Category: Thoughts

A nice surprise!

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Once upon a time, I made it a habit to pray a Hail Mary whenever I passed a particular “Gentleman’s Club” billboard on the junction from the 405 to the 105 freeway.  Of course I wanted the place itself to close, but I at least wanted that billboard to be taken down because it was not helping anybody.

Since I moved here to Culver City, I have prayed every day that we’ve driven by it.  I have asked my students to pray also.  Today as we were driving home from the hospital, Gary shares with me that the stripper billboard has been changed to a lupus awareness billboard!

I have lupus.

Obviously God is trying to show me how clearly he heard my prayer because now THIS billboard can help so many people – people like me!  Not only did it make me feel personally connected to the answered prayer, but it also confirmed the importance and effectiveness of praying for purity in all aspects of our society.

What wonderful news!  Praise the Lord!

+AMDG+

Finding Christ in the Advent Season

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I see him, though not now; I behold him, though not near:
A star shall advance from Jacob, and a staff shall rise from Israel.

(Num 24:17)

“The Good News of Christ continually renews the life and culture of fallen man; it combats and removes the error and evil which flow from the ever-present attraction of sin. It never ceases to purify and elevate the morality of peoples. It takes the spiritual qualities and endowments of every age and nation, and with supernatural riches it causes them to blossom, as it were, from within; it fortifies, completes, and restores them in Christ.” (CCC #2527)

As long as there are people choosing Christ, there is hope for our world…

A Witness to Life

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Life Chain

Meleana and Gary at the Long Beach Life Chain

This was our first time attending any kind of active pro-life demonstration.  Amidst a number of other things we had to do today, it was a hectic Sunday, but we were really glad we went.  Lots of feelings come with being part of an event like this…especially if you’ve never done it before.  It was awesome hearing the supporting cheers and honks from the people driving by.  Then there were those who silently made their way through the intersection and chose not to respond to the signs.  And the one man who made sure we knew how much he absolutely hated the pro-life movement…Gary just looked at me and smiled…I said a prayer for him…because that’s all we could really do.

The most amazing thing about the whole experience was just being there with the kids and seeing my husband so unafraid to be a witness.  He’s always been open to new things, so as soon as we got there, he picked up a sign and picked a spot among the crowd where it could be seen.

Gary

What a blessed Sunday it was…

“A child should never be seen as a consequence.” – Gary Dyogi

+AMDG+

It’s an exciting time…

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We’ve been busy…with a lot of things.  I just finished my first month of the new school year and as happy I was to see my students again, we’ve had a lot to do!  Since it is the Year of the Priesthood, Cardinal Mahoney has asked each parish/school to have a Vocation plan for the year.  I’m the school representative on the Vocations Council, so you can imagine how the wheels have been spinning in my mind about all the things we can do to promote religious vocations!

Gary and I have been asked by the Catholic Newman Club at Cal State Long Beach to give our “Goodbye Dating…Hello Courtship” talk this coming Wednesday evening.  They have chosen to theme their meetings after the mysteries of the Holy Rosary and we fall into the night of the second Luminous Mystery, the Wedding at Cana.  We’re always happy to share our story and lessons we’ve learned, and I’m especially excited because we get to do this one together. =)

I’m also up early this morning to finish my FertilityCare Services Provider application, and I just wrote the essay to mail along with it.  The first phase of training is in November and I already have potential clients lined up!  I can’t wait because there is such a great need in the Church for more NFP (natural family planning) providers.

Here’s an excerpt of the essay:

The bottom line for me is this – I want to change the culture.  I want to be proactive in this revolution.  I would like to be part of the solution to the rising numbers of Catholics who are unknowingly participating in the culture of death through their use of artificial contraception.  I want to provide an opportunity for couples to nurture their marriages and enhance their communication about the gift of sexual intimacy that they share with one another.  I hope to connect women who are dealing with challenges with their own fertility to resources so that they can receive necessary and appropriate medical attention.  How wonderful it would be if there were FertilityCare Centers across the United States where couples can go to help and advise them along in natural family planning – as numerous, if not more than there are Planned Parenthood facilities!

Big dreams, I know…but all things are possible with God.  He wills our lives to be better than we can even plan for ourselves, and He wants us to be open to his blessings.  What greater blessing is there than the gift of LIFE?  Please pray that this movement will be covered by His providential hand.  St. Gianna, pray for us…

+AMDG+

More Than Enough

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A couple of weeks ago, I was at the Life in the Spirit Seminar at St. Pius V…to come back home…to my family…to my community…to my God.  During praise & worship, we sang this song. I didn’t have a whole lot of energy to sing because I was so sick, but as soon as I heard the lyrics, I gave it all I had.  Every ounce of spirit within me cried out to God – to Jesus in the Eucharist right before my eyes.  I was so aware of how weak I was…how much I needed…and I opened my heart to the Truth of who He really was.

For most of my life, I had been looking for love, for approval, for acceptance.  That search led me only to darkness and emptiness and the realization that I didn’t understand what real love was.  Because I didn’t understand it, I couldn’t fully accept it when it was being given to me, nor could I give it to those who were closest to me.

That morning, I knew in my heart that I had to believe that He was more than enough.  And for those who hear me teach and speak…for those who call me for advice…for those who read this blog…it was so important for me to believe it for them, too.  Purity of body, heart, mind, and soul can only come through the Love of God…through the accepting of the Father, Son, and Spirit who fill every void and every need.

I cried.  I cried for me.  I cried for you.  I shed tears for all of us whom God desires to draw closer to Him.  My prayer was and continues to be that we will never forget the complete fullness of God’s Love.  How very good He always is…

Enough
(Chris Tomlin)
All of You is more than enough for all of me
For every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with Your love
And all I have in You is more than enough

You are my supply
My breath of life
And still more awesome than I know
You are my reward
worth living for
And still more awesome than I know

All of You is more than enough for all of me
For every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with Your love
And all I have in You is more than enough

Youre my sacrifice
Of greatest price
And still more awesome than I know
Youre the coming King
You are everything
And still more awesome than I know

More than all I want
More than all I need
You are more than enough for me
More than all I know
More than all I can say
You are more than enough for me

Worth the Wait

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Rule #1:  “You can’t kiss me until we’re standing together at the altar.”

Result:  I think this song says it all…

“A Moment Like This” (Kelly Clarkson)

What if I told you it was all meant to be?
Would you believe me, would you agree?
It’s almost that feeling that we’ve met before so tell me that you don’t think I’m crazy when I tell your love is here and now.

A moment like this.
Some people wait a lifetime for a moment like this.
Some people search forever for that one special kiss.
I can’t believe it’s happening to me.
Some people wait a lifetime for a moment like this.

Everything changes, but beauty remains.
Something so tender I can’t explain.
Well I may be dreaming but til I awake..Can we make the dream last forever?
And I’ll cherish all the love we share for a moment like this.

Some people wait a lifetime for a moment like this.
Some people search forever for that one special kiss.
I can’t believe it’s happening to me.
Some people wait a lifetime for a moment like this.

The speed of waiting love of all.
I wanna know that you will catch me when I fall.
So let me tell you this.
Some people wait a lifetime for a moment like this…

Some people search a lifetime for a moment like this.
Some people search forever for that one special kiss.
I can’t believe it’s happening to me.
Some people wait a lifetime for a moment like this.

In Pursuit of Love

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It’s 3:24 in the morning.  I had to finish because I was having a really “off” evening and something pushed me to get it done.  The story – Part One.  You can find it under “About” to your right, or you can click here.

It will always give me hope in what God can do for our marriage because He was the one who made it all happen.  On good days, our story will make me smile.  On harder days, it will keep us on track.

I never wrote a Part Two about our engagement…or a Part Three about our wedding…or a Part Four about our kids.  But I can remember so much of the days that followed that New Year’s Eve, and I am awestruck at the blessings and graces we have been given over the past five years.  By no means do we have a perfect relationship.  I’m half of it and just flawed as anybody else.  I am so thankful, though, that He keeps us faithful.  In good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, ’til death do us part.

Because “God blessed the broken road that led me straight to you…”

From the bottom of my heart, I love you, Gary.  I really do.

+AMDG+

Falling deeper in love

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I’ve been retyping our story for you.  Not quite done yet, but almost.  It’s the next “big thing” that I’m going to add to the blog.  Why?  Because people ask, and it’s a fun read.  At least for me, it is. =)  

Yes, people want to know how we met.  Or where I found him.  I actually didn’t find him.  He found me…on MySpace.

“For real?”

You read correctly, friends.  As my SPOC student Yousy recently exclaimed, “But there are MILLIONS of people on MySpace!!  How could you find her out of all those people?!”

God works in mysterious ways.

And the whole story is about God working…that’s why I need  to tell it and friends have loved listening…to the “Cliff notes” version, that is.  But since we are all so busy these days, I thought I’d share it here for you to read for yourself and see how He changed my heart.  It does me a whole lot of good to read it myself again and again because it helps me see how Providence truly reigns supreme.  God is SO good.  So good.

Our story also makes me appreciate the man I chose to marry.  Ordinary life is full of ordinary days.  The vocations of marriage and parenting are incredibly fulfilling, but we are not spared the challenges and difficulties that come with them.  Some days I forget who he is for me, and coming back to the journey God took us on in our early days makes me realize all over again that as human as Gary is…he is still AMAZING.

How does the story play into the theme of purity?  Our entire relationship has served most of the inspiration for the content of this blog.  Yes, there is much more to tell…much more to share than what you will read in “Part One”.  You just have to keep in touch and wait to find out…

+AMDG+

Common Ground

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A few weeks ago, I was sitting around talking with my sisters and our husbands, asking each other what we had in common as married couples.  What started as a pretty funny, light-hearted discussion brought us to the realization that our shared Catholic faith had a lot to do with why we married each other and stay committed – through good times and bad.  The girls’ interests are different from the guys’ interests…they love sports, we don’t…they have their own music interests, we have ours…etc. etc. etc.  So at first we were laughing because we’d ask each other, “So what do you guys have in common?” and the wife would answer, “Uhhh…we’re Catholic?”  because she couldn’t think of anything else on the spot.  And the one question that was running through my mind was: How is it that we got married with only one thing in common?

It’s not that we really don’t have other things in common and don’t appreciate the fact that we have our faith as the center of our relationships.  After thinking about it, Gary and I both like a lot of the same things…and I know it’s true for my sisters and their husbands.  Robby brought up the fact that he and my sister Emeline both love their son  Jacob.  Shared love for our children is a wonderful plus to add to the relationship because as a couple, it takes definite teamwork to raise a child in this world.  Our personalities also go really well together, so we see each other as a great complement to who we are as individuals, as opposed to being exactly the same.  Mike made a really good point: “If you have everything in common, then it can get kinda boring.”  I personally love the fact that my own husband loves to cook (so I can learn how) and sprinkles my day with fun factoids (or new dance moves!).

But what I’m trying to say is that I think it was really awesome that we could all say that being able to live out our Catholic faith in our marriages is No.1 for us.  We all go to Mass with our spouses, pray with them, talk about Scripture with them, serve the Church alongside them, and ground our values in the teachings of Jesus Christ.  What we teach our children and how we discipline them are also guided by our beliefs, and we try our best to be good witnesses to our families, friends, and other people we meet.  It’s HUGE. 

So praise God for that conversation because I know that none of us would choose anything else to rank above.  Every once in awhile, I’ll feel bad that I’m so NOT a sports freakazoid like Gary is because he’s all about any and every sport out there.  He listens to sports, watches sports, plays sports, talks about sports, works sports, and he LOVES his Frisco teams.  Me?  I tolerate it. =)  But what good would it do if we both loved sports that much but didn’t have a common faith?  

I don’t mean to downplay the commitment other couples may have who don’t happen to associate themselves with a particular religion or spirituality.  There are people out there as such who have no problem staying married to someone for the rest of their lives.  I just can’t imagine (for ourselves) how things would have turned out if we couldn’t fall back on the Word of God and the moral compass given to us by Mother Church.  As my mom always says, even being married to a wonderful husband or wife can get difficult.  Life is full of joys and sorrows, hopes and disappointments.  The graces given to us through the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony and the oneness of faith we have in our marriages have sustained us through miscarriages, major financial decisions, illnesses, and other unexpected stressors.

Besides all this, it’s nice to know that on very ordinary days when we are tempted to take our spouses for granted, we can think back and remember…”This is the gift God wanted to give me to show how much He loves me.”

+AMDG+

True fidelity

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In the recent weeks, I have had more than a few conversations about relationships and marriage…a couple of them light-hearted and amusing…some very hopeful and others very sobering.

My family and friends have been reflecting on their own situations and realizing that they’re all being called to a higher “state of being”, I guess you could say.  The young married couples are growing more grateful for the spouses God gave them.  The single folks are finding ways to prepare themselves for “The One” He will send them someday.  Those who have ended dating relationships are learning to live their lives apart from a love they once hoped would last forever.

I’ve been on my own path of enlightenment, too – especially after rereading the story I wrote of the developing friendship I had with Gary before our courtship.  In the spurts of free time I have during the day, I also read snippets of books I’ve had for a few years…trying to see how I can be a better wife and best friend to the man I pledged the rest of my life to.

In Romancing Your Husband, the author talks about communication infidelity.  Even if a wife is not outrightly cheating on her husband, there are verbal and nonverbal ways that she can be unfaithful to him.  Debra White Smith says, “If you live a life of verbal fidelity with your mate, your words praise him, encourage him, and generally build him up.  If you live a life of verbal infidelity with your mate, then your words will criticize, bite, or discourage him.”  If a wife is also belittling her husband in front of others or behind his back, she is not supporting him or trying to help him be a better person.

The funny thing is that the whole Jon & Kate plus 8 crisis/divorce has forced me to ask a lot of questions about relationships I may not have otherwise thought of if we weren’t following the show so closely (if you don’t know what I’m talking about, just pick up a tabloid at the grocery store…it’s quite a sad story).  Whenever I’d notice Kate being mean to Jon, it would force me to think about the tone of voice I use or comments I make…wondering if there’s a little but of Kate in me, too.

St. Peter in his first letter tells married couples to be “of one mind: share each other’s troubles with mutual affection, be compassionate and humble (1Pt 3:8).”  So I personally am trying harder to be the help-mate God made me to be for Gary.  It’s not that I’ve been horrible to him or verbally abusive, but if I tell myself I”m not that bad and excuse away little things that I know I shouldn’t be doing or saying, then I might be chipping away slowly at his self-esteem.  After a while, he won’t feel respected and loved or even valued as a man and the head of our family.

This is my lesson for the day, and I welcome it with all of my heart.  We all have things to work on within ourselves and this is a good step in the right direction.  Amen!

+AMDG+