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!

P.S. In Case You Didn't Notice

When I mentioned the Fall Play in my Thanksgiving post a few weeks ago, I put a link to Christendom's website where you could read more and see photos. But in case you didn't notice the link (it wasn't very obvious), here it is: http://www.christendom.edu/news/2009/12-01-fallplay.shtml

Enjoy!

Finals Complete, I'm Home and Christmas is on the Horizon!

So, I have officially completed my first semester of college. It was challenging and busy (as college should be) but also very blessed and rewarding. I'm now enjoying Christmas break at home with my family, which is also busy, blessed, and rewarding! ;) We're preparing music for Christmas midnight Mass, which will be complete with violins, cello, organ, voices, and 2 harps. Please say a prayer that it goes well for the glory of our newborn King! (And please offer a prayer that my voice returns swiftly and completely -- I lost it a few days ago and I need it to sing!)

As we rapidly approach this most holy day of Christmas, here is a brief reflection for your meditation:

“God’s sign is simplicity. God’s sign is the baby. God’s sign is that he makes himself small for us. This is how he reigns. He does not come with power and outward splendor. He comes as a baby – defenseless and in need of our help. He does not want to overwhelm us with his strength. He takes away our fear of his greatness. He asks for our love: so he makes himself a child.”

(Pope Benedict XVI)

Please also join me in praying for the Healthcare bill, which liberal politicians are right now trying to push through sometime in the next couple days (over Christmas). May our Lord have mercy and intervene.

Prayer for our Nation’s Health Care Reform

(from Priestsforlife.org)

Lord Jesus, you are the Divine Physician,

And the source of all life and health.

Guide our nation at this critical moment,

As our government seeks health care reforms.

Give our elected officials the humility to know

That they are servants, not masters.

Give them the wisdom to realize

That every life has equal value.

Give them the strength to resist the idea

That some lives can be sacrificed to save others

Or that killing the unborn is a part of health care.

Give your people the courage to speak up

And to hold public officials accountable for their actions.

Save us, Lord Jesus, from a culture of death,

And let every reform in our public policy

Be based on the reform of our hearts and minds

In the light of your Gospel,

For you are Lord forever and ever. Amen.

I have so much to be thankful for...

(Even though Thanksgiving was a week ago, it's never too late to say it, is it?)

So here goes...

I am thankful for:

Christendom's Fall Play which went really well and for all the fun I had designing costumes!

The generosity and hospitality of my dear friend Amy's family who hosted me for Thanksgiving weekend. We had a marvelous, wonderful weekend!

My family (immediate and extended) who celebrated without me in Wisconsin but who shared the good times and sent their loving wishes over the phone :)

My friends near (here) and far

My classes which I truly enjoy and my professors who make each one fruitful and intriguing

My tests which came back with good scores ;)

This penitential, mystical Season of Advent, preparing for Christmas

And most of all, I am thankful for my Faith. Without my God, I would be nothing, so I thank Him most of all: For the Eucharist, for our beautiful chapel in the middle of campus, for the moments of peace and affirmation which You, Lord, constantly send, I thank You and praise You. You're the best!

So I close with a prayer for all of you and a note of gratitude for your prayers for me. Finals are just around the corner...

All for the glory of God!

Hello Everybody!!!

This is Veronica here! I am in the midst of a wonderful visit to Sarah at Christendom trying to fufill a promise I made to update Sarah's blog while I was here...


The long awaited pictures:







Hair-do's! (One of Sarah's many occupations)





Beautiful braid for Medieval Fest

Southern belle do for Halloween Dance

Many Maidens at Medival Fest!

Sarah dressed as Guess Who?? and Bridget dressed as Belle (from Beauty and the Beast) for the Halloween Dance!

Enjoy the update! =)

Many Blessings to you all. Sarah says hello!

~Veronica

What I found in my comments this morning...

sarah,
you need to post something there has to be something that is happening there.
--mary kate

``````````````

Ah yes, Mary Kate, and all the others who are wondering what I'm doing and why on earth I haven't posted in awhile: there is something happening here! A lot of somethings happening!

In a nutshell:
Last week I played with the Freshmen/Junior team for Powder Puff, so we had practices every day. Even though we didn't win the game (the Seniors were just too fast this year :), we had a lot of fun and I got to meet several juniors whom I didn't yet know.

Over the weekend I received personal invitations to join The Chestor-Belloc Debate Society and The Palestrina Choir (a special choir in addition to the college choir).

In addition, I have four tests coming up next week and I know they won't be easy. So as I study hard and try to balance everything, please keep me in your special prayers and wait patiently for me to post photos! (I promise I will, as soon as I have a chance to put them on my computer).

Please also offer a special prayer for a special intention I have this week.

Thanks and God bless!

"We can roll the dice, not decide where they fall." - anonymous

Halloween: Good or Bad?

Many Christians wonder whether or not we should be celebrating Halloween. Is it a "bad" holiday? While it's true that a lot of people use this day to carry out superstitious acts or vandalisms, Halloween actually originated as the eve of a Christian holiday (the Eve of All Saints Day). See: http://catholicism.about.com/od/thecatholicfamily/p/Halloween.htm

My thoughts: it's okay to have good, clean, wholesome fun today with harmless costumes and a celebration. Just avoid the gory stuff. Remember the Christian roots. Spend some time preparing for All Saints Day tomorrow. That's the real big holiday! And certainly don't miss out on the opportunity to have a Saints Party (even if it's small), complete with saints costumes!

Happy All Hallows Eve (Halloween)!
HAPPY ALL SAINTS DAY!

Busy, Blessed, Beautiful

I survive the busyness because it is blessed
I relish the blessedness because it is beautiful

The season of Autumn is all around us and it is so lovely! Leaves are falling in an assortment of classic colors -- yellow, orange, red, maroon...

One of our activities this week was Medieval Fest, complete with period food, a reenactment of the crusades, and an era-appropriate dance. Many of us ladies donned renaissance gowns with flowing sleeves while the gentlemen became knights and soldiers. So enjoyable!

Today's challenge: offer a smile to someone who looks lonely and try to spark a conversation to brighten their day.

May God bless you!

Fall Break Over...

So I'm back in the swing of things. Please say a prayer for me as I already have a paper due and a test and a quiz all on Wednesday. And it doesn't help that I miss my family more now than I did at the beginning of the year. Oh well, I'm still smiling. :) 'Cause it is nice to be back in classes with my friends again. :)

Blessings!

To Jesus
through Mary
in union with St. Joseph

Just three more days...

...until Fall break. Time is flying so fast!

I have my last midterm (Philosophy) on Thursday, so please say a prayer for me!

Today is the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima. If you aren't yet familiar with her story (especially the miracle of the sun), I encourage you to look it up here. (Click on "Apparition of 13 October 1917" for Miracle of the sun details).

We've been having wishy-washy weather here this week with temperatures in the upper 80's on Sunday and down to the 40's yesterday, but today is mild and simply beautiful! So beautiful, in fact, that we had Philosophy class outdoors, in a beautiful clearing in the woods overlooking the river. The trees are already beginning to change colors...so it was simply breathtaking.

Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us!

We Won!

The West won, that is. Today was our big East vs. West football game, when the East states play the the West states. It was a really close game, with East leading at half-time 12-0, but the West had a major comeback and ended with a 2-point lead victory. Exciting!

On a more solemn note, please pray for a fellow freshmen and friend of mine (Rob) who got knocked out today during the game when he fell head-first to the ground. He was taken away in the ambulance but we're hoping and praying that he returns and recovers very soon. And also for the swift recovery of both of our soccer goalies (from the girls and guys teams) who are sustaining knee injuries. Thanks and God bless!