Credit Where Credit is Due

In my latest two posts, I shared two wonderful quotes from two wonderful women.
Now it's only right that I share where I found these quotes:

Betty Scott Stam:
found on girltalkhome.com

Corrie Ten Boom:
found in Alex and Brett Harris' book Start Here: Doing Hard Things Right Where You Are

Spiritual Surrender = Eternal Joy!

"Lord, I give up all my own plans and purposes, all my own desires and hopes, and accept Your will for my life. I give myself, my life, my all utterly to You to be yours forever. Fill me and seal me with Your Holy Spirit. Use me as You want, send me where You want, work out Your whole will in my life at any cost, now and forever."

-Betty Scott Stam, Christian missionary and martyr in China

Blessed Pentecost Sunday, my friends, (just two days late)! I spent the Solemnity at the Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist in Ann Arbor, MI on retreat, followed by a brief camping trip with my family. Thank the Lord for spiritual and physical rejuvination!

Mary, Mother of Jesus and Spouse of the Holy Spirit, pray for us!

Courage + Humility + Gratitude =

Heroism!

These virtues are what made holocaust survivor Corrie ten Boom the true heroine that she was:

"When people come up and give me a compliment -- 'Corrie, that was a good talk,' or 'Corrie, you were so brave,' I take each remark as if it were a flower. At the end of each day I lift up the bouquet of flowers I have gathered throughout the day and say, 'Here you are, Lord, it is all yours.'"

Praise God for the gifts He showers upon each of us each day!

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My current good news is that I survived finals :), enjoyed a busy and wonderful final weekend at Christendom, and am now home safe and sound. Thank You, Lord!

Reflection on Freshman Year

Classes are complete. 2 finals done and 4 more to go. Where has freshman year gone? It has become a wonderful memory... a year of so many blessings, so many graces given by God. I have learned so much, participated in so many activities, grown in so many ways. There are many dear, dear people whom I am now privileged to call my friends (who make the idea of leaving for 3 whole months very difficult). But at the same time, summer is near and I look forward to spending it with my family and friends back home, working and volunteering and doing things I love to do!

Thank You, Lord, for bringing me to Christendom. Words cannot express my gratitude for all the gifts You are giving me here. Please help me to give back in some small way. Help me to make the world a better place for You!

Today's challenge: Take a moment to pause and thank God specifically. How has he blessed your life today? This week? This school year? Please keep me in your prayers, friends, and know that you are in mine!

For some wonderful spiritual reflections, see my sister Claire's blog here!