100 Things I Love

Whenever I'm stressed, I try and think of good things. Here is what I came up with.

(These are not in any particular order.)

1. God
2. Family
3. My golden retriever and Aussie
4. JPCatholic
5. Good friends
6. Pillow talk
7. Sleepovers
8. Big trees
9. Snow (Why do I live in San Diego?)
10. Rain
11. Puddles
12. Going barefoot
13. Homemade food
14. Cooking and Baking
15. Ice Cream
16. Justice
17. Freedom
18. The Princess Bride
19. Movies in General

20. Going Home

21. Making Movies

22. Trying to make the world a better place

23. Sleep

24. Good food

25. Babies

26. Children

27. Reading

28. Horses

29. Lenox

30. Polished stones

31. Swing dancing

32. Writing and receiving letters

33. Mountains

34. Playing the accordion

35. Lakes

36. Catholicism

37. Blankets

38. Scarves

39. Slippers

40. Socks

41. Baby giggles

42. Getting A's.

43. Music

44. Movies

45. Crackling fires

46. Snuggling down in my bed on a cold morning.

47. Hot showers

48. Taking care of people

49. Giving advice

50. Photography

51. Blogging

52. Drawing

53. Painting

54. My theology homework

55. Deep discussions and conversations

56. Irish music

57. Window seats

58. Doing homework in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel.

59. Children's footprints

59. Children's artwork

60. The Blessed Mother

61. The Saints and Angels

62. Good advice

63. Clean laundry

64. Tire swings

65. Sperlunking

66. John Paul II

67. A Wonderful Roommate

68. Daily Mass

69. Adoration

70. A good home to go to when I need it.

71. Filmmaking

72. Walking

73. Riding my bike

74. Hiking in the woods

75. Hot tea

76. Sometimes I like it iced. (Depends on the kind.)

77. Being Healthy

78. Apple Computers

79. Candles

80. Incense 

81. Apple Blossoms

82. Horses

83. Architecture 

84. Breaks from school

85. Walks in the rain

86. My own bed.

87. Holidays

88. My roommate.

89. Good producers.

90. Climbing trees

91. Screenwriting

92. Going to bed at 10pm.

93. Playing the piano.

94. Gardens

95. Thomas Kinkade artwork (I swear, if I ever make bank, I'm going to pick a painting, give it to an architect, and say, "Build me this house".

96. Long skirts that brush my ankles.

97. Swimming

98. Getting my hair done.

99. Organization

100. Log cabins.

For the Love of JP Catholic Talent Shows

On Friday night, after six hours of classes, I attended JP Catholic's first ever coffee house gone talent show. We've had several, but this was the first that we've had with three classes (juniors, sophomores, and freshmen). This was also the first one where we had judges and prizes. I think it was supposed to be a spoof of America's Got Talent. Tim Evans spoke with a British accent, Cherisse was adorable and tried to be kind to everyone who made themselves known, and Kevin was blunt, giving short and sweet descriptions of every act. Three prizes were given:

1st: $15 gift certificate for iTunes (went to George for break dancing)

Best Music: Jamba Juice gift certificate (Elizabeth sang)

Best Other: Jamba Juice gift certificate (Interpretive dance trio)

Here's a video of Best Other:

Marie Breda is With God

Marie Breda, the baby I used to hold, the kid my sister played with every Friday, died last Monday. Words can't describe the bittersweet feeling that comes over me whenever I think of it. She is surely a saint, no doubt there. But it's so sad to think of her poor family. It is so sad to think of what a five year old goes through when she the oxygen refuses to flow to the lungs. To be in a coma, to be able to hear the loving words of your parents in your ear and not be able to respond. I can't even fathom. 

Marie Francesca Theresa Breda, you who are with God, may your soul rest in everlasting happiness. Protect me on earth as I go. May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.

I Am Praying For A Miracle

Almost every time I blog, it's when I'm sitting on my bed and a cold breeze is coming through my bedroom window. The weather was strange today. When I entered the school building (9:00am), it was hot and dry. Later, when I made my exit, Eucalyptus leaves rustled in a chilly wind and clouds filled the sky. My life since Sunday has been bittersweet. I am praying for a miracle.

Marie Francesca Theresa Breda, age five, had a severe choking accident on Sunday, October 5th during the 10:30am Mass. She had swallowed a bead. The paramedics, despite their desperate efforts, were incapable of removing the bead and rushed her to the hospital. They too, were incapable of removing the bead and decided that it would be best to life flight her to Children's Hospital. Before doing so, however, she needed to be ventilated. They pushed the bead down further, in order to give her air and while this process took place, little Marie went into cardiac arrest twice. She finally arrived at Children's and they managed to remove the bead. However, Marie had been without oxygen for too long. An MRI revealed swelling on her brain and she was put into an induced coma for three days with hopes that her brain could rest and swelling would go down.

Just yesterday, there were major complications. Marie's blood pressure rocketed and her pupils were unresponsive. A catscan revealed increased swelling of her brain and all help of medical intervention healing is irreversible. The damage is massive.

Friends, family, and random families who don't know Marie or her family are all praying for a miracle through Blessed Mother Theresa. (She needs one more!) The Superior General of the Missionaries of Charity Fathers and Mother Theresa's postulate came to be with the family for a day. He married Marie's parents, baptized their oldest, and did the funeral for Monica (age 3 at the time), their daughter, after she died of a brain tumor. He has played a major part in their lives. Mary Breda (Marie's mother) was once a novitiate with the MC and she has a first class relic of Mother Theresa, a few strands of her hair. They have been placed in a pouch and the nurses tied it to Marie's ponytail.

Marie has seven siblings who love her very much. My brother is excellent friends with her oldest brother and last year, my sister played with Marie and her little friends every week. I've known her since she was born.Like I said, my week has been bittersweet. Bitter, because I am deeply saddened by what has happened. Sweet, because of the awesomeness of people coming together and the hope in Mother Theresa for a miracle.If you'd like to read Marie's story and receive updates, subscribe to this site:http://www.caringbridge.org/cb/viewHome.doMother Theresa, PRAY FOR US!!!

Back to the Grind

I hope that it is, at least, a fun grind. Yes, I am back for another quarter. (The second quarter of my third year to be precise.) I have survived three out of five classes and already have a decent amount of homework and projects to get back to. There are three film projects, some due more imminently than others. Most importantly, I am continuing my work on the Protect Marriage and Sarah's Law ammendments, making short promo vids. (We only have about six weeks left. ARRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!)

But I am not thinking about those particular things right now. I make a point of trying not to dwell on how much I have to do (although most know me as an over achiever). At the moment, I am sitting on my bed with my back to a couple of soft pillows. The window is open to its fullest and I can feel the soft warm breeze on my arm. Unbearable heat has been my cross for the last two days and I am grateful for any change for the better. I am listening to my favorite band of all time, "Leahy". Tomorrow morning is the all campus retreat. Fr. Saroki and Fr. Huston will come at 8:45am and will offer Confession, Mass, and a couple of thought provoking talks. (At least I hope they are thought provoking.) Then there is the weekend, I get Monday and Tuesday off, and I resume class on Wednesday morning. Pray that I receive my final book on Thomistic ethics by Saturday. I am both nervous and excited about that one. Nervous, because I hope that I understand it. Excited, because I cannot wait to struggle with trying to understand it. (I am weird, am I not.)

Anyways, cheers to you all and I hope you enjoy this fall season. (Hopefully, the weather in SD will become more fall like. I have such an appreciation for crisp weather and crunchy leaves. Maybe I'm in the wrong state.) Hopefully, I can post again before the end of this quarter. May God bless each and every one of you! And just because, the airshow is this weekend, I thought I would post a poster that I made for one of my quar

ter's first year. It was an idea for a possible TV show that I thought of. I had to advertise it for my final project.