Spring Semester Has Begun

Christmas break seemed to go really fast! All the same, every minute of it was blessed in some way. Now I'm back at Christendom and classes for Spring Semester 2010 began today. The entire college will be travelling to the March for Life on Friday, so please keep us and all other March for Life travellers in your prayers. Even more importantly, please pray for the conversion and commitment to the truth of all our politicians.

And...since I never posted photos from the end of last semester, I hope you enjoy the one above from Christmas formal. :)

Quote for the week:

"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. "

-Matthew 22:37

Challenge for the week:

Do something extra to show your 100% love for God.

Still Super Surprised (and Smiling :)

...and totally grateful for the huge party (belated graduation and going-away) that my family threw for me on Sunday without me knowing a thing until I arrived! This was the first time that I've ever been on the receiving end of a surprise party and it was amazing. I must say, they did a fine job!

Even though three people sort of "let the cat out of the bag" before the party, they only managed to confuse me, but not make me suspicious! Why would I expect a party in the middle of January?

The best was when a couple hours before the party started, one of our little friends (who is three) whispered in my ear:
Him: "Are you coming to the surprise party?"
Me: "When is it?"
Him: "Tonight!"
Me: "I don't think I'm coming...I'm not invited" :)
Him: "Oh. Well, don't tell. It's a surprise!"

Thankfully, because he didn't actually say who the party was for, I thought it was for someone else whom I didn't know...

Therefore, it was still a priceless moment when I walked into the bowling alley to be greeted by an enthusiastic "Surprise!" shouted by about 100 friends! Then my mouth dropped open and probably didn't close for two minutes.

So thank you to my family who planned it and to everybody who came and made it a super fun, memorable night!

Praise God for good times, good family, and good friends!

Merry Christmas Season!

And Happy Epiphany! As we continue to celebrate the birth of Jesus, our Newborn King, and as we celebrate the visit of the Three Wisemen, please join me in this beautiful prayer:

Prayer to the Infant Jesus

O Sweet Child of Bethlehem,
grant that we may share with all our hearts
in this profound mystery of Christmas.
Put into the hearts of men and women this peace
for which they sometimes seek so desperately
and which You alone can give to them.
Help them to know one another better,
and to live as brothers and sisters,
children of the same Father.
Reveal to them also your beauty, holiness, and purity.
Awaken in their hearts
love and gratitude for your infinite goondess.
Join them all together in your love.
And give us your heavenly peace. Amen.
(by Blessed Pope John XXIII)

Thank you so much for your prayers for Midnight Mass and for my voice...God is so good. He gave my voice back to me Christmas Eve morning -- just in time to practice and to sing my heart out for Midnight Mass and for Christmas Mass the next morning. Then, I lost it again almost immediately, and had to pray hard and trust that it would come back in time for a concert we were giving a few days later. And it did! God is truly wonderful.

All of the Masses and Christmas concerts that my family and I have given in the past two weeks have gone beautifully -- truly for and through the glory of God. Praise Him!