in the news...

as the air grows colder and raindrops become more frequent, life in the bay area continues to move with the weather.

i am steadily approaching the 3-month mark of being a teacher, and what a ride it has already been! still working late nights at school, continuing to say "yes" to duties and projects i should probably refuse, and trying my best to take in the experience and continue to believe in what i do. the most intruiging outcome of this whole thing thus far has been the realization of God's intricate plan for my life. who would have known that the very same activities i loved while in irvine would continue to be a part of my daily life over here. adoration with my students during first friday's, singing praise songs with the youth choir, praying the rosary as a school, leading faculty prayers, and bringing jesus into my daily classroom culture -- it all makes sense now. and i am moved.

even david is doing his own little part to change the world. okay, so maybe being a basketball coach to 8th graders isn't changing the world per se, but it is definitely changing the small worlds of each of those guys on the team. they come to class tired and sore, complaining that they didn't have time to do their homework because they were playing ball all night. but david is enjoying it, the kids are learning, and the parents look on in awe. so do i.

we just celebrated my mom and dad's birthday's two weeks in a row and are beginning to prepare for my brother's birthday next week. i may be so broke that i won't have enough money for christmas! speaking of christmas, my sister and i have decided on a more modern theme for this year's decor. the blues, greens, purples, and silvers of target really caught our eye and it's going to be beautiful. my brother isn't so sure, however. his exact comments were something along the lines of, "um, did you know it's christmas and NOT easter?!" let's hope people don't get confused.

yes, things are definitely moving in a steady, forward direction. as this year begins to come to its close, i feel good about the change, the growth, the inspiration that continues to be a part of my life. yesterday's homily talked about being holy in your calling -- that you and i are called to live out our "status," whatever it may be, as holy and as faithfully as possible. it reminded me of something blessed mother teresa said about acceptance -- how we should just accept whatever God lays down on our path, not because it's there but because HE put it there. not only should we accept, but we should accept it with a SMILE.

i think that makes all the difference.