Another late night

Just finished another paper. Whew!

It's been a great week, studying-wise. I'm getting more and more motivated as I move along in my coursework...to the point where I'm starting to like my textbook and looking up journal articles. =)

I've also been doing a lot of additional reading. See below:

• Healing by Fr. Francis MacNutt (to reignite the fire for the charismatic renewal)
• The Exorcist: More Stories by Fr. Gabriel Amorth (for the nitty gritty on spiritual warfare)
• How Smart is Your Baby? by Glenn Doman (to prepare for the education of our little kiddo)
• The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding published by the La Leche League (for lots of wonderful and much-needed encouragement as I look ahead towards motherhood)

Basically my day goes like this...

7:30 Gary says goodbye to me and Baby and leaves for work

9:30 Wake up and eat breakfast. Then I pick up one of the books I'm reading

11:00 Get ready for Mass and walk to St. Augustine

12:10 Mass at St. Augustine with Fr. Rich (he's been there every day since last week...I guess everyone else is on vacation) + Rosary

1:10 Eat lunch and read again. Do prenatal yoga, if possible

2:30 Take a nap

4:30 Wake up and eat something. Then read/study again

5:30 Make dinner

6:30 Gary comes home. Eat dinner and listen to him talk about his day at work

8:00 Do homework

10:00 Get ready for bed, pray with Gary and try to fall asleep

My summer's been pretty simple. I do get to visit my family once a week and have school with Leilani and Elijah. Jaymee helps me while I teach them about the Great Saints in World History. We have a great time - I really enjoy it and I'm so amazed at how well they read and how much they understand about following God. Very fun. Leilani is so cute because she has to dress up in her St. Pius uniform every time. She calls it her "saint outfit". =) I love it. Can't wait to homeschool!

These days are the best, and I truly cherish them because my schedule will be packed again in August when school starts up again at St. Jerome. I'm a little nervous about how busy I will be once the baby comes, but I'm excited at the same time because at least I feel more equipped to face the challenges I'll have both in the classroom and at home. It helps so much to be going to Mass and receiving communion every day. Even if it's not perfect, life just seems more peaceful.

It's like I'm on retreat or something. =)

Another thought for the day from Gary: "Always look for the good in a situation and it will help you find the right resolution."

Good day

I got three hours of sleep last night, but life is good because...

• I didn't oversleep and I actually got to jury duty on time
• The Fullerton Courthouse had FREE wireless internet
• I didn't get called for the first round
• They sent us all home at 11:30
• I just finished my TPA assignment for LMU (the whole thing took me a total of 3+3.5+2+2 = 10.5 hours!)

Every time I've been called to jury duty I've been kicked out of the box for one reason or another. I guess the attorneys just assume that I'll be biased somehow. This time I was preparing to be called in to the courtroom again. I wasn't dreading it because I do find our judicial process pretty interesting, but I was really happy that I didn't have to leave the holding area and got to work on my project the whole time I was there. Whoohoo!!!

See, it's things like this that give me confirmation that God likes me...hehe...especially since I get summoned pretty much every year.

I'm just glad that I got done before the 5pm deadline. Gary sent me the following quote on Monday and I find it holding true for me and my schoolwork for this Credential/Master's program:

Remember that to do a good job you don't have to love what you do, just the desire to do it well.

I will admit to you that I do not like to study. I don't like reading chapters upon chapters at a time and having to write all these papers for school. But ever since I made the commitment to fully apply myself as a student during my last two years at Cal State Long Beach, I can't give any less than my best when I work. It feels good to try hard and to push through something that's difficult and challenging. That's what I expect from my students, so I should be able to follow through myself.

Of course I would rather be finishing my Master's in Theology right now, but this opportunity at LMU is definitely helping me become a better teacher. It's a rigorous program but surely worth the effort. I'm learning a lot about myself and my students, and I appreciate those teachers who truly know the meaning of good teaching.

That's one lesson I know Gary and I will be sharing with our child/ren. Sometimes you just have to suck it up and persevere, even when you're tired or discouraged, because God gave you the skills and the talent to do the kind of work that you do. I know Gary is good at what he does because he's making an effort to learn more on the job and outside the training room. He cares about his players, he prays for his coaches and coworkers, and he even takes what he's gained as a trainer and passes it on to friends and family who might benefit. It was nice to see him and Abie working out together almost every day last week when we were in Vegas. Great bonding between the two of them, and I'm thankful that my husband also cares enough about my brother's health to help him out along the way. Very inspiring!

Okay, I shall be going now. Thanks for reading this random entry. I need a break from this computer screen. God bless!

Caught off guard

The challenges were definitely not what I expected. The enemy really knows how to get to me, and all I can ever do is pray through those moments. Thank God for a pretty good week overall. I actually didn't come back more disturbed. I returned much more aware...and more grateful. How His grace truly sustains us. Were it not for God's goodness, we would all so easily fall into our most impassioned weaknesses, whatever they are.

Positive points of the past week:

• Daily Mass and Rosary in front of the Blessed Sacrament at the Shrine of the Most Holy Redeemer
• The Shark Reef exhibit with BIG FISH at Mandalay Bay
• Grand Lux Cafe (x2) at the Venetian
• Crepes from Paris
• Enough hours to rest and some time to study
• Quality time with Gary, Abie, and Mommy
• The orchestra at Phantom!
• Watching Joshua push Jeremiah across the floor in a laundry basket =)

Gary and I also celebrated our 1-year anniversary this past weekend at Glen Ivy, went to Mass at SPC, and ate yummy Hawaiian food at The Loft. I'm very, very blessed to have him for my husband. Happy anniversary, my kane!

I must say that while the enemy is strong, God's love is so much stronger. In those times of doubt, we often question Him...we question ourselves...we question so many things for so many reasons. I remembered all of those days and nights I would spent at St. Peter Chanel and many a church seeking consolation in the face of such a confused future. Kneeling in our "usual spot" with Gary by my side, I was showered with the love of God and the realization that much of what I had been waiting for was found in our relationship. It was all a matter of time, as people would say...but I believe that in the end, it was more of a matter of trust. As I looked up at the image of the Divine Mercy and read the words, "Jesus, I Trust in You", I could only thank God for finally letting me in on what He was doing in my life - especially with this little one growing inside my womb. And it's all so absolutely beautiful...