that my major would be English and that I would eventually teach and perhaps write during the summers.  From a young age I visualized a path where dreams come true - through hard work and dedication and I ardently followed it.  As my formal education came to a close and the sight of teaching was finally at my reach my mind began to fail me.  This terrible insecurity bundled with immense fear attached itself like a mollusk to my being and teaching became impossible.  In the span of a year I worked at three different high schools and I quit all of them.  What I had prepared my entire life for, what I had invested so much time and money - all those sacrifices pointless- my purpose in life lost…  I no longer controlled my mind. Then the voices began and I knew that I had gone mad…  

Night of yummy pizza...

 With friends...

And more friends...

It took an entire year to find the medications that were compatible with my brain chemistry. A year of unemployment followed and a year full of deranged, acute suffering, but I pulled through (smile).  It’s been six years since my mental breakdown and six years since I have stepped inside a classroom.  Whether I ever make it back to teaching or not I have learned that my career cannot and will not be my purpose.  We hear about sick codependent relationships, but one’s career can also be equally damaging.  It's dangerous to gain one’s self identity or self worth from what one does to earn a living because the moment one loses it- everything is lost. That’s why some people in high level positions commit suicide if they get fired from their jobs because to them they are losing so much more than just their job.

Worship Music & Ispirational talk...

Full house: over 400 teens in attendance...

This year God led me to help in the teen ministry at my parish.  At first I felt like it wasn’t a right fit because God was taking me out of my comfort zone and all these old fears were rising inside me.  Yet, God doesn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and self-control, so I trusted His guidance.  The anxiety of working with teens hasn’t fully left me, but I know God is slowly healing me.  Here, I had signed up to help teenagers only to realize that God wanted to do so much more for me. 

Adoration of Blessed Sacrament.

Fall Leaves

After a week of low energy, I submerged myself in nature along with my faithful companion, Dollar.   We took an artful walk in which he chased ducks, geese, and squirrels while I danced on top of crisp fall leaves.  A guilty pleasure of mine, the sound of brown leaves underneath my feet (smile) it equates to the pleasure of jumping in puddles after the rain.  While I live five minutes away from the beach, I prefer the woods – with its tall trees, mountainous terrain and crawling creatures.  Come to think of it forests fascinate my doggie too.  I guess it’s true that dogs really are reflections of their owners.

 Relaxing ducks before Dollar scared them into the water

My feet made crispy music  

During my nature treks I have the best conversations with God.  I mean can you imagine a forest with only one type of tree and one type of flower it would be bland at best- yet everything is wildly varied and colorful – the product of His love.  I look at my dog and even he is uniquely made, his personality and his composition so easily identified in a crowd of canines by his momma.  I never have been as in love with another animal as I am with my beloved companion and to think that he came into my life quite unexpectedly. 

Fall is perhaps my favorite time of year! 

Lovely

My ex-boyfriend and I had broken up for the very first time and I didn’t know any better so I went shopping.  While at Five Points Shopping Center I went inside the pet store for a routine petting session and I came across Dollar in a lonesome cage.  All of his sibling had been purchased since my last visit and he retreated to the furthest part of the glass cage uninterested in anyone.  I tapped the glass wall several times, but there was no reaction.  At this point the astute salesman asked me to hold the terrier as an act of kindness. I hesitantly agreed and he placed my future dog in my arms and instantly I felt Dollar’s desolation.  While in my arms the hairy creature didn’t show any sign of joy, no wagging tail no wet licks of appreciation- a dying spirit that matched my own.  At the moment without thinking whether this dog would match my living situation or my personality, without thinking of compatibility or any other careful consideration that according to dog manuals every owner should examine prior to bringing a dog home I took out my credit card and made him my own.

Mi Corazon

Since then, our journey together has been pure love.  He is the apple of my eye and while I want more dogs – we have traveled together just the two of us for so long that adding a third to our pack would be an imposition, unless I find him a daddy (smile).