Brownback for President

I am not promoting any party here, but promoting a fellow Catholic. This is great news for the Catholic world. It might be old news for some of you, but new for others.

A quote to ponder

I would rather live my life as if there is a God, and die to find out there isn't, than live my life as if there isn't, and die to find out there is.

Fun is my middle name...

I know its not a very humble statement, but at times we have to boost out self-esteem. This weekend was GREAT. Started off with FOCUS Ladies Night and than a weekend of fun with some visiting missionaries. I don't have too much time to write because my friend Beth is coming to make a snowman...so here are some pictures to describe the past few days...

Smile! It truly does make you feel better.

Voicemails...

I realize that I haven't truly sat down and taken the time to write anything on here for a while. It could be for several reasons.

1. Super busy.
2. New semester bring lots of change
3. Nothing exciting has happenned
4. or just plan lazy.

My vote is for number one. Life has been busy since I have come back to Omaha. It has been almost two weeks and ask me what I have been up to and I really cannot remember. I just know I love going to campus. I love going to campus and now I know people. I can sit there and someone comes and places their backpack and starts conversation with me. Life is good.

The only thing that comes to mind lately is my voicemail. I decided to change it two weeks ago and everyone that called me made some sort of comment. This what it said before at the end, "Do me a favor say Hi to God, He likes it when you talk to him." I guess friends and people here in Omaha used to love it because it would remind them to pray after they called me. I didn't even realize it. Plus I guess when I said, "Hello" it sounded like I picked up the phone. Now its back to old voicemail and people like it. Never thought voicemails could make such a difference.

There is my thought, the simpliest things in life matter.

How to celebrate a Birthday!

So I have a good friend who had a Birthday recently and I kept thinking to myself what can I give her. I live roughly 8 hours away so I cannot see her and I am kind of poor and thought perfect I will draw her a picture.

It was something I used to do a lot three years. I would sit and draw and be the stillness of life. In this crazy world where noise is wherever it has hard to find such silence. In Bible study last week we talked about how people long for silence in their life they just don't know it. At home you have the TV the background or your computer playing a song, in the car you have the radio on, and even in the stores there is music from the speakers. Noise is everywhere.

The perfect gift was the silence she gave me while giving her a Birthday gift. I drew a simple picture of the Virgin Mary. It said, "Whoever does not wish to have Mary Immaculate as his Mother will not have Christ as his Brother... - St Maximillian Kolbe

We need our Mother to get close to Jesus. Just think, from her womb came our Savior. How can we not love her?!?! So give thanks on your Birthday for the silence and the hidden treasures you receive by giving.

Isaiah 62:1-5

Reading 1
Is 62:1-5

For Zion’s sake I will not be silent,
for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet,
until her vindication shines forth like the dawn
and her victory like a burning torch.

Nations shall behold your vindication,
and all the kings your glory;
you shall be called by a new name
pronounced by the mouth of the LORD.
You shall be a glorious crown in the hand of the LORD,
a royal diadem held by your God.
No more shall people call you “Forsaken, “
or your land “Desolate, “
but you shall be called “My Delight,”
and your land “Espoused.”
For the LORD delights in you
and makes your land his spouse.
As a young man marries a virgin,
your Builder shall marry you;
and as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride
so shall your God rejoice in you.

What to do on a Friday night?

So tonight I was invited to go to St. James Academy. It is a school here in Kansas that openned up in August 2006. That had some sort of lock in after their home basketball games. I was asked to be a small ground leader. Which basically meant I sat in a group with 8-10 freshman and sophomores and answered any questions they had about life. From high school dating relationships to gossips from daily mass to respecting parents. These students had questions.

But the most rewarding part was the last portion of the night. Eucharistic Adoration. These students are so lucky to have a school which provides such needs to them. But I was even more blest to be present of such an event. More to come, but its definately bedtime.

The phrase "I love you."

So there is this joke that many family, friends, and fellow missionaries have with me saying, "I love you." If I tell you "I love you," it means I mean it. Well, to say the least I said it once in a awkward situation, so for the past few months when I say it, it always brings a smile to my face.

The past few days I have been growing through things in the attic and throwing somethings away. It's mostly material items and every once in a while I will find a treasure. Today I found this scrapbook that my mother made me for my First Communion.

Our teacher had us write a letter to Jesus and this is how it went....

Dear God,
I love you. Thanks for making the body of Christ. Thanks for making the blood. I am proud to making my Communion. It's wonderful to go to Communion. Thanks for all the things you have given me.
Love,

Tonight as lay here and think about the upcoming year, let's me recognize that I shall be thankful just as I was when I was in second grade. Lord, "I love you."

A little bit of love...

So being Cuban, well not really just growing up in my household we have lots of customs in ringing in the new year. I decided this year I would try a few of them out and see what happens. But in everything you do in life, its the effort you put into it. If you put a lot of effort, you will get more out of it. To say the least, I woke up in a great mood. I haven't woken up like that for a long time, and slept so well.

I knew the first thing I wanted to do was go to Church. Yeah that's right Church. It's tradition that the first of the year is the feast of the Mother of God, Mary.

As the last two Gospel readings have addressed, Mary saw and kept everything in her heart. She knew what was happening, but kept things in her heart. The heart we cry out as immaculate and sorrowful. The same heart that felt the beauty of the birth of the world's saviour and the agony of His death.

Our Mother, the Mother of God, is constantly asking us for a little Peace in this world and I wouldn't agree more. But not in the way we always think of peace, as in world peace, but also in our very homes. The family is the domestic church. The family is the place where peace should begin. Like the song goes, "Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me."

Our family began the year in such that fashion. We enjoyed the day with each other. We didn't go out, but rather ate a few left-overs from the week before, had a good laugh, enjoyed time with my grandmothers, and played a fun and intense game of dominoes.

So next time you feel you need to create world peace, look at your homes and create some peace there. Remember you can always ask Mary for a little help.

Don't click away the New Year

So tonight, its official . It is now 2007. Does anyone else find that weird out there?? The past five years it has been a wide range of places I have been. This year decided to stay home. The funny thing is though, my family were all gone at different parties. So I had a friend come and ring in the new year with me. You can't alone, that is just sad.

We decided to go to a get together and than come back and ring in the new year in a more mellow environment. Which pretty much consisted of red wine, pretzels, cheese, and chocolate. Sound good? It was.

We wanted to watch a funny movie, one we hadn't seen, and one that wouldn't make us depressed because we are not in a relationship. Click with Adam Sandler was our option.

For those that haven't seen it? It wasn't the best option because there are a few scenes were tears just kept on coming. I joked around..."What kind of new year is this where we start the year crying, seriously." All in all it has a great message.

SLOW DOWN, SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH GREAT FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND ENJOY LIFE. Yeah it should be the motto of next year and I think it might just be.