http://andthechildrendranklemonade.blogspot.com
(new guevara family blog)
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
Packed Day
I want to have a little reminder as to the life
I am leaving behind ... full time work, base line
to base line, just in case I get 'bored' someday:
Gary's schedule for Sunday, Apr 27, 2008
(as it actually happened)
7AM - alarm clock; snooze until 7:20. Handled a couple fires on e-mail.
9AM - leave for the church - ran into a few ppl & chatted upcoming events;
picked up communion and altar pack
10AM - celebrate televised Mass @ nursing home; around 15 residents.
11AM - to the grocery store to pick up lunch and youth group items for tonight
11:30 - back to the office to prep for tonight's talk: Theology of the Body for Teens
Review using the new TOB DVD ... my angle: 'personal testimonies.'
12:30 - Holiday Bowling Lanes with Special Needs Families. Met an engaging young
man with autism who knew everything about guitars. He also rolled 4 strikes. Also
met a family who just moved here from Fairfax, VA, our initial destination. Reason for the
move: pace of life. Bingo.
2PM - back to the office to prep more of tonight's talk. Picked 2 new praise songs: Freedom
Reigns and Enough. Keyed out songs and practiced on newly strung guitar. New angle for tonight: 'the questions we have.'
3PM - listened to 8 Confirmation Candidate 'Homilies' as part of their prep. So inspired about how a young lady tied in her scripture passage on perseverance with her own time in a Russian orphanage. Another young man spoke like a seasoned pastor. I'm a better Catholic now because of those 13 year-olds.
5PM - back to the office for the finishing touches on tonight's talk. new angle: 'reasons for our hope.' Combining personal testimonies and the questions we have. Cleaned up youth room, ordered the pizza and practiced the main points/video cues/flow of the evening. Reminded Father to join us @ 8:30. I think I'm ready.
6:30PM - joined a rather evangelical Catholic youth and his 'searching' friend for Mass. The friend was able to follow along with our hymnal. I wanted to say so much. I let the Spirit do the talking. She sang the songs so well that I thought she was raised Catholic. Turns out she can read music. Yet another 'brilliant' move by the Church: write out the music.
7:30PM - back down to the youth room for our evening gathering. So many faces I haven't seen in a while; some I had never seen before. Gotta make them feel welcomed. Testimonies. Songs. Prayer. Questions. Videos. Father. More questions. Basketball tournament announcement. Eating Cracker Jacks & Pizza. Closing prayer. Meeting with more teens and adults. Showing the ultrasound of the new Guevara 'peanut.' Short meeting with adult team.
Called home on the way: Mad's asleep, but her parents are holding down the fort. Money.
10PM - finally home and for some reason my legs are exhausted. Luci just hugs me for a while.
Lijah wants me to read a book. I pretend to be sleeping. He hits me. I read the book. Mad and Lij are asleep first. I fall asleep trying to get highlights of the Piston's game. But the NFL draft and baseball dominate. It's a little past 11.
Just in case I ever get 'bored.'
I am leaving behind ... full time work, base line
to base line, just in case I get 'bored' someday:
Gary's schedule for Sunday, Apr 27, 2008
(as it actually happened)
7AM - alarm clock; snooze until 7:20. Handled a couple fires on e-mail.
9AM - leave for the church - ran into a few ppl & chatted upcoming events;
picked up communion and altar pack
10AM - celebrate televised Mass @ nursing home; around 15 residents.
11AM - to the grocery store to pick up lunch and youth group items for tonight
11:30 - back to the office to prep for tonight's talk: Theology of the Body for Teens
Review using the new TOB DVD ... my angle: 'personal testimonies.'
12:30 - Holiday Bowling Lanes with Special Needs Families. Met an engaging young
man with autism who knew everything about guitars. He also rolled 4 strikes. Also
met a family who just moved here from Fairfax, VA, our initial destination. Reason for the
move: pace of life. Bingo.
2PM - back to the office to prep more of tonight's talk. Picked 2 new praise songs: Freedom
Reigns and Enough. Keyed out songs and practiced on newly strung guitar. New angle for tonight: 'the questions we have.'
3PM - listened to 8 Confirmation Candidate 'Homilies' as part of their prep. So inspired about how a young lady tied in her scripture passage on perseverance with her own time in a Russian orphanage. Another young man spoke like a seasoned pastor. I'm a better Catholic now because of those 13 year-olds.
5PM - back to the office for the finishing touches on tonight's talk. new angle: 'reasons for our hope.' Combining personal testimonies and the questions we have. Cleaned up youth room, ordered the pizza and practiced the main points/video cues/flow of the evening. Reminded Father to join us @ 8:30. I think I'm ready.
6:30PM - joined a rather evangelical Catholic youth and his 'searching' friend for Mass. The friend was able to follow along with our hymnal. I wanted to say so much. I let the Spirit do the talking. She sang the songs so well that I thought she was raised Catholic. Turns out she can read music. Yet another 'brilliant' move by the Church: write out the music.
7:30PM - back down to the youth room for our evening gathering. So many faces I haven't seen in a while; some I had never seen before. Gotta make them feel welcomed. Testimonies. Songs. Prayer. Questions. Videos. Father. More questions. Basketball tournament announcement. Eating Cracker Jacks & Pizza. Closing prayer. Meeting with more teens and adults. Showing the ultrasound of the new Guevara 'peanut.' Short meeting with adult team.
Called home on the way: Mad's asleep, but her parents are holding down the fort. Money.
10PM - finally home and for some reason my legs are exhausted. Luci just hugs me for a while.
Lijah wants me to read a book. I pretend to be sleeping. He hits me. I read the book. Mad and Lij are asleep first. I fall asleep trying to get highlights of the Piston's game. But the NFL draft and baseball dominate. It's a little past 11.
Just in case I ever get 'bored.'
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Non-Negotiables
I was previewing a short vocations film on the priesthood
just recently made by the diocese of Chicago.
A priest, who also served as a seminary lecturer,
national speaker and spiritual director, was describing his day.
"I always begin with prayer and Mass. These are non-negotiables."
I think most people think of their own non-negotiables as
that Starbuck's brew on the way to the office
or the anal retentive way some set the dinner table
or the terms of selling your home.
But, in reality, non-negotiables should really matter.
Thus, non-negotiable under all circumstances.
Something one truly requires to fulfill all that the day brings forth.
Although barely a teen, the beauty of St. Agnes
made many a man fall over in adoration.
In fact, the son of a powerful governor even wanted her hand in marriage.
To this, and all other propositions, she said:
"Jesus Christ is my only spouse. I would offend my spouse if I were to
try to please you. He chose me first and He shall save me!"
Age 12 and change. Non-negotiable.
just recently made by the diocese of Chicago.
A priest, who also served as a seminary lecturer,
national speaker and spiritual director, was describing his day.
"I always begin with prayer and Mass. These are non-negotiables."
I think most people think of their own non-negotiables as
that Starbuck's brew on the way to the office
or the anal retentive way some set the dinner table
or the terms of selling your home.
But, in reality, non-negotiables should really matter.
Thus, non-negotiable under all circumstances.
Something one truly requires to fulfill all that the day brings forth.
Although barely a teen, the beauty of St. Agnes
made many a man fall over in adoration.
In fact, the son of a powerful governor even wanted her hand in marriage.
To this, and all other propositions, she said:
"Jesus Christ is my only spouse. I would offend my spouse if I were to
try to please you. He chose me first and He shall save me!"
Age 12 and change. Non-negotiable.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Gird Up and Go
With a new year comes a new motto: Gird Up and Go.
This year will bring much change to the Guevara household:
finishing a residency
finishing a period of full time parish work
moving to northern Michigan
starting a new school (Kindergarten!)
living much closer to family (39 miles)
starting anew
In my life the Lord has called me with a familiar song.
Like that song I hear on the radio
that I've never heard before
and yet I know it.
Discerning this change for our family was no different.
A song that was similar to leaving Pfizer,
leaving Ann Arbor,
leaving Lakeside,
and now, leaving St. Thomas.
It has never been about jumping from one sturdy branch
to another that I can see, touch and test.
It has always been about jumping from one sturdy branch
to that in which, rather in Whom, I have faith.
In fact, the song title has also been the same:
Gird Up and Go.
This year will bring much change to the Guevara household:
finishing a residency
finishing a period of full time parish work
moving to northern Michigan
starting a new school (Kindergarten!)
living much closer to family (39 miles)
starting anew
In my life the Lord has called me with a familiar song.
Like that song I hear on the radio
that I've never heard before
and yet I know it.
Discerning this change for our family was no different.
A song that was similar to leaving Pfizer,
leaving Ann Arbor,
leaving Lakeside,
and now, leaving St. Thomas.
It has never been about jumping from one sturdy branch
to another that I can see, touch and test.
It has always been about jumping from one sturdy branch
to that in which, rather in Whom, I have faith.
In fact, the song title has also been the same:
Gird Up and Go.
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