Am I ready for the next step??

I am going on 2 months now of "actively discerning" religious life!!! I wish I could explain this feeling of how "right" everything is...

I use to not attend mass regularly. Most of the time I had "a good excuse". I was too tired, I didn't want to get up for 8:30 mass on a Sunday, I had other plans, I didn't have a chance to take a shower. I was distancing myself from God. Did I do it on purpose? I don't think so. I think it was hearing that little voice calling me to explore religious life, but my desire to be like everyone else made me want to run away from it. Make sense? 

Well, I was at mass this Sunday in my parish (doesn't happen too often for various reasons). In attendance were 3 out of 5 of my classmates from school. (Our parish had closed the school when were in 2nd grade) 2/6 are now married, 1/6 is still in school, 2/6 I'm unsure of, and then there is me. So, as I was sitting at mass I was thinking at how much we all have grown apart. They wouldn't even make eye contact with me. (One of the reasons I do not like going here for mass) I wonder what they would say if I told them of my vocation...

Also, while at mass, I got to thinking about the sacraments I have received. They all have happened at this church. Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation. I use to think that I would become married at this church, I even planned how I would decorate for my wedding. My mind seemed at peace thinking that I may not get married in my little parish. It was a weird feeling, like God was sitting next to me, holding my hand, telling me that he has such big plans for me and to just trust him. 

My brain is telling me to slow down, to take this all in and enjoy the journey of discernment. My heart is telling me to take the next step. Start talking to different religious orders. Go visit a couple. I will have to talk to my spiritual director about this...

Answer Me This #4

Welcome back for my 4th week linking up with catholicallyear.com for Answer Me This! Hope you all enjoy getting to know me a little better!


1. What is your favorite picture book?

Wow, this is tough...I LOOOOOOVVVVVEEEE  books!!! As a child, I would always want to read this book

Its a cute book about a boy and a bear on a mission to pick berries. Okay, so it has a strange plot, but I love the illustrations and how it brought out my imagination as child. When I took a Children Lit class in college, my teacher told me that she hated this book. I never did find out why. She was  reading specialist at  a local school district.





As I mentioned, I took a Children Lit class in college (I am a teacher after all). I read MANY books in that class. Some of my favorites were wordless picture books.

"Flotsam" holds a special place in my love of books because my teacher I mentioned gave us each a copy at the end of the semester and left us each a nice note. I then used this book during my student teaching experience. "The Invention of Hugo Cabret" is a (mostly) wordless CHAPTER BOOK!!! I have shared this book with many students who then also fall in love with it. I strongly encourage you all to check out both of these plus other wordless picture books. They help develop imagination in children!


2. Are you a boycotter?

I try, but I don't always stay away. I live in a small town where the nearest Wal-Mart is 15 minutes to the next town. That town has a little more, but not a huge variety....There is one place I will never go to for fish on a Friday again.

3. How do you feel about cheese?

Cheese on my eggs, cheese on my spaghetti, cheese on my salad, cheese on my sandwich, cheese on my veggies, cheese on my pizza, cheese on my cheese!!!

I LOVE CHEESE!!!

 

Now to go have a late night cheese snack...

4. How many pairs of sunglasses do you own?

I own A LOT of sunglasses...my problem is that I "misplace" them around the house, thus I can never find them and then I go and buy another pair. I will say that I never spend more than a few dollars on my sunglasses because of this problem.

5. How long has it been since you went to the dentist?

Can I pass on this? I have a terrible dentist phobia on top of a making phone calls to doctor office phobia (is there really such a thing?) therefore it has been awhile. I will leave it at that...don't judge!

6. If you could visit any religious site in the world, where would you go?

This is tough! I would love to visit the Vatican...what Catholic doesn't? There are other places I would like to visit as well. Since reading about Thomas Becket and my Parish I have been a member of FOREVER is St. Augustine of Canterbury, I would like to visit Canterbury Cathedral. I have recently became interested in the Camino de Santiago and this would be a "place" I would like to go. I say "place" because it is really a pilgrimage across Spain.

For the Love of Blogging

I have been mostly blogging from my phone. Well, my phone is slowly dying  and most of my apps have been deleted because "lack of storage". So, I started blogging from my computer. I can now see that people are reading my blog!!! (Okay, they are mostly just reading my "Answer Me This", but that still counts!!)

This makes me feel good! I REALLY enjoy reading blogs, particularly Catholic blogs, and even more so, blogs by other people discerning and those that have taken vows to religious life. I will continue to blog because I like blogging. It is my hope that at least ONE person finds this blog and is moved by what I have to say, realizes that it is okay to be interested in religious life, and sees that there are other vocations besides married life and priesthood!

Other blogs by religious that I like are
sisterintraining.blogspot.com
whomeasister.blogspot.com 

(Both of these are not updated very often)

Then there this website that has a directory of Catholic blogs:
catholicblogs.blogspot.com

If you have a blog that you think I may be interested in reading, leave the link in the comments!

Answer Me This #3

I really enjoy these linkups with CatholicAllYear.com so I will continue to do them!


1. What is your favorite room in the house?

I love being in my room when I want quiet...this isn't too often. I like noise. This often gets me in trouble as a teacher because I have a high noise tolerance. I like to be in the living room because that is where it's noisy. I can have the TV on, hear people moving around the house, and I can hear the outside noise. I need to become better at enjoying the quiet...

2. Do you subscribe to any magazines or other periodicals?

I don't. I will by magazines from the store when I see something I want to read. I access the newspaper online. The internet is so much easier and cheaper than buying a paper that ends up in the recycling bin the next day.

3. How do you feel about the sign of peace in Mass? Enriching? Awkward? Overdone? Just right? Some combination of the above?

I like the sign of peace...when it doesn't get out of hand. I have been on many retreats where we go around the room and give a sign of peace (most of the time it's a hug) to EVERYONE. This takes away from the fact that we are about to receive Jesus. I like to shake the hands of those around me, and then give my focus to the alter and prepare to receive Jesus.

I wrote this a few days ago, and have since come back to it...I have had a revelation of sorts...Here it is:

Having a dinner party? You know who you are having a meal with. You great everyone as they come in. Having dinner at someone else's house? You might not know someone  and you greet them kindly before dinner. Think of the Eucharist as a dinner party with the Church. Before taking part in the "Ultimate Dinner Party", let's all greet those around us and offer them the sign of peace. However, let's also remember the purpose of this "Dinner Party"!

I was at mass at a different parish the other week and the guy behind us told us he "doesn't do that" He also was critical of the priest (not the parish priest)

4. What is your least favorite sound?

The sound of metal scrapping. Like in winter when the snow plows are scraping the streets. Also when shovels hit something hard. I just can't stand that sound.

5. What was your favorite TV show (or shows) growing up?
I LOVED Boy Meets World, Saved by the Bell, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Gilmore Girls, One Tree Hill, all those fun shows that came on after school! They are sooo different then the shows you get now! Most of these shows taught you lesson.

6. What are your favorite TV shows now?

Well, I love reality TV and game shows. My favorite reality shows would have to be almost any show you find on TLC, Dance Moms, and other shows like this. Game shows I love would include The Amazing Race and Big Brother...I would like to be on both of these shows....

I LOOOOVE this show!!!

Do You Wanna Be A Sister??

I have been reading a lot today. I enjoy reading blogs. I really enjoy reading Catholic blogs. I REALLY enjoy reading blogs by religious people. I stumbled upon this one today and found this really neat video. It comes from the Salesian Sisters (an order I have never heard of before, but will have to research a bit now).

Do You Wanna Be A Sister?

Sunday Challenge

1 kgs 19:9a, 11-13a  

At the mountain of God, Horeb,Elijah came to a cave where he took shelter. Then the LORD said to him,“Go outside and stand on the mountain before the LORD;the LORD will be passing by.” A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountainsand crushing rocks before the LORD—but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake—but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake there was fire—but the LORD was not in the fire. After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound. When he heard this,Elijah hid his face in his cloakand went and stood at the entrance of the cave.     

This was the first reading today at mass. As it was being read, I had my own thoughts. I was thinking how God isn't in the bad things, but in those quiet moments after such things happen. 

Then, during the homily, the priest spoke how God comes to us in the quiet moments. Many people are looking for big, grand gestures from God. He also spoke about God revealing His plans to people. Some people get those big, grand moments. Some people finally take the time to hear the little voice.

That is what I had. I had the little voice, a whisper. It took many forms and I never wanted to listen. You can read more in my first blog post. 

I challenge you all to take time every day for quiet. It is in these moments that we truly hear God!  

Answer Me This #2

Another "Answer Me This" from catholicallyear.com

1. What do you still want to do this summer?

Nothing!!! I'm ready for summer to be over and for school to start!!!

2. What's your favorite kind of pie?

Such a hard question...I love pie!! Apple, cherry, pecan, chocolate, strawberry...I'd try them all!!

3. How much sleep do you need each day? How much do you get?

8+ hours. I can do more and I can do less. The first few nights after deciding to actively discern religious life, I didn't sleep much...I got like 5.5 hours in one weekend. I normally get my 8 hours.

4. Do you prefer to swim in a pool, lake, river, or ocean?

I like pools. Lakes are okay, rivers are scary, and I have never been to the ocean.

5. Do you know any poems by heart?

Ummm, not really. I have parts of "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost memorized thanks to a crazy history teacher...he had each person take a line and we slowly memorized it as a class. My line was the last, but the last 3 lines mean a lot to me.

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

I really am taking a road less traveled...I guess I'll see where it takes me!

6. Do you use the public library?

Not like I use to. My little town use to have one and I would check out at least 3 books a week during the summer. I might still have some that I never returned...oops...

Answer Me This

I have started following CatholicAllYear.com and she does an "Answer Me This" every Sunday. Here is my first week answering her questions

1. When driving, are you more likely to listen to the radio, to CDs or an iPod, or nothing at all?

I listen to the radio, but I have also started to pray the rosary. My car has an iPod hookup and the Laudate App has podcasts of the rosary. This has really helped strengthen my relationship with Mary and also with God.

2. Do you prefer window or aisle?

I like the window so I can watch what is happening outside.

3. Do you fall asleep on your side, back, or stomach? What position are you in when you wake up?

Both would be my stomach. I sleep with my hands underneath me and wake up with numb hands. I have tried sleeping other ways, but I always end up on my stomach.

4. When is the last time you attended a zoo, circus, carnival, county fair, or parade?

Last week, Sunday I was at the County Fair for FFA fun night and Saturday I was at the Homecoming Parade.

5. Do you have a favorite quote or inspirational saying?

I have a bible verse that I hold close

"Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. Don't look out only for you interests, but take an interest in others too!"

-Phillipians 2:3b-4

6. What's the best thing about summer?

Getting ready to go back to school!! I LOVE school supply shopping!! This year is exciting because I have a job at a school for the first time!!! It's not a teacher job, but I'm okay with that!