Happy Homecoming

It is that time of year again folks…Homecoming 2013 is here! For some of us Homecoming (which will be referred to as hoco) is great, and something you look forward to every year. For others, the sound of cowbells and the sight of mum materials in the windows of Hobby Lobby makes you cringe.
Where do I fit into this equation? Well I'm right in the middle… I love the pep rallies, parades, football games, carnivals, mums/garters, and how the community comes together during hoco… however, I think that hoco has turned into more of a competition than a time to show school spirit. Most kids who don't have dates are down in the dumps during hoco week. I know this feeling very well, because for 3 years of my high school career I did not have a date to hoco. I remember feeling left out because all my friends had dates except me. I remember asking myself "What is wrong with me? Why am I not good enough?" I dreaded hoco every year and felt awkward at school events without a date.
That dread for hoco changed this year, when my friend asked me if I would go with him as friends. I was so excited, because I would finally get my chance to wear a mum on hoco day, take cute pictures with friends, and participate in hoco activities without a care in the world…I was riding the happy train…Until I heard that one of my friends didn't have a date this year. This bothered me, because I didn't know what advice to give her when she expressed her sadness about not having a date. How could I tell her "oh it's okay you can still have fun!" When I groaned and complained to her for 3 years, about how bad it was not having a date. No matter how many times I told her everything would be fine, I knew that in her heart she wouldn't believe me. 

My friends and I enjoying our last Homecoming!

As I walked around school on hoco day, I couldn't help but feel silly, for ever feeling like I wasn't good enough just because I didn't have a date. After thinking for a while about this matter, I've realized something that I wish I could have realized 3 years ago.

My beautiful mum!

In past years, I based my worth off of the fact that I wasn't asked out by a guy. Like how silly is that? Our dignity, as sons and daughters of God, does not lie in homecoming mums, cute dates, or fun pictures. Our dignity, as sons and daughters of God, came forth when we were conceived. Before we were born God deemed each and every one of us worthy of love. No hoco date can ever change that.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the mum my friend made me and I really appreciate the time and effort he spent to make my senior hoco unforgettable. It is my hope though, that girls (and guys) will look to God, instead of earthly things, to find their self worth. Saint Augustine once said   "You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You." Rest your heart in the hands of Christ, let Him keep your heart safe and allow Him to protect it from those who won't treat it right.

So whether you're dateless or not, you have worth! Just because you haven't been asked out on a date now, doesn't mean that you won't be asked out on a date later! Besides, 10 years from now nobody is going to remember who got asked to hoco, and who didn't. 
You are worth more. Don't ever forget it!


-Al

Leave room for Jesus

For the past 2 years I have debated starting a blog. When this idea first popped into my head, I thought that a teenager starting a blog was something that only happened on the Disney Channel or Nickelodeon. I decided to sit on the idea for a while, and instead start journaling as often as my little heart desired. Journaling was all fun and games. . .until I became obsessed and filled up my comp book and notes section of my iphone.
So here I am world! I'm taking my little old comp book to the next step. I am now a blogger. 

I've found that coming up with ideas for things I can write about is not as hard as I thought it would be, however; I have also found that coming up with an introduction blog post is not that simple. So I decided to google it. . . because that's what you're suppose to do when you want to find out the answer to something right? So here are some responses on what one should do when writing an introduction blog post: 

1. Invite the reader in
2. Be exciting
3. Be personal
4. State facts. 
5. Anecdotes.

Well one thing is for sure: Google did not help me at all. 
But you know what? That is totally fine. Because there is no right way to blog. Sometimes you post something great, and sometimes you post something not so great. So I'm just going to do me, Allie, and be secure in the fact that I will always write the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

So now on to bigger and better things! You're probably wondering what a "Cathlete" is, so I'll go ahead and explain what that is and what you should expect from this blog. 
Cathlete, comes from the words Catholic and Athlete…Catholic + Athlete = Cathlete. 
I chose to title my blog "Life of a Cathlete," because my life is all about Catholicism and select soccer. For many years my life was just soccer, which was great because soccer is my passion and what I excel at, however, when I got into high school my parents pushed me to be involved with other things so I could be a more well rounded person. I tried getting involved with some great organizations, but nothing seemed to fit. I later got in touch with my Catholic Faith, something I neglected most of my life, and through the grace of God found myself in Christ. 

(My reversion back to the Catholic church is a lot longer story than what I just told you, so I'll probably talk more about that in a later post…)
I've learned a lot about myself because of Christ, and have been blessed with the great opportunity to showcase the talents God gave me on the soccer field. It is certainly not easy to balance my faith and my sport, but I manage to do that and still have time for normal teenager stuff. Sometimes that means staying up a little later, attending extra practices, showing up to school events a little late, finishing my english essay instead of hanging out with friends, and much more. Quite often I hear people say "I want to be close to God, but I'm just really busy right now and don't have time." I'm sorry to say this, but that's an excuse. If I can play on two select soccer teams, take advanced classes, participate in clubs at my school, and be an active member at my church, you can do some prioritizing and make time for a relationship with God. 

I hope that my blog will be a testimony to all, that one can be a devoted son or daughter of God, AND have other passions and interests! God is calling each and every one of us to pursue Him in the same way that He pursues us every second of everyday. So let us all be on fire for Christ. Let us all learn how to be a better version of ourselves. Let us all learn how to balance our schedules. Let us all learn how to leave room for Christ. 

Until next time.


-Al