Thanksgiving Shenanigans

First off, I just wanted to say a quick thanks to everyone who has been so complimentary of my previous posts. I've gotten so many sweet messages from readers, and I'm just really blown away by the support I've received. So if you're reading this. . . THANKS AND GOD BLESS YOU!

Man it is so crazy how quickly this year is slipping on by. Thanksgiving has come and gone just like that, and there is less than a month until Christmas. . . LIKE HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?! I'm so excited that this year is going by rather quickly, but at the same time I'm feeling anxious because 2014 is going to be a year filled with lots of changes! However, now is not the time to worry about all the things to come. Now is the time to live in the present and concentrate on what I have to be thankful for this holiday season. 

Right now I'm thankful that God let me have such a lovely Thanksgiving break! I did a lot of awesome stuff over the break, so here is a list of all the shenanigans I was up to last week: 

1.  Movie date! Texas experienced some pretty bad weather last weekend, so all of the fun activities my sister and I had planned got cancelled. So we decided to go see the new Hunger Games movie, Catching Fire. It was really great spending some one on one time with my little sister. I hope that we'll be able to have some more fun times like that before I leave for college, because I'm really going to miss her :(

   

   Just in case you can't tell. . . my sister was really excited to see Catching Fire! 

2. Adventure into the City! My friend Erin and I went to visit our friend, Tj, who is being treated at hospital  30 minutes away in the city. I felt really awesome and independent driving to the city without my parents, so that was rad. . . ANYWAYS, it was really great to see my friend Tj, and find out that he is doing a lot better!(Keep him in your prayers please!)  
   
   Oh, but the fun did not stop there. Erin and I realized that there was a cathedral 5 minutes away, so we stopped in to have a look around. We were immediately amazed upon walking into the church, because it had such a beautiful  altar. Probably one of the most beautiful altars I'd ever seen. What I loved about it, was the fact that there was a statue of Momma Mary right above it. Like the whole thing was just beyond beautiful. . . just thinking about the cathedral takes my breath away. I'm so happy that Erin and I got to check it out!
   
   
3. Thanksgiving Potluck! My church hosts an annual Thanksgiving potluck. Usually I don't go because I have to help my Mom prepare for Thanksgiving, but this year my Mom didn't need help I guess so I got to go! I met up with some of my youth group friends beforehand, so it was really nice to catch up with all my cool Catholic friends.  It really made me wish that I had been able to go to the potluck in years prior, because I had such a pleasant time. Like who doesn't like getting to eat an extra Thanksgiving meal and hang out with cool Catholics!?
4. Thanksgiving! Our family friends came over and celebrated the day of thanks with my family and I. We don't get to see them often because they live a little over an hour away, so anytime that we get to spend with them is always lovely. The family has a daughter my age, Chelsea, and a son my brother's age, Dylan, so we always get a long very well. 
   
5. Sleepovers! Every Thanksgiving my best friend Chelsea spends the rest of
   Thanksgiving weekend with us, which is always one big party. Chelsea is really goofy, and I'm really goofy, so when you put two goofballs together you know shenanigans and fun are bound to happen. Chelsea is a year younger than me, so it was also kind of bitter sweet this year, because I know it will be so weird next year at Thanksgiving when I'm the one coming home from college. I've known her since I was 9 years old, so it's really awesome that our friendship is still the same after all these years. 
   
6. Soccer! I had a tournament the day after Thanksgiving, which was not something I was looking forward to at first, because I really don't like having tournaments the day after a major holiday. . .BUT, I realized that having a tournament the day after Thanksgiving wasn't so bad. I mean that gave me an excuse to eat anything I wanted, because I knew I would have 3 soccer games to burn off all that turkey, pie, and stuffing. Praise God! 

It's safe to say that I had a fantastic Thanksgiving break, but now that it is over, it's time to focus on the new liturgical year. We are now in the season of Advent, a time in which we solidify the foundation of our Faith, and prepare to live another year in a way that is pleasing to our Lord. I'm so grateful that God granted me such a peaceful break, so now it's time show my appreciation by working hard not only in this season of Advent, but also, for the rest of the year to grow in my relationship with Christ. 
For Advent I decided to challenge myself, by setting aside time everyday to meditate on the readings for the day. I've also been reading the blog of this really awesome priest, who writes about things to think about after reading scripture. The combination of scripture and the blog has allowed me to be less distracted during prayer. It's really crazy, because I wasn't expecting the addition of daily scripture to effect my day to day life that much. . . but it really has. I find myself being more positive, and my thoughts more directed towards Christ. I'm really happy that I've found zeal for scripture! Praise God, for He is WAY to good!
Try to challenge yourself this Advent to do something extra, so you can grow in your relationship with God and give Him thanks!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving break, and that everyone is preparing their hearts for Christmas!


Praying for y'all!

-Al 

P.S.

Here is the link to that Priest's blog I'm reading! Enjoy!

http://fralfonse.blogspot.com

We Are One Body

One of my favorite things to do at youth group is participate in small group discussions. Typically, we eat dinner with our small group for about twenty minutes, then meet up later on to discuss the topics that were presented to us in the larger group setting. Although I am pretty good friends with most kids in my youth group, I don't know all of them on a personal level. This year in particular, has been a challenge for my small group, because we have a lot of new kids so it has taken a while for us to open up to each other. For me, sharing my opinions/feelings/questions about my faith or life is so easy. .. I mean I could probably talk for hours on end if they let me. Thankfully, most of the other kids in my small group are not like me, so it has been really great getting to know the members of my small group over the past 2 months on a deeper level.

Last week at youth group we discussed our plans for the future and lifelong goals. It was really great because all of the kids in my small group are seniors, so everyone was able to contribute to the group discussion. As we all chatted a bit about what we see in our future I noticed that no two people in my group shared similar answers. The answers varied from a college professor, to a business woman, to a sports dude, to a PE teacher, to a stay at home mom. I looked around at the different members in my small group and thought to myself, how on earth did we all end up in the same group? It actually blows my mind how different each kid in my group is from the other. I am the outgoing soccer player, Brendan is the easy going golfer, Lindsey is the intellectual jokester, Chris is the silly band kid, Amanda is the quiet sweetheart, Karen and Edwin the super reserved kids, Charlie is the braniac, and Kristina and Abby are the bubbly go getters. I found myself amazed at how we were all able to pour our hearts out and share such personal things with each other during small group discussion that night.

Although we all had different immediate goals for our future, we all had the same ultimate goal; live a life according the the will of God. How crazy is that? 10 people, with 10 totally different personalities, and 10 totally different career goals are united by one goal: CHRIST.
That is the reason why I love youth group so much. I absolutely love how people from totally different backgrounds can come together and adore God. Some people say that going to youth group is pointless, but for me, youth group is really what keeps me sane. Regardless of what kind of week I'm having, the youth at my church always put a smile on my face and make me remember the positive things in my life. I always leave youth group feeling ready for the coming week, and inspired to be holier woman of God.

My 2 favorite verses from Hebrews are:
"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,  not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

I love these verses, because I think that way too often we forget that Christ didn't intend for us be quiet and serious all the time. He intended for us to have times of silence and reverence, and times of joy and excitement where we can be on fire for God. I think that sharing our faith with others on a weekly basis is really important for spiritual growth. Having a place in which you can go and ask questions and examine your faith is a GREAT way to learn more about yourself and grow as a Christian. I can't tell you guys how many questions I've gotten answered about my beautiful Catholic faith by going to youth group. Like the things that I have learned over the past 3 years of being involved with youth ministry are really incredible. Not only have I grown in my faith, but also, I have grown relationships with other cool Catholic kiddos who are now some of my best friends. (The best part is that I am still learning and growing! God is endless, so we can never get enough of Him!)

I don't know what Christ has planned for me in the future, but I do know that having a strong Catholic community by my side will push me to grow closer to Jesus, and not take life so seriously. I'm truly blessed to be apart of the Catholic church, and have such a lovely youth group.

We are one body, one body in Christ; and we do not stand 

alone.


Never forget it.

-Al