"And he that sat upon the throne said, 'Behold, I make all things new.' And he said unto me, 'Write: for these words are true and faithful.'" - Revelation 21:5
Hello my dear friends in Christ! Today we celebrate the feast day of the Holy Family. As we approach a new year let us continue to bless our own families with constant love and support. At times we may hurt the ones we love most just because they are part of our family. With that being said, we need to begin again and renew the love of Christ between our family members or at least ignite the fire of love for them in a more passionate and selfless way.
Speaking of a new year with new beginnings I've decided to go to the SEEK conference in January held by FOCUS (The Fellowship of Catholic University Students). It's amazing how fast time flies. I registered for this event in October and the new year is almost here! Just a few more days before I'm off to visit with over 6,000 other Catholics from around the nation! I'm so excited to engage with my fellow peers in Jesus Christ. This should be a wonderful opportunity to make new friendships and foster old ones. It is a time for us to celebrate the presence of the living God in Holy Communion and Adoration. There will also be some wonderful speakers there, including Matthew Kelly, Leah Darrow, and Jason Evert. As you can tell, I'm really excited!
But in all honesty, I had no idea how this would all come together. In October I had registered without knowing if any of my friends were going. I had asked a bunch of people if they wanted to come with me, but unfortunately they were all going to be busy at the time. However, I was determined to go. So I signed up anyways. Since my school does not have a FOCUS group on campus I was worried that I would go and not know anyone! But God truly makes things work out for the best. After some time I heard that more and more of my friends were going to come too. So just by trusting in Him I signed up for something that seems like it's going to be a very enjoyable experience with some of my friends—even though I didn't know it at the time.
Besides hanging out with my fellow Catholic friends, this is an opportunity for me to discern my future in a more intimate way in the presence of God. For a while I have been constantly discerning what God's future plan is for me when I graduate college. I have some thoughts in mind, but every time I consider what I might want to do I become even more confused. I think going to an event like this will hopefully make my paths clearer in my discernment. So while I'm at this event I will be going to seek Him and keep you in my prayers. I greatly appreciate you for reading my blog. Thanks for your support. Please pray for me too as I embark on this journey soon!!! God bless you in the New Year of 2013. *Note: Also if you are going to SEEK hope to see you there!* ;)
"And Mary said to the angel, 'How can this be, since I am a virgin?' And the angel said to her, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.'" - Luke 1:34-35
Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you all had a splendid holiday with family and friends. This is a joyous season because even after Christmas day we still celebrate our Savior's birth until the Epiphany in January. The Nativity of Jesus is so beautiful to meditate on. As we reflect on this we recognize how Jesus was brought into the world, through the Blessed Virgin Mary, in the flesh. God became human, which no one had expected at the time, to save humankind from sin and lead us to salvation. Without Mary, His mother, this could have never happened! This is what Christmas is all about. Christmas itself entirely revolves around the fact that Mary gave birth to the Christ Child.
Recently, I spoke with a friend of mine who was a convert to Catholicism. Over the years she has become closer and closer to the Blessed Mother. From her conversion she realized that not only did Mary bring Jesus into the world for us, but she is also the way for us to get to Jesus. Mary is the link between humankind and God. Although she was human too, the Madonna was born immaculate and divine. She is sinless and pure. She is the Queen of Heaven and the Holy Mother of the living God...making her our own mother too.
In this time, as we continue to celebrate the Christmas season, let us honor Mary for her humble and obedient "yes" to conceive and bear the Son of God. Let us praise the little baby Jesus as He comes to us lying in a manger of a lowly stable. Let us be like the shepherds who heard the angels and came flocking to surround the newborn Messiah. So the next time you go to Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament put yourself in their shoes. Picture yourself in the Nativity scene and meditate on what it would be like to see Him on the very day of His holy birth.
"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." - Psalm 34:18
Hello dear friends in Christ! Today is the Third Sunday of Advent. I'm so sorry I haven't posted anything for a while. I have been so busy with final exams and finishing off the end of this semester. But I'm happy to say I did very well and I'm so glad it's over! Praise the Lord! As I was saying, this day commemorates the anticipation of Christmas and the joy of the Christ's coming by lighting a pink candle on the Advent wreath. However, with the recent events that occurred in Connecticut, it is hard for people to embrace this joy in a time of grief and sorrow.
I am still in shock that a young man would just barge into an elementary school and shoot up 20 little kids and 6 adults. This is America—a country where children should be safe. First graders shouldn't need to be worried that someone is going to shoot them in their own school. This is a very sad tragedy. Many parents, families, and friends of those little children are hurting so much now. And of course, as evil would have it, this shooting just happened to take place right around Christmas. This goes to show when people start turning to God, like most do around Christmastime, the devil tries to steal their joy away from them.
Reflecting on this incident, it seems to be reminiscent of the story How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Like the Grinch, this young man, filled with hatred in his soul, stole the greatest joy away from the parents of these little children. Of course this causes a great amount of sorrow. But the question is, how can we find joy during Christmas when we experience a terrible loss like this? The answer is, Jesus...who is the reason for the season. But like any natural human being, finding joy at this time will not be easy. I, myself, lost a grandparent this year. This will be my first Christmas without my grandmother. But looking into the light of hope and salvation, this is where we can find real joy through Jesus' birth. Christ came to save the whole world! I'm sure that all of those beautiful little children are living a wonderful life with Him, in heavenly glory, right now.
If we hang on to this hope, this love of Christ, and this joy...it is possible to experience a Christmas filled with merriment. Being together with loved ones, friends and family, is always the best solution. Just the closeness of someone who cares can bring a smile to a mourning family member. As the grim feeling starts to fade, light will soon emerge from the darkness and being to softly warm the heart again with a glimmer of joy—the joy of Jesus' presence.
As my priest at church announced this morning, eight families will be holding funeral Masses for the children at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Newtown, CT. Let us continue to pray for those families, our Catholic brothers and sisters, along with the others who are suffering at this moment. Let us pray that they can and will find Christ's joy in the Christmas season and during the new year. God bless those little children and God bless America.
"There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends." - John 15:13
Over the weekend I finally saw the new Disney movie called Wreck-It Ralph. It was so cute!!! I highly recommend it for a family movie night. It's most definitely enjoyable for all ages, very well done, and super entertaining!
*SPOILER ALERT!* Throughout the duration of the movie I noticed many good and valuable life lessons. Here are some just to name a few. One: the desire for conversion. Two: the true meaning of love and friendship. Three: to restore/mend what is broken—especially if you created the problem or mess in the fist place.
Initially, I noticed the expression of Ralph's desire for conversion. After a long life of continuously breaking things people began to hate him for it. Being a video-game character, Ralph was created as a "bad guy" for his game called Fix-It Felix, Jr. The "good guy" was Felix and everyone loved him. He was always getting medals for doing good deeds. He was praised and honored for being such an exemplary role model—always fixing what was broken. Ralph was tired of living like this. He decided he didn't want to be the "bad guy" anymore. He wanted to be good! He wanted to change his life for the better! And he wanted to be truly happy.
Although he had such a great desire in his heart, the task was not easy. Everyone kept telling him that "bad guys" don't win medals and can never be good. This was discouraging, but he did not give up. He realized he could not win a medal in his own game, so he decided game jump into Hero's Duty. In this game he found a way to win a medal. Everything was going just fine until some of the CY-Bugs started to attack him.
This relates very much to how to devil will try to discourage you and attack you for doing something that is good. Since his desire for conversion was so great no wonder why it was challenging! These obstacles that get in our way need to be acknowledged in our lives, but must not defeat us. We need to overcome evil when we are faced with it. We must continue to aim for the best—like Ralph did when he desired to win that shiny golden medal and become a "good guy."
As he was trying to get away from the bugs, Ralph was chased into a little girl's game called Sugar Rush. In the land made of candy Ralph met very spirited little rascal, Vanellope von Schweetz. Little Vanellope was known as "the glitch" because her programming code was messed up. In Sugar Rush all the other little girls could race cars, but Vanellope couldn't be a racer since she was a glitch and would mess up the game.
Both Ralph and Vanellope, two very unlikely friends, formed a bond relating to the fact that they were always unwanted by everyone else around them. The two misfits made a deal to help each other get what they want—Ralph's medal and Vanellope's race car. Fortunately, they found a way to achieve their desires. However, once Vanellope had her race car Ralph pulverized it to protect her from racing. He talked to King Candy and found out that Vanellope could destroy the game and herself if she were to race since she was a glitch. Ralph's intentions were good, but again he came across as the "bad guy." This made Vanellope very upset.
Eventually Ralph found out that King Candy had lied to him about Vanellope racing. In fact, King Candy was the one who messed up her code in the first place to make her a glitch. He was trying to prevent her from racing because if she did she would reset the game and her code would be fixed.
At this revelation Ralph got Felix to fix Vanellope's race car. This also helped in mending their friendship. After some training and getting her car back Vanellope was ready to race. She was admitted as a contestant and took off. But during the race thousands of CY-Bugs appeared and began to attack the game of Sugar Rush. If they didn't stop the bugs, Sugar Rush and the entire gaming arcade would be destroyed!
Ralph knew what he had to do. He wanted to save Vanellope, her game, and the arcade. The only way he could think of doing it would be to smash into the top of Coke Mountain and make all the mentos icicles fall into the soda. This would make a huge explosion and eliminate the CY-Bugs from the game. However, if Ralph died in the explosion outside his own game he would not regenerate—meaning he would be gone for good. But he took the risk in doing so to save Vanellope and everyone else.
This is a very Christ-like action he took. Ralph decided to sacrifice himself for his friend's life. If there is anything to take away from this movie, that would be it. What a great life lesson! And to top it off, his heroic deed screams "good guy"—which is far better then winning any medal, in my opinion. Even though he didn't die, because little Vanellope snatched him up in her race car just in time, he was most certainly willing to die for her.
Ralph also made an effort to fix Vanellope's race car. Although he could not do it himself, he found someone who could. Ralph realized that it was wrong to destroy her car and he should have let her race in the first place. Come to find out, King Candy was an impostor known as Turbo (who was another racer from a different game).
Once the CY-Bugs were gone Vanellope crossed the finish line and Sugar Rush was reset. All of the code was restored and the characters could remember what had happened before King Candy took over. Apparently, Vanellope wasn't just a racer—she was also known as "Princess Vanellope von Schweetz." All of the girls who used to make fun of her for being a glitch were now in awe of her royalty. Ralph was also recognized as a hero for saving the gaming community.
In the end, Ralph was still the "bad guy" for his game because that's his role. However, he is now accepted as a friend among the other characters. In fact, there would be no Fix-It Felix game without Ralph...so he is definitely recognized as an important member. But the best thing that came out of this entire adventure was his friendship with Vanellope. Disney demonstrated a beautiful Christ-like love between these two crazy characters. Plus, the two misfits are now in there rightful place, are recognized as being important members of their own game, and there is peace among the communities. Talk about a real happily ever after! We, too, should strive for love and peace within our own world through prayer, fasting, and the demonstration of it in our own lives.
"And Mary said, 'My soul glorifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has has done great things for me—holy is His name.'" - Luke 1:46-49
On November 15th the Medjugorje visionary, Marija Pavlovic-Lunetti, came to the University of Notre Dame for one of her daily apparitions. She came to witness to those living in South Bend, IN about the Medjugorje messages coming from Our Lady. My cousin, Lauren, attends the University of Notre Dame and she was fortunate to be able to go to this event with my aunt. Mary TV also streamed a live video feed online. (Click hereto read Cathy Nolan's reflection of this event from Mary TV's perspective.) This was such a blessing! Because of this broadcast my family and I were present for the apparition as well, via the internet.
During the apparition you could see the peace of Our Lady's presence come upon Marija while she was in ecstasy. It must be so wonderful to see the beauty of the Blessed Mother everyday! What a gift! I cannot even imagine.
After the vision, Marija gave her testimony to all who gathered there. I was surprised to hear her speaking in English. Since I have done a lot of research about Medjugorje I know that this particular visionary never studied the English language. It was absolutely amazing to hear her witness in our own native tongue. When I went to Medjugorje in 2010 my family and I stayed with the visionary Ivan. Even though he knew how to speak English, he would always use a translator while giving a testimony since he was more comfortable speaking in Croatian. I am so glad Marija choose to speak in English this time. It was much easier for us to relate to her by hearing the witness given in our language.
While Marija spoke she reflected upon the reasons of why Our Lady is coming. Is is very apparent that our society today is corrupted in sin and in great need of the Blessed Mother's presence. At the event Marija relayed the message of God which came from the Blessed Mother, stating, "I am God, the Resurrection. I am the God who was crucified and died. But I am resurrected! I am with you and I died for you. But I give you freedom. In this freedom you have a choice. Good or bad. I call you for goodness." The Blessed Mother also added, "I call you for new life. It's your choice. It's your choice to say yes or no."
It is so sad that numerous people across the globe have stopped following Christ. They have given up on Him and are looking to the world for their satisfaction. Some people even claim to be "spiritual" but not "religious." Spirituality can be very dangerous if it is not within a religious context, such as Christianity. This usually means they are following New Age trends or satanic influences. Those involved in these cults and/or do not believe in God are in grave danger. What they do not realize is that they are putting their own soul at risk of losing the opportunity of enteral life. That is why Our Lady is coming for them. She is coming to give them hope. She is coming to give all of us hope and the grace of conversion.
Marija's testimony rang with truth and conviction. Like she said, we need to give our "YES" to God. We need to accept Him into our lives to strengthen our faith day by day. Only in this way can we inherit His holy kingdom. Paradise is waiting for us! All of us! If people seriously knew this who would ever say no to happily ever after? But, as Marija testified, it is our choice. It is our choice to accept or reject. By rejecting Christ we have essentially rejected eternal life. But if we accept Him into our life and our hearts we accept His glorious kingdom. During this "Year of Faith" let us give our entire "YES" to God. Let us glorify the Lord like Mary did with her "YES" to becoming the mother of Jesus. For she has truly given us the greatest example in accepting the Will of the Father.
"When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on His left. Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.'" - Matthew 25:31-34
The United States of America, and the Roman Catholic Church within our own country, has been forever changed. On November 6, 2012, the American people chose to re-elect a president who's policies go against our entire belief system as Catholics/Christians. People have chosen death over life, sin over purity, greed over generosity, satisfaction over sacrifice, slothfulness over diligence, socialism over democracy, and—essentially—evil over good. Besides President Obama embracing all of these vices (such as abortions, contraceptives, gay marriages...etc.) he has also weakened our economy with an increasing rate of unemployment/underemployment. It is astonishing to believe that he was re-elected as president again just on his record alone!
During the next four years we will be challenged. Catholics in America will be persecuted. Our religious freedoms will be stripped away bit by bit. However, those who remain true to Jesus in the sacrament of the Eucharist will receive the strength to endure these trying times. This will test our faith. Inevitably, Catholics across the nation will have to chose to stand with the church or not. It is a very clear-cut decision. The so called "casual Catholics" will no longer exist because those who remain truly faithful will be the only ones willing to endure the persecutions.
Some people, including Catholics, may have no idea to what I am referring to. Shocking! Right? According to the Obamacare HHS mandate, Catholic institutions (including hospitals, charities, schools, and churches) will NOT be exempted from paying the health care taxes that include funding abortions. This is one of the biggest reasons why the GOP "pro-life" candidates, Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan, were against Obamacare in the first place. As Roman Catholics we are pro-life. That is a HUGE principal of our faith! Essentially, Catholics who voted for Obama indirectly put a wedge between themselves and the Catholic Church's teachings. Our Catholic identity does not come from the title of our faith. It comes from our own actions by living out the word of God. Saying that you are "Catholic" means nothing if you don't apply the teachings in your own life. And apparently half of the Catholics in America didn't get the memo! Or an even worse scenario—half of the Catholics refused to listen and voted to re-elect Obama anyways.
The US Bishops warned us time and time again about this mandate. Ramifications from this mandate include Catholic hospitals closing down by the refusal to pay taxes on the inhuman procedure of abortions and the utilization of contraceptives. Also, did you know that Catholic hospitals make up 12% of our entire nation's hospitals? That would be detrimental to the economy and well-being of US citizens if they were all forced to close. Click here for more info. Other institutions, like Catholic schools and churches, will also be attacked. There is the option of paying a huge fine for not paying the health care taxes. But for these institutions to have the means to survive AND pay the fines will be extremely difficult. It can be done...but over time you will see many many MANY of these schools and churches close down. If these institutions continue to stay open, refuse to pay the taxes, and cannot afford the fines... Catholics will be thrown in jail, especially the priests who run the churches.
Can you see the infringements the government is placing upon our religious freedom? This clearly violates the first amendment of the constitution that allows us to have free exercise of religion. For example, Catholic education will become less affordable. The private Catholic schools and universities will probably have to jack up the tuition in order to pay the fines. However, that can only go so far before they start losing enrollment. Then they will start to close down, like the hospitals. This restricts us to secular education, removing our freedom to chose an education based in Catholicism.
All of this is hard to imagine. But my worst fear is the government forcing the churches to pay these taxes. If the churches start to close down, and if priests get thrown in jail, where do the faithful go to attend Holy Mass? Where are we suppose to receive Jesus in the sacrament of the Eucharist? How does one get married in the Catholic church? Where will confession be offered? Baptism? Confirmation? Adoration? ...At this point I'm not sure. We'll have to cross that bridge when we get there. But there is no doubt in my mind that a war is developing on our church in this country. However, Cardinal Dolan reminds us that Catholics won't give up without a fight—which is entirely true.
The age of heroic Catholicism has begun! A new era of faith is born. Even the pope announced this year as the "Year of Faith." It is up to us to remain faithful, stand by the church, and endure the persecutions—whatever they may be—even if it means dying for what we believe in. Although I was originally devastated to hear the news that Obama was re-elected, this will give us the opportunity to embrace our faith even more...in the midst of evil. This will give us the opportunity of become REAL saints! We must be role-models for others. We must choose to say "yes" to Christ and become His sheep in the flock and let the others fall by the wayside (Luke 8:5-8). Those who embrace the church will be a dagger of light that pierces the darkness of the wickedness and sin. It is time to ignite that flame and let your heart burn fiercely for Christ. Remember what St. Catherine of Sienna said, "If you are what you should be, you will set the whole world ablaze!"
I invite you to join me in this effort of reviving the Catholic Church in the United States of America. There are 77 million Catholics in our country alone. It is time to wake up this sleeping giant! Pray the rosary with friends and family. Go to Holy Mass. Receive the sacrament of reconciliation. Utilize the resources of the Catholic Church while they are still available to us. (FYI: The mandate doesn't go into effect until August of 2013.) Even though we might not be able to control what the government does, we can control how we handle what is thrust upon us. It is not going to be easy. Be prepared that it will probably be extremely difficult. However, the reward of eternal life in Heaven will be over a million times greater then any suffering we may face on this earth. Do all that you can to bring souls to Christ. Help revive the church. Continuously grow in your own faith, day by day, so at the end of your life you may hear God say to you, "Well done my good and faithful servant."
"We always find that those who walked closest to Christ were those who had to bear the greatest trials." - St. Teresa of Avila
"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance." - Psalm 33:12
Catholic voters, this upcoming presidential election for 2012 is only a few weeks away. We need to ask ourselves... What does God truly want for the United States of America? What are His future plans for us and our country? How can America become a nation that will uphold His values? What is it going to take for our country to be successful and, at the same time, be loyal to the Almighty God? In what way can we serve God in this election?
These are all questions with answers that need to be determined on our own. But as a suggestion, contemplate WWJD: what would Jesus do? If Jesus could vote in this election who do you think He would choose? Who would please God more as our next president? It is obviously a very clear choice. God is giving us the opportunity to reform America with a new president. A president who will lead with honesty and integrity.
Since many people have already made up their mind about who to vote for, the election is coming down to the undecided voters. Please keep these men and women in your prayers. Pray, now and on election day, they will wake up with a clear decision inspired by enlightenment from Holy Spirit. Pray the rosary especially for them now and in the days to come. This is a very serious issue. It is no laughing matter, as Vice President Joe Biden might think.
Our country is under a serious attack through spiritual warfare. The best way to combat the evil lurking in the darkness is to pray for the American people. Pray with a radiant light! This light will shine so bright it will pierce the darkness and enlighten others. It is our job now. We must be that light—the light of Christ. Many saints have come before us and given examples of how to live a life for Jesus. We must follow in their footsteps. It is essential, for the survival of our nation as we know it.
CatholicVote.org just came out with a wonderful video and prayer for this election. I encourage you to watch it and share it with others.
This is my prayer for America: Holy Spirit, come and be with us. Guide and enlighten us. Help us this night and everyday to do Your Will, to be open to Your inspiration, and to allow our lives simply to be reflections of Your creative power. And we ask only Your inspiration to guide us and lead us. That we may spend the brief days of our lives doing Your Will as best we can. Amen.
Just watching these Americans in this video above gives our country hope. Hope for a real change! Hope for a good change! It is imperative that Americans pray for our own country. But we, as Americans, also need to be informed on the issues at stake. Catholic voters should be aware of what to look for in the presidential candidates and what they stand for.
Here are PDF documents you can download and share with friends. Help them become more informed on the issues, especially if they are undecided Catholic voters.
It is also important to know, as Catholic Americans, that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) released a statement on October 12, 2012, refuting Vice President Biden's claim regarding the HHS mandate. According to this statement, Catholic organizations are not exempt from the Administrations's anti-Catholic HHS mandate. Click here to view the statement. The USCCB continues to urge the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in the strongest possible terms, to eliminate the various infringements on religious freedom. However, since many of our religious freedoms are constantly under attack it is very important to vote YES to Amendment 8. This constitutional amendment will help protect our religious freedom. Click here to view the Amendment 8 Fact Sheet. (Note: This Amendment may only be found on the Florida voters ballot.)
Interestingly enough,The Christian Post also pointed out that many people tweeted the bible verse Proverbs 29:9 to describe Joe Biden after the recent Vice Presidential Debate. The verse states, "If a wise man goes to court with a fool, the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace." This statement perfectly describes what happened when the two opposing Catholics went head to head on the issues at the debate. As a result of this, the GOP released a very interesting and powerful ad called "Laughing at the Issues."
I hope and pray that those capable of voting in this election will vote for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. May I remind you, not everyone in America can vote. That is why your prayer, your voice, and your vote are so important in this upcoming election. It is necessary to remain faithful to the values of the church as Roman Catholics living in America. Many people are counting on your vote! For example, the high school students shown in the video below describe what it's like for their future to be in the hands of the eligible American voters. They are voices without a vote. But if you are an American citizen that is 18-years-of-age or older, before the election, you have the opportunity to proclaim your voice and vote.
During this election, I choose to follow Jesus. If you do too He will never ever leave you astray. This I promise you. With all of my heart, I know America is headed towards a new, wonderful, beautiful, and bright future. But it is up to you. Will you decide to be heard on November 6, 2012, with your prayer, your voice, and your vote? May God bless you and God bless the United States of America.
"Like the appearance of the bow in that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord." - Ezekiel 1:28
Hello friends in Christ! I'm so sorry I haven't posted in a while. My schoolwork has been very hectic lately. But God has definitely been helping me a lot to get through this rough patch. Anyways, I wanted to share with you about the wonderful colors God has bestowed upon us in His amazing creation! Recently I had several coloring assignments for my classes. It's funny because I'm a senior in college and my professors are giving me things to color—like when I was five. However, I'm not complaining, it was a lot of fun.
For my Renaissance class we were all given panels from the Sistine Chapel. Each person in the class was assigned a partner to color with. The panels were separated into several sections. It was our job to color them with the right colors and to keep the panels seamless, in doing so. The girl I worked with gave me some of her colored pencils to use so we would both be using the same colors for the panels. The assignment ended up turning out very well. It is so bright and vivid. The colors are absolutely beautiful! The section of the Sistine Chapel we colored was the throne of The Delphic Sibyl. She is one of the most beautiful figures Michelangelo painted on the ceiling. Her garments contain hues of deep oranges and reds, light greens, and various shades of blues.
Michelangelo, The Delphic Sibyl, Sistine Chapel, 1509
After coloring the large panel sections I recalled Our Lady's recent Medjugorje message. On September 25, 2012, she said, "Dear children! When in nature you look at the richness of the colors which the Most High gives you, open your heart and pray with gratitude for all the good that you have and say: 'I am here created for eternity'—and yearn for heavenly things because God loves you with immeasurable love. This is why He also gave me to you to tell you: 'Only in God is your peace and hope, dear children.' Thank you for having responded to my call."
After reading her message over again I just walked around my campus and took in all the beauty, the colors, and the light God has given us. He has created the most wonderful and glorious work of art in history—which is the Earth and life itself. Just think about how many beautiful things in this world can leave you in complete awe...such as the ocean, the sky, the sun, the clouds, the mountains, the aurora borealis, all of the rainbows, waterfalls, trees, flowers, plants, animals, etc. The list goes on and on! With every form of creation we have amazing colors. This world has so much beauty to offer. For instance, there are so many colorful fish under the sea, vividly painted flowers of the Earth, multicolored butterflies, picturesque landscapes, blazing orange fires, and crystal blue waters. We need to take the time to appreciate the beauty around us. Even admiring the metallic feathers of a peacock, created by the Most High, illustrates our understanding of God as the ultimate creator of beauty and wonder. Having an artistic background myself, I have learned to appreciate this beauty even more deeply.
Maybe you have heard of Akiane Kramarik. She is an artistic child prodigy. She started drawing around the age of four. Without any art lessons she began to paint mesmerizing pictures. Her imagery came from visions she received from God at a very young age. Akiane is known for painting portraits, scenic landscapes, religious, and spiritual images. She tends to use extremely vivid colors for her compositions. At ten years old she painted Creation (2005), a colorful depiction of the stars, planets, and galaxy. This is Akiane's interpretation of the universe which came from God, Himself.
Akiane Kramarik, Creation, 48"x48", Age 10 (2005)
She painted another incredibly vivid image in 2006. Again, her interpretation of Heaven came from these visions. This piece is called Supreme Sanctuary, completed at age eleven. Talking about this painting, she said, "In Heaven I believe there is a place where each of us will be able to choose and create a sanctuary. I believe that certain things will be somewhat similar to the earth and many things completely different. This is the garden and a mansion I would like to plant and build. In fact, the colors in the original painting are so unique and mysterious that it was almost impossible to reproduce them for the print reproduction."
Akiane Kramarik, Supreme Sanctuary, 30"x40", Age 11 (2006)
Akiane's striking images speak to us through the colors she utilizes inspired by God's creation. Although there are many beautiful creations in this world, the most beautiful of all is God's mother—the Blessed Virgin Mary. Akiane also painted a portrait of Mary, titled Innocence, at the age of twelve. She describes the painting as her interpretation of purity, gentleness, beauty, and humility. Even though she is not Catholic, Akiane recognizes the importance of Mary and her eternal, youthful, glorious beauty.
Akiane Kramarik, Innocence, 48"x60", Age 12 (2007)
Observing God's creation and the beautiful colors in found nature, I'm sure you have heard the famous song that correlates to this topic. It is from Disney's Pocahontas called "Colors of the Wind." In the movie, Pocahontas asks her friend, John Smith, "Can you paint with all the colors of the wind?" This seems impossible, right? The wind itself does not have color. It is invisible. And yet, everything it touches is saturated with color. Even though we cannot see the wind, we know it is there because we can feel it. This is the same as our Lord. Although we may not see Him, we can always feel His presence among us through His beauty in nature.
Even though we are speaking about visible colors, the song is also referring to our way of life. Like an artist, striving for perfection, we must also strive to seek perfection in our own lives. Living according to His word is key. Can you just image painting the most beautiful, colorful, and glorious picture of yourself to offer God at the end of your life? I don't mean painting a physical painting. I mean painting the image of your persona with the actions you live in this life. Let your soul be illuminated by the love of God. Only then will you be able to reflect all the colors of the rainbow. So having said this, may I ask you a question...can you paint with all the colors of the wind?
Check out my Pintrestpage and view my board "Beautiful Places" if you are interested in seeing more of God's beauty. I love to pin stuff! So check out everything. I even have some great Catholic boards you can follow and pin from. Enjoy!
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations." - Jeremiah 1:5
It is so sad to what the world is coming to, especially on the topic of abortion. How can a nation survive if its leaders destroy its own people? ...It simply can't. In this upcoming election life and death is at stake. This is probably the most critical issue, even above our United States national debt. What we need to realize, as Americans, is that ABORTION IS MURDER! There is no other way to spin that.
All of us, at one point, developed from a tiny microscopic egg in our mother's womb. In Christianity we are taught that life begins at the moment of conception. As a country founded by Christians we need to keep our morals and values in line that began from our establishment. We all have inalienable rights stated in the Declaration of Independence as, "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness." And "life" is the first one! Every person, inside or outside of their mother's womb, should have the right to life.
Even though a developing baby is incapable of making that decision we still don't have the right to decide for the child. We need to love them! We need to protect them! And a mother's womb, of all places, should be the safest for a growing child. The poor innocent babies have done nothing wrong to deserve death. They should have the freedom to live!!!
In our country the current president is trying to fund abortions in the health-care plan. We will all have to pay for abortions through our own taxes. We will have no choice but to give money to those organizations who contribute to this horrific massacre. Even Catholic hospitals will begin to close everywhere since funding this type of procedure does not concur with the beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church. That means 12.6%of all hospitals in the United States will close! Talk about hurting our economy with extensive spending...this will just effect our whole nation in every negative way imaginable. How can the government even force that upon us? It is just sssoooo unconstitutional.
Praise God that Cardinal Timothy Dolan gave the benediction at both political conventions...especially at the DNC. He is a very brave and holy man of God. During the benediction, he prayed, "Thus do we praise You for the gift of life. Grant us the courage to defend it, life, without which no other rights are secure. We ask Your benediction on those waiting to be born, that they may be welcomed and protected."
He continued praying, "We praise and thank You for the gift of liberty. May this land of the free never lack those brave enough to defend our basic freedoms. Renew in all our people a profound respect for religious liberty: the first, most cherished freedom bequeathed upon us at our Founding. May our liberty be in harmony with truth; freedom ordered in goodness and justice. Help us to live our freedom in faith, hope, and love." If I hadn't known any better it was almost as if Cardinal Dolan was tossed into a cage of ferocious man-eatting lions ready to attack. Obviously some people did not like what he had to say. Even all of the TV stations cut off the airing during mid-prayer except FOX News. Click here to view the entire text of the benediction from the DNC. Click hereto see what Women of Grace had to say about it on their lovely blog.
Even though the Catholic Church cannot technically side with either political party, it is clearly demonstrated that the Republican party has values which are much closer to those of the Catholic faith. You can even view the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops statement on religious liberty. For more information visit PriestsForLife.org. This is a crucial turning point for our country. If our nation keeps Obama in the White House for another four years the United States of America will cease to exist as we know it!
But the great thing is, you can do something about it! If you are an American citizen and are 18 years of age or older you are eligible to vote. If you love God and love the babies, I advise you to vote conservatively. Plus, both Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are both holy and prayerful men. Ryan is even a practicing Catholic! Thus, a vote for them is a vote for life!
I believe they do have authority from God to help get this country back on track. But, like I said, it is up to you. So please, during this time, ask our Blessed Mother to guide our country in this great decision. After all, she is the purest of all mothers. The mother of every nation. The mother of the United States. Also, continue to pray for the protection of all the unborn children in the world and for the survival of our religious hospitals.
In the following video you will see Melissa Ohden speak about how she survived a failed abortion. This is a very powerful video. I advise you to share it on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media to distribute the message to your friends. We all have a choice in this election, as Americans. How will YOU answer?
Also, my friend Kendall sent me a song she wrote on this topic of abortion. She truly felt a calling from God to get this message out there, especially to teens. This pop song called "The Cries" has a lot of truth to it. Kendall said, "I wrote this song to hopefully bring attention to all the innocent unborn children who are being killed every day by the act of abortion. My heart aches for the children who will never have the choice to live."
"She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life." - Proverbs 31:12
Are you a Catholic/Christian single lady? If so, then this post is for you. Over the summer I finished reading the book How to Find Your Soulmate Without Losing Your Soul by Jason and Crystalina Evert. It is such an amazing book! Seriously one of the best books I have ever read. I highly recommend it to any young woman who is seriously considering a vocation in marriage. It really makes you think about what you want to find in your future husband. It explains everything very well and it is full of wisdom! Like I said, this book is especially great for Catholic/Christian girls, but it also reaches out to those who are still struggling in their faith journey. I can assure you it is just as beautiful and pure inside as it is on the cover. It is enchanting, delightful, and filled with hope to find a wonderful life-long romance based on our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If you read this book you will not be disappointed.
It touched me so much I honestly felt that all of my girl friends need to read it too! I listened to the Holy Spirit calling me for this mission. So I took action and bought 44 copies of the book in a bulk order from Jason's and Crystalina's website in order to distribute them to my friends. I have probably given away half of the copies by now. So many girls are coming up to me now and thanking me for giving them this book. It is even touching people I've never met! One of my good friends, Michelle, let her friend borrow her copy of the book to read too. I saw on Facebook that she posted on Michelle's wall, in response, "Soooo you remember the book you let me borrow, How to Find Your Soulmate Without Losing Your Soul? ...Your friend was totally right about this book. It's a book that every girl (and woman) must have." Now, all we need is a guy version of this book for men...right?
Order the book now on Amazon or visithttp://www.howtofindyoursoulmate.com/. In your quest for love don't lose yourself along the way. It's time that you discover a love that helps you to become yourself. I hope you enjoy the book! God bless.
Check out this video below. Sarah Swafford, a very well spoken young woman, shares her view on relationships and how they should unfold with virtue.
"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." - James 4:7
In today's world, being a good Catholic can be a really hard thing. You have all sorts of temptations trying to pull you down, away from your faith, and essentially away from God. When other people see that you are living a happy life and you are counter-cultural, they are not going to like that. In fact, they may be jealous of you since you are so in touch with your faith. They see that you are aware of something so far beyond the realm of this universe. This is when people, who have been influenced by the evil one, will try to make you question your faith and why you practice it. They will ask you all sorts of things to make you doubt yourself. And of course, relying on faith means that we, as Catholics, will not have all the answers. But that is what faith is! Like St. Augustine said, "Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe."
In America, I see that our country has been slipping away from God over time. Our government is currently not being run by someone who leads with values and integrity. There has been a shift in society of what is acceptable as morally right and wrong. What has happen to the America my grandfather fought for in the military? I cannot imagine that God is please with the decisions our president has made in the last four years. Especially with the decisions to fund abortions.
Last week the RNC came to my hometown, in Tampa. It was wonderful to see all the amazing people here who have the love of God in their hearts. These politicians spoke with enthusiasm of how our country will get back on the right path as one nation under God. Even the Vice Presidential candidate, Paul Ryan, attended Mass in St. Petersburg during that week. Radio station, Spirit FM 90.5, informed us that Cardinal Dolan was there to celebrate the liturgy at St. Mary's Catholic Church. The Cardinal even gave the final benediction for the closing of the RNC. It is so important that we pray for our country in these times ahead. Through prayer we will be able to resist all of the evilness that wants to overcome us in this nation.
Like I said before, just living a normal day to day life as a good Catholic-American can have its ups and downs. Many of us are spiritually attacked on a regular basis because we are following God. The devil is aware of this, so he targets us more often. If we are to live in a country that is far from God it will be much harder to resist these temptations. People will label you. You will not be the most liked. But who cares? Why does it matter what these people think anyways? They do not have the best interest for you. They do not want what you want. So it is best to ignore these people and just pray for them. Try not to start a discussion with them that will lead to a political/religious argument. God does not want strife among His people. He wants us to live in harmony, even with our differences.
It is important to note that God does not pick political sides. We as people, involved in politics, chose to be on God's side. If we are on God's side, then we want what He wants. If you hear the voice of God coming through any of these politicians then you know what they are saying is what He wants. If you have a relationship with Jesus then you'll know He wants us to chose life. He wants us to have religious freedom. He wants us to value the sacrament of marriage. And He wants us to have a good economy that will help foster the hope of living the "American Dream."
This election will truly put us to the test. The way we vote is not something to be taken lightly. Voting is not just filling in a bubble with black pen on a page. It is something that each and every person will be held accountable for, according to his/her own measure.
In the follow YouTube video this well-spoken young lady explains her thoughts about being a Catholic in this day and age. Even though we go through many temptations on a daily basis we can overcome those with prayer and fasting. Making sacrifices for God will demonstrate your submission to His Holy Will. Praying for those people who have hurt you is what God means when He tells us to love our enemies. They might be completely unaware of the blessings you are bestowing upon them. However, God knows, and He will bless them according to your petitions.
So go out into the world and resist all kind of temptations the evil one may be throwing at you. And believe in your country, believe in America! We must believe together as one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you for reading my blog post. Take care. God bless you and God bless America!
"Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth." - 1 Corinthians 13:6
Ok... so admit it, we've all done things a little backwards before. For example; sometimes we go to the mall, pick out an outfit, buy it, take it home, and then try it on. However, it is usually better to try on the clothes at the mall first, before you buy them, just to make sure they fit and look good. When you take home the outfit first there is a big chance you might not like it and want to take it back---because from my shopping experience---the outfit almost always looks better in the store, on the rack, then when you take it home and try it on.
The same goes for meeting people online before you meet them in person. (Not that people are like clothes in any way, shape, or form. lol. But the example here seems to showcase my point.) This is sort of backwards to how you would normally meet a person. It is much better to meet them in person first and to connect with them online afterwards. When you meet someone online first you don't have the luxury of seeing who they truly are. They could easily hide behind a profile of what you think they are. From my recent experience, I found out this is truly the case. Even if you really really think you know them, you can never be 100% sure of anything about them until you see them face to face. When someone is dishonest with you in real life it is easy to see their body language and personal reaction. This makes it hard for them to deceive you. But through the internet, texting, and sometimes even in phone conversations being deceptive can become very easy.
For example, I met someone online through a Catholic dating website---let's call him Andrew (although that is not his real name). Andrew and I talked for several months on the phone. We seemed to have lots in common---from our faith, music, movies, books, all the way to taste in food. We had loads of fun chatting for hours at a time. I truly thought he was unlike anyone I ever knew. He made me feel so special. We connected on social networking sites and video called each other. He actually lived very far away from me, so this was as close as we could get to be "in person." Since I saw him on the video chat I thought, Yeah, see, he is who he says he is. It's fine. *ahhemm* ...Not really.
Little did I know that Andrew was not who I thought he was. Over time it became easier and easier to see the reality of the situation. I don't believe he was being completely honest with me and I find that unsettling. It's sad because Andrew and I never got to meet face to face, but it was his choice. Early on we arranged a way for us to meet up in person but it never worked out. I believe God was protecting me from getting my heart even more broken. I'm not going to go into anymore details, because it's over and doesn't need to be brought up again. The fact is, I was painting a picture in my head of who I wanted him to be which was different from his real character. "The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out." - Proverbs 10:9
This type of deception is very alarming. That is why I caution anyone who tries online dating, even on Catholic websites, because you never know who it is you are really talking to. Even one of my very good friends had the exact same thing happen to her! I honestly don't condom meeting people online. I actually know of some people who found their future spouse on the same Catholic website and it turned out to be completely fine! It was absolutely wonderful!!! But I'm just putting out a fair warning to anyone who wants to try it.
The good news is that God can, in fact, bring us holy Catholic people closer together through the internet. Like I said, meeting people online is not bad at all. There just needs to be a precaution taken into consideration. I've met many people online first and then in person. I actually met the Nolan family on YouTube. Eventually we met in person and took a pilgrimage to Medjugorje together. I've met several other classmates on Facebook first and now one of them is a really good friend of mine.
Furthermore, I've been talking to a Catholic girl on Facebook named Therese for a few years now. Somehow she found me and sent me a friend request with a sweet message. I accepted her and guess what!?! We are now actually friends in real life! I just met her a couple days ago. She is truly a remarkable person. For the longest time we've messaged each other, texted, phone called, and Skyped. But now, we finally got to meet in person. This is very unusual because she doesn't live anywhere near me at all. In fact she lives many states north of Florida, where I live. However, she decided to go to college in Florida and we were finally able to meet in person.
It was so surreal when we actually met. It was almost like seeing an old friend that you hadn't seen in a very very long time. Therese is a wonderful person! She is Catholic, devout, faithful, loyal, honest, trustworthy...and the great part is, she really is who she says she is. Therese encompasses all the qualities I actually imagined her to be. There was no fraudulent picture of her in my head. This confirms that our friendship was not fantasized, but it actually was and is real. It is so refreshing to know that since I recently had a not-so-good-experience online with Andrew. But after praying about it for some time now, I think I see why God allowed that experience to happen and why it didn't work out. It was a very good learning experience. It has made me wiser and more wary with people I meet over the internet.
I am grateful for knowing Therese and pray that we continue to be really good friends. Like I said before, meeting people online can be a very good thing since you can reach people of the same faith outside your local area.
But if you are trying online dating websites I suggest to match up with people within the same vicinity, or state, at least. Even if you find someone else outside your local area---who might be many states away---just make sure you don't get your heart too caught up emotionally right off the bat. You need to find out from them if you'll ever be able to meet them in person, otherwise it is a waste of time. If you're never going to see them why continue the relationship? So, my advice is to pray for that person. Pray a novena for you and for them if you feel called to meet them in real life. And if you are not currently online dating, but want to, I suggest to pray a novena for that too. Ask Mary in the rosary. I guarantee she will lead you to those who also hold her, as a mother, close to their heart.
"A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and on her head a crown of twelve stars." - Revelation 12:1
Hello dear friends in Christ! Today we celebrate the feast of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is a wonderful commemoration because it is with this event Mary was crowned as the Queen of Heaven and Earth by God the Father, as His beloved daughter, by God the Son (Jesus) as His dearest mother, and by God the Holy Spirit as His chosen spouse. She, who is human like us, rose to enteral glory in Heaven---being both regal and humble, merciful and powerful, human and divine. Her purity and holiness was exalted at this moment. She became not just the mother of Jesus, but also a mother to all humanity and the entire universe! Mary's intercession is the most powerful of all because she pleads our cause as the most perfect adorer of the Holy Trinity.
In the video below Scott Hahn, Catholic author and theology professor at Franciscan University of Steubenville, shares his insight of Mary's Queenship and glory. Join me in honoring the Blessed Mother and this triumphant occasion with a novena for the intentions of Queen of Heaven and Earth.
Novena to the Blessed Mother, Queen of Heaven and Earth:
I greet you, ever-blessed Virgin, Mother of God, refuge of sinners, and Queen of the Universe. Most loving Mother, attracted by your beauty, sweetness, and tender compassion, I confidently turn to you, and beg of you to obtain for me of your dear Son the favor I request in this novena: (mention your request). Obtain for me also, Queen of Heaven and Earth, the most lively contrition for my many sins and the grace to imitate closely those virtues which you practiced so faithfully, especially humility, purity, and obedience. Above all, I beg you to be my mother and protectress, to receive me into the number of your devoted children, and to guide me from your high throne of glory. Do not reject my petitions, Mother of Mercy! Have pity on me, and do not abandon me during life or at the moment of death. Accept this offering, sweet Queen of Heaven and Earth, and obtain for me from your dear Son, Jesus Christ, the favors I ask through your intercession in this novena. Obtain for me also a generous, constant love of God, perfect submission to His Holy Will, the true spirit of a Christian, and the grace of final perseverance. Amen.
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." - Joshua 1:9
It's that time of year again! Time to head back to school for all of you young people out there. I know... a new semester can be daunting and a little frightening sometimes. You may have all new teachers and classmates. Maybe you are just finishing your last year of high school and starting to apply for universities. Some of you may be entering college for the first time, now. Maybe you're taking a new step and moving away from your parents. Going into college for the first time can be nerve-racking, but you should embrace the experience as an exciting new adventure that God has planned for you!
I remember my first day of college orientation. I was really nervous. I barley knew anyone. So many thoughts raced through my head, like, "Will I make any good friends here? Will I like my classes? Are my professors nice? Will I get good grades? Can I figure out this computer software? Do they have decent food here? Am I going to get lost? Does that cute boy over there even notice me?" ...etc. What I've learned is that life will throw crazy curve balls at you. So even when you think you know of everything to expect something will always surprise you.
If you're entering college as a freshman don't be discouraged when trying to make friends or figuring your way around campus. Even if things don't seem to be working out at first, don't give up. It's easy to let your emotions get the best of you when you are upset or scared about something. My advice is to take this new opportunity and learn from it. Grow to become more independent. Grow to become more holy by trusting God completly. He will provide for you. His heart is an endless ocean of mercy. No task is too big for Him to take on for you. If you are worried, just pray and pour out your sorrows to Him. He will comfort you, bless you, and console you throughout your college years.
If you are like me, entering your last year of college as a senior, I can relate to you very well. I feel very familiar with my campus, community, and friends. I love where I am at and I don't want it to change. However, I know that I only have a year left. I know this can't last forever. I'm seeking out what to do once I graduate college. I am looking into grad school programs, employment opportunities, and internships. There are so many paths to consider. The question is... which one do I choose? Which one is the right path that God desires me to take? I don't have all the answers now, but I'm hoping to find a clearer path of where I'm suppose to go and what I'm suppose to do closer to graduation.
Each new stage in life has a loveliness and growth that helps us to become the person we are meant to be. It is not always easy. In fact, it can be very difficult sometimes. Transitioning from one place to another can be very intimidating, wherever you are coming from. Going from middle school to high school has its challenges as do going from high school to college. The next transition for me is undergrad to grad school or some type of job in my field of study. Who knows what that will be at this moment? But I am going to lay it all in the hands of the Lord. I am going to give all my worries to him so I don't have to, as should you.
A Student's Prayer - by St. Thomas Aquinas
Come, Holy Spirit, Divine Creator, true source of light and fountain of wisdom! Pour forth your brilliance upon my dense intellect, dissipate the darkness which covers me, that of sin and of ignorance. Grant me a penetrating mind to understand, a retentive memory, method and ease in learning, the lucidity to comprehend, and abundant grace in expressing myself. Guide the beginning of my work, direct its progress, and bring it to successful completion. This I ask through Jesus Christ, true God and true man, living and reigning with You and the Father, forever and ever. Amen.
Akiane Kramarik - Innocence, 48"x60", Age 12 (2007)
Medjugorje Message: January 25, 2013
"Dear children! Also today I call you to prayer. May your prayers be as strong as a living stone, until with your lives you become witnesses. Witness the beauty of your faith. I am with you and intercede before my Son for each of you. Thank you for having responded to my call."
Hello my name is Danielle. I am a 24-year-old college graduate student. I recently earned my undergraduate BFA degree in Digital Arts. Currently, I am majoring in the Catholic Studies MA program at the University of St. Thomas. I love my Catholic faith and try to live it out in my daily life. :) Thank you for viewing my blog! Have a great day and God bless!
"Even if I never become a canonized saint, like so many I admire, I want to know at the end of my life that I have done everything I can to try to be... and that is all that really matters." – Danielle
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Ave Maria
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed are thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
"Isn’t it time that you discovered a love that helps you to become yourself?" - Jason and Crystalina Evert
My Beloved
Dear future husband, I don't know if we've met, but I know you are out there. I don't know if we've spoken, but I know I'd love to hear your voice. I don't know if I've ever seen you, but I know you are beautiful...both inside and out. And I don't know if you know me, but I know the One who knows you. ❤ xoxo
