I Saw God Today - George Strait

Today was one of "those" days. I woke up in a rush to just get through the day. I didn't feel well, I had a Kinesiology test, a lab practical and wanted nothing more than to get through it all. All day long I felt like the devil was trying to get to me. Sadly, I was letting him. I finally got through my test and my practical. As I walked out of Van Ackeran afterwards I saw the most beautiful flowers blooming and was quickly reminded of the beauty of God all around me. I then started thinking about all of the other places in my life today that I saw, but neglected at the time, to notice that He was present all around me. I saw God today in the video recording of my Godchild/niece, Macy, that my sister sent me. I saw God today in the hug from my friend, Amy, as she was reassuring me that I was going to do great in my lab practical. I saw God today in my Mom's 5th grade class as they prayed for me, as they do every day I have a checkout or lab practical. (Along with many of my other faithful friends. You know who you are. Your rewards will be endless in heaven. I am forever grateful for all of you and I love you dearly.) I saw God today in the e-mail I received from Gusenord. (He is one of my favorite Haitians of all time! He is our translator when we go down there. His message was wonderful and absolutely could not have come at a better time.) I saw God today in the text from my dear friend Alex Pintus, which simply said "love you!"...this too couldn't have come at a better time. I saw God today in the smile from a stranger as I walked into Starbucks to meet Michaela. I saw God today in Michaela as she requested we say a prayer together before we began studying. And guess what? My day isn't over yet. I still have many opportunities to see God today. I'm thankful I have a loving God who sends me beautiful flowers to remind me to see Him in the small things.

April is OT Month!

http://aota.org/Practitioners/Awareness/OT-Month.aspx

April is Occupational Therapy Month! I hope those of you who read my blog regularly will take some time to check out the incredible profession that I, along with so many others have fallen in love with. By visiting this link you can learn more about what we do and how our therapy impacts people's lives every day (http://www.aota.org/).

Along with my fellow classmates at Rockhurst, we will be increasing awareness for OT throughout this month!

OT is a profession that enables people of all ages to live life to the fullest by helping them to promote health, prevent or live better with illness, injury or disability. Occupational Therapists take into account the complete person, including his or her psychosocial, emotional and physical makeup. This is just one of the ways we incorporate the six core Jesuit values into our practice (Cura Personalis - "Care for the whole person").

Inspired by the example of St. Ignatius of Loyola, I am seeking to make this world a better place in my chosen profession of OT through learning, leadership and service of others.

Our banner that will proudly hang out on campus all month.
Here I am with Probasco and Hess at the Health Fair, testing for DeQuervain's tenosynovitis.

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)