New News :)

The long anticipated news has finally arrived... Wait for it... Wait for it...

I'll be going to Guayaquil, Ecuador in August!!!!!

Along with some of my fellow OT classmates and some of the members of the PT class, we will be traveling to Ecuador to provide OT and PT services at the Damien House (http://www.thedamienhouse.org/). The Damien House provides complete medical care to individuals with Hansen’s disease (aka: leprosy). I am beyond excited about this opportunity to participate in interdisciplinary treatment and being able to provide care to the residents and outpatient clients at the Damien House. This is yet another chance for me to serve others and to help those less fortunate than myself.

"Consciously or unconsciously, every one of us does render some service or other. If we cultivate the habit of doing this service deliberately, our desire for service will steadily grow stronger, and will make, not only our own happiness, but that of the world at large." -Mahatma Gandhi

(Not to mention, I will get to see the beauty that God created in the Andes Mountains. Don't worry, I'll take lots of pictures!)

My Calling.

I was one of those lucky people. Ever since I was in high school I knew I wanted to do some type of therapy - whether it be PT or OT. When I gave it up to God, He opened the doors for me. Since then, I've felt called to be an OT. I love to love and serve others, and in this profession there are so many ways that I have the opportunity to do that. This prayer hangs in the OT/PT hallway in the Science Center at Rockhurst. I'm not sure how many people actually read it. When I went to visit Rockhurst my senior year of undergrad to decide if I wanted to go there, I saw this prayer for the first time. The last sentence caught my eye. Every day when I walk past it, I always read and pray the last line. The other day, I finally stopped and read the entire prayer. I had to write it down. This prayer is exactly why I want to be an OT, and I hope that my feelings never change.

Lord, let me be willing to give my time and attention to all those who come to me in need. Lord, let me be sensitive to the concerns of those who trust me and dedicated to providing a better quality of life for those who depend on me. Let my heart never grow indifferent to my patients’ fears or hardened to their suffering. Let my life be lived in the light of your wisdom, in the strength of your presence, and at the mercy of your love. And let me never forget that I am no more than an instrument of your divine healing.

Prayers of Thanksgiving.

Today was a beautiful day and I have many things to be thankful for. Just to name a few...

1. My beautiful mother, who celebrated 57 years of life.

2. A wednesday night spent at Mass, on the 15th anniversary of my First Holy Communion.

3. The gorgeous weather filled with sunshine and a nice breeze.

4. A community of holy people who push me every single day.

5. A God who loves me no matter how many times I fail.

St. Anthony of Padua

His timing is perfect. As I rummaged through some of my things while at home for spring break, I found a stack of old papers that I had saved from my undergrad days. I came across this and decided it was way to good not to share with everyone. I know a lot of my friends are at a place in their lives where they could really afford to hear this. And honestly, so am I… that’s why I say His timing is perfect.

I know that my Prince is out there. Maybe we've already met. Maybe we haven't. Regardless, I pray for him every night before I go to bed. I am all yours God. Do with me what you wish!

“Everyone longs to give themselves completely to someone,

To have a deep soul relationship with another,

To be loved thoroughly and exclusively,

But God, to a Christian, says,

‘No, not until you are satisfied, fulfilled, and content with being loved by Me alone,

With giving yourself totally and reservedly to Me,

With having an intensely personal and unique relationship with Me alone,

Discovering that only in Me is your satisfaction to be found,

Will you be capable of the perfect human relationship that I have planned for you.

You will never be united with another until you are united with Me alone,

Exclusive of anyone or anything else,

Exclusive of any other desires or longings.

I want you to stop planning,

Stop wishing,

And allow Me to give you the most thrilling plan existing,

One that you cannot imagine.

Please allow Me to bring it to you.

You just keep watching Me, expecting the greatest things.

Keep experiencing the satisfaction that I Am.

Keep listening and learning the things I tell You.

You just wait. That’s all.

Don’t be anxious.

Don’t worry.

Don’t look at the things you want,

You just keep looking off and away up to Me,

Or you’ll miss what I want to show you.

And then when you are ready,

I’ll surprise you with a love far more wonderful than any you could dream of.

You see, until you are ready and until the one I have for you is ready (I am working even at this moment to have you both ready at the same time),

Until you are both satisfied exclusively with Me,

And the life I prepared for you,

You won’t be able to experience the love that exemplified your relationship with Me,

And this is the perfect love.

And dear one, I want you to have this most wonderful love,

I want you to see in the flesh a picture of your relationship with Me,

And to enjoy materially and concretely,

The everlasting union of beauty, perfection and love,

That I offer you with Myself.

Know that I love utterly.

I Am God.

Believe it and be satisfied.’

--St. Anthony of Padua

SOMETHING GLORIOUS BY REVIVE (BLINK)

Ash Wednesday

I'm not going to lie. I was a little giddy about Lent starting this year. Maybe it's because I have never been at this point in my faith life... I'm not really sure.

I started off my Ash Wednesday with the children's Mass from my Alma Mater - Holy Rosary. My home parish. I love going to Mass there. After Mass, I went to get my haircut. This was scheduled, but it wasn't until I walked in the door that I decided exactly what I was going to do. I've been going back and forth about whether or not I was going to just get a trim or actually get a significant amount of hair cut off. I sat down in the chair and my beautician, Amy, asked me what the plan was. I asked her if I had enough hair to donate to locks of love. She measured, put the rubber bands in my hair, asked me if I was sure, and chopped away.

So here it is, my Lenten Journey starting off the way Jesus wants it to. Locks of Love was calling my name this morning. I know He has big things planned for me and this was just the start of it. I can't wait to see the transformations that will take place in people's lives this Lenten season. Every day I wake up and thank God that He has blessed me with holy people who challenge me to love him more. So on this Ash Wednesday, I am praying for all of those people, that they may experience Christ this Lent in a way they never have before. And as my dear friend always tells us... Saints run in packs. I believe you are right. And I hope you are reading this :)

This is how long it was before.. :)

10 whole inches!

A Continuation to my Bucket List

To see the first part, refer to my post on:
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009

Sadly, I have only crossed one thing off that list: It was #36) Run a half-marathon. My goal time was under 2 hours. I ran it in 1:57:46. And, two Olympic medalists (Jackie Joyner Kersee & Caren Kemner) were at the finish line to give me my medal as I crossed it. May 2010.

Since then, I’ve added some things to my Bucket List. They are as follows. AND, I’ve already crossed a couple of them off ;)

44. Read 100 books I have not read before
45.Take one picture a day for 365 days of something beautiful.
46. Turn my blog into a book.
47. Volunteer with the Little Sisters of the Poor while I am in Kansas City.
48. Run the Kansas City Marathon (or any marathon, if not that one)
49. Take a Dance Class
50. Become more involved in the Church.
51. Send someone I care about flowers just because.
52. Write a letter to my godchildren once a month and put them in a book for them to have later in their lifetime.
53. Become unforgettable (but not for myself --for truly making a change in the world for the One who put me here in the first place.)
54. Learn about the saints (this is in process :) ).
55. Read the Bible, front to back.
56. Make a list of 101 things that make me happy!
57. Do a walk/run for a cause (every year).
58. Use some of my own pictures for household decor.
59. Take a self defense class.
60. Send a Care package to a Soldier (in addition to my brothers and sister-in-law)