Week Two: Working on the Unexpected

This past week was quite trying, so excuse the tardiness of the post.  After so many years of not using my teaching credential, it expired.  Usually, the hiring district has an induction clear credential program; however, since I work for a charter school, things run quite differently.  Thus, I found myself looking for a private induction program and asking the Commission on Teaching Credentialing for an extension so that I wouldn’t lose my job.  Not many universities have induction programs since districts usually take care of the process, but after some digging around, I found Antioch in Los Angeles.  Now I am waiting for the CTC to approve my request so that I will be in the clear.  It was quite challenging working full-time and on my off time trying to get all the credentialing stuff done.  On Wednesday, I was in the road for four hours in the morning commuting to Los Angeles to enroll in the program and then driving straight to work from there.  Fortunately, I am now enrolled in a two-year induction program where I will have to go to class once a month and meet with other teachers in the same situation for support. 

In spite of all this, it was nice coming home to my pup and getting to see him graduate puppy school after the most insane day of my week.  We arrived to the graduation a few minutes late, when they had awarded Francis the most improved award for changing so dramatically from a frightened dog to a social butterfly.  The teacher administered the test of all that we have been working on and I was afraid that Francis would not pass because he still has great difficulty with waiting.  However, Saint Francis must have been keeping a lookout because my pup passed with flying colors!  He passed all the basic course material and graduated with a big grin on his face.  Now getting him still for a nice picture was not as successful (smile).

It’s been a whirlwind here lately, but as the weeks go by am sure that I will establish a routine and life will gain a sense of normalcy.  This week, I didn’t make it to my Monday night bible study group and I totally felt it.  Though, I am quite busy trying to sort all the new right now, eventually I want to make sure that I do make the time for the spiritual activities that keep me hopeful and sane. I only ask that you continue keeping me in your prayers.    

A Little Nostalgia: Holiday Sweaters

When I was a little girl, there was this teacher that always wore the happiest cardigans so in tune with each of the holidays throughout the year. I used to marvel at each of the clever designs she would wear and I vowed that when I grew up, I would dress just like her.  There was something utterly calming and equally trust worthy in her seasonally organized outfits.  I remember that I constantly found a reason to be near her.  Recently, in my happy thrifting expeditions, I came across the most fabulous vintage Halloween cardigan and immediately I was transported back into that elementary classroom and full of longing for simpler times I purchased it- a nostalgic buy for sure.  The cardigan is loud and probably tons tacky, but I love it and I can’t wait to wear it and begin making that childhood dream come true.  The day I found it, I came home and excitedly tried it on hoping that my enthusiasm would transfer to my mother, but she said it just wasn’t her cup of tea.  Even so her reaction didn’t make me love my cardigan any less nor kill the excitement of the little child within.

The funny thing is that when I try remembering more about the teacher, I can’t get an image passed her cardigan and me tugging at her slacks.  It’s almost like those cartoons that cut at the neck the adults and no matter how much I try I can’t retrieve my elementary teacher’s face.  I just remember her kindness and finding comfort being near her as I took my first steps in a new country.  She allowed me to silently orbit around her throughout the day and would pat my head sometimes when I loving hugged her leg.  I was just beginning to learn the new language so I didn’t talk a whole lot and she didn’t mind the silent companion.  Around her I didn’t have to worry about my accent or be scared of kids picking on me- she was my hero who instead of capes wore the best holiday ensemble. 

It’s funny how an item can transport one to a very specific time.  Am not sure if the teacher knew how much she touched my life, how her thoughtful outfits made her so utterly beautiful and I attracted to her charm survived a time of great change.  I didn’t understand a whole lot of English then, but I sure got her approachable message with her decorative-eighties-bling sweaters.  She tried in every way to engage her students and though the credential program doesn’t have a course on how to dress to motivate students- those Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day… sweaters were quite powerful teaching strategies (smile).  I know I have been a bit disorganized- I have had a lot of appointments trying to prepare for my new job.

The Presence of God

These past few months have been spent trying to tame my black wolf.  If I wasn’t working on my eBay business or looking for work the rest of my time belonged to training Francis.  Am not sure how you enter into the presence of God, but for me a quite easy way is though nature - most specifically though animals.  Recently, when I started taking Francis to the dog park, I would notice how much I gave him courage.  He would venture to say hello to a dog and then run back to hide between my feet.  As his confidence grew, he would go a little farther away, always returning to me if he felt he was in trouble. His trust that I will bail him out or come to his rescue made me think of my relationship with God.  Francis has grown from being terrified of other dogs to wanting more and more to socialize with members of his species.  It just required a little patience, persistence and for him to know that in me he has a pack leader that will keep him safe no matter the circumstance.

In matters of faith I am like Francis, but sometimes not as trustful that my heavenly Father will come to my rescue.  Yet, watching my little guy explore while always keeping an eye on me or returning to me when he felt too overwhelmed made me realize that I need to have that type of relationship with God.  Wherever life takes me, whatever my experiences my gaze must never leave my Creator.  “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,” I shouldn’t lose hope or quit because I have a Father who will come to my rescue.  And if for whatever reason I venture out too far, I can always run back into His protective arms or even yelp and He will come running to hold me up.  Sometimes pride makes me want to do things on my own, but seeing Francis run back to me trusting that I would make everything better made me realize how much God delights when I am small and dependent on Him.

Everyday, Francis and I spend an hour or more at the park.  Sometimes we just walk around greeting dogs in our path and even during these calm walks- I see how thankful he is to be out in nature. He smells a flower, a bush, chases ducks, stops to people watch, eats a dandelion…  Every action is full of excitement and glee and I think that in His way He is praying a gratitude prayer saying thank you God for this wonderful world and for allowing me to enjoy it.  I am almost jealous at how simple He is finding delight in things that I take for granted.  Yet, as I watch Francis' satisfaction in nature, I too thank God for all the things I take for granted and I ask Him to make me more like my little creature who appreciates so much His creation.  Francis helps me enter into the presence of God quite easily and his inquisitiveness along with his trust in me reveal deeper truths about my faith and shows me that God communicates with us in all sorts of ways- even through my relationship with an over-excited pup!  

A Little Secret

I want to let you in on a little secret, I have been made an offer and accepted a teaching position at a charter school in my county.  You are now looking at the (in two weeks) intervention teacher for said school.  The public charter school works with students who the traditional high school setting is not working and works individually or in a small group setting to help kids achieve a high school diploma and prepare them to enter the real world.  I will be working with students and parents who are having difficulty passing high school and I am really excited to begin this new phase in my career.  Am not sure how it will impact my blog as I transition, but I will try to write even if it’s just once a week and maybe change dates, to during the weekend.

What I do know is this: prayer works!  I remembered that a priest once told me to pray in a very specific way when making a request to God.  So, I asked the Lord to please help me find employment by the end of September and though the teaching offer came on the second day of October, in September I had been made an offer that after prayerful consideration I declined.  When I was offered the job that I turned down, I took it to God and asked him to give me a sign of whether or not to take it and He did just that when I was told about the wages – which were extremely too low.  Though turning down a job (even if it’s not the right fit) feels like stepping into a pool of uncertainty – I trusted that God would provide.  I did my part by looking for work and submitting my resume and trusted that God would do the rest.

As I interviewed for the teaching position, again I asked God that if I was offered the job, that would be my sign from Him that I would be able to handle the responsibility even with my disability.  So, I ask you for your prayers which I will desperately need during this transition.  I always get extremely overwhelmed and my thoughts start racing wildly, but since I got the offer, I have had peace in my heart.  I think that feeding my life with wisdom from the saints and scripture has given my overactive mind healthy things to think about.  I also have this new mindset where my job is not about proving that I am a great teacher, but helping students succeed… Any who do not forget me in your prayers.

No Filters

When I think of purity, I, immediately think of sexuality- saving myself for marriage- but in terms of spirituality purity goes beyond physical abstinence.  I was in the confessional, and Father advised me to lead an honest life, days later my Bible study dealt with truth and then I heard a homily on integrity and I felt like God was asking me to focus on purity of heart and mind.  One of the characteristics I value most in others is honesty because I like to give the same in return.  I think the fewer the lies the healthier the relationship and in my associations that’s how I like to lead my life.  Yet, it’s easy to slip to think one white lie won’t hurt… 

Recently, I have had a few interviews and sometimes the stress can be so overwhelming that I jokingly told my parents that I was going to take Francis with me and say that he was my emotional support animal (smile).  When interviewing for a job I find it the most difficult to remain truthful, I want to win my interviewers over, but I want to do so being uniquely me without exaggerations.  Sometimes, though it feels that without hyperbole my simple self won’t do.  I think that’s why many of us lie because we feel like our ordinary self won’t do.  Like without the photo filter we are not good enough- I have even seen parents use filters on their already cute babies and that breaks my heart.

Last year, at the Via Crucis on the beach one of my students took a picture of the sunset along the coast and then she added a filter and she showed me proudly how great the touched up photo looked and I remember telling her that I thought the natural picture was perfect and didn’t need filtering.  Does distorting an image count as a lie? I just know that too much filtering can absolutely have an affect on others.  I have heard of people who are on dating apps being disappointed when they meet one another in real life because they look nothing like the filtered images used online.  Yet, this is nothing new for years magazines have distorted images of women (they elongate the legs, take in the waist, erase the wrinkles…) and only in recent times have some begin to stand up against the unrealistic beauty standards they sell.  A few brave celebrities have also been adamant of not allowing their images to be photoshopped, but not enough to stop the distortion.

Though sometimes I do like to travel away from my ordinary life and jump into the plot of a great narrative- I do believe in living honestly.  Growing up, I always felt ordinary and for awhile I fought to be extraordinary- but as I mature in years, I have come to realize that God created me.  There’s only one of me, I am one-of-a-kind, even if the world doesn’t see me that way...  The writings of Brother Lawrence have only inspired me because they echo the sentiments of Saint Therese: small as we are, we can still be saints- sans filter. I am attracted to people with simple hearts who know their weaknesses and smallness and through that humility God is able to work marvels.  Brother Lawrence hoped that monastic life would make him smart and rid him of his faults and awkwardness only to learn that God was satisfied with Him just as he was.  This revelation, gave Brother Lawrence hope that his ordinary life (doing the most commonplace tasks) could glorify God and that’s just what he did.  When we know who created us, and how much He loves us there’s no need for filters. Ordinary reality is pretty special when there’s nothing to prove, no one to impress only to glorify God in our smallness.  There’s this song that I love that describes the lover trying to do all these things to impress the beloved only to learn that the beloved is the one making the biggest impression.  When there is love - authenticity and realness is what wins hearts.  That’s why to come to God we need to have pure hearts, hearts that delight in the honest truth.  

How I Made Twenty-Thousand Selling on eBay

I have been building a small empire these past months on eBay (smile)… After getting laid off, I decided to try my luck in what a friend of mine likes to call my E-Commerce (laugh).  Though, this little venture has earned me more than twenty-thousand-dollars- it’s hard for me to take it serious because it just feels too silly to qualify as self-employment.  Employment sounds so serious and what I have done has simply turned a disability and hobby into a mad money-making machine (more laughter).  As I have often shared, I am bipolar and sometimes in the manic phases nothing sounds more divine than shopping.  If you’re a faithful reader you also know that I have dealt with this symptom by going to thrift stores and wearing my shopping self out while only blowing a couple tens at most. In my shopping sprees I started finding really high-end merchandise that was not my style and I thought it would be fun to reunite the item with a person who would appreciate it.  That’s really how this all began.

I have been an avid secondhand shopper for quite a few years now.  While to me buying used is a way of life and my small way of decreasing my carbon footprint, I have discovered that buying used is becoming more and more common among people.  Thus, I supply to a growing demand.  Yet, to me this business is enjoyable because:

First, I like to score good deals.  I am cheap, I will search and wait until I find what I want at a price that I want to pay.  To me there’s nothing like the high of finding a pair of Jimmy Choo’s in my size for one dollar or an eighties Louis Vuitton Speedy for thirteen dollars- yes, those stories are real.  I like things with history and things that can grow old and not disintegrate as quickly as fast fashion does.  Usually designer pieces are made to last and that’s why I find things that are still quite wearable and at a price that I can afford and not feel guilty at thrift stores. 

Second, I love to restore, fix or reinvent a purpose for things.  I think I started selling on eBay leather purses that I found and gave a facelift.  While at first, I just wanted to keep things from arriving at the dump too soon eventually the accumulation was too much for me so I also started to share with other deal shoppers like me online.  Soon, I started to see what a nice profit I was making and before I knew it my hobby was paying for my vacations and now, my living as I find suitable employment.    

Finally, I like to take pictures and write descriptions and list my items on eBay.  I do it all with my phone and the process though time consuming is quite user friendly.  My nerdiness helps, because I like to do research on items and learn the history and the creative process of each of the items I list.  This, knowledge has been extremely helpful in helping me list and price things fairly.  It’s also introduced me to other designer brands, taught me how to authenticate and just learn how to tell if it’s a quality item when I am out shopping.  In addition to giving me a greater appreciation for the craft of how things are made.   

Shop, restore, and product knowledge have been what have made my business successful.  Three things that I really enjoy doing; thus, for me to think of the money I have earned doing a lot of silliness seems weird to call it self-employment.  It’s a hobby and my way of saying, “I will not go gentle into the good night” – no bipolar symptom is going to keep me down (smile).  While it’s a lucrative hobby, I have learned that I do not want to do this as more than that.  Right now, I am devoting more time than usual, but once I find a job it will go back to my little hobby and I am ok with that.

Six Years

I have been wanting to write this entry since July, when “In My Shoes” turned 6!  Six years ago, I started this little outlet to write about anything that popped into my head in the AM and though sometimes my thoughts in the span of the life of my blog have been repetitive -I usually try to share the new experiences.  I have been lacking creativity these past few months because I have had so many changes and for someone who thrives in routine – life has been challenging.  Nevertheless, thanks for reading even during my slump…  Since, I started writing this space - here are a few things (milestones) that have happened:   

I officially became a flats over heels girl- Though I still have a great attraction for high heels my new lifestyle has converted me into a ninety-nine percent flats wearing girl.  I no longer go clubbing or party the way I did as a pagan (LOL) – now I usually do things of substance that require lots of walking and have no access to alcohol to numb the pain of the heels. And seriously there’s so many cute flats!

I learned that four-inches is my max heel height.  When I do wear heels (mostly to wedding receptions) I have realized that no matter how appealing stilettos are – I need a heel that I can move in…  Though lately I have discovered that a nice platform or kitten heel can be just as great.

Dollar is now in doggy heaven and Francis is my new doggy here on earth.  Losing the furball that made constant appearances here on the blog was a devastating loss and it hurt immensely.  After I laid him to rest, I realized that I wanted to save another dog as quickly as possible.  I figured two miserable souls could comfort each other, and while Francis has been completely opposite to Dollar in every way, he’s already part of the Penny Clan, we love him very much.

My faith has matured.  I finally feel comfortable being Catholic and practicing my faith as best as I can because my questions keep finding intelligent answers.  Thanks be to God I found a Bible Study Group that I love because the group challenges me to study my faith harder and to get to know God more deeply.  I also, am in the Master Catechist program receiving the same training as aspiring deacons and though my diocese is revamping the program, I am looking forward to continuing my studies when lay formation returns. 

After, having this great devotion to Saint Francis, I began and continue my Secular Franciscan Formation am looking forward to my profession.  I found a great community of Franciscans where I continue to learn the legacy this great saint left for us to follow in our journey to Christ.  My monthly meetings fill me with hope and a desire to continue learning and putting into practice Franciscan spirituality.

I have also been connected with many different young adult Catholic organizations that have helped me find people like me.  I no longer feel like an outcast, but take pride in my Catholic identity.  God continues to place people and experiences in my path that make my faith anything, but stagnant.  I have monthly meetings with young Catholic women and we study our faith while growing in friendship… And I continue to learn how to live my faith in the world and balance friendships with non-believers too. 

In six years, I do see the great changes and am excited for the future.  On Sunday, Father said during the homily that we should strive to live honest lives of integrity.  And I hope to continue being open and true this next year.  I also, will try to be more committed to my entries and sharing not only in words, but with pictures… For now, Happy Sixth Anniversary “In My Shoes” and thank you friends for reading.

The Power of Religious Art

As a young Catholic I always wondered why the Catholic Church didn’t sell its artwork to feed the poor.  Recently, in my Monday night bible study class a mom was sharing that her son, who has fallen away from the church, asked her the same question.  I think when one has been outside the church for awhile it does seem like a reasonable thought, that selling the art pieces will provide income to help the less fortunate.  Yet, religious art has a greater value than monetary.  Many people have come to know Christ through artwork.  I remember a priest sharing that, he had once gone to a retreat high as a kite because he was a drug addict.  When he woke up from his slumber during one of the sessions the first thing he saw, was an image being projected on the wall of Jesus holding a man.  The image was so powerful that he felt immediately sober and being called by Jesus.  This image was his arrow towards a conversion of life and eventually a journey into the priesthood.  He claims that through the image he knew that God loved him, even in the state that he was in and that God’s mercy was so great that it allowed him to see a different life for himself away from drugs, he felt an instant healing and a repulsion towards drugs after that.  Now a fully ordained priest he has the gift of healing.

A couple years ago, I had a student in my Rite of Christian Initiation classes, who has studying art at university.  She said the first time she saw The Pieta by Michelangelo she felt God in such a powerful way.  She detailly described how each movement in the clothing and the expressions on Mary and Jesus transported her to heaven for a moment.  I remember she was in front of the class sharing what she saw in the sculpture and it really translated to the beauty of God drawing her in.  Though, her encounter was through a photograph of The Pieta, she said one day she hoped to be able to see it in person.

When I first entered Rome, during one of my pilgrimages I remember entering Vatican City and seeing the sculptures of the disciples and Jesus up high on the rooftop.  These huge bigger-than-life-three-dimensional representations of Jesus and his apostles brought  me to tears- my heart felt so full.  This powerful feeling of being in the presence of greatness of being surrounded by holy men covered my skin in goosebumps and for a moment I felt like time stopped working and I was in the presence of Jesus in heaven with our Church fathers… Lately, I have been using art to pray with and I have to say that images can transport and activate the imagination to bring us closer to God in a way only art can do so. 

Where are you in the storm?

I know our Church understands the power of art and that’s why it’s so intent on conserving and protecting it.  Its beauty leads us to God.  And while selling pieces to the highest bidder can perhaps feed the poor momentarily - Man does not live on bread alone.  We are fed by more than just the food that goes in our stomachs, and that’s why people travel to religious sites so often to have these encounters with God through the beauty of religious artwork.

Mexican-American

Happy Mexican Independence Day!  Though I have lived in the United States of America most of my life I do feel this great sense of connection and pride to my place of birth and my roots.  They say you can take the Mexican out of Mexico, but not the Mexico out of the Mexican… I grew up in this small apartment community (el barrio) where my neighbors were all Hispanic and right next door several of my cousins. The smells of Mexican cuisine and sounds of Mexican music were ever present as I learned English and adapted to the new culture of the country that saw me grow.  At home Spanish dominated conversations and my parents always advocated that no matter what I achieved in my new homeland that I should always remember where I came from.  I recall many times my parents sharing how they came across Mexican’s refusing to speak Spanish, “You can hear their accent and see the cactus in their forehead placed there from their homeland, but refuse to speak in Spanish.” They would shake their heads and then a “never forget where you came from” talk ensued.

Sure, early in my teen years I wanted to blend in with the rest and like the protagonist of Toni Morrison’s, The Bluest Eye, I too thought that the ideal beauty was blonde hair and blue eyes.  I hated people calling me exotic and just alluding to the fact that I though I grew up in this country my looks immediately classified me as a foreigner.  Yet, at home I continued to hear my parents and brother-in-heaven stress that I needed to be proud of my roots. I continued to celebrate the holidays with tamales, a community bonfire, large family and dancing.  Thus, slowly I made the decision to take pride in the things that I loved.  I began to see beauty in my culture, in my native tongue and in my people. 

Today, I constantly stress the importance of raising children multi-cultural- while it’s more popular now a lot of people still feel like they have to choose one or the other.  I saw this when I taught preschool – the mostly Hispanic parents wanted their children to learn English only- I still see this in the RCIA classes I teach young people that understand but don’t speak Spanish and it kills me.  There’s so much beauty in our Mexican roots in our language, and though for whatever reason we immigrated to the USA we can still be ALL of us- not just the new parts forming in this country- but also our native culture that makes us complete.  My Mexican culture values family and faith – what better foundation as we make new lives in the land of the free.  

Doggy Training

Yesterday, we had our first dog training session at PetSmart.  My experience was so positive, it felt like group therapy for puppy owners.  While I thought that Francis has been a difficult dog to train, I realized that he is ahead of the game.  Many in his class were older than him and still not potty trained.  We worked on “sitting” (something Francis has already mastered) and “focus during distraction” something that he definitely needs to learn.  I think the main reason I enrolled him in the class was because he’s terrified of other dogs and I am at a loss as to what to do with his biting (teething).  As he has grown his teeth have punctured my skin and it’s no fun trying to work with a dog that hurts you without him knowing how to use his mouth safely.  It’s been a long time since we have had a puppy in the house and while the smiles are endless, he has been getting into quite a bit of trouble with his nipping and digging holes in the backyard.  I thought that after he completed his vaccines socializing him with other dogs would be a breeze and that the dog park would relieve him of all the puppy energy that is getting him into trouble.  Last night, he began the class under my seat terrified of being in such close proximity to other dogs, but as the class went on, he got more confident and by end he smelled another dog’s nose which was such a great victory.

Patience.  I think that after having a dog (Dollar) that I was able to teach quite easily and didn’t have any major behavioral problems- I was in the mindset that all dogs with dedication would be equally as easy.  Yet, Francis has been the complete opposite of my previous dog and I need to accept that even though he is requiring outside help that he will (with patience) turn into a great behaved dog.  The class last night revealed that Francis is actually ahead of the game in terms of knowing commands- he just needs help in socialization and I need to learn how to address his teething in a different manner. 

Dog training is not just about training the dog, it's also about training the owner.  He’s so little that I was afraid about using too many treats because I was thinking that I didn’t want him to have obesity problems, but I realized that treats are my best friend.  If I cut his meals into smaller portions than I can give him more treats to reward positive behavior.  I think his size has also been bewildering to me because I am used to a dog triple his size.  When I go on walks, I think “he’s too little to handle too much walking” or I get scared when bigger dogs are around… Thus, I am also learning how to be a good owner to a smaller dog.

Last night, while Francis had a blast and came home to sleep a full night- I think it served me quite as much.  I realized that what I have at home is a puppy and I need to remind myself that Francis is a puppy in training and that though we have a lot of things to work on, he’s not a bad dog- but one on his way to being a great therapy dog!  While I thought the class would be for Francis, I realized that it served both of us equally- can’t wait for the next five sessions in the weeks to come.