For Granny

I took these pictures quite awhile ago for my Granny Yates who now lives in the nursing home in my hometown. Rockhurst's campus was absolutely beautiful after the first warm week of weather.

I spent a lot of time at Granny and Grandpa Yates' house growing up. They loved their flower gardens. When they gave Grandpa six months to live, Granny made sure he had a garden outside his window so he was still able to see how beautiful the flowers were. She also picked a fresh flower for him each day to have in his room. As I walked across campus and saw these flower, I couldn't help but be reminded of those times. I especially love the St. Ignatius of Loyola statue that sits in the middle of our campus. So here you go Granny :)

The Title of My Blog

I've had a few people ask me why my blog is called "Rejoicing in this Divine Romance." I was inspired by this song, Divine Romance by Phil Wickham. The lyrics are beautiful. You can listen to the song here, and I have the lyrics posted below.




The fullness of Your grace is here with me
The richness of Your beauty's all I see
The brightness of Your glory has arrived
In Your presence God, I'm completely satisfied

For You I sing I dance
Rejoice in this divine romance
Lift my heart and my hands
To show my love, to show my love

A deep deep flood, an Ocean flows from You
Of deep deep love, yeah it's filling up the room
Your innocent blood, has washed my guilty life
In Your presence God I'm completely satisfied

Do It Anyway

I haven't blogged in awhile. OT school has consumed most of my time. Yesterday was a very rough day for one of my friends as she was struggling with not only the stresses of it being finals week, but also having to deal with some outside issues that no one should have to deal with. So as I often do when I have no words of my own to share, I shared with her some words from someone much wiser than me - Mother Teresa. This morning I woke up to a beautiful note on Facebook. Thank you for your kind words, Palmer.

I was given these words by a kind and great friend, Celie, today. I am so thankful to have people in my life who really put things in perspective for me on such a tough day as today was for me. I have to remember I am here for one purpose; to bring glory to God. We are all here for this purpose and sometimes we need tough days to remind us of that.

"People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered; forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives: Be kind anyway. What you spend years creating others could destroy overnight: Create anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway. Give the best you have, and it may never be enough: Give your best anyway. In the final analysis, it is between you and God: it was never between you and them anyway." Mother Teresa

It is official. Bib #370 for the KC Marathon. October 15, 2011.

It's time to get my running shoes on and to get serious about this training.

Now, let's hope I can find the strength and motivation I used to have to finish the whole 26.2!

Heaven Song by Phil Wickham

May the angels welcome you to paradise, may the martyrs greet you on your way. May you see the face of the Lord this day. Alleluia, Alleluia.

Rest in Peace Uncle Harry! Give Grandpa a great big hug for me.

You wrote a letter and You signed your name
I read every word of it page by page
You said that You'd be coming, coming for me soon
Oh my God I'll be ready for You

I want to run on greener pastures
I want to dance on higher hills
I want to drink from sweeter waters
In the misty morning chill
And my soul is getting restless
For the place where I belong
I can't wait to join the angels and sing my heaven song

I hear Your voice and I catch my breath
'Well done my child, enter in and rest'
Tears of joy roll down my cheek
It's beautiful beyond my wildest dreams

I want to run on greener pastures
I want to dance on higher hills
I want to drink from sweeter waters
In the misty morning chill
And my soul is getting restless
For the place where I belong
I can't wait to join the angels and sing...

I want to run on greener pastures
I want to dance on higher hills
I want to drink from sweeter waters
In the misty morning chill
And my soul is getting restless
For the place where I belong
I can't wait to join the angels and sing
No, I cant wait to join the angels and sing my heaven song

Palm Sunday. One Year Anniversary of Dad's Ordination. Trolley Run. Thank You Jesus. You've been so good to me.

As I crossed the finish line at the Trolley Run this morning, there was a man carrying a huge wooden cross. Hello Holy Week. I thought I was tired running the four miles run in under 35 minutes. I was quickly taken back to the man I encountered around mile 2.5, who was pushing himself the entire way in a wheelchair. Then, I immediately thought of the Lord's Passion, and the last four miles seemed like nothing to me.

It was absolutely beautiful. Thank you, to a stranger who helped kick my Holy Week off with a boom. I'm praying for you : )

A life remembered.

How very fitting that UMKC/Rockhurst's Relay for Life is today, April 15th. It's been exactly two years since Lavelle lost his battle with cancer and it still doesn't seem right. I feel like he should be at my five year class reunion this summer, celebrating life with the rest of us.

It really is such a beautiful thing to have blessed so many people in your short 21 years of life with your laughter and happiness. You are not forgotten. Miss ya bud and I hope to see you again someday!