Our Lady of Guadalupe

Feliz Dia de
Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe!

Advent Conspiracy

Check out this video! It has an incredible, and absolutely right, message for this time of year! It's the message that I try to send in my mission and social ministry work throughout the entire year.

Watch the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVqqj1v-ZBU

Or check out the Advent Conspiracy website for more information.

There are plenty of other organizations like this out there, and I encourage folks to consider the message they all share. Whether it's water, or food, health care, an end to HIV/AIDS, restoration of the earth, human rights, peace, etc. - there are much better gifts we could be giving! And at this time especially, let us truly remember and believe that Christmas can still change the world!

Thank you Opat & CM TEC!

I had a great weekend! It started out with watching Jesi in a play on Friday night - it was a great show - lots of fun, and she's wonderfully talented! And it ended with going to see the play "Madeline's Christmas" with my Goddaughter Lucy on Sunday - the show was adorable, but not nearly as adorable as Lucy is!


But in between the two plays, was a wonderful celebration for Central Minnesota's Together Encountering Christ (TEC) program. The weekend marked the 30th anniversary of TEC in the St. Cloud Diocese. It was also the retirement party for Fr. Ken Opat, OSC, CM TEC's founder and coordinator. To celebrate we had a beautiful Mass with Bishop Kinney of St. Cloud; it was the most beautiful, heart-felt liturgy with the strongest sense of community that I've experienced since Mike and I's wedding! We also had a wonderful dinner, and ended the evening with a beautiful and fun program highlighting TEC's history these last 30 years, recognition from the National TEC Conference, and the achievments and blessings of Fr. Ken.

On a personal note, my TEC experience, and its on-going place in my life, has been probably THE single most foundational pieces of my life! Along with my graduate theological education, it has been one of the most important things in developing my faith and prayer life. Along with my mission experiences, it has been the most important factor in helping me realize my vocational call to ministry. Along with the house I grew up in, it is the only place where I feel at home as soon as I enter. And of all the people I've met in my 28 years, and all the places I've met them, the relationships I have through the TEC program are by far the most incredible. All of my best friends aside from my husband I either met through TEC, or were family and friends whose relationships have strengthened by leaps and bounds because we've since worked on TEC weekends or the TEC board together. Either way, I wouldn't be who I am without TEC, and would not have made it through some of the most difficult times in my life without these friendships. Thank you to my friends and family, and thank you to Central MN TEC, for continuously changing my life for the better and helping me encounter Christ in new and beautiful ways!!

And thank you Fr. Ken, without whom there would be no CM TEC, nor a great deal of other wonderful gifts. You have been a wonderful part of my life, as you have so many others. While sometimes I think you're completely nuts and other times you scare the heck out of me :) it's still hard to imagine TEC, and my life, without you. Thank you for all you've done, and will continue to do, to serve GOD and others through this great ministry! I pray for you constantly, and once again on this special occasion, I ask GOD to bless you abundantly. All my love and prayers Ken!

If anyone is looking for the greatest 3 days of your life, or at least a very fun and helpful time meeting GOD in a unique and wonderful new way, check out CM TEC: www.cmtec.org You can't argue with 30 years of experience, and National TEC Conference directors, both of which tell us: "CM TEC is the biggest and the best TEC program in the world!" Find out for yourself why!

World AIDS Day

Today, December 1st, is the 20th annual World AIDS Day - a day dedicated to increasing awareness, raising funds, fighting prejudice, and improving education surrounding HIV/AIDS. It's unbelievable how many of our brothers and sisters around the world are struggling from this illness and its effects.

• In the past 27 years since the AIDS pandemic began, 25 million people have died from AIDS
  
• Today nearly 33 million people world-wide have HIV, including 2.5 million children
• About 95% of HIV/AIDS sufferers live in developing nations
• Last year women accounted for 50% of all adults living with HIV
• People under 25 account for half of new HIV infections each year
• Africa has 11.6 million AIDS orphans
• Since the beginning of the pandemic, a half-million people in the US have died from AIDS (that's equivalent the entire population of Las Vegas); currently more than a million people in America are living with HIV, a fifth of whom are unaware of their infection

But there's hope! In my work with our Diocesan Partnership with Homa Bay, Kenya, as well as some of my other mission experiences, I've learned a lot about the many issues that surround HIV/AIDS in our world. Most importantly, though, I learned some of the names and faces of those beautiful people who too often get lumped into the statistics without our taking the time to see their identity and dignity beyond the illness. And through knowing them and their stories, I've also learned a lot about what antiretroviral medications and good nutrition and prevention programs are doing around the world, not to mention what the power of prayer, solidarity and support can do in bringing hope to our world.

I encourage everyone to drop whatever stereotypes you may have surrounding HIV/AIDS, and support the fight against it in whatever way you're able!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today I was in charge of my first Thanksgiving. We're watching my younger siblings for the weekend, and even though our whole family won't be getting together to celebrate until Saturday, I just couldn't not do Thanksgiving on Thanksgiving Day. So Mike, the kids and I made a feast and set the table all fancy. Then we did our traditional Thanksgiving Prayer where we go around the table and everyone tells GOD what we're thankful for. Some of today's prayers of gratitude included:

• A house to live in
• Being adopted into a great family
• Food
• Those who helped prepare our food
• Critters....from pets to chipmunks
• Having a job
• Education
• A break from school
• Talent (our own and others' to enjoy)
• and last but not least.....FAMILY!! In fact all 8 of us around the table mentioned how grateful we are for our family - thank you LORD!!

Right now I am just thankful for having survived the chaos of preparing a big meal (with 5 overly-eager helpers) and cleaning up after it (with 5 now under-eager helpers), and for the goofiness we enjoyed while doing so! :)

I truly am grateful for my life, my family and being among those who are blessed with abundance - not only of food, but of love, laughter and joy!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!

Happy Anniversary

Today is Mike and I's 6 month anniversary (our "half-aversary" as we like to call it)!

Last week we had one night off together, so we played "dress up" and went out for a special dinner. It was fun. Plus, ain't he cute?! :)

This one's my new favorite picture! My two favorite, fuzzy, cuddly and absolutely adorable loves.

I probably don't say it often enough, but I am SO LUCKY to have been called to marry Mike! ¡Te amo Mi Miguelito! ¡Feliz Aniversario!

Happy Birthday Jesi Rae!

Today is Jesi's birthday - hurray! Happy Birthday Jesi Rae!!!!

Here are some pictures of my BEAUTIFUL little sister:

She's the little cute one in the middle (although you wouldn't know it since about all you can see are her cheeks). Hard to believe sometimes that little goon is 22 already!

She's a thespian!

Us in Greece last December. I went to visit her at the end of her semester abroad (because 3 months apart like that was just WAY too long and far for us!)

Her and I on Mike and I's wedding day. It was no fair having her be cuter than me that day (but not at all surprising! :D) I don't know what I would have done without her there!!

Jesi is my vocal doppleganger - we are often thinking the exact same thing. She is one of the few people who really understands me, and is great at making me laugh, usually for no apparent reason :)
Jesi, I hope you're having a GREAT birthday! I love you LOTS!!

Great quote

I went to the Mayors Prayer Breakfast this morning in St. Cloud, and the speaker quoted Winston Churchill. I really liked the quote, so I thought I'd share:

“Success is the ability to go from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm.”

Halloween Fun

A few months ago Mike and I were watching an old episode of "The Office." It was a Halloween episode, and we decided then and there that we were going to have a costume party! We weren't sure anyone would dress up, but they did. Check out some of the creative people I spend my time with:

There's the cowgirl

The Turkey Farmer (or is he a radioactive waste specialist?)

The "Mike Gallagher" look-alike

The flower and bee

And a special guest appearance by Mario and Luigi! (our costume contest winners)


And then there's us. What were we thinking?! :)


The bobbing for apples was a lot of fun too....even if most of us were not any good at it!

And we have a winner!


It was a great night!!

Back in Time: the CrAzY month of May

I know it’s ‘old news’ but I wanted to post about some of the important things that happened before I started this blog – let’s take a look at the crazy month of May 2008.

First off, I graduated from St. John’s School of Theology with my Masters in Theology and Pastoral Ministry – woa!! I did my final presentation of my integration project the first weekend in May, and then walked in graduation on mother's day (I think it was a good gift for Mom, not to mention for myself). It was certainly not an easy journey, but one I loved nonetheless. And look how fun that fancy hood is! :)

Then came the really exciting event - May 24 – a day of celebration of love. Not only was it my parents’ 34th anniversary, but it was also Mike and I's wedding day! It was a day I was looking forward to for the obvious fact that it meant marrying Mi Miguelito - but I was actually not looking forward to the having a wedding side of the day. Thankfully, after months of prayer (and planning ways around the parts of the day that made me the most nervous) and a morning surrounded with a few of the closest and most trusted people in my life, I made it through the day...and now WE'RE MARRIED!!!

I loved all the 'alone time' we had planned into our day. And I love how handsome Mike looks :)

I also loved having my closest friends at my side. My siblings know exactly how to make me laugh, make me cry (in a good way), make me comfortable just being who I am (even amidst the most nervous event of my life thus far), make me feel so blessed....and make me laugh some more! Having them, and other family and best friends at my side or catching my eye throughout the day is what got me through it - and is what has gotten me through life before and after that day too! Have I mentioned that I love my family!?!

I had a lot of special touches with me throughout the day too. My grandma's wedding handkerchief was in my hand the whole morning and at my side during Mass. The garter I wore was made by my Mom out of the fabric and lace of her wedding dress. My wedding ring is a birthstone ring that my parents gave me when I was in high school, and the stone fell out a few years later; I had been saving it ever since, just waiting for the right guy to reset it and give it to me for this special purpose (it symbolizes to me the coming together of my family of the past and family of the future). My bracelet is one of a set that my sisters and I had when we were little and rediscovered a few years ago (Jesi wore a matching one, along with matching jelly shoes that also had nostalgic meaning to us). Everything had meaning - I never felt alone - generations of love and marriages were with me all day!

The Mass was by far my favorite part - it went by so fast, but every second of it just felt like exactly what Liturgy is meant to express - community! I loved having Carl playing for us, and watching all our siblings take part in the different ministries. And it was literally a dream come true to be celebrating this special liturgy at St. John's - my favorite church, and one filled with memories from my childhood as well as special moments with Mike (it's where I first knew I was going to marry Mike, where I gave him my ring, and where he proposed - where else could we possibly celebrate our wedding Mass?!) I loved having the chance to wash Mike's feet, and know that he will always be willing to wash mine in so many ways throughout our lives! My favorite moment of the entire day though was at communion time - Mike and I had made the bread that was used for communion, and we were Eucharistic ministers. I remember looking at the people coming towards me to receive Eucharist and thinking what an honor it was to be able to make and literally share Christ with them; it meant way more to me than any receiving line would have and I hope it expressed my gratitude better than any thank you cards possibly could.

The reception was fun too...my feet sure were dirty by the end! And again, thanks to my amazing family and friends for making it a great end to the day.

You can view other images from our wedding day in a slideshow done by our photographer, Tim Larsen.

Then it was off to the North Shore for our honeymoon and the World's Best Donuts (thanks to the recommendation of our photographer, who we would totally recommend – great to be around on the wedding day, great pictures, and great taste in pastries!)

And now we're getting ready to celebrate our 6 month anniversary next week - wow! Married life, while certainly not easy and always busy, is a huge blessing! I learn more and more about GOD's love for our world every day that I'm with Mike - both the joys and the struggles speak of GOD!

Welcome to My Corner of the World!

Welcome to my little corner of the universe! This is my feeble attempt to share things happening in my life.

First, a little summary of me: I grew up in Kimball, MN in a beautiful spot surrounded by water, woods, dirt and grandpa's farm - who could ask for anything more?! To this day my family's home is my favorite spot on earth to be. I was the 'creative child' - always putting on plays, and writing songs and stories (I prefer to call them stories, even if Mom and Dad did seem to like the term 'lies' more).
I have an insanely incredible family!!!! I have 3 'grown-up' siblings, plus 5 awesome adopted siblings still at home, plus a whole crew of aunts, uncles and cousins - many of whom double as both family and best friends today!
I also have a beautiful and Christ-like husband. We were married last May, and I still find it hard to believe sometimes that I have been given such an amazing family of origin plus the chance to start a great family with him now too! Add to that some of the best, funny and faithful friends there are, a unique and important ministry position, and many educational and experiential opportunities in our world, and you've got very lucky me!