Parents and Forgiveness

Umm...where did February go?

I know I feel like I am starting my posts with the same line every time lately - "Where did the time go?"  "How is it already three weeks after my last post" etc.  But HONESTLY - ITS ALREADY MARCH 6TH!

Alright, enough with that stuff. I write today to briefly update you on the wonderful parental visit last weekend and to share a story about my own life journey these last couple weeks.

Update:  The parents were here for a wonderful extended weekend a couple weekends ago now...and boy was it fun to have them here!  It truly is something unique to be able to share an experience like this with people you love.  I remember being in ireland a couple years ago thinking man I really wish my parents could see this so they could "understand" a little better what I mean!  For example, when I would tell my parents I'm going to Gallup to go to Walmart - they could guess what it was like to drive to Gallup to go to walmart but this time, they actually got to EXPERIENCE the drive to Gallup.  Now,they know what I mean when I say I am going to school, or I am going to the church, or I am walking in my neighborhood, etc.  How cool is that?

Anyways, it was a wonderful visit that included Launching rockets with the 4th, 5th, and 6th grade science classes, a dinner out in Gallup with 20 other peeps from here which was awesome, a couple hiking trips to Canyon De Chelly and Window Rock of course, breakfast at Dine restaurant, late night reading at the Desert House of Prayer where they stayed, a cookout with all of us volunteers in our backyard, and of course banana grams.  Quite a weekend!

Needless to say, I am extremely grateful they had the opportunity to come and share in this experience with me.  Love you mom and dad!

"Don't get too close to the edge"

Just walking by some ruins at the bottom of a canyon...

Now, in relation to the title of this post.  Tonight, we had our weekly spirituality night which was led by my roommate Mary Rose this time.  I don't think she could have chosen a better night to simply take some time and ask us to reflect on our worries, anxieties, angers, happinesses, fears, etc.  It provided me with the opportunity that I have been yearning for all lent - time for myself to reflect.  I still struggle with providing myself with this time of reflection and I have come to realize how much I need it.  I feel like a million bucks right now because of that opportunity we had tonight.  And even writing this post is amazing!!

Anyways, in regards to forgiveness - Last night, I had religious education class to teach.  Well, this time only one of my second graders showed up.  Therefore, it was just me and this one boy - and the theme for this week's Gospel - Forgiveness.  This little 8 year old turned my life upside down last night as he spoke avidly about forgiveness and his experiences with forgiving others and asking people to forgive him.  Several times throughout our lovely discussions, I simply smiled because I remembered where I was, what I was doing, and who I was doing it with!  I was on the Navajo Reservation in Window Rock, AZ talking one on one with an 8 year old Navajo boy in an old gym that is part of a Franciscan Mission about the prodigal son and the theme of forgiveness - WOW!  How cool is that?  haha.

It certainly was cool and over the last couple days, this experience along with several others have truly helped me come to more and more realizations.  In thinking about next year and moving forward, I have come to realize that first and foremost what I need to do is love myself for me.  We as humans simply cannot expect to be able to give all that we can to our vocation and to those around us if we do not first love God and then love ourselves!  I have realized I need to forgive myself and reconcile with myself for all that I feel I have done "wrong."  As I have begun this process, I have already recognized a shift in my lens on life - seeing my students in a different manner even TODAY!  We need to share with others our love - God's love - but in order to do that we must first accept God's love and express it within our own hearts for ourselves.  Then, the outward door of love can be opened and shared with all.

Whew, wow that was more intense than I thought I was going to share...Thank you for reading anyways - and know that you don't ever need to agree with what I say - hahaha - just take it for what it is...a reflection!  Love you all dearly and have a wonderful night.

The middle of FEBRUARY??

Hello!

Wow, another two and a half weeks since my last post...I am getting lazy! - Or just BUSY!  Anyways, here are a few quick updates from the last couple weeks and a few things that are coming up shortly.

1) Spring retreat in Moss Beach, CA - AMAZING

This retreat was a chance for us to take a long weekend and simply enjoy some "nicer" weather on the coast of CA.  Our communities here from Window Rock and St. Michael's met up with the volunteer group from Sacramento, CA and had the opportunity to experience San Francisco, the beach, the stars, and of course one another.  Quite the refresher to say the least....

Golden Gate Bridge with a couple of the Sacramento Volunteers!

Just the lookout from the back porch of one of the houses we stayed in...

2)  The last couple weeks I have started to help coach the high school track team!  This has been quite the new experience for me.  And, I must say I have truly enjoyed getting to know some of the high schoolers - and simply being part of a TEAM again - even if its in a new way as a coach!  I look forward to the season and can't wait to see how this first experience of coaching continues to go even if it's not exactly in the sport I would have guessed would be my first coaching experience...I'll take whatever life throws at me these days...

3)  Speaking of taking what life throws at ya, I am definitely discerning what is next in my life these days as well.  Please continue to keep me in your prayers as I look into possible opportunities back here at the school, with another volunteer organization, and whatever else jumps in front of me...haha  Just the other day, I turned to my fifth graders in science and asked "Should I come back next year?"  The response was pretty unanimous......and it was a "yes" not a no....so clearly they do like me even if it's just a little bit :)

4) In regards to my lovely 6th graders...they are just dandy.  We have begun reading Bud, Not Buddy and man oh man is that a great book!  The kids love it - as do I - and we are already having some great discussions and debates on topics involved with it.  The students continue to present their State Power Points to the class this week...definitely a project I may have to tweak in the future! haha!  The biggest thing on my students' minds these days however is the build-up to this coming Friday's ROCKET LAUNCH with Mr. D's Dad and Mom.  We are currently finishing up our space unit and I thought what better way to end than with a model rocket launch?  And it just so happened that my parents will be arriving Thursday evening and joining us at school on Friday.  Therefore, Mr. D's dad will be bringing the engines and launchpad while the students construct the rockets the next couple days.  Should be a blast!!!

5) One Valentine's Day story - I received more Valentine's Day gifts than Christmas gifts BY FAR from my students?  hmmm.... :) :) I must be loved?  Hopefully that's what it means.  Anyways, I made sure to let the students know I loved them...In each science class, we started off with our normal warm-ups such as jumping jacks, line jumps, etc.  But then, my last warm-up task for them was to walk around with their hands in the shape of a heart and tell each one of their classmates, "I love you!"  hahahahaha...boy did this get a reaction in Every class!  4th graders loved it...5th graders weren't quite so sure...and the 6th grade boys loved it (the girls just sat down and looked at me...) haha  What a great day it was!

Ahh...chocolate

Alright, well I need to go to bed - but just wanted to update as much as I could on the past couple weeks.  There continue to be plenty of challenges here, but as always all I can do is look for the good in all those challenges.  Lent is here and I am trying my hardest to look inward more than any time before in my life as I focus on what am I called to do next?  Prayers and thoughts are welcome....as well as any advice! haha.  PEace for now.  Parents arrive on Thursday evening and will remain here sharing in the experience until Monday!  Will definitely post sometime next week sharing pics from the visit!

I leave with one picture that I just had to take when one of the neighborhood dogs came to greet me after work on Valentine's Day...Not the prettiest dog, but BEAR (as we call him/her) can be quite friendly and a reminder that I'm "home" for the day!

Bear....one of the "nice" neighborhood dogs

Off we go on another adventure!!

Hello!

So I know that I haven't been updating nearly as much as I would like - however, it has been quite the past couple weeks here on the rez.  So here are a couple quick updates - most of us mercy volunteers leave tomorrow morning to head to California for our mid-year retreat!! ahh...definitely needed!

So those updates...

The southwest liturgical conference two weekends ago = AMAZING!  This conference definitely gave me the opportunity to remember and more fully recognize some of my strongest passions in life - that being MUSIC and the want to make mass/church a place where people find a community...it opened up some doors in my mind that I didn't realize were open - perhaps a life as a Parish music minister??? :) :) :)...so now the amount of doors open in my mind are basically endless! I am so blessed to have these opportunities flowing through my mind...but man is it tiring to think about choosing my next step in life!  

Here are a few pictures from the event....

This is actually just our choir at church every Sunday!

Opening prayer

Some of the St. Michael's group that went

Another great choir!

Old Town Albuquerque - turned the corner to find this bear just sitting all lonely on the bench...haha it was ridiculous!

In regards to school, my relationship with my students is a rollercoaster as any teacher should expect.  One day I want to just give up, the next I love them all so much I don't even know what to do with myself!!!  haha...we are in the middle of a space unit right now and just finished up listening to their Planet Speeches today - fun times!  It will be good to get out of this crazy month of January where I believe the students have had two or three days off, three or four 2 hour delays (two consecutive ones the last two days), and I myself have been gone after this week four days due to that conference and now the retreat!!! Ahhhhh...I really do hate missing class.  It's so annoying trying to stay consistent with the kids and catch up on things when you are GONE!  haha

Alright, off to finish packing for California - please continue to send your prayers to me and our community as well!  Thanks!

Back home in AZ - ready for the warm weather....oh wait...

Well Hello there everybody!

We are back in Arizona!  We arrived back at our lovely blue house Sunday January 6th and it has already been a crazy week and a half or so since being back.  Not going to lie though, it hasn't exactly been the easiest transition for any of us after getting a little taste of our lives away from here.  It's always hard transitioning though right?

Well anyways, after a week full of disappointing football games and cold weather, we had a whopping 45 minutes of school time this morning before being let out due to the FROZEN PIPES in all the buildings on campus!  Yes that's right...frozen pipe day! It has been getting down to -15 or -20 or so the last several nights and tonight is not supposed to be much better with it forecasted to reach -22!!!!  Crazy.  We already have a two hour late start - so we will see what happens...

This quarter we are moving into preparing for accreditation of our school which is getting pretty crazy! However, I love it too!  I love that our school is taking it upon ourselves to take a look in the mirror and point out what we need to work on as a school in order to make it the best possible place for our students.  The kids deserve it.

I am also looking forward to this upcoming week because on Wednesday I leave for Albuquerque where I will be attending the Southwest Liturgical Conference for four days!  I will be attending with a few members of the mission parish and am thoroughly pumped to learn about different religious education realms from great speakers and leaders of the church here in the Southwest!  I am even attending a session where none other than a Norbertine Canon will be the speaker - Woot woot!

It should be a wonderful learning experience that will certainly challenge me to continue to be the best educator I can while always keeping in mind and intertwining my gift of faith!

Alright, off to play banana grams - becoming a house favorite - gotta love it!

Peace

p.s.  New Year's Resolution - Take me where you want me to go God (hahaha...but seriously)