Making progress!

I've gotten so much done lately due to my sisters visiting and helping me cross things off the list! Those that are bold are the most recently accomplished.

My oldest sister and I attempted surfing. I wouldn't say I succeeded, but I did learn how to do it. I'll attempt to actually surf again! We also drove to Malibu and the Santa Monica Promenade. The middle sister came and we crossed of many items! Driving PCH, Santa Barbara, one of the missions, Hearst Castle, and Sequoia National Park! And all of that was in one weekend! :D

Here's the updated list! We're making progress. I'll be going to Disneyland in a few weeks, so that one will soon be crossed off. :)

The California Bucket List

1) Learn to Surf
2) Swim with the Dolphins at Sea World
3) Visit and hike Catalina Island
4) Hollywood
5) Malibu
6) Santa Barbara
7) Dodgers Statium
8) See a movie premeire
9) Hike to the Hollywood sign
10) Stay at Hotel del Coronado
11) Channel Islands
12) Lake Arrowhead
13) Joshua Tree
14) Palm Springs
15) Yosemite
16) Vegas
17) Disneyland
18) Grand Canyon
19) Sequoia National Park
20) Drive Pacific Coast Highway
21) Huntington Library
22) San Francisco
23) The Missions (Fulfilled in Santa Barbara)
24) Kayaking caves at La Jolla
25) Hearst Castle
26) Sailing
27) Death Valley
28) Hollywood Bowl
29) Whale Watching
30) Grunion Runs (with my Dad)
31) San Diego Zoo
32) La Brea Tar Pits
33) The Ghetty Museum
34) Griffith Observatory
35) Universal Studios
36) Santa Monica Pier
37) Eat at Planet Hollywood
38) Venice Boardwalk
39) Santa Monica Promenade
40) Be an extra or in the studio audience of a TV show
41) LA County Museum of Art
42) Pantages Theater
43) Tommy's Burger
44) Canter's Deli
45) Philippe's French Dip Sandwich
46) Fashion District
47) Olvera Street
48) Tijuana
49) Move back to Missouri

Help us Win a Free Honeymoon!

My Fiance and I are trying to win a free honeymoon! Help us get to the top of the comments page and leave a comment! It only takes 30 seconds and we'd really appreciate it! :) Thanks!

http://global.theknot.com/contests/Dream-Resorts-Spas-Contest/Story.aspx?EntryId=6093

Another Tune for a Tuesday: "Don't Be Afraid" by Pete Buncher

"Don't Be Afraid"
Pete Buncher

Don't be afraid,
I'll hold your hand.
Don't be afraid,
I'll help you stand
For me.

Don't be afraid,
I cast no stones.
And though you may roam,
I'll lead you, I'll lead you home.

I gave my life,
So that you would live with me.
I've broken my body,
So that you may be free.
So come follow me.

Don't be afraid,
I go before you.
This price is paid,
I love you, I'll lead you home.

I gave my life,
So that you would live with me.
I've broken my body,
So that you would be free.
Come follow me.

Don't be afraid,
my voice is in you.
Just walk my way,
I love you, and I'll lead you home.
Oh I love you, and I'll lead you home.

This Tuesday called for a double dose of lyrics! A friend from high school youth group just released his first CD! I'm listening to it for the first time right now, and as this song came on, I was filled with joy. I remember listening to this song a few years back in his college campus house. Who would have know (answer: God) that it would be speaking to me again today!

Download the album on iTunes! And if you're in the St. Louis area, head to his CD release party this Saturday at 6:30 pm at Assumption Parish in SoCo!

Congrats Pete! And thanks for a beautiful album to bless my ears!

A Tune for a Tuesday

"Alive Again"
Matt Maher

I woke up in darkness
Surrounded by silence
Oh where, oh where have I gone?
I woke to reality Losing its grip on me

Oh where, where have I gone?
'Cause I can see the light
Before I see the sunrise
You called and You shouted

Broke through my deafness
Now I'm breathing in and breathing out
I'm alive again
You shattered my darkness

Washed away my blindness
Now I'm breathing in and breathing out
I'm alive again
Late have I loved You
You waited for me, I searched for You

What took me so long?
I was looking outside
As if Love would ever want to hide
I'm finding I was wrong

'Cause I feel the wind
Before it hits my skin
'Cause I want You,
Yes I want You I need You, and I'll do

Whatever I have to just to get through
'Cause I love You,
Yeah I love You

This song is perfectly placed this Tuesday. I just got of off a retreat that I lead this weekend, and though I lead it, it was just as much a retreat for me as it was for those in attendance. I've been living a busy life full of 5 different ministries, a long distance relationship, sister visits, and preparing for the holidays (not to mention the overbearing stress of wedding planning soon to come). In the midst of it all, it became easy for me to put my prayer life on the back burner, and consequently, lose touch with my Lord. I saw it happening and just couldn't figure out how to break out of the cycle.

Thankfully, My Lord "shattered my darkness" and helped me to break through and find him again. I'm determined to stay alive! I've begun my Daily Mass Challenge, determined to make Christ the beginning, middle, and end of each day. The Eucharist is the greatest gift, one that I refuse to leave unopened each day.

Thank you, Lord, for your faithfulness even when I am not. Thank you for waiting for me, finding me, and slapping me in the face when I need it. Thank you for a beautiful weekend, a beautiful retreat, and for all of the ways you worked through each person on the retreat. Thank you for the gift of the Eucharist! May I never leave the gift unopened again! :) I love you, Lord!

A Tune for Tuesday: Lessons Learned

A Tribute to Loft 416! :D

Tuesday's Tune: Lessons Learned by Carrie Underwood
Loft 416 Theme Song!

There's some things that I regret
Some words I wish had gone unsaid
Some starts that had some bitter endings

Been some bad times I've been through
Damage I cannot undo
Some things, I wish I could do all all over again

But it don't really matter, Life gets that much harder
It makes you that much stronger
Oh, some pages turned, Some bridges burned
But there were Lessons learned

And every tear that had to fall from my eyes
Everyday I wondered how I'd get through the night
Every change life has thrown me
I'm thankful for every break in my heart
I'm grateful for every scar
Some pages turned, some bridges burned
But there were lessons learned.

There's mistakes that I have made
Some chances I just threw away
Some roads I never should've taken

Been some signs I didn't see
Hearts that I hurt needlessly
Some wounds that I wish I could have one more chance to mend

But it don't make no difference
The past can't be rewritten
You get the life you're given
Oh, some pages turned, some bridges burned,
But there were lessons learned

And every tear that had to fall from my eyes
Everyday I wondered how I'd get through the night
Every change life has thrown me
I'm thankful for every break in my heart
I'm grateful for every scar
Some pages turned,Some bridges burned
But there were lessons learned

And all the things that break you
Are all the things that make you strong
You can't change the past, cause it's gone
And you just gotta move on
Because it's all lessons learned

And every tear that had to fall from my eyes
Everyday I wondered how I'd get through the night
Every change life has thrown me
I'm thankful for every break in my heart
I'm grateful for every scar
Some pages turned,Some bridges burned
But there were lessons learned

Miss you Loft 416!

Miracle Monday: October 19, 1985

Monday's Miracle: My Birth!

Today was my birthday! I should be excited, but it felt just like any other day. I couldn't help but be homesick for the days of waking up to college roommates who decorated and made the day something special. It's a reality that I'm not in college anymore and I will no longer live in the dorms, but I'm finding it difficult to grasp.

I don't expect things to be different now than it currently is, and I'm not complaining! My parents were great today. They called this morning to tell me to go pick up the cake they'd ordered for me. :) I took it to the office where a staff member had made me a cake and the staff had a little party for me at our 3:00 break. My small group leaders had the kids sing happy birthday to me. But even with it all, it just didn't seem like my birthday. I think I'm just getting old.

But in any case, I thought a great first Monday Miracle would be the miracle of Life! :)

On this day, I am thinking of all those in my generation that were not allowed to live long enough for their own birthdays. What a horrible injustice! In this Pro-life Month I pray for a change of heart, an education of those that are ignorant, and for each of us to fight to end the killing of the most innocent of human life!

Saturday's Saint: St. Joseph

I've officially decided that Saturday with be "Saturday's Saint" and Sunday with be "Sunday's Scripture".

So, due to the place St. Joseph has played in my life and relationship, we're going to start with him!

St. Joseph

Patron Saint of: chastity/purity, marriage, fathers, carpenters, engineers, the unborn, families, happy death, house hunters, people in doubt, protector of the Church, social justice, travellers, Universal Church, Vatican II, working people.

St. Joseph is my favorite saint for many reasons. He is a beautiful example of how to follow God's will, even when it is not what you had planned on and when things don't make sense. I cannot truly imagine the position he and his wife were in when they found out about Jesus, but I imagine it was much worse than anyone could imagine today. They beautifully followed God's lead, blindly and faithfully.

St. Joseph protected Mary and Joseph. Can you imagine having to travel such a long distance on a donkey and being 9 months pregnant?! He took care of Mary (and Jesus) and did his best to provide for them. And after all of that commotion, he blindly followed God's command to flee to Egypt at a moments notice!

The Nativity Movie gives a beautiful view of St. Joseph (though I'm not a big fan of how they portrayed Mary). It was after watching that movie that Dan and I officially decided to consecrate our relationship to St. Joseph. What is consecration? The easiest way for me to describe it is as an official declaration that we are asking Him to pray for our relationship continually. And it was through His prayers that I believe we came back together when things went ary (God knows we would not have ended up together if he didn't do something drastic!). The story is amazing, unbelievable, and beautiful! Thank you God and thank you St. Joseph for your constant prayers.

How does St. Joseph play a part in our relationship now?
1) He prays for us
2) We ask him every night to pray for us
3) We will consecrate our marriage to him next year
4) We plan to name our first boy after him
5) He's a great example for us and our soon-to-be family!

Thank you, St. Joseph, for your constant prayers, especially
when Dan and I need it the most. Thank you for your holy

example of a father and husband, and man of God.

Please continue to pray for us as we prepare for marriage!